Chapter 1338: Chapter 159: Leadership Inspection (Part 3)

Han Yu delivered the pears to the boat, took the pickup at Linghai Port to the camp, and saw the "full-time reserve soldiers" Wang Tiejun and Yan Huadong standing guard at the gate of Linghai Reserve Camp. It was only then he realized that the higher-ups had arranged everything in advance, and there was no need for him, a former camp commander, to pave the way.

The reason Wang Tiejun and Yan Huadong are called full-time is because both of them work at the camp.

One was a retired soldier recruited by Chief Ding when he took over Sanhe Heroes’ Cemetery, and the other was a retired armed police officer placed by the Civil Affairs Bureau at the Water Resources Bureau’s material reserve center. One looks after the Heroes’ Cemetery with Old Ding, and the other looks after the flood control material storage warehouse with Liu Degui. Their reserve duty, like Liu Degui’s, can last until retirement!

Normally, they don’t have to stand guard; they only do so when the higher-ups come to inspect the work, and they only need to wear uniforms with a weapon belt.

Today is more exaggerated than usual; the military uniforms are pressed crisply, and each is holding a Type 95 automatic rifle!

Most active-duty troops still use the Type 81, with only the Hong Kong Garrison, Macau Garrison, and a few elite troops equipped with the Type 95. Han Yu found it quite amazing and couldn’t help but ask with a laugh, "Tiejun, nice gun, how many are equipped?"

"Not a single one is equipped; our camp doesn’t have any firearms or ammunition!"

"Then where did this gun come from?"

"The Camp Commander borrowed it from the Military District; it has to be returned early tomorrow morning."

The Military District has few active-duty soldiers and did equip the guard company with the Type 95.

Han Yu realized and asked curiously, "Are there bullets?"

Yan Huadong laughed, "No, the magazine is empty."

"Just for show!"

"Secretary Han, it’s no use telling us; Minister Yang and the Camp Commander are inside, you can go in and tell Minister Yang."

"Who’s else inside?"

"All the officers and soldiers from the Changhang System and Road and Bridge Company who could come are here." Wang Tiejun thought again and laughed, "Ge Diao is here too, drinking tea with Minister Yang in the camp office."

"Alright, I’ll head inside."

Han Yu patted Wang Tiejun’s arm and strode into the camp.

The Linghai Reserve Camp is not what it used to be; the previous rows of bungalows have been razed, replaced by a building with a glass curtain wall in the center and steel doors and windows on both sides.

An enormous "Ba Yi" military emblem hangs on the glass curtain wall, and the foyer below is just as grand as the outer gate, allowing cars to drive all the way to the front. During wind and rain, leaders get out without getting wet.

Just as Wang Tiejun and Yan Huadong mentioned, all the reserve soldiers from the transportation system, including Wu Hai Li, Hu Genhua, and Xiao Yu, who could come, were there, all changed into uniforms and wearing their reserve ranks.

Camp Commander Yang Jianbo and Instructor Sun Youyi stood outside, one holding a walkie-talkie asking when the higher-ups would arrive, the other constantly checking the time on his phone, ready to assemble everyone into formation.

Han Yu greeted his old comrades and walked into the spacious and bright hall, heading to the office on the left side, where Minister Yang from the Linghai Armed Forces Department was indeed having tea and chatting with Old Ge.

"Uncle Ge, Minister Yang, when did you arrive?"

"I came in the morning; Minister Yang just got here."

"You came in the morning!"

"Minister Yang personally called and even arranged a car for pick-up. How could I not come?" Old Ge laughed as he set down his tea cup.

Although Minister Yang is a City Committee Member, he doesn’t hold much "real power." His actual status in Linghai may indeed be lower than Old Ge, the former Transportation Bureau Director and soon-to-retire Deputy Researcher.

Seeing Old Ge make a joke, Minister Yang quickly said, "Salted Fish, don’t believe Ge Diao; I’m just following orders. Who told you to be the camp’s senior expert, and who told you to know the leaders of the Ministry of Transport!"

"Uncle Ge, you know Minister Yuan?"

"I wouldn’t say I know him, just met once."

Old Ge took out a cigarette and said proudly, "I went to the Capital two years ago to attend the National Flood Control Summary and Commendation Conference as an anti-flood model of the transportation system. The Ministry of Transport arranged the accommodations, and the ministry’s general office organized several of us to attend the meeting at the People’s Hall. After the meeting, the ministry hosted a celebratory feast, and Minister Yuan and other ministry leaders invited a few of us for a meal and drinks."

If I remember correctly, there weren’t many flood control models from the transportation department, possibly not enough to fill a table.

It was normal for ministry leaders to invite them for a meal and toast them. Unlike the Liberation Army Delegation with so many people, where the commanders only symbolically toast from one table to the next.

Han Yu realized and curiously asked, "If you know Minister Yuan, why didn’t Secretary Lu and Secretary Qian invite you to accompany Minister Yuan at Sanhe Hotel for dinner?"

"They did invite me; Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen both called."

"Then why didn’t you go?"

"What’s interesting about dining with leaders; I dislike having meals with leaders the most!"

Old Ge flicked his cigarette ash and turned around with a smile, "Minister Yang, if you call me today, I have to come because I am still the Deputy Researcher of the Linghai City Government. If you call me in six months, I surely won’t come. It’s not about disrespect; by then I’ll be retired, and what’s out of sight, out of mind."

For others, having the opportunity to host top leaders is very prestigious, even an honor. But for old comrades like Old Ge, hosting top leaders is a troublesome affair.

Having served as an official for so many years, it’s a relief to retire; with some free time, there are better things to do—why join in this clamor...

Minister Yang could empathize with Old Ge’s sentiments, but still chuckled, "Ge Diao, you veterans are invaluable assets to Linghai. You shouldn’t retire so easily; you should continue to contribute. Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen have great respect and care for old comrades, allocating over a dozen million to build a new building for the Old Cadres Bureau. Activities of the Old Promotion Association, Care and Guidance Committee, and Old Cadres University will increase. It’s said they’ll arrange offices for you!"