"I'm not the only one participating in the investigation, besides, this assignment was given to me by Director Feng."

As soon as Han Yu finished speaking, Director Guan asked in surprise, "Salted Fish, did the old director ask you to come back?"

"Who else but him, he called the Exercise Command Center, and two lieutenant generals helped me get leave from my superiors, I couldn't refuse even if I wanted to." Han Yu sighed lightly, emphasizing helplessly, "Do you think I wanted to get involved in this mess? I couldn't hide from it fast enough."

Deputy Director Liu couldn't believe his ears, muttering, "How could Director Feng ask you to pull strings for Zhonghai? Besides, Director Feng only worked at Cosco for two years, he never worked at Zhonghai, nor did he have much interaction with them."

Han Yu was at a loss on how to explain, when Han Xiangning said with a mix of laugh and exasperation, "Director Liu, it's very simple. During the exercise, he spoke without thinking and suggested to the superiors to set up a few reserve transport regiments at Cosco and Zhonghai, and to his surprise, the superiors accepted."

"And then?" Director Liu asked instinctively.

"He created trouble for others, so naturally they wanted to give him something to do. They wanted to transfer him to oversee the establishment of a reserve force. He was too scared to go, so Director Feng had to go to East Sea to clean up his mess. Essentially, he found trouble for Director Feng, and for Director Feng to open up the situation, naturally he had to find something for him to do."

"I understand now. Director Feng wants to set up a reserve force there, he definitely needs their support. Now that they have run into problems, he is obliged to do something."

"But this is an accident investigation, not something else!"

Feeling awkward under his senior's words, Han Yu hastily said, "Ningning, I said I'll only bring my ears and eyes, I won't be giving any opinions, you do your investigation, I came back mainly to show that we're not ignoring Zhonghai's issues."

The construction of national defense reserve forces and maritime law enforcement are two different things.

Han Xiangning felt that personal and public matters should be separate, muttering, "What do you mean just bring your ears and eyes, those who know the inside story will know you're trying to show an attitude, but those who don't might really think you don't trust our investigation!"

"Isn't that a bit over the top? I'm not an outsider."

"In any case, I won't agree. If you insist on joining the accident investigation, I won't join. I don't want to be misunderstood."

"Ningning, don't get anxious. Director Xu and Director Zhu are coming back soon, let's see what they say when they arrive."

"Alright."

...

Eagerly rushing back, only to be disliked by the senior. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Feeling a bit down, Han Yu put down his luggage and tagged along with his senior to the canteen for a meal, then used the Maritime Bureau's phone to contact Director Feng.

"You've arrived at Binjiang?"

"Just arrived, Ningning just gave me a talking to."

"Hahaha."

"Director Feng, you can actually laugh." Afraid of being ridiculed, Han Yu quickly closed the door.

"It's normal for Ningning to say something. I'd find it strange if she didn't pull your ear."

"Director Feng, does it make sense to keep bringing up the past? And besides, me coming back to participate in the accident investigation isn't really appropriate. You're a senior leader, an old cadre, an old Party member, you really shouldn't have mentioned this to Zhonghai's leadership, let alone called to have me come back."

"What's appropriate or not, I can't help it in the world I live in!"

Director Feng retorted with a smile, watching his wife ironing the military uniform, he laughed, "You know perfectly well what you should do next, it's enough that you're back now. If you didn't come back, how could I carry out the work here which should have been yours? I don't blame you, but instead, you are blaming me."

The elder's implication was clear, it didn't really matter what he did next.

Han Yu didn't want to think about the accident investigation anymore and curiously asked, "Director Feng, can the situation in East Sea be opened up?"

"Every beginning is difficult, think of ways, put in more effort, and it'll open up sooner or later."

Director Feng looked again at the new military uniform, speaking with a bit of self-mockery, "To get me into the state quickly and make my work easier, they actually delivered a military uniform to me first thing this morning."

Han Yu was startled, asking, "Director Feng, have you been called up for service?"

"How could that be, my age is right here. Even if I wanted to go back to the military, they wouldn't want me."

"Then what are they sending you a military uniform for?"

"I told you, it's for the convenience of work."

"If there's a uniform, then there should be a rank. What's the rank?"

"It's a little ridiculous, I couldn't get promoted to lieutenant general while in the army, but now in retirement, I can wear the reserve rank of lieutenant general."

"Director Feng, that means you're a general now!"

"A fake general, have you ever seen a reserve lieutenant general?"

"I haven't."

"That's it, the superiors mainly considered making it easier for me to work."

Director Feng smiled and patiently explained, "It's like this: forming two reserve regiments under one family is like forming two reserve divisions. The superiors asked me to take the lead in their formation because they felt my rank shouldn't be too low, otherwise, no one would listen to me.

The superiors actually wanted to grant me a reserve major general rank, but I was already at a major general rank at the time of my transfer, and both the reserve major general and reserve lieutenant general ranks need approval from the Central Military Commission. More importantly, I'm way past the age limit, and not to mention, there's no precedent in the whole military for granting a reserve lieutenant general. Even if there was, my age wouldn't qualify."

Han Yu asked puzzled, "Then how did the superiors award you the lieutenant general rank?"

"It's not an official award, they're just letting me wear it temporarily for work purposes."

"Not official?"

"It was never meant to be official."

Director Feng took a small sip of tea, continuing, "My situation now is equivalent to being the First Secretary of the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division. During major operations, I wear the uniform and the reserve lieutenant general rank; when there are no major operations, I don't need to wear the uniform or the rank."

Despite having served in reserves for so long, Han Yu didn't truly understand this, instinctively asking, "Does the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division have a First Secretary?"

"Yes, I think it's concurrently held by a deputy provincial level leader. But as far as I know, that deputy provincial leader has never worn a military uniform nor worn the reserve lieutenant general rank. Of course, they are already deputy provincial level leaders and don't need a uniform or rank to demonstrate their identity or status."

"Director Feng, so you're now enjoying deputy provincial level leadership treatment!"

"Only temporarily enjoying some political treatment of deputy provincial level leadership, and only partially. Once I finish the job you found for me, I won't enjoy it anymore, and I'll have to return both the uniform and rank."

Indeed, he is a "fake general"...

However, on further thought, although the "Reserve Officer Law" had been developed and promulgated long ago, the highest organization for reserve forces is only a commander. Moreover, all officers above the battalion level in reserve forces are active-duty officers, so there is essentially no reserve lieutenant general.

Realizing this, Han Yu couldn't help but laugh, "Being able to pretend to be a General Star for a few days, able to act as a general for a couple of days, isn't too bad."

What amazed Han Yu was that Director Feng actually muttered, "Even if it's only temporary, what if it were real, can a reserve lieutenant general count as a real general? I have several comrades from back in the day who are vice admirals, soldiers I led back then are now already lieutenant generals in the current active forces. If I were to become a reserve lieutenant general, people would laugh at me!"

Admittedly, for Director Feng, a reserve lieutenant general really isn't worth much, considering his qualifications.

Back then when he was already stepping back into a secondary role, he got transferred to Cosco, causing a lot of people to wonder. Han Yu couldn't understand it at all.

It wasn't until he was "transferred" to the Navy to become the Binjiang Naval Reserve Rescue Ship Captain that he realized it was strongly recommended by the Navy Headquarters Commander so that he could contribute at Cosco, as the Navy at that time was even more troubled than now, with many tasks relying on Cosco's support.

In conclusion, in the eyes of many Navy generals, although Director Feng wasn't a general, he was pretty much like one, that he was the Navy's "unofficial general."

To have so many people remember you even after retirement, and to be invited to continue contributing, is no easy feat.

Feeling deeply touched, Han Yu was lost in thought when his senior knocked and entered.

"San'er, Director Xu and Director Zhu are back, they're asking you to come upstairs for a chat."

"Oh, I'm on my way!"