"Merge one, establish another—the changes are not significant."
"There are changes. The logistics department is dissolved, with finance and logistics tasks now centralized in the office. Furthermore, we only appointed one branch captain and one deputy for the security, criminal investigation, and legal system branches. Our fire brigade is somewhat special; aside from the branch captain and deputy, a political commissioner is also appointed."
"What about the supervision station?"
"I only know so much, I’m really not clear if the supervision station needs reforming or not."
While they were whispering, office police officer Xiao Chen came over and knocked on the door: "Director Tong, Director Yu, Director He is asking for you."
Director Tong quickly stood up, picked up his bag, and walked with Han Yu out of the small conference room.
Vice Director Qian was in Director He’s office; seeing the two, he motioned for them to sit down.
Director He handed a cigarette to Director Tong, looking with a smile at the newly seated Han Yu, and asked, "Xiao Han, how significant were the losses from the typhoon in Linghai?"
"Reporting to Director He, the damage this year wasn’t too severe. Only a few dilapidated houses collapsed, there was no internal flooding, the fields weren’t submerged much, and there were no fatalities."
"After all the work over the past seven or eight days, did the Linghai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government praise you?"
"What’s the use of praises? I just hope the Linghai Defense Command reimburses the fuel expenses sooner."
"How much fuel was used during the emergency and rescue operations?"
The night before taking office, Director He and Zhang Junyan had a two-hour chat at the hotel.
Zhang Junyan introduced the current situation of this ’fish’ and the Bailong Port Water Firefighting Team, as well as the history of ’The First Post of the Yangtze River’.
As soon as he took office, not only had he researched Bailong Port, but he had also learned about this young man from different sources.
Internally, Director He felt this ’fish’ was indeed excellent, but he also had many shortcomings.
As a Changhang Public Security Police officer, he had too many overlaps with the Port Supervision Bureau, Port Authority, Water Police Station, Linghai Police Bureau, Customs, Fishery Administration, and others. It is said that he even held a part-time role in the Jiangnan Province Hall Guard Office. As a result, although wearing the uniform of Changhang Public Security, he had not truly seen himself as part of the Changhang Police System.
For instance, during this typhoon incident, when Linghai City Flood Control Command called, he led his team out on a boat for emergency operations without informing his branch, let alone consulting or reporting to the branch.
It was the same with the Port Supervision Bureau; he acted as if his actual job was with the branch.
Director He came to Binjiang to unify thoughts and strengthen team cohesion; he did not want to see police officers who lacked a sense of belonging to the Changhang Police System, and meaningfully advised: "Next time something happens, you just push it onto Director Qian."
Han Yu did not expect the chief to say this, and asked subconsciously, "Push it onto Director Qian?"
"Don’t misunderstand, I’m not opposed to your participation in emergency and rescue operations, I’m saying that next time, having Director Qian negotiate with the local government about the expenses incurred during the emergency and rescue operations makes reimbursement easier than if you approached the local government leaders directly."
"Also, you are all police officers from our branch, and emergency rescue operations are dangerous. As your direct superiors, Director Qian and I are responsible for you."
It seemed that the chief was not pleased that he had embarked on emergency and rescue operations without seeking approval or reporting.
Han Yu realized things were different now, not sure what to say. Director He continued, "Xiao Han, you must have heard about organizational reforms and personnel adjustments. The Fire Brigade is also undergoing reforms. You’re the expert in water firefighting. I, along with Director Qian, would like to hear your opinions."
"Director He, I have no objections."
"I haven’t made many changes yet, and you have no objections?"
Director He challenged with a question, smiling and saying, "I’ve reviewed the proposal you submitted six months ago, and it’s very insightful, particularly the merging of the station and team. It fits well with our branch’s conditions, but there’s still room for improvement. We can make it more comprehensive."
Cautiously, Han Yu asked, "Director He, how can we improve?"
"This is our consideration: Gaoru Port and Bailong Port are too far from Binjiang, you can’t look after three firefighting teams by yourself. In case of a fire outbreak, reaching the scene also takes time. Moreover, though the Port Authority places high importance on firefighting, they can’t guarantee sufficient funds, not just firefighting funds but others too."
Director He paused to take a small sip of tea, then said, "The party committee of the bureau decided to merge Gaoru Port Main Fire Brigade into Gaoru Port Police Station, with the deputy director of Gaoru Port Police Station serving concurrently as the chief of the Gaoru Port Fire Supervision Station, and in charge of the Gaoru Port Main Fire Brigade.
Merge the Binjiang Port Fire Supervision Station and Binjiang Port Main Fire Brigade into Binjiang Port Police Station, with the chief also being the deputy director of the Binjiang Port Police Station. Merge Bailong Port Water Firefighting Team into Bailong Port Police Station, appointing you as the deputy division commander of the Water Fire Rescue Team and deputy director of the Bailong Port Police Station. How does that sound to you?"
Such a thorough reform!
Han Yu fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Director He, does this mean I no longer manage Gaoru Port Main Fire Brigade and Binjiang Port Main Fire Brigade?"
"The party committee of the bureau mainly considered that of the three teams, only Bailong Port team is a genuine water fire team. Water firefighting is different from land firefighting. You need to build the team, training police and auxiliary police into crew members first, a responsibility heavy and the work pressure great. We don’t want you running back and forth all the time."
Director He paused, adding, "Additionally, as the stringent crackdown goes further, the strength of Bailong Port Police Station needs to be reinforced. Comrade Liu Xinmin and Comrade Jiang Xiaojun are getting older, their physical strength and energy are not keeping up, Bailong Port Police Station needs fresh, strong new blood."