Actions tonight, can't get back to Bailong Port.

The makeshift Linghai Port Engineering Command, using "old antiques," has plenty of space, including a meeting room and a canteen. Linghai Port Supervision Office, Water Police Fifth Company, Old Jiang, and others all dine at the command's canteen.

Last year's successful crackdown on major cases has concluded, and today a commendation ceremony was held at the City Bureau.

Shi Shengyong, Xu Mingyuan and Fang Zhiqiang all attended and received third-level merits or commendations from either the Ministry of Transport Police or the Provincial Police Department.

Han Yu also received two third-level merits and two commendations; the third-level merits were awarded by the Ministry of Transport Police and the Provincial Department, and the commendations by the Changhang Police Bureau.

Not only did Shi Shengyong and Xu Mingyuan help collect medals and certificates on stage, but they also ensured they were delivered here.

Including Ma Jintao, Yang Yong, and Yang Yuan, every police officer who participated in last year's crackdown on criminal activities on the water received an award and, naturally, they were to celebrate properly tonight.

Chen Zikun, Zhang Ping, and Xiao Gong came, and even Luo Wenjiang, the Deputy Captain and Captain of the Water Police Fourth Squad from Yingchuan Port made it.

Shi Shengyong purchased a great deal of cooked food, and Xu Mingyuan brought the drinks.

Considering there were several female colleagues in the Port Supervision Department who don't drink alcohol, Ma Jintao went ashore to buy lots of sodas.

Yingchuan Port, part of the Binjiang Development Zone, is bustling and packed with businesses, so there are vegetable sellers even at night. They bought ten pounds of pork and several big grass carps, and asked Master Zhang from the engineering command's canteen to help with the preparation.

Two big tables of people, eating and chatting, couldn't be livelier.

Luo Wenjiang, after toasting with the Water Police and the friends from the Port Supervision Bureau, laughingly asked Director Yu, "Building a patrol boat costs several hundred thousand yuan. Do you think the Water Resources Bureau would fund it for us?"

"It shouldn't be a problem. After all, without us, they wouldn't be able to do anything and earn a dime."

"What if they agree readily but renege on their promise later?"

"Then we'll have no means to deal with them, as we certainly can't sue them."

Director Yu, it's a significant matter, and certainly, it's the Water Resources Bureau's director who makes the final decision. I think such a senior leader wouldn't go back on their word," Ma Jintao said laughingly as he poured drinks for everyone.

Shi Shengyong put down his glass and pretended to complain: "Director Yu, you are now the chief of our Development Zone Branch, not the chief of the Water Police Station. How can you turn a blind eye and help the Water Police Station seek sponsorship instead of your own branch?"

"Haha, that's too much!" exclaimed Xu Mingyuan.

Han Yu was about to say that it was all for work when Han Xiangning, seated at the neighboring table, turned around and said, "Master Shi, the Water Police Station was established on the foundation of the Yanjiang Police Station, so what's wrong with Salted Fish getting a boat for the Water Police Station? Besides, it's not like your branch really lacks boats. I've promised to get you one already."

Luo Wenjiang chuckled, "Chief Han is right. Our branch was established with the full support of Director Yu. It's only natural for Director Yu to help us with sponsorship – it's like helping someone onto a horse and then giving them a push along."

Of course, Shi Shengyong knew the history between the Water Police Station and the Linghai Police Bureau, so he quickly changed the subject, flatteringly asking, "Chief Han, just saying so means nothing. When exactly will we get the boat you promised?"

"Master Shi, are you busy?"

"Not very."

"If you're not busy, take a few days to visit Hanwu and meet Xiao Yu. Have Xiao Yu take you to Changwu Shipyard to sign a contract."

"Can we place an order now?"

"Constructing a vessel is like building a house; you give a down payment, then pay according to the progress. We can get them started right away."

"But where would I get the money for a down payment?"

"Just talk to them first. Once the contract is signed, call me, and I'll ask the bureau leaders for funding. Once approved, we'll transfer it directly to them."

Shi Shengyong delighted, stood up and said, "Chief Han, if that's the case, I'll take leave from the bureau and the management committee tomorrow, and I'll go to Hanwu the day after to find Xiao Yu!"

Han Xiangning confidently said, "Go ahead, money is not an issue."

However, Luo Wenjiang seemed puzzled and asked, "Director Yu, why build it in Hanwu again? There are shipyards capable of building patrol boats in the East Sea too, and they're closer."

"The Changhang Bureau and your branch have already ordered three boats from there, so naturally, we would go to the same manufacturer for further construction. Having the same model, main engine, and auxiliary machinery makes maintenance easy, and we don't need to stockpile as many spare parts."

Han Yu took a sip of his soup and continued, "Moreover, the current security situation is different from the past. With such a tight police force now, we can't afford to have so many police officers repairing and operating boats like we used to. You know about the turnover rate and the salaries of auxiliary police. We have our patrol boats all of the same model, so if someone from one team quits and we're unable to immediately find a replacement, the teams can lend drivers to each other without worry of being short-staffed during emergencies."

As soon as Han Yu finished speaking, Han Xiangning turned around with a smile and said, "Wen Jiang, our Port Supervision Bureau is also gearing up to equip a new Supervision Boat, which will be the same model as your patrol boats."

"Chief Han, has the construction of your new Supervision Boat started?"

"It should have."

"When was the contract signed?"

"Our Director Xu is having a meeting in Hanwu. I asked Director Xu to sign the contract at Changwu Shipyard, and Xiao Yu was there too."

"That thirty-one-year-old Deputy Director from your Port Supervision Bureau?"

"Director Xu was thirty-one last year; he's thirty-two this year."

"Being a deputy director at such a young age is pretty incredible."

Just as Han Xiangning didn't know how to continue, Sister Ling looked up and laughed, "Director Luo, there are bigger fish in the sea. You have high qualifications, but others have even higher ones!"

Curious, Chen Zikun asked, "Sister Ling, what are Director Xu's qualifications?"

"He has a graduate degree, a master's degree. He could have stayed and worked at the ministry level but volunteered to go down to the grassroots!"

"What do we count as if your Port Supervision Bureau is considered grassroots?"

"Depends on the perspective. To Director Xu, our Binjiang Port Supervision Bureau really is grassroots. Hahaha."

Comparisons between people can really be infuriating.

Yang Yong raised his glass and teased, "Director Luo, you envy Director Xu; we actually envy you. You've only been working for a few years and you're already the Deputy Captain."

Luo Wenjiang smiled and asked, "Brother Yang, are you dissatisfied?"

"I wouldn't dare! Even if you gave me ten times the courage!"

"Brother Yang, what do you mean by that?"

"No, no, Director Luo, my apologies. Cheers to you."

The former Sanxing Police Station Chief, Li Guangming, who was ordered to resign by the City Committee, is a child of a leading cadre. Luo Wenjiang is the same.

I only knew that his father had worked in the City Committee before transferring to the Binjiang Development Zone.

It wasn't until last year that I learned his father is Luo Hongxin, the current Director of the Binjiang Development Zone Management Committee. The Secretary of the Development Zone Party Working Committee, who also serves as a standing member of the Binjiang City Committee, is too busy to normally manage the development zone matters.

One could say that Luo Wenjiang's father is the de facto top authority in the Binjiang Development Zone, a genuine holder of substantial power in his position!

Both are children of leading cadres, but people differ greatly from one another.

Luo Wenjiang worked hard in school; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to attend university.

Later, when he took exams for candidates selected by the Provincial Party Organization Department and the Provincial Police Department, it was all due to his own efforts, completely unrelated to his father's influence. In fact, it's said his father even opposed him joining the police.

During his years working in the Water Police Division, he has been bold and daring in action, with commendable performance.

While everyone was reflecting, Han Yu reminded, "Wen Jiang, Old Ma, we have actions planned for later tonight, drink less."

"Alright, just a toast."

"Director Yu, will we have enough manpower for tonight's action, and do we have enough boats?"

"There are enough boats. I've already arranged it with Customs. Their Master Yang brought their Law Enforcement Boat to our Port Supervision Bureau's docking area this afternoon. When I called him to come for dinner, he thought it was too far and didn't want to come, he's now on standby with Master Zhang of Supervision Boat 42 at the dock."

"So after we finish eating we'll take a car over?"

"Yes, we'll split into two teams. You'll patrol eastward from the Binjiang Port waters, while we'll cover from Sanhe westward. We'll see where those sand dredging boats are heading."

"What if they run towards the opposite bank?"

"Catch them all the same. I've already given the Changhang Guzhou Branch a heads up this afternoon."

The situation on the opposite bank is different.

Though Guzhou also has a Water Police Bureau, they don't manage the river's security on the opposite bank; that falls under the jurisdiction of the Changhang Guzhou navigation police.

My junior had helped Changhang Guzhou navigation police before and participated in the maritime security for the inauguration ceremony of China Shuzhou Port. To catch the sand dredging boats on their jurisdiction, one need only make a simple call, especially as those boats have been dredging sand on this side near Binjiang.

Regarding Port Supervision's jurisdiction, there's no need for concern.

The three newly-established Port Supervision Offices on the opposite bank were all spun off from the Binjiang Port Supervision Bureau, and their directors and deputy directors are all old acquaintances of my junior and former superiors of Han Xiangning.

Xu Mingyuan thought that those sand dredging bosses were in big trouble bumping into Salted Fish and couldn't help but laugh.

Fang Zhiqiang, curious, asked, "Director Yu, speaking of Customs, something just popped into my mind."

"Second Senior Brother, what is it?"

"Director Zeng used to often ask us to assist in cracking down on smuggling, why has there been no contact in the last two years?"

"Two reasons."

Han Yu put down his chopsticks and looked up, "One is that Customs has established a specialized Anti-Smuggling Bureau, and Director Zeng heads it as the Bureau Chief. Their bureau not only has law enforcement authority but also firearms, so they don't need our help to catch smugglers.

The other reason is that the situation regarding smuggling has changed from what it used to be. We think of smuggling as getting a boat, meeting with a foreign vessel out at sea, loading the goods, and then secretly transporting and selling the goods back here. However, in reality, that's the most unprofitable form of smuggling. Customs' focus isn't on them."

Professions can be worlds apart.

Shi Shengyong, not familiar with Customs' situation, also asked curiously, "So what is Customs' main focus?"

"False declarations, submitting falsified customs documents. Undervaluing on the declaration form, forgery, false exports, faking transshipment, or using false documents to deceive Customs to cancel out transactions, etc."

Han Yu thought for a moment and explained patiently, "Let's use a simple analogy. Suppose the actual value of the goods is one million US Dollars, the importer provides false documents stating it's only worth five hundred thousand, they sneak through customs, and in this way, they evade taxes and even commit fraud.

Some people declare very low-value goods at a high value to claim tax rebates fraudulently. Some even declare they are importing raw materials, and when the containers are opened, it turns out to be equipment or electronic products worth tens of millions."

Ma Jintao exclaimed, "So these guys are smuggling right under Customs' nose?"

"Yes."

Han Yu picked up his chopsticks again and sighed, "How much could they smuggle and evade in taxes by sneaking around on a boat? The risks are so high. Manipulating import and export customs procedures can involve cases worth tens of millions. These are the big fish, which is why Customs focuses their crackdown on them."

Shi Shengyong muttered, "This is white-collar crime!"

Han Yu nodded, "Those who understand this and can do this are educated, with higher degrees than you and I, so they say, it's not the hoodlums you need to worry about, it's the educated hoodlums."

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