Chapter 746: Chapter 504 "Taking Territory
At the stroke of midnight on July 1st, the national flag of the People’s Republic of China unfurled precisely on time above Hong Kong!
As the five-starred red flag was raised slowly to the tune of the national anthem, played enthusiastically by the military band on site, every Chinese in front of the TV could not help but shed tears of overwhelming emotions.
For this moment, the Chinese had waited for more than 150 years!
Finally, the disgrace since 1840 was washed away, and Hong Kong, so close at hand, returned to the embrace of the motherland. It also marked the end of the colonial era of The Sun Never Sets Empire, turning a new page in the history of New China.
It was exhilarating, but the Water Police Station had no time for celebrations, as today they welcomed the second Political Commissioner since the division’s establishment.
Currently holding multiple positions, Han Yu serves as a member of the Party Working Committee at the Linghai Economic and Technological Development Zone, head of the Development Zone Branch of Linghai Police Bureau, and Commander of the Water Police Team of Linghai Police Bureau, as well as a committee member of the Binjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau Water Police Branch.
Although not drawing a salary from the Water Police Station, as a member of the branch’s Party committee, Han Yu had to attend the mid-level cadre meeting to welcome the new Political Commissioner.
The new Political Commissioner, surnamed Ma, called Ma Xinhua, 47 this year, was formerly the Deputy Head of the Port District Bureau overseeing security and political security.
Having once served as the Deputy Commander of the Security Team at the Port District Bureau, he had participated in a mission led by Old Wei, the then Deputy Head of Criminal Investigation at the Port District Bureau, organized by the Yanjiang Police Station, commanded by Yu Xiangqian, to arrest criminals illegally fishing for eel fry and attacking a transport convoy in the Jiangyin Waters.
After the main meeting, smaller meetings continued.
After sending off Vice Director Li from the City Bureau’s Political Office, they continued with the Party committee meeting to discuss the division of responsibilities among members of the branch’s Party committee.
Han Yu thought he was just a nominal member of the committee, only to find out he was unexpectedly responsible for firefighting, as well as coordinating with the Port Supervision Bureau, Changhang Bureau, Linghai Police Bureau, Customs, Border Inspection, Fishery Administration, Water Administration...
Handling firefighting was acceptable; regardless of the division of tasks, it was his responsibility anyway.
In fact, he had personally drafted the firefighting regulations for the Port Supervision Bureau and Changhang Bureau, and he had organized the firefighting drills for various units along the Yangtze.
It’s no exaggeration to say, he had been the actual head of firefighting on the water and along the coastline of the Yangtze River Binjiang section!
As for coordinating with those law enforcement agencies along the river, that was just part of his responsibilities in Linghai Development Zone.
After discussing the allocation of work, Director Wang brought up the matter of "coordinating" with other units.
"Salted Fish, have you visited your old department lately?"
"Changhang Bureau?"
"Yes."
"On the day Director Fan announced the appointments, Political Commissioner Jiang notified me to attend the department heads’ meeting at Changhang Bureau. I’ve been too busy since then to go back."
"Haven’t you been reporting your duties to Director Qi and Director Liu?" Zhao Hongxing couldn’t help asking.
Changhang Public Security didn’t just appoint a head to the Changhang Binjiang Branch, but also a deputy head.
The new head, surnamed Qi, was previously the Deputy Head of the Changhang Jiujiang Branch.
The new deputy head, surnamed Liu, was actually seconded to Binjiang. He was well-acquainted with Xiao Yu and Yang San and held some directorial position at the Changhang Police Academy. In the past, he had organized a special task force of police academy instructors and outstanding students, including Xiao Yu and Yang San, to crackdown on criminal activities on cruise ships and ports under the jurisdiction of the Changhang Public Security.
Han Yu was puzzled by Zhao Hongxing’s question and responded, "I was at home when Director Qi and Director Liu visited Bailong Port for research, and I chatted with them for a while. I’m no longer with Changhang Public Security, so I didn’t report any work to them."
Ma Xinhua couldn’t help but grasp Director Wang’s predicament and chuckled, "Salted Fish, it seems you haven’t really gotten into the role. You’re not just a member of our branch’s Party committee, nor just the head of the Development Zone Branch of Linghai Police Bureau, but also an external cadre for Changhang Bureau, Port Supervision Bureau, Customs, and Fishery Administration."
"Political Commissioner, I understand I need to maintain a good relationship with Director Qi and Director Liu, but I’m not really familiar with them, and I don’t know what to talk about."
"Anything works; at least make your face familiar. If you don’t report on your work, how can there be deeper understanding? This approach won’t do; it doesn’t just affect our cooperation, but also the future security management of Linghai Port."
"Director Wang, I don’t quite understand, do the newly arrived Director Qi and Director Liu have any particular thoughts?"
Why was Director He, who was doing well in Binjiang, transferred away...
Wang Wenhong genuinely couldn’t comprehend the leadership adjustments at Changhang Public Security for Changhang Binjiang Branch and was silent for a moment before saying meaningfully, "Changhang Bureau held a Party committee meeting yesterday afternoon, planning to change Binjiang Port Police Station to Binjiang Police Station, Gaoru Port Police Station to Gaoru Police Station, Bailong Port Police Station to Linghai Police Station, and Dongqi Port Police Station to Dongqi Police Station."
"Removing the ’Port’ character?"
"Yes."
"Does that make any sense?"
"What do you think?"
Han Yu was stunned and asked incredulously, "The ’Binjiang Port Police Station’ by name is specifically responsible for the security of the ten-kilometer water area and coastline of Binjiang Port. If changed to ’Binjiang Police Station,’ it would mean they have to oversee the security for all the water areas and coastlines in Binjiang District!"
Ma Xinhua, newly in office, was also surprised, "If that’s the case, wouldn’t the security of the entire Yangtze River Binjiang section be under their jurisdiction?"
"Those coming do not have good intentions," Wang Wenhong sighed softly, turning his gaze toward the map of the water areas on the wall.
The new head of Changhang Bureau, swift in making changes upon taking office, was planning such a move.
If enacted, the Water Police Branch would no longer have jurisdiction over the Yangtze River!
Han Yu couldn’t help asking, "Director Wang, does the City Bureau know about this?"
"They are just researching; nothing has been finalized. I haven’t reported it to the City Bureau yet." Wang Wenhong lit a cigarette and casually stated, "Guzhou City Bureau, being far from the Yangtze River, and the Water Branch of Guzhou Police Bureau basically don’t deal with matters on the river. The new leaders at Changhang Bureau, almost certainly think of us as being on the other side of the river."
Han Yu hadn’t expected such a situation and frowned slightly, "The Binjiang shoreline alone stretches over two hundred kilometers. Changhang Bureau only has so many people, just two patrol boats, and the personnel aren’t specialized in local police operations. Can they handle it?"
"The Yangtze shoreline of Guzhou City’s three districts and counties isn’t short either. Isn’t Changhang Guzhou Bureau managing it somehow? It’s mainly about how it’s managed."
"The strong dragon doesn’t suppress the local snake either, what exactly is Director Qi trying to do?"
"Perhaps he has come with a mission, just like Director He when he came to Binjiang, only with a different task."
"What should we do if the Changhang Bureau decides to change the names of a few police stations?"
"We can only let them change the names, as renaming is their prerogative. As for jurisdiction, they can’t just redraw it as they wish."
"Will we then still cooperate in the future?"
"That depends on them; the initiative is in their hands, and we can only listen and observe."
Wang Wenhong tapped off his cigarette ash and continued, "Salted Fish, when you go back, remember to remind Mayor Shen and Director Zhou, Director Qi’s vision is bigger than Director He’s. He plans to change Bailong Port Police Station to Linghai Police Station shortly after taking office, making it hard to predict whether the security jurisdiction of Linghai Port District might change."
From the perspective of maintaining security in the Yangtze River area, having one authority overseeing it might be more beneficial.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Transport Police has long clarified that the Changhang Police Bureau is responsible for the security across the entire Yangtze River, implementing cross-regional management.
However, due to limitations in police force and funding, the Changhang Police Bureau is effectively only overseeing the main port docks and the security of the Yangtze River cruises along the riverfront.
Han Yu could imagine that with the solid foundation Director He had built, the Changhang Binjiang Branch now has financial resources. Since the entire riverfront security on the opposite bank is under the jurisdiction of Changhang Guzhou Branch, the newly appointed Director Qi feels that he can "reclaim lost territory" by having Changhang Binjiang Branch take over the security for the entire Yangtze River waterfront section.
This would put the Water Police Branch in an awkward position, perhaps even leading to their withdrawal from the Yangtze River.
The Water Police Branch just had a significant exposure, and the newly appointed Director Qi wants to "grab territory". Director Wang certainly wouldn’t be happy about this, and it’s likely that Director Chen wouldn’t agree.
Han Yu realized that the two affiliated units might end up in conflict, and he quickly stood up, "Director Wang, Political Commissioner, I’m going to check on the Changhang Branch first."
"Go ahead, test the waters, and call me if there’s any news."
"Understood!"
...
Han Yu drove to his former unit and didn’t directly seek out Director Qi and Director Liu, but instead knocked on the door of the Political Commissioner’s office.
Political Commissioner Jiang didn’t expect him to come and warmly invited him to sit down.
Not wanting to beat around the bush, Han Yu asked directly about renaming some of the port police stations after closing the door.
"We just had a meeting about this yesterday, Salted Fish. You’re well-informed!"
"So, it’s true?"
"Yes."
"Commissioner, the situation in Binjiang is different from the opposite shore, and you know it well. If we step too far, it won’t only affect the work, but also the unity!"
With each action by the superiors even grander than the last, Commissioner Jiang also felt troubled and didn’t know how to explain to Han Yu. He simply opened a drawer and took out a document.
Han Yu took it and looked up, "An inevitable trend?"
"Last month, Nanhu Province introduced a local regulation on water security management, which conflicted with existing laws on Yangtze River security management. The leadership of the Changhang Police Bureau’s legal system brigade personally went to Nanhu, dealing directly with the Provincial Government and the Provincial People’s Congress."
"Has the issue been resolved?"
"It has been resolved. Nanhu has withdrawn the previously issued regulations and promised to revise and clarify Changhang Police’s jurisdiction over the security of Yangtze River waters and coastline!"
Seeing Han Yu contemplative, Commissioner Jiang smiled and said, "This has nothing to do with personal relations; this is about work. It also won’t affect you; Director Qi and Director Liu think highly of you. Your name was even brought up at the meeting yesterday."
"What did Director Qi and Director Liu mention me for?"
"They also participated in the induction ceremonies for 110 and 111, knowing that you have been the deputy commander of our sub-bureau’s fire brigade and the acting chief of Bailong Port Police Station. Particularly, Director Liu, he knows you very well; I don’t know how many times Xiao Yu has talked about you."
"And what then?"
"They asked me to ask when you can come back."
"Come back to do what?"
"They wouldn’t make you deputy commander again, nor would they limit you to just firefighting. Director Qi said that if you’re willing to come back, he would seek approval from higher-ups, promote you as a chief, letting you serve either as the chief of the Security Team or the chief of Binjiang Police Station."
"Commissioner, the Changhang Binjiang Branch is my old unit, and so is the Water Police Branch. In fact, the Water Police Branch is not just my old unit, I can say that I also contributed to the establishment of the Water Police Branch; I am a founding member of the Water Police Branch!"
"Is Director Wang unhappy?"
"Commissioner, if it were you, someone wants to take over your jurisdiction, would you be happy?"
When powerless, one does nothing; when powerful, one wishes to take control.
Thinking it over, this approach isn’t very proper.
Commissioner Jiang didn’t know how to explain to Han Yu and could only smile bitterly, "Right now, it’s just changing a few names of the police stations. As for the jurisdiction over the waterways and shoreline, it can’t be determined overnight, it will definitely require a lot of work."
Han Yu asked quietly, "Are we preparing now, setting things up right away?"
"Salted Fish, you’ve been with the port and navigation system, others may not understand, but you should. This is all for better maintaining security in the Yangtze River. Besides, this isn’t a matter for you or me to decide, not even for Director Qi or Director Liu; it truly is an inevitable trend."
"I understand, Commissioner. I just want to ask, approximately how long would it take for the subdivision to take over the security of the entire Yangtze River."
"Nobody can be sure about this timing; I estimate it won’t be quick, given the current strength of the subdivision, taking over now wouldn’t be feasible. As for the Water Police Branch, there’s really no reason to worry. There are still many cargo ships in inland waterways like Bin Yang River, Bin Qi River, Jianghai River, Hubin River, and the internal security of these rivers needs maintaining just as well."
