Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 187 - 149 We are the Fuel Tank

Chapter 187: Chapter 149 We are the Fuel Tank

Xu Sanye, though wild, was not made of iron.

He could not bear a sleepless night just like anyone else, and after drinking with Old Wei and "Jiang Feijun," he fell asleep on the boat until his own dunship docked, and Zhang Lan woke him up.

Wrapping himself in a coat, he stepped out of the command cabin and was startled to find it had already grown dark.

The dunship was ablaze with lights, Director Yang, Commissioner Ding, and Director Wang had arrived, as had Police Chief Zhang of the Agricultural Bureau, who brought several cadres from the Fishery Station and more than twenty fishery coordinators.

"Sanye, you’ve finally returned, I’ve been waiting for over an hour."

"Shameless Zhang, what are you here for?"

"To enforce the law on the river, Secretary Chen sent me to find you! Our Linghai has performed the best in preventing illegal eel fry fishing. The city just held a teleconference and praised Linghai, urging us to keep up the good work."

Scholar Yu had spoken well of Linghai, unexpectedly leaving a good impression on the city leaders.

Xu Sanye caught on and jumped aboard the dunship to ask: "Is there anyone illegally fishing for eel fry on the river? Isn’t that outside your jurisdiction?"

Police Chief Zhang said urgently: "At this point, we can’t afford to worry about jurisdiction. The city leadership demands all districts and counties mobilize all available forces to crack down on the illegal eel fry fishing. For the residents along the river, we must guard strictly to prevent them from getting involved."

"Now you come to me when it’s too late, what were you doing earlier?"

"Sanye, please help."

No sooner had Police Chief Zhang finished speaking than Captain Wang emerged from the engine room, yawning: "Director Xu, we’re running low on fuel."

Xu Sanye patted Police Chief Zhang on the shoulder, impatiently saying: "Did you hear that? We’re low on fuel. I neither have the time nor the fuel to accompany you for river enforcement."

"We’ll top up the fuel!"

"Fine, I’ll give you a chance, hurry up and get on the boat, go refuel with Captain Wang."

"I’d rather not go with them. Old Gu, did you hear? Go refuel with Master Wang."

"Alright."

Captain Wang was surprised to find someone eager to help with refueling and asked: "Director Xu, how much should we add?"

Just as Xu Sanye was about to speak up, Police Chief Zhang said without hesitation: "Fill it up!"

"The ship needs more than just diesel, we should also top up the lubricating oil."

"Fill that up too, hurry up, Old Gu, you’re in charge of paying."

"Alright."

Captain Wang had never met a leader so generous. Seeing Director Xu’s slight nod, he immediately gestured for Zhu Baogen to cast off.

Once the fuel was topped up, they could take the fishery officials to the river to drive off and even deal with the illegal eel fishers. Police Chief Zhang finally breathed a sigh of relief and followed Xu Sanye up the stairs.

But just after ascending two steps, Xu Sanye turned around and said: "What are you coming up here for? I have work to discuss with Director Yang and Old Ding."

"Sanye..."

"The door of the duty room downstairs is open, isn’t it? Wait there."

"Fine, I won’t disturb you."

Police Chief Zhang directly assumed Xu Sanye was upset because the Agricultural Bureau previously refused to help repair the ship, and now that they needed his help, they had to play by his rules.

Treating an official like that was a bit too much...

Director Yang wanted to smooth things over, but considering the upcoming important discussion, he simply pretended not to notice.

Commissioner Ding, watching the dunship 001 slowly sail away, showed a hint of a smile.

Director Wang, unsure what Xu Sanye was planning, sat in the conference room, not daring to go out, not wanting to see the river water or even the sight of a boat.

"Director Xu, you have a call, from Salted Fish."

"Director Zhu, please take it for me."

"Oh, alright."

Sister Zhu sensed they were about to discuss something important and quickly closed the door as she left.

Xu Sanye pulled up a chair across from Director Wang, took off his watch and placed it in front of him, and looked up to discuss with the city and City Bureau providing support for Scholar Yu to establish the Water Police Division.

Commissioner Ding exclaimed: "To establish it just like that, isn’t that efficiency a bit too high?"

"The efficiency is indeed high, but there’s also a chance this could fall through, so we need to act fast."

"What do you mean?"

"On the way back, I received news that the Provincial Fisheries Bureau is mobilizing ships and personnel, planning to organize nine Fishery Administration Ships to enforce the law in Binjiang Waters tomorrow. I heard that the East Sea Fishery Command of the Ministry of Agriculture will also dispatch Fishery Administration Ships."

Xu Sanye lit a cigarette and continued: "Leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture Fishery Administration Bureau are en route to Binjiang, and even if leaders from various provincial departments don’t arrive tomorrow, they’ll be here the day after.

Just think, even the faint-hearted Shameless Zhang is running over to request our assistance with river enforcement; clearly, the issue with illegal eel fry fishing will soon be effectively contained."

Director Yang grasped the underlying implication and said with arms crossed: "Even if it doesn’t draw national attention, the migration of eel fry is seasonal."

Commissioner Ding had an epiphany: "So you’re saying if we don’t quickly solidify Scholar Yu’s efforts and formally establish the Water Police Station, there might be changes?"

"Leaders are like that, treating the head when it aches, the foot when it hurts. Once healed, they forget the pain."

"Sanye, what’s your stance?"

"Firstly, we must support, and fully support at that. If we don’t have the Water Police Station as a banner, what reason do we have to raid the outlaws on the sandbars in Changzhou Waters in just a few hours? What authority will Wu Ren Guang and his men have to team up with Customs and Commercial Enforcement officers to cast nets in Gaoru?"

There were two major operations tonight!

The bureau had mobilized every available force, ready to strike both on the river and ashore.

However, to raid and destroy the dens within someone else’s jurisdiction, we must operate under the banner of the Water Police Division.

In fact, Scholar Yu and Chen Zikun had already split up; Scholar Yu was with Wu Ren Guang, while Chen Zikun was resting in the next dormitory to prepare for the night operation with the large troop.

Recalling that just half an hour prior, Director Zhong had personally called, saying that the night’s operation had been escalated to a city-level action, Director Yang felt a surge of excitement, unable to believe in such an unintended, fruitful outcome.

"Sanye, how does Director Yu’s department require our support?"

"The Water Police Division needs a Political Commissioner."

"This is not something we can decide."

"Director Zhong asked me to recommend a candidate for Political Commissioner. Old Wang, I plan to recommend you, and now I want to hear your thoughts."

Director Wang was startled and hastily said: "Sanye, I appreciate your kindness, but I’m not qualified enough and I also get seasick; I really can’t take on the role of Political Commissioner."

"The Water Police Station is a division of the City Bureau as well as our Linghai Police Bureau; if you don’t go, do you expect Old Ding to go?"

Xu Sanye retorted and continued, "Moreover, it’s a director-level position, and if you just stay in Linghai, no matter how much Director Yang and Old Ding help you, you, Wang Xiazhi, would have to wait at least another ten years to be promoted to director."

Although the Director of the Political Work Office is a member of the Party Committee, he ranks towards the end in the bureau hierarchy.

Just as Xu Sanye said, for Director Wang to aspire to become Political Commissioner was not just difficult; it was almost hopeless, after all, the position of Political Commissioner was for the county to consider, and the City Bureau couldn’t even have a say.

"My wife and children are all in Linghai..."

"It’s easy to solve the issue with your wife’s job; many places in Binjiang are hiring, it’s not difficult to arrange a transfer there."

Who can turn the division of the City Bureau into a division of the county’s police bureau?

The more Director Yang thought about it, the more excited he became, and he looked at Director Wang with a smile, saying: "Old Wang, this is a rare opportunity, you should seriously consider it. It would really be a pity to miss it."

Commissioner Ding also felt that this was a good thing, lamenting: "If I were seven or eight years younger, I would want to go too."

This is a chance for a promotion to director level!

Director Wang was very tempted, but on second thought, it seemed like a trap.

If he really went, he would become part of the Water Police, and then it would be difficult to get back on land.

Moreover, this Political Commissioner, like Scholar Yu, the director, would have a nominal position but would have to listen to Xu Sanye regarding all major and minor matters of the division.

Xu Sanye knew what he was worried about and said meaningfully: "Old Wang, Director Yu is competent, educated, and well-connected. What he has lacked these years is the opportunity to prove himself independently. I can bet that he won’t be director for more than three or five years.

If you are unwilling to take this Political Commissioner position, by that time, the territory we’ve worked so hard to establish will become someone else’s.

Let me state my position again, although I will concurrently hold a position on the Party Committee of the Water Police Station, I definitely won’t go to Binjiang for anything that’s not particularly important. You know my temper; I’m very comfortable at Bailong Port and have no interest in going to Binjiang to find discomfort."

His implication could not be clearer, he would not interfere in the division’s internal management unless it was something particularly important.

Director Wang hesitated and said: "I get seasick."

"I used to get seasick when I first got on a boat, but after a few more rides, it stopped, and besides, Binjiang only has a small speedboat. Even if you wanted to get seasick, you wouldn’t have the chance."

"Director Yang, should I take the position or not?"

"The opportunity is too rare, and it may pass in the blink of an eye, I suggest you take it."

"Alright, I’ll go!"

"That’s the right attitude."

Xu Sanye pulled out a cigarette, flicked one out and threw it over, laughing and saying: "I always joked about you being slippery; in fact, that’s also a skill. Once you’re in the City Bureau, you’d better schmooze well with those departments; how far the Water Police Station can go in the future will all depend on you."

Director Wang asked with a wry smile: "Sanye, are you praising me or mocking me?"

"I’m praising you."

Xu Sanye didn’t want to waste time and said: "Salted Fish has gone to take over the office building; you first go next door to call Salted Fish, and then find a driver to take the Jeep 212 that Bailong Port Police Station lent me to Binjiang to meet up with Salted Fish."

"Go now?"

"Mayor Cao has approved 60,000 yuan for the Water Police Station, Director Yu is tied up, Chen Zikun doesn’t have the time, and Salted Fish is too young and isn’t familiar with the people at the City Bureau. Who else should go if not you, the future Political Commissioner? You need to rush to the City Bureau to retrieve the money."

"I’d be embarrassed to rush over there like this!"

"I’ll ask Director Yu to call Director Zhong to consult and report later, just say that the Water Police Station is short-staffed and asks you to help out for a few days."

"That’s not appropriate..."

"Do you want to wait for the Organization Department to do an investigation and then have a talk with you? Old Wang, oh Old Wang, what time do you think it is? It’s all about taking swift action now."

Running over to claim a spot like that, it felt quite awkward.

Director Yang wasn’t sure how to persuade Director Wang when footsteps were heard from outside. Soon after, Director Zhang from the Agricultural Bureau knocked on the door and came in.

"Director Yang, sorry to interrupt, I need a word with Sanye."

"Go ahead, what is it?"

Director Zhang put down his briefcase, with a pained expression, and said: "The people on duty downstairs said that Old Gu from our office is being detained at the gas station."

Xu Sanye feigned ignorance and asked: "Why did the gas station detain your people?"

"How big is the fuel tank on your boat? How much fuel can it really hold when filled up?"

"That’s not a tank, that’s a fuel cabinet; you can also think of it as a fuel bunker." Xu Sanye lit up a cigarette, took a satisfying drag, and smiled: "A few fuel cabinets combined, probably six or seven cubic meters, when filled, need six or seven thousand liters."

"Why didn’t you tell me earlier!"

"You didn’t ask, and it was you who insisted on refueling for us, and you who asked for a full tank."

"Old Gu only had about a thousand yuan on him, not enough. Sanye, could you please talk to the gas station, and I promise to send the money over tomorrow."

"To guarantee for you?"

"You don’t trust me? Besides, the fuel is in your boat, not in my car."

Shameless Zhang, oh Shameless Zhang, dared to come here acting like a big spender to Xu Sanye; now regretting it.

Thinking about that engine floating on the water, especially those big fuel cabinets of 001, Director Yang was almost brought to laughter by the thought.

Commissioner Ding had long predicted he would regret it and said with feigned seriousness: "Director Zhang, I assure you the fuel wasn’t filled in vain. Isn’t it just for law enforcement on the river? Have your people rest up quickly, and join us for an operation tonight."

Director Zhang subconsciously asked: "What operation?"

"It’s confidential for now."

"And what about the fuel I added?"

"Old Ding already said he’s taking you out for law enforcement on the river and you’re still worried about that bit of fuel. Shameless Zhang, I’m not trying to criticize, but as a director now, your words and actions should match your status as director."

Director Zhang, with a grimacing face, said: "Old Gu tells me including lubricating oil, it’s over ten thousand!"

Xu Sanye patted his shoulder: "Funds are meant to be spent, if not here then there. Stop worrying about it, I’ll talk to the gas station for you, but you must keep your word. If you promised the money would be sent over tomorrow, then it must be sent over."