dognovel Chapter 559: Boss Lu's Nanyang Investigation (Part 1)
Chapter 559: Boss Lu's Nanyang Investigation (Part 1)
Lu Zuofu slowly raised his eyes, glanced at his two worried old friends, and a faint and slightly sarcastic smile appeared on the corner of his mouth:
"Oh? Spread everywhere? Spread around here in Shancheng?" He put down his teacup and spoke in a low voice so as not to disturb others. "Then I'd like to ask, the Song family, the Kong family, and those powerful compradors, their business with Southeast Asia is booming, sugar, rubber, tin ingots, nylon stockings... they ship back truckloads of them, making a fortune, why haven't I heard that their businesses were swallowed up by Zhang Chi?
On the contrary, they signed the contract in a proper manner and settled the payment promptly and neatly?"
Liu Hongsheng and Wang Chongnian were stunned when they heard this.
Lu Zuofu continued:
"There is also Mr. Chen from Nanyang, who is highly respected. In order to support the domestic war of resistance, he spent all his family wealth to build a rubber factory behind the mountain city, and his meritorious service is outstanding.
Although he no longer holds any public office in the Southeast Asian United States, he has traveled back and forth between the Republic of China and Southeast Asia numerous times. I also had in-depth conversations with him. Speaking of General Zhang Chi, he spoke earnestly and highly of him, describing him as a man of great talent and vision, a man of integrity and commitment, and a man dedicated to the well-being of the Chinese in Southeast Asia. He never uttered a single complaint, let alone such caustic accusations as "petty-minded" or "intolerant."
He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and his tone turned cold:
"I think the description of 'intolerant' is more apt when applied to certain people who sit on the throne, envious of talented people, and only know how to exploit the people's wealth. What you have heard are probably rumors deliberately spread by certain people, who are simply trying to hinder our connection with Southeast Asia and continue to maintain their own system."
This statement has been made quite bluntly, almost pointing fingers at certain people and cursing them.
Liu and Wang's faces changed and they were speechless for a moment. They looked around, fearing that Lu Zuofu's heart-wrenching remarks would be heard by the omnipresent White Party spies.
Lu Zuofu put down his teacup, and his voice suddenly rose, with a desperate determination:
"Hearing is believing, seeing is believing. I, Lu Zuofu, have never acted based on hearsay. The founding of the Nanyang nation is a heroic feat for the Chinese people to expand their territory and living space overseas. As descendants of Yan and Huang, how can we sit idly by?"
I'm going south this time to see with my eyes and to listen with my ears. I want to see what the Nanyang region is like under Zhang Chi's rule. I want to see if there's a place for Minsheng Company and people like me who are working to save the nation through industry to show our talents.
I have made up my mind, and there is no need for you to persuade me any further."
The private room was completely silent, with only the sound of the river breeze.
Liu Hongsheng and Wang Chongnian looked at each other and saw helplessness and a hint of hesitation in each other's eyes.
Lu Zuofu's determination was as unbreakable as when he commanded the fleet to transport supplies under the Japanese bombers.
A few days later, a special "investigation team" led by Lu Zuofu himself quietly left the mountain city.
In addition to several core members of Minsheng Company, the members also included several industrialists who were persuaded by Lu Zuofu and who also had the dream of saving the country through industry but were deeply disappointed with the current situation of the Republic of China: Boss Zhao of the match factory, Boss Sun of the flour mill, Director Li of the small machinery factory, and even Old Wang, who was quite experienced in the cotton textile industry.
This time they went south, on the one hand, they wanted to see if there were any business opportunities in Nanyang, a newly established country. After all, business is business, and making money is the key, not something to get involved in.
On the one hand, it was to seek help and see if we could exchange what we had and buy supplies that were urgently needed in the country so that we could drive the Japanese out of Daxia as soon as possible.
Finally, it is also a way to leave a retreat. After all, Nanyang is now considered a paradise for the Chinese. These families are wealthy and powerful, and are also considering whether they can expand their branches in Nanyang.
They first arrived in Yibin on a small steamer of the Minsheng Company, and then took a car to Chuncheng for a short rest.
In Spring City, they felt an atmosphere completely different from that in the mountain city - it was closer to Southeast Asia, and the news about the United States of Southeast Asia was more direct and positive.
In the Nanyang Daily, Nan Hua Evening Post and Sin Chew Daily sold by street newsboys, you can often see reports about Nanyang's industrial construction, labor protection and the completion of new residential communities. The pictures are clear and the pictures of life they depict are very attractive.
Some businessmen who returned from Southeast Asia all gave thumbs up when talking about the efficiency and rules there.
This further strengthened Lu Zuofu's determination to go south.
After crossing the winding Stevenson Road and entering northern Pegu under the control of the United States of Southeast Asia, the members of the expedition immediately felt the difference.
Their first impression is one of extreme efficiency and order.
At the border checkpoint, there is no laxity, harassment, or implicit "tea money" hints that were common at the checkpoints during the Republic of China.
The staff, dressed in neat uniforms and wearing "Nanyang Customs" armbands, were polite and professional. They checked documents, registered information, and randomly checked luggage. The process was clear and efficient.
A young customs officer was even able to explain entry regulations and precautions to them in fluent Sichuan dialect.
"Is this... is this all?" Boss Zhao from the match factory looked at the stamped certificate in disbelief.
In the past, if you were doing transportation within the territory of the Republic of China, you would have to waste an hour or so and give some bribes to get through each checkpoint, otherwise it would be impossible to move forward.
"Mr. Lu, look at this road." Director Li of the machinery factory exclaimed, pointing out the window.
After leaving the checkpoint, a brand new, wide, and smooth asphalt road appeared before our eyes, stretching into the distance.
There weren't many vehicles on the road, but they were moving very fast.
On both sides of the road are neatly planned windbreaks and drainage ditches.
This was a world of difference from the bumpy, muddy, and frequently congested roads they had experienced on the roads in the Republic of China when they came here.
"This is... the northern section of the 'Nanyang Route 3,' built by the Nanhua Infrastructure Company," said the young man named Chen, the liaison sent by the Nanyang side to greet them, proudly introducing, "Route 3 runs from Bianzhou City (Mandalay) to Myitkyina City (Myitkyina) and then connects to the border. Together with Route 1 and Route 2, these roads will eventually connect all of Nanyang. The President said, 'To become rich, build roads first.' Transportation is the lifeblood of the economy."
Lu Zuofu silently watched the scenery passing by quickly outside the window, his heart in turmoil.
The quality and planning of these roads alone far surpass those of the Republic of China.
How could the officials of the Republic of China have thought of developing roads and thus improving the business environment?
Not to mention such insightful slogans as 'To get rich, build roads first'.
Otherwise, his Minsheng Company wouldn't have been able to grow so rapidly thanks to Yangtze River shipping. As for the money for the road construction? I'm afraid it all went into Commissioner Geng's pocket...
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The further south they went and into the heart of Southeast Asia, the stronger the feeling of "clean politics, harmonious people" and "efficiency and pragmatism" became.
In Mizhou City, they visited the port on the Irrawaddy River which was under expansion.
A huge gantry crane is being installed and the dock is well planned.
Lu Zuofu saw that a cargo ship on the river flying the "Nanhua Shipping" flag was loading and unloading cargo, and there were also merchant ships of other companies flying the Nanyang flag operating nearby, all in an orderly manner and with extremely high efficiency.
The staff of the Port Authority introduced the port's throughput capacity and future plans with detailed data and clear ideas, without any of the vagueness, buck-passing and procrastination that was common in the officialdom of the Republic of China.