9 a.m., third floor of the Binjiang Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch.

Director Liu Guisheng personally nailed a plaque with the words "Intelligence Department" onto the door of the office diagonally across from the archives room.

Vice Port Director Ma smiled at Xu Haoran and said meaningfully: "Haoran, from now on you are the acting director of our branch's Intelligence Department. Work hard, and strive to remove that 'acting' part soon."

Previously, he was only doing intelligence work without an official title.

From now on, things are different. The superior has agreed to establish an Intelligence Department in the Binjiang Branch, with a director and a deputy director position.

Xu Haoran didn't expect to be promoted to deputy director so quickly. He will now lead the Intelligence Department as the deputy director. From what his superior hinted, as long as he achieves more, he can be promoted to director!

Xu Haoran was extremely excited and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Director Ma, and thank you to all the leaders for your trust."

Zhou Huixin was equally happy, smiling as she added: "Considering the special nature of intelligence work, the bureau's party committee has decided to allocate you a Toyota sedan with local plates and a 125 motorcycle. Although the Toyota is second-hand, it's in good condition."

"Thank you to all the leaders for supporting our intelligence work!"

"No need to thank us, just do your job well."

As soon as Zhou Huixin finished speaking, Investigation Department Director Wang Changjiang couldn't help but laugh: "Haoran, you have only three people now, if you're short on manpower in any situation, feel free to ask me."

The Intelligence Department mainly handles intelligence gathering, while case investigation relies primarily on the Investigation Department.

Xu Haoran smiled and said, "Thank you, Director Wang."

"No need to thank me, we are helping each other here." Wang Changjiang turned to look at Director Gu and continued, "I almost forgot, the Guzhou Branch has a lead. They called yesterday afternoon requesting our assistance, and we might need your help soon."

"They have a lead; what kind of help do they need from us?"

"They have a lead on smuggling on the river and need to verify it on the water. They have already requested assistance from the Changhang Guzhou Branch and the Shuzhou Police Bureau Water Police Station, but there aren't many law enforcement vessels on the other side, and the suspect vessel might head to our side, so we also need boats."

"Understood, I'll contact the Water Police Station immediately."

It proved to be the right decision to use Xu Haoran!

Just as the party committee had hoped earlier, he quickly "took over" Salted Fish's network of contacts, not only mobilizing various units along the Yangtze River to watch out for smuggling crime leads but also finding boats at critical moments.

Vice Port Director Ma nodded with a smile and encouraged him a few more times before heading downstairs to the director's office.

Zhou Huixin followed him in, immediately smiling as she asked: "Director Ma, I heard the Armed Police Branch's Captain Gao is transferring to our branch?"

"You're well-informed."

"I happened to run into Director Dong from the City Bureau after work yesterday, and he told me."

Even though Zhou Huixin transferred to the Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch, she still lived in the family quarters of the Binjiang City Police Department. The captain of the Binjiang Branch of Armed Police transferring to the branch was facilitated by Director Chen of the Binjiang City Police Department, who also serves as the First Political Commissioner of the Armed Police Binjiang Branch.

As a former committee member of the Binjiang Police Department, it was normal for Zhou Huixin to receive this information.

Vice Port Director Ma gestured him to sit while smiling and confirming: "That's right, it's basically confirmed. I went to Jiangcheng for a meeting two days ago, and Director Hu suggested that after he arrives, he'll be in charge of discipline inspection."

"How is the position arranged?"

"We have a small team in our branch, forming a party group, not a committee, so there isn't a Disciplinary Secretary. He'll manage discipline inspection as a party group member." Vice Port Director Ma smiled and curiously asked, "By the way, does Salted Fish know Gao Xudong well?"

Zhou Huixin replied without hesitation: "Not well."

"Is there any unit in Binjiang that Salted Fish isn't familiar with?"

"The Armed Police Branch is on land, while Salted Fish has always been on the water, so there's no interaction with the Armed Police Branch. If it were the Fire Brigade or the City Bureau Security Department, Salted Fish would be very familiar with them, having dealt with them often in the past."

"Salted Fish has been gone for almost a month now; I wonder what he's been busy with."

"Just read the newspaper, Director Ma, did you read today's 'Reference News'?"

"Is Salted Fish in 'Reference News'?"

"No, I'm talking about the Taiwan Strait situation."

"I've been so busy, I haven't had time to read it. Let me take a look."

Not knowing what's in the newspapers these days is one thing, but seeing it is quite another.

The hottest topic in the news these days is the military exercises on Dongshan Island!

Foreign media reported that over ten thousand Chinese troops have moved onto Dongshan Island in Jianfu Province for large-scale military exercises.

The headlines are eye-catching: Agence France-Presse stated, "Chinese Military Conducts Large-scale Military Drills Targeting Taiwan," BBC said, "Preparations for Battle in the Taiwan Strait," and Japan's Sankei Shimbun reported, "China Intensifies Pressure on Taiwan." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The Taiwan Army quickly "responded" by conducting live-fire artillery exercises in Penghu, right across from Dongshan Island, simulating firepower retaliation against forces landing on the coast, which is usually held at the end of the year.

Agence France-Presse provided a representative explanation for the liberation army's large-scale joint exercises, noting that since Li Denghui presented the "Two-State Theory," Beijing has significantly increased its pressure on the Taiwanese authorities. This military exercise demonstrates the mainland's consistent stance that if Li Denghui leads Taiwan towards "independence," they will "resort to force to retake Taiwan," and the purpose of this exercise is to "seize control of the Taiwan Strait"!

Seeing this, Vice Port Director Ma could imagine the tense atmosphere along the Southeast Coast, holding the newspaper as he mused: "Our police, our staff, and our anti-smuggling boats are all participating in the action. Logically, we should go show our support. But this is a military exercise, not flood control, and they're at sea. We may not be able to go, and even if we could, we won't see anyone."