Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen hurried to the dock office to pay their respects upon hearing "Boss Lu" was present.

Although Secretary Ye had been promoted and transferred, Linghai's tendency to "rebel" remained unchanged. Secretary Lu found himself displeased with both of them, absent-mindedly entertaining them when Commander Wang rushed back to the office.

"Secretary Lu, the Provincial Military District has assigned us an urgent task."

"Is it related to the exercise?"

"Yes."

"Speak freely, there's no outsider here."

Commander Wang glanced at Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen, handing over the order document urgently delivered by the military staff: "The Provincial Military District instructs our Military District to assemble fifty fishing boats by 3 PM tomorrow, forming a Civilian Corps transportation brigade, and head to the Zhedong Sea Area to participate in the cross-sea landing exercise!"

Just twenty minutes ago, we were wondering how to deploy as many Binjiang Civilian Militia Reserve Forces as possible for the military exercise, and here we are, wish granted.

Secretary Lu, while reading the order document, commented: "The fishermen from several districts and counties are all civilian soldiers; assembling fifty fishing boats shouldn't be too difficult."

"We need the Fishery Administration's assistance."

"Immediately notify the Ocean Fishery Bureau!"

Commander Wang asked softly: "Also, who's leading the team?"

Without hesitation, Secretary Lu replied: "Salted Fish, it has to be Salted Fish, must be Salted Fish!"

Director Feng reminded: "Secretary Lu, Salted Fish has his own task."

"His current task is to assist the maritime department in overseeing the outer perimeter alert for the exercise sea area. The maritime department lacks ships that can perform outer perimeter alert tasks, not personnel. Compared to assisting maritime in executing outer perimeter alert tasks, leading the Civilian Corps transportation brigade in the military exercise is more important!"

"Director Feng, Secretary Lu is right. Although Salted Fish isn't fishery enforcement personnel, he's very familiar with the fishery, knows the fishermen well, and has even been entrusted by the Fishery Administration to teach maritime firefighting and offshore fishing operation safety to fishermen in several districts and counties."

Commander Wang also believed Han Yu was the most suitable leader, but emphasized again: "The higher-ups require Binjiang to deploy fifty fishing boats, and it's now prime fishing season, many boats have gone out to fish; we can only contact as many as possible now, and definitely need to recruit from the three coastal districts and counties.

How to organize? What preparations are needed? How to move so many fishing boats over there? How to safely bring so many fishing boats back here? Aside from Salted Fish, I can't think of anyone more suitable for this task. After all, someone like Salted Fish, who is familiar with fishermen and boats and knows marine navigation, while also being a reserve officer, we can't find another like him in Binjiang!"

Director Feng was about to suggest calling to inquire when Secretary Lu commanded: "Commander Wang, immediately request approval from the Provincial Military District for Salted Fish to join the operation, see what the Military Region Commander says."

"Yes!"

...

Plans never keep up with changes.

Mayor Qian, Mayor Shen, and Minister Yang exchanged glances, listening with hidden alarm.

Old Ge and Master Han were indifferent, Salted Fish was going to sea no matter what task he executed.

Director Feng was anxious, quickly taking out his phone to contact old subordinates at the East Sea Base.

Time was critical. Commander Wang disregarded potential confidentiality risks and reported directly by phone in front of everyone.

Unexpectedly, the Provincial Military District Commander decisively stated over the phone: "The Navy Reserve Rescue Boat Brigade is also part of our Jiangnan Provincial Military District reserve forces. Salted Fish, as a reserve officer from Jiangnan Province, of course, must follow Provincial Military District orders and accept their command."

"But the higher-ups ordered him to lead two newly acquired customs anti-smuggling boats to assist maritime in outer perimeter alert tasks."

"Circumstances change. The exercise plan wasn't finalized at that time, now it is, and ensuring the exercise runs smoothly is the priority. I know this puts you in a difficult position; I'll help report to the higher-ups."

"Understood."

"Hurry with the fishing boat assembly and forming the Civilian Corps transportation brigade. Deputy Commander Yang will head to Binjiang shortly. If there are no boats by 3 PM, you'll hear from me."

"Rest assured, Commander, we'll complete the task resolutely!"

...

Commander Wang had just set down the phone when Director Feng finished his call, awkwardly saying: "Secretary Lu, Commander Wang, colleagues at the East Sea Base suggest any adjustments to Salted Fish's task should be based on the Nanjing Military Region's opinion."

The East Sea Base is merely a regiment-level unit, and such an unprecedented joint military exercise is definitely led by the Nanjing Military Region. This grand exercise intended to deter Taiwan independence forces relies on the Army Old Brothers, who also listen to their superiors.

The attitude of the East Sea Base leader was within Secretary Lu's expectations; he couldn't help but laugh: "Then it's settled."

Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen originally came to extend greetings to Linghai Soldiers poised for combat, but ended up with new tasks. They urgently called the Agricultural Bureau and San Zao Port Town leaders, instructing the Agricultural Bureau Deputy Director overseeing fisheries, and the Secretary and Village Chief of San Zao Port Town to quickly contact fishing boats.

Minister Yang from Linghai Armed Forces Department quickly sought instructions and rushed back to Linghai to lead the assembly of fishing boats and organization of civilian soldiers.

At 1:26 PM, the Military District received the order forwarded by the Provincial Military District from the Nanjing Military Region.

It ordered the Binjiang Military District to temporarily form the civilian transportation brigade being assembled, along with the Navy Reserve Rescue Boat Brigade's supply ship squadron, tugboat squadron, machinery repair team, medical team, and Linghai Reserve Battalion Third Company into the "Binjiang Branch"!

Appoint Han Yu as Branch Captain, Si Gang Corner Slope Civilian Corps Leader Li Mingsheng as Political Commissioner, and complete assembly by 3 PM tomorrow, awaiting further orders.

Old Ge received the notification and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "Commissar Fang, I didn't expect after all the maneuvering, Salted Fish is still the overall commander!"

"I didn't expect the Military District Commander of Jiangnan Province and Secretary Lu to value Salted Fish so highly."

"Salted Fish is our Binjiang's 'Water Army Commander', and he has military merits. It's normal for the superior to first think of him for such a task."

The son-in-law serves as the Branch Captain of the "Binjiang Civilian Militia Reserve Corps", and the Si Gang fellow villagers serve as the Political Commissioner!

Friend Han was quite pleased and proud, he raised his head and smiled: "I wonder when Salted Fish will receive the orders, no one knows where he is right now."

"Since the superior appointed him as Branch Captain, they will definitely contact him."

"Master Han, you are from Si Gang, are you familiar with this person, Li Mingsheng?"

"Not familiar, I haven't heard of this person before."

"Find out who exactly this Li Mingsheng is."

"Alright, I'll call and ask."

Friend Han took out his phone and dialed the number of Old Lu, the former Party W Secretary in Liangzhuang Town, in front of everyone.

Like Salted Fish, Old Lu was accustomed to using his phone like a pager. Initially, the call didn't go through, but later it was returned.

Friend Han exchanged a few pleasantries in the local dialect and then cheerfully asked: "Secretary Lu, are you familiar with the leader of the Corner Slope Civilian Corps, Li Mingsheng?"

"Master Han, why did you suddenly think of asking about Li Mingsheng?"

"Salted Fish is serving in the reserves, which is similar to the civilian militia. The Corner Slope Civilian Corps is a typical Binjiang militia force, and he might soon have to deal with Li Mingsheng."

Liangzhuang has many military cadres, but the civilian militia work in Liangzhuang doesn't have any highlights.

Old Lu genuinely felt regretful, tightly holding the phone, he explained: "I know Li Mingsheng very well, he hasn't served in the military like your Salted Fish. He's from Xinba Port, his family are fishermen, he worked as a Human Resources Officer in Xinba Port for several years, later transferred to Corner Slope as Deputy Town Mayor, and now he seems to be the Village Chief."

"Li Mingsheng is the Village Chief?"

"It's quite normal for a Village Chief to also serve as Civilian Corps Leader, especially since the Corner Slope Red Flag Civilian Corps has a history."

...

The reason Binjiang lacks cohesion with several county districts is largely due to the differences in dialects among them.

Master Han still couldn't understand the dialects of Binjiang District and Linghai to this day, and Old Ge, Commissar Fang, and Old Wang also couldn't understand the Si Gang Language. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Friend Han hung up the phone and introduced Li Mingsheng's situation using Mandarin.

Old Ge laughed, lit a cigarette, and said with a smile: "So he's actually a Village Chief, a Village Chief is great, a Village Chief is a Director, Salted Fish is also a Director, it's perfect for a temporary Director team-up."

Commissar Fang nodded and analyzed: "Si Gang Corner Slope Red Flag Civilian Corps is a Coastal Defense Civilian Soldiers group, and that Li Mingsheng is from a fishing background. The Military District recommending Li Mingsheng to also serve as Political Commissioner is probably considering the work of the militia transport team."

"No matter how rich Li Mingsheng's experience is in militia work, he only knows Si Gang's fishing boats and fishermen. The Military District is gathering not only Si Gang's boats but also boats from Dongru, Dongqi, and our Linghai. I believe the militia transport team's work will mainly rely on Salted Fish."

The few senior comrades only need to be responsible for the logistics support for the Rescue Boat Team and the Linghai Reserve Battalion Third Company, and the preparations before deployment have been completed.

They have nothing much to do, so they can leisurely sit in the dock office, drinking tea and chatting.

The heads of the Armed Forces Department, Agricultural Bureau, and coastal township leaders in several county districts are very busy, as is the Binjiang Ocean and Fishery Bureau which was only established less than a year ago.

During the previous fishing ban, fishing boats could only stay in the port, and it was easy to gather as many as needed.

Now that the ban is lifted, the fishing boats are all out at sea for fishing operations, requiring contact through the Fishery Radio Station.

"Director Wang, how many boats have been contacted now?"

"As of ten minutes ago, the Agricultural Bureaus from four county districts collectively contacted 38 boats."

The City Committee and Military District are both waiting for a report, Zhou Hong was anxious, tightly holding the phone and said: "Explain clearly to the colleagues from the Agricultural Bureaus of several county districts that the superior won't let the fishermen run for nothing! The troops will ensure the fuel needed for the transportation tasks, and any economic losses caused by executing transportation tasks will be compensated through fuel subsidies later."

The office responsible for contacting fishing boats via Fishery Radio Station, Director Wang, said with a bitter smile: "Director Zhou, this isn't about money, our Binjiang fishermen are all civilian soldiers, their awareness is very high. The problem is that many are out at sea, some can be contacted, and some can't, and those we can't contact, we have no way."

"Hurry up and make contact, try every way to reach them, find a boat to go out to sea and make contact!"

"Not only are we anxious, but the leaders of several county districts are also anxious, every possible method is being tried."

"Have the boats been sent out to sea?"

"Sent out long earlier, we should have news in about five or six hours."