Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 532: New Territory Reclamation and the Pigtail Problem
At the end of the auction, most of the shipping company representatives bought the equipment and ships they desired. However, a small number of businessmen failed to get what they wanted due to factors such as limited financial resources and untimely response.

"Everyone, please be quiet. Be quiet."

Chen Shen waved his hands and shouted a few times, and the hall soon returned to calm.

"The dismantled shipyard machinery, equipment and ships have been processed, and there are many other types of equipment that are being sold at low prices. If you are interested, you can contact Director Zheng and Director Liu, and they will guide you to go through the relevant procurement procedures."

"Many of you here are running multiple businesses and real industries. The shipping industry has strong demand, and other industries are also developing rapidly. The Empire has recently acquired and controlled Paraná State and the Kingdom of Paraguay. Paraná State has a warm climate and fertile land, and has the conditions to develop various light and heavy industries as well as agriculture and animal husbandry.

The original territory of the Kingdom of Paraguay was vast and sparsely populated, with a vast area of ​​arable land, grassland, and forest land available for reclamation, which was suitable for the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, cash crop planting, agricultural product processing, meat processing and other industries. Mato Grosso do Sul, southeastern Goiás, and southern Mato Grosso are rich in mineral resources. The three places add up to nearly 80 square kilometers of land and have a population of less than 20. What does this indicate? It indicates that the vast land of 140 million square kilometers in the newly controlled area has hardly been effectively developed.

The imperial government formulated a development policy and prepared to gradually immigrate and colonize the newly occupied areas. After the new immigrants came in, the demand for clothing, food, housing, transportation and other aspects would usher in a big explosion. It would also promote the development of various industries.

The imperial government will provide certain policies and tax incentives to companies willing to invest and develop industries in the newly occupied areas and the Kingdom of Paraguay, and will also provide discounts ranging from 10% to 40% on the prices of machinery and equipment for related industries.

Please think carefully about it. If you are willing to invest in the construction of the new territory, please follow what Director General Chen just said and find Director Zheng and Director Liu to learn about the specific policies and information. "

Zhong Wenyao suggested from the side.

"Director Chen, when it comes to opening up new territories, can companies registered in Songkhla and Lan Fang receive the same treatment as local companies?"

"Companies in Songkhla and Lanfang are treated equally with local companies, but if they want to engage in business activities in the local area, they must first establish a local branch or office and participate in industrial investment in the name of the branch or office."

"The climate and environment of Paraná State are not much different from those of the three states in Jiangbei, so there is no concern about investing there. However, Paraguay and Mato Grosso do Sul are located further north and have hotter climates. I heard that there are swamps, pythons, and poisonous insects everywhere, and the roads are not smooth. If I invest in Paraguay or Mato Grosso do Sul, will there be a greater risk of failure?"

A businessman expressed his concerns.

"In the Paraguayan War, more than 10 Brazilian field troops, militias and other troops were captured. These people will be assigned to the newly occupied areas to carry out road leveling, railway construction, river dredging and other tasks. They will be forced to work for two years. In addition, engineers and new immigrants drawn from the mainland will work together to build the roads. After two years, the prisoners will be released, and the road construction task will be basically completed. The transportation routes composed of roads, railways and rivers will be unobstructed, and there will be no obstacles to the exchange of goods from the newly occupied areas to various places in the mainland and overseas.

The climate in Paraguay and Mato Grosso do Sul is a little hotter than in Songjiang and Chang'an, but it is not much different from that in Linzhou and Zhenzhou in the north of the empire. When Linzhou and Zhenzhou were first developed, they were also primitive forests and wastelands. Now a large number of trees have been cut down and millions of acres of fertile land have been leveled. The people who moved to the two places live a relatively comfortable life.

Moreover, the Empire has different development orientations for Paraguay, Mato Grosso do Sul, southeastern Goiás, and southern Mato Grosso. It will only carry out colonization and settlement construction in some areas with suitable climates and rich mineral resources. In the short term, most areas will not be developed as key areas. "

Chen Shen took the initiative to explain: "There are some pythons and poisonous insects deep in the primeval forest, but they are not as exaggerated as some people say. During the empire's colonization and construction in the northern region, they adopted methods such as setting fire to the forest or cutting down trees and bushes to gradually expand the area of ​​​​cultivated land and settlements. Without trees and bushes, those pythons and poisonous insects will run away on their own. There is no need to worry about their threats."

"Seven years ago, when I first immigrated to the mainland, I was assigned to the northern Linzhou settlement and participated in the colonization and construction work. Pythons and poisonous insects are nothing to be afraid of. Our pioneering group of more than 2000 people colonized for a year and reclaimed 25 acres of arable land and 60 acres of forest land. During this period, we killed nearly 100 pythons and 300 crocodiles, and countless poisonous insects were burned to death. The number of people who died directly from poisonous insects, pythons, crocodiles, etc. was less than 60, and more than 80 people died from tropical diseases such as dysentery. However, the imperial pharmaceutical industry is now developed, and anti-tropical disease drugs such as quinine cream, tiger balm, and artemisinin have good treatment effects. Even if we go to Paraguay and Mato Grosso do Sul for colonization and construction work, the mortality rate is very low."

A dark-complexioned man in his 30s, who looked simple and honest, unlike the traditional businessmen who were shrewd and mercenary, responded.

"If you have any questions, as long as they are related to industrial development, you can raise them. If they can be solved, I will arrange for someone to carry out the implementation after I go back. If they cannot be solved, I will report to the imperial central government and study solutions." In order to encourage everyone's enthusiasm for investment and industrial development, Chen Shen said with a smile.

"Sir, there is something I want to ask you. I don't know if it is appropriate to bring it up, but we overseas Chinese have no one to rely on, and the Qing court ignores us. Only the empire is willing to pity and protect us."

A middle-aged businessman with an accent from Guangdong and Guangxi said cautiously, "My ancestral home is in Jieyang. At the age of 14, I followed my fellow countrymen to Southeast Asia. I have worked hard for nearly 30 years and have set up an industry in Lion City. After the establishment of the empire, I also bought bonds issued by the empire many times. With the benefits of the empire's strength, my business has expanded to Siam and the East Indies. However, in the past two years,
Siam and the Dutch used covert and overt means to favor local merchants and disrupt the normal business activities of Chinese merchants like us. We endured it for two years, thinking that their trouble would end after a while, but we didn't expect that they would become more and more excessive.

Last July, a batch of rubber shoes imported from China entered Siam and were illegally confiscated by the Siamese government on the grounds of carrying prohibited weapons. There has been no explanation so far. I would like to ask the Empire to take charge and negotiate with the Siamese government to seek justice for overseas Chinese businessmen like us.

"Have you obtained the nationality of the land?"

"I was busy with business and didn't have time to apply before.
However, in December last year, I submitted an application for naturalization to the Imperial Household Department, but it is still under review.”

The Chinese businessman seemed a little lacking in confidence.

"In theory, since you have not obtained local nationality and are not a citizen of Lan Fang or Songkhla, the imperial government has no reason to negotiate with Siam or the Dutch in the East Indies for your business dispute. However, Siam violated the principle of equal trade and arbitrarily detained Chinese goods. For the sake of common sense, the empire can come forward to mediate."

Chen Shen glanced at the middle-aged Chinese businessman with braids.

He reminded, "Sir, let me kindly remind you that although Lion City is a British colony and it is understandable to follow British laws, white people are not of the same mind as us. European white people look down on Chinese people from the bottom of their hearts. If you have the opportunity, you should make plans and defect to the empire. Don't have any illusions about the Qing court. Over the years, in addition to the fiscal deficit, the Qing court has sent people to Southeast Asia to collect donations and salaries for the overseas Chinese. The only one who can really uphold justice for the overseas Chinese is the empire. Since you live in Lion City, there is no need for you to keep your braids. In my opinion, it is better to cut them off. Rio de Janeiro has a hot climate. It is not comfortable to keep a braid on your head on a hot day."

"Yes, yes, I will listen to Master Chen. I will cut off my braids when I get back."

The middle-aged businessman wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded continuously.

"Everyone, some people are not citizens of the Empire, and they often travel to the Far East, Southeast Asia and other places. They have necessary reasons to keep braids. Originally, I don't want to make you unhappy because of this matter, but I just talked to this person, and I haven't asked for your name yet?"

"My surname is Zhang, Zhang Guoliang."

"Oh, Mr. Zhang, after hearing about the unfair treatment you encountered in your business, I can't help but mention one more thing. The pigtail is a symbol of the Qing court's oppression and enslavement of the Chinese. Even if you need to travel to the Far East to engage in business activities, you can cut your pigtail and wear a fake pigtail. If you are worried about being caught by the Qing court for wearing a fake pigtail, then you can directly apply for imperial citizenship. As long as you are caught by the Qing court for wearing a fake pigtail in the southern coastal areas such as Jiangnan and Guangdong and Guangxi, the empire will use its relevant connections to rescue the arrested person. So, you don't have to worry at all. Keep a pigtail on your head and a pigtail in your heart."

"I will remember your teachings and cut off my braids when I return."

More than a dozen Nanyang merchants who still had braids unanimously agreed regardless of their true thoughts.

(End of this chapter)