Binjiang Police Affairs

3:48 PM, Linghai City Police Bureau.

While inviting Political Commissioner Jiang for tea, Zhou Huixin made a call to seek instructions and report to the leaders at the City Bureau.

Normally, for regular issues, he would contact the deputy director in charge at the City Bureau, but for major issues, the executive deputy director. Today's situation was exceptional, requiring the head of the City Bureau.

Among the District County Police Bureau Directors, Linghai Police Director Zhou Huixin was the most distinctive.

He had previously bundled up ships and personnel to sell to the Port Supervision Bureau and Changhang Bureau, making the City Bureau very passive. This time, his cunning cooperation with the Changhang Bureau left a deep impression on Director Chen.

Having clarified the situation, Director Chen asked unhappily, "You want to cooperate again with the Changhang Bureau for investigation, Comrade Huixin, can't you handle a few impressive cases on your own?"

"Director Chen, this case is different from those joint investigations last month. This case is primarily led by our Linghai Police Bureau. Our police officers have been on it for over half a year, spending tens of thousands just on expenses!"

"Really?"

"Director Chen, I wouldn't dare deceive you!"

Still skeptical, Director Chen pressed, "If it's your case, why do you need to cooperate with the Changhang Bureau again?"

Holding the phone, Zhou Huixin smiled and said: "This isn't just any water-related case, but a smuggling case, which you can say is a maritime case with specific peculiarities. Our officers are all landlubbers, they can't handle it without the cooperation of the Changhang Bureau."

"Smuggling typically occurs at sea, and the Changhang Bureau hasn't even sorted out river-related issues yet, how can they manage maritime issues? Besides, this involves jurisdiction; they're neither border control nor the Coast Guard, what's the use in involving them?"

"I'm talking about Salted Fish, you've met him, he is the chief officer of an ocean-going vessel. Even the Coast Guard might not be as professional as him in catching criminals at sea!"

Mentioning Salted Fish, Director Chen grew even more frustrated, asking coldly, "Knowing Salted Fish is very professional, why did you let him go initially? It's said that a good horse doesn't eat grass turned over, and yet you, having released him, still shamelessly seek his cooperation!"

Zhou Huixin, unlike other District County Police Bureau directors who feared Director Chen, chuckled, "Times change. Back then I was broke and had to liquidate assets to solve urgent needs. Director Chen, I know Salted Fish is talented, and once our Linghai Police has the funds, I assure you I'll bring him back."

"Bring him back? Would he be willing to?"

"Certainly, he was originally one of our Linghai Police officers."

Thinking of bringing Salted Fish back, what a joke!

Political Commissioner Jiang murmured under his breath, thinking he must be bluffing Director Chen. Not to take it seriously, even if it were true, Salted Fish wouldn't likely return to Linghai Police.

Recall how Linghai Police recently took advantage of the Changhang Bureau, it seemed such requests should be initiated by them; he thought best to pretend he didn't hear it.

Although Zhou Huixin liked to joke around, he was pretty reliable in his actions.

Director Chen thought he must have some confidence to speak so boldly and asked further: "A typhoon is approaching. At this time, borrowing a ship to go to sea from the Fishery Administration, would the Agricultural Bureau agree?"

"Director Chen, if you could help coordinate for us, the Agricultural Bureau should agree."

"What if they refuse to lend, Comrade Huixin? A typhoon is not a joke; we must be responsible for our police officers, and they likewise for the captain, crew, and the law enforcement ship!"

"The typhoon is approaching, but it might not land here. Director Chen, there's something I almost forgot to report; Salted Fish's father-in-law is the deputy chief engineer at the Binjiang Meteorological Bureau. Salted Fish is currently next door talking to his father-in-law on the phone, busy understanding the weather conditions."

Zhou Huixin smiled and struck while the iron was hot, "Moreover, our previous Yanjiang Police Station, the former Four Factory Police Station Water Police Team, including the current Changhang Branch Bailong Port Police Station, have been assisting them for years in combating illegal eel fry fishing. You could say that they owe favours not only to our Linghai Police but also to Changhang Bureau. We used to help them all the time, and will probably continue to. Now that we're borrowing a Fishery Administration ship from them to go to sea, wouldn't it be awkward for them to refuse?"

From this perspective, the Agriculture Bureau Fishery Station should fully assist.

Weighing the matter, Director Chen pondered and said, "Just having a law enforcement ship isn't enough; Changhang Bureau has no jurisdiction at sea, neither do you."

"I've already discussed it with the San Zao Port Border Police Station; the director, instructor, and several soldiers are on standby at the dock. Considering we only have a few officers capable of executing maritime arrests, I also asked the Sanzao Port Military Department to mobilize six civilian soldiers."

"Mobilizing civilian soldiers for the operation?"

"They're actually fishermen, all our local fishermen are civilian soldiers. They're politically reliable, experienced in maritime navigation, and have even responded to calls from the superior to participate in maritime rights protection in the South Sea."

"Alright, since you've considered everything, I'll give a call to the Agricultural Bureau for you."

"Thank you, Director Chen."

"Don't forget about bringing Salted Fish back."

"Rest assured, Director Chen, I won't forget. Once I have the funds, I'll bring him back immediately!"

To blatantly discuss poaching our staff right in front of me, this is too much...

Political Commissioner Jiang couldn't bear it anymore, just about to question what he meant when a report came from outside.

Zhou Huixin put down the phone and looked up: "Come in."

"Director Zhou, any instructions?" Xu Mingyuan pushed open the door and walked in, seeing his fellow deputy at the bureau also present, he hurriedly saluted: "Greetings, Political Commissioner Jiang."

"Hello."

Political Commissioner Jiang slightly smiled while Zhou Huixin looked at him and asked, "Xiao Xu, have you participated in anti-vertigo training, have you assisted Customs in capturing smugglers at sea?"

Xu Mingyuan quickly replied, "Yes!"

Zhou Huixin raised his arm pointing next door, "That's good, there's an operation you need to attend. Your fellow disciple is next door, hurry and report over there."

"Director Zhou, has Salted Fish arrived?"

"How many fellow disciples do you have?"

"One, no, counting Xiao Yu, two in total."

"They've all arrived, all next door, hurry up and get ready."

"What's the task?"

"Salted Fish will tell you."

"Yes!"

...

Xu Mingyuan entered the small meeting room next to the director's office and suddenly found Salted Fish and Xiao Yu were indeed there.

Salted Fish was on the phone, Director Shi Shengyong from the Four Factory Police Station was standing by the window on the phone as well, and Xiao Yu, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, was busy cleaning a gun!

There were four Type 81 rifles on the meeting table, one had been cleaned, another was disassembled into a pile of parts, and two hadn't been touched yet. Beyond that, there were satellite phones, walkie-talkies, magazine pouches, and a big pile of handcuffs - at a glance, there appeared to be over a dozen pairs.

Xu Mingyuan sensed a significant operation was about to commence and just as he was about to ask what was going on, Fang Zhiqiang, the leader of the Fourth Criminal Investigation Squad, arrived and stood at the door, earnestly pointing towards the director's office.

"Did Director Zhou ask for you?" Xu Mingyuan approached and asked.

"Yes."

"Director Zhou is in the office, go and report to him first."

"Okay."

Fang Zhiqiang was also stunned by the scene created by the two 'Fish', he greeted Salted Fish and Xiao Yu with a wave, then straightened his uniform and knocked on the door to report.

At this moment, Han Yu laughed while holding his phone: "Alright, I'm relieved then. Dad, you're on duty at the unit these days, right? I'll be out to sea and won't have mobile signal, but I have a satellite phone, I'll contact you with that."

Han Yu was always the busiest when a typhoon was approaching. Since yesterday morning, he had moved into the duty room, taking turns with several colleagues to monitor various charts.

Dealing with the weather was both interesting and challenging; a moment of inattention could mean drastic changes in the weather in just a few minutes.

He had to switch between different weather charts to study and analyze them, like meteorological cloud maps, weather maps, radar real-time monitoring maps...He had to look at at least a hundred charts every day!

He needed to analyze every chart, every time slot, and then make predictions about the future path of the typhoon and its potential impacts in terms of wind and rain. Real-time monitoring was especially crucial; besides issuing typhoon warnings, sometimes he had to issue heavy rain or strong wind alerts based on the actual situations.

As the typhoon approached, he often had to call and consult with colleagues in East Guang and Zhehai provinces. As the Deputy Chief Engineer and Chief Forecaster of the Meteorological Bureau, he even had to participate in the encrypted consultations of the National Meteorological Bureau regarding typhoon "Sally".

In short, every time a typhoon approached, he felt tremendous pressure.

Overreporting could lead to an overdefensive stance by the community, wasting public resources; underreporting could lead to insufficient protection.

However, he never thought that after decades of forecasting weather, he would end up providing VIP weather forecasting services for his son-in-law.

Maritime weather changes drastically, and inaccurate predictions could lead to shipwrecks and loss of lives!

Han Yu thought again and still felt uneasy, gripping the phone tighter, he said, "In terms of marine weather forecasting, especially regarding how strong the sea winds and waves are, East Sea Meteorological Bureau is more professional than us. Don't hurry to the sea, let me contact them first before you set sail."

"Okay, no rush, I'm still at the Linghai Police Bureau."

"After you are out at sea, it's best to call me every twenty minutes. I can't reach your satellite phone, you'll have to call me."

Having a helpful father-in-law sure is great.

Han Yu had never felt as impressed by his father-in-law as he did today, he couldn't help but laugh: "Dad, the call charges for the satellite phone are too expensive, the Fishery Station has a Fishery Radio Station, I'll ask for the phone number of the radio station person-in-charge and call you with it later, then you can inform them of the latest weather changes and they will communicate it to me through the radio."

"That works too, still, going out to sea in this weather is very dangerous, you must be careful."

"The typhoon is still far from us, I'll be careful."

Just after Han Yu hung up with his father-in-law, Shi Shengyong approached and said, "Salted Fish, Director Jiang and Jianghai reported that the coach doesn't show signs of stopping, the snakeheads might really be heading to East Sea."

Han Yu brought out a national highway traffic map, asking, "Where are they now?"

Shi Shengyong leaned over, looked at the map, and pointed, "Around here."

"We don't have much time left, we must leave soon or we won't catch up."

"Yes, maybe I should go ask Director Zhou."

As they were speaking, Director Zhou and Political Commissioner Jiang walked in with Fang Zhiqiang, smiling at everyone, "Salted Fish, Old Shi, the City Agricultural Bureau leaders have agreed, you can set off now, wishing you success!"

"Great, Xiao Yu, stop cleaning, we're leaving immediately!"

"Yes!"

Hearing the word 'snakeheads', Xu Mingyuan knew what mission was coming, he couldn't help but laugh, "I'll help pack up."

Fang Zhiqiang quickly squeezed forward, also helping to gather the equipment.

The vehicle had already been prepared, the group just grabbed their gear and rushed downstairs, Han Yu's phone rang again, this time it was from a former Water Police Station chief, now Deputy Director of the Agricultural Bureau.

While Han Yu was busy taking the call, Shi Shengyong already boarded the director's Santana car.

After finishing the call, Han Yu walked up and asked, "Director Shi, are you going too?"

"It's our station's case, we've been on it for over half a year, how could I not go?"

"This isn't like intercepting oil tankers in Xingtai, this is going out to sea!"

"I know, don't worry, my physical fitness is good, I won't get seasick."

The more confident he is now, the worse he'll feel when he actually throws up...

Han Yu didn't know what else to say to him, Director Zhou, looking at his watch, urged, "Salted Fish, time is of the essence, we can't delay any longer, set off now. From now on, Commissioner Jiang and I won't go anywhere but stay in the office to coordinate and communicate."

Commissioner Jiang stepped forward, patting his arm very seriously and sternly said, "Whether we can intercept the smuggling ship and people depends on luck, but safety must be the priority!"

"Thank you, Director Zhou, thank you, Commissioner, how many people I take out to sea, I guarantee I'll bring the same number back."

"That's good, off you go."