At 1:27 AM, the Bin Xun and Linggang Tuo 001, towing two large timber rafts, slowly entered the North Branch Channel under the escort of China Customs boats 823 and 825.

Usually, the Bin Xun wouldn't dare use the North Branch Channel.

The Yangtze North Branch has severe sediment accumulation, the navigation department no longer maintains the North Branch Channel, and there isn't a single navigation mark on the river, making it easy for a cargo ship like the Bin Xun to run aground.

But now it's flood season, the Yangtze River's water level is higher than usual, and Binjiang Police 001, equipped with a depth detection device, specially came over to guide them, so Teacher Xia felt very relieved and was very happy to go home via the North Branch Channel, because there are too many ships in the main channel.

Especially in the Wusong Water Area, where the routes cross frequently and ship density is high, daily traffic reaches 1600 ships, and an average of over 500 sand boats swarm into the Huangpu River with the tide every day.

Additionally, the ship traffic of the Yangtze East Sea Section's navigable waters is increasing at a rate of around 15% annually, with large ships accounting for 60%. Particularly, container ships entering and leaving the deep-water channel of the Yangtze River estuary have been increasing at a rate of 25% over the past three years.

Due to limited navigation resources, small and large ships can only travel in mixed formations, which often causes large ships to waste precious time avoiding small boats that move with the tide. On the other hand, some ships are unfamiliar with the routes and sail chaotically, causing the Yangtze East Sea Section's waters to become a frequent area for marine traffic accidents.

From January to September this year alone, 165 marine traffic accidents occurred in the Yangtze East Sea Section, averaging one every day and a half!

If you don't collide with others, others collide with you.

Even the most experienced captains feel anxious when entering or leaving the Yangtze River.

Ships that use the North Branch Channel are already scarce, and even fewer travel it at night, so there is no worry about running aground, blocking ships, or having traffic accidents. Therefore, anyone running ships will definitely choose the North Branch Channel over the southern main channel if they can.

Just as Teacher Xia and the on-duty third officer were reflecting on why their superiors abandoned the North Branch Channel, Han Yu was sitting in the command cabin, watching the calculator and talking on the walkie-talkie with Chen Zikun, who was leading the way ahead.

"What we salvaged were red pines, with an average diameter of one meter and of good quality. Why is it only one thousand one cubic?"

"I asked Zhang Erxiao, and he said you salvaged raw timber."

"What's wrong with raw timber? Only with raw timber can you tell if it's good or bad!"

Entrusted and loyal to the task.

These days, Chen Zikun hasn't done anything else, just busy helping Han Yu inquire about timber prices.

He sat in the command cabin of little 001, looked up at Old Zhu, and said with a smile while holding the walkie-talkie, "Brother, nobody builds those tall palaces nowadays, and even if they did, they wouldn't use pine wood for pillars; who would buy such thick raw timber."

"What do you mean?" Han Yu asked.

"Zhang Erxiao buys raw timber to process it, and processing generates expenses. Besides, the 730 cubic you mentioned last time was the volume of the wood; when people buy and process it into logs or planks, there's waste, so they calculate the material volume rather than the raw timber's volume."

Fearing Han Yu might not understand, Chen Zikun emphasized, "If you visit Zhangjia Port, you'll see big timber dealers these days rarely import raw timber, mostly importing processed wood."

Salvaging those logs from the sea and towing them back is no easy task, and Han Yu didn't want to sell cheaply. Calculating with the calculator, he asked, "What's the market price for top-quality red pine per cubic?"

"What do you mean by top-quality? People only divide into three categories: selected, standard goods, and mixed, with selected at twelve hundred per cubic."

"Mine are selected!"

"Whether it's selected isn't up to you; you also don't consider how long your salvaged timber soaked in the sea, and the processing losses won't be small. I visited several timber dealers with Uncle Zhu, and Zhang Erxiao's offer is the highest."

"730 cubics, so 730 thousand?"

"Zhang Erxiao said it can only be calculated as 700 cubics." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Why!"

"Your 730 cubics are estimated, and they've soaked in seawater, so processing losses won't be small."

Weighing the circumstances, Han Yu agreed, "Alright, after all, they are salvaged from the sea. Seventy thousand is seventy thousand. Big 001 won't follow us to Binjiang; it's going directly back to Linghai Port. We are only responsible for towing the timber to Jianghai River Harbor. He is in charge of passing through locks, towing into Jianghai River, and to his timber factory dock."

Chen Zikun couldn't help but laugh, "Zhang Erxiao earning some money isn't easy; when we arrive at Linghai Port, I'll help tow the timber rafts into Jianghai River with little 001, saving as much for him as we can."

"That's fine."

"Almost forgot, Zhang Erxiao said he can take the batch of timber, the money will be transferred to your branch's account by the end of the month at the latest, but you have to issue him an invoice."

"We're a law enforcement department, not running a business; where can I get him an invoice?"

"Report to your branch leaders and let them figure it out." Chen Zikun paused and emphasized, "Getting an invoice for goods is normal; if there's no invoice, what happens when tax authorities check on him?"

Han Yu resignedly said, "Alright, I'll ask our branch leaders later."

...

Confirming that the wood can be sold for cash and account for hundreds of thousands, Han Yu's mood was exceptionally cheerful.

He took a round to the bridge and then went back to the crew quarters to sleep.

At 8:14 in the morning, the maritime formation safely arrived at Linghai Port.

Crews from Linghai Port Tug Company boarded the Da 001, and Captain Huang and other crew members participating in the military exercise transferred to the Bin Xun to attend the hero's welcome ceremony in Binjiang together.

Six power boats from the Linghai Reserve Camp were also lowered from the Bin Xun, with the assistance of the Water Police Third Team officers and Linghai Port employees to drive them away first. Ma Jintao, Xiao Yu, Chen Jian, and others all changed into reserve officer uniforms to return to Binjiang with the ship.

Chen Zikun and Zhang Ping could only escort up to here, helping the Linghai Port employees tie the two large rafts to the Xiao 001 and towing them into the Jianghai River, assisting in "delivering the goods to the door."

The crew members of the 823 and 825 boats, who previously wore work uniforms, now changed into police uniforms if they were officers, while the employees changed into customs inspection uniforms in preparation for the superior's review.

The Linghai Port Supervision Office and Changhang Bureau Linghai Police Station arranged for the Supervision 48 and Yangtze Police 110 to replace the Xiao 001 to escort the triumphant boat formation as per the superior's request.

Flags fluttered, police lights flashed, sailing against the current.

The large and small ships passing by had never seen such a formation before, obviously slowing down their speed, with captains and crew curiously looking over.

10:35 AM.

After more than two hours of sailing, the formation safely arrived at the dedicated dock of the Binjiang Shipping College.

Secretary Lu, Vice Mayor Qin, Commander Wang from the Military District, Political Commissioner Chen, Captain Xia from the Binjiang Reserve Regiment, Political Commissioner Jiao, Secretary Qian from Linghai, Minister Yang from the Armed Forces Department, Secretary Ding and Minister Gu from the Chonggang District, and other Binjiang party, government, and military leaders were all present.

Leaders from Jiangcheng Customs, Jiangnan Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau, Binjiang Customs, and Binjiang Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch were all present.

Leaders from the Maritime Bureau, Water Bureau, Changhang Bureau, Binjiang Shipping College, Binjiang Port Group Co., Ltd., and the City Second People's Hospital were also present.

The shore was densely packed with people, and the air above the dock echoed with stirring marches.

After the training ship of Han Yu and others docked, they tidied up their Navy reserve officer uniforms, led Qin Weiquan, Qian Shimin, Yang Jianbo, and Li Mingsheng, who didn't return with the fishing boats, along with other officers and soldiers who participated in the cross-sea landing exercises to assemble on the shore, then ran to the leaders, stood at attention, and saluted.

"Comrade Secretary, the Binjiang Reserve Corps has completed its exercise task, and with the superior's approval, has returned in full. Please instruct us!"

"At ease."

"Yes!"

With so many leaders on the dock, Secretary Lu had the highest position and the greatest power, and he was also the first secretary of the Binjiang Military District, so Han Yu naturally reported to him.

After Han Yu issued the order to stand at ease and returned to the formation, Secretary Lu walked briskly to the front of the formation, saying with measured tones, "Hello, comrades."

"Hello, Commander!"

"Comrades, you have worked hard!"

"To serve the people!"

Most of the reserve soldiers participating in the exercise were retired military personnel and, without Han Yu's instructions, they knew how to respond.

"Comrades, in the recent period, Li D Hui openly deviated from the fundamental principle of one China, vigorously advocating the so-called 'two states theory', completely exposing his arrogant ambition to split Taiwan from Chinese territory! This is a deliberate destruction of national peaceful reunification and a serious provocation to all Chinese people. This maritime combat exercise fully demonstrated our military's firm stance and strong determination to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, showcasing our military's powerful strength to safeguard national unity!"

Secretary Lu raised his head and looked around the crowd, changing his tone: "To resolutely defend national unity, our Binjiang Reserve Forces have been intensively training their military skills and carrying out significant scientific military exercises in recent years, with the comprehensive quality of commanders and fighters quickly improving. Strong ideological and political work has provided a powerful spiritual motivation for winning, and the new equipment equipped according to practical conditions has quickly formed a combat capability.

Use me in the first battle, and I will win!"

In the recently concluded cross-sea combat live-fire exercise, the combat effectiveness and excellent style of our Binjiang Reserve Forces were tested, excellently completing the exercise tasks assigned by the superior. Here, on behalf of the Binjiang Municipal Committee, Binjiang City Government, Binjiang Military District, and Binjiang People, I express the highest respect, the warmest congratulations, and the most heartfelt thanks to you..."

Leaders are indeed leaders; they speak so well.

Everyone was filled with zeal, and Political Commissioner Chen of the military district announced the second agenda of the ceremony.

Captain Liu of the Customs system 823 boat ran up to report on behalf of all crew members of the 823 and 825 boats, completing the acceptance of the anti-smuggling boats and assisting the maritime department in completing the outer perimeter alert task of the three-service cross-sea combat live-fire exercise.

Chief Xu of Jiangcheng Customs, with the highest position in the customs system, raised his arm to salute back, asking all crew members to rest, and enthusiastically spoke, offering the warmest congratulations to comrades returning with honor.

Immediately afterward, Political Commissioner Chen invited Commander Wang to read the orders from the Provincial Military District for collective third-level merit for the Binjiang Civilian Transport Team and Linghai Reserve Battalion Third Company, as well as for individual third-level merit and commendations for Li Mingsheng, Yang Jianbo, Ma Jintao, Liang Xiaoyu, and others.