Chapter 298 Opportunities and the Future of National Industry

Modern industry is characterized by many chimneys, and the construction of Anshan, a steel city, has obvious characteristics of the times. How to build a new city in Anshan, which is almost impoverished, Beijing's cabinet government does not have much say. Anshan is on the edge of the railway, and it is still in the category of officers.

The steel industry is a big part of the modern war, and the annual output of steel is not more than 20 million tons, so I am really embarrassed to consider itself a strong country. A country like China, which has been extremely weak for many years, has been left to the mercy of others, and if it wants to strengthen the country, it can only strengthen the army first, and the basis for a strong army is naturally the development of heavy industry.

The development of heavy industry is inseparable from convenient transportation and a large amount of water resources, and in this sense, the only places suitable for China as a heavy industry base are Northeast China and East China. At least at this stage, this is the case, and the only places with large-scale water transport capacity and rail transport capacity are Northeast China and East China.

Of course, there is another huge problem in Tohoku, and that is Japan. Now that Lushunkou is still in the hands of Japan, it cannot but be said that it is a great pity. After the Battle of Qingdao, Japan refused to let go on the issue of Lushun, and Fang Jianxiong always regretted the joint threat of Britain, the United States, France and Russia. Fortunately, the Japanese Army has been opened up by the Wehrmacht, and no matter how strong the Navy is, the warships cannot go ashore. Not to mention that when necessary, the Bohai Bay can be blocked with thunder and submarines.

There is a strange phenomenon that Fang Jianxiong has never thought too clearly. The Japanese Navy suffered a loss from submarines, and German submarines were even more rampant in the Atlantic, so why did the Japanese Navy not pay enough attention to anti-submarine? At least according to the latest intelligence, the Japanese Navy has not made much action on the issue of anti-submarine warfare. On the contrary, China's move to customize two new combat cruisers from the United States has severely stepped on Japan's dog's tail, and recently the Japanese Navy has been clamoring to build new combat cruisers. A new type of warfare patrol against China.

Japan put a lot of financial and material resources on the navy, and this was what Fang Jianxiong was most happy about. Anyway, if there's nothing to do, it's really cool to get some news of the cannon giant ship to stimulate the Japanese Navy or something.

In order to ensure the safety of Anshan Iron and Steel City, the National Defense Force stationed a Division B in Haicheng and a Division B in Gaizhou. The tacit understanding formed between China and Japan on the Liaodong Peninsula is that the area south of Gaizhou and north of Jinzhou is a demilitarized zone by default. But in Anton. The Japanese built a large number of fortifications on the other side of the Yalu River, and the Wehrmacht was not idle, and the entire Yalu River was full of trenches and strong pillboxes, as well as hundreds of thousands of mines.

All in all. The posture of the Chinese National Defense Force is that it does not intend to cross the Yalu River, and the Japanese Army has thought about it, but the current gap in the strength of the army has already come out, and the Japanese army, which has 20 divisions and regiments, will not talk about the gap in strength. The gap in equipment is not small, and in the past, there was an artillery superiority, but now the Chinese National Defense Forces have 50 separate heavy artillery regiments. More than 1,000 artillery pieces with a caliber of more than 100 guns, borrowed ten guts from the Japanese Army, and did not dare to take the initiative to provoke.

During World War I, Japan was even more desperate for the development of China's heavy industry. The steel output of Wuhu, Wuhan and Chongqing exceeded two million tons at the end of 17 years. It's only been a few years. That is to say, China's emphasis on the navy is far from catching up with the emphasis on the army, otherwise within 20 years, the superiority of the Japanese navy will be wiped out.

Zhou Xuexi has been very careful to lag a few steps behind, and carefully listened to Li Weige's report to Fang Jianxiong on the construction plan of Anshan Iron and Steel City. The Steel City is a huge plan. The overall planning began a year ago and was handed over to an American design company. Anshan Iron and Steel City will introduce American steelmaking technology and equipment in an all-round way. The total construction period is 10 years, and the total investment is 1 billion. The entire investment was made by the Steel Group, a subsidiary of the Eurasia Group.

It can be said that from the very beginning, Zhou Xuexi's investment in Benxi Coal Mine had no possibility of losing money. With this investment, the Beiyang capital forces led by Zhou Xuexi undoubtedly got on the ship of Fang Dashuai. Nothing in this world is infallible, only those with the same interests are more reliable.

In the 14 years since the Republic of China, several huge capital interest groups have gradually emerged. The first major group is headed by the Eurasian Group, and its core interests are in the fields of steel, military industry, and shipping. The second largest group is the traditional industrial and commercial forces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the core interests are light industry and domestic and foreign trade. With the development of Northeast China, the Beiyang Industrial and Commercial Group, represented by Zhou Xuexi, has found new opportunities for development.

Thinking of these, Zhou Xuexi's heart couldn't help but be slightly excited. With an annual output of 10 million tons, it is all too clear what it means for the coal mines in Benxi, and this is a huge opportunity.

"Why did Mr. Zhou stand so far?" Fang Jianxiong smiled and turned back to speak, a very simple move, but it made Zhou Xuexi feel a powerful aura, and subconsciously trotted forward with his robe and trotted three steps forward and said, "Fu Shuai, what are your orders?" ”

"I can't talk about the command, it's just that there is a building. The amount of coke needed by Anshan Iron and Steel is quite a lot, so Mr. Zhou might as well make coke as well. As long as the quality is qualified, I am not afraid of no sales. Fang Jianxiong's simple sentence is equivalent to depicting another huge related industry for Zhou Xuexi.

Zhou Xuexi was certainly tempted, but after a little silence, he still replied very steadily: "Fu Shuai, I think this matter may as well be handed over to the local elders in the Northeast to handle." ”

Fang Jianxiong smiled after hearing this: "Mr. Zhou's construction is good, but I am a little worried, such a large demand for coke, too many sources will inevitably have mixed quality, which may not be conducive to the production of Iron and Steel City." Even if you want to take care of the Northeast fathers and elders, you should gather their strength, so that you can accomplish great things. ”

Facing Fang Jianxiong's expectant eyes, Zhou Xuexi's cautious heart couldn't help but give birth to a hint of heroism, and he smiled and said, "This matter has to be allowed to go back and discuss one or two things in the future." ”

Fang Jianxiong didn't say anything more, turned to Li Weige and said: "In this place in the Northeast, there is no shortage of coal and iron, and the traffic can be ranked first today. In order to develop and build the Northeast in an all-round way, it is certainly not enough to have only people, but also to have a large amount of capital investment. The Cabinet is drawing up a plan to introduce a two-year tax exemption for three and a half years for companies entering the Tohoku region. Eurasia Steel is going to open this head well, and the industrial zone in Shenyang has completed the preliminary planning. Northeast China is planned as a national heavy industry base, and the industrial and commercial experts in East China must seize the opportunity, it would be a pity to miss it. ”

The strategic concept of a national heavy industry base is too real to come out of Fang Jianxiong's mouth. There is no doubt that these words are of great value in themselves, and in this feast of developing the Northeast, Zhou Xuexi undoubtedly seized the opportunity.

From Fang Jianxiong's point of view, the current industry of the entire Republic of China can only be regarded as a toddler. Historically, the path of industrialization taken by the former Soviet Union has undoubtedly been flawed. So when I got to Fang Jianxiong, I could only walk on two legs. The behemoth of the Eurasian Group, from the early multi-industry operation, has gradually turned to the monopoly of steel and military industry, which is to take into account the early stage of a country's industrial development, and the light industry that is easy to start and achieve quick results is the leading factor.

In the past 14 years, the fastest development of industry and commerce in the Republic of China is still the light industry led by textiles. The rapid development of industry and commerce in East China has accumulated a certain amount of private wealth. From the perspective of the world pattern, the rapid stage of economic development of the Republic of China is coming to an end, and the focus of future development is still the domestic market. Imperialism, which has fought a world war, cannot be allowed to sweep China with cheap commodities again. In this sense, it is too important to take back customs.

The 20 years after the end of World War I was a critical period for testing the industry and commerce of the Republic of China. Therefore, Fang Jianxiong did not hesitate to do his best, and in the remaining two years, he tried his best to help private capital grow and develop, and had a certain ability to protect itself.

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On April 20, 1918, in Berlin, the German General Staff was holding a top-secret military meeting. Kaiser Wilhelm II attended the meeting to hear a report from the General Staff on the latest operational plans on the Western Front.

Ludendorff stood in front of the huge map with a long stick in his hand: "Based on a large number of aerial photographs and aerial reconnaissance, combined with feedback from the intelligence services. The General Staff came to a very surprising conclusion, that is, the US military might independently launch an attack on our troops. At present, the number of US troops in France is about 500,000, and with the ten Chinese divisions fighting with the US army, this is a force to be reckoned with. Judging by the intelligence, the target of the Americans is likely to be Baledik, and then to get through Nancy. After repeated deductions, we judged that this was an opportunity to inflict heavy damage on the US military. ”

It had been almost four years since the outbreak of the First World War, and for Germany, total victory was about to become a dream when the Russian army withdrew from the war. Germany, which was dying, was tantamount to a period of strength and saw the dawn of victory again.

"If we can complete the combat mission of encircling and annihilating this Sino-American coalition army, the entire southern part of France will open the door. At that time, the strategy of defending the west and advancing to the east will be adopted, and the main force will drive south and go straight to Marseille. This is our only chance to win. ”

It is clear that Ludendorff's tone is not optimistic!

Wilhelm II, who had a stern face, couldn't help but raise his beard when he heard this, and after looking around with majestic eyes, he said loudly: "Victory belongs to Germany, and this must not be shaken!" ”

That being said, the worst thing is that Germany's national strength has been very weak in the past wars. Despite the occupation of Paris, France did not give up, and now another American entered the war. The reality is too grim, and everyone present is well aware of it, but there is not much frustration, and the German nation never gives up lightly.