Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 860 - 584: Strategic Reserve Team

The city leaders’ work is plentiful, and so are various social engagements.

Zhu Chunmiao returned home from work, thinking she would have to cook and eat alone again. Unexpectedly, her husband came home earlier and was busy in the kitchen wearing an apron.

It had been a long time since they cooked together. As she helped out, she talked about the collision accident on the river and how Han Yu and Han Xiangning successfully organized a rescue.

"So, Salted Fish and Ningning have made another contribution?"

"Rescue is already part of our Port Supervision’s work. If even this is recognized with rewards, then the Water Rescue Center will make countless contributions each year!"

Vice Mayor Qin, who holds a Vice Director Level position outside, does every chore at home. He poured the washed rice into the rice cooker and said with a smile: "Salted Fish is police, not Port Supervision."

Sister Zhu casually remarked, "Water police are different from onshore police. In fact, ever since the Yanjiang Police Station era, the commendation standards for water police have been different from onshore police, as the water police encounter more dangers."

"That’s true." Vice Mayor Qin realized, nodding slightly.

"Guangming, the flood situation is so severe with floods everywhere, isn’t the city busy? Why are you home so early today?"

"Just because there are floods everywhere doesn’t mean Binjiang is flooded. Although there’s more water from the Upper Yangtze River, the tide level at the Binjiang section hasn’t surpassed last year’s. The riverbanks have been extensively repaired. Not mentioning other places, just in the city, the flood walls of several kilometers have played a significant role this time."

The higher-ups place great importance on flood prevention.

Several vice mayors have their tasks divided.

Vice Mayor Qin inspected the river embankments in the development zone yesterday. Even though Binjiang’s terrain is mostly below the Yangtze River level during the flood season, the river embankments he walked along were orderly despite the raging waters outside the embankments.

Last autumn and this spring, significant manpower and financial resources were invested to reinforce and heighten the new levee, resembling a long snake formation and holding back the torrential river waters.

To ensure absolute safety, each section of the levee has designated personnel responsible.

Looking along the levee, the red flags flying, almost every section has a "Military Orders" and "Responsibility Mark".

Thinking of this, Vice Mayor Qin said with emotion, "Judging by this year’s flood prevention situation, the money we spent on Binjiang, the sweat we shed, and the efforts we made were not in vain!"

Sister Zhu didn’t expect him to be so optimistic and curiously asked, "What about the Jiangxin islands?"

"The river island levees are well-built and haven’t encountered major dangers like piping or bank collapses, except for a few infiltration points which were promptly addressed."

Vice Mayor Qin placed the washed vegetables to dry by the sink and continued: "There are 24-hour patrols on the river island levees, and each Jiangxin island has a deputy county-level official stationed. Cars went underwater, ships came ashore, oil tanks were blown onto the roads, and water reached doorsteps... such scenarios shouldn’t happen anymore this year or in the future."

"Are you that confident?"

"Of course, if we didn’t have at least this much confidence, all the money spent would be for nothing. But we also have emergency plans and have prepared for the worst-case scenarios. If the river island levees can’t hold, we’ll organize to evacuate people from the Jiangxin islands in time, preventing Salted Fish and others from risking their lives last year."

"With such confidence and preparation, doesn’t that mean Salted Fish’s two reserve battalions won’t see any action?"

"It’s good if they don’t see action. If they’re needed, it would mean there’s a major danger." Vice Mayor Qin laughed, a bit gleefully, "If such a situation arises, I wouldn’t mind, as I oversee industry. But Old Ding’s days wouldn’t be so easy."

Vice Mayor Ding oversees water conservancy and agriculture and is also the chief commander of Binjiang’s flood prevention.

If a major danger occurred and wasn’t promptly controlled, leading to a levee breach, Vice Mayor Ding would surely be held accountable.

Sister Zhu was grateful her husband wasn’t in charge of flood prevention. She thought for a moment and asked with a smile, "Won’t Salted Fish feel disappointed for putting so much effort into helping you form two reserve flood-fighting and rescue battalions only for them not to see action?"

"He’s not an active-duty officer and doesn’t need to prove himself through flood fighting and disaster relief. Besides, he’s busier than me now. Didn’t you mention he just assisted the Port Supervision with rescuing two cargo ships? He’s got plenty to do, no chance to feel disappointed."

"What about the soldiers in the battalions?"

"I guess it’s the same for them. After all, they all have their own lives. Previously, some were ’eager to enlist’ due to respect for Salted Fish; some wanted to wear the uniform and relive their days of service. As for those who’ve never served, like the small boss from the rice factory, they just wanted to try on a military uniform."

Vice Mayor Qin chuckled and continued, "Those active-duty officers, including Captain Xia and Political Commissioner Jiao, might feel quite disappointed. However, on the other hand, they find it challenging to achieve any accomplishments. When opportunities arise, they naturally want to be on the front lines of flood fighting and emergency rescue."

"Can our Binjiang’s Yangtze River embankment withstand the flooding, but what about the brother cities?"

"The other side has invested more in water conservancy, and their river embankments are better built. Guzhou’s several riverside districts and counties should stand the test. As for upstream, it’s said that Jingjiang City alone invested 130 million, not counting loans with provincial financial interest subsidies.

Jiangcheng, being the provincial capital, has even greater investment. Every kilometer of urban flood wall costs more than three million, and we in Binjiang built several kilometers, spending nearly 40 million. Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang were very reluctant to spend. But compared to Jiangcheng, that’s nothing; they built over a hundred kilometers all at once!"

Vice Mayor Qin paused and added, "Among the riverside cities, it seems the Yangzhou levee is relatively weaker. But there are reasons for that: first, economic development is relatively lagging, lacking the financial resources of the cities across the river. Secondly, their coastline is long, so they can only focus on key defenses."

Yangzhou is larger than Binjiang, with more districts and counties, and a longer Yangtze River coastline. It’s truly unaffordable to do what Jiangcheng, Jingjiang, and Binjiang have done.

Sister Zhu tied her apron and asked with a smile, "So Salted Fish still has a chance to lead a team into battle?"

"No chance."

"Why no chance? Aren’t they a mobile assault battalion, and their battalion is formed by harnessing so many units along the river, fully mechanized, not human-based flood fighting? In the entire province, there might not be a more professional rescue team."

"If a significant danger arises, they’d only call for military support, not the reserve forces."

"Why not call them?"

"The reserve forces don’t have funding, so naturally, there won’t be logistical support. If a major emergency occurs, everything will be chaotic everywhere. We’ll be too busy relocating people and distributing emergency supplies to have time to provide logistical support for the reserve forces."

Seeing the incredulous look on his partner’s face, Vice Mayor Qin patiently explained, "It’s much better to mobilize nearby Party cadres and basic civilian soldiers; they can be supported logistically by the township or even village groups dispatching them. Requesting help from the stationed troops is even simpler, as active-duty troops not only have military funding but also complete logistical support, which doesn’t require local government intervention at all."

"If we deploy the reserve forces, do we need to ensure their food, drink, and other necessary provisions?"

"Not providing logistical support definitely won’t work, and we might even get criticized by the reserve soldiers. The desire to provide logistical support without the means makes it so we avoid deploying them if possible. Moreover, in many places, the reserve forces and civilian soldiers are essentially the same group, so deploying the reserve forces is essentially the same as deploying the civilian soldiers."

"So, even if we deploy the reserve forces, it would only be local ones."

"More or less."

"Then why are you letting Salted Fish mess around like this? I actually took it seriously and helped you find sponsors for Salted Fish; aren’t you just playing with us?"

Vice Mayor Qin wanted to say that forming the group was a mandate from the superiors, but he held back and instead put on a very serious and solemn expression, saying, "Salted Fish isn’t just messing around; the two camps he formed are very important."

Sister Zhu muttered, "They don’t even have a chance to go to the battlefield, yet they’re important..."

Vice Mayor Qin’s face turned stern, "What do you know? In Salted Fish’s words, those two camps are our Binjiang’s reserve forces for flood control and emergency response. With those two camps in place, I can sleep peacefully. In fact, not just me, but Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang feel the same way."

"Do Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang know about those two camps of Salted Fish?"

"Of course, they know; I reported it. Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang are very pleased, and Mayor Wang added the word ’general,’ saying Salted Fish’s two camps are our Binjiang’s general reserve team for flood control and emergency response! Secretary Lu was very impressed by Salted Fish and holds him in high regard. He also added two words."

Sister Zhu laughed and asked, "What two words did Secretary Lu add?"

Vice Mayor Qin laughed heartily, "He added the words ’strategic,’ saying those two camps are our Binjiang’s strategic general reserve team for flood control and emergency response!"

"Strategic general reserve team sounds quite impressive, but what does it mean to be always prepared?"

"You know that those two camps are not just the strategic general reserve team, but also the reserve forces. The construction machinery belongs to the Linghai Road and Bridge Company, the transport vehicles, especially the tractors, are from individual transport households, and the vessels for water transport and water operations come from several units, including the Port Authority, as well as the personnel. They cannot be used lightly unless absolutely necessary, or it will cause economic loss to others and might even affect economic construction."

If it can be avoided, it should be avoided. Thinking about it, this was a well-thought-out decision by Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang.

Applying to be deployed for merit and awards would seem too selfish, especially since the flood situation in Binjiang hasn’t been severe enough to require the use of the reserve forces, and in fact, even the civilian soldiers haven’t been mobilized on a large scale as of today.

Sister Zhu understood the ins and outs of the situation and didn’t ask any more questions about the reserve camp.

...

Meanwhile, Han Yu, who had just returned to the city with his senior sister, received a call from his sister in East Sea. But before they could exchange a few words, his phone was taken by his senior sister.

"How did Dongdong do on his exam? When will the scores be released?" Han Xiangning asked anxiously, holding her daughter in one arm and her phone in the other.

"The scores will be out in a few days, but the teacher had them redo the test and estimate the scores. If his performance is the same as on the exam, Dongdong did quite well," Han Ning said happily that his son did well, and laughed, "If nothing unexpected happens, getting into high school shouldn’t be a problem."

Han Xiangning was equally delighted and said joyfully, "That’s great! Things are different now; a vocational diploma isn’t worth much. If he can go to high school, he definitely should."

"That’s what your brother-in-law and I think too."

"And what does Dongdong think?"

"He also wants to go to high school."

"That’s the way! Go to high school, then university. Dongdong is so smart; as long as he studies hard, he’ll surely be able to get into college. Once he gets into college, our Han family will have a university graduate!"

"Ningning, you and San’er are both college graduates; you both have college degrees."

"We didn’t actually attend university, so how are we college graduates? We don’t have a college degree, just a self-study undergraduate diploma. Only those who’ve actually been to university are true college graduates."

Pleased with his nephew’s success, Han Yu, who was equally happy, leaned in and asked, "Sister, when do you plan to come back?"

"We’re taking a boat back tonight, and we’ll return when the scores are out in a few days."

"All coming back together?"

"Dongdong’s grandmother isn’t coming back; she’s gotten addicted to selling grain and oil and fears that if she closes for a few days, people won’t come to buy rice and oil from her anymore."

"Are you comfortable with Grandma staying alone in East Sea?"

"She’s not alone; San’er, you haven’t been here. If you come once, you’ll know how lively it is here. She’s made lots of friends, there are many elderly women here, and two of them married here from our Linghai many years ago."

...

The Yangtze River’s waves push forward, with each generation surpassing the last.

Han Yu was a bit envious of Dongdong, who, as long as he could attend high school, would have the chance to go to university in the future.

As long as he could get into university, he wouldn’t have to worry about being unemployed after graduation, unlike when Han Yu himself almost got "returned" by his master.