Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 902 - 607: "Hong Kong Garrison" (Part 3)

Captain Peng was taken aback and hurriedly stood up to salute Master Xi.

"Captain Peng, there’s no need to be so formal. I know you’re busy. You go ahead with your discussion first."

"Alright, let’s talk business first."

Captain Peng sat back down, fixed his eyes on Yao Lirong, and asked, "Master Yao, how many people are your battalion bringing?"

Master Yao had never served in the military and was a technical expert. He didn’t possess the strong sense of hierarchy typical of soldiers, so he naturally didn’t feel nervous facing Captain Peng. Smiling, he said, "The main troops set off as soon as they received orders and are currently rushing over here, totaling one hundred and sixty-two people. The follow-up troops are taking the water route and are coming by boat. They might take six days to arrive. The follow-up troops aren’t large, with only about fifty people."

Isn’t flood relief supposed to arrive with the speediest response? Yet they’re coming by boat.

Captain Peng found it quite absurd, but considering that they weren’t regular army, he dismissed the thought, secretly feeling a bit pleased about it. Because the higher-ups made it clear that this reserve camp, which wasn’t stationed properly in Jiangnan for flood defense, was coming to assist the division with flood relief.

Whether they would actually be of help was unknown, but one thing was certain: logistical supply would definitely be problematic. When others come to assist, you can’t just let them go hungry, right?

But the division doesn’t have the budget for this, nor does the regiment.

Even if the entire regiment cut down some of their own supplies to give them food, given the current transport situation, getting logistics up the line isn’t easy. Otherwise, the whole regiment of soldiers wouldn’t have been starving and dizzy on the embankment for a day and night before finally eating a meal.

The Political Commissioner was responsible for logistics, and he wasn’t unwilling, but he really couldn’t do anything.

The road to the embankment was washed out, the vehicles couldn’t pass, so the Political Commissioner led the logistics comrades, carrying bags of boxed meals, bottles of mineral water, trudging through six kilometers in the pouring rain to deliver food and water.

One less person means one less logistical pressure.

Captain Peng took a deep breath and asked, "So you’re saying there are about two hundred people in total?"

"Almost."

"How are you handling logistics?"

"We’ll manage it ourselves; won’t add to the division’s trouble."

"You’re handling it yourselves?"

"Yes."

Captain Peng was thrilled, smiled, and said, "That’s good. Later, I’ll talk to the comrades from the Angong County Armed Forces Department, ask them to help, see if they can find you a place to stay nearby. Ideally, they should arrange for a specialized military cadre solely responsible for communication and coordination with you."

Yao Lirong quickly said, "Captain Peng, we’re here to report to you, not the Armed Forces Department, no need for them to arrange a specialized military cadre to communicate with us."

This area is both civilian dike and part of the Jingjiang flood diversion project.

The embankment that had a piping emergency just now was not the Yangtze River embankment, but the embankment of Hu Du River, a tributary of Tong River, which is some distance away from the Yangtze River.

On the matter of where to focus defense, Master Xi and other flood prevention experts from the Yangtze River Committee have a different opinion from the local government. Master Xi believes the main force should now be on the Yangtze River embankment, whereas the local government wants to protect everything, both the Yangtze River embankment and the civilian dikes.

Master Xi realized the higher-ups might not have clarified the situation to this captain present, so he looked up and said, "Captain Peng, the Linghai Reserve Camp will not only coordinate with you in flood prevention but also execute the emergency rescue task for the Jingjiang Embankment and the South Bank Yangtze River embankment, including Angong County.

Today, Master Yao was only entrusted by Deputy Political Commissioner Shen Fan, the Deputy Political Commissioner of the Binjiang Reserve Group and the First Secretary of Linghai Reserve Camp, and Camp Commander Han Yu of Linghai Reserve Camp, to report to you. Considering that Jingjiang’s water level is surging, ferries are halted, the main troops won’t be able to cross the river, even if they want to."

Yao Lirong took the opportunity to add, "Deputy Political Commissioner Shen is not only the Political Commissioner of the Binjiang Reserve Group, but also a Deputy Mayor in the Linghai City, and Camp Commander Han is similarly not just our camp commander; he’s a member of the Development Zone Party Committee, a Political and Legal Committee Secretary, and a Military Minister, while also being a committee member of the Binjiang City Police Department Water Police Division."

What does a Deputy Mayor in a coastal county-level city in developed regions mean!

A Political and Legal Committee Secretary in a developed coastal region’s development zone is equally powerful, and that camp commander is not only a Political and Legal Committee Secretary but also some Police Bureau committee member...

"Hong Kong Garrison," what is this about, Captain Peng was momentarily stunned.

The second flood peak has emerged and is about to enter Jingjiang.

Master Xi dared not linger here any longer, and said very seriously, "Captain Peng, please help the Linghai Reserve Camp report to your division leadership that according to flood prevention needs, they will be stationed at the Jingjiang Embankment. If significant dangers occur that your regiment and the local government cannot handle, please contact us promptly; we will try our best to cross the river to assist you in rescue operations."

A danger we can’t mitigate, you think you can?

Captain Peng thought he misheard, unsure what to say, and Yao Lirong smilingly added, "Our main troops should be able to arrive tonight before midnight. Considering that the main troops can’t cross the river for now, but we still need to accept your division leadership, could you please ask the division commander for instructions on whether a cadre could be sent over, since it involves troop management."

You say you won’t cross the river, then you won’t?

Do you know what military command means?

Lack of organization and discipline, such troops are better left out!

Captain Peng didn’t want trouble for himself, so he simply smiled, "No need to consult the division; the division issued us orders last night, once your main troops arrive, our regiment will take charge, after all, you’re battalion-level units."

Turns out they didn’t qualify for being managed by the division level.

Master Yao realized and responded with a smile, "Then should the regiment arrange for someone to cross the river with us? We have a boat."

Even if reluctant to manage, they can’t truly ignore it.

If these guerillas stir up any trouble, the higher-ups would undoubtedly hold the regiment accountable.

Captain Peng weighed a moment and said, "I’ll arrange for a military affairs staff member to go over; Master Yao, how about that?"

"Sure, thank you, Captain Peng."

"No need to thank me. I need to attend a meeting at the county flood prevention command center, so I won’t accompany you."