Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 332 - 236: Don’t Let Your Master Down

Linghai’s south is the Yangtze River, the northeast corner is the sea, and its drainage is much faster than the surrounding counties.

After half a month’s hard work, the typhoon-induced waterlogging has finally been resolved, and the economic losses it caused are much smaller compared to last year.

Commissioner Ding’s work at the City Typhoon and Flood Control Command Center has come to an end, and he returned to the bureau to report to Director Yang.

"At that time, everyone was busy with flood control and drainage, and six officials were disciplined just for not being on duty at crucial moments. It wasn’t a good time to discuss funding issues with Mayor Dai. By the time the waterlogging was nearly resolved, it was too late to bring it up again; they asked us to write a report and said they would look into it later."

"What about the fuel expenses? That should be reimbursable, right?"

"The fuel expenses can be reimbursed, but it will take at least three to four months to get approved."

Commissioner Ding took a cigarette from the director and said helplessly, "The city really has no money, even the disaster relief funds for purchasing flood control materials have shortfalls, and the owners of several sand and gravel factories are chasing after the Water Resources Bureau and Transportation Bureau for their payments."

Previously, there was a tax-included system, where taxes due to the state were paid first, and the rest were for the city.

Now, with the tax-sharing system, the state has taken all the easily collected taxes, leaving local finances very tight.

While Linghai’s economy is doing well, it can barely ensure the salaries of officials and teachers.

The North Three Counties have fewer enterprises and lag far behind Linghai in economic development; they are now unable to pay salaries to officials and teachers, and some are reportedly in arrears.

Specifically for the Linghai Police Bureau, the basic salaries of police officers and staff are guaranteed, but there’s no money for operational expenses—not a single cent!

Everyone says life is supposed to get better, but it turns out we’re just getting poorer.

Director Yang was very depressed and said thoughtfully, "If Xu San were here, he’d definitely dare to ask."

Commissioner Ding certainly understood the underlying meaning of the director’s words and said with a bitter smile, "Xu Sanye would dare to ask, but he definitely wouldn’t at such a critical moment."

"That’s true, these past years he has been assisting the counties with typhoon and flood control without any reimbursement. But now it’s different, the dunship will need major repairs in a few years, Dunship 001 will not only need major repairs but also needs its main and auxiliary engines replaced. We can’t just watch Salted Fish go work at the Port Supervision Bureau to make money for repairs."

"Director Yang, I think we’ve taken on too many responsibilities that aren’t ours. If necessary, we could transfer the dunship and 001."

"Transfer to whom?"

"Water Police Station, Port Supervision Bureau, whoever wants it can have it."

Leaders often forget the pain once their wounds heal.

During the typhoon and flood control period, the dunship was deployed as the command center for the Yanjiang region’s typhoon and flood control, and even Dunship 001 was requisitioned for flood control.

Now that the typhoon has passed and the waterlogging is cleared, the dunship and 001 are no longer needed, so naturally, no funds will be provided.

Keeping them would mean losing money, but Director Yang is reluctant to transfer them.

"That’s a fixed asset worth hundreds of thousands, and besides, the plaque ’First Post of the Yangtze River’ is still mounted on the dunship."

"But it’s hard for Salted Fish to raise so much money for repairs by himself."

"He definitely can’t rely on himself alone."

Director Yang pondered for a moment and then said, "It starts with a request for hundreds of thousands, it’s very normal that Mayor Dai is hesitant to say anything; after all, he’s just a vice-mayor and doesn’t have the authority to make such a big decision."

Commissioner Ding asked quietly, "Should we talk to Secretary Chen?"

Director Yang shook his head, "It’s useless to approach any leader; with finances so tight, no leaders will commit."

"What should we do then."

"This isn’t just an issue for Linghai alone. At the end of the year during the conferences, we can approach more delegates from the National People’s Congress and members of the Political Consultative Conference to submit some suggestions and proposals, to collectively call for attention. That’s the only way to get the City Committee and Municipal Government to pay serious attention."

"Director Yang, are you suggesting we approach the Binjiang City’s National People’s Congress delegates and Political Consultative Conference members?"

"Yes, the Port Supervision Bureau and Port Authority have their delegates, as does our City Bureau, and Linghai has quite a few as well."

"Will it work?"

"It takes time to do the groundwork, and besides, the dunship and 001 can still be used for another three or four years. If we keep mentioning it every year, for several years, I refuse to believe that the superiors will continue to ignore it."

"Alright, I’ll call Old Wang later. He can lead on the Binjiang side, and we’ll take the responsibility on the Linghai side. We’ll call for action together."

...

Meanwhile, five days earlier, Han Yu, who was seconded to Jiangcheng by the Provincial Department’s security office, had just completed his first security mission in life.

Leaders from the National Development and Reform Commission and the EPA were here to conduct an on-site investigation of the pollution in the Yangtze River. Provincial leaders accompanied them, along with the staff and reporters. Since the Jiangcheng Water Police’s law enforcement boat was too small, a fishery administration ship had to be used.

As soon as Han received the notification, he took a special car arranged by the City Bureau to Jiangcheng, where he followed the security office’s instructions to inspect the ship, familiarize himself with the waterway, and make a sailing plan based on the leaders’ schedules.

Then, like a chief officer, he stood by at the helm, watching as the captain steered the ship.

Traveling downstream from Jiangcheng to the East Sea, once all the leaders had disembarked, he then sailed back with the ship and was permitted to dock at Binjiang Port upon the approval of his superiors.

After seeing off the fishery administration ship, he rushed to report to the division.

Director Peng was surprised to hear that Han Yu had been drafted for such a mission; at first, he couldn’t believe it, but when he saw Han Yu had returned, he curiously asked, "Did our provincial leaders also go to East Sea?"

"Yes, but they didn’t go to East Sea to conduct research; they planned to take a train back to Jiangcheng from there."

"Things need to be followed through. Did you ask for permission or report to the security office when you decided to return midway?"

"I did report. All the leaders had disembarked, and with almost no one left on the vessel, there was no point in me staying on board."

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