You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

Lin Feng stopped in front of a loom.

"Other local Chinese-owned factories must have had an even harder time after the fall of the country, right?"

"There's no way we can survive."

Lin Peiji shook his head, his tone heavy:

"After the fall of Qingcheng Port, the only large Chinese-owned factory, Huaxin Cotton Mill."

The Japanese military intervened and forcibly acquired it at an extremely low price of 1.96 million yuan.

They even removed the sign and renamed it "Kuokuang Textile Co., Ltd. Second Factory".

Other national industrial enterprises met the same fate.

The old brands like Lisheng Ironworks and Jilu Needle Factory were all forcibly seized by the Japanese or forced into joint ventures.

The Japanese soldiers looted all the factory's equipment and funds.

"Hmph, those greedy Japanese devils!"

Lin Feng slammed his hand on the iron frame of the loom, making a dull thud.

"What they've swallowed, I'll make them spit out with interest."

These beasts must be severely punished!

Lin Peiji smiled when he heard this.

"Your Excellency, please rest assured."

After we liberated Qingcheng Port, you ordered that all the enterprises that had been forcibly seized be returned intact to those national capitalists.

Now, you are the most supported person in the entire business community of Qingcheng Port.

If we were to say now that we want to give up Qingcheng Port, they would definitely be the first to object.

Recently, the military government has been calling for donations.

Among them, the newly revitalized national capitalists were the most enthusiastic in spending money.

Silver dollars, gold bars, and grain were being sent to our supply depot, truckload after truckload.

Lin Feng's lips curled up slightly after hearing this.

"They only realized the importance of an umbrella after getting soaked in the rain!"

Lin Feng turned around and walked out of the workshop.

"Where have all those Japanese capitalists and factory managers gone?"

Lin Peiji quickly followed, reporting to the director with a smile:

"They're all staying in labor camps outside the city."

Captain Sun Shisan assigned them the best jobs.

These Japanese bosses, who usually wear suits and act like bullies, are now overseeing the work.

Now they are mixed up with the small number of captured Japanese officers and soldiers.

They had to get up before dawn every day to collect manure, clean sewers, and sweep the streets.

If you work too slowly, the militiamen on guard won't hesitate to use their whips.

Some of the old Japanese soldiers couldn't stand the suffering and even wanted to go on a hunger strike in protest.

They were starved for three days, and now they're scrambling to eat even the stale cornbread.

Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction.

To deal with these vampires, we have to use this most direct physical labor to transform them.

"However, Your Excellency."

Lin Peiji then changed the subject, raising the current challenges:

"Although the Japanese management has been purged, the vast majority of the low-level workers in these nine cotton mills are from our Great Xia."

There are over 30,000 mouths to feed.

The factory is currently under military control, and the gate is sealed off, preventing them from starting operations.

With their income cut off, many workers' families are struggling to make ends meet.

If this continues, it might cause trouble.

Lin Feng stopped and looked at the faintly visible residential areas outside the factory area.

"We absolutely must resume production as soon as possible."

Lin Feng's tone was serious:

"Only when the machines are running can the workers get paid and have food to eat."

Only when the people live and work in peace and contentment can our homeland be secure.

Lin Feng considered it in his mind.

He originally considered confiscating all nine textile factories and having the military government take over their operation.

But upon closer examination, this plan is not feasible.

He has many military-savvy personnel under his command, but there is a severe shortage of professionals who understand textile industry management and marketing.

The military government couldn't possibly manage such a large operation.

It could even lead to bureaucracy and corruption, dragging down a perfectly good company.

"Uncle Pei-ki, please make a note of this."

Lin Feng issued the order:

"We will not take full military control over these nine major cotton mills."

Choose one of the newest and moderately sized companies and reserve it for the Quartermaster Department.

I will try to get a batch of advanced equipment in later.

This factory specializes in producing uniforms, bedding, and leggings for our troops, ensuring the supply of military provisions.

The so-called "advanced equipment" that Lin Feng mentioned naturally came from the new "Industry" exchange option in his system. Here, there are "packaged products" such as complete production lines and technical blueprints, like penicillin production lines, as well as individual machines and equipment such as lathes, looms, and distillation towers that can be exchanged.

Then he stretched out his hand and made an eight-shaped gesture:

"Bring out all eight remaining yarn factories."

The auction will be open to local ethnic capital in Qingcheng Port and the entire Shandong Province.

The highest bidder wins.

All proceeds from the auction were used for military expenses.

This can quickly revitalize the local economy, restore production, and solve the employment problem for workers.

This will also bring our military government a very considerable cash flow.

Lin Peiji's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly:

"Young master, this is a good idea. These merchants have a lot of funds, as well as a lot of goods and businesses."

"As long as we open up the textile mill, they'll absolutely fight tooth and nail for it."

After leaving the cotton yarn factory, Lin Feng traveled by car to visit several flour mills, match factories, and rubber factories in Qingcheng Port.

Looking at these businesses that had suspended operations and were awaiting production, Lin Feng's plan became increasingly clear.

Back at headquarters.

Lin Feng sat at his desk and took a sip of strong tea.

"Uncle Pei-ki, please make the arrangements."

Lin Feng put down his teacup and gave the instructions:

"In a few days, an economic symposium will be held at the guesthouse in the name of the military government."

Invite all the prominent national capitalists and chamber of commerce representatives from Qingchenggang.

I want to have a proper talk with them in person.

Listen to their thoughts and difficulties regarding resuming production.

Lin Feng stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bustling street outside.

He had a very clear understanding of the situation.

With the system at his disposal, the initial cost of mass-producing troops was indeed not too high.

It's very convenient to buy basic squads with exchange points and then upgrade them into elite German-equipped squads using merit points earned from fighting the Japanese.

But the military isn't a collectible item bought and stored away in a warehouse.

Humans need food, clothing, and other necessities.

Weapons need maintenance and upkeep.

Tanks and trucks consume huge amounts of diesel and gasoline every day.

When the cannons roared, all the shells fired were worth money.

The bulk of the cost actually lies in the subsequent daily maintenance and consumption.

He now has a total force of over 100,000 men.

The cost of feeding people and horses every day is an astronomical sum.

The high-ranking officials of the Nationalist government in Jiangcheng had long regarded him as a thorn in their side.

Did he expect the Jiangcheng Command to pay him his military salary and provide him with supplies on time and in full?

That's pure wishful thinking.

It's already a miracle that He Jingzhi and his gang didn't cut off his supplies or strangle him from behind.

Therefore, he must establish his own economic system that can generate its own revenue.

Only Qingcheng Port and the entire Jiaodong region saw their industry and commerce fully develop.

The factory machines roared, and the shops were thriving.

Only then can he have a continuous stream of tax revenue.

Only with a positive cash flow can he support his hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers.

Only then can we continue to expand our military and prepare for war, and fight the Japanese to the bitter end.

"The gun barrel protects the money bag, and the money bag supports the gun barrel."

Lin Feng looked at the blue sky outside the window and murmured to himself:

"So, I've completely taken over the reins of Shandong Province."