afterglow

Chapter 241 Pursue profit is nature; the true face
Zhou Changfeng actually felt that it was a bit cheap for this group of dignitaries to argue for a little bit of interest in Chuer Xiaobang.

It's as if a giant company acquires a small company. It's no big deal, but the board members are arguing.

The Japanese archipelago lacks natural resources, or mineral resources that are easy to mine. Although there were relatively rich copper, gold and silver deposits in ancient times, they have been exhausted in modern times, and they are at a natural disadvantage in terms of industrialization conditions.

And after the failure of betting on the national fortune, it is in a state of economic collapse and division. In this case, how can it vigorously develop industry by relying on huge indemnities like in history?
After the establishment of the various domains, the capital injection of Western forces is basically limited to light industry and municipal construction, with the purpose of better dumping goods.

Therefore, the industrial system owned by the various vassals of the Wa Kingdom is completely incomplete and chaotic, and there are very few heavy industries.Even Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and Nakajima Flight Co., Ltd. still rely on foreign technology transfer and import core components.

The famous Yawata Iron Works in history was built with the help of part of the indemnity, but now there is a similar steel factory in the Fukuoka Domain under the sphere of influence of the Ming Dynasty, named Fukuoka Metal Industry Co., Ltd., and the ownership of the enterprise mainly belongs to Xuan A group under Weisi.

According to the statistical analysis of the Intelligence Department of the Metropolitan Government, even if Japan is reunified and integrated today, its industrial capacity is roughly only at the level of the turn of the century.

Seeing that the dignitaries present were still negotiating with each other, Zhou Changfeng couldn't help muttering: "This is only Japan. I'm afraid they will become addicted to grabbing Nanyang's large and small assets in the future..."

Zhu Lingjing, who was seated at the top, also sighed secretly in her heart, although it was true that there was nothing luscious about it, but it was the first time in many years that people paid much attention to it, and subconsciously regarded it as a template for future benefit distribution.

If you get less points this time, who can guarantee that you will get more points next time?
"Short-term gains can't represent the pinnacle of future achievements. How can you hurt your peace because of a mere small business?" Xu Zhiyan smoothed things over and slightly eased the somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere.

"In the future, Nanyang's oil business may not be able to intervene. I am afraid that the court will trust Ge Yanzhi more." The president of Hangzhou Zhongsheng Aircraft Company expressed his concerns.

Ge Yanzhi was Ge Mao, Hou Guangxin of the current dynasty. Although [-]% of the shares of Daming National Oil and Gas Company belonged to the Ministry of Industry, he basically had full authority to manage it.

Unlike other nobles who like to invest in the name, Ge Mao runs the business entirely by himself. He is devoted to petrochemicals and has great enthusiasm for it. In addition, he also likes antique calligraphy and painting.

The most important resources in the Nanyang region are undoubtedly oil and rubber, in addition to tin, copper, quinine and other mineral resources and medical resources, among which the importance of oil resources ranks first for Daming.

The dignitaries realized helplessly that although it was huge profits, it was difficult for them to intervene in the oil resources that are crucial to both the country and the army. The biggest piece of the big cake was taken away by default from the very beginning. Compete with the rest of the cake.

"Derivatives seem to be okay. It is said that the Americans are researching petrochemical synthetic fibers. If they can be made, they can mass-produce fabrics. Our raw silk will definitely be affected."

"According to reports? This has been confirmed a long time ago. The so-called 'nylon' fiber has been researched almost in China."

"So, you might as well consider investing in a new line of business."

In addition to discussing profit distribution and light industry, everyone also discussed medical resources.

Since the Dutch started extensively planting cinchona trees in the Southeast Asia region, in just a few decades, Java, Borneo, and the Philippines have become the most important sources of quinine raw materials in the world. In the same period of history, their output accounted for The ratio can reach as high as 95%.

Today, although Yunnan, Qiongya, and Xiaoliuqiu in the Ming Dynasty are also widely planted, the quality and scale are still not as good as the Nanyang region with more unique climate and terrain conditions. The latter exports 90% of commercial quinine raw materials to the world.

In the future, on the battlefields of Southeast Asia and even the Pacific Ocean, malaria, a disease that is rampant, cannot be ignored, and its impact on the combat power of the army is no less than the shortage of food and ammunition.

Malaria is mostly infected by the bites of mosquitoes carrying pathogens. The main symptoms are hot and cold, sweating, high fever can reach 40 ℃, and the mortality rate is 9%-31%.According to incomplete statistics, the incidence of malaria in the US military who fought in the Nanyang region in history was as high as 400%, which means that each soldier was infected with malaria four times on average.

At the same time, due to the occupation of the main producing area of ​​quinine, a special drug for malaria, the U.S. military had to switch to the chemically synthesized drug adipine, which was less effective and had side effects after depleting its stocks.

If you look at this situation with a businessman's mind, the future war will undoubtedly be a huge business opportunity-the medical needs of the army must be the first priority, and since the main raw material production area has been won, the production cost of quinine will also plummet .

The demand has doubled and the cost has been greatly reduced. It is impossible not to make a lot of money.

Zhu Lingjing held the teacup with her normal expression, took a sip without covering it with her sleeves, and said calmly, "Money is intriguing, remember that greed is not good, and it is easy to do bad things."

This is not a warning or a beating, but just a reminder to the dignitaries present - making money is money, and the court also allows war money, but if it has a wrong mind, it will be embarrassing for both sides.

For example, when the European War was in full swing 20 years ago, the British and French had to search for additional suppliers all over the world due to a shortage of equipment to buy rifles, machine guns, bullets, tents, carrying equipment, canned food, etc. A certain food manufacturer in Ming Dynasty received an order that exceeded the limit of its own ability, so it could only shoddy it, and ended up cheating many British and French soldiers.

This matter was vigorously complained by Britain and France, but it was not investigated.

The profit-seeking nature of businessmen and their willingness to take risks for their own interests have long been guarded against by the emperors and ministers of the Ming Dynasty, because there are too many examples of suffering from this throughout the ages.

For another example, after the Jiajing and Wanli years, the government-run iron smelting industry gradually declined, and the famous government-run Zunhua Iron Works was also abolished and closed. Since then, the government has started to purchase iron materials from the private sector on a regular basis. The situation of pretending to be good and muddling through.

On this basis, the later Ming Dynasty went even further. The government was accustomed to purchasing needed goods from the private sector, which objectively promoted the further prosperity of private companies and the commodity economy, and at the same time brought a lot of trouble.

The Ming army was cheated several times during the expedition to Junggar and Uzbekistan-the government subcontracted military supplies to local companies to purchase and manufacture them, but the results were indiscriminate, and the front-line generals scolded their mothers in anger.

"...That's how it is, and I wish our country all the best." Pingdu Bo Yu Yongyu took the lead in toasting, and he did it first as a respect.

With him taking the lead, the others toasted to bless one after another, and then drank it down with their necks raised.

These days, the matter of dividing the cakes that has caught everyone's attention has been completed. With mutual communication, more than a dozen dignitaries have sorted out their general interests.

Wu Zhengren, who was an "observant", also understood all this, and he would truthfully report the situation on Zhu Lingjing's side to the crown prince and coordinate well.

Now that the matter is settled, the dinner seems to have suddenly become dull?

The topic of everyone's conversation returned to the trivial trivia at the beginning.

Xu Zhiyan, who was at a table away, suddenly looked at the table where Zhou Changfeng was, and then said with a smile: "This is Zhou Kexing, I've heard of his name in the past, but I saw it with my own eyes today, he is indeed a handsome man, he must be the leader of the country. pillars."

The three people sitting at the table in front of Zhu Lingjing's left are by default her confidants or retainers. Luo Fu and Fang Shu are already familiar faces, but it is the first time for Zhou Changfeng to appear on such an occasion, which somewhat attracts some dignitaries. interest of.

Objectively speaking, the current Zhou Changfeng can only be regarded as a small person in their eyes, at most a small person with some fame and appreciation.

But they also know very well that war is different from peacetime, and their status is much more likely to rise.A businessman may go the right way and get rich in a few years; a soldier may also make contributions and be promoted quickly, and even become a general.

There are too many examples of Hexi in 30 years in Hedong and 30 years in Hexi, let alone Zhou Changfeng, a young man with an unlimited future, it is not impossible to grow into a military leader in the future.

Right now, a few compliments, a little help, and some favors are all appropriate initial investments. This is how the network resources are accumulated little by little. Over time, you can find help for all kinds of difficulties.

Being praised in turn by a group of political, military, and business figures, this feeling is so stressful that Zhou Changfeng is a little hard to resist.

"Leading troops is not an easy task, and the marching and formation are very particular." Wu Zhengren stroked his beard and said, "His Royal Highness has also heard about your deeds, and he said that you are very talented. Maybe you will be able to make an immortal in the future." work."

"Uh...His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has praised you, Your Majesty...I have always just fulfilled my duties."

"Oh? Fulfill your duties?" Wu Zhengren teased with a smile: "Is it okay to lie about your health and go to Frangji alone?"

Zhou Changfeng: "..."

Seeing his slight embarrassment, Zhu Lingjing who was diagonally behind couldn't help but feel very funny, and there was a smile on her face.

Embarrassing?Aren't you very capable?Keep going.

Ever since, the banquet was full of joy.

To be honest, Zhou Changfeng thinks that they are also rich and powerful, and these guys feel much better. Although they are not approachable, they are generally kind.

Thinking back to my experience of being pulled into the banner by Zhu Lingjing's operation last year, and the inexplicable conversation when I first met her, I can only say that there is no harm without comparison.

Now that the business is settled and the dinner and drink are full, there is no need to procrastinate the dinner, and it will soon be over with Zhu Lingjing's departure first.

Zhou Changfeng and Luo Fu stood by the window, looking to the southwest, they could have a panoramic view of the lights of thousands of houses in the vast capital city.

The latter took out two packs of Taihu brand cigarettes, which cost more than one yuan each, and gave one to Zhou Changfeng, and then lit it with a match.

"How's it going? It's the first time I met these wealthy people, it feels so different from what I imagined before."

"Indeed, looking amiable, there are interests and interests in the lines of the actual words and in the eyes. To be honest, they feel completely different from His Highness."

Zhou Changfeng has always believed that superiors are friendly and charismatic, and arrogant and vulgar guys are by no means qualified dignitaries.

It was like this before time travel, and he also took it for granted that it would be the same after time travel.But after meeting Zhu Lingjing, this cognition was shattered, making him feel that the quality of the rich and powerful in Ming Dynasty varies, but what he saw and heard today made him regain his original cognition.

Luo Fu couldn't help laughing, "His Royal Highness is also quite friendly to ordinary outsiders, and only shows some true temperament to cronies. This is very normal in terms of emotion and reason."

"Too."

"What are your ambitions for the future?"

"Huh? It's hard to say, it's mainly for the prosperity of the country."

Luo Fu beside him laughed, "It's better than people like me who have no ambitions and only want to live a good life."

"Actually, it's almost the same. The difference is that I want more people to live a better life."

"You can really talk. Well, I won't talk anymore. I have a wife and children at home, so I will leave now."

After lingering alone by the window for a long time, Zhou Changfeng finally stopped his wandering thoughts and took the elevator downstairs to leave.

The true colors of the dignitaries did not exceed his expectations. What these people pursue are two things, one is to maintain influence and maintain their status, and the other is to strive for as many benefits as possible.

Perhaps this is the highest pursuit of most people?

Fortunately, at least for the time being, their pursuit coincides with the interests of Ming Dynasty, or China, and appropriate external expansion is indeed necessary.

Even if you look at it from a more conservative attitude, if you don't want to dominate the world, but just want to live a stable life in the Asia-Pacific region, the Dongying Islands and the Nanyang region must be in your hands.In this way, not only can it feed back the local area with abundant natural resources, but it can also deploy garrisons to keep external threats far away from thousands of miles away, without having to face the aggrievedness of being blocked at the door.

What Zhou Changfeng finds quite interesting is that Daming actually has a strategy plan for Australia - when he went to the Governor's Mansion before, he saw several staff members carrying a 1:150 million Australian sand table, which was filled with Small red and blue flags.

Although he cannot access the highly confidential combat plan documents with his authority, but this alone can actually determine the high-level ambitions.

As one of the places with the richest mineral resources, owning Australia is equivalent to having a pile of warehouses and endless farms. Whether it is iron ore or wool milk, it is very attractive no matter how you look at it.

He couldn't help sighing: "If it really works, it will be too nourishing. It's just that it's easy to lay down, but difficult to hold."

After driving to the pier and returning to the Jiangxinzhou station by boat, Zhou Changfeng realized that he had received two private telegrams in succession today.

The letter was sent by Hengguang Company, stating that they have initially made a rough idea of ​​"simple and convenient hand-held machine guns", and listed some indicators they determined.

The other letter was from my sister, it was very short, and the main idea was just one sentence - you boy, you didn't say anything about your engagement last time, how is it going now? !
(End of this chapter)