At 9:11 p.m., after three days and three nights of sailing, China Customs 823 and China Customs 825 safely entered the sea area at the junction of Binjiang and the East Sea.

It was the open-fishing season, and the sea outside the Yangtze River estuary was packed with fishing boats.

Even cargo ships had to proceed with extreme caution when passing through here. Han Yu was equally careful, standing at the helm with Jiang Shengqi, closely watching the situation on the sea ahead.

"One seven five."

"One seven five here!"

Jiang Shengqi bent over to look at the radar and ordered, "One seven zero."

The Helmsman gently nudged the wheel, staring at the dense clusters of fishing lights on the sea, and replied, "One seven zero here."

"Ahead three." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Engine ahead three, speed 12 knots."

The anti-smuggling boat was towing a huge log raft, so this was the fastest it could safely go; any faster would be dangerous.

Han Yu had full confidence in Jiang Shengqi's command. Sitting in the chair reserved only for the boat captain, he stared at the radar display, finding it more and more puzzling.

Yao Yazhong, the watchstander in the lookout and communications group, had also noticed something unusual. Fixing his eyes on the radar, he said, "Secretary Han, something's off. These fishing boats look like they're heading back to port."

"Yeah, the season only just started. It's not like there aren't ships out here to collect their catch. Heading back now doesn't make sense economically!"

"Judging from their course, these twenty-odd fishing boats should be heading into the Yangtze. Since when do fishing boats enter the Yangtze?"

"Zhuangming and Dacang both have Fish Ports, and they have more fishing boats than we do in Linghai."

"Secretary Han, look at these few—seems like they're returning to Lvsi Port!"

Jiang Shengqi heard every word clearly and felt the same sense of strangeness. He turned and said, "We've been continuously monitoring the radio. Weather's perfectly normal; there's been no forecast of a typhoon, and Marine hasn't notified fishing boats to put in to the nearest port to shelter from wind."

Yao Yazhong looked up and said, "Secretary Han, should we check with Zhuangming Maritime?"

"We're not far from Changxing Island. We'll ask when we reach Changxing Island."

"Alright."

...

At the same time, Deputy Commander Yang of the Provincial Military District was personally overseeing operations in the Binjiang Military District command post.

It wasn't just Binjiang that needed to muster fishing boats; the three prefecture-level cities of Yungang, Salt Sea, and Guzhou were involved as well.

Commander Wang took the freshly consolidated documents from the Operations Staff officer, walked in, and reported, "Deputy Commander Yang, as of ten minutes ago, we've made contact with a total of 135 fishing vessels. Once the Civilian Soldiers heard there was an urgent mission, they were very enthusiastic. Our Military District fully consulted with the Fishery Administration and ultimately decided to recall 55 fishing boats in relatively good condition, with larger tonnage and more powerful engines. This is the list of requisitioned fishing vessels and the roster of Civilian Soldiers participating in the operation."

"Fifty-five?"

"Most of them are already on their way back. To make sure we complete assembly before 3 p.m. tomorrow, we have to factor in some uncertainties. If any fishing boat suddenly breaks down, those extra five can fill in."

Deputy Commander Yang nodded slightly. "Mm, that's very thorough."

Just then, a staff officer who had accompanied Deputy Commander Yang to Binjiang came in to report, "Guzhou Military District reports that all vessels of the Guzhou Civilian Transport Team participating in the exercise have been contacted. Of them, 18 fishing boats have already arrived at Liuhe Port. The rest are all en route back and will complete assembly before 12:00 noon tomorrow!"

"What about Salt Sea?"

"I'll get in touch right away."

"Don't rush them. Wait for their update."

"Yes, sir!"

As the staff officer had just stepped out of the command room, Commander Wang couldn't help asking, "Deputy Commander Yang, how many fishing boats are we requisitioning this time in total?"

Deputy Commander Yang was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "One hundred and fifty from Jiangnan, one hundred from the East Sea. Zhehai has a lot of fishing boats, so they're requisitioning more—no fewer than five hundred."

Requisitioning seven hundred and fifty fishing boats at once, all appearing in the same sea area—one could imagine how spectacular that scene would be!

Commander Wang was taken aback, and after a moment's thought, couldn't resist asking, "What about Jianfu and East Guang?"

"The landing exercise is divided into a left-wing group and a right-wing group. Our Nanjing Military Region is responsible for the left wing; the Guangzhou Military Region is responsible for the right. I don't know how many fishing boats Guangzhou Military Region is requisitioning." Deputy Commander Yang paused, then added casually, "And on our side, we're not only requisitioning fishing boats; we're requisitioning cargo ships as well."

No matter how big a fishing vessel was, its tonnage had limits; it could only be used to transport personnel. Tanks, artillery, and other equipment had to be ferried by cargo ships.

Commander Wang suddenly put the pieces together and asked in alarm, "With so many civilian vessels requisitioned, are there tens of thousands of troops taking part in the landing exercise?"

"I don't know the exact number of troops participating, but it's definitely more than ten thousand."

The exercise sea area, and the island they were to seize in the amphibious landing, lay only one day's sail from Taiwan.

There was no need to ask to understand that the Superior was making two sets of preparations: first use a large-scale landing exercise to intimidate the separatist forces. If those people remained obstinate and insisted on challenging the bottom line of the entire nation, it was highly likely they would ride the momentum and fight their way across for real!

Commander Wang grew more and more excited the more he thought about it. This year had been too stifling, and he'd just been regretting not having a chance to take part in the landing exercise when a staff officer from the Military District walked in and reported, "Political Commissioner Chen called to say that China Customs 823 and China Customs 825 have arrived at Changxing Island and are berthing at the Zhuangming Maritime Bureau pier under Zhuangming Traffic Control's instructions."

"Good, that's great!"

"Political Commissioner Chen also said that Comrade Han Yu salvaged more than sixty logs on the way over, each about one meter in diameter and roughly fifteen meters long. They lashed the logs into two big rafts and towed them back, and are asking for instructions on how to dispose of the wood."

"They salvaged a pile of logs?" Commander Wang asked, half amused, half helpless.

Deputy Commander Yang of the Provincial Military District had never met Salted Fish, but he'd heard the commander and political commissioner mention him more than once, and couldn't help laughing. "Political Commissioner Tian says Salted Fish not only doesn't drink but is also really stingy. Looks like the reputation is well-deserved!"

This was exactly "good deeds don't go out the door, embarrassing stories spread for a thousand miles."

Commander Wang couldn't help chuckling. "Logs about a meter thick and over ten meters long are worth quite a bit of money. If he saw them at sea, of course he'd figure out a way to tow them back."

"They've got gains before the fighting's even started. That's a good omen!"

"When you think about it, it really is. But how do we deal with those logs?" Commander Wang thought for a moment, then laughed again. "If we give them to the Zhuangming Maritime Bureau, he'll definitely be reluctant. After all, he hauled them back with a lot of effort."

Deputy Commander Yang had never run into this sort of thing before and said with a smile, "Let him handle it as he sees fit."

...

Director Jiang of the Zhuangming Maritime Bureau did not believe that Han Yu had hauled back so many logs just because he liked taking advantage.

It is no easy job for an anti-smuggling boat to tow big log rafts on a rough, choppy sea. You have to understand, a log raft not only has no power of its own, it doesn't even have a rudder. Towing back two big rafts is a real test of the crew's seamanship.

But right now Director Jiang had no time to chat with the just-landed Han Yu about the rafts. Instead, he handed over two faxed orders, looking rather embarrassed as he said, "Director Han, 823 and 825 have been 'requisitioned' by us. This is the notice from the General Administration of Customs, and this one is from the National Maritime Bureau."

Han Yu didn't understand, and looked at the documents as he asked, "We were already supposed to assist Maritime with perimeter security for the exercise area."

"Director Han, I'm not talking about the two anti-smuggling boats themselves, I mean the command authority."

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

Director Jiang was still wondering how to explain when Political Commissioner Chen of the Binjiang Military District, who had hurried to the island in the evening, came over laughing. "Salted Fish, you've got another task. From now on, 823 and 825 will come under the command of comrades arranged by the National Maritime Bureau. Once they finish resupplying, they'll proceed to the Zhedong Sea Area as planned to carry out patrol duties. You don't need to go. You're coming back to Binjiang with me."

"Back to Binjiang!" Han Yu was taken aback and pulled a long face as he asked, "Political Commissioner, if I go back with you to Binjiang, what happens to 823 and 825?"

"You have to trust your colleagues. I believe Comrade Jiang Shengqi and Comrade Liu Xinyong can lead all the crew to complete the tasks assigned by the superior."

"825 is my anti-smuggling boat. I'm the captain of 825!"

"I know, but you have a more important task now."

"What task?"

"The superior not only ordered the Rescue Boat Team's tugboat squadron, supply ship squadron, machinery repair squadron, medical team, and the Third Company of the Linghai Reserve Battalion to take part in the landing exercise, they also ordered our Military District to urgently requisition 50 fishing boats to form a Civilian Transport Team. From now on you will serve as captain of our Binjiang Reserve Corps, leading those vessels I just mentioned and the Reserve Soldiers to participate in the landing exercise."

Letting Jiang Shengqi act as captain, come under the Maritime Bureau's command, and lead the two anti-smuggling boats to the Zhedong Sea Area for patrol—Han Yu wasn't exactly worried, he just couldn't bear it. After all, 825 was a new boat he'd just taken over.

Then he thought about how, once back, he'd get to command so many civilian vessels, and couldn't help feeling a bit excited. He immediately said, "All right, since the superior wants me back, I'll go back."

"Hurry back to the boat and hand things over. Oh right, isn't Xiao Gong injured? Have Xiao Gong come back with us."

"Yes!"

Han Yu had only walked a few steps when he thought of something and turned back to ask, "Political Commissioner, what about the two log rafts?"

Political Commissioner Chen answered without thinking, "Commander Wang said you can handle them as you see fit."

Things picked up at sea aren't like things picked up on the river. Whoever finds them owns them.

The comrades had gone to a lot of trouble to salvage those logs and rack their brains to tow them back. There was no way Han Yu would just hand them over free to the Zhuangming Maritime Bureau. Smiling, he looked at Director Jiang and asked, "Director Jiang, could we moor the two rafts here first, and when we've finished our mission and are returning, swing by and tow them back?"

"No problem."

"Our conditions at sea were limited, so the lashings aren't very solid."

So not only do we have to look after them for you, we also have to find people to re-lash and secure them!

Director Jiang froze for a moment, then said helplessly, "All right, I'll arrange for someone to think of a solution later. Securing them shouldn't be a problem."

Han Yu thought about it and still didn't feel at ease. Wearing an apologetic smile, he added, "There are sixty-two logs in total. I'm counting on you."

Changxing Island is a long way from Linghai, hardly neighbors in any sense. But the Zhuangming Maritime Bureau is not only responsible for the waters around Changxing Island; it is also responsible for the safety of navigation on the Yangtze River North Branch Channel.

The Waterway Bureau may no longer maintain the North Branch Channel, but there are still inland river cargo ships sailing the North Branch.

The Zhuangming Maritime Bureau's North Branch Patrol Team has neither many people nor many Sea Patrol Boats. When it comes to ensuring navigation safety on the North Branch Channel—especially law enforcement on the North Branch Channel—they can't do without the support of the "Binjiang Water Army Commander." After all, there's history here, and that history goes back eleven years.

Director Jiang had known Han Yu for a long time, and could only smile stiffly. "Don't talk about counting on us—what can I say, we're old neighbors after all."