Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 864 - 587: Wearing Two Hats

"Captain Xia, how many officers and soldiers are in your Strategic Reserve Team?"

"The Strategic Reserve Team isn’t just from our regiment, it’s for the whole of Binjiang! The Reserve Team consists of two fully mechanized emergency mobile assault battalions, with over a hundred types of technical equipment and vessels. The reason we say equipment and vessels is because we have engineering ships ready to rush to dangerous work sections for emergency repairs at any time. As for how many officers and soldiers there are, that’s a military secret..."

Administrator Liu Degui stood to the side, bewildered by what he heard.

He thought that Vice Mayor Qin had confirmed Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang’s statement that these two paper battalions were the "Strategic Reserve Team" for flood control in Binjiang, but their actual combat readiness was next to none.

Even if a major danger occurred, the city leaders of Binjiang and Linghai would not allow units like the Linghai Bridge Company to intervene under the name of the Reserve Forces.

After all, whether it’s the Bridge Company or the Port Authority, including the Lingda Car Ferry, they are all subsidiaries of Binjiang City or Linghai City.

The superiors can directly give orders; there’s no need to "make a fuss over nothing" by adding an extra step.

More importantly, if you need achievements, others need them too.

Calling on this nominal Reserve Regiment is equivalent to asking for military support; it’s something they could handle on their own without involving you!

It can be said that this "Strategic Reserve Team" is just as nominal.

One could even imagine that the city leaders must have been impressed by Salted Fish and did not want to dampen Salted Fish’s work enthusiasm, so they jokingly mentioned this during Vice Mayor Qin’s work report; otherwise, a formal document would have been issued rather than just verbal statements.

In the end, it all turned into some form of bureaucracy.

Having finally put on his military uniform again, Liu Degui, who wanted to showcase his capabilities, felt a mix of emotions, so he simply stopped listening and picked up a shovel to continue working.

Xiao Yu, eager to be on television and in the newspapers, didn’t want to miss this opportunity to be in the spotlight and ostentatiously drove the excavator over.

The TV station reporters were filming and needed to record on-site.

The loud engine noise of the excavator would interfere with the interview!

Political Commissioner Jiao was frustrated and quickly waved a small flag, trying to get Xiao Yu to move further away.

Seeing Yang Jianbo also furiously winking, Xiao Yu had no choice but to reluctantly drive the excavator away.

Han Yu was unaware of these things, as he sent off the provincial leaders inspecting the flood control work in Binjiang, along with Secretary Lu and Vice Mayor Ding, and said goodbye to Captain Wu from the Provincial Department’s Security Division, then instructed Binjiang Police 002 to return to the docks.

As the sun was setting upon returning to the Sanhe Waters, he secured the mooring line and climbed up to the second floor, pushing open the weather squad’s office door to find his father-in-law hunched over the desk drawing maps.

"San’er, did the provincial leaders leave?"

"They’ve returned to Binjiang, having disembarked at Dongqi and taking a car to Binjiang."

"Did the provincial leaders say anything?"

"No, there’s nothing for them to say about our Binjiang’s Yangtze River levee, which is as solid as a fortress."

Conducting security work is not just about ensuring the safety of commanders but also strictly maintaining confidentiality.

Han Yu didn’t want to say too much and curiously asked, while smiling at his father-in-law’s hand-drawn map, "Dad, how have your weather predictions been so accurate lately? When you say it’s going to rain, it actually rains."

Master Han put down the pencil, lifting his arm to point above, "I used to have to observe and predict climate changes across the whole of Binjiang; now I only need to observe and predict just overhead, so it’s naturally more accurate than before."

"So, it’s like cooking; small-pot dishes are tastier than big-pot dishes."

"Actually, it wasn’t inaccurate before. The main problem is that Binjiang is too large, with ever-changing high-altitude pressure, airflow, wind, and clouds. I could predict rain for tomorrow, and it might rain in Gaoru, but not here in Linghai, making Linghai residents think my weather forecast was incorrect."

"Come to think of it, there’s sometimes rain on one side of the bridge and none on the other, just a few meters apart. Nature certainly has its quirks."

A son-in-law who didn’t understand meteorology.

Master Han felt it was like casting pearls before swine to discuss these matters with his son-in-law, so he immediately switched topics, "Master Yao called at noon, saying they encountered the flood peak and are moving along with it."

"Has 001 returned from Changyi?"

"If they don’t follow the flood peak, how can they collect data on it?"

"Is collecting that data useful?"

"Of course it is. It is similar to our meteorological department assigning personnel to follow typhoons. The data collected not only provides decision-making references for flood control command departments but also holds high research value."

Flood peaks, the peak of floodwaters.

Collecting rain and water from upstream, it rushes down with sudden surges and drops, possessing great impact and danger.

Han Yu took a deep breath, asking in a low voice, "Did Master Yao mention whether the Yangtze River embankment over there can withstand it?"

"He said the Yangtze River embankment should hold, but the situation around Beihu and Nanhu is somewhat different from ours, and the flood control situation there is still very severe."

"How is it different?"

"We only have a few river islands on this side, small in size, with not many people living on them. While on the Beihu and Nanhu sides, there are many enclosures, somewhat like the village terraces in the north. They range from tens of square kilometers to several hundred square kilometers, with many residents farming and living in the enclosures."

Master Han paused, saying worriedly, "Despite repeated appeals from the local party committees and government for the residents living in the enclosures to understand the big picture and sacrifice the river beaches to protect the Yangtze River embankment, executing these measures is very difficult.

No one wants to see their homes and land flooded, nor to see their entire family become disaster victims, forced to live under the scorching sun and heavy rain, nestled in tents along the embankments. Therefore, the cadres and citizens there are now primarily preserving the river beach enclosures.

Using massive numbers of woven bags filled with soil, they’ve elevated the enclosures layer by layer. As Master Yao described, it’s like forming a white Great Wall everywhere. Although it temporarily saves their homes during torrential rains and floods, it also raises the water level of the Yangtze River."

Last year, during security duties, Han Yu escorted provincial leaders inspecting flood situations through numerous regions and learned much from the water resources experts’ reports to the provincial leaders on flood control work.

Han Yu knows a little about flood control, and thoughtfully said, "It’s only July, and who knows if there will be more rain upstream. If it rains again, another flood peak may occur. If the Yangtze River’s water level rises and falls alternately, generally climbing, typical civil dikes surely cannot endure long-term submersion."

Meteorology and water resources might be the two disciplines most closely linked.

Master Han, who also understood something about flood control, earnestly replied, "One can imagine that most of those enclosures were formed spontaneously by the villagers, unlike the Yangtze River embankment, which has national, provincial, and municipal levels. They are inherently small in scale and low in standard. If the Yangtze River water level remains elevated, those civil dikes will eventually face dangers, and in fact, several enclosures have already broken and been abandoned."

Han Yu was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Knowing it’s hard to hold, but still holding on, we might as well use our manpower and resources to strengthen the embankment."

Master Han nodded, then shook his head after thinking, "San’er, you haven’t had a hard life, nor have you been to the rural areas of the central and western regions. Only after experiencing hard times or visiting those places will you understand what it means to be unable to leave one’s poor home and be reluctant to leave one’s native land."

"Let’s not talk about this anymore. Those people are in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, while we’re at the tail. It’s useless for us to just be anxious."

"That’s true. By the way, Director Liao called in the afternoon and wants you to call him back as soon as you return."

"Alright, I’ll go next door to call."

Director Liao has now completely shifted his focus to flood control.

It must be something important when Director Liao calls.

Han Yu walked into the command dispatch room and dialed Director Liao’s phone.

The call connected quickly, and he heard Director Liao on the other end asking, "Salted Fish, why didn’t you tell me sooner about the Hydrological Bureau requisitioning 001 for such an important matter?"

"Director Liao, what’s the matter?"

"The Hydrological Bureau needs 001’s assistance, but our anti-flood command needs it even more. The flood peak is already at Hanwu and will reach us in Binjiang in just a few days. Without the underwater surveying equipment on 001, how can I X-ray the most dangerous embankments on Jiangxin?"

Binjiang is a thousand kilometers from Hanwu.

The Yangtze River section in Binjiang is also wider than over there at Hanwu.

By the time the flood peak reaches Binjiang, it can neither be called a flood nor visible as a peak anymore; it will only raise the tide level slightly higher than usual and make the flow speed a bit faster.

Han Yu wasn’t worried about the upcoming flood peak causing much damage to Binjiang, but he understood Director Liao’s feelings. After all, Director Liao was the head of the Binjiang City Flood Control and Drought Relief Command Center office and was the actual person responsible for flood prevention in Binjiang.

Better safe than sorry.

If something really happens, he and Vice Mayor Ding, who is in charge of flood control, would be held accountable.

Han Yu turned to look at Zhang Lan, holding the phone, "Director Liao, I also don’t want to lend 001 to the Yangtze River Water Bureau. 001 can be said to be my lifeblood. As long as I can’t see 001, I don’t feel at ease."

"If you don’t want to lend it, then why did you lend it, especially at such a critical moment!"

"It wasn’t my fault, you can only blame yourself."

"Blame me?"

"Last time you borrowed 001 for X-raying the entire embankment line, and as a result, you broke 001’s underwater surveying equipment. The computer for the underwater surveying equipment couldn’t be repaired, so it had to be replaced, and the surveying software as well."

Director Liao remembered this incident and asked, "Can’t it be repaired?"

Han Yu laughed, "It can’t be repaired."

"If it can’t X-ray, what does the Hydrological Bureau want 001 for?"

"Didn’t I just say, it can’t be repaired so it has to be replaced. Replacing it costs hundreds of thousands, and your anti-flood command wouldn’t cover the cost, so I could only ask them to pay. They paid, and borrowed it for a month. Can I refuse to lend it?"

Director Liao realized, staying silent for a while before muttering, "They did spend the money, so they can borrow it, but they’ve already exceeded the month. I found out that you lent 001 to them at the end of May."

Han Yu explained, "001 was supposed to return as per the original agreement, but then a flood peak appeared upstream, and it was requisitioned by the Yangtze River Flood Control Command and the Yangtze River Committee, extending the loan period by a month."

"Salted Fish, you are a cadre of our Binjiang, and 001 is our Binjiang’s ship!"

"I’ll call them later to ask if 001 can come back earlier."

"Quickly ask, if it can come back earlier, it should come back earlier."

"Yes!"

"There’s another thing, Mayor Ding wants you to report to the anti-flood command by 10 a.m. tomorrow."

"What’s Mayor Ding asking me to do at the anti-flood command?"

"Salted Fish, you can’t just focus on running your Reserve Camp. Mayor Ding knows you were the chief instructor of last year’s military and civilian flood control and rescue skills training class. With the flood peak approaching, rescue team members trained in flood control and rescue skills need to be prepared. Mayor Ding wants you to serve as the flood control and rescue team leader."

"Director Liao, I can’t take on this rescue team leader role. Including me, more than a dozen of the trained team members have been summoned to serve in the reserves. We can’t hold dual roles."

"Who needs the reserves? Binjiang doesn’t need reserves! Stop making excuses, this is an order from the city anti-flood command. I’ll send the notice to Linghai Defense Command in a bit, whether you come or not, you have to come!"

"Where is the main rescue mission planned to be executed?"

"Several Jiangxin, where else but those Jiangxin."

"Understood, I’ll report on time tomorrow."

"That’s right, almost forgot, both the personnel and the necessary boats for rescue need to be in place."

"I’m not a leader; whether some boats can go isn’t up to me."

"You make a list first, and I’ll order them in the name of the anti-flood command."

The land and sky may be vast, but now the anti-flood command is the greatest.

Although Director Liao is only a Deputy Department Level assistant director of the Water Resources Bureau and the office director of the flood control command center, he now can mobilize party and government officials and equipment across Binjiang.

Realizing those Jiangxin are indeed the only weak point in Binjiang’s flood prevention, Han Yu readily agreed, "Yes, I’ll make the list right away."

...

PS: Looking ahead at this Chapter, many readers are worried Old Zhuo will quit, fearing the story will end after the flood.

Here I state that Salted Fish’s story is just beginning; I will write until he retires!