Chapter 1438: Chapter 230: Setting Out!
Everything is difficult at the start.
Han Yu made a good start, so the following work became easier to carry out.
Li Guangrong temporarily took over the water firefighting responsibilities while Han Yu was on a business trip, personally leading a team to inspect a shipbuilding and repair company.
He didn’t understand firefighting, but the police officers did. His personal involvement mainly demonstrated the importance of the major firefighting inspection and rectification efforts.
During the inspection of the operation area, accompanied by the Water Fire Rescue Team Captain Li Mingsheng and the company’s manager, a call from the Marine Bureau’s Traffic Control Center came through the walkie-talkie.
"Captain Li, Captain Li, this is the Marine Bureau’s Traffic Control Center, please respond."
"Received, received, Traffic Control, please go ahead."
"The Second Company of the Hai Xun discovered a sea vessel illegally using an open flame for welding on the deck, 1.5 kilometers downstream of Buoy 12 in the dedicated waterway of Yingchuan Port. Please arrange for the police to investigate."
"Received, thank you."
"Wait, the Linghai Maritime Bureau reported that during a routine inspection at Anchorage 3 in the Sanhe Waters, they found an inland cargo vessel storing gasoline illegally in the engine room. Please arrange personnel to investigate as well."
"Okay, I’ll arrange it immediately."
The Changhang Bureau has been assisting with marine law enforcement for years.
Now it’s the other way around, with the Marine Bureau constantly providing the Changhang Bureau with leads on violations of water firefighting management regulations.
Li Mingsheng felt like he was dreaming and quickly stepped aside to call the deputy directors overseeing firefighting at the Binjiang Police Station and the Linghai Police Station.
Li Guangrong heard everything clearly and silently marveled, "The Binjiang Water Army Commander really lives up to being a ’local tyrant,’ even managing to rally several enforcement units on the river to deal with fines."
At this very moment, the armed police on the river performing surveillance tasks from the Exit and Entry Border Inspection Station, the Water Resources Supervision Team patrolling the river from the Water Resources Bureau, and the marine enforcement officers from the Marine Bureau were all helping the Changhang Bureau keep an eye out for violations of water firefighting safety regulations.
There was no resistance to enforcement on the shore, and with so many units cooperating on the river, getting five hundred thousand shouldn’t be difficult.
Just as he was calculating whether he could fill the hole before Han Yu returned, the plane carrying Han Yu had already soared into the blue sky and was constantly climbing.
The investment in building Binjiang Airport was significant, even urging the mobilization of all city officers and citizens to donate. However, after being completed and put into use for so many years, very few routes have been opened.
There’s only one international route, to Japan, with only two flights a week.
The domestic routes are only to the Capital, Guangzhou, Mountain City, and Anxi, and they don’t fly daily, having some impact on Binjiang’s economic development but not in resolving the transportation issues in the eyes of the public.
Old Ge, looking down at the Yangtze River below through the porthole, remarked: "Flying is fast, but there’s no route to East Sea. If Binjiang wants to develop, it still relies on highways. Only by building the Yangtze River Bridge and completing the highway connecting East Sea can Binjiang’s transportation issues be fundamentally resolved."
Having served so many years as a director of the Transportation Bureau, such remarks were natural.
Han Yu didn’t want to discuss matters that leaders should worry about and asked with a smile: "Uncle Ge, why didn’t Master’s wife and Little Siqi come?"
"I’m going to help Ningning with investment promotion, and you’re on a business trip, why would she bring the child?"
"Just to visit Ming Yuan and Zhang Lan."
"No matter what you do, public and private matters should be distinct. I’m already retired and don’t want people gossiping behind my back."
The two deputy-level leaders led a team to Guangzhou for investment promotion, and the Binjiang Development Zone Management Committee staff booked business class seats for Luo Hongxin and Han Xiangning.
Han Xiangning sat in the front, while Han Yu, Old Ge, and their attendants sat in the economy class behind.
Han Yu peeked ahead and curiously asked: "Uncle Ge, do you think Ningning will gain anything from this trip to Guangzhou?"
"As long as they position themselves correctly, they shouldn’t return empty-handed."
Old Ge thought for a moment and continued, "But investment promotion is not like doing other things. Even investing in a small factory requires millions, and there’s risk involved. Investors are cautious, and people won’t make decisions impulsively; they need to visit and evaluate. In short, it’s not something that can be rushed. The work Ningning is doing now may take one or two years to show real results."
Han Yu agreed, as Han Xiangning was also aware of this.
Unlike before, being so keen for quick success, she didn’t expect to achieve significant political results within her two-year term, and was even prepared to pave the way for others.
Han Yu pondered for a moment and asked, "What do you mean by positioning correctly?"
"Business is like war. Investment promotion is like fighting; you must know your strengths and weaknesses."
Old Ge smiled and patiently analyzed, "For example, the Binjiang Development Zone has many favorable policies, is relatively close to the Binjiang District, and has well-developed infrastructure. Because of these advantages and good location, the land prices won’t be cheap."
Han Yu understood and asked with a smile, "So Ningning’s advantage is that industrial land is cheaper than in the Binjiang Development Zone?"
"That’s one advantage, but there’s a bigger one."
"What advantage?"
"Prospects for development."
Old Ge smiled confidently and said, "Ningning’s industrial land can’t fetch a good price now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. Once the Yangtze River Bridge is built and the highway is extended, the traffic advantage will become apparent!
The same piece of land, which sells for two to three thousand per mu now, could at least double, selling for five to six thousand per mu once the Yangtze River Bridge is completed and the highway is extended."
Businessmen from East Guang, especially those bosses from Hong Kong, are so savvy! As long as we can make them believe that the Yangtze River Bridge and highway are not just plans, they will definitely take the land value appreciation into account. It’s the same for setting up a factory. Normal production and operation generate profits, and land appreciation also creates benefits, surely they will be interested."
Han Yu was enlightened and asked with a smile, "Uncle Ge, this trip to Guangzhou is not for attracting investment, but to sell land, is this your advice to Ningning?"
"Isn’t attracting investment essentially selling land? I’m seeing through the phenomenon to the essence. Besides, selling land doesn’t conflict with economic development."
"I understand. I wish you success in your endeavors."
"By the way, do you know what people said about the commotion you caused yesterday?"
"What did they say about me?"
"They said your first act as a new official was a bit much, downright ruthless."
"I had no other choice. Moreover, managing marine firefighting safety is different from other types of work. It’s not a bad thing to be strict and impose heavy fines. Otherwise, if a major fire really does occur, it would not only cause significant economic losses, but could even result in fatalities!"
"But people don’t see it that way. Many only look at immediate interests." Old Ge sighed softly, "You are the deputy director, there’s no need to take on everything yourself. Qi Zhikun and Dong Xiangyun are the real heads of the Changhang Bureau. Why are they keeping their heads down, making you face all the complaints from people?"
"Director Qi and Political Commissar Dong are under great pressure too; their tasks are harder than mine."
"What pressure do they have?"
"We need to shift our administrative structure, which means separating from Binjiang Port Group. If Binjiang Port were still under the Ministry of Transport like before, it would be easier, since what belongs to the same system only requires one word from the superior and there’s no issue of anyone losing out."
Han Yu took a deep breath and continued, "But now Binjiang Port is not only a municipal enterprise but also a publicly traded one. They are already dissatisfied with having to give us so much money annually, and now we want their buildings, cars, and even land, not to mention leaving retired comrades for them to deal with. You can imagine how difficult the negotiations will be."
"Qi Zhikun is responsible for negotiating with Binjiang Port Group?"
"We have an internal division of labor. Director Qi handles negotiations on separation from Binjiang Port Group. Political Commissar Dong is responsible for dealing with the older police officers who can’t transition into civil service, arranging for them. Director Ding handles the work for retired comrades, while Li Guangrong and I manage police business. I’m about to go on a business trip, everything related to operations will rely on Li Guangrong."
Given the tangible benefits for the unit and personal interests involved, after careful consideration, Qi Zhikun, Dong Xiangyun, and Ding Shuguang are under quite a bit of pressure; the work they are tasked with isn’t easy.
Old Ge nodded, lamenting, "It’s not easy for each successive director at your bureau. Zhang Junyan took charge in times of crisis, spending several years as a caretaker president; He Bin managed to transform Binjiang Port Police Station into an actual Changhang Bureau despite facing opposition from the Port Authority. Now it’s Qi Zhikun’s turn, aiming to smoothly transition the industry police into formal police."
Leadership isn’t easy, especially being the top official.
Han Yu could imagine how challenging it must be to deal with the elderly officers and retired police comrades. Director Qi might end up being cursed at or even sued. With a bitter smile, he said, "Even if the transition is smooth, we’re just changing from enterprise police to industry police. The only difference from railway and forest police is that we are part of the administrative structure; we are civil servants."
"I almost forgot, even if you’re incorporated into the administrative system, you’ll still be under the Ministry of Transport; essentially, you’re still industry police."
"Not only under the Ministry of Transport but also subject to dual management by both the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Police."
"Administered by the Ministry of Transport for personnel, and by the Ministry of Police for business?"
"Yes, similar to the situation of the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau."
"By the way, once you reach Guangzhou, are you traveling with us or going straight to Zhanjiang?"
"Straight to Zhanjiang. I said I’d set off a day early, and Adviser Wu is also going to Guangzhou a day early. We’re taking the same flight, which lands first, and his flight will arrive an hour and a half later, so I’ll wait for him at the airport."
Old Ge curiously asked, "Do you know which naval vessels are being sent on the visit?"
"Yes." Talking about this, Han Yu excitedly said, "There are two ships in total; one is the flagship of the South Sea Fleet, namely our country’s newly-built destroyer ’Shenzhen.’ It’s just been commissioned for a few years, very pretty and advanced, hailed as China’s First Ship!"
The flagship of the South Sea Fleet must be the most advanced.
Old Ge understood Han Yu’s excitement, asking with a smile, "What’s the other one?"
Han Yu recited like it was his collection of treasures, "The other ship is the supply vessel ’Nancang,’ which was converted from an incomplete tanker purchased from Ukraine by the Dalian Shipyard, and was included in the South Sea Fleet in 1996. It’s the most advanced supply vessel in the country.
It has four oil and water supply stations and two dry cargo supply stations, an aft retractable hangar for launching and landing the Z-8 helicopter, capable of conducting port replenishment and simultaneous portside left dry, liquid and starboard dry, liquid, longitudinal liquid, and vertical dry supply. Equipped with six cranes, it possesses strong anchorage replenishment capability."
Old Ge quietly asked, "What do portside dry, liquid and starboard dry, liquid mean?"
"Dry means dry cargo, and liquid refers to fuel and fresh water. Left side, right side, across the front, and in the air, maritime replenishment operations can unfold simultaneously."
"How much fuel can it carry, and can it ensure all kinds of supplies for ’Shenzhen Ship’ to Africa?"
"It can transport over nine thousand tons of fuel, plus ammunition, food, and medicine supplies, totaling over twenty-three thousand tons." Han Yu thought for a moment and added, "But that’s only the designed supply capability, as this supply ship has just been commissioned for a few years, it hasn’t been on a long-distance voyage or conducted extended replenishment so this visit is also a form of long-distance travel and replenishment training."
Old Ge asked with a laugh, "What are you responsible for?"
Han Yu smiled, "I mainly handle communications and coordination with encountered merchant vessels, officials from marine organizations of traversed countries, and associated port officials. After all, they specialize in combat, haven’t traveled far, haven’t interacted with other countries, and don’t know maritime rules of related countries and relevant international conventions."
