Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1156 - 33: Must Surpass Oneself!

At 2 PM, Hailuo Cement (Linghai) Co., Ltd held a groundbreaking ceremony.

The total investment surpasses both Cosco Shipyard and Shenglong Shipyard owned by the Zhehai boss, and once completed and operational, it will become the largest enterprise in the Linghai Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Secretary Ye, Mayor Qian, and other city leaders all came. Flags were fluttering along the riverside, and firecrackers were sounding.

Building a modern large-scale cement factory is different from building a house. The general contractor is a nationally renowned company from Si Gang. They provide all-in-one service from design, infrastructure, equipment manufacturing to installation and commissioning. In other words, you give them money, and they give you a cement factory!

They produce related construction material machinery like roller presses, tube mills, rotary kilns, and dryers themselves, selling to thirty provinces, municipalities, and regions domestically, with main products and supporting equipment even exporting to countries and regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

There are also quite a few civil engineering projects with no technical content. It's unclear whether Sanhe Construction Station and Tianbu Construction Station participated in the general contractor's bidding; despite being so close, they didn't secure the projects, letting Liangzhuang Construction Group from Si Gang take the first move.

But then again, Liangzhuang Construction Group has been doing engineering in Linghai for two years.

The new plant projects of Huimei Clothing, Longgang Rice Industry, and Linghai Shipyard were all done by them. Their quotes were reasonable, project quality was good, and the project progress was also guaranteed.

For such a large project's groundbreaking ceremony, not only did President Wang of Liangzhuang Construction Group attend, but even the former Secretary of Liangzhuang Town's Party W and now Deputy Researcher of Si Gang County, Lu Huisheng, came.

Secretary Lu is an old acquaintance from Si Gang. As soon as Han Xiang Ning saw Old Lu's name on the guest list, he quickly reported to his father.

Master Han specially went to Sanhe to invite Secretary Lu for a meal, but the opportunity was snatched by Zhang Erxiao who has business dealings with the Liangliang Group, so he could only accompany along with his daughter.

"Master Han, where is your Salted Fish?"

"He went to the Navy Retirement Home. I called him; he said he has a meeting in the afternoon and won't be able to come until the evening."

"What is he doing at the Navy Retirement Home?"

"He's busy setting up the Navy Reserve Camp. The Navy has several units in our Binjiang, but the only one in the city with relatively higher-level is the Navy Retirement Home, so the superior asked the Navy Retirement Home to assist him."

Old Lu found it very strange, sipped his drink and puzzledly asked, "The Linghai Reserve Camp is doing quite well; it was just commended by the Central Committee. Why go and set up a Navy Reserve Camp now?"

Before Master Han could speak, Zhang Erxiao chuckled and asked, "Secretary Lu, do you know our Linghai Reserve Camp?"

Old Lu set down his glass, waved his hand energetically, "President Zhang, you've been to our Liangzhuang; there aren't many things besides a lot of officers there, the highest rank is Lieutenant General! If you don't believe me, you can ask Political Commissioner Chen at the Military District, though you don't need to ask, just ask Master Han, as he's one of us at Liangzhuang now."

Dinghu was merged into Liangzhuang, and Master Han is truly one of Liangzhuang's people now.

Thinking about the formidable lineup of officers at Liangzhuang, Master Han couldn't help but laugh, "Xiao Zhang, Secretary Lu is really not joking with you. Secretary Lu might not know about provincial matters, but there's nothing in the military he doesn't know."

Old Lu liked hearing this, smiled, "President Zhang, do you know why I didn't dine with Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian from your Linghai, but came here instead?"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to congratulate you, a nationwide anti-flood model, attending the National Flood Control Summary and Commendation Conference, going to the People's Hall and meeting so many leaders, it's truly remarkable.

Although I participated in flood control too, and was the commander-in-chief of the flood control and drought relief command at our Liangzhuang's Liu Xia River area, I still should learn from you, come, let me toast to you!"

"Secretary Lu, I'll toast to you, I can't let you toast to me."

"You are a model, I am not. You've met high-ranking officials, I haven't. I've only visited the People's Hall as a tourist, buying a ticket to enter."

Old Secretary is as humorous as ever, and Han Xiang Ning couldn't help but laugh.

Old Lu was genuinely happy that the young man from Liangzhuang and those with business dealings with Liangzhuang achieved great things and were commended by the Central Committee. After toasting Zhang Erxiao, he toasted Master Han and Han Xiang Ning.

After several rounds of drinking and dishes enjoyed.

Old Lu shifted focus, "Master Han, it's a good thing your Salted Fish doesn't want to rest on past laurels and is setting up a Navy Reserve Camp; young people should be like this. But Navy is different from Army, even the Navy itself hasn't figured things out, so what result can reserves achieve?"

If not for being one of their own, he wouldn't say these words.

Master Han knew well Old Lu's sincere concern and replied with a bitter smile, "The superior specifically appointed him as the Camp Commander; he can't refuse and can only take it on."

Before the flooding, Old Lu toured the country, visiting many places and military units, including naval ones.

Not visiting, one wouldn't know, but after seeing, he felt disappointed with the Navy.

Taking a cigarette from Old Zhang beside him, he lamented, "Since setting up a Navy Reserve Camp, it can't lack a warship. I don't know if the superior will give him a decommissioned warship, but even if they do, I think it shouldn't be taken."

"Why?" Zhang Erxiao asked curiously.

"What's the use of those outdated warships? I once boarded a warship, knocked on the railing, and the whole side's railing resonated together!"

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Old Lu lit a cigarette and continued, "I even boarded a destroyer. From a distance, it looked new and beautiful, but once you got on board, you'd find out that the hull was old. It used a steam engine, which ran on heavy oil, and needed preheating before leaving port. It was really outdated. Ningning understands this better than I do. You can ask her if you don't believe me."

The navy has a base at Wusong Port, with many vessels docked there.

I saw them when I took the ferry back from the East Sea. Those ships were indeed very old.

Han Xiangning sighed lightly and nodded with a wry smile.

Old Lu tapped his cigarette ash and continued, "The living facilities on those old warships are lacking. They don't even have a dining hall or air conditioning. They've been in service longer than President Zhang's age. We have a soldier from Liangzhuang whom I sent to join the military. He could have gotten into a military academy but didn't. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"He served in the navy for four years, trained for a year and a half, and finally got assigned to the fleet. But that warship was under repair for two full years, and he did nothing all that time. He thought there was no point in becoming a naval officer through military academy, so he didn't take the exam and was discharged two years ago."

Navy equipment has been outdated for more than a day or two.

Han Xiangning was silent for a moment and then said in a low voice, "Even retired ships are a burden to the navy because they can't afford the maintenance."

"So making something out of this Navy Reserve Camp is nearly impossible."

"Then what should we do?"

Old Zhang, who didn't want Han Yu's reputation to be tarnished, couldn't help but ask, "Secretary Lu, you know so many military officers and have rich experience. What should we do about this Navy Reserve Camp?"

Old Lu picked up a peanut and munched on it, pondering, "Making something impressive is unrealistic, but satisfying the superiors is simple."

"How do we satisfy them?"

"You guys in Linghai have lots of fishermen since you're by the sea. Why not form a Marine Patrol Reserve Camp?"

"No, the fishermen at San Zao Port are all Civilian Soldiers. Transferring them to the reserves and putting them in navy training uniforms has no uniqueness or significance."

"Then... then make a Marine Corps Reserve Camp."

The more Old Lu thought about it, the better it seemed, so he pointed at Zhang Erxiao and said, "Doesn't your Linghai Reserve Camp have a Water Rescue Team? The team consists of young guys who are good in the water. Just put them in Navy Reserve Force training uniforms and enhance their military training. Voila, you've got a Marine Corps Reserve Camp."

A Marine Corps Reserve Camp is just like an Army Reserve Camp. Zhang Erxiao couldn't help but laugh.

Master Han and Han Xiangning were also stunned. They never expected Old Lu to come up with such an idea.

Old Lu seized on this momentum, saying, "Master Han, you've served in the military for so many years; you have the most say. Think about it. Creating a Marine Corps Reserve Camp doesn't require ships or any fancy technology. When superiors come to visit for research, you can present a spruced-up team, and even conduct live-fire exercises. You'd accomplish tasks assigned by your superiors and have something to show them. Isn't that great?"

This was really a case of cutting corners to form a Marine Corps Reserve Camp.

Master Han was fully impressed but still shook his head, saying, "I doubt San'er would be interested; he does things differently from others. He's a bit of a stickler for details."

"Then create a Naval Coastal Defense Artillery Reserve Camp. Since the superiors asked him to form it, they should at least provide some artillery. If the superiors are truly unwilling to give them, I can help find connections."

"I bet he wouldn't be interested in coastal defense guns either."

"Does he want a real navy?"

"Not necessarily very real, but at least capable of going out to sea."

"That's not possible. The navy itself doesn't have proper vessels. What kind of ships can they give him?"

The Linghai Reserve Camp is a Flood Control and Rescue Mobile Assault Battalion, and flood control and rescue is its specialty.

Han Xiangning knew his junior too well and knew that he would definitely want to create something distinctive and not just appease the superiors, so he quickly said, "Secretary Lu, Customs is about to equip a new anti-smuggling boat, which is armed with a machine gun. San'er going to sea wouldn't be a problem."

"If he wants a real navy, an anti-smuggling boat won't cut it. Equipping a machine gun on an anti-smuggling boat is no different from equipping a gun on a fishing boat."

Old Lu was genuinely worried for Han Yu. Thinking it over, he tapped on the table and said, "Master Han, Ningning, Salted Fish is different from others. If the superiors have named him for the job, it implies he has to make achievements! And the standard for comparison is no one else but himself. In other words, the Navy Reserve Camp has to be better constructed than the Linghai Reserve Camp!"

Surpassing oneself is not that easy.

Making the Navy Reserve Camp better constructed than the Linghai Reserve Camp and achieving greater success than the Linghai Reserve Camp is not just difficult—it can be said to be entirely impossible. After all, the Linghai Reserve Camp has just received the highest honor.

When you're in the game, it's hard to see clearly; outsiders see the picture more clearly.

Old Lu's words made Master Han and Han Xiangning suddenly realize why San'er had been so worried since returning from the East Sea and why he had called Vice Mayor Qin and Deputy Mayor Shen yesterday to resign from his position as camp commander of the Linghai Reserve Camp and wanted to "transfer" to the navy.