Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 943 - 630: A Race Against Time!

What does the Road and Bridge Company do?

The Road and Bridge Company is in the business of building roads and bridges!

Moreover, the Linghai Reserve Camp was not only established based on the Road and Bridge Engineering Company, but also holds half 'shares' in the Transportation Port and Navigation System, the Waterway Section and the Waterway Engineering Bureau, both engaged in water construction.

The leaders who came to inspect with Vice President finally figured out the situation. When it comes to what kind of emergency team the Linghai Reserve Camp is, their view astonishingly coincides with that of Master Dai from the 132nd regiment: This is not an ordinary reserve camp, but a construction team disguised as a reserve force!

However, the task at hand is flood control and emergency response, not military exercises, let alone battlefield combat. Their role far exceeds that of ordinary reserve forces, and even surpasses most Boat Bridge troops and Engineer Corps.

The young camp commander is very competent and professional, truly swift and decisive, or he wouldn't have disregarded the face of Vice President, giving a brief report before rushing to the scene to command the rescue.

With such a professional rescue team, Deputy Governor Zhou and the military district leaders finally felt somewhat relieved, but only slightly.

The piping was gushing water, the dangerous dike at the front was on the verge of collapsing entirely, and over a hundred thousand people below the dike hadn't been evacuated. The situation was incredibly urgent!

What made Deputy Governor Zhou and the military district leaders more anxious was that at this critical moment, the Vice President insisted on checking the evacuation of the masses and representing the Central Committee and National Council to visit the people evacuated to safe areas.

The dangerous dike could breach at any moment, and the hurriedly constructed coffer dam might not hold; venturing to the dike at such a time was too dangerous for the Vice President!

However, the Vice President was determined to go, no amount of persuasion could deter him.

Deputy Governor Zhou had no choice but to have Secretary Chen from Jingzhou find Deputy Mayor Shen.

"Comrade Shen Fan, you heard what the commander said earlier. Deputy Governor Zhou and I are bound to accompany him; we wouldn't be of any help here and might even cause confusion among comrades. This side can only trouble you, only entrust it to you."

With the Vice President and the safety of over a hundred thousand people at stake, who would dare make such a guarantee?

Deputy Mayor Shen turned back to look at Director Ge, who was frowning, then after a moment of silence said: "Secretary Chen, you have seen how severe the danger is. I can't guarantee whether we will hold the line, only that as long as people are here, the line will hold!"

"We must hold the line!"

"We will do our utmost."

Secretary Chen realized there was no point in forcing a guarantee, whether the Yang Liu Village's dangerous section could be secured depended on the nearly thousand military and civil forces, including the Linghai Reserve Camp's efforts, and whether the heavens would show mercy.

The young camp commander made it very clear that the next hour and a half would be crucial.

If the dangerous dike could hold for another hour and a half before breaching, and the necessary rescue supplies could arrive within that time, they had a fifty percent chance; they could even handle the situation calmly thereafter.

Secretary Chen wanted to suggest that the Vice President wait for an hour and a half before inspecting the evacuation but the Vice President wouldn't wait on the dike; he'd set out after hearing County Magistrate Huang's report.

At this moment, Secretary Chen felt like he was treading on thin ice, lighting a cigarette helplessly saying, "Comrade Shen Fan, you know our vehicles are across the river, we can't transport them over quickly, could you arrange a few vehicles for us, ideally with a few competent and politically reliable drivers."

"We have cars; we have four off-road vehicles, all in good condition. Earlier, the 132nd regiment brought two trucks, which we are managing on their behalf, but since the regiment commander and political commissar are organizing troops to assist in evacuating civilians, they delegated Director Ge to manage the soldiers here for rescue, so we can use those two trucks, as for the drivers..."

Deputy Mayor Shen wasn't well-versed in the camp's situation, so he turned to ask, "Director Ge, who do you think would be suitable for this task?"

Old Ge deliberated and said, "Xu Mingyuan, Ma Jintao, Guo Weitao, Chen Jian, Gao Jichun, Zhu Zhigang, Zhang Fuquan, and Li Jun, they are all party members and have decent driving skills."

Just then, an army major walked over.

Old Ge had noticed that this major was probably responsible for security, so he explained promptly, "Secretary Chen, Comrade Xu Mingyuan is the captain of our Linghai Police Bureau's Criminal Investigation Team. Due to outstanding work and performance, he was recently transferred to the Customs Investigation Bureau.

Comrade Ma Jintao and Comrade Guo Weitao hold positions as squad leader and deputy instructor of the Binjiang Water Police Division Linghai Water Police Team, respectively. One is a demobilized soldier, and the other a transferred cadre.

They are politically reliable and have undergone systematic water rescue training. Especially Comrade Ma Jintao, whose experience in water law enforcement and rescue is extensive; he is the company commander of our camp's Water Rescue Team."

Concerned with the safety of the Vice President, the military district leaders, and Deputy Governor Zhou, Secretary Chen couldn't drop his guard, asking further, "What about the other comrades?"

"Comrade Chen Jian is both a retired soldier and the driver for Secretary Ye, the City Secretary of Linghai; politically reliable and also trained in water rescue."

The City Secretary even sent his driver, indicating the Linghai Municipal Committee and City Government genuinely value supporting Jingzhou in flood control...

Secretary Chen was deeply moved, prompting Old Ge to continue.

"Comrade Zhang Fuquan works at the Linghai Development Zone Management Committee; Comrade Gao Jichun is an auxiliary police officer at the Linghai Development Zone Police Bureau. Both are retired soldiers, both drivers, and have all received flood control and rescue skills especially in water rescue training."

"Secretary Chen, Xiao Zhang is my driver, Xiao Gao drove for Comrade Han Yu when Han Yu served as the Director of the Development Zone Police Station."

"Comrade Shen Fan, you sent your most trusted comrades to support our flood fight, I'm at a loss for how to thank you."

"We merely had the drivers gather; what Secretary Ye and I did was minor. Truly touching is what Han Yu did; his father-in-law, his sister-in-law, his brother-in-law, even his nephew who just graduated from middle school came along, his nephew is only sixteen this year."

The whole family came to support the rescue effort—what spirit is this?

Secretary Chen, moved, paused before asking, "Who are the other two comrades?"

Old Ge quickly added, "Zhu Zhigang is a member of the Linghai Port Enterprise Fire Brigade and a retired soldier who participated in military and civilian flood control and rescue skills training, a key member of the Water Rescue Team. Then there's Comrade Li Jun, whose situation is special."

Before Secretary Chen could ask, the army major inquired softly, "What makes it special?"

"He is an active-duty major officer at the Binjiang Border Control Station. Since he's transitioning this year, his unit, following usual practice, gave him a six-month leave to find work. He also participated in military and civilian flood control and rescue skills training, and when the first flood peak was approaching Binjiang, he actively joined Binjiang City's rescue and relief team."

Old Ge paused, then continued, "Comrade Han Yu is both the commander of our Linghai Reserve Camp and the captain of the Binjiang City flood rescue team. Li Jun saw Comrade Han Yu was leading a team to Jingzhou for the rescue and volunteered to come along."

"Active-duty armed police?"

"That's why his case is so special. According to regulations, he should report to his superiors for approval to join the rescue; however, he doesn't really need to go back to work, being almost like a demobilized officer. Overall, the matter is quite complicated. Just the other day, I was telling Comrade Han Yu we must find a way to help him explain to his unit."

An active-duty border armed police officer, at the rank of major, must certainly be politically reliable.

The Major thought there was no problem with the arrangement of these eight individuals by the Linghai Reserve Camp and whispered, "Mayor Shen, Director Ge, let's go with these eight people. Please notify them quickly."

"Alright."

"As for Comrade Li Jun's matter, we'll help explain it to his unit later."

"Thank you, comrade Major, you have really helped us a lot."

Old Ge picked up the walkie-talkie and explained, "Actually, we have several active military officers and soldiers here, but you both know the situation of the reserve forces. Mayor Shen and I are very familiar with the reserve soldiers, but we're not as familiar with the active personnel of the Military District and Binjiang Reserve Group."

Deputy Mayor Shen agreed deeply and looked up, "Such an important task as driving the car for the commander and ensuring their safety, we only dare to entrust it to comrades we are familiar with and understand."

"This arrangement is very good, thank you both."

"Shall I go ahead and notify them?"

"Go ahead and notify them."

Old Ge raised the walkie-talkie and notified each one.

After Xu Mingyuan and others received the order, Old Ge thought again and raised the walkie-talkie: "Mingyuan, don't we have two speedboats? With so many people on and below the embankment, if the worst happens, two speedboats won't be of much use. Hurry up, load them onto the trucks of the 132nd Regiment."

"Yes!"

"Wait."

"Director Ge, what do you want to say?"

"Get thirty life jackets, the cleanest ones possible, and be quick."

"Yes!"

"Zhang Wuya, Zhang Wuya, this is Ge Weidong, can you hear?"

Old Ge's Mandarin wasn't very standard, and Deputy Mayor Shen found it strange, but considering that it wasn't appropriate to speak the Linghai dialect in front of Secretary Chen and the Army Major, he thought Old Ge should speak Linghai-standard Mandarin.

Old Ge was also under a lot of pressure, thinking that Salted Fish must do its best!

The current emergency had to be contained, or else if it led to Vice President L, the chief of the major military region, and Deputy Governor Zhou getting flooded, there wouldn't even be any credit, let alone any hard work noticed.

At this moment, Zhang Erxiao's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Received, received, Director Ge, please go ahead."

"Immediately prepare water and rations for thirty people, deliver them to the two trucks of the 132nd Regiment, and be quick!"

"Director Ge, for how many days' worth?"

"For two days."

"Understood, right away!"

The comrades in Linghai considered everything thoroughly, arranging every detail very properly.

Secretary Chen didn't know how to express his gratitude, so he could only hold Deputy Mayor Shen's hand tightly, saying with great anticipation, "Comrade Shen Fan, it's just like I said before, we leave it to you here."

Deputy Mayor Shen still didn't dare to make any guarantees and solemnly said, "It's not about leaving it to us, we will definitely give it our all."

Secretary Chen looked back at the command tent not far away and said, "Deputy Governor Zhou just instructed us to fully support your camp. I just called Mayor Yang, asking him to strive, like the Yangtze Flood Control Headquarters, to allocate fifty million to the Jingzhou Port Supervision Bureau's account before dark."

"Secretary Chen, compared to funding, we need emergency materials more urgently now."

"I understand, we are working hard to solve that."

...

Vice President L left the embankment to check on the evacuation of the people, and Han Yu knew but was too busy to see him off.

Like Hao Qiusheng, Zou Xiangyu, and Sun Youyi, they all knew Vice President L had arrived and had just gone off the embankment, and their mental pressure was even greater than before.

Because now they not only had to ensure the safety of the evacuating people, but also the safety of Vice President L and the accompanying major military region chief and Deputy Governor Zhou.

"Comrades, push a little harder, faster, victory is in sight!"

"Old Wu, Old Wu, what are you doing? There's no traffic police here, even if there were, they wouldn't stop you. Xiao Gu is watching for you, go ahead and hit the gas, yes, yes, charge up!"

Just as Hao Qiusheng was barking orders for the dumper truck to speed up, there was news from the Navy Major's side.

"Chief Commander, Chief Commander, this is the Naval Academy's diving team, we've found a leak, we've found a leak!"

"Comrade Major, well done!"

"What do we do now?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Try to pinpoint it first, I'll organize a team to seal it right away!"

Han Yu ran to the dry embankment and gazed at 001, more than thirty meters away from the riverbank, and raised the walkie-talkie again, "Director Gu, Director Gu, Naval brothers have heroically located a leak, please organize the sealing immediately according to the plan!"

The water command center was inside the third-floor cockpit of the ferry boat.

Gu Pengfei received the news and instinctively looked towards 001: "Received, received, I'll organize the sealing right away!"