Binjiang Police Affairs

Chapter 756 - 512: Batten Down the Hatches

2:00 PM, Linghai Police Bureau Office.Xu Haibin starts his work immediately by calling Northern City Police Station as instructed by his superiors.

"Director Zhang, this is Xu from the office. Is there a retired soldier named Chen Hua in your station?"

"Yes, Xiao Chen used to be in the Firefighting Police, retired last year. What happened to him?"

"Isn’t the development zone building a port? According to regulations, the port must establish an enterprise fire brigade, Political Commissioner Sun asked me to call and inquire if he’s interested in working at Linghai Port."

"To work as a member of the enterprise fire brigade?"

"The salary and benefits in the development zone are better than in other units. Once Linghai Port is built and operational, the fire brigade’s compensation won’t be low either. To secure a spot in the enterprise fire brigade, Political Commissioner personally phoned Master Shi."

"Okay, Xiao Chen has gone out for errands right now, I’ll ask him if he’s willing when he returns."

"Alright, thanks for your help, but please make it quick."

"No trouble at all."

...

Xu Haibin is among the officers at Linghai Police Bureau with the highest academic qualifications, having studied Chinese Literature. He joined the police force last second half of the year through "Mutual Selection."

His probation period of one year is almost over, and he still hasn’t received police uniform.

Working in the office in casual clothes, he seems somewhat out of place.

He glanced at the list provided by the Political Work Office and continued contacting another retired firefighting soldier who was stationed at the police office.

There aren’t many staff who transferred or retired from firefighting units in the bureau, only four in total.

Having just finished making calls to each one, Sister Wang came back with a file.

"Xiao Xu, what are you busy with?"

"Linghai Port is forming an enterprise fire brigade, and Political Commissioner is thinking it’s best to keep good opportunities local, so he asked me to contact a few firefighters stationed at police stations."

"Working in the development zone, the financial prospects are boundless!"

"I heard the salary in the development zone is indeed very high." Thinking about the enterprise fire brigade being subject to the leadership of both Linghai Port and Development Zone Branch, Xu Haibin curiously asked: "Sister Wang, how come every issue in the office involves calling Master Shi from the Development Zone Branch but not Director Han of the Development Zone Branch?"

"Director Han is too busy to be involved."

"Too busy to even have time for meetings at the bureau? Director Han seems to have missed the meetings for several months."

"Director Han isn’t just the head of the Development Zone Branch; he’s also a committee member of the City Bureau Water Division and a committee member of the Development Zone Party Working Committee. He primarily handles tasks concerning the river and port but doesn’t really manage the Development Zone Branch much."

While they were talking, Zhang Lan appeared at the door holding a file folder.

Sister Wang looked up and smiled, saying: "Captain Zhang, didn’t you transfer to the Economic Crime Investigation Team? What brings you here to see us?"

One month ago, Binjiang City Bureau established an Economic Crime Investigation Squad.

Subsequently, various district county police departments have drawn talent from Si Gang Police Bureau to establish their own Economic Crime Investigation Teams.

Professional expertise in economic crime investigation is in dire need, requiring personnel experienced in finance. Thus, Zhang Lan moved from the Equipment Finance Department to the newly-formed Economic Crime Investigation Team. From among the short, she was picked to be a squad leader of the Economic Crime Investigation Team.

Being a squad leader is tough; everything must start from scratch.

Speaking of her new role, Zhang Lan responds with a bitter smile: "What Captain Zhang? I’m more like a primary student now, I don’t understand anything."

"You are a senior accountant, our bureau’s chief steward, it’s just calculations, how can you not understand?"

"You wouldn’t believe it if I told you, but I really don’t understand, as what I need to calculate and check isn’t the accounts I used to deal with."

"What kind of accounts then?"

"Recently I’ve been learning about double-entry bookkeeping, where every debit must match a corresponding credit, and it’s giving me a headache!"

"Big head or not, just don’t end up with a big belly."

"Sister Wang, can you be serious? Xiao Xu hasn’t even found a partner yet."

"Alright alright, no more jokes. Is there something you need?"

"I’ve just returned from Sanhe, Salted Fish asked me to bring this to you." Zhang Lan handed over the file, then curiously looked at the materials on Xu Haibin’s desk.

Sister Wang took the file and asked, "What is it?"

"You see for yourself, just don’t damage it. This was something Salted Fish managed to get with a lot of effort, it’s said to be a task assigned by the leadership of the City Bureau, Director Zhou and Political Commissioner Sun also attach great importance to it."

"What on earth is so important..."

Sister Wang untied the cotton thread tied around the opening of the bag, opened the file bag, and was greeted by a scent of ink.

She gently took out the rice paper inside, unfolded it, and indeed, it was a piece of calligraphy, definitely a dedication inscription.

First Post of the Yangtze River!

Seven big characters danced like dragons and phoenixes, robust in brush strength.

Looking further at the signature, Sister Wang was immediately taken aback.

Xu Haibin, not knowing what it was about, got up and came over with a smile: "Whose handwriting is this? It’s really beautiful."

"Zhang Lan, is this Secretary Chen’s inscription?"

"Not only is there an inscription, but there are also photos taken at the time."

Zhang Lan giggled and took out two photos from her bag.

Sister Wang took one and immediately exclaimed: "It really is Secretary Chen, Salted Fish had a photo taken with Secretary Chen!"

"Secretary Chen also had photos taken with Ma Jintao and others, but those photos were taken by the Water Police Station."

"Why give me such precious inscriptions and photos?"

"I don’t know, it seems Director Zhou and the Political Commissioner wanted it." Zhang Lan smiled and added: "The ’First Post of the Yangtze River’ inscribed by Secretary Chen might be taken to be framed; these Salted Fish don’t understand, Ningning doesn’t understand either, so they simply asked me to bring it to the bureau."

"You better take it to Director Zhou quickly, what if it gets damaged here?"

"Is Director Zhou in the office?"

"Nearly forgot, Director Zhou and the Political Commissioner are both attending the city-wide cadre meeting."

"That’s it, Director Zhou is not in the office, who else am I going to give these things to?"

Provincial leaders inscribing for the Development Zone Branch, and even having a photo with Director Han completely stunned Xu Haibin, staring in disbelief at the inscription and photos.

...

Meanwhile, Zhou Huixin was attending the city-wide cadre meeting at the government guesthouse’s grand hall.

Today’s meeting was not only to commend the advanced units and individuals in typhoon and flood prevention but also to reflect on deficiencies, sum up lessons, and mobilize the upcoming construction of water conservancy projects.

"The characteristics of this typhoon disaster are, firstly, its intensity. When the typhoon landed, the central maximum wind force was above level 12 and, under its influence, our whole Linghai experienced a level 11 wind force; secondly, the concentrated amount of heavy rainfall, during the typhoon’s influence, the city experienced widespread heavy to torrential rain, from 9 am to 3 pm on the 19th, continuous heavy rain for six hours, with rainfall exceeding 100 mm!"

Mayor Qian looked up at everyone, held the manuscript, and continued: "Third, the high tide levels. During the typhoon period, coinciding with the mid-July flood tide in the lunar calendar, the rise in river and sea tide levels was significant, showing historical high tide levels along the Yangtze River.

Fourth, the wide range of influence. After the typhoon’s arrival, it covered all towns and villages in the city; fifth, the duration was long, starting from noon on the 18th under the influence of the typhoon’s periphery, and not until the afternoon of the 20th did it leave, with the typhoon rampaging in our Linghai for up to 48 hours.

Sixth, the severity of the harm, attacked by strong winds, heavy rains, and high tide levels, the city suffered severe typhoon disasters. Preliminary statistics show that the direct economic losses from this typhoon disaster in the city totaled up to 450 million yuan, mainly reflected in severe damages to the Jianghai flood defenses, widespread damage to crops, significant losses to various businesses, and major risks to the lives and property of the public..."

The floods in ’91 were big, and the losses were severe.

But what we faced this year was not just floods, but a combination of wind, tide, and rain, causing damage to Linghai far worse than in ’91.

Everyone present had participated in flood resistance, and just thinking back to the most critical moments made everyone shudder.

"Our Linghai’s Jianghai flood defenses have been implemented to meet the earthwork standards required by the regulations of the Yangtze River Basin over the years, but the flood control engineering standards are too low, with the levee crest elevation being about two meters lower than the current slope top elevation of the revetment works.

Additionally, this typhoon’s highest tide level was 0.70 meters higher than the original highest historical tide level, causing the original protective engineering standards to be too low, allowing the storm to directly impact the unprotected standard earthwork sections of the levee, causing the earthwork to be washed out first, followed by damage to the parts of revetment works!"

Mayor Qian paused, then continued: "The Yangtze River levee, in our Linghai also has several kilometers of stone-packed revetments, but the damage during this typhoon was also quite severe. Compared to that, Jingjiang City’s 7.4 kilometers of permanent revetments built last year withstood the test of this typhoon disaster.

According to the requirements of the Provincial Committee and Provincial Government and the City Committee and Municipal Government, we need to achieve the Jianghai levee standard construction within three years. Next, we will carry out a comprehensive overhaul, revetment, and reinforcement of the river and sea levees across the city, achieving flood defense standards that can protect against a once-in-fifty-year occurrence..."

Mayor Qian took a deep breath, supported the microphone, and continued: "In accordance with the spirit of the documents from the Provincial Committee and Provincial Government, funding for the Jianghai flood defense construction will implement tiered fundraising. The provincial finance will next allocate 400 million yuan in the budget, borrow 600 million yuan from banks, and arrange 1.2 billion yuan in loan interest subsidies specifically for Jianghai flood defense standard construction aid.

The city needs to raise matching funds, and so do all districts and counties, with the majority of the earthwork projects relying on the accumulated labor of farmers. Yesterday, the City Committee held a standing committee meeting and decided to arrange 6 million yuan in budgeted funds from city finance and a loan of 4 million yuan..."

These ten million are only matching funds.

The province will definitely allocate special funds, and Binjiang City will also arrange special funds.

The construction of the Jianghai flood defenses, which have not been seriously addressed for many years, is about to begin, and one can imagine that the Yangtze River coastline and seashore will soon become a massive construction site.