Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 213 Everyone Makes Money

Changzhi.

Inside the large conference room, the 386th Brigade and the garrison army sat facing each other on either side of a long table, clearly separated.

Since it was a business negotiation, the atmosphere was relatively harmonious. Commander Chen took out a pack of cigarettes and distributed them to everyone: "Come on, everyone, have one!"

Zhang Hu accepted it with a smile, while Wang Feng waved his hand and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Commander Chen, but I don't smoke."

Seeing this, Brigade Commander Chen put away his cigarette: "Smoking and drinking are bad for your health. A pillar of the nation like Commander Wang should take good care of his health so he can kill more Japanese devils!"

Chief of Staff Li followed with a forced smile.

Wang Feng placed his hand on the table: "It's alright, it won't bother you."

"Fang Yuan, bring a few packs of Victory brand cigarettes to Commander Chen in a bit."

Zhao Fangyuan responded.

Brigade Commander Chen smiled and cupped his hands in thanks: "Then thank you all for your kind hospitality!"

Wang Fengqing cleared his throat: "Brigadier General Chen, the fighting is still going on at the front, so let's be frank. Where is Nosaka Sanzo, the representative of the Japanese Communist Party, at present?"

Brigade Commander Chen: "According to the intelligence we currently have, after the anti-war movement in Japan fell into a slump, Comrade Nosaka Sanzo went into hiding in Hong Kong under the cover of the Comintern. We do not know his exact location."

Zhao Fangyuan frowned: "Hong Kong?"

"Sir, the distance isn't too bad. If we send men to provide cover, we might be able to bring this person over!"

Brigade Commander Chen: "You don't need to worry about that for now. Our Eighth Route Army has a temporary office in Hong Kong. Leave the matters on the road to us!"

Wang Feng nodded.

He had heard about the Eighth Route Army's activities in Hong Kong. In December of last year, after several rounds of negotiations, the Hong Kong British authorities allowed the Eighth Route Army to set up an office in a semi-public manner, which was called Yuehua Company and was mainly responsible for fundraising and material transportation.

"That's great! The Eighth Route Army has really done me a huge favor this time!"

"I, Wang, am extremely grateful!"

Wang Feng took a sip of tea, quietly watching Brigade Commander Chen, waiting for him to name his price.

Brigade Commander Chen seemed to understand Wang Feng's thoughts. He smiled and took a draft from Staff Officer Li: "Commander Wang, in this cooperation between the two sides, we should reciprocate. I also have a favor to ask."

Wang Feng put down his teacup: "Please speak!"

Brigade Commander Chen: "It's embarrassing to admit, but as I mentioned earlier, we need your help to repair those ten artillery pieces that were salvaged from the Hutuo River."

Wang Feng grinned.

really!

Everything is under control!
"Repair ten cannons." Wang Feng said expressionlessly, feigning deep thought. "Alright, but the transportation of these cannons must be the responsibility of your department!"

Brigade Commander Chen and Staff Officer Li exchanged a glance.

The two made very subtle movements, but Wang Feng noticed them all.

In negotiations, the key is not to reveal all your cards, so that the other party cannot figure out your true intentions.

However, the Eighth Route Army had cooperated with him many times. At the beginning of the year, during the defense of Changzhi, he had contributed a lot and was a real fighting force against the Japanese. Wang Feng was happy to help them as much as he could within his capabilities.

"Brigadier General Chen, I think we can actually have a deeper exchange."

Across the long table, Brigade Commander Chen frowned and asked in confusion, "A deeper level of communication? I wonder what Commander Wang means by that?"

Wang Feng: "For example, we could strengthen trade ties, open up border markets, etc. What does Commander Chen think?"

Commander Chen lowered his head in deep thought.

These matters were clearly beyond his and his superiors' expectations, and he couldn't make decisions on such a big issue.

Chief of Staff Li whispered, "Brigade Commander, I think this proposal is good. After the oilfield cooperative development was extended, I went to the border region, and life there is indeed much better than before."

Brigade Commander Chen nodded.

He also knew about the Yanchang Oilfield project. The two sides cooperated in oil extraction, and the refined products were divided proportionally. However, the Eighth Route Army did not have enough mechanized equipment, so most of the extra petroleum products were sold to Hu Zongnan or Yan Xishan in exchange for cash or weapons.

But this opens up trade.
It could easily turn into blatant dumping!

"Commander Wang, this matter is of great importance, and I need to consult with the organization."

Wang Feng took a sip of tea: "Please, go ahead."

Brigade Commander Chen and others left temporarily, leaving only Wang Feng's group in the meeting room.

Zhao Fangyuan was a little worried: "Sir, I heard before that the border region is very poor. Will our products be able to be sold?"

"In the end, don't let it all turn out for nothing."

Wang Feng: "You're right, we are indeed very poor, but there's an old saying that goes, 'Where there's a will, there's a way, and where there seems to be no hope, there's hope.'"

Zhao Fangyuan scratched his head, not in a hurry to ask a question, but instead lowered his head to ponder the sentence.

Wang Feng smiled but remained silent.

In his view, investing in the Eighth Route Army, or even the organization behind it, is always a sure-fire way to make money.

In his previous life, he had researched the data and found that after the Soviet regime was reorganized into a border region, a vigorous "Great Production Movement" was launched in northern Shaanxi. During their spare time, the troops cultivated the land and became self-sufficient, achieving considerable results.

Of course, the "mass production movement" was indeed effective, but it could only maintain the minimum guarantee and was not enough to be discussed openly today.

What Wang Feng truly valued was something else entirely.

"Fang Yuan, have you ever heard of the salt produced in the three border regions of Shaanxi?"

Zhao Fangyuan thought for a moment: "I think I've heard of it before."

Wang Feng: "The Sanbian area, namely Dingbian and the northern part of Yanchi County, is the core salt-producing area directly under the jurisdiction of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. The salt produced there is of excellent quality. If it were put on the market, it would probably be snapped up!"

Zhao Fangyuan suddenly realized: "So you had already thought this through, sir. The salt industry has always been a highly profitable industry. If it is managed properly, it can indeed earn a lot of government funds. But will they agree to that?"

Salt, as the most basic necessity for survival of ordinary people, is best kept in their own hands. How could they possibly allow outsiders to have a say in it?

Wang Feng: "Yesterday I had the Ministry of Internal Affairs send someone to check. At the beginning of the year, their border region government published a 'Border Region Economic Construction Work Report,' which was not exactly a top-secret internal document. This report clearly stated that salt mining should be organized. They do not have industrial equipment, so it is difficult to increase production."

"Although it is the period of cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and the military expenses of the Eighth Route Army are borne by the Nationalist government, such things, especially so-called cooperation, should not be taken too seriously. I can understand this, and their leaders can understand it too. If they want to be self-sufficient, they cannot avoid the salt industry!"

"Have you heard? The Nationalist government has started to impose an economic blockade on the border region. They are even more anxious than we are."

"Moreover, the cooperation with the Yanchang Oilfield has already set a precedent, and I estimate that this matter is very likely to succeed!" Zhao Fangyuan couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "Brilliant insight, sir!"

Song Wenjie nodded and added, "Now the coastal salt-producing areas have basically fallen into the hands of the Japanese. The salt lakes in Yuncheng, Shanxi, have also been occupied by the Japanese. The people in China do not have many choices of salt from ponds, except for well salt from Sichuan, and salt lakes and mine salt from Ningxia, Qinghai, and the border regions."

"But Sichuan's salt needs to be supplied to the Nationalist government in Chongqing. Qinghai is too far away, and Ningxia doesn't produce much salt. If we can cooperate with the Eighth Route Army to increase production and sell salt to the Nationalist-controlled areas, we can make a lot of money!"

Wang Feng smiled with satisfaction.

As expected of someone in logistics and economics, he always gets to the point.

"In addition, there are the industrial and commercial sectors and the financial sector. These two areas have not yet shown their potential in their border areas, but I believe that the market potential is huge!"

Song Wenjie couldn't help but praise, "I didn't expect the commander to be so knowledgeable about economics."

Wang Feng waved his hand: "Just a slap on the wrist, nothing more!"

He had researched the industrial, commercial, and financial sectors in his previous life, but he couldn't remember the specific figures now. He only remembered that they were developing well and had great potential.

In his eyes, the Eighth Route Army was a potential stock that was bound to take off, and he could invest in it blindly, no matter what aspect it was in.

Steady profit without losing!

Especially in the financial industry.

After the Kuomintang-Communist cooperation, the original Soviet State Bank was reorganized into the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Bank. Although it may not seem to have much effect at present, it will be a powerful tool to resist the economic blockade of the Nationalist government in the future.

Sometimes, war doesn't just happen on the battlefield.
A short while later, Commander Chen and his entourage returned to their seats.

Wang Feng straightened up: "Brigade Commander Chen is indeed swift in military matters!"

Commander Chen smiled, and the one who spoke was a civilian staff member standing to the side. Wang Feng had noticed him long ago and guessed he was a representative from Yan'an.

"Commander Wang, in what areas would you like to cooperate with us? Could you be more specific?"

Wang Feng truthfully replied, "It's salt from the Sanbianchi!"

"We will provide industrial equipment and train skilled salt workers for you, just like the Yanchang oil field. We will share the salt production revenue. What do you think?"

The civilian representative was taken aback.

The policy of vigorously developing the salt industry had just been proposed. Changzhi and Yan'an were far apart. How did the other side know about it?
Wang Feng continued, "I also know about the salt mines in your border region. The management is lax, and currently, mining is mainly done spontaneously by the local people. If we could introduce mechanized production, I can't guarantee that the output could increase at least tenfold. If you're willing, I can also help you solve the sales problem!"

"I've calculated that, based on the current salt price, assuming each donkey can carry 150 jin (75 catties) of salt, and 300,000 loads are transported out each year, it can bring back at least 30 million yuan worth of goods!"

These words shocked not only the civilian representatives from Yan'an, but also Brigade Commander Chen and Staff Officer Li.

30 loads of salt were exported!

In return, they received 3000 million yuan worth of supplies!
As a frontline military commander, Brigade Commander Chen was all too aware of the importance of combat supplies.

The most pressing need for the troops right now is not food, but medicine, weapons and ammunition.

Originally, the main force of the 386th Brigade was waging guerrilla warfare near the Zhengtai Railway, but why did they rush over immediately after receiving news of the crisis in Changzhi?

There is only one reason.

The garrison is fucking rich!
Even when fighting behind enemy lines, those who participated in the battle to defend Changzhi would occasionally benefit from the garrison's comprehensive logistical support system.

One supply of medicine was enough to keep Li Yunlong busy for half a year.

According to the original plan, the 771st and 772nd Regiments were the first to arrive to provide support. However, Li Yunlong smelled the blood of the enemy and went to the brigade headquarters to make a scene and threaten suicide. Just then, the Zhengtai Railway base area encountered a problem, which gave Li Yunlong the opportunity.

Seeing that Li Yunlong had tasted success, Kong Jie was not to be outdone. As the old saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

The civilian representative lowered his head in deep thought.

Even without large-scale production, the output of salt from Sanbianchi is not low.

The problem lies in transportation capacity and the economic blockade imposed by the Nationalist government.

If these two issues can be resolved, and production increases significantly, I dare not say for sure, but within five years, the development of the border region government will no longer be troubled by financial problems.

On the way here, he saw clearly that the garrison had a large number of motor vehicles, and with Wang Feng's own reputation, they might really be able to solve the sales problem.

The civilian representative opened his notebook: "So, how should this cooperation proceed?"

Wang Feng shrugged: "It's simple. Just like the Changzhi Oilfield, we provide the production equipment and engineers, and you provide the salt mines and workers. We'll set up a salt company, and the output will be split 50/50."

The civilian representative had a solemn expression. He wrote down everything Wang Feng said in his notebook, and then glanced at Brigade Commander Chen.

"Commander Wang, we still need to consult with the organization regarding the cooperative salt mining project. We may not be able to give you a clear answer today, please understand!"

This civilian representative from Yan'an was clearly a scholar, an intellectual; he spoke in a measured and formal manner, quite official and proper.

He's not like that roughneck Li Yunlong!
Wang Feng smiled, stood up, and extended his hand: "It's alright. You can ask for instructions when you get back. We can all make money together, right?"

Civilian representative: "Goodbye, Commander Wang!"

Brigade Commander Chen saluted: "I hope that one day we can fight side by side again, or at least not become enemies!"

Wang Feng: "Definitely! Definitely!"

--------

That afternoon.

Wang Feng sat in his office and received a reply from the Eighth Route Army.

Looking at the telegram in front of him, he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement: "A reply so fast? Wasn't it supposed to be at least tomorrow?"

Zhao Fangyuan said with a smile, "Perhaps they take this matter very seriously. They held an emergency meeting to discuss it, and they were able to reach a conclusion in four or five hours!"

Wang Feng nodded: "Let Song Wenjie handle the specific details of the cooperation. Tell him not to be too demanding, and if necessary, he can give up some profits as a way to build good relationships!"

Zhao Fangyuan responded, "Yes!"

Wang Feng stood up: "Notify the military commanders of all columns that an emergency meeting will be held in one hour!"

Zhao Fangyuan asked in confusion, "Sir, is it about the reorganization of the army?"

Wang Feng nodded: "Currently, we have eight columns, and the geographical area under our jurisdiction is gradually expanding. The existing military system is probably no longer suitable."

He had been thinking about military reorganization for a long time. He had already prepared a plan when he attacked Heze. After returning to Changzhi, he discussed it with Zhao Fangyuan. He decided that since the troops had suffered heavy losses and were resting, they should hurry up and implement this matter.

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

(End of this chapter)