Chapter 1343: Chapter 162: Request for Assistance!

The Yangtze River Bridge is half built in Binjiang, and the other half needs to be built in Shuzhou City under Guzhou.

Deputy Minister Yuan and his team went to Guzhou, so Han Yu no longer needed to accompany them. He didn’t return to work at his unit the next morning but instead went to the Traffic Police Detachment with Guo Weitao.

There are many detachments in the City Bureau, and everyone thinks the Criminal Police Detachment is the most impressive.

In fact, the Criminal Police Detachment is only "higher" in status, but in other aspects, it doesn’t rank very high.

If you talk about administrative approval power, the City Bureau’s Security Detachment handles most of it. If you talk about working conditions, the Criminal Investigation Detachment has only a few offices, while the Traffic Police Detachment has a whole office building that looks more impressive than the City Bureau.

Two big signs hang at the gate.

One says Binjiang City Public Security Bureau Traffic Police Detachment, and the other says Binjiang City Public Security Traffic Management Bureau, making it confusing to think the traffic police have merged into the Transportation Bureau.

There’s security on duty at the reception room, not allowing outsiders and vehicles to enter unless someone comes to receive them.

This is Guo Weitao’s old unit, and today he’s not just revisiting an old place but also returning home in glory. He opened the car door and walked over to knock on the reception room window: "Old Yang, open the door."

"Xiao Guo?"

"I thought you wouldn’t remember me."

"I remember, I remember. Didn’t you transfer to the Water Police Station? Are you back for something?"

"I transferred from the Water Police Station to the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau. Is Director Xu here? Our unit leader has something to discuss with Director Xu."

"Director Xu is here; he just started his work." The old security guard quickly took out a remote control to help open the electric retractable gate.

Guo Weitao thanked him, ran back to open the car door, started the engine, and laughed while holding the steering wheel: "Director Xu is in, Secretary Han; we’ll go directly to Director Xu."

Han Yu laughed: "Okay, I’ll follow your arrangements here anyway, since I’m not familiar."

"You might not know Director Xu, but Director Xu knows you."

"How could he possibly know me?"

"Why not?"

Guo Weitao drove the car toward the parking spot, smiling: "When we went to Beihu for the flood resistance, they had to ensure our convoy moved smoothly from Linghai to the Binjiang highway entrance. When we returned from flood relief in Beihu, the city held a grand parade to celebrate, and they had to maintain the traffic order on People Road.

When superior leaders come to inspect and research, they equally manage the leadership convoy’s traffic. For example, when the Ministry of Transport leaders came to study yesterday, Director Xu might not have led the way in a police car, but he certainly commanded from the Traffic Control Center as usual."

Han Yu looked through the car window at the imposing office building and laughed: "Seems like your old unit’s leaders have quietly served us multiple times."

"Yes, so he definitely knows you. Besides, how many second-level models and anti-flood models are there in all of Binjiang?"

"Am I that famous, that well-known?"

"Within the system, your reputation is indeed big. It’s just that water and land interact less; mainly, the leaders know, and ordinary police may not know much."

...

An acrobat, with twenty years of experience at just over twenty.

Even though Guo Weitao didn’t work at the Traffic Police Detachment for long, his fame is massive. From the old security guard in the reception room to the detachment leaders, everyone knows him.

Detachment police were only curious about him before; now, they envy him more.

Did great deeds during flood relief, appeared on TV, and even transferred to Customs where more money and less work are promised. In the Traffic Police Detachment’s eyes, the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau is just an internal department of Customs.

No need to worry about anyone bringing up acrobatics anymore. Even if they do, Guo Weitao doesn’t feel ashamed; he greets everyone with swagger.

Han Yu felt a bit awkward following him, almost wanting to say he didn’t know him.

"Captain Liu, our department doesn’t work at the district bureau; we’re at Lang Mountain. Come visit when you have time."

"At Lang Mountain."

"Yes, although it’s far from the city, the scenery in the mountains is excellent. The air is fresh, and you don’t need to buy tickets to visit us."

"Really? I’ll definitely come when I have time."

...

The scenery of Lang Mountain is good, but the mountains are also quiet.

Humans are social animals; for a visit, it’s okay, but living in the mountains is uncomfortable.

For example, Old Ge and the master’s wife couldn’t stand living there for long, first moving to the Navy Retirement Home, then quickly buying a used house and moving into a new home.

Similarly, old predecessors like Instructor Li and Director Jiang initially felt happy upon arrival, thinking everything in the mountains was great but started feeling homesick after a month.

Han Yu found this amusing as Guo Weitao had already knocked on the door of the Branch Captain’s office.

Somehow, over time, the captains of the Criminal Investigation, Security, and Traffic Police major branches all got top configurations; although the branches are Full Department Level units, the captains are actually Deputy Directors, even entering the City Bureau Party Committee.

When Guo Weitao worked as a traffic policeman, he was often teased by leaders and colleagues, even dragged by leaders to participate in various cultural performances like doing acrobatics. He has no attachment to the Traffic Police Detachment.

Today, visiting the old unit’s leader was informal; he didn’t even call out a report.

Han Yu felt this was inappropriate and was thinking of calling a report when he heard someone inside say, come in.

"Hello, Director Xu! Director Xu, I’m back to see you!"

"Guo Weitao!"

"""

"Director Xu, am I interrupting your work?"

"No, no, come in, come in. You’re quite the rare guest! I heard you’ve been promoted. Are you a squad leader or a big commander now?"

Director Xu, over fifty years old, was wearing a new police uniform with a first-level police inspector rank.

Guo Weitao saluted and grinned, "I’m neither a squad leader nor a big commander. Now I’m the Deputy Director of the Water Anti-Smuggling Department."

"Promoted to Deputy Director, good for you! I always said that working with Salted Fish has a future. Practice proves that everyone who shared working experiences with Salted Fish has progressed."

"Director Xu, Director Han is here. I’m accompanying Director Han to visit you."

"Salted Fish is here?" Director Xu was greatly surprised.

Han Yu didn’t expect the Traffic Police Detachment Commander to actually know him, so he quickly came in and saluted, "Hello, Director Xu. Sorry for barging in without even a phone call."

"Xiao Guo is a rare guest, but you’re the honored guest we can’t even invite! Salted Fish, have a seat! I’ll make some tea for you."

Meeting the legendary "Binjiang Water Army Commander," Director Xu was genuinely pleased. While busily inviting Han Yu to sit, he said with a smile, "Xiao Guo, do me a favor and invite the Political Commissioner. Just tell him Salted Fish, your boss, is here."

"Yes!"

"Director Xu, there’s no need to be so polite."

"This isn’t being polite; you’re a guest, it’s only proper." Director Xu put the teacup down on the coffee table, pulled Han Yu to sit beside him, and said with emotion, "Your master and Captain Wei are good friends, so you should be very familiar with Captain Wei. Actually, I’ve had dealings with your master; we’re old friends too."

"Director Xu, you know my master?" Han Yu was quite surprised.

"More than just know him! I used to work in the Criminal Investigation Department when Yu Xiangqian was still writing materials in the Secretary Department. Because I couldn’t handle my liquor, I avoided Old Wei and your master whenever I saw them, afraid to join them. Those who got along well with your master included Jiang Feijun from the Binjiang Port Police Station. Do you know Jiang Feijun?"

"I do, Director Jiang is already retired."

"It’s a shame I couldn’t handle my liquor; otherwise, your master would’ve considered me a friend long ago, and we wouldn’t have just met today."

"I can’t handle liquor either."

"I’ve heard, and it was Director Chen who told me himself. He said you embarrassed us Binjiang Police, hahahaha."

Good news never leaves the house, but embarrassing stories travel far.

Just as Han Yu was feeling awkward, the Traffic Police Detachment’s Political Commissioner Cui walked in with a big smile.

A person’s reputation resembles the shadow of a tree.

The revered "Binjiang Water Army Commander," honored by countless accolades across political, administrative, military, and police domains, even esteemed by city leaders, visited the Traffic Police Detachment. Political Commissioner Cui, like Director Xu, was thrilled and warmly welcomed Han Yu’s arrival.

After exchanging pleasantries, Han Yu spoke about his purpose there.

"I’ve been transferred to the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau. While river security isn’t within my purview, having worked on the river for so many years, I can’t truly ignore this series of thefts with such severe impact. Just yesterday morning, Secretary Lu asked me to pay attention to this case while accompanying Ministry of Transport leaders during their research visit."

"Daring enough to steal from foreign vessels; the impact is indeed severe. No wonder Secretary Lu pays so much attention."

Director Xu nodded, secretly thinking the rumors were true; Xu Sanye’s disciple can indeed speak with city leaders.

Political Commissioner Cui had formerly worked in the City Bureau’s Secretary Department with Scholar Yu, but as Scholar Yu quickly rose in rank, now serving as Yungang City’s Vice Mayor and Police Chief, the difference in status grew too great, and they hadn’t been in contact for many years.

Seeing Scholar Yu’s disciple arriving, Political Commissioner Cui quietly asked, "Do you need assistance from our detachment?"

"Leaders, Weitao and I came precisely for this matter." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Han Yu paused and continued, "After persevering with investigations, we’ve uncovered a clue. The suspect likely came drifting over from Yangzhou and committed multiple offenses in the waters of Dujiang under Yangzhou’s jurisdiction. Colleagues from the Dujiang Police Bureau assisted in inquiries, and we discovered the suspect has a white van or uses that van for transportation."

Director Xu smiled at Han Yu and asked, "Find the van, find the person?"

"The current issue is we only know it’s a white van, no license plate number, and even the make of the van is unknown."

"How do you plan to investigate?"

"Director Xu, Political Commissioner Cui, having worked by the river, nearly every day I travel Yanjiang Road, and I’ve noticed surveillance cameras at several main intersections along it. If there are surveillance recordings, we can target the suspects’ crime dates and times to see the footage and might find the van."

"There are cameras at several main intersections, but they only capture vehicles violating regulations. If the suspect’s van didn’t violate any, we wouldn’t be able to review it."

"Doesn’t it capture passing vehicles?"

"The Traffic Control Center can view those main intersections, but they’re all live footage, and not everything recorded is saved." Director Xu invited Han Yu to enjoy the tea while explaining, "With so many junctions city-wide, how many tapes would we need if all surveillance footage was saved?"

Political Commissioner Cui added, "Only the major city intersections and a few security checkpoints for entering and exiting the city have their footage saved, and even those aren’t kept for long."

"So, all hopes hinge on the suspect running a red light?"

"Crossing lines, not driving according to markings are also violations."

"Then please help us investigate?"

"No problem. Did you bring the suspect’s crime schedule?"

"I did!"

"It’s rare for you to visit our detachment; let’s chat for a bit. Let’s have lunch together; I’ll arrange people to check on it soon, it won’t delay your work."

"No need for lunch, I’m here to request your cooperation; how can I eat your food."

"You’re the pride of Binjiang Police. Your visit is an honor for our detachment; it brings us glory." Director Xu smiled and reconsidered, adding, "Rest assured, there won’t be any urging to drink at noon; as I mentioned earlier, I can’t drink either."

"""