Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1217 - 72: Leading the Armed Police

Celebrating the New Year is really exhausting.

On the first day, go to Si Gang, on the second day to Sansing, on the third day to Bailong Port, on the fourth day to eat at Liang Xiaojun's house, on the fifth day to pay New Year visits to the Instructor Li Weiguo at the frontier Yanjiang Police Station.

The schedule is packed, visits can't all be made, meals can't all be eaten, and there's still a dinner party on the sixth day when work resumes.

Jiang Shengqi and the new colleagues have all returned, and most of them have come back with their families. Considering that their relatives need settling in, Han Yu has, with superior's consent, given them three more days off.

During the real estate trade fair before the Spring Festival, most of them bought houses in Binjiang, and next, they need to set up their homes, buy furniture and kitchenware. Their children need to attend school upon arriving, so they need to go to schools to handle the transfer procedures for them...

Colleagues are all busy with family matters, so Han Yu doesn't need to go to the barracks temporarily but hurriedly goes to the soon-to-be-established Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau Binjiang Branch.

This is a small courtyard right next to the new Customs office building, previously used by the Binjiang Customs Investigation Bureau.

Originally, we thought that the Investigation Bureau would merge into the soon-to-be-established Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau; no one thought about moving, but it turns out the superior decided not to disband the Investigation Bureau, so the Investigation Bureau moved into the new Customs office building.

The anti-smuggling task force also moved over, and members of the task force were busy tidying and setting up the new office environment as soon as they started work, anxiously preparing for the upcoming establishment ceremony.

The task force members come from Customs, police, Procuratorate, tax department, and Commercial Inspection, among six or seven units, wearing their respective organization's uniforms, looking quite odd as they go in and out.

Han Yu greeted a few old acquaintances from the Customs Investigation Bureau, then climbed up to the third floor in one breath and knocked on the task force leader's office door.

Zhou Huixin was on the phone, gesturing for him to sit first.

After waiting for about five minutes, Zhou Huixin put down the phone and smiled, asking, "Salted Fish, how was your New Year?"

"Pretty good, just a bit tiring."

"Han Han really lost out this time; she went to Xichuan with your in-laws, probably missed out on a lot of lucky money."

"Han Han didn't lose out; even though she wasn't home, she didn't miss out on any red envelopes. Ningning helped her collect six or seven hundred; we didn't want it, but the elders insisted on giving it."

"As long as she didn't lose out. Did your in-laws mention when they'll be back?"

"They don't often go to Xichuan, so they'll definitely stay a few more days. They plan to come back after Lantern Festival, and the train tickets are already bought."

Zhou Huixin opened the drawer, took out the peanuts and candies sent by the superior during their visit, and while inviting Han Yu to eat, he curiously asked, "Han Han is about to start kindergarten, right?"

Han Yu picked up a peanut and smiled, "In the latter half of the year, but only the small class then."

"Where do you plan to have Han Han attend kindergarten?"

"In the city."

"Not in East Sea?"

"We did consider it, but if we go, who's going to take care of her? Also, the house is rented out, so even if we go, there's no place to live."

"The house is rented out?"

"Yes."

"How much is it rented out for per month?"

"It increased by two hundred from the original price; now it's two thousand a month. I haven't seen the tenant; it was rented out by my sister through an agency. My sister said the tenants are a pair of Chinese from Singapore, very high-quality, and they live well. They didn't like the previous decoration and hired a renovation company to redo it."

Zhou Huixin pursued further, "How much is the mortgage per month?"

"Two thousand six hundred."

"So you only have to pay six hundred a month; mortgage pressure isn't too high!"

"Director Zhou, we not only have to repay the bank loan but also the down payment. When paying the down payment, we borrowed over a hundred thousand from Xiao Yu's family, and we've only paid back half so far. After the principal is repaid, we also have to pay interest."

These tight days will have to continue for several years.

During the New Year, Han Yu didn't want to talk about those things, brushed off the peanut skins that fell on him, and curiously asked, "Director Zhou, yesterday while dining at Instructor Li's house, my big senior brother said Liu Guan is about to be transferred, is it true?"

Establishing a new organization is truly not an easy task.

First is personnel, mainly from Customs and the Police Bureau.

Customs hopes that the branch's party committee members are primarily from the Customs, after all, the Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch, once established, mainly reports to Customs' leadership. Meanwhile, City Bureau hopes it should be mainly staffed by police, providing very valid reasons, saying customs personnel are "scholars" unable to carry out police duties.

In terms of arranging the branch leadership team, it's already like this; not to mention how middle-level cadres will be arranged.

As long as Chief Liu is around, personnel arrangements are still somewhat manageable. Once Chief Liu is transferred, numerous variables will arise, just thinking about it is a headache.

Zhou Huixin sighed inwardly, smiled, and nodded, "This is happening."

Han Yu didn't know the old leader was worried about Chief Liu's transfer and pursued, "Do you know where the transfer will be?"

"This time it's a bit far, going to East Guang."

"Chief Liu is going to work in East Guang!"

"In East Guang, not only smuggling problems are severe, but corruption issues are also severe, a few customs officers from the director level to regular officers have been caught, and their abuse of power, embezzlement, and bribery amounts have been huge, with cases involving vast sums, reportedly in billions."

"So, Chief Liu is taking on the challenge."

"Therefore, he wants to take a few reliable people with him."

"Who to take?"

"You and Xu Mingyuan." Zhou Huixin smiled and added, "Chief Liu asked me to see if you'd be interested in working in East Guang. Don't worry about Ningning, as long as you want to go, he'll help with Ningning's transfer. East Guang has a Marine Bureau as well, so in-system transfers aren't too difficult."

Han Yu said without hesitation, "I'm quite content at Binjiang, got no desire to go anywhere. Besides, if I leave, what happens to the soon-to-be-established Water Anti-Smuggling Department?"

"I figured you wouldn't want to go."

"Director Zhou, did you ask my senior brother?"

"I just asked him this morning."

"What did he say?"

"He said he's not interested in going either; he's explaining it to Chief Liu now."

While working comfortably in Binjiang, who would want to run so far away.

Han Yu was about to ask who the new director is when there was a sudden knock at the door from outside. Immediately after, Xu Mingyuan shouted for permission to enter from outside the door.

"Please come in." Zhou Huixin smiled at Xu Mingyuan, who had just pushed the door open and entered, saying, "I was just talking to Salted Fish about you, and here you are."

Xu Mingyuan hesitated for a moment, looking a bit embarrassed as he said, "Director Zhou, Salted Fish, Chief Liu talked to me, I... I..."

Without waiting for Zhou Huixin to speak, Han Yu stared at him and asked, "Senior Brother, do you plan to go to East Guang with Chief Liu?"

"Chief Liu received a task at a critical moment this time. He can't arrive there without a few trusted subordinates. The situation over there is different from ours. Although they have just been investigated and reorganized, no one knows if there are any hidden problematic elements."

"If you go to East Guang with Chief Liu, what will happen to Sister Zhang Lan and Yuanyuan?"

"They'll go together, Chief Liu said Zhang Lan could be transferred to Customs."

The salary and benefits at Customs are higher than those at the Water Police Station, and the benefits over there in East Guang are also higher than those in Binjiang.

It is normal for people to aspire upwards like water flows downwards.

Moreover, Senior Brother is considering not just the salary and benefits but more about helping Chief Liu. After all, during the most awkward time for him, it was Chief Liu and Deputy Director Zeng who transferred him from the Linghai Police Bureau to Customs, entrusted him with responsibilities, and promoted him to Deputy Director.

Han Yu was reluctant for him to leave from the bottom of his heart, unsure what to say, Zhou Huixin lifted his head and smiled, "Since it's decided, go home and prepare quickly. Do well when you get to East Guang, and don't embarrass Chief Liu."

"Yes!"

"Go back, the case you were handling has just concluded, there's nothing to hand over."

"Director Zhou, I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about, you are going to East Guang with Chief Liu, you will have better development, I'm happy for you."

...

Senior Brother decided to leave once he said so, Han Yu felt everything was so sudden.

Even though Zhou Huixin was also reluctant to see Xu Mingyuan leave, she still smiled and said, "Salted Fish, Ming Yuan and Zhang Lan going to work in East Guang has its benefits. Once they establish themselves over there, you can then take Ningning and Han Han to visit them. It's almost like traveling, you might even get a Hong Kong and Macau pass to play in Hong Kong."

Traveling is an unattainable thing for Han Yu.

But since Senior Brother had already decided to go, and imagining he had also consulted Sister Zhang Lan's opinion, Han Yu could only smile bitterly and say, "That's true."

Zhou Huixin sighed inwardly and started talking about business, "Director Zeng might replace Chief Liu as Director, and the superiors will arrange someone to replace Director Zeng as Deputy Director and Head of Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch."

"Is Director Zeng getting promoted?"

"Director Zeng's promotion is a good thing, but after the promotion, he won't be able to support our work like now. The Customs leadership team has their divisions of work."

"Do you know which unit the leader replacing Director Zeng comes from?"

"Not sure." Zhou Huixin pondered and then said, "Some say someone will be transferred from Guzhou Customs, while others say a Deputy Director will be transferred from Jiangcheng Customs. Surely, it's only from the Customs system, not from the Police system."

"Why?"

"Because I'm here from the Police, in the future leadership team members of the branch, Customs and Police will count half each, it can't be dominated by one side."

It's clear that the situation in the new unit is quite complex.

Personnel from Customs will certainly feel Customs is more significant, while colleagues from Police will surely think Police is more critical. It's imaginable that there might be two factions formed next, and uniting to think in one place is not an easy thing.

Han Yu suddenly somewhat regretted agreeing to transfer to the soon-to-be-established Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch. But considering the special situation in the Water Anti-Smuggling Department, usually being either at Lang Mountain or on a ship, the work nature being relatively simple, he felt it wasn't a big deal.

"Furthermore, the General Administration of Customs considered the weakness of enforcement power, requesting superiors to arrange for the armed police to assist. The superiors agreed, and next, they will arrange for armed police officers to rotate to Customs for cooperative duty."

"Arranging the border inspection station to assist us in law enforcement?"

"Not the Border Guards, but drawing officers from the Armed Police Mobile Division to assist. The first batch of cooperative armed police officers has already arrived at East Guang Customs, and it is estimated our side will follow soon."

"So does this mean Customs will have armed police in the future as well?"

"The armed police come only to assist, they don't have law enforcement authority. When assisting in inspection and anti-smuggling, they won't wear armed police uniforms but customs inspection clothing. They don't fall under Customs leadership either. Once they come, their relationship with Customs is a bit like the Armed Police Linghai Company with the Linghai Police Bureau Detention Center."

"Customs is just their stationed location? Team management is their internal matter, holding a consultation meeting every few days, negotiating any issues collaboratively?"

"More or less."

Han Yu thought for a moment and then asked, "Does this have anything to do with our Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau?"

Zhou Huixin explained with a smile, "Of course it does, Customs needs armed police assistance during inspections, Customs-regulated warehouses and docks need armed police standing guard. When we're pursuing smugglers, if police force is insufficient, we also need armed police assistance."

"Auxiliary police that don't need our wages?"

"Why say such things, but frankly speaking."

Zhou Huixin laughed and continued, "Superiors considered that personnel of the Water Anti-Smuggling Department are mainly crew, and the situation is very complicated on the water, especially at sea; next, they might station an enhancement class to your Water Anti-Smuggling Department to enhance your maritime law enforcement power."

Han Yu was delighted, laughingly asking, "This arrangement is nice, although I don't want to be a soldier, I do enjoy leading soldiers."

"They aren't under your leadership; they're just assisting you in anti-smuggling."

"Either they don't come, or once they come, they must accept my leadership. Water is different from the shore, once they're on the ship, they must follow my command!"

Zhou Huixin knew he'd take interest in it, smiling while adding, "I almost forgot; they're rotating for cooperative duty, the longest assistance time can't exceed a year, and once the time's reached, they have to rotate."

Han Yu asked in surprise, "A year?"

"Yes."

"A year is too short, training them as crew will take at least three months."

"That's the regulation from the superiors; no negotiation allowed."

"Alright then, a year is a year, having armed police assistance is better than not having."

...

PS: The rotation of officers from the Armed Police Mobile Division to Customs for cooperative duty began in 1999, but initially only went to Guangdong Customs. It wasn't until 2001 that Customs in various places had cooperative armed police. To make the story more interesting, I advanced the cooperative armed police timeline for Binjiang Customs.