After being away for over two months, the bureau granted Han Yu a week of leave as requested by the leadership of the Changhang Police Bureau.

However, Han Yu couldn’t afford to rest. Early the next morning, he drove to the Military District with Commissar Fang from the Navy Retirement Home to report to Commander Wang and Political Commissioner Chen.

"Are you planning to study how to rescue submarines?" Commander Wang was shocked upon understanding the situation.

"We are the Rescue Boat Team, specialized in rescuing ships and personnel."

Han Yu took a deep breath and added, "The Fleet Commander and the East Sea Base Commander highly value and support us. They believe that Binjiang has done well in economic development, with a relatively advanced shipbuilding industry. In terms of economic strength and technical capabilities, we have a solid foundation. Moreover, our experience in building reserve forces in Binjiang is rich, and we’ve achieved notable feats, so they have confidence in our ability to succeed."

It begins with the praise of how well Binjiang’s economic development has been, which bluntly means asking Binjiang for money!

The City Committee and Municipal Government are very focused on the construction of reserve forces. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have allocated ten million in funds to the Binjiang Reserve Group back then.

However, submarine rescue is akin to scientific research. Not to mention whether the city can allocate another ten million, even if they are willing, this funding might be wasted since no one can guarantee success with certainty.

Commander Wang neither has the courage nor the resources to agree, nor can he outright oppose. He straightforwardly picked up the red confidential phone beside him and reported to Secretary Lu in front of Han Yu and Commissar Fang.

Upon hearing that Han Yu returned, Secretary Lu immediately instructed Commander Wang and Han Yu to go to the City Committee.

When the two rushed to Secretary Lu’s office, Vice Mayor Qin had also arrived. Han Yu sat in front of Secretary Lu’s desk, reporting to the three leaders.

"The reason we considered moving in this direction is primarily the shocking disaster of the Russian Navy’s Kursk Submarine. It was a nuclear submarine claimed to be ’unsinkable,’ yet it went down, resulting in the death of over one hundred officers and soldiers aboard."

Han Yu paused and gravely stated, "Although the Russian Official has been obscure about the announcement until just a few days ago, the international community was very attentive since the day they learned of the submarine’s disaster. According to reliable sources, Russia’s rescue efforts were full of twists and turns."

Secretary Lu asked curiously, "What do you mean by ’twists and turns’?"

"After identifying Kursk’s loss of communication, the Russian Army dispatched an IL-38 Anti-Submarine Aircraft to search the lost communication area for three hours but found nothing. Then, more aircraft were deployed, still with no results."

Recalling what diplomats from Western countries said during the visit, and messages from the Fleet Command, Han Yu continued, "At that time, the United States had inferred from seismic signals and related intelligence that Kursk had sunk. They offered Russia rescue equipment, but Russia declined, stating the rescue was being implemented and very smoothly."

At half past ten the second evening, the Russian Navy Northern Fleet declared a state of emergency, stopping exercises, and dispatched about 20 ships and 3000 sailors for full-scale rescue efforts, but it was in vain.

Eventually, the location of the distressed submarine was locked, and it took eight hours for the urgently dispatched rescue ships to reach the incident sea area. As the rescue ships were old, they couldn’t conduct rescue operations due to high winds and rough seas.

Not until 7 AM the next morning were two rescue boats lowered several times, but the boats were too small to conduct rescue operations in the high winds and rough Arctic Ocean. Either collisions with Kursk ensued, or the batteries died, and at one time the coordinates were even lost, leading them to retreat losing feathers.

Secretary Lu instinctively asked, "Rescue boats?"

"Not life boats, nor assault boats, but a type of small submarine." Han Yu opened his briefcase and took out a picture printed at the Military District that morning.

Secretary Lu, upon inspecting, asked, "Do you plan to independently develop this kind of small submarine?"

"We lack the technological capability and sufficient funds."

"So, what are your plans?"

"We plan to independently develop a life-saving bell." Han Yu took out a second hand-drawn blueprint from his briefcase and reported: "This is a specialized equipment for submarine rescue, the earliest appearing equipment to rescue distressed submarine crew and conduct collective escape. It’s also the earliest appearance of specialized rescue equipment. The related technology is very mature."

Vice Mayor Qin asked quietly, "How do you use this bell for rescue?"

Han Yu patiently explained: "The life-saving bell is divided into upper and lower chambers. The upper chamber is the lifesaving room controlling the bell and carrying distressed submarine crew. The lower chamber is a passage, guiding the bell to connect with the submarine rescue platform. The bell is connected to the corresponding system on the working mother ship through an umbilical cord cable and is lowered into water by the mother ship for rescue monitoring.

During rescue, first determine the position of the sunken submarine, then the diver carries a steel cable from the bell and fixes it to the submarine’s rescue hatch. Then the bell is lowered for rescue. During rescue using the bell, the crew doesn’t need to come into contact with seawater or endure sea pressure. They can normally move and rest during rescue.

The life-saving bell is usually stationed on a rescue ship because it has no power of its own. Therefore, during use, it needs to be lowered and recovered by the rescue ship. In short, this is currently the safest and most ideal rescue method. But as of now, the maximum diving depth of the bell can only reach up to 250 meters; deeper than that it becomes powerless."

Secretary Lu approximately understood, pondering asked: "Is there any successful case in using the life-saving bell?"

"Yes, in May 1939, the United States first successfully used the life-saving bell to rescue 33 crew members from the submarine ’Squalus,’ sunk in the Atlantic at a depth of 73 meters. Other developed countries have started equipping the bell since the 1970s, and it’s been used up to today."

"Only one successful case?"

"Secretary Lu, since the end of World War II, there have been around 70 submarine accidents worldwide, causing over 1000 people to perish. The specialized rescue equipment for submarines began to be widely equipped in the 1970s, and many distressed submarines were either too far from the coastline or sunk too deep. Even if there was rescue equipment, there weren’t conditions for rescue."

"Do we have the life-saving bell domestically?"

"Yes, domestic production of the life-saving bell started a while ago. The first sea trial was completed in 1989, and it was delivered for use by the Navy in 1990, filling a gap in the development history of Chinese Navy submarine rescue equipment. But the bell currently equipped only solves the issue of existence, not advanced and hasn’t undergone combat testing."

Equipment developed in the eighties, ensuring quality is already quite good; discussing whether it’s advanced is out of the question.

Secretary Lu reacted and smiled, looking at Han Yu and asking: "So you’re saying there is a technological foundation, even a prototype, and we only need to upgrade and improve based on it?"

"Yes, but for submarine rescue, having just a life-saving bell is far from enough. We also need a corresponding mother ship and a team skilled in submarine rescue, including a professional medical team."

"Share your thoughts."

"On the research front, the Navy will communicate and coordinate with related military enterprises and find ways to solve the research funding issue." Han Yu organized his thoughts and continued: "The life-saving bell can be used not only for rescuing submarines but also in civilian situations. For instance, if a cargo ship overturns in the river or sea, trapping crew members inside, the life-saving bell can be useful, or it can be applied in marine engineering."

"Are you planning to develop a dual-use life-saving bell for military and civilian purposes?"

"Secretary Lu, we in Binjiang have both rivers and seas; I believe we need this kind of equipment."

Han Yu took several deep breaths and added: "Counting the salvage team of the Waterway Bureau, we have three underwater engineering construction teams in Binjiang, combining to have more than a dozen divers. Binjiang Shipping Academy has a training vessel that can be slightly modified for use as a mother ship.

Our medical level and research capabilities at Binjiang Medical College are very high, completely capable of conducting research in ocean medical rescue. Our Binjiang Naval Reserve Rescue Ship Brigade is already specialized in vessel rescue, and the brigade officers have a certain level of maritime rescue ability and experience. Overall, I believe we can definitely succeed if we are determined to pursue this."

At first glance, all the favorable conditions seem to be in place, but such projects require significant investment!

Secretary Lu exchanged a glance with Vice Mayor Qin and asked impassively: "Approximately how much investment is needed?"

"Secretary Lu, I couldn’t say for sure, as this isn’t about purchasing equipment."

"There must be a budget, at least."

"If the city can help us resolve two to three million, we can kickstart this project."

Projects like this are most daunting, as they might become bottomless pits and ultimately lead nowhere.

Secretary Lu was unsure how to explain to Han Yu when Han Yu shifted topics: "Secretary Lu, Mayor Qin, Commander Wang, there’s something I forgot to report to you. This time, I accompanied the fleet on visits abroad, and in every country, we opened the visits to the local people, especially to overseas Chinese. The overseas Chinese were very excited and proud after touring the ship.

I feel that naval vessel visits shouldn’t be treated differently when it comes to patriotic education; domestic citizens need it more than overseas Chinese. I privately complained, and unexpectedly, this reached the fleet commander’s ears.

The commander said the Shenzhen Ship has returned home, docking at Shenzhen, and was open to the local citizens. The Special Administrative Region leaders value their hometown ship significantly, visiting the soldiers annually and even specially transferring a retired officer from the Shenzhen Ship to settle annually, including family placement.

The Shenzhen Ship also pays close attention to the development of the Special Administrative Region. Everywhere it visits, the ship has exhibitions of the achievements of the region’s reform and opening-up, with promotional videos looped on board. Many overseas Chinese, after seeing them, have expressed great interest in visiting the region and some even plan to invest there."

Secretary Lu was envious and remarked, "It’s an economic special zone, a window of reform and opening-up. It’s normal for the naval fleet to help promote and attract investment for them."

Han Yu nodded and continued: "Later, when I went to the East Sea Fleet, the fleet commander met with me, and I couldn’t help but say that the Shenzhen Ship, equipped for only a few years, has returned home, while the Binjiang Ship has been in service for many years and hasn’t returned home once."

"What did the commander say?"

"The commander said the Binjiang Ship is scheduled for training at sea next month. If Binjiang welcomes it, we can see if we can arrange for the Binjiang Ship to visit ’home’ after the training, and similarly open it to the public for a few days as the Shenzhen Ship did."

The return of the Binjiang Ship to Binjiang is significant.

Secretary Lu tapped the table and smiled: "We definitely welcome it; quickly reply to the fleet commander. The Binjiang Municipal Party Committee and Government, along with the Binjiang People, warmly welcome it!"

Han Yu knew that Boss Lu was interested and seized the moment to ask: "What about our rescue ship team’s submarine rescue project?"

This guy has learned to negotiate.

Secretary Lu found it amusing and patted his thigh: "If it’s just two to three million, it shouldn’t be a big issue. But I can’t decide that; I’ll have to ask Mayor Wang later."

"Secretary Lu..."

"Since it’s a dual-use project, we should fully mobilize the initiative of related enterprises. Of course, the Municipal Party Committee and Government should also support it. Mayor Qin, you will spearhead this. Commander Wang, your Military District must also contribute, and we will together support Salted Fish."

The Navy is without status.

If it were the Linghai Reserve Camp wanting to do something, the city would definitely support it fully, as the Military District and even the Provincial Military District belong to the Army, and Secretary Lu is the First Political Commissioner of the Military District.

But, having this outcome is already quite favorable.

Han Yu quickly expressed gratitude, but Secretary Lu waved it off: "No need for thanks; you’re not doing this for yourself, it’s all for national defense construction. Don’t return for lunch; eat at the Municipal Committee. I’m going to celebrate with you. After lunch, join me in going to Gaoru; the 105th Special Warfare Group is arriving this afternoon, and I heard the team’s led by the Army Chief of Staff. I’m not busy today, so let’s go together to welcome them."