Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Just like the current Sino-foreign joint ventures.

The central government's current stance on these Sino-foreign joint ventures is that profits from the companies' investors (including the government) must be shared with the factories and workers, implementing a "three-three system." At the same time, Sino-foreign joint ventures must be integrated into China's socialist economy.

As long as this is met, China supports the emergence of Sino-foreign joint ventures in some places.

With so many economic cooperation plans, Charles de Gaulle proposed to visit various parts of China.

The Central Committee agreed to de Gaulle's request and let him decide where to visit. He first wandered around Beijing, visiting factories there, and then went to Tianjin, Tangshan, and other places.

They are all factories.

Charles de Gaulle saw the development of these Chinese industrial cities.

But after all, these were only a few important industrial cities. Charles de Gaulle was more interested in seeing the rest of China. So, he requested to travel by train from Beijing to Guangdong, exploring China's current development along the way.

Since de Gaulle wanted to watch, the central government certainly could not stop him.

If it is stopped, it will be as if China has something shameful.

The central government attached great importance to Charles de Gaulle's visit, as China and Charles de Gaulle had reached numerous cooperation agreements, including plans for in-depth cooperation in politics, economy, and diplomacy.

Although it is only short now.

But as long as de Gaulle comes back, many things will become real agreements.

Because the conversation with Charles de Gaulle was so pleasant, Sino-French relations were likely to make rapid progress. Therefore, the Chairman approved it, stating that there was no place Charles de Gaulle could not see.

Even if Charles de Gaulle wanted to see China's military, we could coordinate to let him see it. As long as it wasn't a sensitive military project base, there was nothing secretive about other places. And there was no need to worry that Charles de Gaulle would look down on us if he saw our impoverished rural areas. Because that's the reality.

Along the way, de Gaulle was allowed to see whatever he wanted.

However, this required coordination with local authorities and the military. So, in the end, it was decided that Wei Hongjun would personally accompany Charles de Gaulle on his trip south. Along the way, Wei Hongjun would help coordinate anything Charles de Gaulle wanted to see.

In fact, Wei Hongjun didn't want to go south.

Work is so hectic these days. When Wei Hongjun, the First Secretary of the Secretariat, travels south, a whole bunch of people follow him. He has to work on the train, with no time to rest.

But there is no way.

Charles de Gaulle is currently China's best candidate to tear apart the imperialist camp.

The central government attaches great importance to it.

Initially, de Gaulle was simply expected to observe China's rapid development. However, de Gaulle himself wasn't entirely sure what he wanted to see. It wasn't until the train reached Anyang, Henan, that he saw many people working together. At a glance, there were thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, which astonished de Gaulle.

De Gaulle had never seen so many people working on the farm together, and some of them appeared to be wearing military uniforms.

It's not clear what they are doing.

Charles de Gaulle was eager to know what they were doing. So after the train arrived at the station, Wei Hongjun mobilized some cars and took Charles de Gaulle there. He then sent someone to notify the local cadres.

"Secretary Wei, why are you here?"

1017 Charles de Gaulle's shock

A middle-aged man in ordinary clothes, covered in mud, walked over.

Seeing Wei Hongjun's outstretched hand, he wanted to shake it. But he saw that his hand was too dirty, so he retracted it. After wiping it on his clothes, he shook hands with Wei Hongjun again. He was very happy to see Wei Hongjun and immediately said, "Secretary Wei, why are you here? I haven't received any notice yet."

Wei Hongjun is a leader of the Party and the state.

If Wei Hongjun wanted to inspect a particular place, the General Office of the Central Committee would definitely notify the local government in advance. Among the central leaders, only the Chairman could ignore this rule and adjust his schedule at any time.

But other leaders can't do that.

Their inspection itinerary will be arranged in advance.

No one would be too happy about a sudden attack on lower-level cadres. Furthermore, the varying security arrangements for different leaders made coordination difficult and complicated. However, Luo Weilin wasn't unhappy; on the contrary, he was delighted. After the Ninth Congress, Luo Weilin had originally intended to report to Wei Hongjun on his work in Henan and receive his guidance. However, so many people wanted to report to Wei Hongjun that Luo Weilin, not wanting to burden him, left Beijing.

Luo Weilin is three years older than Wei Hongjun and is 45 years old this year.

However, he was a graduate of the first class of the Rural Training Institute run by Wei Hongjun in Sheng County, and later worked on land reform in Jin-Cha-Ji. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as director of the Policy Research Office for Wei Hongjun in the Rural Work Committee and the Rural Work Department.

Twenty years of revolutionary friendship.

Although I was very surprised by Wei Hongjun's sudden appearance, I was of course very happy to see him here.

"I accompanied General de Gaulle around."

Wei Hongjun led Luo Weilin to Charles de Gaulle and said, "General Charles de Gaulle is the general manager here. You can ask him if you have any questions."

"Is he an official from your China?"

“Yes. Yes.”

"What official?"

Charles de Gaulle was very skeptical.

Is this an official? His attire doesn't reveal him to be one, not to mention his filth. He looks like he's just been working, like a farmer who just went to the fields. Wei Hongjun explained to de Gaulle, "He's from Henan Province, similar to a region in France. He's the official with full responsibility for rural affairs in Henan Province. He previously conducted research on rural issues at the central government. You can call him Luo Weilin."

De Gaulle was incredulous.

This is an official of New China, and also a provincial cadre in charge of rural work. His rank does not seem to be very low.

But this doesn't look like an official at all.

More like a farmer.

De Gaulle suppressed his shock and asked, "Rob, can I ask what you are doing?"

Charles de Gaulle didn't understand why so many people were being mobilized. Charles de Gaulle was a military man, rising from a private to a general. So, he could see at a glance that so many people were working together, but he wasn't blind.

It is organized.

They work in circles as a group, and then several small circles form a large group.

Luo Weilin wiped the sweat off his face and introduced, "Although Henan is a plain area with many plains, there are actually many places with ditches and canals. Some are natural and have always been there. But many are also dug by former landlords and self-cultivating farmers to clearly define their own farmland. Although these ditches and canals may not seem to take up much space, they all add up to a very large area. Moreover, having ditches and canals everywhere is not conducive to large-scale agricultural development. So in recent years, we have been filling in these ditches and canals, leveling the farmland and developing fertile farmland. This place didn't look like this before. There were many small mounds, ditches and canals, and some small swamps. Our goal is to fill it up completely. Because this place is so large, once it is tidied up, there will be at least 120 million mu of fertile farmland."

"You mean, you're making farmland?"

"Correct."

Luo Weilin nodded.

After arriving in Henan, Luo Weilin promoted two initiatives: water conservancy development and the development of fertile farmland. These two initiatives are interconnected. Many people assume that any plain is automatically fertile farmland, but this is not the case. It's not the case that just because a plain is fertile farmland, it's not the case that just because there are mountains or hills, there can be no fertile farmland.

In just over two years, Luo Weilin led the people of Henan to expand over 700 million mu of fertile farmland. Connecting one tract of farmland after another, they mobilized everyone to flatten any small mounds of earth, ditches, or swamps in between, transforming the area into a truly endless expanse of farmland.

The large tracts of arable land established in this way, combined with water conservancy construction, will become one fertile field after another.

The people of Henan are great.

When given the right leadership and plan, the power they unleash is astonishing.

Like now.

After Luo Weilin negotiated with the local government, he mobilized over 20,000 people during their free time. Men, women, and children participated, with clear divisions of labor. Charles de Gaulle's heart began to pound as he watched so many people meticulously transforming the farmland.

Because it is really unbelievable.

After a while, de Gaulle pointed to a group of people who were different from the common people and asked, "Who are they?"

"Oh, they're from the Henan Provincial Military District. Secretary Wei, I forgot to tell you. Comrade Zhang Zongsheng, Deputy Political Commissar of the Henan Provincial Military District, is in the east command room."

"Zhao Han, notify him to come over."

"Yes."

Soon Mr. Zhang came running over.

When Wei Hongjun accompanied Chairman Mao on his southern inspection tour in 1952, Zhang Zongsheng was still the political commissar of the rd Public Security Division of the Wuhan Military Region. Unexpectedly, five years later, he was already the deputy political commissar of the Henan Provincial Military Region.

So does he.

He was covered in dirt, probably because he had just worked with the officers and soldiers.

He was also very happy when he saw Wei Hongjun. So he ran over, stood at attention and saluted before Wei Hongjun, saying, "Secretary Wei, Mr. Zhang, Deputy Political Commissar of the Henan Provincial Military Region, reports in."

"It affects your work."

Wei Hongjun also returned a military salute.

"Commander, you didn't interrupt our work. We are only happy that you are here."

Charles de Gaulle saw Zhang Zongsheng saluting and knew that he was a typical military man. So he asked, "Who is he?"

"He used to be a general who led troops in battle, a major general in our army. Now he is a cadre in our Henan Provincial Military Region."

"So they are the military? But why would the military do farm work?"

De Gaulle pointed to the people working over there.

Luo Weilin immediately replied, "It was decided by the provincial military region that each unit should take one day a week to do voluntary labor and participate in local construction. Especially since Henan Province is currently working hard on water conservancy projects and fertile farmland, the troops are providing a lot of support."

"is it?"

Wei Hongjun looked at Zhang Zongsheng.

"Yes."

Zhang Zongsheng nodded and said, "The Wuhan Military Region has approved it. The troops will not be interrupted in their regular training, but will only set aside one day a week for voluntary labor. Not only our Henan Provincial Military Region, but also the Hubei Provincial Military Region and the Hunan Provincial Military Region currently have voluntary work days to participate in local construction."

Charles de Gaulle stood by with his mouth open.

He really didn't understand.

Shouldn't the army be the army and local governments be local governments?

Charles de Gaulle had spent many years in the military, gaining familiarity with the militaries of many European and American countries. He had never heard of the military participating in local development or even doing farm work. The military was meant to fight.

Besides, how much would it cost to mobilize so many people to participate? He couldn't help but express his doubts. Wei Hongjun smiled and replied, "General, we are a socialist country. The people are the masters of the country, so the country and the people are one. The fertile farmland construction we are currently carrying out is not only to create fertile farmland for the country, but also to create fertile farmland for ourselves. Increased grain production, increased national income, and better people's lives will also be achieved. Therefore, the problems you are worried about do not exist."

"As for the military, they are the people's army. Since the founding of our army, helping the people with work and participating in local construction are the most common things, and they are what we should do. For our people's army, the interests of the people are supreme, and protecting the interests of the people from harm is the highest mission of the army."

When de Gaulle heard Wei Hongjun's words, he didn't know how to describe it.

But he understood one thing.

The Chinese government mobilized so many people to work, most of it for free. And yet, the Chinese people worked so enthusiastically for the government, even though they were doing it for free. Tens of thousands of people worked in an orderly manner, without any chaos.

Charles de Gaulle had led troops in battles and understood that the most difficult thing was organization.

The fact that so many people could work together in such an orderly manner was enough to frighten Charles de Gaulle. He suddenly thought of the Korean War.

That war that brought shame to the Western world.

Seeing these people now, de Gaulle suddenly understood something. With such mobilization and organizational capabilities, the Chinese government, along with its military, would certainly be very powerful. However, de Gaulle couldn't help but ask, "Are there many projects like this in Henan?"