Chapter 834: Chapter 569: Clarity from an Observer
Despite notifications and reminders, there were still mistakes in the afternoon inspection.
Four reserve soldiers from the Environmental Protection Bureau and two townships did not show up, and one township’s reserve soldier was late. Deputy Division Commander Tao gave a stern criticism of this!
After so much preparation, dropping the ball at the crucial moment.
Deputy Mayor Shen was fuming with rage, and as soon as the inspection team left, he called and angrily berated the heads of the Environmental Protection Bureau and the three townships.
It’s certain that for the next three years, the Environmental Protection Bureau and those three townships cannot expect to be recognized as advanced units for their support to the military work, and the heads of the Environmental Protection Bureau and these three townships will find it hard to make progress.
It’s important to note that Deputy Mayor Shen is a member of the Standing Committee, and while he doesn’t have the same authority as the Secretary over the appointment and promotion of department-level cadres, and lacks the influence of the Deputy Secretary and Organizational Minister, he does have the right to vote against in the Standing Committee meetings.
As for those four absent reserve soldiers and the one who was late, they were directly removed from the roster.
Han Yu was a bit depressed too, but there was no choice, after all, reserve forces are not active forces, people have their own affairs, it’s impossible for them to come immediately upon notice.
The happiest ones were the "boss officers" from the Binjiang Development Zone. After twelve days of military training and the highly ceremonial swearing-in, they had become fond of the reserve camp and developed a sense of belonging, no longer wanting to be "single commanders."
After cleaning out the five soldiers, they actually volunteered to recruit another five.
The reserve camp somewhat resembles the Xiang Army from the late Qing Dynasty—a person manages the soldiers they recruit. For example, in Battalion One Company One, the cadres and soldiers are mostly recruited by "Brother Hao," and will consequently be under "Brother Hao’s" leadership in the future.
Considering the shortage of laborers in the auxiliary construction company, Han Yu generously gave them twenty "recruitment slots."
It is worth mentioning that out of the ten reserve officers in the Binjiang Development Zone, only six are "boss officers."
The other four are not bosses but military transfer officials from the Development Zone Management Committee, Development Zone Police Station, Development Zone Finance Bureau, and the Development Zone Local Taxation Bureau.
This means Luo Wenjiang’s father sold only six reserve officer slots and garnered forty million in sponsorship, indicating how wealthy the bosses in the Development Zone are...
To everyone’s surprise, the next day, the Jiangnan Daily reported on the commissioning and oath ceremonies of the two battalions’ reserve officers and the news of the two battalions’ inspections in the Binjiang Reserve Group.
Not only did it not mention anything about the absence or lateness of reserve soldiers, but it also affirmed the work of the Binjiang Reserve Group and praised the contributions of the Binjiang Development Zone Management Committee and Linghai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government in reserve work!
The key focus was on allocating land and arranging funds for constructing camp areas for the two reserve battalions, thereby enhancing the sense of belonging among all the reserve officers and soldiers, significantly boosting the cohesion and even combat effectiveness of the troops.
The report also emphasized the actions of the flood control departments at all levels in Binjiang City, Linghai City, Linghai Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Sanhe Street in establishing flood control and rescue material reserve warehouses within the camp area of the Flood Control and Rescue Mobile Assault Battalion, formed according to the requirements of the Provincial Committee, Provincial Government, and Provincial Military District.
Even more unexpectedly, the People’s Liberation Army Daily and China’s Civilian Militia also reported on this, summarizing the construction of reserve camp areas and the establishment of flood control rescue material reserves within the camp as the "Binjiang Experience" of integrating flood emergency rescue and reserve work, which is worthy of reference and promotion!
Han Yu, holding the newspaper and the China’s Civilian Militia magazine that Yang Jianbo brought from the group, rushed to the Management Committee to report to Deputy Mayor Shen.
Deputy Mayor Shen, looking at the newspaper, said with a smile, "It’s no surprise, we are indeed worthy of being learned from by other places."
"But we made mistakes during the inspection."
"Do you think we’re the only ones with some soldiers not showing up? It’s the same elsewhere! Yesterday at noon, I called Mayor Qin, and he said that when the inspection team went to check the reserve camps in brother cities, not only were there many absentees, but there were also cases of impersonation and padding the numbers."
Deputy Mayor Shen chuckled again and said proudly, "We only had four soldiers absent and one soldier late. Compared to others, we’ve done quite well. Besides, we have a camp area, and we have two large warehouses full of flood control and rescue materials in the camp. That’s the highlight!"
Han Yu instinctively asked, "Others don’t have camp areas?"
"It seems we are the only ones in the province that do." Deputy Mayor Shen put down the newspaper and remarked with an undertone of significance, "Moreover, we need results, Captain Xia and Political Commissioner Jiao need results, and the division also needs results! They have their superiors, they certainly have to pick the positives, haha."
"This is like picking a general from among dwarfs."
"It wouldn’t be right to say picking a general from among dwarfs, nor is it just comparing inadequacies. We have indeed done well, only that Deputy Division Commander Tao does not believe it."
"What doesn’t Deputy Division Commander Tao believe?"
"He doesn’t believe we have so much construction machinery and transportation vehicles, nor does he believe we can assemble so many water transport, water operation, and water support vessels. He insists on me showing him and even wants to conduct a rescue drill."
Deputy Mayor Shen snorted coldly and said unpleasantly, "He doesn’t consider that we are reserve forces, not active forces. He gives not a penny for funding, yet wants a grand show. Not to mention whether or not it would affect people’s regular production operations or cause significant economic losses, just the fuel needed for assembly would cost at least ten or twenty thousand."
Han Yu deeply agreed, pondering, "We can’t engage in formalism, and indeed we can’t afford it."
