Chapter 1387: Chapter 191: The Linghai Police Bureau’s Dowry!
A fleeting opportunity, never to return.
The Changhang Police Bureau has always attached great importance to jurisdiction. As the Political Commissioner of the Binjiang Branch, how could Old Jiang miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Moreover, the director has already decided to "snatch food from the tiger’s mouth"; otherwise, he wouldn’t insist on Salted Fish "attending" the negotiation.
Political Commissioner Jiang was confident that the Linghai Police Bureau had to make concessions. He said unhurriedly: "Director Shi, you know our branch’s situation best. We are the Port Police Department, originally called the Binjiang Port Police Bureau. Now, Linghai Port has become part of Binjiang Port Group Co., Ltd., and logically, we should have taken over the security of the Linghai Port District when Binjiang Port Group acquired Linghai Port. It’s just because you were busy, and we were busy, this matter has been delayed until today."
"Political Commissioner Jiang, I cannot make such a big decision on my own, I must call Mayor Zhang to seek instructions."
"It’s alright; you can seek instructions. I believe Mayor Zhang will likely agree."
Political Commissioner Jiang smiled and added, "Moreover, the current situation is different from before. Our takeover of Linghai Port District’s security is unlike the previous time when the Linghai Port and Shipping Enterprises paid us salaries. Furthermore, our branch’s Linghai Police Station settled in Sanhe back when the Linghai Port was constructed and has already practically taken over the Linghai Port District’s security, this time it’s just a clarification."
There is the Development Zone Branch on the Linghai Port side; if the security jurisdiction of the port district is handed over to you, what’s the difference between the Development Zone Branch and the Police Station?
Chen Zikun, although he has entered Linghai Port and even brought most of the former Bailong Port Police Station’s forces over, in these two years, they have only managed river security, sparring with the Water Police Third Team, and never or unnecessarily "interfered" with the land security.
They are getting greedy; they want to control land security, clearly trying to use this opportunity to "seize territory", and they aim to take the most valuable territory from the Development Zone Branch!
Previously, Shi Shengyong would not have agreed even over his dead body.
But now, the bureau nearly created a wrongful conviction; the real murderer is in their hands, forcing him to sit there being manipulated.
Shi Shengyong was always one to seek advantages and avoid losses; he had never felt so aggrieved.
He instinctively looked at Han Yu and bitterly smiled, "President, you have served as our Linghai Development Zone leader and as a member of the Linghai Port Engineering Project Leadership Group. You were the first director of our Linghai Police Bureau Development Zone Branch, and you know the situation in Linghai Port best. You have such a good relationship with Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen; do you think the City Committee and Municipal Government would agree to what Political Commissioner Jiang said?"
"Salted Fish, on this issue, you have the most say. What do you think?" Political Commissioner Jiang also asked with a smile.
Trapped again.
Director Qi didn’t invite me to the Changhang Branch’s celebration banquet; this is putting me on the grill.
Han Yu was bewildered, raising his head, "Gentlemen, the Linghai Police Bureau is my former unit, and the Changhang Branch is my former unit as well. In such a matter, how do you expect me to express an opinion?"
"There must be an attitude." Political Commissioner Jiang smiled again, looking at Shi Shengyong: "Director Shi, do you know what Director Wang said when he handed over the Water Firefighting Association to us?"
"What did Director Wang say?"
"He said Salted Fish will be transferred back to our branch soon, and handing over the Water Firefighting Association to us is like providing a dowry for Salted Fish’s transfer back. The Water Police Station is equally Salted Fish’s former unit; since the Water Police Station has set an example, shouldn’t you, as the natal family, also prepare a dowry?"
"President, are you transferring back to the Changhang Branch?" Shi Shengyong asked in surprise.
Han Yu didn’t expect Political Commissioner Jiang to use both soft and hard tactics, so he could only confirm with a smile: "I might transfer back, I said might."
"What might, once we change the administrative organization, we will handle the transfer procedures. The leadership of Changhang Bureau is paying great attention to this matter, and Customs and the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau have also agreed."
Political Commissioner Jiang paused, then continued: "Director Shi, you were too modest earlier; after so many years of dealings, others may not know, but I am well aware that you can make half of the decisions for the Linghai Police Bureau!"
"Political Commissioner Jiang, President’s possible transfer back to the Changhang Branch is news; let me go out and make a call."
"Alright, take your time."
...
The suspect is in the hands of the Changhang Branch; we must hurry to take them back, or else it’ll drag on too long.
Shi Shengyong walked out of the meeting room and dialed the director’s number, briefly reporting the situation.
Zhang Yidong figured out the ins and outs and asked in a low voice, "They haven’t reported to the City Bureau?"
"No, they are a standard department-level unit like the City Bureau; theoretically, they should accept guidance from the City Bureau in business, but in reality, the City Bureau doesn’t truly guide them, and they don’t need guidance from the City Bureau, unless a major case occurs within their jurisdiction."
"But they have to report to the Changhang Police Bureau."
"The Changhang Police Bureau is in Hanwu, so far from Binjiang. Besides, they’re merely reporting their assistance in capturing a suspect of intentional homicide, not discussing anything else."
Zhang Yidong, who had worked as a prosecutor for many years, was well aware of what a wrongful conviction meant, took several deep breaths, and gripped the phone tightly, saying, "They are taking advantage of us!"
Shi Shengyong sighed softly and helplessly said, "Although Political Commissioner Jiang didn’t say it directly, the meaning is clear: If we want to take the suspect back, we have to accept their conditions. Otherwise... otherwise..."
Otherwise what?
Surely contact the City Bureau and let the Criminal Police Team of the City Bureau intervene.
Zhang Yidong had finally established himself in Linghai and didn’t want to escalate things, so after some consideration, he asked, "Are they sure that after taking over the security of Linghai Port District, they won’t need Linghai to pay their police officers’ salaries?"
"This point can be confirmed. After all, Linghai Port is now under the management of Binjiang Port, and even if there’s a need to cover their expenses, it would be shouldered by Binjiang Port Group, having nothing to do with us in Linghai."
"Agree to their terms."
Zhang Yidong thought for a moment and smiled wryly, "Besides, they’ve already thought it all out for us. The jurisdiction over the security of Linghai Port District can be seen as a dowry for transferring Salted Fish back to their bureau, and Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen likely won’t have any objections. The old comrades in the bureau and the police there can’t really say anything either."
The Changhang Bureau did indeed think everything through, worried that the work of the Linghai Police Bureau would become difficult, they had already devised a plan for Salted Fish to take the blame. The key leaders of the Linghai Police Bureau wouldn’t have to worry about being accused of "betraying the country."
Reluctantly handing over the "most valuable assets" of the Development Zone Branch, Shi Shengyong was deeply reluctant.
But as things had come to this stage, there was no choice but to accept the peace agreement, he couldn’t help but sigh, "But this makes the Development Zone Branch very awkward."
"Maintaining port district security and escorting safe production at the port, they’re indeed more experienced than us. Letting them manage it is indeed beneficial to the economic development of Linghai."
After finishing with the big principles, Zhang Yidong shifted the tone, "Old Shi, the fact has proven that we indeed have issues with personnel usage. When we appointed Wang Yan as the Criminal Police Big Commander, we mainly considered his great merits in flood fighting and rescue, without considering his actual abilities."
Wang Yan wasn’t without ability, but he started as a criminal police officer partway, and his criminal investigation experience wasn’t very rich.
Speaking of experienced police in handling cases, the bureau used to have some.
Xu Mingyuan was so good at handling cases, but he was forced out by you!
Moreover, regarding this case that made the bureau very passive, there were both subjective and objective causes behind the erroneous handling.
Wang Yan didn’t coerce a confession out of that Chen Xiaodong, the reason Chen Xiaodong confessed so quickly probably had to do with him being at the murder scene before or after the crime, realizing any explanation would be futile, he simply confessed. Yet during his statements, there were loopholes, attempting to use this to overturn his confession in future court proceedings.
That scoundrel, with multiple incarcerations, knew the legal system’s procedure, thus misguided Wang Yan. If it wasn’t for the Changhang Bureau accidentally capturing the real murderer, even the Linghai Police Bureau would have "capsized."
While Shi Shengyong was secretly criticizing, Zhang Yidong continued, "Once this case is wrapped up, let’s hold a party committee meeting to adjust the department leaders and reassign Wang Yan to the Southern City Police Station as an Instructor."
"Then who should lead the Criminal Police Team?"
"Fang Zhiqiang is more suitable, don’t you think so, Old Shi."
Fang Zhiqiang is a principled police with a strict approach. Currently responsible for pre-trials, he handles cases very meticulously. If it wasn’t for Fang Zhiqiang’s strict evidence check this time, we might have mistakenly transferred Chen Xiaodong to the procuratorate as a murder suspect.
In terms of investigation experience, Fang Zhiqiang is indeed not as good as Xu Mingyuan.
But Xu Mingyuan was transferred long ago, reportedly just promoted to Deputy Director Level, and is doing well in the Shenzhen Smuggling Criminal Investigation Bureau, definitely impossible to come back to take the helm. The bureau doesn’t have a more suitable candidate either. Assigning Fang Zhiqiang as the Criminal Police Big Commander at least ensures no more near wrongful verdicts.
Shi Shengyong sighed softly, replying in a low voice, "I have no objections, Mayor Zhang."
"Then it’s settled. Quickly have Wang Yan bring back the suspect."
"Okay."
"Don’t rush back. Tonight’s dinner is still on me. Although they got a great deal, that’s the dowry from our bureau and the Linghai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government to Salted Fish. This should not be confused."
...
Meanwhile, Wang Yan, unable to stand Xiao Yu’s gloating, excused himself to go to the restroom, walking out of the conference room.
Linghai Police Bureau’s old colleagues weren’t around, Han Yu couldn’t help but ask, "Political Commissioner, what’s all this dowry talk? You’re putting me in a very awkward position!"
"There must be an excuse for Mayor Zhang and Director Shi, otherwise they won’t be able to answer to the higher-ups or the subordinates." Political Commissioner Jiang sipped his tea, then chuckled, "If this matter gets resolved, not if, it will definitely be resolved. After it’s done, you’ll be the greatest contributor. Right, Xiao Yu too. The higher-ups will surely be pleased to know."
"But doing this, what will my former leaders and old colleagues at Linghai think of me?"
"Do you care about their opinions? Besides, we’re helping them. If not for us, they’d be in big trouble this time!"
Although Xiao Yu worked at the Yanjiang Police Station for many years, back then, he was just a low-ranking auxiliary police.
He only had sentimental ties to the now-disbanded Yanjiang Police Station, not much to Linghai Police Bureau. He quite agreed with Political Commissioner Jiang’s viewpoint, grinning as he said, "Salted Fish, the Commissioner is right. We helped them a great deal; they should be grateful to us!"
