1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

After arriving at Lijia Village, the escort troops sent many people to help the villagers with farm work.

Some helped hoe the fields, some collected firewood, some repaired the house, and some fetched water to feed the chickens...

In short, apart from the soldiers who maintain security and are on guard duty, no one is idle.

At first, Lu Xun and others subconsciously thought it was a show, deliberately done for them to see, but they soon discovered:

Despite constant persuasion and thanks, the villagers did not seem surprised or unacceptable, but rather expressed gratitude.

Obviously, this wasn't the first time they had seen these soldiers do this.

Not to mention the Japanese Kanzo Uchiyama, even Americans like Helen Snow, or the Chinese Lu Xun, expressed their incomprehension.

Because they had never seen anything like this in their past lives!

The military is an institution of violence, a sharp blade used to suppress all riots and enemies. How can it be so gentle, so devoid of murderous intent, and so completely integrated with the people?

Does such an army still have combat effectiveness?

Several people had the same doubts as Chongren, but they also recalled the "epic victory of 3000 to 10" and temporarily suppressed their doubts and continued to observe.

Soon, Uchiyama Kanzo, a Japanese, discovered the identity of "Zhong Zhengyi" who was "arguing" with the village in Northeastern dialect, and couldn't help asking:

"What's the difference between a tall Japanese person and a Japanese person?"

"La high? Island なt hair?"

"Yes, I'm Japanese, my name is Uchiyama Kanzo." "Ha... my name is Nakamura Masa..."

The two introduced themselves to each other without mentioning anything. After learning why he was recognized, Nakamura Masakazu showed an annoyed expression and muttered in Northeastern dialect:

"It seems that my Northeastern dialect is still not proficient enough. I will be punished by His Highness when I go back..."

God knows how much effort Nakamura Masaaki put into learning Tohoku dialect in order to avoid being scolded by Fujiwara no Kanezane;

In a sense, he studied even harder than Chen Yuan did when he was learning Japanese. "Nakamura-kun, what are you doing?"

"Doing business!"

Nakamura Masakazu shook a stalk of Changbai ginseng in his hand and briefly explained his identity and actions:

"...I'm currently the leader of the purchasing and sales team. I'm responsible for purchasing various wild delicacies, furs, and other items from the villagers, and then reselling them to the Chamber of Commerce, and also for our own profit."

Oh, this is also one of the reasons why he tried so hard to learn Northeastern dialect and pretend to be Chinese.

Lu Xun and others looked at each other, shock in their eyes.

Because, according to the Nationalist government's propaganda and domestic perception, Japan's policy towards the Northeast was "taking whatever it wanted, squeezing as hard as possible";

When they were "researching" in the city before, they found that this was not the case. They did not expect that even the rural areas, which had always been the target of oppression, were seriously doing business.

Also, this damned Chamber of Commerce, even ordinary soldiers have shares in it?

What do you call this? Employee stock ownership? "Sell it to...who?"

"Our biggest customers right now are wealthy businessmen in Japan and major cities like Shanghai and Nanjing. The economy in Northeast China is still recovering, so it will take time for purchasing power to build up..."

As he spoke, Nakamura Masakazu picked up the Changbai ginseng and began to promote it on the spot as usual:

"Everyone, would you like to buy some? This stuff can enhance memory, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and prevent high blood pressure..."

Purchasing power?

What is that? What is he talking about?

Even though they didn't quite understand the bunch of new words that Nakamura Masakazu was talking about, the people in Shanghai had a feeling that "what he said seemed very powerful."

I couldn't understand it, but I was shocked.

What was most surprising was not the terms, but the level of knowledge and education revealed in Nakamura Masaru's conversation, which was completely different from his self-proclaimed "poor farmer with an elementary school education."

If any ordinary Japanese soldier is of this level who might be able to become the mayor of a city in China, then China should simply not resist.

Obviously, someone taught him all this.

Uchiyama Kanzo was about to ask more when Village Chief Li interrupted:

"Um, everyone... uh... sir, can you wait until we're done with the deal? Some of the goods can't be left outside. We've agreed to bring them back to the warehouse!"

"Ah...Okay, okay, please help yourself..."

Although they had a lot of questions in their minds, everyone knew that they should not disturb others' work, so they had to suppress their curiosity and stay aside to listen to them continue "arguing".

Anyone could see that although the two of them kept cursing at each other and even rolled up their sleeves as if they were about to fight, they actually had a good relationship.

The most important thing is that even Lu Xun and his "Shanghainese" friends knew that the purchase price offered by Nakamura Masakazu was quite generous. The price of some goods was almost the same as the final selling price, leaving no profit at all.

Adding to this the various expenses incurred by the 386th Brigade in building roads and houses in the village, the Osaka merchant group might not make much money from doing business with Lijia Village, and might even break even or even lose money.

Since he couldn't make huge profits, what was Fujiwara Kanezane trying to achieve?

As the evening approached and the transaction was finally completed, the Shanghai people finally had the opportunity to ask their questions, but they received answers that left them even more confused:

"Of course it's to make the villagers rich quickly so we can make money from them!"

"?? ?"

Wait a minute, do you want to sort out your own logic? In order to make money, you have to give money to the people?

Isn't this just taking off your pants to fart redundant? Does it make sense?

"Why doesn't it make sense?" Nakamura Masa looked surprised.

"The villagers don't have money, so how can they spend it? If they don't spend it, how can we make money?"

"Uh...but don't you want to make money?"

"Because we want to make money, we must first cultivate the market!" "Cultivate... Cultivate the market?"

"Isn't this easy to understand? Money is merely an equivalent; it only has value when it circulates... Eh? Don't you gentlemen understand this?"

Everyone looked confused or didn't quite understand and shook their heads.

Only then did Nakamura Masakazu finally realize how valuable knowledge was contained in those "few words" he learned from Fujiwara Kanezane and the courses he took at the Chamber of Commerce and the 386th Brigade.

As expected of His Majesty, the all-knowing Highness...

Nakamura Masakazu suddenly felt a sense of mission to "spread His Highness's ideals and glory throughout the world," and quickly explained:

"It's like this... The people of Northeast China, especially those recently liberated from the oppression of landlords by Your Highness, have solved their basic survival problems, but they are still extremely poor..."

In short, it is very basic economic knowledge in later generations - the so-called "the common people have become poor and there is no more money to be made from them."

Therefore, in order to better "squeeze the oil", we must prevent the common people from becoming poor ghosts who have no money and cannot even afford to buy a hair;

How can we prevent ordinary people from becoming poor?

In the early stages, we need to use various policy measures to try every possible way to make their wallets fatter;

In fact, consumption does not need to be stimulated at all. Those who save a penny and never spend it are always a minority among the minority.

Once ordinary people have money in their hands, they will definitely think about spending it;

Even poor families would still dream of buying three feet of good cloth to make new clothes during the New Year! At this time, you can make a lot of money by selling various basic daily necessities and even consumer goods to the people.

This cycle repeats over and over again.

This is how the economy works.

It's a very simple truth, but unfortunately, "those who eat meat are mean-spirited." Most rulers simply cannot see the long term and only want to collect taxes for ninety-nine years, turning all the people into paupers.

When ordinary people become poor, they naturally cannot afford to buy any goods; when they cannot afford to buy goods, factories will close down one after another; when factories close down one after another, workers will lose their jobs;

The more workers lose their jobs, the more poor people there are...

This is how economic crises and social conflicts arise.

"...if the average citizen spends only one dollar per year, the initial annual consumption boost in Northeast China would be around 3000 million yuan;"

"If we use various means to make the people richer, even if each person spends just one more dollar a year, the number can easily double;"

"What if there are three oceans? Four oceans? Five oceans?"

"When people have money, they will spend it. When they spend it, businesses can make money, and the government can collect taxes."

"In this way, the people will live well and avoid causing trouble. Businesses will be able to make money and will be willing to continue investing in production. The government will be able to collect taxes, which will enrich the country and strengthen its military. This will be a happy situation for everyone."

"This is your highness's theory. Only by making the people rich first can you benefit later. Those who try to make money from the people without thinking about making them rich are the stupidest of the stupid."

Helen and Snow couldn't help blushing.

Because, according to Fujiwara Kanezane's definition, American capitalists and politicians, and even capitalism itself, are the "idiots among idiots" as described by Nakamura Masachi.

Poor people?

That group of people only care about how much profit they can make now and whether their assets can appreciate rapidly. They don't care whether the poor are dead or alive.

How can this not create contradictions?

In fact, it is easy to understand what Nakamura Masakazu said, but how many people can suppress their own desires and look at the long term?

They were even more impressed by Fujiwara no Kanezane, whom they had briefly met before. They really wanted him to talk to Her Highness the Saint...

After understanding the whole theory, Lu Xun remembered an ancient Chinese saying:

"If you want to take something, you must first give it."

Isn't that what Fujiwara Kanezane did?

In order to make the common people rich, he first used extremely violent means to suppress and even kill the landlords and the vast majority of farmers to escape the survival crisis, and even did not hesitate to stir up civil unrest;

Then, he used methods such as "subsidized trade" to help farmers obtain their first "start-up capital," ensuring their basic living needs and gradually lifting them out of poverty.

Then, they could sell industrial and agricultural products to ordinary people who had surplus food or even money at home, earn profits, collect taxes, and then help everyone "get rich" together...

Although the ultimate goal is to "get rich", who can criticize Fujiwara no Kanezane's actions as wrong?

At least the people from Shanghai couldn't say such things with a clear conscience.

Lu Xun even couldn't help but develop a great liking for this "leader of the invading army" and for a moment forgot that he was an invader.

Because the difference between people is revealed through comparison.

They also want to "get rich", but look at what those bureaucrats and capitalists in the Nationalist government do?

Comparing it with Fujiwara no Kanezane's playstyle, whose approach is more beneficial to the people and whose level is higher is self-evident.

Is the Nationalist government truly a match for such an opponent? Even more frightening is, is it really right to be an enemy of such an opponent?

Lu Xun couldn't help feeling confused.

As for Uchiyama Kanzo, a Japanese, he was trembling with excitement. Although Uchiyama Kanzo had no feelings about the emperor system, humans are naturally drawn to the strong. Moreover, everything Fujiwara Kanezane showed was so consistent with his values, how could he not admire him?

Uchiyama Kanzo even had the urge to run to Fujiwara no Kanezane immediately to confess and pledge his loyalty to him.

The figure of the Holy King! The figure of the Holy King!

This is our Japanese Holy King! No!

Holy Emperor!

Only the more knowledgeable diplomat Paul Houston raised the question:

"I understand the venerable prince's intentions, but will Japan allow him to do so? If he fails to satisfy the people, I'm afraid his policies won't be sustainable."

After these words were spoken, there was a silence. Paul's words were very blunt:

You're doing this for the common people, but if you can't feed the poisonous insects in the country and keep them satisfied, even someone as noble as Fujiwara no Kanezane will be dismissed, right?

Yes, Japan invaded China in order to plunder resources and gain wealth. Now, not only can they not make any money, but they even have to pay money out of their pockets, which harms the interests of those people. How can they be willing to do it?

"This...I don't quite understand this. Your Highness didn't tell me."

Nakamura Masakazu scratched his head, slightly confused, but soon his expression became firm again:

"However, we all firmly believe that everything Your Highness does is right! Even if there are problems, Your Highness will definitely have a solution!"

.

Looking at the mixed expression of rationality and fanaticism on the face of this "ordinary" soldier from a poor family, Lu Xun and others suddenly had a strange idea:

Perhaps it would be a good thing for His Majesty to become the Emperor of Japan?

Somewhere in Shenyang.

"Well, you've actually been thinking about this kind of question, my brother Chongren?"

325 poverty alleviation? No, that's slander