Chapter 737: Chapter 499: Plans Cannot Keep Up with Changes
has never ventured this far since its first upgrade and modification.
Due to unfamiliarity with the water conditions in the waterway, a journey that normally takes fifty hours took sixty-three hours to safely arrive at the Hanwu Shipyard dock.
Seeing 001 slowly mooring at the dock, Director He and Zhao Hongxing finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling confident about the return journey as well. After all, if the young n could navigate 001 from Binjiang, they could safely pilot the three patrol boats back.
After resting ashore for a night, the next morning, they inspected the three patrol boats which had completed various tests.
Handing over three law enforcent boats was a big event both for Binjiang Police and the Changhang Police Bureau. With approval from his superiors, Xiao Yu was fully involved in the inspection.
Over the past half-year, he had visited almost every weekend to check on construction progress, and he was thoroughly familiar with the patrol boats’ equipnt and specifications, able to recite them like counting treasures.
The hull numbers had already been painted by the shipyard.
The two from the Changhang Binjiang Branch were "Yangtze Police 110" and "Yangtze Police 111," supposedly ordered according to the numbering sequence of law enforcent vessels within the Changhang Police System, but Han Yu was seriously skeptical about whether Changhang Police System really had that many law enforcent vessels.
The hull number for the Water Police Station’s patrol boat was "Binjiang Police 002." As long as Han Yu’s 001 was not retired, even the most advanced law enforcent vessels had to be ranked behind it.
After completing inspections one by one and understanding the main engine conditions and operating instructions, they proceeded to conduct trial runs on the river.
The maneuverability was acceptable, but stability was average; after all, the boats were quite small.
After an afternoon of alternating control, crew mbers basically knew how to operate and troubleshoot common faults.
Following the contract, the shipyard provided a batch of spare parts for replacent. Han Yu asked Xiao Yu to organize everyone to move them onto 001, while he himself, accompanied by two officials from the Yangtze Port Supervision Bureau and Changhang Police Bureau, hurried to another dock at Hanwu Shipyard to discuss the navigation plan with a Navy officer also there to take receipt of vessels.
The submarine needed escorting, not because they feared sabotage along the way, but rather concern for navigational safety.
The farther downstream, the more large and small ships there were on the river.
Especially after entering the Jiangnan Section, the river was truly bustling with boats vying for passage.
Navigating a boat on the river is basically the sa principle as driving a car on land; just because you don’t hit soone doesn’t an they won’t hit you.
Moreover, submarines are different from surface vessels.
The cockpit is below, offering not just poor vision, but absolutely no view of the river surface. The crew can only rely on raising a periscope to observe and warnings from officers in the command tower.
Navigating the Changhang waterway is incredibly busy and complex, to the extent that many sea vessel crews are reluctant to enter the Yangtze because navigating it is truly exhausting. Only captains willing to navigate the Yangtze do so, but that’s because the rates for trips on the Yangtze are high.
In short, navigating a submarine down the Yangtze to the open sea is not an easy task, and the pressure on Navy personnel is imnse.
Han Yu quickly drew a formation diagram on paper.
"Captain Liu, Binjiang Police 001 in front, Yangtze Police 110?? 111 on your sides, Binjiang Police 002 at the rear. We maintain a safe distance and keep the sa speed. What do you think?"
"It’s embarrassing to have you protecting us from all directions."
"There’s nothing embarrassing about it since we have to go back anyway."
Han Yu smiled and added, "001 is a converted law enforcent rescue boat, equipped with the most advanced underwater survey system. There’s no concern about running aground when following 001, and if there’s a chanical fault, 001 can tow."
Captain Liu quickly said, "Thank you, Director Han, I appreciate this."
"It’s no trouble."
Han Yu reflected, then continued: "Moreover, after reaching Binjiang, if we leave the main waterway and enter the Wusong Waters, whether we take the South Channel or North Channel, the waterway and current conditions will be very complicated, and there are many foreign vessels, which isn’t conducive for keeping secrets."
Captain Liu asked quietly, "Director Han, are you suggesting taking the North Branch Channel to sea?"
"Your submarines are just over a thousand tons, and they don’t draft very deep, perfectly suited for the North Branch."
"We are not familiar with the North Branch Channel; what if we run aground? Moreover, there are hardly any ports or docks on both sides of the North Branch in case of a malfunction."
"We are familiar with the North Branch Channel, and our 001 is a tugboat!"
"Director Han, I thought you only went up to Binjiang?"
"We can escort you all the way to the sea outlet."
"That’s nearly a hundred kiloters from Binjiang to the sea outlet, would your superiors agree?"
"They will, definitely. In fact, I can make the decision on this."
"Director Han, thank you so much, but we’ve never navigated the North Branch Channel before, I need to consult and report to my superiors on such a major decision."
"Please consult quickly, I’ll wait for your news."
"Thank you."
There are many benefits to leaving via the North Branch.
Firstly, there are almost no large vessels on the North Branch Channel, greatly reducing the possibility of collisions, unlike the main waterway with its multitude of large and small boats, where avoiding others doesn’t an they won’t hit you.
Secondly, it aids in keeping operations confidential, not having to worry about being photographed by crew mbers of foreign vessels.
Not wanting to delay, Captain Liu used the confidential phone in the shipyard’s Military Representative Office to consult and report to his superiors.
Han Yu thought there would be a quick response, but the leadership of the East Sea Fleet unexpectedly asked colleagues from the Yangtze Port Supervision Bureau and Changhang Police Bureau to answer the phone.
After tightly waiting for over an hour by the dock, Captain Liu and colleagues from the Yangtze Port Supervision Bureau and Changhang Police Bureau finally returned, smiling at Han Yu: "Director Han, it turns out you’ve helped the Navy transport vessels before; our leaders know you!"
"Really?"
"Our superiors have asked us to follow your commands and listen to your directions while navigating the Yangtze!"
"There’s no need for that much exaggeration; you can arrange for soone to board our ship so we can keep in touch and communicate better."
"It’s not an exaggeration, our leaders insist that we follow your orders completely."
Here was the person who had helped the Navy transport the Big Shark, and that was the first vessel!
In comparison, what he was receiving was just a small shark.
Captain Liu never expected to et such a distinguished figure, looking back at the military representative who had just arrived, and sowhat embarrassingly said: "Director Han, our superiors have asked
to see if we could wait a few days before setting sail."
"Can’t you leave tomorrow?"
"We can set sail at any ti, but another just finished a major overhaul and still has so cleanup work left."
Captain Liu raised his arm and pointed to an old submarine not far away: "The superiors heard that you are escorting us and that the escort fleet consists of four law enforcent boats. They plan to have another one accompany us."
Plans cannot keep up with changes.
Han Yu hesitated and asked, "How many days should we wait?"
Before Captain Liu could speak, the military representative smiled and said, "At most four days, Comrade Han Yu, if you can wait for four days, I will coordinate with the shipyard right away."
Previously, Navy submarines were taken away by the sailors themselves once delivered, the Ministry of Transport only provided the latest waterway information, and only in special circumstances would ship escorts be arranged, so it was common to see a lone, dark submarine navigating the Yangtze River.
In any case, this escort mission was incidental.
The Navy does not have funds for this, and neither does the Yangtze Port Supervision Bureau nor Changhang Police Bureau.
If we don’t help, they’ll have to carefully make their way back.
Han Yu didn’t want to disappoint them and smiled, "I’ll report to the superiors first, wait for four days, right? There shouldn’t be a problem."
"Thank you."
"You’re welco."
...
Director He’s return to Hanwu was truly a "triumphant return."
After serving as the head of the Binjiang Branch for two years not only did he transform the Binjiang Branch into a true part of Changhang navigation police, but his achievents in fighting cri were also notably comndable. The organizational construction was thriving, and he even helped Hanwu Shipyard secure nurous shipbuilding orders!
The superiors were very satisfied with his work over the past two years, and the bureau leaders had just had a talk with him that morning.
When Han Yu ca back, he was imdiately summoned into Zhao Hongxing’s room.
"Salted Fish, have you settled things with the Navy?"
"Director He, Director Zhao, there’s been a slight change."
"What change?"
Han Yu briefly explained the situation, and Director He couldn’t help but laugh: "The Navy really knows how to take advantage of an opportunity, not spending a penny and having you escort two submarines."
Han Yu sighed lightly, "Their funds are indeed very tight; I’ve been to their observation station on She Island, and the conditions there are really harsh."
"A cal, even when starved, is still bigger than a horse; their budget constraints can’t be tighter than yours."
"Director He, you’re making fun of !"
"Not making fun of you, just expressing how I feel. I wouldn’t dare to borrow so much at once; I don’t have the courage like you young couples do."
Just his luck.
Han Yu was at a loss for words when Zhao Hongxing laughed, "Director He, let’s talk about the escort mission. We have fewer ships, you have more, you say wait and we will wait."
"If Salted Fish says to wait a few days, then we wait a few days."
"Director He, how can I just agree to others casually? We have more than a dozen people here, and we have to spend money wherever we do anything. Waiting one more day ans spending more."
"In the past, I definitely wouldn’t have let you wait, but now the branch’s budget isn’t so tight. We can afford to wait a few days." Director He smiled and turned around to ask, "Hongxing, do you want to make a call to check with Director Wang?"
Zhao Hongxing hurriedly said, "I definitely need to make a call to report. I think Director Wang wouldn’t oppose it."
"Then it’s settled. Salted Fish, this is your third ti to Hanwu, right? The previous tis you didn’t really go out much, and since you have to wait now, you might as well go out and enjoy yourself."
"Director He, going out on public expenses might make other colleagues happy, but Salted Fish probably isn’t in the mood."
"That’s true, owing the bank so much money, you probably can’t even sleep well these days."
Talking back to square one!
Han Yu found it both funny and embarrassing, not knowing what to say when Director He changed the subject: "Salted Fish, no jokes now, let’s talk serious."
"What’s the serious matter?"
"The superiors spoke to
today, and my job might be adjusted soon."
"Oh!"
"What ’oh’? Job transfers are normal."
Director He looked back at Zhao Hongxing, and continued, "From what the superiors indicated, I might be headed to work in the East Sea. You’ve bought a house in East Sea, got the East Sea residence permit, and now you are an East Sea person. Would you like to co with
to the East Sea Branch?"
Director Wang has beco the head of the bureau.
Director He might soon be transferred to Changhang East Sea Branch.
It was conceivable that all this had sothing to do with the recent special campaign against illegal sand extraction that was covered on the Central Television Station’s news.
Han Yu sincerely rejoiced for his old unit’s leaders and was grateful for their ntorship, yet he felt embarrassed and said, "Director He, we mainly bought the comrcial housing in East Sea for Han Han. I really hadn’t considered working in East Sea."
"Now you can consider it. If you hadn’t bought the house and handled the East Sea residence, I really wouldn’t be able to transfer you there, as relocating to East Sea indeed poses so difficulties, even more so than transferring to Hanwu."
"Thank you, Director He, I... I would rather stay in Binjiang."
"Opportunities are rare; think it over."
"No need to think, I can’t live separately from Ningning. Besides, the cost of living in East Sea is so high, my current situation is already strained enough; I wouldn’t dare to work in East Sea even if it kills ."
If the young man goes to East Sea, he would have to start from scratch.
And as he said, the cost of living in East Sea is indeed high, and given his current situation, it’s not really suitable for him to move there.
Director He did not press further but smiled and said, "You’ve already bought the house, and you’re so young, just gradually pay it off. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and worrying alone won’t help either."
"I know."
"Lighten up, take advantage of the good weather and relax properly. I’ll call the police academy leaders to ask them to give Xiao Yu a few more days off, let Xiao Yu take you out to have a good ti."
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