Binjiang Police Affairs

Director Liu asked in a low voice, "What about Bailong Port?"

"The security and firefighting of Bailong Port can be left to them as well. Oh, and when you get a chance, have Old Yang call Salted Fish to ask if he's willing to transfer over to take up the position of the soon-to-be-established Economic Police Team Captain. If he can handle the security and firefighting in the Port District well for a few years, I'll appoint him as the Security Director!"

Having Salted Fish come over and play a counterbalancing role with the He family is indeed a good idea.

Director Liu couldn't help but laugh. He hastily called over Director Yang from the logistics department.

Director Yang, upon understanding the whole story, found the situation both amusing and baffling. He quickly said, "Secretary Miao, Director Liu, I'll make the call right now, but I don't think Salted Fish is very likely to agree to transfer."

"He's our Port Authority's child; we watched him grow up. We care about him so much, and on issues of principle, his stance should be very firm."

"Secretary Miao, you misunderstand. Salted Fish respects you a lot, and he would definitely obey and follow orders in other matters. But asking him to transfer might really put him in a difficult position."

"What's there to be difficult about? Over there, he's a Deputy Division Commander, and I'm offering him the position of Branch Captain. As long as he achieves some results and accumulates some experience, there's room for further advancement. He could even become the Security Director!"

"Secretary Miao, I know you want to cultivate him, but the key point is that he's Xu Sanye's apprentice. He not only inherited Xu Sanye's boat but also took on the important responsibility of ensuring the unobstructed passage of the North Branch Channel and maintaining the security of the North Branch Waters. His heart is with the river and the boats, not ashore."

"That indeed is a problem. This kid is good in every aspect, but he's a bit single-minded."

Director Yang's son and Xiao Yu are truly colleagues. Director Yang treats Han Yu like a nephew and is very aware of the difficulties in being the Economic Police Team Captain. In fact, it might even be untenable, and he didn't want Han Yu to get involved.

Thinking of how the leadership was already infuriated and wouldn't be satisfied until the Changhang Bureau was properly chastised, he simply smiled and said, "Secretary Miao, Director Liu, I'll call and do some preliminary work on Salted Fish's thoughts. Also, I have an immature suggestion."

Secretary Miao asked subconsciously, "What idea?"

Director Yang said with a smile, "Didn't He Bin force so many old comrades into early retirement? We could totally rehire a few of them. Economic Police are still police and need to wear the uniform. Management of the force is very important. Those old comrades have rich public security work experience. If we invite them back, we don't have to worry about any issues in the force."

Those old comrades had the biggest grievances against the He family, and as Old Yang said, they have "rich work experience." Inviting them back to serve as Economic Police and play a counterbalancing role with the He family couldn't be more perfect.

The more Secretary Miao thought about it, the more interesting it seemed. He couldn't help but nod his head, "It will not only give the old comrades, who should not have retired so early, a chance to contribute, but it will also save costs. This idea is not bad."

...

Meanwhile, Han Yu had quietly returned to the city and was reporting to Director He.

The next task was to catch a smuggling gang, and it was very likely that assistance from the border security and even the Coast Guard would be necessary. Such an important matter had to be reported in person.

Had this been the past, Director He would certainly not have been pleased with subordinates independently coordinating investigations.

But times have changed. Director He had just made a stunning comeback, winning decisively, with the two "trump cards" for victory having direct or indirect connections to this young subordinate.

The first trump card was the quick extinguishing of the big fire. Once the investigation report came out, the leadership of the Changhang Police Bureau and Fire Department experts gave very high evaluations, recognizing the achievements of the Branch in the area of firefighting.

The second trump card was the rectification notice issued by the Binjiang Port Police Station during the pre-Spring Festival safety inspection. It seemed unrelated to the young fellow, but in fact, it was very relevant. The detailed rules, content, and procedures of the fire supervision were all formulated by the young fellow before his appointment.

More importantly, he had anticipated conflicts with the Port Authority before taking office.

The superiors were psychologically prepared and would not see the tense relationship with the Port Authority as an indication of the director's incompetence.

In summary, Director He was in good spirits because of the happy occasion and said to Han Yu with a light-hearted smile, "Since there's progress, go ahead and investigate. Don't pass up achievements that fall into your lap. As for Ningbo, if it really doesn't work out, I'll make the trip myself and take it as a nostalgic visit."

"Thank you, Director He."

"You're doing it for the job, there's nothing to thank me for."

Director He helped Han Yu pour some tea while asking with a laugh, "I almost forgot, have you contacted the manufacturers regarding the new fuel? Have you called to inquire with the inventor?"

This was an embarrassing topic.

Han Yu really didn't want to mention it, but since the Director asked, he had no choice but to brace himself and say, "I made contact."

"What did they say?"

"Director He, I called the number provided in the documents twice. The first time was on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. They said that marine diesel engines can definitely use the new fuel, but that there are so many orders placed that we'd have to wait at least six months to get ours, and we'd have to pay an advance deposit of thirty percent."

"And the second time?"

Han Yu hesitated for a moment, then sputtering a laugh, said, "The second time was yesterday. The person who answered was a fellow police officer. He said... he said the inventor is a fraudster who's been arrested by them for suspected fraud, and the factory has been shut down too."

Director He was stunned, murmuring to himself, "So many media outlets reported on it, how can he be a fraudster."

Han Yu quickly said, "Exactly, it's been reported by so many media outlets and described so professionally in the documents. I thought it was real too. I even suspected that the fellow officer who took the call was a fraudster. It was after I cross-checked the number and contacted the City Bureau that I found out he really is a fraudster."

The young man also thought it was real, Director He didn't feel as embarrassed anymore.

But as the head of the Changhang Navigation Police Branch, it was still not a shining moment that he had nearly fallen for a scam. Just as he thought of changing the subject, Han Yu's cellphone rang.

"Take the call first."

"Okay."

Han Yu didn't want the Bureau leadership to feel awkward. Without looking at the caller ID, he pulled out his phone and answered the call.

"Salted Fish, this is Yang Shanzhu. Is it convenient for you to talk right now?"

Yang San's father was already a "Mr. Nice Guy," and with his son working in the Changhang Police System, he surely wouldn't get involved in the disputes between the Port Authority and the Changhang Bureau. Seeing Director He watching him closely, Han Yu could only smile and say, "It's convenient."

Director Yang glanced outside then spoke in a hushed voice, "Salted Fish, it seems like our Bureau leadership has some misunderstandings with your leadership. They are planning to reestablish the Security Director and set up an Economic Police Team. Secretary Miao cares a great deal about you and thinks highly of you. He wants to transfer you to be the Branch Captain of the Economic Police Team."

"Ah..."

"Don't 'ah' now. This position of Branch Captain isn't easy and you might not want it, but I still have to pass on the message. If Secretary Miao asks, you need to think fast about what to say."

Director He heard everything clear as day, his complexion changing rapidly while he frantically gestured.

Han Yu couldn't express how awkward he felt, forced to brace himself and ask, "Uncle Yang, what will the Economic Police Team be in charge of?"

"They'll be in charge of the security of the Port District, including firefighting."

"What about our Bureau?"

"Eventually they will have to redefine the jurisdiction. It seems the leadership plans to have your Bureau in charge of the passenger terminals."

If all of this became reality, then the Changhang Bureau would just turn into an oversized police waiting room.

Director He realized he had been happy too soon and was instantly befuddled.

Han Yu hadn't anticipated that the leadership of the Port Authority could be so ruthless. Director He had just issued them a fine, and now they were ready to pull the rug out from under him; he didn't even know what to say for a moment.

Director Yang knew how shocking this news would be to Han Yu, reminding him, "Secretary Miao isn't just our Port Authority's Secretary; he's also the Vice Mayor. The Binjiang City Police Department will definitely support forming an Economic Police force and establishing the Economic Police Team. While it might not affect you much, you should be mentally prepared."