Binjiang Police Affairs

Arriving at the Port Supervision Bureau was already around 11:30 at night, Director Tang, Sister Zhu, and several from the ship inspection department indeed were all waiting for news.

Han Yu, following Captain Wei's instructions, asked Director Tang and Sister Zhu to "step aside" for a talk, reporting Lu Binxiang's situation briefly and succinctly with an extremely heavy and indignant heart.

Director Tang was dumbfounded, utterly unable to believe that Lu Binxiang was a psychopathic killer.

Sister Zhu listened with her flesh creeping, just as when she and Han Yu had sat in on the interrogation at the Port District Bureau, she got goosebumps all over again.

"Although he has no remorse whatsoever, he has cooperated quite a bit, admitting many things proactively. Especially about the process of the crimes, he confessed in great detail, consistent with the crime scene investigations and autopsy reports."

Han Yu took a deep breath and added: "Even if he hadn't cooperated or confessed, he couldn't have escaped the law. As his status is quite special, the Special Task Force has done a lot of work, evidence is iron-clad. Otherwise, we wouldn't have arrested him with such publicity."

Director Tang still couldn't believe it, frowning tightly and asked, "What evidence is there?"

"There are his fingerprints at both murder scenes. He had no relations with the first victim but was involved with the second. It's people like him, zipping up his pants and then turning hostile; he had just slept with her and then killed her, even wiping the victim's lower body with a towel before fleeing the scene. But the things left inside the victim aren't that easily wiped away."

"Madman, beast!"

Director Tang was forced to accept this reality, grinding his teeth in anger.

Sister Zhu even cursed angrily: "Worse than a beast, truly a case of seeing the face but not the heart!"

Han Yu touched his mouth corner, reminding, "Director Tang, Director Zhu, by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, the Port District Bureau will inform his spouse, and officially notify the bureau—someone like him will definitely be dismissed."

The Port Supervision Bureau is vertically managed, and dismissing someone is not something Director Tang can decide alone.

In other words, they would have to report to the distant Yangtze River Port Supervision Bureau in Hanwu at the earliest opportunity, it simply could not be covered up.

A psychopathic killer emerging from the department, the Binjiang Port Supervision Bureau is becoming infamous within the system!

This year, the bureau has not been without achievements—from jointly with Changhang navigation police smashing a gang producing, trafficking, and using fake certificates, to catching several foreign crewmembers using fake certificates, deciding to detain a foreign ship with major deficiencies, issuing the largest fine in the history of the Yangtze River Port Supervision System.

They have also marked excellent performances in water law enforcement, rescue, and firefighting.

However, all these achievements were washed away by a murderer emerging from their ranks.

The more Director Tang thought about it, the more infuriated and frustrated he became, remaining silent for a while before looking up and saying, "I'll go to East Sea overnight, and from there take a train to Hanwu to report this in person to the leaders of the Yangtze River Port Supervision Bureau. Director Zhu, after I leave, please take charge of the bureau's work"

"Director Tang, how about I go to Hanwu?"

"I'm more familiar with them there; I'll go."

Director Tang lit a cigarette and took several puffs, then added, "There's also pressure at home for you; the crimes Lu Binxiang committed have caused severe disturbances, killing once a year, causing the people in the port district to panic. Even my spouse said just a few days ago that there's a serial killer around the long-distance bus station and passenger terminal, warning our daughter not to go out alone at night.

The case must be solved to settle the public's mind. Just as the case got solved, it overlaps with the nationwide crackdown period. The City Bureau and the Port District Bureau will try to reassure the public quickly, they'll surely disclose the case promptly but won't provide as many details as Salted Fish does.

In any case, in just a few days, our Port Supervision Bureau will be thrust into the spotlight, and it's possible reporters will come for interviews. Externally, we need to salvage our bureau's image as much as possible. Internally, we need to stabilize the morale, to inspire our comrades."

As the director said, some journalists like to cover peculiar cases.

Sister Zhu realized that the upcoming days won't be easy, subconsciously lifting her head: "Salted Fish, you know Reporter Wang well, could you please ask Reporter Wang to lend a hand?"

"What help?"

"Please ask him to show mercy with his pen."

"Director Zhu, you know what Reporter Wang's temperament is like, if he is interested in this case, no amount of pleading will help."

"That's true, even if Reporter Wang isn't interested, Journalist Chen and Liu Journalist might be, I won't bother you further, I'll think of other ways."

Just as Sister Zhu finished speaking, Director Tang looked up and said, "Salted Fish, help me notify Director He, about the ship inspection department finding suspicious vessels at Changyu Shipbuilding Factory and providing your team with timely clues, we needn't report it anymore."

It was Director Li and Lu Binxiang who together discovered the nearly dismantled ship, and it was also Lu Binxiang who upon his prompting, called Bailong Port Water Police Strike Command.

If as previously agreed to report, wouldn't the superiors end up commending a murderer?

Han Yu realized this, hurriedly said, "I understand."

...

A single rat dropping spoils the whole pot of porridge.

The leaders have difficult days, truly it's not easy being a leader.

Han Yu heaved a sigh, stepping out of the Port Supervision Bureau courtyard and heading straight to the adjacent Water Police Station.

He had just made a phone call; Political Commissioner Jiang and Shi Shengyong had not rushed back to Bailong Port, while Director He also hadn't returned to the Port Authority dormitory. Instead, he stayed at the Water Police Station, speaking with Director Peng for an urgent consultation while waiting for news.

However, the news they were waiting for wasn't about what crime Lu Binxiang had committed, but another more sensitive piece of information.

After all, they were all leaders in the police system, especially Director Peng, who was both the head of the Water Police Station and the Captain of the Water Police Department, and had always maintained good relations with the Port District Bureau.

In fact, an hour and a half earlier, Director Peng had already found out why the Criminal Investigation Team and the Port District Bureau were arresting Lu Binxiang.

This was why, upon seeing Han Yu, Director Peng didn't ask about the case details but eagerly inquired if Director Feng of the City Bureau was also at the Port District Bureau that night.

The murderer was arrested from a dining table shared by the chiefs of three police bureaus, a political commissioner, and two police station chiefs. If this news got out, the repercussions would be disastrous!

Han Yu was well aware of the leaders' concerns and quickly explained, "Director Feng was there, but Captain Wei helped us explain to Director Feng. The Port Supervision Bureau's ship inspection department provided us with important clues. We solved a major ship theft case based on these clues. It's only reasonable and appropriate to express our gratitude, both officially and personally."

The young man had matured, understanding the importance of the bigger picture.

Director He was gratified, while Director Peng breathed a sigh of relief before he couldn't help but ask, "What did Director Feng say?"

"Director Feng didn't say much. When Captain Wei and I left the Port District Bureau, we saw him from afar, chatting and laughing with Director Jiang and Political Commissioner Qin, seeming in good spirits."

"The murder case could have had dreadful consequences, and if it wasn't solved promptly, letting the perpetrator roam free, he'd be under the greatest pressure. Now that the case is solved and Lu Binxiang has been captured, of course, he's in a good mood."

"Turns out it was Lu Binxiang. Damn, he was really good at disguising himself!"

"Let's not talk about him anymore, it's not our concern. Director He, Political Commissioner Jiang, I won't keep you any longer. You should go back and rest early."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

…

Director He walked out of the Water Police Station, still feeling a bit uneasy. He pulled Han Yu aside and asked, "Did you give Captain Wei any heads up about tonight?"

Han Yu glanced back, then whispered, "Don't worry, Director He. Captain Wei will definitely help us smooth things over."

"An upright person does not fear a crooked shadow; honestly, there's nothing to fear, mainly just worried about the repercussions."

"I know."

"What a mess, sigh."

It was supposed to be a celebration banquet, but it turned out like this, leaving Han Yu feeling uncomfortable.

After seeing off the director to his dormitory together with Political Commissioner Jiang and Shi Shengyong, Han Yu drove back to Bailong Port overnight. Unexpectedly, just as he left the city area, his cellphone suddenly rang.

"Salted Fish, take the call first."

"Alright, I'll pull over."

Han Yu pulled the car over to the side of the road, took out his cellphone, quickly pressed the call button, and brought it to his ear, "Uncle Jia, what's up so late at night?"

Jia Yongqiang, watching the freshly awakened Xiao Yu, Zhang Ping, Xiao Gong, and Ma Jintao, grasped the phone excitedly and said, "Director Yu, Wang Xiaoshan, and Huang Yuhua reported that five minutes ago a boat weighing about thirty to forty tons arrived at their location, and a van and an oil tanker came to the small dock ashore."

The auxiliary police officers Wang Xiaoshan and Huang Yuhua, replacing Ma Jintao, were staking out the border area of the two cities by the water, mainly to see if the oil tankers and small boats that had previously offloaded oil in that area would return.

Unexpectedly, after more than two months of staking out, including Ma Jintao's prior watch, they finally caught their 'rabbit'!

Affected by Lu Binxiang being a murderer, Han Yu's mood immediately brightened upon hearing this and he eagerly asked, "Did you check the Port Supervision's navigation announcements? Do you know which ship the boat and the vehicles at the small dock are waiting for in the middle of the night?"

Jia Yongqiang, taking the documents Ma Jintao handed to him, smiled and said, "Changsheng Ship Transport Company has an oil tanker; this morning it loaded over two thousand tons of gasoline at the Dacang Petrochemical Pier, planning to head to their fuel depot in Han Wu. Based on their scheduled departure and speed, they will cross the waters where Wang Xiaoshan and Huang Yuhua are on watch tonight!"

"Is that the only one?"

"According to the navigation announcement, there's only this tanker that meets all the criteria."

After calculating the time, Han Yu decisively instructed, "Uncle Jia, immediately notify Wang Xiaoshan; if the boat and vehicles rushing over in the middle of the night are there for unloading oil, have them clearly note the oil tanker's name and keep an eye on the unloading vehicles."

"We've got everything prepared here; Xiao Yu, Zhang Ping, and Xiao Ma are all here!"

"Even if you are ready, it's too late. From Bailong Port to where Wang Xiaoshan is, it takes at least two and a half hours at the quickest. The boat 001 definitely can't catch up, and besides, where would you find a vehicle in the middle of the night. Political Commissioner Jiang happens to be right next to me. I'll turn around immediately and return to the police station, and we'll muster the forces from there."

This was an important clue, after over two months of vigilance, when the moment to catch them red-handed arose, there was nothing on Bailong Port's side. Comrade Old Jia felt somewhat regretful, but thinking about the impossibility of making it from Bailong Port in time, he could only laugh bitterly, "Alright, I'll tell Xiao Yu and Xiao Ma to go back to the dormitory and rest, then await your good news tomorrow morning."