Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 928 - 620: Discipline in Publicity! (2)

A reporter looked up and said, "But the reserve forces are different from active forces, there's no need to be so strict."

"When it comes to the reserve forces, sometimes the reports and publicity might mention place names, like Linghai Reserve Camp, but they won't be so specific as to say Jiangnan Province Military District Army Reserve Division Binjiang Reserve Regiment Linghai Reserve Camp. This involves troop organization and structure, which is classified military information."

Old Ge took a deep breath, then shifted the focus: "Everyone, hostile foreign forces have not given up on destroying us. This is no joke! We cannot disregard this issue, nor can we violate confidentiality and publicity discipline. So I suggest not mentioning Linghai at all; simply saying 'a certain reserve camp' is more appropriate."

A reporter raised his hand and said, "If we can't mention anything, wouldn't that have nothing to do with Binjiang?"

"Yes, if we don't mention it, who will know about Binjiang's significant contribution to supporting Beihu in fighting the floods?" Old Ge thought for a moment and said, "The People's Liberation Army of a certain reserve camp stationed in Binjiang supports Beihu in flood control. Master Dai, do you think this description is acceptable?"

The old leader beside him was not only a scholar but also had a high sense of political awareness.

Master Dai believed that Director Ge's words would not be wrong and without hesitation said, "This description should be fine."

Reporters from Binjiang Radio Station were both amused and exasperated, abandoning the news drafts they painstakingly wrote: "Director Ge, 'a certain reserve camp stationed in Binjiang supports Beihu in flood control,' has nothing to do with Binjiang either!"

"But if not written like this, how else can it be written?"

Old Ge countered with a question, then added, "Besides, reserve forces are still troops, they also belong to the stationed garrison. In fact, not only the reserve forces but even the Armed Forces Department is considered part of the stationed forces. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many organizations collaborating with the Armed Forces Department for military-civilian joint construction, and local party committees and governments wouldn't visit the Armed Forces Department for condolences at the end of the year."

Reporter Wang's assistant became more upset the more he thought about it, muttering, "Secretary Han and the others are reserve soldiers and have to listen to the 132nd Regiment. We're not from the reserve camp, so what does our publicity and reporting have to do with them!"

"Yes, they control everything, but they can't control us!"

"Xiao Zhang is right, we report our own stories!"

Old Ge looked back at Master Dai.

Master Dai immediately straightened up and looked around at everyone, saying, "Everyone, if you're reporting on other troops, then you can report however you like, it's indeed none of our business. But if you're publicizing and reporting on the Linghai Reserve Camp, and the Linghai Reserve Camp is managed by our regiment, then it becomes our business, and we must manage it!"

"Master Dai, there's no need to take it to that extent, right?"

"Yeah, we're not going to defame the troops, we're doing positive publicity!"

"Positive publicity still involves confidentiality and publicity discipline."

"You're just managing it, not the true superior of the Linghai Reserve Camp. Both the Binjiang Military District and Binjiang Reserve Regiment support us in publicity. Do you really have to be so overbearing?"

Old Ge couldn't stand seeing his trusted subordinates being bullied, and immediately said, "Director Huang, I disagree with that. Command of the military by the Party is a basic principle of the People's Army, and orders from superiors must be followed without discount. For example, during the Huaihai Campaign, when the Central Field Army encircled the Nationalist Party's Huang Wei Corps, even while the Central Field Army diverted a large number of Nationalist troops in their thousand-mile march through Dabie Mountain, their strength and equipment faced significant losses.

The Central Field Army wanted to eliminate the Huang Wei Corps, but they lacked sufficient troops and equipment. Huaye, under the orders of the Central Military Commission, sent several columns to support the Central Field Army in encircling the Huang Wei Corps even when their own forces were stretched to the limit.

President Chen personally called several column commanders, insisting they follow the orders of the Central Field Army commanders and accept their command. After successfully encircling and annihilating the Huang Wei Corps, none of the participating Huaye columns took the prisoners and spoils, leaving everything to the Central Field Army which was short on manpower and heavy equipment."

We're talking about publicity and reporting here, why bring up the Huaihai Campaign? Everyone, including Reporter Wang, was left speechless.

Old Ge paused, then continued, "The current situation of the Linghai Reserve Camp is similar to the Huaye columns ordered to support the Central Field Army during the Liberation War. The 132nd Regiment of the 404th Division is equivalent to the Central Field Army during the Liberation War, and now that the Linghai Reserve Camp is here, they must obey the leadership of the 132nd Regiment!"

Director Ge's support for the regiment's work deeply moved Master Dai, who couldn't help but say, "Teachers, you might not know, but our military's current situation is quite similar to that of the Linghai Reserve Regiment."

"Master Dai, we don't quite understand, could you be more specific?"

"Our military is a direct unit of the Air Force, and although there are two divisions stationed in the Guangzhou Military Region's defense area, they do not belong to the Guangzhou Military Region, there's no superior-subordinate relationship. But now, with flood control involving unified command, our forces, according to superior directives, must accept the leadership of Guangzhou Military Region and follow their command."

Old Ge nodded, looking at everyone, saying, "Folks, didn't you hear? 'Sing the song of the mountain you are on, and accept management wherever you are stationed.' This is a very serious matter. Officer Yang, you are an active-duty officer of the Political Department of the Reserve Division, do you think what I said is correct?"

Officer Yang from the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division didn't dare joke about such a matter of principle and immediately said, "Director Ge, you are right. The Linghai Reserve Camp must now accept the management of the 132nd Regiment and resolutely obey the orders of the 132nd Regiment commander. Although our division is a superior unit to the Linghai Reserve Camp, we currently have no authority to intervene in their affairs."

Even the actual superior of the Linghai Reserve Camp's superior had to concede, so this matter indeed seemed tricky.

A reporter from Binjiang TV Station smiled bitterly and asked, "Director Ge, this doesn't work, that doesn't work, how should we report then?"

"Political Commissar Yang of the 132nd Regiment just called Master Dai and me, putting forward three requirements, but to summarize it's just one: anything involving the Linghai Reserve Camp must be reviewed by the regiment; all news articles, photos, and videos cannot be published or broadcast for the time being."

"Who will be in charge of the review?"

"First hand it over to Xiao Dai, who will help you send it to the regiment for review."

"This is such a hassle, will it still be news after it's reviewed?"

"Good news is worth waiting for. You should know that what you have is exclusive news, and no one can take that away from you."

Old Ge patted the arm of the Binjiang TV Station reporter and added, "The 404th Division is an airborne unit; as they say in Hong Kong and Taiwan dramas, 'they are the elite of the elite!' Strict troop management is very normal, it is a good thing, as strictly managed troops must have combat capabilities. With them, why would we civilians worry about national defense? I hope you all can understand, just as I do, and I hope you all can support Master Dai's work as I do."

"Director Ge, we understand, but we have our own job to do!"

"I know, so we must understand each other."

Old Ge wasn't just about enforcing news censorship; after thinking for a moment, he looked at everyone and said, "Actually, everyone should already know that the Linghai Reserve Camp will not compromise on management. Some reserve officers in the camp have brought cell phones and pagers to the fight, which violates confidentiality discipline.

All cell phones and pagers of officers below the camp leader level have been unified for safekeeping by Camp Secretary Qiu Xueliang. Going forward, camp officers will take turns serving as the officer on duty, and only the on-duty officer can use cell phones, even Salted Fish's phone must be handed over."

"Director Ge, are you saying that we also have to hand in our cell phones?"

"You are not reserve officers in the camp, so you do not need to hand in your cell phones, but you cannot lend your phones to officers in the camp. Also, I just want to emphasize, through this matter, the importance of accepting management and obeying orders." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"What if one of them pleads with us and we feel bad not lending the phone?"

Before Old Ge could respond, Master Dai raised his head and said, "Anyone who does that cannot stay in the camp. If anyone publishes unreviewed news reports related to the Linghai Reserve Camp, not only can they not stay in the camp, but they might even be held accountable."