Binjiang Police Affairs

The crackdown has been ongoing until today, and the entire Linghai Police Bureau has not been able to crack a single major case.

Working for "Salted Fish," they arrested two ship thieves, and that counted as cracking a major case, according to the bureau's criteria for evaluating strike targets. Since then, the Four Factory Police Station exceeded last month's targets.

Shi Shengyong could barely sleep and kept waking up with a smile. He heard there was food and drove early to Bailong Port, taking a police car from the Bailong Port Police Station to the city with Political Commissioner Jiang.

The appreciation banquet was held at the highest-grade Wushan Hotel, where Han Yu had held his wedding.

The private room was large and luxurious, with Director Li from the Ship Inspection Department and others like Lu Binxiang already present, and Director Li from the Changhang Bureau's Political Office keeping them company while playing cards.

Upon the arrival of Political Commissioner Jiang, everyone got up to let him play.

Political Commissioner Jiang didn't want to kill everyone's buzz, introduced the meritorious Old Shi to everyone, and then went downstairs with Han Yu to wait for some directors.

Leaders always make the last entrance.

After waiting in the lobby for nearly half an hour, Director Tang, Director He, Director Peng, and Sister Zhu arrived, all smiles.

With all the leaders present, they could start the banquet.

The alcohol and cigarettes brought by Director Li looked familiar; nobody needed to ask to know they were gifts from the last tendering party.

Director He and Director Peng, representing the Changhang Bureau and Water Police Station respectively, offered a toast to thank the Port Supervision Bureau for their support in the crackdown. Old Shi, honored tonight, represented the Linghai Police Bureau in expressing gratitude to the Port Supervision Bureau.

Han Yu couldn't drink much; a small cup got him drunk, leaving him no chance to speak, merely holding his drink and giggling.

You toast me, I toast you, and after two rounds, they again chatted about the case.

Director Tang, intrigued by the dish he tried, asked, "Director He, Director Peng, the ship theft case is a major one, so how do you count the series of insider theft cases you two handled together?"

Among those present, Director He was the happiest.

He put down his glass and couldn't help but laugh, "That case has even wider impact, involved six or seven provinces, with as of yesterday, 123 suspects arrested. Not only does the Changhang Police Bureau value it, but the ministry does too; it's now a supervised case by the Ministry of Transport Police."

"Ministry of Transport Police's supervised case?"

"Almost forgot, it's not just us and the Water Police Station handling this case. In addition to us, the Jiangcheng Branch and Hanwu Branch are involved. As the investigation deepens, the Guzhou Branch and Zhenjiang Branch might also join."

"It's no wonder the superiors value it."

Political Commissioner Jiang had something to say, turning to look at the silent Han Yu, "Salted Fish, it's not that I won't let you meddle, but now I don't even have my say. The first half is mainly handled by our Binjiang side, but for the second half, the superiors think it's more beneficial for Director Zhang's side to take the lead. All appropriate transfers have been made; right now, what we can do is take care of those suspects on the list."

"Commissioner, I don't feel wronged."

"But I want to clarify."

Political Commissioner Jiang smiled and continued, "The superiors assigned the Jiangcheng Branch to handle the second half, as there's logic to it. After all, the previously stolen iron ore was ultimately sold to the small steel mills in and around Jiangcheng. And the internally stolen imported coal, if it weren't captured by us in the act, would have also ended up in and around Jiangcheng."

With the results in hand, the cleanup work can be handled by anyone.

Besides, transferring it to the Changhang Jiangcheng Branch is advantageous because where would Binjiang detain so many suspects?

It's the peak of the crackdown, and the detention centers are overcrowded.

Now, to detain a suspect, one needs to book a slot days in advance.

Director Peng was also happy, looking up and smiling, "Director He, Political Commissioner Jiang, Salted Fish, I have good news for you. Political Commissioner Wang and Chen Zikun made a big catch, and with Director Yu's help, found the families of the suspects listed, did some ideologic work, and the suspects, one after another, called expressing their willingness to surrender."

"How many suspects?" asked Director He.

"Nineteen from Huaiyin are involved in insider theft," said Director Peng with a smile, then added, "Speaking of which, we should not only thank Director Yu but also Salted Fish and even more so Salted Fish's mentor, comrade Xu Sanye."

Lu Binxiang, who years ago, with Director Dong and Han Xiangning, inspected the Dunship and its first upgrade at Bailong Port, knew Xu Sanye quite early and couldn't help asking, "Director Peng, what does this have to do with Director Xu, who has been dead for two years?"

"Yeah, what does it have to do with my master, and what does it have to do with me?"

"Those shipmen suspected of insider theft used to run transports on the canal. Several of them have criminal records, the 'Tiger Team' of those days. Your master, along with Director Yu, led you to fight the water bandits on the canal, leaving a deep impression on them. They knew the Binjiang Water Police were not to be trifled with. If they didn't surrender, sooner or later, they'd be caught by our Water Police."

"I almost forgot, but they remembered!"

"Political Commissioner Wang said one of them was detained by you on a ship for nearly two months back then. How could he not have a deep impression?"

Watching Han Yu's skeptical expression, Director Peng couldn't help but chuckle, "That guy has already surrendered. He might not recognize you if he saw you, but he remembers Chen Zikun – recognized him at a glance, haha."

Sister Zhu looked up and smiled, "Salted Fish, when your master took you to fight the water bandits on the canal, were you seventeen or eighteen?"

"Eighteen."

"You were still wearing the female police uniform back then, hadn't grown much either. That apprehended suspect wouldn't recognize you."

Talking about Salted Fish's dark history of wearing women's police uniforms in the past, everyone burst into laughter.

Han Yu didn't feel embarrassed but was reminded of his teacher and felt very emotional. Shi Shengyong quickly raised his glass to toast the three directors.

He could hold his liquor well, and everyone was having a great time when suddenly the door to the private room was opened from outside, and a familiar face appeared at the door.

Han Yu instinctively stood up: "Captain Wei!"

Director Peng came to his senses, looked up with a smile and asked, "Captain Wei, what a coincidence, are you next door?"

The pillar of Binjiang Police Criminal Investigation System, known by anyone with a slight position.

Director He was about to stand up to greet Captain Wei when he suddenly noticed the vice director of criminal investigation and the captain of the Criminal Investigation Team from the Port District Bureau standing behind Captain Wei, both looking very grave.

Captain Wei didn't recognize Director Tang, but from the seating arrangement, he could tell that Director Tang was a high-ranking leader. He lifted his arm in salute and said expressionlessly, "Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to interrupt your pleasure."

Director Peng felt something was off, pulled out his chair and stood up, asking, "Old Wei, is there something wrong?"

Before coming here, Captain Wei only knew that the target to be arrested was dining at Wushan Hotel; he wasn't aware of who else was there.

Seeing leadership from two branches present, one of whom even held a Standard Department Level director post, and even the wife of the head of the City Planning Commission, plus Salted Fish whom he had watched grow up, he truly didn't know how to explain for a moment.

Director He realized Captain Wei wouldn't barge in with people for no reason, cleared his throat, and asked, "Captain Wei, what exactly is the matter?"

Captain Wei calmed himself, quickly walked over to Salted Fish, grabbed Lu Binxiang, who was sitting to the left of Salted Fish, and said helplessly, "Director He, sorry, but we need to take Lu Binxiang to inquire about some matters."

They came to arrest Lu Binxiang!

Han Yu couldn't believe his ears and exclaimed, "Captain Wei, is there some mistake? What could Master Lu possibly be involved in?"

"Yes, Comrade Lu Binxiang is our Port Supervision Bureau's ship inspection engineer, a key member of our bureau!"

"May I ask who you are…"

Every time the Salted Fish family held a celebration, they would invite Sister Zhu and also Captain Wei; Sister Zhu knew Captain Wei and quickly introduced, "Captain Wei, this is our Port Supervision Bureau's Director Tang."

"Director Tang, please rest assured, we won't let a bad person go, nor will we wrongly accuse a good person." Captain Wei was polite in words, but his hand didn't loosen its grip.

The vice director of criminal investigation and the captain from the Port District Bureau even walked over quickly, grabbed Lu Binxiang's arms, and, with a click, handcuffed Lu Binxiang.

All leaders here, Shi Shengyong was too scared to make a sound.

How could Director Li from the Port Supervision Bureau's ship inspection office just watch his subordinate and colleague be taken away? He urgently said, "Which unit are you guys from? You can't just arrest people without cause. Director He, Director Peng, won't you say something?"

Director Tang didn't expect such a thing to happen; with a grim expression, he fixed his gaze on Captain Wei.

Seeing that Lu Binxiang had been handcuffed without even trying to defend himself, Han Yu suddenly realized that Captain Wei wouldn't have come to arrest him without a reason, and quickly said, "Director Li, Captain Wei is the Branch Captain of the City Bureau Criminal Investigation Team."

"Ladies and gentlemen, sorry, but we must leave now."

Having invested tremendous manpower and resources to solve the case, Captain Wei had no idea how many nights he had stayed up. It hadn't been easy to catch the suspect, and he really was not in the mood for pleasantries. He gestured broadly, and the two big shots from the Port District Bureau's criminal investigation department briskly took Lu Binxiang outside.

Director Tang also realized Lu Binxiang might indeed have an issue, but still called out, "Wait."

Captain Wei turned around and asked, "Director Tang, do you have any instructions?"

Director Tang took several deep breaths, very serious and solemn, and said, "Captain Wei, I don't know what offense Comrade Lu Binxiang has committed, but as his unit leader, I cannot just watch him being taken away by you."

"Do you need papers?"

"You know you have them, and even if not, issuing a summons is simple," Director Tang turned back to look at Han Yu, thought for a moment, then turned back and said, "Captain Wei, you are relatively familiar with Salted Fish, I would like Salted Fish to accompany Comrade Lu Binxiang with you."

Captain Wei asked with a wry smile, "Director Tang, are you worried that we will use torture for a confession?"

Director Tang said meaningfully, "As the unit leader, I must take responsibility for our staff and their families; please understand."

Someone else might have outright refused such a request.

But Director Tang was no ordinary person, and the proposed Salted Fish was not an outsider.

After weighing it up, Captain Wei agreed, saying, "Okay."

Lu Binxiang, who had been silent and not struggling before, suddenly couldn't stay calm upon hearing that Han Yu would be going with them, looked up and said, "Captain Wei, right? It was me. I knew this day would come eventually. I'll go with you. I'll confess. This has nothing to do with Salted Fish. Why should he go!"

Captain Wei didn't expect such a vehement reaction, realizing he was ashamed to face his unit leaders, colleagues, and a friend like Salted Fish, and thought it wasn't a bad thing to bring Salted Fish along, immediately patting his shoulder, "Let's go, this is not a place to talk."

Lu Binxiang hesitated, dared not look at Director Tang, Sister Zhu, and Director Li anymore, and just hung his head as he was led out.

Han Yu followed and was immediately shocked.

Just in the hallway alone there were three plainclothes criminal police, two uniformed colleagues at the staircase, and they followed downstairs and out the lobby, where surprisingly, five police cars were parked.