Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1060 - 692: Reaching the Ears of Heaven (Part 3)

Is this a mistake?

You, a retired full department-level old cadre, have nothing better to care about, and yet you are concerned about Central Leadership's matters.

Han Yu was unsure how to respond when Old Ge made a remark that left both Vice Mayor Qin and Deputy Division Commander Tao dumbfounded: "He's lost weight, much slimmer than the last time he came. They say we are the firefighters, but isn't Vice President L the same?

Since the flood began, he's been here today and there tomorrow, inspecting one place, directing another, and representing the Party Central and National Council to comfort the affected people. That's not easy!"

"Director Ge, did you meet Vice President L?"

"Yes, I met him. As soon as he got off the plane, he went to the riverbank to check the water situation. Last time he came, you could vaguely see the buildings on the opposite shore, but now the water level has risen so high that you can only see the rooftop lights. Although he didn't say anything, you could feel he's worried."

"And then?"

"He heard from the city leaders that we were here, so he came to see us and even apologized."

"Vice President L apologized to you!"

"Not to me, but to all of us. He said that he had promised last time to visit us after the emergency was handled, but he had to rush to another incident and couldn't make it."

"And then?"

"Then he went to the city overnight for a meeting. Master Xi and Secretary Yuan of Angong County also attended. During the meeting, Secretary Yuan received news of the Mengxi Embankment breach. Vice President L said saving lives was urgent and instructed Secretary Chen of Jingzhou and Secretary Yuan of Angong to hurry and organize disaster relief. Secretary Chen couldn't return that night, so I arranged for 002 to take him across the river."

Han Yu couldn't help asking, "Director Ge, what kind of meeting does the Commander call so late at night with so many leaders?"

Director Ge took a cigarette from Master Xi, and solemnly said, "Besides listening to the opinions of the provincial, city, and county-level leaders and flood prevention experts like Master Xi, what else but to study whether or not to divert the flood could this meeting be about."

"Was there any conclusion from the study?"

"Not yet."

"The flood peak is almost here, how come there's no result!"

"This matter isn't as simple as you think. Diverting the flood is easy in theory; the National Council already has a document stating that as long as the water level at Shashi reaches 45 meters, flood diversion can occur. However, diverting the flood would displace more than 300,000 people and cause Angong County to revert to a pre-liberation state overnight. Such a monumental decision easily cannot be made lightly."

"What is Master Xi's opinion?"

"Master Xi is beside me, and I'll let him tell you directly."

"Okay."

Han Yu steadied his mind as he heard Master Xi on the other end of the line say, "Our opinion at the Yangtze River Committee is not to divert the flood for now. We have two main reasons: first, after repeated calculations, the flood peak's water level this time won't exceed 45 meters. Second, although the water level is high, the volume isn't too large."

Han Yu asked softly, "What about the local opinion?"

Like Master Han, Master Xi didn't enjoy socializing, so he either stayed at the Shashi Hydrological Station or at Old Ge's place these days.

Recalling the scene at the meeting, he smoked several times and sighed lightly, "Perhaps because a few civil dikes have breached consecutively these days and several people have died, the whole perspective has changed. From the Water Resources Department's experts to several provincial leaders, everyone believes flood diversion is inevitable. Some leaders are anxious, and their speeches are laced with urgency. Several experts also stated bluntly that flood diversion is a pressing matter."

Before anything happened, it was possible to prevent and hold fast.

Incidents have occurred, and casualties have already resulted; if more significant casualties occur, accountability will be imperative.

Old Ge, though never a high-ranking leader, understood the sentiments of those local leaders and mused, "This must be a psychological effect from the breaches at Pai Zhou Bay and Mengxi Embankment. It seems that the floods haven't only breached some civil dikes, but also some people's confidence."

Han Yu pursued further, "Master Xi, what did Vice President L say?"

Master Xi extinguished the cigarette and replied in a low voice, "As the General Commander of the National Flood Control Headquarters, others may panic, but he cannot. He said while talking about flood diversion every year, it hasn't actually been done for over forty years. No one is sure if the safe zones and platforms in the flood control area are secure. The immediate priority is to organize evacuations and ensure the safety of people's lives. He made it clear that the decision on flooding isn't made at the provincial level; it's up to the National Flood Control Headquarters."

"So, does this mean preparations need to be made for both eventualities?"

"Yes."

"Making preparations for both outcomes is wise. If we were to flood now, Angong would be overwhelmed."

"Let's not dwell on this anymore; the water level has risen again. You'll be busier tomorrow. Get some rest early."

"Master Xi, please take care of yourself too."

"I'm fine, still holding up."

...

Han Yu pressed the speakerphone button again and hung up, suddenly realizing Vice Mayor Qin and Deputy Division Commander Tao were staring at him blankly.

Deputy Mayor Shen appeared unphased by the commotion and quietly ate his meal.

"Mayor Qin, Deputy Division Commander Tao, please eat."

"Salted Fish, did Vice President L go to the First Team tonight?"

"If Director Ge said he went, then he should have. Mayor Qin, you came from Director Ge's side, and you know the situation there, close to the Yangtze River Bridge under construction. The Big Commander inspects Jingjiang's flood prevention there."

Vice Mayor Qin pursued, "Can Master Xi talk directly with Vice President L?"

"It's not about whether he can speak directly, but about reporting work to Vice President L. He was originally an engineer at the Yangtze River Committee Design Institute, initially representing the Yangtze Flood Control Headquarters to guide Jingzhou's flood prevention. Later, when the National Flood Control Headquarters and the Ministry of Water Resources successively sent expert groups to several provinces, he became an expert of the third batch of expert groups."

Seeing the two leaders' astonished expressions, Han Yu further explained, "Members of the expert groups are experts within the system of the Ministry of Water Resources, but they don't necessarily work there. The expert sent to guide flood prevention in our Jiangnan Province is a professor-level engineer seconded by the Ministry's Taihu Basin Administration."

The members of the Linghai Reserve Camp Senior Expert Group unexpectedly became flood prevention experts appointed by the National Flood Control Headquarters and the Ministry of Water Resources, illustrating the "high level" of the Linghai Reserve Camp now!

Vice Mayor Qin realized that Salted Fish's previous commission, two sets of camouflage uniforms, and a pair of military boots were not in vain; otherwise, where would be the opportunity now to relay information to a higher authority via Master Xi.

Deputy Division Commander Tao then realized the person in front wasn't an ordinary Reserve Battalion Commander and thought about how to handle relations with this Reserve Battalion Commander who had never been a soldier and could not simply be treated as a subordinate.