Binjiang Police Affairs

Chapter 799 - 544: Barracks!

Stealing and selling fuel was certainly a group affair.The crew on the cargo ship saw the police return, and as soon as they boarded, they started questioning people one by one. The deputy director from the Port Supervision Department who came aboard with them went straight to investigating fuel usage and directly assumed that the Captain and the third officer had confessed, leaving everyone on edge.

Dong Bangjun and Zhang Bigong played a bit of a bluff and quickly "bluffed" out the truth.

It was an engineer from the engine department who confessed first. On October 28th of last year, when they were waiting to enter Zhehai port for unloading, they sold more than forty tons of fuel to an oil trader.

The Second Officer had a conflict with the Captain and had formed cliques on the ship.

The Captain, wary of the Second Officer messing things up, found an excuse before the fuel theft to call a service boat, which sent the Second Officer and a few of his close followers ashore first.

The Second Officer and his followers neither participated nor knew about the theft; otherwise, they wouldn’t have physically fought with the Captain and the third officer over a reduction in their meal allowance.

Most of the crew members were involved and had received a share of the money.

Considering that the ship couldn’t be left unattended, they could only follow the Captain’s orders and were considered accessories to the crime. No compulsory measures were taken. Once the relief crew arrived, they would deal with them.

The Captain and the third officer weren’t so lucky. They had just been admitted to a detention center after being discharged from the hospital and were hardly familiar with their new environment when they were transferred to a custodial center.

A case of public security turned into a criminal case, and they were first subjected to criminal detention.

To Han Yu, this was not a major case, but Director Wang and Political Commissioner Ma took it very seriously. Learning that Han Yu was about to become a reserve officer and would be busy with "mobilizing soldiers," they decided that Deputy Director Zhao Hongxing would lead the investigation and even established a special task force.

Old Jiang from the Development Zone Branch was also involved in the preliminary investigation, and Shi Shengyong was promptly informed.

In the past, he would certainly have intervened.

But times had changed, and the Water Police Station was currently "sparring" with the Changhang Bureau. They needed to prove who had stronger law enforcement on the Yangtze River, who could crack more waterborne cases, and who could maintain better security on the river.

In short, at this critical juncture, one had to back their own people; no way could they help the "foreign monks" from the Changhang Bureau.

Old Shi did not shamelessly request a joint investigation, and Han Yu was relieved, focusing solely on setting up the first Reserve Battalion of the Binjiang Reserve Group.

Deputy Mayor Shen highly valued the development of national defense reserve forces in the Development Zone to fulfill the tasks assigned by the former leaders, convening a meeting with the Management Committee and the Sanhe Street leaders to decide to locate the headquarters of the Reserve Battalion at the Heroes’ Cemetery.

Given that the Heroes’ Cemetery was spacious and the environment was nice, but the housing was dilapidated due to years of neglect, the Management Committee allocated 100,000 yuan for repairs.

Han Yu was no stranger to the Sanhe Heroes’ Cemetery, having visited it earlier in remembrance of the martyrs, organized by Minister Lei and Minister Liang, during militia training organized by the Four Factory, Sanhe, and other town and township Military Departments together with Xiao Yu.

The cemetery was the final resting place for four guerrillas of the New Fourth Army who had perished during the war against Japanese aggression, six martyrs from the East China Field Army who died in the early stages of the Liberation War, ten martyrs from the Third Field Army who fell during the Crossing the River Campaign, and three frontline workers who perished during the same campaign.

These martyrs were originally buried across a dozen villages in four nearby townships and were later moved to this site.

The Heroes’ Cemetery should have fallen under the purview of the Civil Affairs Bureau, but in fact, it had always been managed by Sanhe Town, and now it was under the jurisdiction of the Sanhe Street Civil Affairs Office.

The entire cemetery covered more than forty acres, with only two employees who were relatively older, with low wages and without formal staffing similar to gatekeepers.

The newly appointed civilian assistant Wang Bo from Sanhe Street, accompanying Han Yu and Camp Commander Yang Jianbo, who had come over from Binjiang in the morning, toured inside and out, and asked, "Secretary Han, the Management Committee has allocated a total of 100,000 yuan to us, the place is so big, how should we renovate?"

Han Yu looked around and sighed, "Mayor Shen and Secretary Chen are treating one matter as two. If it were elsewhere, the 100,000 could be all used for building barracks. But this is the Heroes’ Cemetery; we can’t just live in new buildings and let the revolutionary martyrs... let the revolutionary martyrs watch us live in new houses, right?"

Is it necessary for a reserve force to be so formal since it’s similar to militia?

Isn’t having a place for training enough? Why build headquarters?

Besides, how often and how long do you train each year?

However, these thoughts could only be kept inside. They couldn’t be spoken in front of Camp Commander Yang of the Binjiang Reserve Group. Assistant Wang looked back, covered his embarrassment, and explained, "Secretary Han, you are our leader. You know how tight the land in the Development Zone is. If it weren’t for the fact that the Heroes’ Cemetery can’t be moved at will, the Management Committee would have requisitioned this place long ago."

The amount of land the Development Zone could use or sell had targets.

Han Yu understood the difficulties faced by Deputy Mayor Shen and Secretary Chen, raising his arm and pointing to the graves of the martyrs and the exhibition hall not far away: "With limited land and funds, we can only stretch every penny. Take 50,000 yuan to repair the graves and the exhibition hall. The front gate also needs to be repainted, and the signboard replaced with a new one."

"Saving where we can, 50,000 yuan should be enough for the cemetery renovation, but would that be enough for building the barracks?"

"On the west side, there’s a large open space. We can level it out and build some bungalows. Since it’s the barracks, it’s okay to be simple and austere. We only need it to accommodate one hundred and fifty people for lodging and training. A kitchen and toilets must be built."

Han Yu turned and looked again, continuing, "The perimeter wall needs to be torn down and rebuilt. We also need to build another wall in the middle to separate the camp from the cemetery, but we can leave a gate between them so that comrades participating in training can come and help clean up.

The main gate of the training area will also be on the south side, facing the street just like the cemetery’s main gate. Since the Reserve Forces are also military, we’ll need a guard room at the gate and finally a sentry box, so we can arrange for the soldiers to stand guard during training."

Assistant Wang pondered, "If we just build a few rows of bungalows, erect a surrounding wall and a gate, fifty thousand should be enough."

"The ground inside the barracks needs to be solidified."

"The barracks aren’t small; I reckon they cover about ten acres. If the entire ground is to be concreted, fifty thousand might not suffice."

"If it’s not enough, I’ll find a way."

After some thought, Han Yu turned back with a smile, "Once the barracks are built, it’s not only the headquarters and training ground for the Reserve Battalion, but also a militia training base for our Development Zone Military Department and Sanhe Military Department. We need to treat one task as two."

Using the land of the Martyrs’ Cemetery and half of the funds are for the renovation of the cemetery, Assistant Wang promptly said, "Sure, I’ll have someone take care of renovating the cemetery right away."

Han Yu asked, "Camp Commander Yang, does your regiment have a Barracks Division?"

Yang Jianbo jolted back to reality, quickly reporting, "Secretary Han, our regiment does have a Barracks Division."

"You are the Camp Commander, and I am the Instructor. You hold military command, and I command politics; we are equals. From now on we should be stirring the pot together, why report to me?"

"Secretary Han, don’t make fun of me. You’re not only a Committee Member of the Party Working Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, as well as Military Minister of the Linghai Development Zone but also a Committee Member of the Water Police Division. You are the leader, so of course, I have to report to you."

Being the commander of a Reserve Regiment is an awkward position.

Without a soldier under command, surrounded by leaders, one cannot even count as a head or tail of any soldiers.

Used as a staff officer or clerk in the regiment, busy with this and that all day, and not welcomed when visiting the Linghai Armed Forces Department, always having to ask for favors.

In theory, each township should organize a Reserve Battalion, but eligible personnel have already been recruited into civilian soldiers’ ranks. How could the Military Department Directors of the townships be supportive of recruitment?

Moreover, many townships are far from the city district. After finishing their tasks, there are no mid-size buses back. Sometimes, even need to stay overnight in the township. Who will reimburse the accommodation and meal expenses?

Besides, recruiting troops is just the first step. Without organizing training afterward, it’s no different from deception. But there’s no funding to organize training, and civilian soldiers’ training is even subsidized.

In short, Reserve work sounds very important, but in practice, it is very difficult.

Yang Jianbo was genuinely moved by the Development Zone’s support and didn’t dare to act as if he were truly the Camp Commander in front of Han Yu.

What’s more, he was just a Captain, and furthermore, a Reserve Forces’ Commander. If he transferred to a civilian post, with good luck he might get a staff position in an administrative unit, with less luck he could be assigned to a public institution, or even end up in a company.

That’s why, in Yang Jianbo’s eyes, Han Yu, who is an actual Deputy Director, is truly a leader!

There was a lot of urgent work to be done, and without time for more politeness, Han Yu laughed and said, "Since the regiment has a Barracks Division, let’s leave the construction of the battalion’s barracks to them. Considering that the comrades from the Barracks Division might not be familiar with the Development Zone, if there’s any issue, they can ask for Assistant Wang."

"No problem, I will also be overseeing here for the next few days."

Assistant Wang took out a business card from his bag, and Yang Jianbo hurriedly received it with both hands.

Han Yu pointed towards the Yanjiang Road that was being renovated to the south and the river dike opposite to it, then said, "I’ll be moving. I’ll strive to relocate my dunship here within three days to avoid running back and forth later."

Yang Jianbo had first visited the dunship in the morning, toured the "Hall of Honor", and was truly stunned by the series of photos in the small conference room and command-dispatch room. Moreover, he had inquired before coming and knew that this "partner" in front of him, though very young, was the "Water Army Commander" of Binjiang, with real say over river matters.

Yang Jianbo couldn’t believe that Han Yu would tow the dunship over here for Reserve work and asked in astonishment, "Secretary Han, won’t the relocation of the dunship affect the work on the river?"

"It won’t be affected. Besides, the anchorage where it’s currently moored will soon be under construction. Sooner or later we need to clear the space for others; it’s better early than late."

Han Yu then turned around to point at a newly built six-story office building not far away, and smiled, "See that? That’s the newly constructed office building of the Linghai Port Supervision Office. They’re working overtime to renovate inside and are expected to move in next month. Relocating the dunship here will make things more convenient for us."

The Port Supervision Office’s office building is definitely a landmark by the riverside of the Development Zone, with an exterior entirely of dark blue glass curtain walls, looking very classy.

The big sign for the Port and Navigation Supervision had been installed on the roof and could be seen from far away.

Assistant Wang envied the Port Supervision Office for having such a high-end and classy office environment and curiously asked, "Secretary Han, there seem to be fewer than twenty people in the Port Supervision Office, do they need such a big office building?"

Having seen the planning and design drawings and having been inside with his university senior before, Han Yu said reliably, "The first floor is a hall that also serves as the place for ship owners and crew to manage their certifications and affairs, including a reception room. The second floor holds the offices and archives for the Sanhe Port Patrol Team and the North Branch Port Patrol Team. The third floor is for the comprehensive office, the Ships and Sailors Management Department, and the offices of the Director and Deputy Director.

The fourth floor includes an activity room, library, kitchen, dining room, and staff dormitory. The fifth floor has accommodations for the officers. The sixth floor has a Traffic Control Center and two conference rooms of different sizes. Despite not having a large staff, an office building still may not be spacious enough."

There are so many officials, including public office workers, totaling over a hundred from the Management Committee and Sanhe Street, and yet the office building they are constructing is not as big and imposing as that of the Port Supervision Department.

Assistant Wang admired this and couldn’t help but exclaim, "The Port Supervision Department is really a great unit, Secretary Han; Chief Han is impressive!"

The Port Supervision Bureau built an office building and the likewise landmark Traffic Control building eight years ago. Han Yu was no longer surprised and laughed, "Different nature of work. They not only supervise and manage domestic ships and sailors but are also responsible for maintaining the safety of water traffic on the Linghai section of the Yangtze River. They also supervise and manage foreign vessels and foreign sailors passing through Linghai Waters. It can be said they are the external window for Linghai and even Binjiang, so the office space has to look presentable."