If you want to select the most hard-working and hard-working senior official in the East Coast Republic of China, if Shao Shude says that he is second, then absolutely no one dares to call himself first.

Since taking over 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 iron ore mining area of Changshanbao consumed too much of his energy. Coupled with the complex terrain and aboriginal situation in the local area, it is not an exaggeration for Shao Shude to be exhausted for more than a year.

In May of the first half of the year, not only was the dredging of the Yihe River completed, but even a small section of the canal from the Changshanbao iron ore mine area to the Yihe River was dug up, and the transportation conditions in the iron ore mining area were greatly improved. The 60-ton inland river shallow water transport ships can sail unhindered directly to the cargo terminal of the iron ore mining area, where the iron ore mined from the iron ore mining area is transported from the mining area through a section of iron-clad hardwood track, and then enters the Ping'an Fort through the Yi River channel through Lake Mirin, the Two Lakes Canal (dredged on the basis of the San Gonzalo River) and the Duck Lake. So far, the Changshanbao iron ore mine area has entered a substantial stage of construction and development.

Inland river transport ships brought in large quantities of supplies: weapons, building materials, household goods, mining equipment and tools, transport vehicles, large quantities of horses and other livestock, and of course, more people.

More than 400 immigrants, 200 former pirate slaves, and more than 100 Charuya women and children were in place by October. They assisted the construction team and part of the garrison temporarily transferred to the area to start the construction of the Changshan Fort fortress, and opened up fields in the mountains to grow crops, raise goats and other livestock, so as to reduce the pressure on logistics and transportation.

Meanwhile. Small-scale trials of iron ore mining have also begun. Changshan Iron Mine is an excellent vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite. The ore grade is also very high. Mining is also convenient. In October, the first shipload of iron ore was mined in the iron ore mining area, which marked the end of the history of zero iron ore production in the Republic of China on the east coast of China.

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

On the evening of October 17, the shallow river transport ship numbered "Yiyun 007" docked at the pier of the Lower Yihe Fort. The crew dropped the stern anchor, secured the bow with a cable, and then disembarked into the city to rest. As for the ships. It will be guarded by the dock guard.

Knowing that Shao Shude was coming, Qin Yu, who is currently the leader of the Xiayi River Fort Pioneer Team, came to greet him in person. Shao Shude didn't have much of a fight, he was very easy-going, chatting with Qin Yu while walking towards the city of Yihe Fort.

Xiayi River Fort City is one kilometer, the city is five meters high, it took more than half a year to build, the city wall and the urban area construction has been basically completed, and all kinds of facilities inside and outside the city wall are also readily available, which is regarded as having the basic functions of the city. Outside the city, close to the city walls, potatoes and vegetables were planted to relieve the city's shortage of supplies and reduce logistical pressure.

"Everything is fine in the whole city. It's just that the population is too small. Qin Yu said to Shao Shude with a bitter face, "Plus those Charuya women and children with ill intentions. There are only 500 people in total, and they can't do anything. He can only nest in the nearby fields, hunt, and provide supplies to passing ships, and the lord of this castle deserves to be aggrieved. ”

"What's the use of you complaining to me, there are only 700 people in Changshan Fort, and there is a shortage of people." Shao Shude said, "Now there are batches of French textile workers immigrating, but all of them have been intercepted by the General Administration of Textile Industry." It is said that because they want to expand production, these French textile workers are the best source of workers, and it is very difficult for others to fight for it. ”

"That's it......" Qin Yu said disappointedly, "Anyway, let's go and fight for it, this bit of manual mining is definitely not enough at present." The iron-making furnace of Ping'an Iron and Steel Plant cannot be stopped as soon as it is opened, and with the current output of Changshan Iron Mine, it is impossible to meet the iron-making demand there. ”

"I must fight for it, otherwise what do you think I am personally escorting iron ore for this time, is it fun? It's not for the Executive Committee and the Government Council! Shao Shude said angrily, "But don't expect too much." By the way, Dongfang County recently issued a document on the policy of purging the old traditions and old culture of the Charuya people, have you read it? ”

"Yes." Qin Yu nodded and replied, "Regarding the spirit of the document, I agree with it. These Charuas cling to their old traditions, their old culture, and worship primitive religions, are very resistant to accepting the advanced culture of our eastern coast, and are even more stubborn and reactionary than those Europeans. If we don't clean them up now, in a few decades or a hundred years, they will not be able to stand on their own in our country, leaving an extremely bad example for other immigrants. ”

"And what are you going to do with this?" Shao Shude frowned and asked, "There are also a lot of Charuya people here in Xiayihe Fort, and those European immigrants are not much better than the Charua." If you look at them, although they don't have a church, they still often pray to God in their lives; Most of the people who usually speak in their own language are still speaking, and they only speak Chinese when communicating with other races; What's more, some people even cut their own national costumes; What are you going to do with all this? ”

"That's why it's hard." Qin Yu sighed heavily and said, "The conditions here are too poor. Immigrants are basically new immigrants, and old immigrants are basically none, so they lack role models to learn from and imitate. Unlike the Old Town, which of the 5,000 people in the Oriental Port is now unable to speak fluently in Chinese for everyday conversation? Which one 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 have become atheists altogether. If there is such a strong atmosphere here in Xiayihe Fort, then I am still worried about the assimilation of a fart. ”

"That's right." Shao Shude also sighed, "Nima has been squatting in the ravine where the birds don't in Changshan Fort for a long time, and I feel like I'm going to be assimilated into a wild man by them. However, the matter of assimilation and integration is related to our foundation, and no matter how difficult it is, we must resolutely carry it out. Now it seems that it is still the most difficult for the aborigines to assimilate, I really didn't expect it! Originally, they were the most ignorant and should be the most receptive to our lifestyle and culture, but I didn't expect their traditional habits to be so stubborn. ”

"Stubborn traditions aren't a big problem." Qin Yu added, "The most important thing is their awakening of self-awareness. Even the natives, who speak Chinese and completely imitate our way of life, are still hostile and distrustful of us in their hearts. After all, we and the Europeans are outsiders, predators and conquerors who have usurped their lands and interests. This kind of thing, as long as he is a native of his right mind, he will definitely have such thoughts. In fact, the seeds of division were planted from the beginning. ”

Shao Shude stopped talking, this matter is indeed very tricky. Recently, he has also faintly heard a cry within the government, first from the intelligence services, and then echoed and sympathized with some radicals in many other departments. These people believe that at this stage, the state should stop all immigration activities, work hard to improve its internal skills, and first integrate and digest the current population of more than 10,000. After integrating many internal affairs (mainly national assimilation and ideological unification), they will restart immigration, and so on, step by step, to strengthen themselves.

It should be said that there is some truth to this call. Nowadays, in many places, such as Xiayihe Fort and Changshan Fort, new immigrants make up the vast majority. Due to the serious shortage of cadres in the East Coast Republic of China, especially the lack of qualified grassroots cadres, whether it is life, work, ethnic integration, or propaganda and education, it can only be presided over by the highest-ranking local officials. Generally speaking, these cadres are busy, and they lack assistants and cadres, and they may not have much experience, so the implementation of various tasks is extremely ineffective.

Typical ones are Xiayihe Fort and Changshan Fort. These two places are dominated by new European immigrants and Charruea, and are now "outlands". The inhabitants' already weak Chinese language skills are gradually degrading, and the immigrants gather in twos and threes to chat, often talking about the Old World and their hometowns, and their traditional culture has been preserved more and more, all of which show the sense of alienation between the two places and the center of the republic. In the eyes of the radicals, these immigrants who resist "East-Coasting" are the targets of strict control and repression, until they completely abandon the old culture and traditions and become a purer Easterner.

"I hope that in the future, the central government will not raise a butcher's knife against these people." Shao Shude sighed silently and thought to himself. Just because he refuses to accept your culture, he 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 will not be able to accept such a cruel assimilation method under any circumstances.

Shao Shude rested for the night at Xiayihe Fort that night. Early the next morning, after replenishing supplies, the shallow-water transport ship Yiyun No. 337, loaded with iron ore, left the dock of Xiayihe Fort and continued down the river to Lake Mirin.

The dredged and widened channel drove smoothly, and in just two days, Yiyun 337 left the winding Yi River and entered the vast Milin Lake. (To be continued......)