Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 137 East Coastism ([-])

If one were to select the most industrious and hardworking senior officials of the East China Republic, if Shao Shude said he was second, then absolutely no one would dare to call himself number one.

Since taking over the work of the iron ore working group in May last year, Shao Shude has spent most of his time in the field.The dredging of the iron ore transportation channel, the operation of Xiayihe Fort, and the construction of the Changshanbao Iron Mine Area, these few things consumed him too much energy.Coupled with the complex terrain and the situation of the aborigines, it is no exaggeration that Shao Shude has worked hard for more than a year.

In May of the first half of the year, not only was the silted Yihe River cleared, but even a small canal from the Changshanbao Iron Mine Area to the Yihe River was dug, and the transportation conditions in the iron mine area were greatly improved. The 5-ton inland river shallow water transport ship can sail unimpeded directly to the freight wharf of the iron ore area. The iron ore mined in the iron ore area is transported from the mine area through a section of iron-clad hardwood track for shipment, and then passes through the Yihe River. The waterway enters Pinganbao through Milin Lake, the Two Lakes Canal (dredged on the basis of the San Gonzalo River), and Duck Lake.So far, the Changshanbao iron ore area has entered a substantive stage of construction and development.

Inland river transport ships brought in a large amount of supplies: weapons, construction materials, living supplies, mining equipment and tools, transport vehicles, and a large number of draft horses and other livestock. In addition, of course, more people.

More than 400 immigrants, 100 ex-pirate slaves, and more than 10 Charuya women and children were already in place before October.They assisted the construction team and part of the garrison temporarily transferred here to start building the Changshan Fortress, and opened up fields in the mountains to grow crops and herd goats and other livestock to reduce the pressure on logistical transportation.

At the same time, small-scale trials of iron ore mining began.Changshan Iron Mine is an excellent vanadium-containing titanium-magnetite with high ore grade and convenient mining. In October, the first shipment of iron ore was mined in the iron ore area, which marked the end of the history of zero iron ore output in the East Coast Republic of China.

In order to commemorate this significant historical moment, Shao Shude decided to personally escort the iron ore with the ship and inspect the current construction progress of Xiayihe Fort by the way.

On the evening of October 10, the inland river shallow water transport ship numbered "Yiyun 17" docked at the pier of Xiayihebao.The crew dropped the stern anchor and fixed the bow with cables, then disembarked in twos and threes and went to the city to rest.As for the boats, they will be guarded by dock guards.

Knowing Shao Shude's arrival, Qin Yu, who is currently the captain of the development team of Xiayihe Fort, came to greet him personally.Shao Shude didn't have any airs and was very easy-going. While chatting with Qin Yu, he walked down to Yihe Castle.

Xiayihe Castle has a circumference of 1000 meters and a height of five meters. It took more than half a year of construction. At present, the construction of the city wall and urban area has basically been completed, and various facilities inside and outside the city wall are also readily available, which can be regarded as having the basic functions of a city.The area outside the city close to the city wall was opened up to grow potatoes and vegetables. This was also to solve the shortage of supplies in the city and reduce the pressure on logistics and transportation.

"Everything is fine in the whole city, but the population is too small." Qin Yu said to Shao Shude with a bitter face, "Including those Charuya women and children with ulterior motives, there are only a little over 500 people in total, and they can't do anything. To be able to nest nearby to farm, hunt, and provide supplies to passing ships, this castle owner should feel aggrieved."

"What's the use of complaining to me? There are only 700 people in Changshanbao, and there is a shortage of people." Shao Shude said, "Now a group of French textile workers immigrated, but they were all intercepted by the General Administration of Textile Industry. It is said that It is because they want to expand production, and these French textile workers are the best source of workers, and it will be extremely difficult for others to compete for it.”

"That's it..." Qin Yu said disappointedly, "In short, let's fight for it. The current manual mining is definitely not enough. The iron-making furnace of Ping'an Iron and Steel Plant cannot be stopped once it is turned on. With the current output of Changshan Iron Mine , it is impossible to meet the demand for iron-making over there, if not, you still have to make iron and steel in crucibles, then there is no point in building this iron and steel plant.”

"We must fight for it. Otherwise, what do you think I am personally escorting the iron ore this time for fun? Isn't it for the Executive Committee and the Government Affairs Council!" Shao Shude said angrily, "But you Just don’t expect too much. By the way, Dongfang County recently issued a document on the purge of the old traditions and cultural policies of the Charuya people, have you read it?”

"I've seen it." Qin Yu nodded and replied, "I agree with the spirit of the document. These Charuya people stick to their old traditions and culture, and worship primitive religions, and they are very resistant to accepting us. The advanced culture on the east coast is more stubborn and reactionary than those Europeans. If we don’t deal with them now, after decades or hundreds of years, they will not be able to form a whole in our country, leaving an extremely bad situation for other immigrants role model."

"Then how are you going to deal with this matter?" Shao Shude frowned and asked, "There are quite a few Charuyas here in Lower Yihe Fort, and those European immigrants who don't disappear are much better than the Charuyas. Look at them, although there is no church, they still often pray to God in their lives; they usually speak in their own language, and only speak Chinese when communicating with other races; what’s more, some people even cut their own national costumes; How are you going to deal with all of this?"

"That's why it's difficult." Qin Yu sighed heavily, and said, "The conditions here are too poor. Most of the immigrants are new arrivals, and there are basically no old immigrants, so they lack role models to learn from and imitate. Unlike the old Which of the 5000 people in the urban area and Dongfang Port can’t have a fluent daily conversation in Chinese? Who doesn’t wear the same clothes, eat the same food, and live the same lifestyle as us? Many Christians have even converted to Taoism or Buddhism, or simply It’s just becoming an atheist. If there is such a strong atmosphere here in Xiayihe Castle, then you still have to worry about assimilation.”

"That's right." Shao Shude also sighed, "I've been squatting in the sloppy ravine in Changshan Fort for a long time, and I feel like I'm going to be assimilated into a savage by them. But assimilation, fusion This matter is related to our foundation, and no matter how difficult it is, we must continue to carry it out. Now it seems that the aborigines are the most difficult to assimilate. I really didn’t expect it! They should be the easiest to accept our way of life and culture. , did not expect their traditional habits to be so stubborn."

"The stubbornness of traditional habits is not a big problem." Qin Yu added, "The most important thing is their self-awareness awakening. Even the natives who speak Chinese and completely imitate our way of life, in their Deep down, we are still hostile and distrustful of us. After all, we and the Europeans are outsiders, plunderers and conquerors who invaded their land and rights. As long as a person with a normal mind The aborigines, he will definitely have such an idea. The seeds of division have actually been planted from the very beginning."

Shao Shude stopped talking, this matter is indeed very difficult.Recently, he has also faintly heard a voice within the government. This voice first came from the intelligence department, and then it was echoed and sympathized by some radicals in many other departments.This group of people believes that the country should stop all immigration activities at this stage, practice hard, and first integrate and digest the current population of more than 1.After integrating many internal affairs (mainly ethnic assimilation and ideological unification), the immigration will be restarted, and this cycle will repeat itself, step by step to enhance its own strength.

It should be said that this call has some truth.Now in many places, such as Xiayihe Fort and Changshan Fort, new immigrants account for the vast majority.Due to the serious shortage of cadres in the East China Republic, especially the lack of qualified grassroots cadres, no matter whether it is life, work, ethnic integration, or missions, it can only be presided over by the highest-ranking local officials.And these cross-travel cadres are generally busy, and there is also a lack of assistants and cadres, and the experience may not be very rich, and the effect of carrying out various tasks is extremely poor.

The typical ones are Xiayihe Fort and Changshan Fort.New European immigrants and Charuya people accounted for the majority of these two places, and now they seem to have become "lands outside the culture".Residents' weak Chinese ability is gradually degrading. Immigrants gather together in twos and threes to chat, often talking about the old continent and their hometown, and more of their traditional culture has been preserved. It shows the sense of separation between these two places and the center of the Republic.In the eyes of those radicals, these immigrants who resist "Easternization" must be strictly controlled and suppressed until they completely abandon the original old culture and traditions and become a purer East Coaster. .

"I hope the central government will not raise the butcher's knife against these people in the future." Shao Shude sighed silently, thinking to himself.Just because you refuse to accept your culture, you will be charged with a bunch of crimes, and then thrown into prison or directly executed. As Shao Shude, who has received the education of modern civilization in the 21st century, he cannot accept such a cruel assimilation method anyway. of.

Shao Shude rested overnight at Xiayihe Fort that night.In the early morning of the next day, after replenishing supplies, the inland river shallow water transport ship Yiyun No. 337 was fully loaded with iron ore, left the Xiayihebao Wharf, and continued to go down the river to Milin Lake.

The dredged and widened waterway ran quite smoothly. In just two days, Yiyun No. 337 left the winding Yihe River and entered the misty Milin Lake.

(End of this chapter)