Chapter 106

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi asked Sam to sit down, then pulled several people out from the Chongqing Development Working Group.

"Sam, this is Li Yingfang. He studied metallurgy while studying abroad in the United States, and was hired away by the Meiguo Steel Company at a high salary before he even graduated."

Sam sized up the young man before him, nodding: "I understand, Lv. The first thing you want to buy definitely has something to do with steel, right?"

"Exactly, that's natural. Steel is the backbone of the nation. My country's steel is seriously insufficient, especially various high-strength and alloy steels. Now your country's economy is seriously set back, steel production capacity is seriously excessive, and steel workers are massively unemployed."

"Why not package the loss-making steel enterprises and sell them to me? The unemployed workers can also form an overseas working group to come work for me, training my workers, with preferential treatment, and also solve part of your country's employment problem."

Sam nodded: "Our country's steel production capacity is already seriously excessive. Surplus equipment and related technology can be considered for transfer. As for the issue of American workers finding employment in Xia Guo, I will contact domestic as soon as possible. It's just that where do you plan to build the steel mill for the time being?"

Lv Muzhi looked toward metallurgy expert Li Yingfang.

Li Yingfang stood up and said: "For the time being, we have chosen Ganshui Town by the Qijiang River. Our country already has geological personnel who have conducted exploration there. Iron ore reserves are approximately 45 million tons."

Sam nodded: "What do you mean by 'for the time being'?"

"Opening an iron mine in Ganshui Town is a stopgap measure, mainly because Ganshui Town is currently the only place we can control. Transportation is convenient, it is adjacent to the Qijiang River, and can enter the Yangtze River. Moreover, it is only sixty kilometers from the Yangtze River by road, so a road can be built quickly."

"Our ultimate goal is to mine and smelt steel by the Jinsha River in the southwest of Sichuan Province. We internally call it Panzhihua, a region spanning the border area between Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province. Only pity that the military situation there is complex, with Chuan Clique warlords and Yunnan Clique warlords fighting each other there, and the terrain is also very complex, with towering mountains and steep ridges. Building roads takes time."

Sam nodded: "I understand. A relatively small steel mill can be built in Ganshui Town by the Qijiang River first, get it started, rely on convenient transportation and ready-made iron ore to train workers, accumulate experience. After the warlords of Sichuan Province are unified under one family, then go to the Panzhihua you mentioned?"

"Exactly!"

"In that case, I can ask American experts to come for an inspection, with the expenses paid from the foundation." Sam nodded, taking out a notebook to record it.

"What else is needed?" Sam held his notebook, looking expectantly at everyone with a face full of anticipation.

Zhang Fei quickly walked over at this time, leaning close to Lv Muzhi's ear: "The Central Army, the Northeast Army, and Liu Xiang's Sichuan Army unit have achieved victory in the Central Plains War! The Northwest Army and the Jinsui Army have been completely defeated!"

Young Marshal Zhang and the Principal are planning to hold a celebration banquet in Beiping, inviting you to go together."

Hearing this, Lv Muzhi was overjoyed in his heart. The victory of the Central Plains War came faster than he had expected.

So he immediately said to Sam and everyone in the working group: "Gentlemen, an urgent telegram from Beiping. I must set off for Beiping immediately."

"Regarding the various equipment and technical lists needed for construction, you can discuss them freely with Advisor Sam. No need to be reserved. All proposals must be recorded in detail and submitted to the Chongqing Development Office. I will review them all together when I return."

Lv Muzhi also specifically instructed Sam: "Sam, my colleagues will have many ideas. Please be sure to listen patiently. As long as it is technically feasible, economically worthwhile, and beneficial to our country's industrial construction, you can record them down. As for specific procurement and cooperation plans, we will discuss them in detail later."

Sam smiled and spread his hands: "Lv, you can go with peace of mind. Helping you build is helping American goods and technology find an outlet."

After Lv Muzhi left, the atmosphere in the temporary office courtyard began to become lively.

These experts of the working group had long been bursting with blueprints and ideas. Now, with Lv Muzhi's clear instructions and Sam, an American advisor who could directly connect to the Pacific Foundation, present, they were all extremely excited, surrounding Sam and chattering away.

A geologist squeezed to the front first, waving a map in his hand: "Advisor Sam, I study geology. My surname is Wang. I request to explore for oil in the Yumen area of Gansu Province. We need to purchase a set of drilling equipment."

Sam recorded quickly in his notebook while nodding: "Oil! Of course, the blood of industry. Yumen... I've noted it down. The United States can completely provide exploration equipment and initial small-scale refinery equipment, and technology is not a problem. However, it seems the current controller there is the Northwest Army, right?"

Next, a chemical expert proposed to establish a basic chemical plant to produce sulfuric acid, nitric acid, caustic soda, and other basic industrial raw materials;

A light industry expert hoped to introduce advanced textile machinery, using the abundant agricultural resources in Sichuan and other places to develop light industry and accumulate funds;

Suggestions were varied and colorful, from heavy industry to light industry, from energy to transportation.

The pen in Sam's hand almost never stopped......

Beiping City, under the old imperial city walls of former days, the celebration banquet for the victory of the Central Plains War was held in an old mansion of a Qing dynasty prince, decorated with lanterns and streamers, with a galaxy of generals gathered.

The Whampoa clique officers who participated in the Central Plains War were naturally the protagonists among them, gathering in groups of three or five, talking and laughing loudly, each full of high spirits.

"Aiyo! Isn't this our god of wealth, Lv Wei Yue!" Lv Muzhi turned around, only to see a colonel officer striding over. It was Song Xilian, the battalion commander of the Third Battalion who had been under his command back then.

"Xilian!" Lv Muzhi smiled and went up to meet him. The two shook hands vigorously.

"Well done, you Lv Wei Yue. You ran off to a foreign country to make a fortune, and didn't let us make some small money?" Song Xilian patted Lv Muzhi's shoulder hard.

Du Yuming and Guan Linzhen also came over. Back then, they were also battalion commanders under Lv Muzhi's command.

"Old commander, you really are a dragon seen only by its head and not its tail!" Guan Linzhen deliberately saluted, then laughed heartily.

Lv Muzhi glanced at the major general rank insignia on Guan Linzhen's shoulder, and shook his head helplessly. "Good kid, you've risen fast enough. You're already a brigadier general? And you're making fun of me?"

Du Yuming smiled and teased: "Brother Wei Yue, that's not being generous enough! I heard you got married in Britain and married the eldest daughter of the Zhu Family. Such a happy occasion, why didn't you notify us old brothers to come drink a cup of wedding wine? Are you afraid we can't come up with the gift money?"

Lv Muzhi hurriedly cupped his hands to apologize: "Brothers, please forgive me! It really happened suddenly. Everything was kept simple abroad. It's my fault. I'll definitely make it up another day!"

Guan Linzhen said: "I heard that in the Northeast and Sichuan, you used US dollars to open the way, and actually invited several hundred thousand laborers for the Principal? This move is more useful than us fighting with bayonets on the frontline!"

Du Yuming also nodded: "Yes, Commander Liu on that side has been mentioning you all the time. The high level says that the first merit of this Central Plains War really rests on your shoulders, Lv Wei Yue, behind the scenes."

Song Xilian was quick-witted and caught the implication. He smiled: "You all don't understand. Brother Wei Yue wants to learn from Zeng Guofan, run industries, and train a new army. He wants to be strong in both aspects. If in the future you train elite troops in Sichuan, don't forget us old brothers."

While the few were joking and laughing, an adjutant from the Young Marshal's Mansion walked through the crowd, came straight to Lv Muzhi, and said respectfully: "General Lu, the Young Marshal and the Principal are waiting for you. Please come over for a talk."

Guan Linzhen sighed: "Pity. The commander of the First Division is now Hu Gongnan's."

Song Xilian curled his lips: "There's no way around it. Hu Gongnan volunteered to go south to suppress bandits, and the commanders were all delighted."