Although during the First World War, the public sector in the country was in a mess, but in terms of economic development, with the help of this short window, the growth momentum is still fierce.

"Words have no evidence, data is proof."

The starry sky was clear, and even if only the moon hung above it, it was still very bright outside.

Putting away all the map fragments, Cheng Nuo looked at the pencils and straw paper on the desk next to him, and directly moved them to write and draw on them.

"Compared with foreign countries, we lack everything, and among the many weaknesses, we are most urgently needed in terms of opportunities, but we Chinese are the best at finding opportunities and seizing opportunities." Cheng Nuo thought about it and decided to take the industry he was familiar with as an example:

"Before the European War, our industrial investment was probably less than 50 million, and after a few years, it soared to 130 million at the end of the European War, an increase of more than two times, which is absolutely unprecedented in the history of the development of our national industry, and the three things I mentioned are the best among them."

In order to persuade Jiang Jiang Zuo, a capable general, Cheng Nuo's preparation was quite sufficient, coupled with his identity as a mathematical scholar, he was born with a sensitivity to numbers, and all kinds of data came casually, and Jiang Jiang Zuo was stunned when he heard it directly.

"No, where did you get all this data?" Jiang Jiang Zuo couldn't help but drink his saliva and suppressed his shock.

"Have you forgotten Dean Wu Liande of our medical school? Basically, all of this data came from him. Seeing that his friend's cup had bottomed out, Cheng Nuo took the initiative to pour water for him: "In addition, we have a good relationship with Mr. Zhang Guogan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, and the data corroborate each other, basically eight or nine are not far from ten." ”

"Dean Wu? I have some impressions of this, there are frequent epidemics in various places, but it has suffered him. Jiang Jiang Zuo suddenly realized.

In fact, many of these data were learned by Cheng Nuo from some documentaries in his previous life, and now they are just remembered to be used, although the accuracy of some of the data in them is to be discussed, but after several channels of cross-understanding, these data are basically in line with the current situation.

As for why these data Wu Liande is also connected, it is also because in addition to medicine, this gentleman is also quite keen on recovering tariff autonomy, even if it is impossible in Cheng Nuo's opinion, he is also tirelessly collecting relevant information and data.

It's a pity that the current pandemic is prevalent, and Wu Liande led the medical school team to "put out fires" everywhere across the country, except for sending some telegrams regularly every day to report safety and talk about the current situation, they basically can't meet each other, which has to be said to be a pity.

Shaking his head, Cheng Nuo dispelled the unhappiness caused by the epidemic in his mind, and continued: "In addition to the machinery manufacturing and match industries we have done, we can choose one or two from the textile industry, flour industry and foreign tobacco industry as the direction of development in the next step. ”

Jiang Jiang Zuo's index knuckle tapped lightly on the table, and after a while he asked: "I am still familiar with the textile industry, aren't we preparing for the combination of cotton and iron, and have made a preliminary demonstration of the market situation, but what I am curious about is what is going on between the flour industry and the foreign tobacco industry?" ”

"It's easy to understand." Cheng Nuo said with a smile: "The European war, in addition to steel, food is also a strategic material, due to the consumption of the war, the Western European market is short of materials, food shortage, we need to purchase a large number of overseas, and we have opened up foreign markets for flour." ”

Jiang Jiang Zuo nodded and echoed: "That's right, plus Lao Guo of our agricultural college has been busy with wheat selection and breeding in the field, so the wheat yield has grown steadily, and I heard that there is still a lot of room for the yield to rise, and it is far from the end." ”

Cheng Nuo said with a smile: "On the one hand, thanks to the efforts of Comrade Guo Shouchun, the quality of our seeds has been quite good, on the other hand, our chemical industry has produced chemical fertilizers, which has increased a lot of output. ”

Jiang Jiangzuo was very curious about this: "Why is it still related to Mr. Zai?" ”

Cheng Nuo said mysteriously: "Of course, the heavenly machine cannot be revealed, and some words will not work." ”

For this kind of behavior of killing and burying it, Jiang Jiang Zuo is really itching, but there is no way to take the other party, so he said weakly: "Okay, I hope Comrade Zaitao can speed up his actions and don't let this secret be hidden for too long." ”

Cheng Nuo didn't raise his head, and fell back on the table to write and draw: "Don't be too anxious, if everything goes well, it is estimated that you will know the news soon, but then again, there are more than 100 large flour mills in the country at present, and the annual output was less than 70,000 quintals before the European War, but now it has exceeded 2 million quintals." ”

Jiang Jiang Zuo's expression exaggerated: "With so much growth, doesn't that mean that my country's flour exports have changed from being in excess to being in surplus?" ”

Cheng Nuo was noncommittal: "If you look at this growth rate, it is not impossible to exceed 4 million quintals in two years, think about it, in a few years, the flour output has directly increased by more than 50 times, how exaggerated its progress is." ”

Faced with the data that has skyrocketed to a little distortion, Jiang Jiangzuo still feels a little incredulous: "If I'm not mistaken, these foreign flour mills have also opened a lot in China, right?" Didn't you have a conflict with a Japanese factory in Tianjin before? It is said that they are not small in size either. ”

Unexpectedly, the other party actually mentioned this stubble, which was true, so Cheng Nuo did not expect it: "Indeed, we were still troubled at the time, but somehow it was gone, maybe I also took this opportunity to only care about development."

But then again, among the more than 100 newly opened flour mills, our national industry accounts for a considerable proportion, basically more than eighty percent, if we take the opportunity to enter this industry, we can also make a lot of profits by taking advantage of the east wind. ”

Jiang Jiang Zuo didn't think about it, and said directly: "Do you also follow them to build a flour mill and become one percent?" ”

Cheng Nuo hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, no, of course not, at this time, I am afraid that I will not even have the opportunity to drink soup when I go in and do this most competitive business." ”

In fact, Cheng Nuo did not say one thing, that is, although the current flour industry is developing rapidly, this kind of good life can not last long, and it will fall to the bottom in an instant four years later when the Washington * Don Conference attended by representatives of the United States, Britain, France, Italy, China, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal was held.

Before the outbreak of World War I, the competition in the Far East Pacific was mainly carried out by Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Japan, and Russia, which were mainly led by Britain, followed by Germany and Russia, Japan and France, and the United States at the bottom.

During the First World War, Japan's economy grew dramatically, with the value of industrial production increasing almost 4 times, the total value of agricultural production nearly 2 times, and the total value of trade more than 3 times.

In addition, after the war, Japan changed from a pre-war debtor country to a post-war creditor country, with 500 million yen in creditor's rights. Of course, the 500 million was basically taken by the Beiyang government for other purposes.

The United States, on the other hand, was also a victorious country, but it was still excluded from the international order in Europe and the Atlantic, and even though Britain suffered huge losses after the war and the rate of increase in investment in China was significantly reduced, the United States still could not intervene too much in the Far East market.

It was originally intended to be an attempt to dominate international affairs on an equal footing with the European powers, Britain and France, through next year's Paris Peace Conference, but unfortunately it was not fully adopted by the Paris Peace Conference, and even the League of Nations, which was created single-handedly, was squeezed out by Britain and France.

In desperation, we can only turn our attention to the Far East and the Pacific region and establish a new international order in the Far East and the Pacific led by the United States.

"There's no way, although we look at our size at the moment, we actually walk with breath, there are not many choices to make, there is no way and no strength to face any force alone, only by borrowing strength can we gradually resolve it."

Feeling that the data was not intuitive enough, Cheng Nuo directly drew various images on the straw paper, and said while drawing:

"Although we are pessimistic about the post-war peace conference, and the Japanese are still unwilling to give up their interests in encroaching on us, this 'Asian Monroe Doctrine' will obviously not work in the face of other countries, and there will inevitably be a new round of negotiations."

"The Monroe Doctrine of Asia? What is this? Although Jiang Jiang Zuo tasted it several times in his mouth, he still didn't understand what the word meant.

Cheng Nuo sighed and explained: "For our 'good neighbor', 100% worry is still insufficient, this 'Asian Monroe Doctrine' is not a good thing, it is the theory of Japan's monopoly on Asia put forward during the European War. ”

The so-called Monroe Doctrine of Asia is a doctrine that proposes that Asian affairs should be handled by Asians on the basis of racial antagonism, but Asians other than Japanese nationals are not qualified to take on this task, and its essence is the doctrine that Asian affairs should be handled by Japanese people.

Jiang Jiangzuo, who understood the connotation, slapped his thigh violently: "It's really Sima Zhao's heart, everyone knows it, while thinking about getting out of Asia and joining Europe, and at the same time thinking about such a good thing, he simply treats us like a back garden and lets it be ravaged." ”

"Because of this, Japan's move is bound to meet with opposition from other countries, and the opposition from the United States will be even greater, and at that time, Japan may be denied Japan's privileges in China on the grounds of 'respecting' China's sovereignty and a new round of international order will be established.

In a sense, the environment for the development of national industry will deteriorate unprecedentedly, and in terms of overall strength alone, the United States will be much stronger, and the harm to us will be even greater. ”

After a few sentences, Cheng Nuo basically told the changes in the international situation in the years after the war, which made Jiang Jiangzuo on the side shiver with cold after hearing it.

"So, even if the current flour industry is developing well, it can't escape the fate of tomorrow?" Although he had deduced it according to the logic in his heart, and it would almost 100% work as Cheng Nuo said, Jiang Jiang Zuo still tried his best to have a glimmer of hope on his lips.

For this kind of thinking, Cheng Nuo is not clear, although the Wharton system will collapse with the expansion of Japan's strength, but when it really collapses, it has already reached the period of the Anti-Japanese War, and it is even more impossible to develop national industry at that time.

Shaking his head, Cheng Nuo did not follow Jiang Jiang Zuo's words, but started another topic: "The door is open, basically we have to face the impact of the great powers, and a series of crises such as unbalanced regional distribution, small price difference between flour and wheat, and difficulties in market sales space will break out, and it will be the polar night of the industry at that time." ”

Jiang Jiang Zuo was still unwilling, and asked: "So, the foreign tobacco industry will also have a similar experience?" ”

Cheng Nuo closed his eyes and nodded: "Different paths lead to the same end!" ”

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Zuo stood up suddenly: "After making trouble for a long time, I can't escape the fate of death in the end, so let's just work hard, just lie on the ground and expose your belly, save your efforts in vain." ”

Cheng Nuo also stood up and reassured: "Words can't be so absolute, this series has trained a large number of skilled workers and technicians, and for thousands of years there has only been scattered small production, and in the past few years, there can be such a large-scale production concentration, which was unimaginable before." ”

Thinking about it carefully, this is indeed the case, Jiang Jiang Zuo sat down again: "Zhiyuan, you have thought of all aspects, then you must have a solution, just hurry up, otherwise let alone tonight, I will not be able to sleep well for a long time in the future." ”

Cheng Nuo smiled and said: "In fact, the reason why we can't compete with each other, in addition to other factors, our production machines are not as good as others, and now we have better steel technology, we can upgrade our machines." ”

Jiang Jiang Zuo asked, "For example? ”

Cheng Nuo directly took out the straw paper, lit it up in front of his friends, pointed to the picture on it and said: "Still the flour industry as an example, throughout the evolution of modern flour mills in China, the main basis for distinguishing between the old mill, the machine mill and the machine flour mill is the difference between the original power equipment and the milling equipment.

The old mill uses biopower as the driving force to drive the stone mill for milling, the machine mill uses a steam engine (or electric motor) as the driving force to drive the stone mill for milling, and the machine flour mill uses a steam engine (or electric motor) to drive the steel mill for milling, realizing continuous mechanized production.

The innovation of modern flour mill equipment in China is mainly reflected in the innovation of the original power equipment and milling equipment, and most of these equipment are mainly imported! ”

Jiang Jiang Zuo came back to his senses: "That is, we entered the game with mechanical manufacturing?" ”

"That's right!" Cheng Nuo continued: "According to the news learned from the Shanghai Flour Association, the most imported flour machines are from the United States, with the largest number of manufacturers including Eris, Warlf and Rudak, of which the Eriss factory accounts for the majority, followed by the British Henry Simon factory, and the least is the German Cyck factory. ”

"We're replacing them?" Jiang Jiang Zuo replied.

"That's right, it is to replace it, not only cotton-iron cooperation, but also face-iron cooperation." Cheng Nuo was categorical: "We can do mechanized equipment such as wheat sifting, wheat threshing car, wheat brushing car, buckwheat car, powder cleaning machine, flat sieve, bran brushing machine, circular sieve and so on!"

On the surface, we seem to be a harmless academic institution, but in fact we are the source of technology for national industry. ”

(End of chapter)