After attending the city’s welcoming banquet, Han Yu accompanied Chief of Staff Liu from the Military District to escort Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang to Linghai Development Zone. As the host, he had to see if more than two hundred special forces soldiers could be accommodated.

As it turned out, his worries were unfounded. Yang Jianbo, Sun Youyi, and Liu Degui had prepared for so long. With the support of the Linghai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and the Linghai Development Zone Management Committee, everything was considered, arranged meticulously, and faultlessly.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang made a full round, inside and out, top to bottom, and was very satisfied with the arrangements at the Linghai Reserve Camp. As he walked, he smiled and asked, "Salted Fish, Jianbo, where do I live?"

"Commander, you and Master Dai will stay at Linghai Hotel."

Fearing that Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang might be dissatisfied, Yang Jianbo smiled and added, "If we talk about accommodation environment, Linghai Grand Hotel is better than Linghai Hotel. Linghai Grand Hotel is a four-star hotel that has only been open for a few years. Last time, General Lu stayed there. This time, the reason we’re placing you at Linghai Hotel is mainly because it’s a government guesthouse. There’s a small building inside where the environment is more tranquil."

Han Yu found it not very appropriate and asked, "Isn’t it inconvenient for the commander to live in the city since it’s a bit far from the camp?

Yang Jianbo quickly responded, "Then stay at Sanhe Hotel. Sanhe Hotel is close by, and it’s also new, with better conditions in all aspects."

"Why stay in a hotel? I’m here to organize training, not to tour. Staying in the camp is just fine. Arrange a room for me."

"Commander, the conditions at the camp are too harsh."

"Can it be more challenging than it was during the flood resistance in ’98?"

Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang clearly understood that this was good intention from Yang Jianbo and Sun Youyi. He walked to the courtyard and looked at the brightly lit office building and dormitory. He expressed emotionally, "Iron holds the camp, and soldiers flow like water. I won’t be wearing this uniform for many days. Jianbo, Youyi, give me a chance to eat and live with the comrades. When I retire in the future, I’ll come here to tour, and then you can invite me to stay at the grand hotel."

Yang Jianbo and Sun Youyi instinctively looked at Han Yu.

Han Yu weighed his options and smiled, "Commander, you’ve just seen it too. The camp is small. Nearly three hundred officers and soldiers have suddenly arrived from your side, and we have more than fifty officers and soldiers responsible for logistics here. To solve the accommodation issue, even emptying out meeting rooms couldn’t make enough space. We had to allocate some officers to stay at the neighboring Martyr’s Cemetery.

There really isn’t room at the camp. Why not stay at the Maritime Department?

The Maritime Department is close by, it’s the building up ahead. There are guest rooms on the fifth floor with good conditions in every aspect, and it’s a partnership unit with us. Hu Genhua and Ge Cunhua from the Linghai Reserve Camp, Master Dai should be familiar with them. One is the General Affairs Department head at Linghai Maritime Bureau, and the other is an employee at the Maritime Department. Both are insiders."

Accommodating so many people at once is indeed a challenge.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang looked in the direction Han Yu pointed to find the Linghai Maritime Department office building not far away, but didn’t want to "shelter under someone else’s roof," and couldn’t help but laugh and ask, "What about your ’Linghai Grand Hotel’? If the shore can’t accommodate me, Xiao Dai and I can stay on the dunship. I’ve lived there before, and the conditions on the dunship are quite good."

"The dunship cannot be used for accommodations."

"How can it not be used?"

Han Yu instinctively glanced in the direction of the riverbank and explained, "The small dunship that resisted the flood in Jingjiang is now the ’First Post of the Yangtze River’, serving as the office facility on the river for the Binjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau Water Police Third Team and our Changhang Binjiang Public Security Bureau Linghai Water Police Patrol Team.

The large dunship is anchored to the west, about 3.5 kilometers from here and is now used by the Hailuo Cement Linghai Branch’s construction project command post. Additionally, these two dunships won’t be anchored long in the Linghai Development Zone waters; they’re expected to relocate soon to the Changzhou waters."

This was the first time Yang Jianbo had heard of this, so he couldn’t help but ask, "Director Han, why do the two dunships have to be towed to the Changzhou waters?"

"The Yangtze River Bridge is going to be built in Changzhou. All administrative approvals and various reviews have been conducted smoothly. When it says construction will start, it will. At that time, construction will be needed both on the shore and on the river. The City Committee and Municipal Government have requested that both dunships be moved there: one as the construction project command post and the other as the police office."

Building the Yangtze River Bridge is a monumental task, whether for upstream provinces and cities or for middle and lower reaches cities.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang did not hesitate anymore, smiling, "Since I can’t stay at your ’Linghai Grand Hotel’, I’ll stay at the Maritime Department. It’s nearby, within walking distance, very convenient."

...

The commander agreed, so Sun Youyi and Liu Degui promptly went to make arrangements.

Han Yu and Yang Jianbo, along with Chief of Staff Liu from the Military District, accompanied Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang and the Special Warfare Group battalion-level officers to visit the Linghai Reserve Camp’s honor room.

Previously, Han Xiangning was responsible for the explanations, but currently Han Xiangning was no longer the Reserve Officer at Linghai Reserve Camp, nor was he working at Linghai Maritime Department. The task was taken over by Bai Li, Boss Wu’s future daughter-in-law from Linghai Shipbuilding Factory, and also the director of the Women’s Federation of Linghai Development Zone and Reserve Officer at Linghai Reserve Camp.

Master Dai was very familiar with Ma Jintao and Guo Weitao, trailing behind to ask Ma Jintao, "Director Ma, Brother Xu once said you had many red artifacts proving you were the Red Saber Battalion, weapons used by revolutionary martyrs, bayonets, and the bloody clothes worn by martyrs during sacrifice. Where have those red artifacts gone?"

Ma Jintao suddenly remembered that Xu Mingyuan boasted about this back in the day and couldn’t help but cover his mouth with a laugh, "They’re on display in the adjacent hall, all inside the display cabinets!"

"Adjacent?"

"In the Martyr’s Cemetery, if you want to see, I’ll take you there later. We’ve been living at the Martyr’s Cemetery these days with Wei Tao."

Master Dai paused, astonished as he asked, "The evidence you mentioned, are they all exhibits from the Martyr’s Cemetery?

Ma Jintao patted his shoulder and said confidently, "Revolution knows no order. They are all things used by revolutionary martyrs and can prove everything! Besides, have you ever seen a military camp built in a Martyr’s Cemetery? From this perspective, our Linghai Reserve Camp truly inherits the revolutionary legacy!"

The old platoon leader rambled on, it’s clear there are issues.

Looks like they are Li Gui, while others are Li Kui.

Master Dai smiled and didn’t ask further.

...

After visiting the honor room of Linghai Reserve Camp, the room at the Maritime Department was also tidied up.

After seeing off Chief of Staff Liu from the Military District, I accompanied Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang and Master Dai to settle in at Linghai Maritime Bureau. Once everything was arranged, it was time for supper!

The supper was organized by Zhang Erxiao, and it was arranged at Wu Youren’s veteran fast food place.

This is a reunion of flood relief veterans. Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang was surely going to attend, dressed in casual clothes, and came walking with Han Yu, Yang Jianbo, Sun Youyi, and others to the "veteran fast food".

President Wu, President Qian, and other "Boss Officers" had already arrived, and upon seeing Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang, they saluted and greeted him.

Han Yu noticed that tonight’s supper was not fast food but barbecue. The grills were filled with charcoal, cooking hundreds of skewers of meat. Oil dripped onto the charcoal, emitting smoke, and the meat was grilled till crispy and golden, making one’s mouth water.

"Commander, please sit down."

"Commander, should we go for white wine or beer?"

"Beer, white wine is not suitable right now."

"Alright, let’s go for beer. Xiao Wu, bring the beer, everyone starts with a case first."

"Yes!"

As they were talking, Li Shousong arrived with two soldiers from the former 132 regiment, who were "specially permitted" to eat supper. As soon as they arrived, they were pulled over by everyone to drink and eat meat.

Han Yu didn’t drink alcohol nor did he like it. Holding a cup of tea, he smiled and said, "President Wu, the commander rarely visits, how have you arranged it?"

"We’ve already arranged it well, now it depends on how the commander’s schedule is planned."

"Wait, Salted Fish, President Wu, what do you mean?"

Before Han Yu could speak, President Wu put down his beer bottle and smiled, "Commander, as Secretary Han says, you rarely come to Linghai, of course, we would like to extend our hospitality. Among us veterans, I am the oldest, so I will arrange first, how about tomorrow night?"

"Commander, don’t go anywhere the night after tomorrow, I will arrange the night after tomorrow."

The "Boss Officers" filled the commander’s schedule with their words, leaving Zhang Erxiao and Wu Heng, who were younger, to arrange last.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang laughed, looking at them and asked, "So you mean there’s something planned every evening, I get to drink every day?"

President Wu smiled and said, "Only if the commander is willing to join us."

"What commander, we’re all comrades here, and I at most will serve another two years before retirement, soon I’ll be a veteran like all of you." Gathering with the "Boss Officers" who once fought floods together was much more interesting than dining with local government party leaders, and Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang was genuinely pleased.

Master Dai couldn’t help but remind, "President Wu, can your arranged activities be postponed? The commander may not have time tomorrow night."

"There’s something arranged tomorrow night?"

"Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen of Linghai City plan to welcome the commander tomorrow night. Our training here is highly valued by Secretary Qian and Mayor Shen, and they intend to offer greetings a couple of days later. If they welcome the commander, it’s not appropriate for him not to go."

"Then let’s reschedule."

"Okay, it’s settled then." Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang laughed heartily and raised his bottle, "Come, let’s chug one!"

Han Yu recalled what his father-in-law and Old Ge had instructed, put down his teacup, and smiled, "Commander, Ge Diao knows you are here and also knows you’re busy. He entrusts me to ask when you have time; he also wants to extend his hospitality."

Ge Diao is highly respected and one must give him face.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang put down his empty beer bottle and smiled, "This is really too much."

"What’s inappropriate about it? Master Dai, you should look at the commander’s schedule later and arrange a time for Ge Diao," Han Yu said.

Just as Han Yu finished speaking, Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang laughed, "Xiao Dai and Shousong are going to visit Master Ge tomorrow, the timing is more favorable when one encounters it. The troops are resting tomorrow, not busy, I’ll go with Xiao Dai and them."

It’s common for Master Dai to be talked into things by Old Ge.

Unexpectedly, Deputy Chief of Staff Jiang planned to join tomorrow too, it seems he’s going to be talked into things by Old Ge as well.

Han Yu decided that no matter how busy things get tomorrow, he must go to Lang Mountain to attend Old Ge’s family dinner, or he’d miss a good show!