Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1049 - 687: The Linghai Reserve Must Have Suffered a Loss!

At eleven thirty in the afternoon, a military vehicle drove out from the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division courtyard, heading straight for the airport.

Vice Mayor Qin, who is both the Vice Mayor of Binjiang and the Deputy Political Commissioner of the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division, is going to Beihu to visit the Linghai Reserve Camp engaged in flood relief and has to greet the Division Commander and Political Commissioner.

More importantly, Salted Fish is currently "in litigation" with the 902nd Division, 274th Regiment of the 301st Army.

The issue of who truly is the Red Saber Battalion has already brought Captain Xia and Political Commissioner Jiao to Jiangcheng twice in recent days. As the First Political Commissioner of the Binjiang Reserve Group, Vice Mayor Qin must be concerned.

Just now, the division headquarters was crowded, making it inconvenient to inquire.

Deputy Division Commander Tao, who had previously gone to Linghai for inspections, was going to Beihu for visits together, so they sat in the same vehicle, allowing Vice Mayor Qin to ask now.

This matter has become quite significant, so much so that the Guangzhou Military Region actually arranged for dedicated personnel to deliver two Honor Flags to the Nanjing Military Region.

Deputy Division Commander Tao didn't expect that the Camp Commander, Salted Fish, who had never served in the army, would cause such a commotion, and couldn't help but laugh: "Above didn't say much about the near skirmish between the two parties; after all, cherishing honor is a good thing."

Vice Mayor Qin equally didn't anticipate that Salted Fish and his people would stir up such a fuss, and laughed: "The key is who truly is the Red Saber Battalion; there has to be a decision from above."

"The Division Commander has called to inquire several times, and the Political Commissioner has even gone to the military region political department twice."

"The Provincial Military District Political Department or the Nanjing Military Region Political Department?"

"Of course, it's the large military district political department; it's useless to approach the provincial military district political department."

"What did the large military district political department say?"

"The department leader instructed several directors to research the matter first. After going back and forth with their analysis, the directors hold two different opinions."

Deputy Division Commander Tao smiled and explained: "A few directors who reviewed the materials we submitted along with those forwarded from the 105th Army's political department believe that the Linghai Reserve Camp has indeed performed outstandingly and achieved significant success during the flood relief efforts at Beihu.

However, the land-based mechanized relief teams were primarily from Linghai Road and Bridge Company, and the water-based relief forces were mainly from several management institutions of the Changhang System and port and shipping enterprises from Binjiang. Being professional and efficient, achieving results is their norm; not achieving results would be unusual since this is their area of expertise."

Vice Mayor Qin instinctively asked: "What's the attitude of those directors who said this?"

"Their attitude is clear, even though the Linghai Reserve Camp accomplished a lot, there isn't much that's truly theirs. If there is, the only thing that can be visibly highlighted is the Water Rescue Team."

"What kind of attitude is that!"

Vice Mayor Qin grew increasingly frustrated, saying unpleasantly: "We are reserve forces, not active-duty troops. Our work is mobilization, coordination, organization, integration, and thus command. If we must claim our own assets, did the superior ever provide them? Being able to pull something out of nothing is already commendable, what else do they want!"

"Mayor Qin, don't get agitated."

Deputy Division Commander Tao opened a small gap in the car window, pulled out a cigarette, and offered one with a smile: "Other directors also hold this opinion; what's yours isn't important, what's important is the ability to rally and triumph in critical moments."

Vice Mayor Qin accepted the cigarette, murmuring: "That's more like it, this thinking is correct."

"But earlier directors thought the 274th Regiment of the 902nd Division not only an active-duty force but also a main force unit. From a unit development perspective, the honor title of Red Saber Battalion should be inherited by the 274th Regiment."

Deputy Division Commander Tao lit the cigarette, took several puffs, and added: "Those supporting you believe there are many active duty units with honor titles, but few reserve units bear such titles.

From a national defense reserve force development perspective, if the Linghai Reserve Camp inherits it, it could inspire the reserve forces' sense of honor, cohesion, and combat effectiveness, serving as a model, greatly benefiting reserve forces construction."

"That's the true big-picture view; perfectly sound reasoning. Deputy Division Commander Tao, what are the last names of those directors who said this, and do you know them?"

"Why do you ask?"

"After visiting the troops, I want to invite them to dinner."

"Hahaha, Mayor Qin, you're being too pragmatic."

"It's not about pragmatism, they argued on our behalf; of course, I ought to express gratitude!"

"You may not get to host them."

"Why not?"

Deputy Division Commander Tao tapped off the ash and continued: "The directors each have different opinions, leaving only reports to be submitted for a decision by their leader. The department leader thinks both sides have valid points, and having no fixed solution, reports to the military region commander."

As Shen Fan said over the phone, whether to win the Red Saber Battalion's honor title doesn't matter, what's crucial is to fight for it, because the attempt itself is a victory!

If it weren't fought for, how would the military region leader know about the Linghai Reserve Camp?

Vice Mayor Qin chuckled inwardly, pursuing: "What did the military region leader say?"

"Both Honor Flags were withheld, not being reissued for now."

"Why?"

"Initially, I didn't know either; it was at last night's report at the provincial military district that I learned," Deputy Division Commander Tao sighed lightly and explained: "After flood relief, the 274th Regiment is to be disbanded, making it unnecessary now to decide who truly is the Red Saber Battalion."

Mayor Qin was slightly puzzled and asked, "Didn't you say the 274th Regiment is a main force unit?"

"Why does being a main force matter? To adapt to modern warfare under the current era, main force regiments like the 274th must also be disbanded or, more precisely, reorganized."

"How is it reorganized?"

"The Linghai Reserve Camp's significant success is due to good equipment and the abundance of highly-educated talents and technical personnel; with over twenty engineers alone. Although I don't know exactly how the 274th Regiment will be reorganized next, enhanced technical equipment with streamlined staffing is expected."

"Is the regiment number of the 274th gone?"

"It's the general trend."

"But what does this have to do with our Linghai Reserve Camp; we won't be disbanded or reorganized, so why not return the honor flags to us?"

"The military region commander might feel that the honorary title of the Red Saber Battalion is more suitable for active-duty forces."

"That's not fair. Doing this will dampen the enthusiasm of the officers and soldiers!"

"Don't worry, the military region will consider it."

Vice Mayor Qin asked, "How will they consider it?"

Deputy Division Commander Tao flicked away the cigarette butt and smiled, "The officers and soldiers in the camp just want an honorary title, don't they? By then, we can confer a new one to them. Besides, the new honorary title will be something they earn themselves, not inherited, making it more valuable."

It's also fine to confer a new one.

Although Vice Mayor Qin was inwardly delighted, he still pretended to be unhappy and said, "Conferring a new one won't make it the Red Saber Battalion. It involves excellent traditions and inheritance."

The times are different, and so are the honorary titles.

Most of the honorary titles conferred previously were very imposing, while those conferred later seemed to be less aggressive.

For instance, during the Red Army period, there were titles such as "Model Company of the Crossing the Wujiang River," "Sacrifice Victory Group," and "Divine Eagle Reconnaissance Squad," during the Anti-Japanese War "Pingxing Pass Battle Assault Company," "Heroic Artillery Battery of Huangtuling," "Heroic Group of Huangyadong Defense Battle," "Heroic White Blade Fighting Company," and "Diamond Team."

And during the Liberation War period, titles like "White Tiger Company," "Five Battles and Five Victories Second Company," "Sea-crossing Vanguard Camp," "Long Attack and Good Defense Heroic Group," and "Fierce Tiger Pouncing Sheep Group."

Just hearing the names, one can sense our army's combat spirit of "not fearing hardship or death," the brave and tenacious style, and the heroic spirit of fearing no sacrifice or strong enemy.

These honorary titles carry great deterrence, full of martial spirit, stirring one's blood.

The honorary titles awarded during peacetime are generally much more "moderate," mostly reflecting discipline, research, political work, community work, etc.

For example, "Nanjing Road's Good Eighth Company," "Meritorious Training Ship," "Model Ground-to-Air Missile Battalion," "Li Wenzhong's Model Civilian Love Company," and "Political and Civilian Model."

If the Linghai Reserve Camp were to be awarded a new honorary title, it certainly wouldn't be as imposing as the "Red Saber Battalion," much less aggressive.

Upon careful reflection, the Linghai Reserve Camp is indeed at a disadvantage.

As the Deputy Division Commander of the Reserve Division, Deputy Division Commander Tao also believes this is unfair to the Linghai Reserve Camp and said meaningfully, "Although the superior won't return the honorary flag, the legacy of the Red Saber Battalion is here, as evidenced by military history records. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

If Salted Fish and the others claim they are the Red Saber Battalion, the superiors might not officially recognize it or promote it, but they also won't 'debunk' it, it's hard to say they aren't."

"There's truth in that, but merely claiming it, without superior recognition, remains a regret."

"The superiors will definitely confer a new honorary title, and with both not acknowledging nor clearly denying the Red Saber Battalion, it's essentially like having one and a half honorary titles. In retrospect, it's still worth it."

"Not one and a half, but two and a half."

"I almost forgot, they also have the Heroic Assault Battalion honorary title."

"Is the Heroic Assault Battalion honorary title disputed?"

"Currently unknown, they can keep flying this red flag until encountering another Heroic Assault Battalion like now."

"Deputy Division Commander Tao, you are their superior; you should stand up for Salted Fish and defend them based on reason instead of constantly compromising."

Deputy Division Commander Tao felt wronged and, with a bitter smile, asked, "Mayor Qin, are you implying 'weak leaders make weak troops?'"

Vice Mayor Qin hurriedly said, "I'm not saying that, but constant compromise can truly affect morale."

"We'd like to stand firm too, but being a reserve, we are ranked after civilian soldiers whenever mentioned by our superiors. We genuinely can't muster any firmness."

It's only ever 'civilian soldiers reserve,' but never heard of 'reserve civilian soldiers.

This situation reflects the status of the reserve forces.

Not wanting to make things difficult for him, Vice Mayor Qin changed the subject with a smile, "Deputy Division Commander Tao, when you said there'd be a new honorary title for Salted Fish, would it be conferred by the military region or the Central Military Commission?"

"Of course, it would be awarded by the Nanjing Military Region; the military region commander can't decide for the Central Military Commission."

"What if the Central Military Commission also conferred an honorary title to Salted Fish?"

"Mayor Qin, did you hear anything, any rumors?"

"No, I was just asking."

Suddenly, Deputy Division Commander Tao realized that the Linghai Reserve Camp is currently an emergency rescue assault team under the Yangtze Flood Control Headquarters and Jingzhou Flood Control Command. Vice President L even knows of them, and they were directly ordered by the Central Military Commission to provide support. When the Central Military Commission evaluates achievements and awards in the future, there's indeed a chance they might award an honorary title to the Linghai Reserve.

Reflecting further that the Linghai Reserve Camp now represents the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division, Deputy Division Commander Tao promptly takes out his phone:

"Mayor Qin, you are absolutely right. I'll report this to the division commander and political commissioner right away. Ask them to figure something out and ensure Nanjing Military Region makes a firm decision!"

Mayor Qin nodded and smiled, "Just say you have successfully communicated the ideological work to all officers and soldiers of the Linghai Reserve Camp, but you can't just talk without backing it up, or it will dampen the enthusiasm of the whole camp, especially as they have to fight the fourth flood peak next."

"Such discussions can only occur once. Mayor Qin, please think, do the officers and soldiers have any other demands?"

"This isn't about demands; it's trading the Red Saber Battalion honorary title, granted by the Ministry of Defense and carrying significant weight with a long history and excellent tradition, for an honorary title awarded by a military region."

"I understand this is unfair to the comrades. I'm saying maybe they can use this opportunity to raise some achievable requests from the superiors."

"The officers and soldiers risked their lives to support the flood relief, and many comrades couldn't even continue their businesses due to the flood relief efforts. What are they seeking if not for honor?"

Vice Mayor Qin took a deep breath and said with emotion, "If there's another request, it might be one: can the superiors provide them with a proper military uniform? Deputy Division Commander Tao, this request isn't excessive, is it?"

"Not at all, they should have both spring and autumn standard uniforms and winter standard uniforms; otherwise, I wouldn't even have the face to face the comrades."

"Quickly, make a call for a briefing. If the uniform matter is resolved, tell the comrades during the慰问; they will definitely be pleased."