Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 897 - 605: Setting Out (Part 2)

"Comrades, the higher-ups have ordered you to carry out a cross-province and cross-military district flood rescue mission. This is not only a trust in you but also your glory!"

After Commander Wang finished speaking, he asked Secretary Lu to give the final mobilization.

Secretary Lu looked around at the crowd and said with emphasis, "As early as when the Binjiang Reserve Group was established, I proposed that the reserve forces should be ready to fight in wartime and respond in emergencies during peacetime. Only by treating training as actual combat can you step forward at critical moments.

Now the time has come to test your training results and your combat effectiveness!

You are a unit with a long history and fine traditions. The banners of the ’Heroic Assault Battalion’ and ’Red Saber Battalion’ are planted right there. The revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Anti-Japanese War and the cause of liberation are watching you."

Secretary Lu pointed at the two honor titles flags not far away and then gestured towards the neighboring Martyr’s Cemetery, "Now, on behalf of the Binjiang Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, the Binjiang Military District, and the 12 million people of Binjiang, I hope comrades will carry forward the fine traditions of the ’Heroic Assault Battalion’ and ’Red Saber Battalion.

After arriving in Jingjiang, obey the superior’s orders and follow the superior’s commands, carrying forward the fighting spirit of fearing neither hardship nor death. Do your utmost and display your talents. Dare to take the lead and be pioneers, combine professional expertise, fully exploit advantages, and firmly complete the rescue tasks assigned by the superior.

Dare to ’shout out, let me come, be a vanguard in emergencies and battles’! Put the lives and property safety of the people on both sides of the Jingjiang River first, live up to the expectations of the Central Military Commission, the Provincial Military District, and the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and bring glory to the stationed area, bringing glory to the 12 million Binjiang people..."

After Mayor Lu’s mobilization, it was Han Yu’s turn to make a statement.

The speech draft was still written by a political officer under Political Commissioner Jiao, and he just needed to read it out loud.

As soon as he finished reading, Commander Wang sternly asked, "Comrades, do you have the confidence to complete the tasks assigned by the Central Military Commission?"

"Yes!"

"Do you have the confidence to repel the floods?"

"Yes!"

So this was the oath-taking...

With the thunderous and lingering shouts, the mobilization and oath-taking ceremony reached its climax.

The morale was strong, and Commander Wang was very satisfied. He turned to look at Secretary Lu, saw him nod slightly, and then raised his arm to check the time. He then raised both hands to quieten the crowd and ordered, "Now it’s 9:38, I’ll give everyone another 22 minutes to prepare. Depart promptly at 10 o’clock."

"Yes!"

Han Yu responded and immediately ran to the front of the line to give orders.

The guard platoon leader of the military district, ordered to escort them, led the soldiers and convoy drivers to inspect the vehicles promptly, while the tractor unit was to quickly drive the tractors onto the Lingda Car Ferry’s ferry boat.

Administrators Liu Degui, Secretary Qiu Xueliang, and Political Work Officer Zhao Jiang organized non-combat personnel to distribute mineral water, bread, and sausages to the participating personnel, one bag per person.

Han Yu was about to say goodbye to his senior when Luo Hongxin and his son pulled him aside.

"Salted Fish, what’s going on?"

"Secretary Yu, how could you forget about me! At the meeting this afternoon, you promised to make me the deputy company commander of the Third Company, why did you change your mind at the last minute?"

"Plans can’t keep up with changes, you have a more important task ahead."

"What task?" Luo Wenjiang asked urgently.

Han Yu opened the satchel he just received that evening, took out a notebook, found a phone number, copied it onto a blank page with a pen, tore it off, and handed it to him.

The father was even more anxious than the son.

Luo Hongxin frowned and asked, "Whose number is this?"

Han Yu said, "This is Deputy Director Wu’s cell number from the Provincial Department’s Security Department. I’ll be leading the team to Beihu for flood control, so I’ll definitely need to report to the Security Department. Otherwise, if there’s a water security mission, Director Wu won’t be able to find me."

Luo Wenjiang suddenly remembered that Salted Fish had a part-time job at the Provincial Department’s Security Department and instinctively asked, "What does this have to do with me?"

"It does."

Han Yu patiently explained, "Now it’s not only Beihu that needs flood control, but our Jiangnan Province also needs the same. The provincial leaders might inspect the flood control situation by boat, just like last year, and there’s even a possibility that the Central Leadership will come to guide our flood control work in Jiangnan Province.

The conditions on the Provincial Fisheries Administration’s ship are better, and if the leaders need to inspect the river, they will likely take the fisheries ship. But there needs to be public security police who understand water security, as well as law enforcement boats for escort on the fisheries ship."

Luo Wenjiang said bitterly, "What do I know about water security?"

"You have rich experience in water-related work and are about to be transferred to the Provincial Department’s Public Security Team. Director Wu believes you are competent. Director Chen is currently speaking with Mayor Wang; Director Chen is aware of this matter. If you don’t believe it, you can ask Director Chen."

"Has the Provincial Department issued an order?"

"Not only has an order been issued, but even the transfer order has arrived at the City Bureau."

"But I want to go to Beihu for flood control!"

Luo Hongxin was well aware of the significance of carrying out security missions and, seeing his son being oblivious to the opportunity, his expression turned stern: "Where are these complaints coming from? Do you not have any sense of organizational principles? Obey orders and follow commands, and don’t delay Salted Fish’s time any further."

Luo Wenjiang, with a worried face, said, "Dad..."

"Listen, and if you don’t, believe me, I’ll teach you a lesson."

"You can hit me, you must hit me."

Han Yu chuckled, and without turning back, walked over to stand beside his senior and Sister Zhang Lan.

Before Han Xiangning could open her mouth, Zhang Lan choked up and said, "Salted Fish, I’m entrusting Xu Mingyuan to you, you must bring him back to me. If anything happens to him, we’re not finished!"

"Don’t worry, there won’t be any danger. Just think about what we are doing."

"I’m still not at ease."

"Then you hurry and remind him again."

"Sister Zhang Lan, hurry up, we’re about to set off."

"Oh."

Just after Zhang Lan left, Han Xiangning muttered, "San’er, you also need to be careful. Not only do you need to be cautious, but you also have to look after Dad and Mengmeng."

Han Yu smiled and said, "I’ll be careful. As for Dad and Mengmeng, they are mainly responsible for logistics support. We work and they watch, how could they be in danger?"

"That’s true."

Han Xiangning leaned over to look at her younger sister and brother-in-law, who were in high spirits, and after some thought, she instructed again, "Be sure to keep an eye on Dongdong. He’s grown up and difficult to manage, he doesn’t even listen to me."

Han Yu turned to glance at his nephew, who was inseparable from Xiao Yu, and laughed, "I need to be cautious myself, and keep an eye on this one and that one, can I really watch over everything? Besides, I’m the camp commander, executing the flood relief task. But you’re right, I need to keep a close eye on Dongdong, I’ll leave him with Xiao Yu later."

"Leaving it to Xiao Yu, are you kidding me? He can’t even handle himself."

"Don’t worry, Dongdong will be fine. He’s the youngest in the camp; everyone treats him like a treasure."

"Now that I think about it, you’re right. He’s almost like you were back at the Yanjiang Police Station, nearly the first in line to lead the reserve camp in the future."

Han Yu couldn’t joke around any longer. Holding her hand, he said apologetically, "Ningning, I’m really leaving. Everything at home depends on you."

Han Xiangning was afraid of being laughed at, so she shook off his hand: "With me at home, you don’t have to worry. It looks like Secretary Lu and the others are waiting for you. Go and say goodbye to the leaders, and try to earn a commendation. Then I’ll help you collect your bonus."

"What about the medals and certificates?"

"Those aren’t important. The main thing is the bonus. We really need the money."

"Understood, hahaha."

Just like Han Xiangning said, Secretary Lu, Mayor Wang, and Commander Wang were waiting for Han Yu. They wanted to say a few more words to him, but when Han Yu arrived, they didn’t know what to say because everything that needed to be said had already been said.

Secretary Lu simply laughed and asked, "Salted Fish, how many times is this for you joining the flood fight?"

"Reporting to Secretary Lu, this is my fifth time joining the flood fight."

"I thought it was the tenth time. Didn’t you start working at sixteen? How come it’s only five times?"

"I did start working at sixteen, but for four years I was studying and exchanging at the East Sea Shipping Public Security Bureau. They said it was the Shipping Public Security Bureau, but I was actually learning to sail on a ship at the Marine Bureau."

"Oh, I remember now. Having experience in five flood rescue missions is quite impressive. We don’t have many young veterans like you in Binjiang."

"We do, even in our camp."

"Who?"

How could Han Yu miss the chance to give his subordinate some recognition? He immediately turned and shouted, "Guo Weitao."

"Present!" Guo Weitao didn’t have time to stuff another sausage into his backpack. He hurriedly ran over to stand at attention and salute.

Director Chen suddenly remembered that Guo Weitao seemed to be one of his subordinates, and couldn’t help but laugh, "Comrade Xiao Guo, Secretary Lu wants to ask how old you were when you started working."

"Reporting to Secretary Lu, I started working at five!"

"Started working at five? Comrade Xiao Guo, how old are you now?"

"Reporting to Secretary Lu, I’m twenty-nine now."

"So that means you have twenty-four years of service?"

"Yes."

"Hahaha, started working at five years old? What kind of work did you do?"

"I was an acrobat in the Nanjing Military District Art Troupe." Guo Weitao usually hated when people asked about this, but today wasn’t a usual day, and the one asking wasn’t just anyone; they were the top leaders of Binjiang.

Secretary Lu realized, and couldn’t help but laugh, "Looks like you’re not just a young veteran, but also a young old platoon leader. If we’re talking about military service, I’d guess that half of the field officers here haven’t served as long as you."

Guo Weitao was so embarrassed by the teasing that he didn’t know how to respond.

Captain Xia and Political Commissioner Jiao were getting the battalion staff to organize the troops onto the vehicles, while several reserve officers from the reserve camp were holding rosters, counting their subordinates.

The main forces were about to depart.

Secretary Lu stopped joking around, signaled to Guo Weitao to return to his team, then patted Salted Fish’s arm, and said meaningfully, "Salted Fish, there are so many people entrusted to you. They are all the elites of Binjiang from various walks of life; you must bring back as many as you take now."

"Yes!"

"Also bring back the equipment, especially those two excavators and the two dump trucks."

"Yes!"

"It’s about time, let’s go. Mayor Wang and I will see you off, at least to the highway entrance."

At 10 o’clock sharp, as Commander Wang gave the order, the sound of drums and the deafening noise of firecrackers suddenly erupted.

Han Yu finally noticed that the Development Zone Management Committee had brought in a drum team, and that many firecrackers had been sent by the nearby businesses and enterprises around the Lingda Car Ferry and other camp areas.

Han Yu climbed into vehicle No. 1, too busy to greet old friends from the Military District Guard Company, and immediately picked up the walkie-talkie: "Attention all vehicles, attention all vehicles, this is Han Yu, I order all vehicles to depart according to their number, maintain distance, and stay safe."

"Vehicle No. 2 received, over!"

"Vehicle No. 3 received, over!"

...

Off-road vehicles, police cars, passenger cars, buses, and the large flatbed trucks transporting equipment and supplies, one after another, slowly left the camp.

The accompanying TV station reporters filmed the departure process and quickly packed up their equipment to jump into vehicle No. 3 responsible for "mobility," afraid they’d be left behind by the main force if they were too slow.

All police and auxiliary police officers from the Linghai Police Bureau Traffic Police Team were dispatched, ensuring a smooth journey.

Just after the convoy set off, the cars of Secretary Lu, Mayor Wang, and Commander Wang chased up from behind, passing in front to lead the way for the main force.

The city’s leaders personally paving the way and escorting all the way to the highway entrance filled the participating officers with excitement.

Xiao Yu was so excited he couldn’t contain himself. He took out his phone, pulled up Brother Haoran’s unit number, and eagerly dialed.

Salted Fish had instructed not to let Xiao Yu bother Xu Haoran again.

Xu Mingyuan figured out the situation and reminded, "Xiao Yu, you’re a soldier now. You must keep military secrets; you can’t call Haoran nor tell him where we’re going."

"Can’t call?"

"No, you can’t!"

Flood rescue isn’t war. How is this a military secret?

Thinking that Brother Haoran is an active-duty officer and it wouldn’t look good if word got out, Xiao Yu simply switched to a different contact and, regardless of Xu Mingyuan’s opinion, directly made the call.

"Principal Zhuo, it’s Xiao Yu. I’m on my way back to Beihu; I’m coming to save you! Yes, yes, I’m headed to the flood rescue. You guys hang in there; I’m coming by car. I asked the driver and he said it should take about 24 hours..."

"Director Liu, it’s Xiao Yu. I’m coming to save you! Heading back for the flood rescue. Director Liu is here too, he’s in the car up front, he’s just dropping us off and then he’s coming back..."