Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 82 - 75: Promote Him!

Chapter 82: Chapter 75: Promote Him!

Tomorrow, new recruits will be dispatched. The Armed Forces Department is bustling as staffs are busy preparing the uniforms so that over two hundred new soldiers can wear them to join the troops.

Cadres from all over the country who have come to pick up the recruits are staying in accommodations provided by Armed Forces Department, and several are staying at the Jindun Hotel.

Military conscription isn’t just the job of the Armed Forces Department; the Police Bureau also needs to fully cooperate.

Initially, they participate in political screenings, and now they must ensure that every cadre tasked with picking up recruits brings them all.

Tonight, police from the Security Section, Political Security Section, and both Southern City and Northern City Police Stations will check entertainment venues such as cinemas, video halls, dance halls, skating rinks, and billiard rooms.

After all, those enlisted are vigorous young men who will be away from home for several years, and it’s hard to say whether they will go out to have fun with friends on the night before joining the army.

If they drink too much and fight, or other accidents happen, it will cause a lot of trouble.

However, compared to the recruits about to be sent off with fanfare, Director Yang is more concerned about the veterans who returned recently without any notice.

This matter is handled by Director Wang, who has already represented the bureau at four resettlement meetings in this period.

The county’s resettlement plan has finally been issued. Looking at the document brought back by Director Wang, Director Yang said with a frown, "Thirty-one, how are we to arrange this?"

"The county said we were already recruiting contract-based police officers."

"We do things according to our budget. Besides, our recruitment of contract-based police officers also has conditions: they must be high school graduates and have urban household registration."

"I’ve mentioned to the county. The county leadership said that the rural veterans could be arranged to join the Cooperative Defense Team at the Police Stations."

Master Ding, more experienced in handling these matters than Director Wang, looked up and said, "Director Yang, there’s no need to rush the veterans’ placement. They have been in the army for several years and are disconnected from society. They need to adapt. Let them rest for a while, and arrange for their placement after the New Year."

Director Yang paused, then quickly realized.

The salary and benefits for public security police are already low, and even lower for contract-based police officers and Cooperative Defense Team members.

These veterans might not have been aware of these conditions beforehand. Once they all understand, inviting them to work then may not attract them.

Additionally, the Spring Festival is the peak time for job-seeking; people working or doing small businesses outside usually come back for the festival, and these veterans might likely go out to work with friends and relatives.

To place thirty-one now might result in only half remaining after the New Year.

The pressure to place them later will be much less, and the superiors will not make objections.

Director Yang thinks this approach is feasible, and helplessly said, "We are short-staffed, but with so many veterans unable to be placed, we really cannot achieve much without money."

"Compared to the North Three Counties, our days are considered good."

"That’s true, we complain here while others are envying us."

Although Director Yang said this, he was considering the many areas requiring funding.

With a population nearing one million in the county, there are only about ninety formal police officers, resulting in a severe shortage of police force, forcing recruitment of contract-based police officers.

The finances only ensure the salaries of formal police officers; the bureau had to come up with ways to pay the contract-based police officers.

The police work is different from other departments; they value rapid response in emergencies.

However, the bureau only has five cars, one of which is always breaking down.

The Criminal Investigation Team, the Traffic Police Team, and over a dozen Police Stations have only half equipped with motorcycles; the other half rely entirely on bicycles.

The Criminal Investigation Team only has a few investigators, far from enough to combat various types of criminal activities. Plans are underway to expand and upgrade the team to a larger squad.

Criminal technical equipment needs to be upgraded, no longer solely relying on the "four essentials": flashlights, small brushes, cameras, and walkie-talkies.

The detention center is an old building of several decades, leaking in summer and draughty in winter. Last August, a typhoon knocked down one of its walls.

If not relocated to a new site soon, not only will it be impossible to detain many suspects, but incidents of suspects escaping might also occur.

While other units raise funds to build houses, the Police Bureau does not even dare to think about it.

They can only shamelessly ask if others could give us a few sets, matching the amount their staff contributes...

If that three hundred thousand hadn’t been squandered by Xu Sanye by the river, it could have achieved so much if left in the bureau!

Director Yang took several deep breaths and asked in a low voice, "Old Ding, what did County Magistrate Yu say about the evaluation and awarding?"

Previously, the county leadership had agreed to recognition and had planned to hold the commendation ceremony after New Year’s Day, likely with a speech drafted by the secretary from the government office.

Now saying no need for county commendation appears to be different from previous plans in the eyes of the county leadership.

Recalling the afternoon report in Deputy County Magistrate Yu’s office, Master Ding said awkwardly, "Luckily, the City Bureau’s Shelter identified Lv Weizhong’s identity, otherwise I really wouldn’t know how to bring it up with County Magistrate Yu."

"Did County Magistrate Yu agree?"

"He agreed, saying since a murderer was identified during the review, it is more appropriate to report to the City Bureau for merit awards than for county commendation."

"Visit the City Bureau again tomorrow."

"I want to be better prepared. I’ll go after New Year’s Day."

Director Yang pressed, "Prepared for what?"

Master Ding explained, "The achievements in handling the 9.17 case are significant, but essentially it’s just about combating ticket scalping. Regarding that murderer, although we detained him, his true identity was discovered through the Shelter’s review, just with these facts, it’s hard to apply for a collective third-level merit for them."

Director Yang asked subconsciously, "Then what to do?"

"Only through social influence can we try to score some points."

Old Ding paused, then continued, "Xu Sanye likes to show off; whenever he does a good deed, he wants to be recognized. When refunding the money fleeced by scalpers to the tourists, he sent thousands of letters.

Many people replied, all were thank-you letters. Some even sent banners of gratitude; he received over thirty, and his several offices are almost unable to accommodate more."

Director Yang asked in a low voice, "Invite a journalist for an interview, to help them get some publicity?"

"The issue of many scalpers and hard-to-get ferry tickets at Bailong Port was previously exposed by Binjiang Daily. I asked a friend to contact that journalist this afternoon and informed them about the actions we took and the achievements we made after seeing the report. They are very interested and planning to come for an interview in a few days to prepare a follow-up report."

Old Ding turned to Director Wang, "Old Wang, we can’t rely solely on them. Have Xiao Liu and others write some articles and submit them to media outlets in the province and within our police system."

It’s bad enough that Xu Sanye slapped us in the face, and now we have to help him with his publicity, what is this all about?

Director Wang had no choice but to tough it out, "Alright, I’ll have Xiao Liu write early tomorrow morning."

Worried that Old Wang might not understand, Director Yang said meaningfully, "Although Xu Sanye is playing small tricks, after all, he’s considering the collective honor of Yanjiang Police Station. As members of the bureau’s party committee, we should also consider the collective honor of the bureau."

"Director Yang, I understand."

"Old Ding, Old Wang, start preparing to request commendations for them, and if necessary, I will also approach the City Bureau."

"Director Yang, you definitely should go."

"Any difficulties?"

"As long as we are well-prepared, it’s not difficult to award collective merits and honors, but personal ones are more troublesome. Especially Little Salted Fish, he’s too young, having just started working and still in probation. Normally, it wouldn’t just be difficult to award him third-level merit; even a commendation would be hard."

Xu Sanye is notoriously wild.

He laid out three conditions, and if even one isn’t met, the joint investigation of a major international case by Linghai Police Bureau and Binjiang Port Police Station could fall through.

Director Yang fell silent for a moment, then lifted his head and said, "Little Salted Fish’s performance is indeed commendable; compile a summary of his deeds first."

"Okay."

"How about the Binjiang Port Police Station, did Xu Sanye help liaise and coordinate?"

"It’s coordinated. I assigned Xu Mingyuan from the Criminal Investigation team and Fang Zhiqiang from the pretrial division to participate in the follow-up investigation at Binjiang Port Police Station. One is his apprentice, and the other is the apprentice of Li Weiguo. He may have grievances against us, but he has to consider his apprentices."

"That’s the best arrangement."

Director Yang nodded slightly, then pondered and asked, "Has Little Salted Fish come back, and how serious are his injuries?"

Old Ding hurriedly said, "He’s back. Zhang Lan called and said he returned this morning. It’s just a superficial wound; not a major issue, he’s busy preparing for next week’s ship inspection. I heard that to perform the traction test, even Binjiang Port Supervision Bureau got involved."

"You have to go on the day of the inspection. You know Xu Sanye’s bad temper; if he doesn’t treat people right or care about their food, we have to."

"I understand, Zhang Lan and I will definitely attend."

...

Returning to the station, Han Yu truly felt like he was back home.

He had slept soundly that past night.

But he hadn’t gotten enough sleep, the sky had yet to lighten, when Xu Sanye woke him up.

He hurriedly got up to wash, dressed in the uniform as required, and as he ran downstairs, he saw the police car from Bailong Port Police Station had also arrived.

"Salted Fish, bring the recorder."

"Why would I need the recorder?"

"It’s no fun just banging gongs and drums, it’d be much better to play some military songs."

"Oh."

Han Yu realized although recruiting new soldiers wasn’t his responsibility, he took the matter very seriously, quickly took out the keys to open the reception room.

He had just fitted the batteries in the recorder when outside came the sounds of "dong dong clang," "dong dong clang," "clang dong clang dong dong clang" from the drums and gongs.

A large liberation truck slowly stopped at the main gate, clearly displaying the slogan "One joins the army, the entire family honored" on the side panel of the truck.

It was the end of December, and the weather was very cold.

Several village officials, bundled up tightly, sat in the unsheltered truck bed banging drums and gongs.

Minister Lei emerged from a van following closely behind the large truck, and anxiously asked, "Director Xu, are you ready?"

"Ready, let’s go."

"You lead the way; head to Bailong Port first."

"Okay."

Xu Sanye got into his jeep, turned on the police lights, and just as he slowly drove out of the yard, he looked back and said, "Salted Fish, play the ’March of the People’s Liberation Army.’"

"Yes, sir!"

This was to send off the new recruits, to serve and protect the homeland...

Inspired, Han Yu’s blood began to boil, and he hurriedly turned on the recorder, inserted the military song cassette, and turned the volume up to maximum.

Worried that those outside couldn’t hear it, he quickly opened the window.