Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 871 - 591: Not That Difficult!

At four-thirty in the afternoon, Huang Yuanchang hurried back to the office, dragging his weary body.

The first flood peak had passed, and the second was about to arrive. The water level of the Yangtze River remained high. Party and government agencies, enterprises, institutions, and universities in Hanwu had all organized personnel to fight the flood on the riverbank.

Changhang Bureau had also organized efforts, and Huang Yuanchang had been on duty at the dike for four days and nights. If the bureau hadn’t called him to return urgently, he would have continued to guard the dike.

The office director said the director was waiting. Without bothering to change his dirty clothes, he quickly climbed to the floor where the bureau leadership was, walked over, and knocked on the director’s office door.

"Director Yuan, you wanted to see me?"

"Come in, let’s talk while sitting down."

Ports and docks upstream were flooded, cargo ships couldn’t reach the port, passenger ships couldn’t dock, and all ferries were suspended.

Shipping in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River was almost paralyzed. Director Yuan had traveled over three hundred kilometers, guiding rescue operations at ports and docks along the line, and had just returned.

Upon his return, he saw reports from the Port Supervision Bureau, Changhang Police Bureau, and Waterway Bureau.

He handed the reports to Huang Yuanchang, who had just sat down: "Xiao Huang, take a look at this first."

"Sure." Huang Yuanchang took the thick reports, studied them carefully for a moment, and mumbled, "When did Salted Fish and Han Xiangning join the reserves, and they even set up a flood protection and rescue reserve camp?"

"Do you know these two comrades?"

"I don’t just know them."

Huang Yuanchang flipped through the reports, looked up, and said, "There are many acquaintances here, colleagues from my old unit, members from the Changhang Binjiang Police Branch, people from Binjiang Port Authority, the Waterway Section, and friends from Binjiang Customs."

The flood situation is severe, and Director Yuan is genuinely worried.

On the way to guide flood control at upstream ports and docks, they passed a civil dike where a breach occurred.

Farmers living in that civil dike overnight became victims. Some were temporarily housed in schools and warehouses, while those far from the towns could only set up small tents or even grass huts on intact dikes.

The ground beneath them was a muddy pit formed by days of rain. Above them was the scorching sun. The small tents looked like steamers, suffocating during the day and plagued by mosquito bites at night. When it rains, people in tents or grass huts feel like they’re taking a shower.

They huddled in small shelters, eagerly hoping the liberation army would bring clean water, bread, and instant noodles in assault boats or small ships, praying for the flood to recede soon so they could return home early.

Seeing this upset Director Yuan, so he instructed his team to leave all the water and dry food on the ship and couldn’t resist going back to try to console those victims before returning to the boat.

"I wonder how home is, if the house has collapsed, if the belongings are still there? The few pigs we raised for a few months probably got washed away long ago."

A sixty-year-old lady pointed to a distant expanse of water as she spoke to him, as if talking to herself. Her words lingered in his ears till now.

Children were oblivious, continuing to run and play in the mud water.

Maybe they grew up by the water, so they weren’t scared of it. They would jump into shallow water to swim and have water fights when adults weren’t paying attention, each one stark naked, their dark bodies bitten by mosquitoes, covered in red spots and purple patches.

Once, he asked a seven or eight-year-old child where his home was. The boy pointed to the boundless water, saying it was in that direction, impossible to see from here.

He asked where the child’s parents were, why they weren’t together. The boy said his father went to patrol the dike to check for danger, while his mother was in a nearby tent. She secretly paddled a small boat home yesterday, but the water was so deep, only the roof was visible...

What use is comforting when the affected citizens need real help.

Thinking about how more civil dikes were at risk, if they couldn’t withstand the upcoming second flood peak, more farmers would become victims. Director Yuan took several deep breaths and then said, "Xiao Huang, you’re familiar with the situation in Binjiang. I want to hear your views on whether the flood protection and rescue reserve camp organized by your old friends and subordinates is as professional as the report claims."

That Salted Fish kid really knows how to stir things up, actually becoming the Vice Chief of Staff of Binjiang Reserve Group and First Battalion Commander.

Even Han Xiangning became a reserve officer; they make quite a pair, supporting each other.

Looking at the reports, Huang Yuanchang felt everything seemed so unreal, and after a long pause, he said, "Director Yuan, I’m quite familiar with Han Yu. He entered work at sixteen, and I can say I’ve watched him grow..."

At Binjiang Port Supervision Bureau, especially in grassroots work and achievements at the Port Patrol Third Team, these were Huang Yuanchang’s political capital in Changhang Bureau.

When leadership inquired about the people and events from his old unit, he naturally had to speak positively.

Director Yuan didn’t expect him to rate that young reserve battalion commander so highly, nor did he expect him to say that Linghai Reserve Camp’s combat effectiveness was only stronger than reported, not weaker.

"So the Port Supervision Bureau, Changhang Police Bureau, and Waterway Bureau aren’t exaggerating?"

"Definitely not, Director Yuan. In recent years, you haven’t gone downstream to inspect work. If you had, you’d know ’First Post of the Yangtze River’ isn’t just an empty reputation.

Since 1988, several families have started joint law enforcement. When I served as the Big Commander of the Port Patrol Third Team at the Binjiang Port Supervision Bureau, I also led the organization of joint law enforcement twice.

Each time, no fewer than ten law enforcement vessels were deployed, and even Customs arranged anti-smuggling boats to participate. So integrating resources and mobilizing all available forces is not too difficult for them."

If everything is true and that makeshift flood defense and rescue camp can be transferred here, the Yangtze River’s several management agencies will have a water-land amphibious emergency rescue force!

Director Yuan thought more and more that the suggestion from the Yangtze River Committee could be considered. Resting his chin, he said, "But the problem now is that it’s very difficult to get this camp to come over."

Having been transferred to the Changhang Bureau for so long, today was the first time reporting work to the director alone.

How could Huang Yuanchang miss this opportunity to share the leadership’s concerns? After racking his brains, he confidently said, "Director Yuan, I don’t think it’s very difficult."

"The materials clearly state that applying to transfer them to our superior is easy, but the Binjiang Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government may not necessarily agree to them coming."

"As long as we work on it, the city leaders in Binjiang should agree."

"How should we do this work?"

Huang Yuanchang thought for a moment and confidently said, "Firstly, logistics support. Based on the materials, they have a lot of mechanized equipment. Although Binjiang’s economy has developed well, it’s impossible for them to lend us so many personnel and equipment worth tens of millions while also subsidizing the expenses incurred during flood defense and rescue."

Can the several major management agencies on the Yangtze River not afford a reserve camp?

Taking a step back, when facing such large flood disasters, the funds in the accounts of several units would still have to be spent according to superior instructions, even if not spent here.

Instead of being taken by the superiors for disaster relief, it would be better to "recall" the reserve camp, in which the major management agencies of the Yangtze River have half "equity," to participate in flood defense and rescue. Not only can they contribute effectively, but they can also achieve some results.

Director Yuan weighed the situation and tapped the table lightly, "We are responsible for the funds needed for buying rescue materials and logistics support."

"Then it’s about getting the relationships right, or rather, clarifying the command authority."

"Be more specific."

"Flood defense and rescue, like fighting fires on the water, is very dangerous and highly specialized. The Binjiang City leadership will certainly worry about personnel safety and the safety of equipment worth tens of millions. When we talk, we must make a clear commitment that we will only tell them where to go for rescue and will never have outsiders dictate the insiders or interfere with their rescue process."

"This is easy; the materials clearly state that they have their own expert group. A senior engineer of professor level from the Hydrological Bureau is a member of their expert group. By then, inform the Yangtze River Committee, and request the Yangtze River Committee to let that professor-level senior engineer guide the rescue."

"This arrangement can work, but it’s only a guiding relationship in flood defense and rescue operations. Now they are a reserve force, and when a reserve force comes over, it must follow the regulations of having a superior, so we need to help them find a superior who will not have outsiders dictate insiders and will not transfer them around."

Director Yuan noticed that this young man’s capability was greater than imagined. He could even see so far ahead and nodded in approval, "Having them accept command from the Provincial Military District is definitely not feasible; the Provincial Military District listens to the Provincial Defense Command now. If there were dangers, they are everywhere, and when asking for help, everyone is in as much of a hurry as the last. If the Provincial Military District had command over this camp, not only would they transfer them around, but they might even split them into two or three rescue teams, thereby losing combat effectiveness."

Huang Yuanchang cautiously said, "But this is not something we can control."

"As long as they can come, I’ll find a way to help them find a superior," Director Yuan paused, staring at him intently, "What else?"

"We also need to quickly bring back colleagues from offices with administrative approval authority, and the Port Supervision Bureau should do the same; communication and coordination may be needed with the Yangtze River Committee as well."

"How come I didn’t think of this, Xiao Huang, you’ve greatly contributed!"

Director Yuan found it more and more interesting, stood up, and laughed heartily, "We do request from Binjiang, but Binjiang also requests from us. Aren’t they going to build Gaoru Port, and Changzhou Port? If I remember correctly, Linghai Port also has some procedures not done."

The director stood up; you cannot stay seated.

Huang Yuanchang hurriedly stood up and laughed, "As long as it’s approved on our side, we will handle special things specially and help them complete them all at once. As for the Ministry, we can even help them find a way."

"Xiao Huang, this matter is handed over to you. You are responsible for communicating with Binjiang. As for the administrative approval of building port terminals in several districts and counties of Binjiang, I’ll let Director Wang coordinate with various offices and Port Supervision Bureau’s units to speed up the process."

"Director Yuan, such a big thing may not be suitable for a phone discussion."

"Quickly book a plane ticket, fly over to discuss in person."

Director Yuan weighed the situation, smiled, and added, "Once the deployment matters are confirmed, you will represent our bureau in full to coordinate with that rescue camp, fully responsible for their logistical support. You must be both a good liaison officer and handle the logistics work well."

That Salted Fish kid is truly capable.

If he wants to do something, he’ll either not do it or do it successfully.

If Salted Fish can lead the team over for flood defense and rescue, he will certainly accomplish something.

After repelling the floods, Salted Fish and his team will surely have to return. Even if Salted Fish’s team does not return to Binjiang, who could deny my contribution?

Huang Yuanchang, filled with excitement and fervor, hurriedly agreed, "Yes!"