Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1179 - 45: Two Meals Become One?

The evening at Bailong Port was unusually quiet without any passenger ships docking.

Xiao Yu and Zhu Baogen were exceptionally busy.

In the morning, a tugboat from Dongshan, unfamiliar with the North Branch Channel, ran aground two kilometers upstream from Lingzhuang Ferry.

The boat owner used a high-frequency radio to ask Lingzhuang Ferry for help. Lingzhuang Ferry had ferries but no tugboats, so they could only report to the Maritime Department, which immediately asked Xiao Yu to take 001 for rescue.

By 1:30 in the afternoon, 001 had reached the area where the tugboat was stranded. However, the tugboat was loaded with stones, and direct towing could damage the hull.

Xiao Yu didn’t want to cause trouble out of good intentions, so he had to first guard the stranded area and wait for the tide to rise before executing the rescue.

After waiting for more than two hours, the water level rose nearly a meter.

Just as expected, after attaching the towing cables and changing directions a few times, the tugboat’s bottom detached from the underwater shoal.

Rescue operations are charged fees, otherwise, the Linghai Police Station wouldn’t have enough money even for fuel.

But these matters were not something Xiao Yu needed to worry about, because Xu Sanye had set the rules ten years ago: the rescue fees are reimbursed through the Port Supervision, now Marine Department, with the Linghai Maritime Bureau North Branch Patrol Team collecting the money.

The police serve the people; they can’t just ask for money!

Xiao Yu, still uneasy, docked little 001 at the passenger terminal’s dunship, turned on the high-frequency radio communicator and called out: "Linghai Traffic Control, Linghai Traffic Control, Binjiang Police 001 calling."

"Received, 001, please proceed."

"The stranded tugboat has been dragged out; how does the fuel cost get settled?"

"Captain Yu, Director Ling has already discussed with the boat owner, and informed the Water Rescue Center. You first fill out the form according to the procedure, and later bring the fuel invoice to President Zhang for reimbursement."

"To find Jack Zhang?"

"Yes."

"Why find him?"

"Rescue is a service; we at Port Supervision only collect fines, not service fees for rescue operations."

Xiao Yu reminded: "What Port Supervision, you’re now Marine Department!"

Traffic Control realized quickly and said: "It’s a bit unsettling suddenly becoming Marine Department; anyhow, as long as it’s us arranging the rescue, the associated costs are settled by the shipping management company."

That convict Zhang Asheng is quite bold now, even starting to help Marine Department in charging fees!

Xiao Yu didn’t quite like Zhang Asheng and Shen Rulan, so he simply changed the topic: "There’s one more thing you need to manage, ignore it and there will be trouble!"

"What is it?"

"We discovered during the rescue that an ascending river ship is likely coming from the sea; how can a river ship go out to sea? There’s only waves on the river, but at sea, the wind is high with surges, a single surge could flip it over!"

"Why didn’t you say earlier!"

"I was busy towing the boat at the time, couldn’t pay attention to that."

The bottom of inland vessels are flat, and the bow is broad and flat, this design is not conducive to resisting wind and waves at sea. Sea vessels have wave-resistant designs on both the bow and bottom, with ballast material for balancing.

In short, river ships and sea vessels differ in draft and wave resistance, with different paint standards. Apart from both being called ships, they are almost entirely different!

Navigating a river ship at sea is very dangerous, nothing too serious during calm, but in a storm, it’s easy to end up with shipwrecks and human casualties.

Traffic Control dared not ignore it and said: "Understood, I’ll report this to my superiors tomorrow."

Xiao Yu put down the communicator, walked out of the cockpit, ready to lock the door and head home, only to find Zhang Erxiao climbing up along the stairs.

"President Zhang, what brings you here?"

"Can’t I come find you without a reason?"

Zhang Erxiao retreated to the deck, teasing: "Xiao Yu, you’ve separated from Salted Fish, 001 is yours now?"

"The dunship is also mine!" Xiao Yu locked the cockpit door, turned around with a triumphant look.

"He goes to operate the warship, the warship has machine guns, aren’t you envious?"

"Not envious."

"Really?"

"Although I don’t have machine guns, I have a submachine gun. Plus, taking the anti-smuggling boat requires going out to sea, I’m an inland river captain not a sea captain, I’m prone to seasickness and I don’t want to go."

"Are you seasick?"

"The sea is different from the river; I’m fine with a dunship and 001, I’m not going anywhere."

Zhang Erxiao laughed: "Looks like not only did you inherit the dunship and 001, you’ve also inherited Salted Fish’s title of Binjiang Water Army Commander!"

Xiao Yu corrected: "This is called separation, no, this is called division of labor. I will only inherit what my master left for me, no way could I inherit things from Salted Fish."

"Makes sense." Zhang Erxiao laughed, then curiously asked: "So, 001 will be docked at Bailong Port from now on, won’t return to the development zone?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"There’s a big 001 in the development zone, soon there will be two full-rotation tugboats. Right across is Shuzhou Port, and Shuzhou Port has tugboats too, little 001 isn’t much help over there."

Xiao Yu turned around and pointed at the river surface, continuing: "The North Branch is different; from our Bailong Port to Lingzhuang Ferry, then to Dongqi Port, there are no firefighting rescue boats for dozens of kilometers, so little 001 has to come back!"

It seems he has not only inherited Xu Sanye’s Dunship, Xiao 001, but also the entire North Branch Channel...

Zhang Erxiao couldn’t help but ask, "You’re not going back to Sanhe?"

"For now, I’m not going back. Captain Chen and Instructor Chen are in Sanhe, while Instructor Zhang and I are guarding Bailong Port."

"What’s the point of staying in Bailong Port? Sanhe is much more lively."

"Salted Fish went to Lang Mountain, and Sister Xiang Ning was transferred back to her bureau, even Sister Zhang Lan went to Binjiang... There’s no one to talk to, what’s the point."

"I heard the Bai Shen is going to cease operations."

"That’s true, but it’s unclear when it will stop."

"What will happen when it stops?"

"If it stops, it stops. Anyway, there aren’t many people taking the boat now."

This is as carefree as ever!

How can the ferry cease operations? The impact on Bailong Port will be significant, and more importantly, going to the East Sea will become much more inconvenient...

Zhang Erxiao didn’t want to continue rambling and hesitated before getting to the point: "Xiao Yu, there’s a flood relief commendation meeting in the city the day after tomorrow."

"I know, Uncle Liu notified me, asking me to report to the Armed Forces Department before 1 PM the day after tomorrow, then to line up and head to Linghai Cinema."

Zhang Erxiao leaned on the high-pressure water cannon, smiling: "I’m planning to host a wedding banquet the night after tomorrow."

Xiao Yu asked in shock, "Weren’t you getting married on New Year’s Day? Why move it up? Besides, the city is hosting a reception the night after tomorrow. I asked Instructor Yang, and he said the city is arranging a celebration banquet for us at the Linghai Hotel."

Zhang Erxiao explained, "Here’s my idea: I’m definitely going to invite the leaders and comrades from the camp for my wedding, but everyone’s busier than ever now. If I miss this chance, it’ll be hard to gather everyone together!"

It’s undeniable that it’s extremely difficult for the Linghai Reserve Camp to assemble now unless faced with a flood rescue task like this summer’s.

Xiao Yu thought for a moment and asked, "The city plans to invite us, and you do too, so after the commendation meeting, where should we eat? Attend your wedding banquet and Master Gao’s; the city leaders certainly won’t be happy. If we skip your celebration, you won’t be happy."

"You don’t need to worry about the city leaders. I’ve figured it out—I won’t ask the city to host a celebration banquet. After the meeting, everyone will attend my wedding banquet, including the city leaders."

"We could have had two meals, but now we’ll only have one!"

"..."

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Don’t worry, you’ll definitely get your meal." Zhang Erxiao patted his arm, holding back laughter and explained, "The day after tomorrow, I’ll only have the wedding banquet but won’t officially pick up the bride. On New Year’s Day, as previously planned, only inviting my relatives and you, brother, who are nearby and won’t invite comrades from the camp."

Xiao Yu asked, "Will you still pick up the bride on New Year’s Day?"

"Of course. I helped you pick up the bride; you should help me too. I don’t have many relatives, so I need your help."

"Okay!"

"Then I’ll call Salted Fish first. I want to invite Mayor Qin but worry he’s too busy, so I’ll ask Salted Fish to help invite him."

"Hurry up and call."

...

Meanwhile, Han Yu just finished attending the anti-smuggling work meeting and was sitting in the Binjiang Anti-Smuggling Office meeting room set up at Customs, listening to his old leader, Zhou Huixin, report a shocking new message.

"From the morning of the day before yesterday until dusk yesterday, Shanwei fishermen working at sea gradually discovered 10 unidentified bodies on the sea near Shanwei District, Fenglu, Laihui, and other counties. These bodies share common characteristics of being murdered."

"What characteristics?"

"All were tied up with ropes, had iron weights bound to them, and many had clear blunt force injuries. Forensic autopsies revealed some crew members were knocked unconscious before being thrown into the sea, while others were directly thrown in!"

It’s terrifying!

Han Yu asked in shock, "Can we confirm their identities?"

Zhou Huixin glanced at the report material and gravely said, "Yes, criminal investigators and forensic experts identified the bodies as Chinese crew from the ’Changsheng’ ship through personal effects and advanced DNA and skull image assembly technology."

Han Yu asked quietly, "Does this mean the ’Changsheng’ was probably hijacked by pirates?"

"It’s not confirmed yet. Superiors have ordered coastal provinces’ police, fishery, and maritime anti-smuggling departments to watch for relevant leads. If suspicious personnel or vessels are detected, promptly report it."

"They killed 10 crew members just like that; it’s truly cruel. It must be a gang crime. Where did those bastards strike?"

"Only 10 crew member bodies have been found; we estimate the other 13 crew members may be in grave danger too."

Having worked in law enforcement for decades, Zhou Huixin had never encountered such a major case. He lit a cigarette and said, "Criminal investigators have enlisted ocean experts for support, who analyzed that considering seasonal and ocean current factors, the crime location likely isn’t in international waters but closer to Shanwei District’s inner sea."

The maritime smuggling issue is significant in that region. The disappearance of the ’Changsheng’, the murder of crew members—could it be related to smuggling?

Of course, pirates might be involved.

However, Southeast Asian pirates rarely venture into Chinese coastal waters.

Who did it? Who could be so insane?

Han Yu racked his brains but couldn’t figure it out and stopped thinking about it altogether. He looked up and asked, "We found 10 crew members’ bodies. What about the ’Changsheng’? Is there any trace of it?"

"None."

Zhou Huixin quietly stated, "The East Guang Province Office is requesting Air Force planes for low-altitude searches and enhancing surveillance over the incident sea area, hoping to find traces of the ’Changsheng’. The East Guang Border Coast Guard Team’s patrol boats are also cutting through waves to execute search tasks at sea."