CHAPTER 487: CHAPTER 341 STRONG LINEUP_2

"I have no objections, Director Zhu, what do you think?"

"Xiang Ning, how about we go to the Ba Yi Hotel? It’s a guesthouse operated by the Military District and is quite quiet. The staff from the Port District don’t frequent there much."

"Okay."

Sister Zhu’s spouse is familiar with the Military District and helped make a few calls. The office space was quickly arranged, not only accommodations but also two offices and a small conference room were provided.

Han Xiangning was busy calling her brother and sister-in-law for help. When Han Shen heard that she was overwhelmed, he quickly drove the van to Bailong Port and brought the three little ones back to Sansing.

When the police go out to handle cases, there must be two official police officers, and it’s the same for Port Supervision enforcement.

Considering that at least two official staff members should be involved in the investigation, Sister Zhu discussed with Director Tang and quietly pulled in Xiao Kong, a Legal Affairs Department staff member who had just been identified as a promising party member and was studying at the City Committee Party School, into the Joint Investigation Team.

Director Tang later pondered and felt that although Han Xiangning was capable, she was ultimately too young. Letting her lead the team to ask for assistance from the Brother Port Supervision Bureau or Marine Supervision Bureau might lead them to think that the Yangtze River Binjiang Port and Shipping Supervision Bureau did not place importance on this matter.

They simply called back Director Dong, who had just retired and no longer needed to clock in for work.

By three in the afternoon, everyone was in place, and everything was ready.

Director Tang and Sister Zhu lied about going to a city government meeting, drove a big loop around the city to ensure they were not being followed, and quietly arrived at the Ba Yi Hotel.

Director He also arrived.

Sister Zhu chaired the meeting. Both directors spoke in turn, announcing the establishment of the Joint Investigation Team.

On the Port Supervision side, Deputy Captain of the Port Supervision Bureau Han Xiangning was in charge, and on the Changhang Bureau side, Xiao Jun, head of the Severe Punishment Task Force, was responsible. They demanded that staff from their respective units strictly guard the secrets and motivate the team before the operation.

Director Dong had watched Han Xiangning and Salted Fish grow up. The water depth detector on 001 and the Dunship’s certifications were also sponsored by Director Dong after Xu Sanye, Li Weiguo, Old Zhang, and Captain Wang got him drunk and confusedly agreed to support.

When Han Xiangning and Salted Fish got married, he was also invited; of course, he would support Han Xiangning’s work.

The Changhang Bureau was entirely staffed by veterans with an average age of fifty-five, having also watched Han Xiangning and Salted Fish grow up. Moreover, when they dealt with currency speculation and illegal eel fry fishing, they had fought alongside Salted Fish.

For them, supporting Han Xiangning meant supporting the younger generation they saw grow up, and they all expressed their obedience and readiness to complete the tasks assigned by their superiors.

The Port Supervision Bureau handled affairs in a grand and customary manner.

After the meeting, Director Tang arranged two tables in a grand private room on the second floor of the hotel to thank the Changhang Bureau, especially the Severe Punishment Task Force.

It might seem exaggerated if word got out, but it was actually very necessary.

Because the members of the Joint Investigation Team not only had an older average age but also higher administrative levels.

Xiao Jun a Director, Director Dong a Director; except for Xiao Kong from the Legal Affairs Department of the Port Supervision Bureau, all were senior officials of Deputy Director level or above, which led to Director Tang half-jokingly saying during the toast that the Joint Investigation Team was mighty and prestigious.

Well fed and well drunk, after sending off the three leaders, they returned to the small conference room on the third floor of the hotel to discuss official matters.

Seeing an old colleague habitually pulling out a cigarette, Xiao Jun immediately coughed dryly and reminded: "Old Shen, Xiang Ning is pregnant and can’t stand the smell of smoke; if you want to smoke, please step outside."

"Oh, I almost forgot, Xiang Ning, sorry, I won’t smoke."

"Uncle Shen, it’s okay, my dad smokes at home too."

"How can that be okay? Go back and talk to him. Everything for the next generation, everything for Little Salted Fish, does he really want to be a grandfather or not? Tell him to quit smoking."

"Father is not about whether he wants to be a grandfather, but whether he wants to be a granddad. Uncle Shen, this is a matter of principle, don’t confuse it."

Salted Fish marrying this girl, whether it’s actually a reverse marriage, who exactly married whom, it’s still not clear to this day...

Thinking about these matters, everyone burst into laughter.

Han Xiangning felt a bit embarrassed by the teasing from the elders, when Old Jiang promptly rapped on the table: "Be serious, we’re in a meeting. You said in the afternoon, and just now while drinking, that you need to support Ningning’s work and obey orders and commands!"

"Right, right, right, no more jokes, Ningning, please start."

"Okay."

Han Xiangning never expected the day would come when she had to direct a bunch of senior directors, directors, and instructors, and she hurriedly started briefing the already grasped information.

An elderly comrade took over the fax document and asked, "The reply must have come in an envelope, Ningning, have you asked anyone from the South Sea Sea Supervision Bureau if the fake reply was mailed from our Binjiang?"

"I asked, and they said it was mailed from Binjiang. The dates and postmarks on the envelope match up, and even the envelope is exclusively used by our Port Supervision Bureau."

"Where’s the envelope?"

"After opening it, they don’t know where they threw it, but they have a record of the receipt."

"Could you ask them to look for it again? Those envelopes are very important; they could be considered key evidence."

Han Xiangning quickly said, "They might not be able to find them, but they mentioned that recently a couple of Xiguang shipping companies, who organized crew members to apply for sea mate certificates there, had submitted another batch of application materials."

Jiang Xiaojun put down his pen, looked up, and asked, "How many crew members did they organize for the examination this time?"

"Ninety-six, including eight Jianfu registered inland river crew members whose qualification certificates were issued by our bureau."

"Are they really?"

"Of course not. According to the information provided by colleagues in the South Sea, Director Zhu discreetly helped us check the issuance registration at noon. Over the past five years, our Port Supervision Bureau test department issued only forty-eight sets of certificates to crew members registered in Jianfu, not including those eight who applied in the South Sea."

An old director lifted his head and said, "That means we need to hurry to the South Sea, and while investigating and collecting evidence, we must quietly watch the official documents issued by the South Sea Sea Supervision Bureau to find out how the correspondences that should have been sent to our bureau were intercepted."

Before Han Xiangning could speak, Jiang Xiaojun tapped the table, "Not only do we need to find out how the official documents were intercepted, but also who sent out the fake replies."

"The person who intercepted the real official documents should be the one who sent the fake replies!"

"Even if it’s not the same person, they must be part of the same group."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the official documents and fake replies lead us on one path, and the counterfeit certificates come from another path. I think we should deploy our forces on three fronts: one to the South Sea, watching the official documents issued by the South Sea Sea Supervision Bureau; one to Xiguang, to inspect those two shipping companies and figure out the false materials they provided, especially how they got the fake certificates."

"What about the third route?"

"Secretly investigate the Port Supervision Bureau, starting by clarifying the document transmission process to see if there’s an insider."

"Director Jiang, Ningning just mentioned that those two shipping companies organized ninety-six people for a test in the South Sea. The South Sea Sea Supervision Bureau has to confirm with us in Binjiang, but also with other port supervision bureaus from different areas. Shouldn’t those bureaus be investigated too?"

"How they investigate on their side, we can’t control, plus we don’t have enough manpower. It seems we only need to focus on the line directed toward our Binjiang. Their method of committing the crime is so professional, they must be working together."

"That makes sense, just need to break through the initial barrier, and the rest will be easier."

"Ningning, what do you think?"

Although the Changhang navigation police are not as specialized as local police, everyone present is experienced in handling cases, and this case is not that complex.

Han Xiangning, not daring to show off in front of the elders, giggled, "Uncle Jiang, Uncle Shen, all uncles, you’re the experts in investigations. Uncle Dong, Xiao Kong, and I are responsible for coordinating and communicating with the Brother Port Supervision Bureau and the Marine Supervision Bureau and asking them to assist in our investigation."

Indeed, as a girl watched growing up, not becoming arrogant after becoming the Deputy Captain and clearly understanding that amateurs shouldn’t command professionals, Director Dong inwardly praised her.

Former Changhang Bureau Security Department Deputy Director Old Shen was also very satisfied and couldn’t resist teasing, "Not only are you responsible for communication and coordination, but also for footing the bill."

Han Xiangning laughed, "Exactly, exactly. I’m just here to foot the bill for all the uncles."

Jiang Xiaojun chuckled, curiously asking, "How much money did Director Tang give you?"

Han Xiangning glanced back at Xiao Kong and proudly said, "He first gave me forty thousand, if it’s not enough, we’ll claim more. The budget is not an issue!"