Binjiang Police Affairs

I'm here at the shipyard to work.

Sweating profusely amidst the busyness, the call from Chen Zikun came through the walkie-talkie.

"Director Yu, Director Yu, please respond if you hear me."

"Received, what's up?"

"The 212 from Four Factory Police Station broke down again, and this time it broke down on the road. Director Shi called to ask if you are busy, if not, he would like you to take a look."

"What do you mean 'Four Factory Police Station's 212'? That 212 belongs to us."

"I know, but now it's broken down on the road."

Comrade Old Shi only knows how to drive, not repair, and is too stingy to spend money on sending it to a car repair shop. As soon as there is a malfunction, he calls Bailong Port.

To think that giving them an old jeep would bring such trouble!

Han Yu was left in a mix of laughter and tears, only able to hold the walkie-talkie and ask, "Where did the car break down?"

"North of the Red Flag Third Team bridge, not far from the Red Flag Bridge."

"Got it, I'll go back and get my tools."

Han Yu put down the walkie-talkie, called Xiao Gong, and cycled straight to the Dunship.

Chen Zikun and Zhang Ping couldn't repair cars, but they had seen Han Yu help Shi Shengyong fix cars more than once. Knowing what tools were needed, they had already brought the tools up from the hold and delivered them to the van parked on the riverbank.

Han Yu took the car keys from Chen Zikun, brought Xiao Gong with him, and hurriedly drove to Red Flag Third Team.

Sure enough, the 212 was out of commission. Shi Shengyong and Deputy Director Jianghai were standing by the road waiting.

Han Yu jumped out of the car, walked up to the 212, peered inside, and was surprised to find two auxiliary police officers sitting in the back seat, one on each side, with a downcast middle-aged man in handcuffs between them.

Shi Shengyong rounded the front of the car, came forward with a smile, and said, "Director Yu, sorry to bother you again."

Han Yu was not in the mood for pleasantries, asking curiously, "Are you out here to make an arrest?"

"It was Jianghai and the others who made the arrest; I just came to pick them up. But the car decided to fail us, it just stalled while driving."

"What did he do?"

Jianghai came over, helped open the hood, and explained, "Theft, intentional injury, he's been on the run for a few years. Last year I went out to pursue him and it was him I was chasing. We didn't catch him last year, but we found several leads. Since New Year's is approaching, we suspected he might sneak back home, so starting last week we've been staking out near his uncle's place. Who would've thought he'd really come back?"

Han Yu had worked at the Four Factory Police Station too, so he wasn't completely ignorant of the situation there. While he checked the car, he smiled and asked, "How many fugitives are still at large from Four Factory now?"

"With this one caught, now only three remain."

"Eight fugitives in total, and you've apprehended five in just one short year. Impressive!"

A setback teaches us a lesson.

Shi Shengyong was now very modest. Not wanting to seem as if the former administration was incompetent, he said with a smile, "What's impressive about it? Before, we let them run free mainly due to lack of funds. If we don't even dare to leave the station, how could we pursue and arrest them?"

Having finally caught a fugitive, they definitely wanted to rush back for interrogation.

With New Year's approaching, Han Yu did not want to delay their work and suggested, "Director Shi, why don't you put the fugitive into my car, and let Xiao Gong take you guys back first?"

"That works." Shi Shengyong weighed the options and then turned around saying, "Jianghai, you go ahead and transport the suspect back. I'll stay here with Director Yu until the car's fixed and then take it back."

"Okay, Old Liu, bring the prisoner down."

As soon as Jianghai finished speaking, Han Yu turned around and said, "Xiao Gong, bring over the tools."

"Yes!"

Assisting in the transport of a fugitive, this was a first for Xiao Gong, who couldn't help but sneak another glance at the fugitive, looking as if he had lost his soul, and then hurriedly turned to fetch the tools.

...

After watching his subordinates and the freshly captured fugitive depart, Shi Shengyong, leaning on the hood of the 212, asked, "Director Yu, how's the investigation on that human smuggling operation you're on to?"

"How did you know?"

"I was reporting to the Police Bureau yesterday, and Director Zhou told me."

As Han Yu removed the spark plugs, he said, "Our Criminal Investigation Team has contacted the Snake Head hiding in Japan. I can't just contact him again so soon; that would be too likely to spook them. Planning to wait a few days and then ask for Director Yu from Zhuangming Police Department to help out, ask him to arrange for someone to give me a call and probe around."

Shi Shengyong asked in a low voice, "You're concerned that a phone area code from Binjiang would raise the Snake Head's suspicions?"

"Mm."

"I think cutting off contact will make the Snake Head more suspicious."

"How so?"

"If you put yourself in their shoes, if you wanted to sneak into Japan to make big money, and you finally found a way to do it, would you give up because the price was too high, or would you keep in contact and ask if they could lower it a bit?"

"I was so close to the forest I couldn't see the trees. Director Shi, you're right, I'll call the Criminal Investigation Team when I get back, and ask them to keep in touch with the Snake Head and haggle over the price."

When it comes to sailing and repairing boats, driving and repairing cars, you're the expert.

But when it comes to being cunning, you're still a little green.

Shi Shengyong finally found some sense of superiority, and chuckled, "Director Zhou has his difficulties not investing, a few tens of thousands might be pocket change for you, and it's not a lot for our department either, but we have a big operation with a lot of expenses and we're even in debt. The New Year is coming, which is a time for spending, and the department really can't make ends meet."

Han Yu quickly said, "I know, I'm not saying Director Zhou is ungrateful."

"You didn't say it, but he feels somewhat uncomfortable and asked me to give you a heads-up."

Shi Shengyong paused and then continued, "Moreover, right now there is only one vague lead, no evidence, and we don't even know if we have jurisdiction. Even though Director Zhou is decisive, the Linghai Police Bureau isn't his personal property, nor is it a place he can dictate, so he certainly can't ignore all objections and take such a risk when funds are so tight."

"I understand."

"Actually, you could go across the river and talk to the Coast Guard. Smuggling is their responsibility, and they should be interested."

"I did go to them, and they are interested, but they're police regulars, part of the military forces, and their budget is even tighter than ours. In terms of financial management, they're much stricter than we are."

Local police departments and the Changhang Bureau at least have jurisdictions, and when fighting crime they can legally generate revenue, so they have at least some income.

Although the Coast Guard also has jurisdictions, their jurisdictions are at sea, and they only have the authority to manage maritime security. How much income can they possibly have? Also, their funding is akin to military expenses and cannot be used as flexibly as local police and Changhang police can.

Shi Shengyong realized the previously smooth-sailing young man was facing a dilemma, and wasn't sure how to console him when Han Yu looked up and said, "However, they did say that as long as I find more concrete leads and solid evidence, and the Snake Head uses sea routes for smuggling, they will report to superiors. At that time, patrol boats will be deployed to assist us in interception."

"That's putting the cart before the horse. If you can really find more concrete leads and solid evidence, wouldn't you be able to close the net without their help?"

"We need their help."

"You're saying we don't have maritime law enforcement vessels?"

"Not having vessels capable of maritime law enforcement is one aspect, but there's also jurisdiction involved."

"The San Zao Border Police Station also has jurisdiction."

"The key is even if the smugglers organized by the Snake Head took the sea route, they might not pass through the waters under the jurisdiction of the San Zao Border Police Station." Han Yu thought for a moment and then continued, "If we just need maritime law enforcement vessels, I could ask Fishery Administration for help."

Shi Shengyong nodded, his tone laced with regret, "To think that to smuggle into Japan it costs a hundred thousand, if the Snake Head organizes ten or twenty people, they can make millions in one go, and surely they've done it more than once. Come to think of it, this case might even be more promising than the Huayuan fraud case, it's just that the risks are too high."

"I never thought about how promising it is; I'm mostly concerned about the people who are being smuggled. If they take the sea route and something dangerous happens at sea, what then?"

"That's true. Those fishermen by the sea often get into trouble during the fishing ban when they sneak out to fish. Several people have died this year. They say that you have to see the living to prove life and see the body to prove death, but those fishermen, when trouble arises, not even the bodies can be found."

"That's why I'm so anxious."

"You're richer than anyone. If it comes down to it, take a gamble."

"What money do I have, it's all in the division's account. Even if I have the money, it's not just about wanting to gamble, we're sectoral police but we have financial management systems as well."

Shi Shengyong pressed, "So, what are you going to do?"

Han Yu had been thinking about this question from New Year's Day until today. Seeing how concerned Shi Shengyong was, he looked up and said, "Just because we can't afford to gamble doesn't mean others won't take the risk. If we can open a case and the superiors support my investigation, I can use the paperwork to request the bank to monitor the account the Snake Head gave our division's Criminal Investigation Team."

"If the Snake Head gave the account number to others, if someone's willing to spend a hundred thousand to smuggle to Japan to work illegally, we can trace the person through the payment records, then keep track of them, and eventually figure out how the Snake Head organizes the smuggling!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking, but our department leaders said it doesn't meet the conditions to file a case, and it's even less likely they could issue paperwork to request bank assistance."

"Your bureau's leaders are unwilling to help you, have you asked Director Zhou?"

"I've been busy these few days, going on duty at the docks in the morning, coordinating with the Passenger Ferry Police Team, and in the afternoon, keeping an eye on ship repairs, so I haven't got around to it."

Last year, after dealing with the Four Factory Public Security Department and making some money, it was all spent in less than half a year.

A few months ago, I worked with Salted Fish to crack down on fraudulent schools. Although a significant amount was confiscated and returned, the department had to share it with the Changhang Bureau, Zhuangming Police Department, and Water Police Station. Moreover, it wasn't just the Four Factory Police Station involved in the action; the Criminal Investigation Team and Security Team also took part, so not much was returned to the station.

Now Shi Shengyong is as poor as ever, thinking that horses don't get fat without night grazing, people don't get rich without unexpected wealth, he couldn't help laughing, "Leave it to me, I'll talk to Director Zhou."

"Would Director Zhou agree?"

"It's just a signature, it's not like he has to spend any money!"

The more Shi Shengyong thought about it, the more exciting it seemed, he chuckled again, "If both our departments work on this together, and you're familiar with Fishery Administration, if the gang uses the sea route and happens to pass through our Linghai seas. We'd borrow a boat from Fishery Administration, call San Zao Border Police Station, and head out to sea together to intercept. There'd be no need to go to the Coast Guard."