Following the senior student upstairs, we met Director Xu and Sister Zhu.

What amused Han Yu was that they seemed uninterested in his insistence on joining the accident investigation. Instead, they were eager to ask about the military exercise, specifically about the situation of Political Office Director Qin Weiquan of the Rescue Boat Team.

After thinking about it, it made sense.

Old Qin is a cadre of the Maritime Bureau. If he could merit an award during the exercise, it would be a glory for Binjiang Maritime Bureau.

"Director Qin is doing very well over there, busier than me, the one with hands-off management."

"What is he busy with?"

Director Xu adjusted his glasses, filled with anticipation.

Sister Zhu said nothing but looked equally curious.

Han Yu explained with a smile, "He is the team leader responsible for the rescue operation. There were many civilian ships coordinating with active-duty forces for the beach landing drill. Although the Exercise Command Center placed red flags on the sea according to the tides, the impact of the sea waves was greater than that of the river. Many red flags used to mark positions were washed away, directly causing many fishing boats to cross the line and run aground on the beach."

Director Xu laughed and asked, "Does he have to command 'Big 001' to tow them?"

"Not only do they need to help tow the fishing boats, but some boats broke down after running aground, and some had their propellers entangled with fishing nets during navigation. They couldn't lift their anchors while anchored, so he had to organize the mechanical repair squad and the diving squad for repair and rescue."

Han Yu paused and continued, "Moreover, at the beginning, many soldiers participating in the exercise got seasick. Some didn't acclimatize, and some even fell ill. Although there was a health team on the island, and even a field hospital, there were too many troops participating. The health team and field hospital were overwhelmed, and he had to organize our medical team to help with the treatment."

Director Xu knew that was all Han Yu could disclose, so he asked the most crucial question: "Salted Fish, can Old Qin earn a third-level merit this time?"

"I don't know."

"Aren't you an observer? Observers are like referees, how could you not know!"

"The exercise is ongoing. The superiors are busy summarizing the shortcomings and issues exposed during the exercise. They simply don't have time to consider evaluating and awarding merits right now."

"The exercise is still ongoing?"

"Yes."

"When do you think it will end?"

"I don't know."

Sister Zhu recalled what her husband said while watching the news the night before and looked up, "It seems the military exercise won't end anytime soon. The end depends on whether Taiwan decides to back down."

Han Yu nodded, "That could be the case, it should be."

Knowing this much "insider information" was already hard to come by. Director Xu didn't dare to ask further and instead invited Han Yu to drink tea while smiling, "Xiang Ning told us about your desire to participate in the accident investigation. Director Zhu and I know you have no other choice."

"Director Xu, Director Zhu, I'm sorry for putting you in a difficult position."

"It's not a problem."

Director Xu looked up at Han Xiangning and said meaningfully: "Salted Fish, although you are a PSC inspection advisor in our bureau, participating in the upcoming accident investigation is not appropriate in the capacity of a consultant since it's not a ship safety inspection. We can only have you participate as a translator, and our bureau just happens to lack English-speaking talent."

Han Yu laughed, grinning, "Being a translator is fine too."

Sister Zhu, however, was curious and asked, "Salted Fish, you said you returned on leave. So, does this mean after the accident investigation, you'll go back to continue being an observer?"

"There's nothing much to observe about the Civilian Militia Reserve Force. I'm just an observer in name. Nowadays, instead of being called an observer, it's more accurate to call me a member of the publicity team, busy making reports on anti-flood and emergency rescue experiences to the troops participating in the exercise."

"Reporting on anti-flood and emergency rescue experiences is also great. You're originally an anti-flood model."

"Sister Zhu, it's not as glorious as you think. Speaking of anti-flood models, there are plenty of them on the island. Their deeds are even more touching than our Linghai Reserve Camp's. They even wrote their wills during the flood rescue, but we didn't consider these things at all."

"You were the Water Police. With your preparations so thorough and having boats at hand, of course, you wouldn't think of such things."

"That's why we don't know what to report. The leadership from General Politics has high demands, causing Ma Jintao and me to rack our brains daily, figuring out how to make the reports touching."

"Leadership from General Politics?"

"The Wartime Anti-Flood and Emergency Rescue Report Team falls under General Politics."

"Wow, does that mean you know leadership from General Politics?"

"Not quite high-ranking leadership. The one directly in charge of us is a Major General at the commander level."

"A commander level isn't high?"

"Not at all, there are at least a hundred generals on the island. Even a Lieutenant General isn't considered a big commander, let alone a commander."

With more than a hundred generals there, it indicates how many troops are involved. It suggests that the superiors have prepared for two possibilities regarding the Taiwan Sea crisis.

Sister Zhu was inwardly shocked and dared not ask more questions. She immediately stood up, "Salted Fish, the collision between Chinese and Korean cargo ships the night before last has drawn great attention from the superiors. Since yesterday morning until now, Director Tang has already called us six times. After deliberating, our bureau's committee decided that Director Liu would personally serve as the head of the investigation team, with Xiang Ning, Old Guan, and Old Wu as deputy heads.

You have traveled overseas, been at sea, and seen the world. You have a better understanding of international conventions than us. Although you are assisting the investigation as a translator, you shouldn't just act as ears and eyes. If you discover any problems during the investigation that we have overlooked, you should promptly remind us."

Director Xu wholeheartedly agreed, patting him on the arm, "This is an international maritime dispute. The superiors entrusted us with the investigation rather than having Zhangjia Port's Maritime Department do it, which is a vote of confidence in our Binjiang Maritime Bureau. With your involvement, we feel more assured."

"I was brought in by Zhonghai, I must be cautious with my words."

"We don't trust others, but surely we can trust you, right? Besides, we're only responsible for the investigation, not the resolution. As long as both parties accept the investigation results, there shouldn't be any disputes."

Disputes are bound to happen.

For instance, whether the Korean cargo ship bears any responsibility in this collision accident, and if so, how it should be divided.

However, these disputes really don't have much to do with the Binjiang Maritime Bureau. The parties involved will definitely go to court. Ultimately, whether the Korean cargo ship is responsible depends on how the maritime court mediates it, and if mediation fails, how the judge rules.

But some matters can't be rushed.

The ship agency called to say that the representatives of the Korean Shipowners and the Korea Shipowners' Mutual Protection Association would only arrive tomorrow morning. The capsized cargo ship from Zhonghai is a coastal cargo ship, not an international trade ocean-going vessel, so it didn't pay into the China Shipowners' Mutual Protection Association, only had "hull insurance" from a commercial insurance company. We have to wait for the insurance company to arrive for the joint investigation.

Han Yu and the senior went to the river on a sea patrol boat to take a look, ensuring there was no fuel leak was a relief. Then they went to the Sixth Pier at Binjiang Port to check the damage to the Korean cargo ship "Yangmi". After greeting the officers from the border inspection station on monitoring duty, they hurried to the Anti-Smuggling Crimes Branch to report to Vice Port Director Ma and Political Commissioner Zhou.

As a result, Ma Guan and Political Commissioner Zhou, like the two leaders from the Maritime Bureau, were not very interested in the traffic accident on the river. They only cared about the situation on the 825 boat and the crew, and didn't even bother asking about the 823 boat.

The matter of dealing with US Navy ships is not considered a secret. It's said that the United States had already protested that China Sea Supervision vessels and anti-smuggling boats were "dangerously driving," nearly colliding with their warships.

Han Yu truthfully reported the situation.

Vice Port Director Ma listened, becoming very excited, and asked Han Yu intently, "So our anti-smuggling boat achieved a great success!"

"Yes, Vice Commander Yu and Captain Fang from the East Sea Fleet spoke highly of Jiang Shengqi, Guo Weitao, and Xiao Gong. However, our 825 boat is not under the command of the military, nor was it carrying out tasks assigned by the Exercise Command Center. It's quite unlikely for the military district and fleet to commend them."

"The General Administration should know, right?"

"They certainly know. The Exercise Command Center informed them long ago."

"As long as the General Administration knows."

Just as Vice Port Director Ma finished speaking, the phone beside him rang.

"Salted Fish, have some tea, I'll take this call."

"Ma Guan, you go ahead, I'll head out."

"Wait, we're not done talking yet."

Vice Port Director Ma indicated for Han Yu, who had just stood up, to sit down again, while smiling on the phone, saying, "Director Hu, hello. Director Hu, what instructions... Is that so, confirmed to be held in Binjiang, alright then! We'll be responsible for hosting it, I guarantee to prepare well and provide good service!"

Han Yu was utterly confused.

Zhou Huixin seemed the same way and couldn't help but ask, "Ma Guan, what's going on, hosting what?"

Vice Port Director Ma hung up the phone, looked at the two, and said with a smile, "Director Hu said the General Administration and the General Office plan to hold a water anti-smuggling key personnel training program, and they plan to do it here in Binjiang!"

"The General Administration and General Office want to hold a training program in Binjiang?"

"We achieved results, the 825 boat has made great contributions, it's quite normal for this program to be held in Binjiang. The leadership from the General Administration and General Office will certainly attend the opening ceremony. Old Zhou, we need to prepare well."

"Did Director Hu say when this training program would commence?"

"They're planning to start at the end of next month, probably waiting for the military exercise to end, and until the 823 and 825 boats return from their tasks."

Vice Port Director Ma was increasingly excited, couldn't help but pat Han Yu's arm, "Salted Fish, you've held the small program, the large one shouldn't be a problem. Later on, we'll hold a party meeting, you attend, study well, and quickly set up the preparatory team."

Han Yu replied with a troubled face, "Ma Guan, I'm not familiar with meeting affairs!"

"You can learn if you don't know it, besides the logistic support work is led by the office, you'll mainly be in charge of coordinating with the General Administration's Maritime Anti-Smuggling Office. After all, it's the training program, the content to train, which leaders and experts to invite, they need to follow the General Administration."

"Yes, different field different job. You're more knowledgeable about this than us, you need to lead!"

Fearing Han Yu would take it lightly, Vice Port Director Ma emphasized, "Salted Fish, the decision by our superiors to hold the training program in Binjiang is a recognition of our branch's work, it's our branch's glory. The preparatory work must be done well, this is a political task!"

When it comes to water anti-smuggling, the leaders indeed are outsiders.

Han Yu found himself cornered, and could only agree resignedly, but still couldn't help asking, "Ma Guan, holding a training program costs money. Did Director Hu mention who covers the training expenses?"

"..."

Vice Port Director Ma froze, entirely not expecting Han Yu to ask this question.

With prior experience of Han Yu being frugal, Zhou Huixin couldn't help but laugh, "Surely the superiors will pay, even if they don't, so what, it's not everyone who gets the opportunity to host such a high-level training program."

"Yes, no need to worry about funding," Vice Port Director Ma recovered, remembering Han Yu's notorious thriftiness, instinctively asking, "Almost forgot, did you buy some gifts for the kids on the way back?"

"No."

"Traveling so far, how can you not bring some gifts for the kids!"

"I... I came back for a temporary leave, it was already late by the time I got to the airport, all the shops were closed. Even if they weren't closed, I wouldn't buy them. Things at the airport are so costly."

"First attend the party meeting, after the meeting quickly go out and buy something, otherwise the kids will be disappointed."

"That's it, thanks for the reminder, Ma Guan."