Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 352 Strong Trunk and Weak Branches

"Instructor Meng, what do you think will happen a hundred years from now? Will Beiying Island, and even Sakhalin Island and Outer Manchuria that we want to occupy, become independent?" Wei Zhonglong paused, then said softly, "...?"

As he spoke, the tip of his boot accidentally kicked a piece of dark coal gangue, which rolled down the slope, startling several gray birds hidden in the grass. They fluttered into the sky, breaking the momentary tranquility.

Meng Shengxin squinted, watching the gray birds trace chaotic paths in the leaden sky before finally disappearing into the distant birch forest.

It was summer, and the coastal wetlands were filled with rising steam. Wei Zhonglong and Meng Shengxin were standing on a high hill outside Qingling (now Kushiro Town, more than ten kilometers northeast of Kushiro City).

In the distance, the winding Qingling Mountain (Kushiro River) gleams like scattered silver in the sunlight, and flocks of red-crowned cranes stroll gracefully through the marshes.

Looking out, one sees a lush, dense forest in the distance, with trees layered upon each other like a green velvet carpet carefully laid out by nature. The meadow sways gently in the breeze, its waves of grass rising and falling.

The vast wetlands shimmered with light, and every now and then, unidentified water birds would take flight, emitting clear calls.

Such a magnificent view showcases the wonder and greatness of nature, but the two of them had no heart to appreciate it at the moment, instead being preoccupied with their own thoughts.

“Look at those cranes,” Meng Shengxin suddenly spoke, his voice low and deep, as if it came from the earth. “Every year they travel between Sakhalin Island and the mainland. But no matter how far they fly, they always return to the swamp where they were born.”

Wei Zhonglong bent down and picked up a piece of coal gangue, running his fingertips along its rough surface. This unassuming black stone was the very reason they were standing here.

The mine shaft of Qingling Coal Mine gapes open like a dark hole on the mountainside not far away, and the railcars carrying coal creak and groan.

“But crane flocks always split up,” Wei Zhonglong said, hefting the stone in his hand. “When the old nest gets crowded, the younger cranes will go and create new swamps.”

Qingling has considerable coal reserves, and the Beiying Island colonization team built a large coal mine there, employing more than 200 coal miners and a large amount of machinery and equipment purchased locally, mining every day.

Theoretically, this coal mine can produce 200 to 300 tons per day, with an annual output of nearly 10,000 tons.

However, due to various problems that arose during the mining process, as well as the severe cold and heavy snow in winter, the annual output of Qingling Coal Mine never exceeded 8,000 tons.

Moreover, the colonization team had no intention of further expanding its production.

Because there are not many industries in the region that can be developed using coal.

In other words, coal was used for pottery making, brick firing, coking, cement production, and limited heating and cooking for residents, so the overall consumption of coal was not large.

After all, the entire colony area had no decent industry, so it naturally didn't need much coal.

Yes, during those eight years, Beiying Island served as a transit point for new immigrants. Apart from establishing some handicrafts that were important to people's livelihoods, it did not develop any heavy industries that were of decisive significance.

The coastal shipyard, established a few years ago, is very limited in scale and technology. Apart from routine maintenance for the large immigrant fleet, it can only build small vessels of less than 200 tons.

As for "high-end" industries such as iron smelting, copper refining, and glassmaking, they have absolutely no foundation in these areas.

All the craftsmen and artists "brought in" from the Ming Dynasty, Korea, and even Japan were sent to the New Continent to continuously enrich and strengthen the local technological capabilities.

Even the large number of women that were painstakingly recruited were prioritized to meet the needs of the local population.

It can be said that Beiying Island is simply a transit hub for the export of manpower, and it always seems to be marginalized in terms of resource allocation.

This has drawn criticism from some, who argue that the mainland's "bleeding" of the Beiying Island colony is sacrificing the vital interests of tens of thousands of immigrants and hindering or delaying the region's development.

However, in order to accelerate development and continuously build its own strength, the Xinhua government has no choice but to concentrate all its resources on building up its homeland, temporarily disregarding the interests of its overseas territories.

As the person in charge of the colonization area, Wei Zhonglong naturally wanted to make a difference.

The numerous handicraft workshops and primary factories established over the past few years, along with the Qingling Coal Mine and the struggling ship repair shop, are all the result of his and Qi Yongze's many efforts.

Even if a region is only a transit point for immigrants, it cannot develop agriculture alone.

At least some basic handicrafts are still very necessary.

However, strengthening the central government and weakening local powers has always been a fundamental strategy for unified regimes to maintain their rule.

The Xinhua regime was no exception.

If both ends are equally heavy, then it's hard to say which is the trunk and which is the branch.

Given limited resources, it is essential to prioritize tasks and concentrate main efforts and resources on the core areas to ensure the stability and strength of the core territories.

Of course, in the long run, once Xinzhou is fully developed, with the spillover of technology and the implementation of corresponding support policies, Beiying Island will sooner or later usher in development opportunities and ride the wave of development, and its development floor will not be too low.

Ten days after Meng Shengxin arrived in Linhai, Wei Zhonglong immediately put aside his affairs and rushed back from Xinliao (now Daiguang City) to meet with him before he set off to return to his homeland and discuss in depth the development plan for the Beiying Island colony.

According to him, he hoped that the local government of Xinzhou could provide appropriate support for the industrial development of the region, such as the industrial expansion of Qingling Coal Mine.

It is said that after several years of research and development, the local coal chemical industry has achieved remarkable results, taken initial shape, and established a series of industrial chains.

In addition to producing coke for metallurgy, several large local coal mines also produced coal tar through high-temperature dry distillation, from which aniline was successfully separated, which greatly promoted the development of synthetic dyes.

Compared to natural dyes, these chemically synthesized dyes have significant advantages.

Its colors are more diverse and vibrant, and its color uniformity is superior in the dyeing process of fabrics and woolens.

Of course, it also has a higher colorfastness and better washability, sun resistance, and abrasion resistance than fabrics dyed with natural dyes.

It is precisely because of the addition of synthetic dyes that Xinhua woolen products were able to quickly open up the market in Mexico and even in Spanish America such as Peru, successfully defeating imported European woolen fabrics and gradually encroaching on the local woolen fabric industry.

More importantly, synthetic dyes not only boast superior performance, but their large-scale production and relatively simple manufacturing processes also result in lower production costs, giving them a significant price advantage over natural dyes on the market. Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty possesses the world's largest textile market in terms of output; establishing a synthetic dye factory on Beiying Island would undoubtedly yield substantial profits.

With its vast and cheap labor force, the Ming Dynasty could produce cotton products at rock-bottom prices, making them highly competitive in the global market, with no rivals to match it.

So, could we take a different approach and use our leading coal chemical industry to produce extremely cheap synthetic dyes, thereby controlling the upstream supply chain of the textile industry?

However, Meng Shengxin stated bluntly that in the short term, the local government would most likely not support the establishment of a dyeing and printing industry on Beiying Island.

The reasons for this are quite complex. On the one hand, the local authorities are worried that if advanced coal chemical technology spreads to Beiying Island, it may be stolen by other forces, thereby threatening their own technological advantages and industrial security.

On the other hand, the local synthetic dye industry, which has been developed with great difficulty, is gradually opening up the market and making profits. If the dyeing and printing industry is supported to develop in Beiying Island, it will undoubtedly be creating a competitor, which will have an adverse impact on the profit growth of the entire local industry.

It should be noted that when a large number of immigrant ships sailed from Xinzhou to the Ming Dynasty, they were mostly empty. The small amount of trade goods they carried were only a few items such as furs, glass, weapons, and silver. It was only with great difficulty that they produced chemical synthetic dyes, which could fill some of the cargo space and become a new growth point for trade.

But if we support the development of the Beiying Island expansion area to also engage in the dyeing and printing industry, wouldn't that create commercial competition with the local area?

To put it bluntly, in the strategic layout of the Xinhua regime, Beiying Island was essentially a colony.

Its primary purpose is to "infuse" the mainland with resources, population, and even economic benefits. Only after the mainland has been nurtured and strengthened, and has sufficient strength and resources, can it provide some form of support to Beiying Island and help it develop.

While Wei Zhonglong was having an in-depth discussion with Meng Shengxin about the future of the Beiying Island colony, a question that had been lingering in his mind suddenly flashed through his mind, so he brought it up without hesitation.

This question instantly shattered the brief harmony between the two, making the atmosphere heavy and plunging them into a long silence.

"As for whether the Beiying Island colony will become independent in the future, I believe it is an inevitable historical trend."

After a long silence, Meng Shengxin spoke slowly, his voice low yet firm: "After all, this place is far from the mainland of Xinzhou, but close to the traditional Chinese civilization sphere. If the two places cannot reach a consensus on values ​​in the future, and cannot build a close chain of interests, then it is only a matter of time before Beiying Island breaks away from the mainland."

"Back then, Britain established a vast colonial empire that spanned the globe, with its territory spread across every continent. At its peak, it was known as the 'Empire on which the sun never sets.' But in the end, this enormous empire disintegrated due to a variety of complex problems, and each of its colonies became independent."

"Among these independent nations, there were many Anglo-Saxon nation-states that shared the same origins and ancestry as Britain. However, as the British Empire's hegemony declined and its influence and control over its colonies gradually diminished, these colonial territories, even with blood and cultural ties, still chose to break away and become independent entities."

"Therefore, after we occupy Beiying Island, Sakhalin Island, and even the Outer Northeast region, we cannot naively assume that these territories will forever be closely connected with the mainland of Xinzhou, forming an unbreakable unified whole."

Meng Shengxin's words reveal a profound insight into history and a calm reflection on reality.

"So, our construction and development here are meaningless, is that right?" A hint of disappointment flashed in Wei Zhonglong's eyes. He sighed softly, his tone full of resentment.

In his view, it would be disheartening if all his efforts, which he had devoted himself to the development of the Beiying Island expansion area for many years, were to be in vain in the distant future.

“How could it be meaningless?” Meng Shengxin said leisurely. “At the very least, we have incorporated these regions into the scope of Chinese civilization, making them the land where Han people live and thrive, which greatly expands the living space of the nation.”

"Even if this land were to secede from our homeland and become independent in the future, it would inevitably become part of our sphere of influence. In terms of national sentiment and cultural heritage, it would always be inextricably linked to us. Given time, we might be able to form a broad community of Chinese civilization."

"Like the Five Eyes alliance of later generations?" Wei Zhonglong smiled.

"No, I think that with the long and profound foundation of our Chinese civilization, the influence of this alliance may far exceed that of the Ansar Alliance in later generations," Meng Shengxin said confidently, his eyes filled with confidence in Chinese civilization.

In his view, Chinese civilization has a long history and has been passed down and developed for thousands of years, possessing strong vitality and cohesion.

This is different from the Five Eyes alliance, which is based on interests. This alliance, which is based on Chinese civilization, will have closer ties in the fields of culture, language, and values, and its influence will be more profound and lasting.

"My lord, an urgent report from Linhai!"

A fast horse galloped up the hill and arrived before the two men in no time. Then, a report from Linhai was handed to them.

"The immigrant convoy has arrived in Linhai." After reading the urgent report, Wei Zhonglong's face showed a strange expression. "...Two of the armed merchant ships from Guangzhou were slightly damaged."

"What, you got into a fight with Zheng Zhilong on the way?" Meng Shengxin asked, frowning.

In recent years, Zheng Zhilong's influence at sea has become increasingly powerful, and any merchant ship that does not bear Zheng's command flag may be subject to their unwarranted interception.

If intercepted by Zheng's fleet, the lightest punishment would be a fine of three to ten thousand taels of silver, while the heaviest punishment would be the confiscation of all cargo and all personnel, who would be taken ashore and ransomed with a huge sum of silver. Otherwise, they would be branded as pirates or smugglers and beheaded as a warning to the public.

To avoid Zheng's interception, some of the immigrant fleets from Xinhua that passed through Guangzhou would choose to take a detour through the open sea, avoiding the mainland coastline, and passing through the waters east of Taiwan, via Ryukyu, past Japan, and eventually sailing to Beiying Island.

However, after Zheng's family monopolized trade with Japan, their fleet frequently traveled between Japan and China. If they were unlucky, they might still encounter each other in the waters off Ryukyu or Japan.

The Xinhua News Agency also found the Zheng family a major headache.

In the past few years, intermediaries have been sent to Zheng Zhilong, using the Liaodong grain trade and the northern fur trade as bait to test whether cooperation could be reached.

However, Zheng Zhilong ignored the suggestions from Xinhua News Agency and did not respond.

It seems that after defeating the Dutch East India Company, the other side regarded everyone in the world, or rather, all maritime forces, as nothing, and did not take Xinhua seriously at all.

A vassal state from a remote mainland, wishing to beg for food in the Ming Dynasty, should naturally follow the rules of the Zheng family as long as it travels by sea.

It is simply impossible to be exempt from "toll fees".

For this reason, the Xinhua government once considered whether to build more specialized warships and then send them to the Ming Dynasty's waters to teach the Zheng family a lesson.

In the end, however, he decided to give up, feeling that it would be a loss to fight with Zheng Zhilong. After all, Zheng Zhilong had the advantage of geographical location and was backed by the Ming Dynasty (the mainland). Fighting with him would not necessarily bring much benefit and would only delay his "important business".

At worst, we can just hide from him in the Ming Dynasty's waters; it's just a matter of taking a longer route.

“It’s not the Zheng family.” Wei Zhonglong handed the urgent report to Meng Shengxin with a wry smile. “Our armed immigrant ship is near the Pearl River Estuary in Guangzhou and is fighting with the British.”
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(End of this chapter)