Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 440 - 309: Another Tradition

Back at Bailong Port, the ship repair continued.

The "Old Antique" vessel was too old, rusty and decrepit. It wasn’t cost-effective to do a major overhaul, and it seemed a pity to dismantle it for scrap steel, so we could only make do with patching it up.

If maintaining the Dunship and 001 was a technical job, then maintaining the "Old Antique" was entirely a matter of physical work.

First, we had to lift the balast stones from below the deck one by one, but the river was not like the shore. Where could we stack the two thousand tons of stones once they were lifted?

For this purpose, Han Yu specially drove the 001 to the Bin Qi River in the northern part of Linghai City. She had already coordinated with Vice Director Li, who was in charge of firefighting at the Linghai Police Bureau, and Director Zheng of the Linghai Fire Department to inspect the possibility of using 001 to assist with firefighting on water.

Then she borrowed four 500-ton iron barges from Linghai Shipping Company, towed them along the Bin Qi River with 001, entered the Yangtze River through Yingchuan Port Lock, and took a big detour back to Bailong Port.

The lockchamber at Bailong Port Lock was too small for the 500-ton barges to go through, so they had to take a detour.

Borrowing the barges to stack the stones was one thing, then another visit to Boss Zhang’s shipyard for thick and sturdy steel supports. We spanned them across the "Old Antique" in the river, installed pulleys, hoists, steel cables, and hooks. It took three full days to complete all the preparations.

First, we dismantled the deck of the "Old Antique," and then lifted the stones onto the barges.

Which side to start dismantling the deck from, where to start lifting the stones, all these matters required consideration.

It wasn’t just about the limited space; we also had to consider the balance of the "Old Antique" on water, so as not to cause it to be too heavy at the stern or imbalanced from port to starboard, as such a situation could easily lead to a capsizing accident.

To transfer over two thousand tons of ballast stones required more manpower than the Bailong Port Water Firefighting Team could offer.

Zhu Baogen helped by finding four laborers from home, paying them twenty-five yuan a day. They started at seven in the morning and finished at six in the evening, and were provided with lunch.

"Make sure it’s tied tight, Master Liu, the wind is strong today, hold onto the rope!"

"Master Wang, make way please, ready to lift off!"

Han Yu suddenly became the general commander of the maritime lifting operation, standing in the second-level pilot house of 001, commanding from a high vantage point through the loudspeakers on 001.

Zhu Baogen was responsible for binding the stones on the "Old Antique," checking the bindings to ensure no accidents would happen.

Xiao Gong was in charge of operating the hoist.

Zhang Ping, along with Liu Wenju and Guo Zhengguo, who came from the Binjiang Fire Department as interns, stayed on the barges. While receiving the stones lifted over, they were responsible for using the cables to adjust the position of the barges relative to the "Old Antique."

Jia Yongqiang and Chen Zikun wanted to help, but they were assisting the Third Team of the Port Supervision Bureau in their patrols and law enforcement.

It’s worth mentioning that, with Huang Yuanchang being borrowed by the higher authorities, the Third Team was now composed of only Han Xiangning, Old Ge the employee, and Jin Weiguo who had stepped back from the front line.

While everyone was busy, Han Xiangning and Director Jiang from Bailong Port Police Station came to the Dunship with several large bags of boxed lunches, calling everyone to eat.

Jiang Xiaojun had initially thought it was just some patching up, but he didn’t expect it to be such a large-scale project. He carefully climbed the "Old Antique," looked at Han Yu who just came down from 001 and asked, "Salted Fish, how many more days to finish?"

"Should be done in another month."

"One month!"

Before Han Yu could say anything, Han Xiangning said with a smile, "We need to lift all the stones used as ballast onto the barges before the ’Old Antique’ can float. Only when it floats can we start scraping off the rust and painting it with antirust. Once the paint is dried inside and out, we’ll have to lift the stones back and reinstall the deck." freёnovelkiss.com

Jiang Xiaojun thought about it and asked, "The hull can be scraped and painted, but what about the bottom?"

Han Yu looked up at the tall supports, then turned to look back at 001, confidently saying, "The ’Old Antique’ is just a hull, there are no equipments inside, so it’s not very heavy. We’ll drag it to the shallows when the time comes, lift the bow first to deal with the front of the bottom, and then lift the stern afterwards."

"That’s a major project!"

"It’s not a small project. It’s a bit strenuous now, but once it’s dealt with, it should be good for another three to five years."

"It’s good to properly repair it. If the ’Old Antique’ can’t be used, it really feels uncomfortable without a water platform."

Jiang Xiaojun laughed heartily and called him to go wash his hands for lunch.

Han Yu knew he wouldn’t have come to the Dunship for no reason. After washing his hands, he climbed up to the second floor and entered the meeting room where his senior had already laid out the boxed lunches and chopsticks.

"Uncle Jiang, is there something?"

"Director He talked to me yesterday."

"What about?"

Jiang Xiaojun had already had lunch and was smiling as he signaled Han Yu and Han Xiangning to eat. He said, "Director He mentioned that the higher-ups are not very satisfied with our station’s crackdown efforts, so the station has decided to establish a Severe Punishment Task Force. I used to work in Criminal Investigation, so they want me to return to the station to lead this task force."

Han Yu curiously asked, "What rank does this team leader position hold?"

"It’s not really a rank, just temporary."

"Temporary?"

"Director He has an ulterior motive. He not only wants to carry out organizational reform and adjust the mid-level cadres, but he’s also trying to change the age structure of the station’s police officers. Political Commissioner Jiang and Director Li have been busy these days talking to us older folks, over fifty and with limited education."

"What are they talking about?"

"Anyone who has worked for thirty years, regardless of how far they are from the statutory retirement age, can retire early. Those with twenty-five years of service and either poor health or lacking a high school diploma by now can also retire early with a pension."

One has to admit, the average age of the station’s police officers was indeed a bit high.

Han Yu pondered for a moment, then followed up with a question: "What if someone doesn’t want to retire or take a step back from their responsibilities?"

Jiang Xiaojun chuckled and said, "Those who don’t want to retire will all be transferred to the Severe Punishment Task Force."

"It seems there are quite a few people eligible for early retirement or stepping back!"

"Nineteen."

"With so many people leaving at once, can the grassroots police stations handle the workload?"

"If the old don’t leave, how can the new ones come in?" retorted Jiang Xiaojun, adding, "I heard Director He has requested eight graduates from the Ministry of Transport Police School and the Yangtze River Shipping Police School."

"Can eight intern police officers really replace nineteen?"

"Of those mentioned just now, at least nine of them barely do any work."

Jiang Xiaojun originally intended to smoke, but remembering that Han Xiangning was pregnant with Little Salted Fish, he put the cigarette he had just taken out back into his pocket and added, "Our division doesn’t have an onboard police team, but other divisions do. Waterway passenger transport has been declining year by year, and there are quite a few onboard police like Zhang Ping who need to be reassigned. There’s a place for each person, and they are all waiting for us to make room."

Han Yu did not expect Director He to take such major steps and asked quietly, "Uncle Jiang, would you take on the role of leader of the Severe Punishment Task Force?"

"I definitely can’t continue as the Instructor, and I really want to retire early. But the murder case at the Sailor Club is still unsolved, and if I retire early like this, it would be inappropriate to inquire about it again. So, I think I can’t retire just yet."

"You’re still thinking about that case?"

"Even though the murder didn’t occur in our jurisdiction, the victim was killed on his way home from the Sailor Club. So many leaders and friends have been transferred or even dismissed because of this case. As the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, I must give everyone an explanation."

Han Yu couldn’t help but think of the elders involved in that case and couldn’t resist asking, "Uncle Jiang, how is Director Chen faring?"

Remembering the former director of the Binjiang Port Police Station, Jiang Xiaojun felt an immense sense of guilt. After a moment of silence, he tried to sound light-hearted as he said, "He’s fine. He called me last month and even asked about you."

"Then who will be the Instructor after you return to Binjiang?"

"I don’t know."

"What about Uncle Liu? Is he going to retire early?"

"He doesn’t need to. It’s confirmed that Old Zhang will retire early. If Old Liu also retires or joins me in the Severe Punishment Task Force, who will handle the work here in Bailong Port? After all, your role as the deputy director of the police station is not the same as those at the other stations – you need to focus primarily on the ships."

Considering the sequence of impacts that the new director’s changes might trigger, Jiang Xiaojun lamented, "Wang Wenhong often jokes that we are like internal security for corporations. Indeed, there is some truth to his words. As a veteran police officer, I believe that the division needs to reform and establish normative structure.

Director Zhang previously wanted to reform as well, but like me, he had been tied down by the Port Authority for so many years, and unlike Director He, he didn’t have the strong support from superiors. That’s why he could only dream about it, and it wouldn’t be possible for him to implement such sweeping reforms like Director He.

But with Director He’s drastic actions, it’s very likely that the division will internally form two factions: one aligning with the Yangtze River Shipping and the other with the Port Authority. At least ideologically, these factions will form. Although you haven’t been at the division for long, you’re young, and you’ve received significant recognition from the leaders of the Port Authority, the Port Supervision Bureau, and even the Water Police Station. Once we old folks retire, some people might see you as the representative of the Port Authority faction."

Han Yu was stunned and replied with a wry smile, "Factions? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?"

"Whether it’s exaggerated or not, you’ll find out in time."

"Uncle Jiang, what do you mean by that?"

"The department intends to appoint Zhang Ping as the squad leader of the Bailong Port Water Firefighting Team. It’s not that I’m saying Zhang Ping lacks ability or that he doesn’t work hard. But how will others interpret such an arrangement!"

"People must think that because Zhang Ping was formerly an onboard police officer in the Changhang Police System and seen as one of Director He’s own, he was able to get promoted soon after transferring here?"

"It’s not an assumption; indeed, that factor exists."

Jiang Xiaojun took a deep breath and continued, "Personnel arrangements like this are going to become more common. Anyone with a past in the Changhang Police System or graduated from the Ministry of Transport Police School and the Yangtze River Shipping Police School will have an easier time getting promoted than local police from Binjiang."

Han Yu realized his elder was worried about him getting entangled in unnecessary strife and couldn’t help but laugh it off, "That’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, we are originally from the Changhang Police. We can’t always think of ourselves as just port police."

"I feel relieved if you think that way."

"Uncle Jiang, you’re still not at ease with me?"

"Director He has moved two of the three Firefighter Teams you worked so hard to establish, diminishing your role as the Deputy Division Commander and limiting you to just Bailong Port. Anyone in your shoes would be upset, how could I not worry?"

"As long as they don’t touch my ships, everything else is negotiable."

Han Yu chuckled, proudly lifted his chopsticks, and said, "Moreover, firefighting is different from other jobs. Even if I don’t directly manage the Gaoru Port Team and the Binjiang Port Team anymore, Tang Hongxin of Gaoru and Fang Guoya of Binjiang still listen to me. You can ask Ningning if you don’t believe me."

Jiang Xiaojun instinctively turned around.

Han Xiangning couldn’t help but recall how Xu Sanye remotely commanded the Water Police Station from Bailong Port and, covering her mouth, chuckled, "Uncle Jiang, firefighting is different from other roles. Water firefighting is also unlike land firefighting; it can be deadly if not handled properly.

As the leaders of the Firefighting Teams, both Captain Tang and Captain Fang will be the first to respond to any fires in their jurisdiction. They wouldn’t dare to joke with their own safety or the lives of enterprise firefighters. They almost call San’er every day, how to train, how to manage the team, how to adapt equipment to local conditions—all under San’er’s direction."

Jiang Xiaojun caught on and asked with a smile, "Do Director Ren of Gaoru Port and Director Yin of Binjiang Port know about this?"

"They do."

Taking over the conversation, Han Yu said in a casual tone, "Not only are they in charge of firefighting, but they are also overseeing station managers. If anything happens, their superiors will surely hold them accountable. So not only do they not oppose it, but they are also very supportive and have even called me several times offering to treat me to a meal."

"Ha ha ha ha."

"Uncle Jiang, what are you laughing at?"

"I’m happy."

Pointing at Han Yu, Jiang Xiaojun laughed and said, "It’s good to be able to remotely command from Bailong Port – you have a bit of your mentor’s flair. It seems that staying behind the scenes and making strategic plans is a tradition of the ’First Post of the Yangtze River.’"