Chapter 1341: Chapter 160: What Matters Is Having a Gun!

Deputy Minister Yuan collected himself, turned around, and tightly shook Han Yu’s hand: "Friend Salted Fish, Friend Jianbo, you are all heroes!"

"Minister Yuan, actually, we just did what we were supposed to do. At that critical moment, I believe anyone who went up the embankment would have thrown themselves into rescue efforts just like us."

Han Yu watched the video for a while, and was moved by himself and his comrades; he took several deep breaths and then looked back at Vice Mayor Qin, choking up as he said, "Mayor Qin visited us in Jingjiang to offer condolences. He saw that the soldiers were exhausted and braved the scorching heat to carry sandbags alongside them, almost to the point of collapse."

"Really?"

"There are photos ahead; the Beihu Province Military District and the Jingjiang Military District even awarded Mayor Qin with a flood rescue commemorative medal."

Vice Mayor Qin was taken aback and hurriedly pushed forward, looking slightly embarrassed as he said, "Minister Yuan, I only helped carry sandbags for a little while. Age is unforgiving; after a while, I could hardly manage anymore."

"At least you went to carry them. Anyone who participated in flood rescue is a hero!"

"Thank you, Minister Yuan, for your praise."

Who said San’er lacks understanding of human nature?

Han Xiangning was very pleased with his junior’s performance and took the opportunity to say, "Leaders, please look here. This is the true honor room of our Linghai Reserve Camp. This is a photo of our camp experts and officers attending the National Flood Control Summary and Commendation Conference at the People’s Hall. Our camp was awarded the ’Advanced Flood Rescue Collective’ banner by the National Flood Control Headquarters, Ministry of Human Resources, and the General Staff Department of the People’s Liberation Army.

This is a photo of Friend Han Yu attending the Army Flood Rescue Commendation Conference at the People’s Hall, when he was the Camp Commander. Our camp was awarded the honor title of ’Anti-flood Rescue Model Camp’ by the Central Military Commission, one of only twelve units in the entire army to receive this accolade, and our camp was one of them."

Not knowing is shocking; knowing is startling.

The honors received by the Linghai Reserve Camp are truly remarkable, with many more honorary banners.

Even more unexpected is that the Linghai Reserve Camp’s achievements are not only reflected in the 1998 flood rescue efforts; it has also received many honors in the past two years, even being evaluated as an advanced collective in military technology training, with several officers winning second and third place awards for technological advancement in the military.

The walls are covered with photos of unit leaders visiting the embankments during flood efforts to see the officers and soldiers, as well as photos of unit leaders inspecting the camp area. There are over a dozen Lieutenant Generals alone.

Deputy Minister Yuan looked at the photos on the wall and recalled Director Xiao Han mentioning the funding shortage for the Linghai Reserve Camp. He felt that he couldn’t leave without doing something, so he stopped immediately and turned to the group, saying: "Secretary Lu, seeing all this makes me feel rather guilty; the Linghai Reserve Camp is a camp we developed jointly with your transportation system, yet over the years, we have not paid enough attention to the Linghai Reserve Camp."

"Minister Yuan, your visit to guide inspections is the greatest concern for all officers and soldiers in the camp!"

"I’m late; I should have come earlier."

Deputy Minister Yuan weighed his options, turned to Han Yu and others, saying: "Comrades, I noticed some paper and ink prepared earlier, as if expecting me to write something."

Han Yu didn’t really pay attention and instinctively looked over.

Deputy Minister Yuan chuckled and continued, "My calligraphy isn’t good, so I won’t embarrass myself, but I can make a statement. First, when I return, I will report the camp’s situation at the department’s party committee meeting to see if I can help you secure some funding."

Such good fortune!

Han Yu beamed and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Minister Yuan."

Deputy Minister Yuan nodded lightly and smiled, saying, "Secondly, starting this year, for each Ba Yi Army Day and Spring Festival, the department will come to Binjiang to offer condolences to everyone. Furthermore, if the camp encounters any difficulties in construction or work, they can report them to the department through the Changhang Bureau, and as long as it’s feasible, the department will think of ways to help solve them."

Yang Jianbo couldn’t believe his ears and suddenly froze.

Minister Yang quickly nudged his arm, and he abruptly reacted, like Han Yu, standing at attention and saluting to express gratitude.

The third agenda was a tour of the soldiers’ dormitories, examining their internal affairs.

The soldiers train there only a few days a year, so the beds are hardly slept in normally, yet the dormitories are cleaned meticulously, with blankets folded like tofu cubes, and cups, toothbrushes, and towels placed neatly.

The final agenda was to invite Deputy Minister Yuan and the other leaders to take a group photo with the soldiers.

In Deputy Minister Yuan’s mind, Old Ge is a highly respected, learned, professor-level senior engineer, and was invited by Deputy Minister Yuan to sit beside him, meanwhile Vice Mayor Qin, Secretary Qian of Linghai, and the other leaders had to sit at the sides.

Han Yu didn’t wear a military uniform and wasn’t a leader, initially intending not to participate in the group photo. But Deputy Minister Yuan and Secretary Lu insisted he join the lineup, positioning him behind Deputy Minister Yuan and Secretary Lu.

After the group photo, they lined up to bid farewell to the leaders as they got in their cars.

Han Yu initially planned to return to the dock but was unexpectedly called onto the Toyota Coaster along with his senior sister by Secretary Lu.

Pear is still on the ship with you all heading back to the city. I still have to return to the anti-smuggling dock to retrieve it, or else Han Han would only be able to enjoy Pear tomorrow evening.

Han Yu was secretly fretting, but Deputy Minister Yuan turned back and amusingly asked, "Salted Fish, the Linghai Reserve Camp is a registered reserve force with the Military Commission, how come you, as the Camp Commander, just suddenly left it?"

"Reporting to Minister Yuan, I transferred to the Navy Reserve Forces. I am now the Big Commander of the Binjiang Naval Reserve Rescue Ship Brigade."

"Going from Camp Commander to Big Commander, isn’t that a demotion?"

"No demotion, the Rescue Boat Brigade is a regiment-level unit."

"So, it’s actually a promotion."

Secretary Lu introduced with a smile, "Minister Yuan, Salted Fish forgot to report earlier, the Rescue Boat Brigade also includes quite a few reserve soldiers from the maritime system and the port navigation system."

"Is that so?"

"It’s a pity your schedule is so tight, otherwise I could accompany you to take a look."

That Rescue Boat Brigade, even though it includes reserve soldiers from the transportation system, isn’t the transportation system’s Reserve Camp, not even having the achievements of the Linghai Reserve Camp.

Deputy Minister Yuan was very pragmatic, showing no interest in Salted Fish’s Rescue Boat Brigade, but still smiled, "Next time, next time, we’ll visit when there’s an opportunity."

Vice Mayor Qin suddenly remembered something and reported with a smile, "Minister Yuan, Salted Fish has signed up for the Ministry of Transport’s selection process."

"What selection process?"

"The Navy is going to send a fleet on a visit in a few months, they need a garrison liaison officer, which is the escort captain. Salted Fish is a Chief Officer of an ocean freighter, a Second-class coastal ship captain, the Navy chief hopes he can be the escort captain, and he signed up as a specially appointed lecturer at Binjiang Shipping College."

Deputy Minister Yuan said without hesitation, "Since the Navy has mentioned him, we certainly have no issues here. I’ll speak to the Maritime Bureau."

Since it’s a selection, there are many uncertainties. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

For example, at Binjiang Shipping College, two teachers have served as escort captains, the Ministry of Transport Maritime Bureau will certainly consider shipping colleges that haven’t executed such tasks.

Now that the department leader has spoken, it’s almost certain to be selected.

Han Yu was thrilled and hastily said, "Thank you, Minister Yuan."

"I should be the one thanking you and Director Xiao Han."

To everyone’s surprise, Deputy Minister Yuan even said with emotion, "You don’t realize how challenging work is at the grassroots until you’ve seen it. Director Xiao Han started working at Bailong Port at eighteen, braving the elements and working by the river all these years. You’ve been assisting our transportation department’s law enforcement and rescue efforts since then, day after day for ten years, not everyone can do that."

"Minister Yuan, how did you know?"

"It’s not just the Linghai Reserve Camp that has an honor room, Linghai Maritime Bureau has one too. I just visited it and saw photos of you as a child."

Secretary Lu suddenly chimed in, "He wasn’t taller than the gun but still went to the river to assist port supervision enforcement."

Everyone thought of the photos seen at Linghai Maritime Bureau and burst into laughter.

Han Xiangning, seeing her schoolmate being made fun of by the leaders, couldn’t help but laugh, "Leaders, whether Salted Fish was tall or not back then isn’t important, what’s important is he had a gun, and with a gun comes deterrence."

Secretary Lu nodded, "Yes, what’s important is having a gun."

The leaders laughed again, even more heartily than before.

Han Xiangning was confused, wondering what’s so funny.

Deputy Minister Yuan didn’t want to leave a bad impression of frivolous leadership among grassroots comrades, so he immediately changed the topic, "Binjiang Yangtze River Bridge is not only a key project for Binjiang but also for Jiangnan Province, and even more for the nation. The preliminary work for the construction is extensive, your task is considerable. When all formalities are completed and construction officially begins, your tasks will be heavier, and the pressure will be greater!"

"Minister Yuan, rest assured, I will do my utmost to safeguard and escort the bridge construction, ensuring navigation safety during the construction."

"I am confident you can excel in completing these two tasks." Deputy Minister Yuan thought and smiled, "Friend Salted Fish, also hope you continue to support Director Xiao Han and maritime work as always."

"Minister Yuan, rest assured, I will definitely support, and I must support."

"Good." Deputy Minister Yuan nodded satisfactorily, then turned around, "Secretary Lu, when the bridge is completed and operational, Director Xiao Han and Salted Fish will be your Binjiang’s heroes!"

It proves that as long as you can achieve results, your superior will regard you highly.

Take today, for instance, Deputy Minister Yuan’s attitude towards bridge construction this afternoon was completely different from this morning. Rather than saying he’s setting demands for Salted Fish and Han Xiangning, he was expressing support for bridge construction.

Secretary Lu, buoyant with good news, promptly said, "Minister Yuan, rest assured, our Binjiang Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government won’t forget the contributions of these two for the bridge construction, and neither will the Binjiang People. In fact, they have safeguarded and escorted the construction of Linghai Port; whenever Linghai people mention Linghai Port now, the first thing they think of is these two."

"Secretary Lu, isn’t that a bit exaggerated? Surely the first thought should be about Secretary Ye, Secretary Qian, and Mayor Shen. Their contributions are significant; without them, there’d be no Linghai Port, nor would Han Xiangning and I be on the roster."

"Their contributions are indeed great, but yours aren’t negligible either. Especially Xiang Ning, who among the captains and crew who pass through Linghai Waters doesn’t know her?"

"Being known for imposing fines doesn’t count." Han Xiangning didn’t expect herself to be teased by leaders too and felt embarrassed, prompting laughter from everyone again.