Chapter 462 Official Routine
During this period, ships from Annan continued to deliver South Vietnamese prisoners of war to Changhua Port every five or six days. Nearly half a year has passed since the Battle of Hue, and the rate of importing prisoners of war and immigrants from Annan has also slowed down as its domestic situation has calmed down. During the peak period, the scale of transporting more than 3,000 people per month has gradually been reduced to around 1,000 people per month, which was the same period in the second half of last year. Although in order to ensure that there is enough labor available on the Changhua construction site, the executive committee has directly handed over most of the population to Changhua's engineering department, but for such a large project, even if this number is doubled several times, it may not be possible. It can meet the needs of accelerating project progress.
Under this background, Shi Zidong's small labor force has also become a favorite in the eyes of the construction site headquarters. Qiao Zhiya spent a lot of thought and finally brought in all the remaining labor force in Shi Zidong. Although it seems to be a drop in the bucket, it finally adds a feasible way to the local labor source. In this way, when the same method is used to set up other Li and Miao cottages, there will be a successful model to show.
Of course, not all Li people can adapt to this change in living environment and work style. There are also a small number of people in Shizidong who are unwilling to leave the mountainous area and have not joined the migration industry. However, due to the fact that Shizidong and the Haihan people had reached an agreement, these people could not continue to stay in the Shilu area and could only switch to Lidong, which was located further inland.
On September 3, 1629, an "exploration-class" warship belonging to the militia navy slowly sailed into Changhua Port and docked at the No. 5 berth dedicated to the military. Since several groups of military ships arrive here every month to perform patrols or transport personnel and supplies, the staff on the dock are also accustomed to catching the cables thrown by the ships and tying them to the cement piles on the shore. However, when the absent-minded sailor saw the people coming down from the ship to the shore through the gangplank, he immediately stood up straight as a reflex, put his right hand on his left chest, and shouted piously: "Serve the Executive Committee." ! "
This was not the first time that Tao Donglai had enjoyed treatment similar to that of a "religious leader" outside. He was not surprised. He slightly raised his hand to signal to the dock worker, surrounded by a group of militiamen. and left. However, this naturalized citizen was still very excited. Not everyone could have the opportunity to serve Chief Tao at such a close distance, not to mention that the other party had a very obvious reaction just now. This was enough to make him think among his relatives and friends. It's been blowing in front of me for half a year.
Tao Donglai suddenly appeared in Changhua. On the one hand, it was because after Liu Shan was transferred to perform other tasks in the summer, the Ministry of Construction no longer had heavyweight cadres in the Changhua area to supervise the construction. Although Qiao Zhiya can also direct ordinary road construction projects, his establishment is in the military after all, and the Ministry of Construction is not easy to hand over all his work to other departments.
Of course, with the complicated responsibilities that Tao Donglai has, the possibility of him staying here is even less likely than that of Liu Shanxia. The main purpose of coming here is to inspect the progress of the project and provide some policy-related information to the managers here. More clear opinions and orders.
In addition, Tao Donglai also has another small task, which is to announce the formal establishment of the Changhua Port Management Committee, and appoint Qiao Zhiya as the interim director of the Management Committee on behalf of the executive committee, and continue to serve as Changhua Port Management Committee concurrently. The general command position of the transportation line project headquarters.
Qiao Zhiya was a little bit sad when he took over the appointment letter from Tao Donglai. Three years ago, he was an automobile mechanic in Detroit. He loved excitement and participated in the mysterious "time travel" with several of his best friends. We have arrived at this unimaginable era. The skills in hardware, chemical engineering, engineering, navigation, and combat that he learned before traveling gave him his own place in the team. However, being able to embark on the path of politics from other fields step by step was something that even he himself had not thought of.
If someone had told Qiao Zhiya three years ago that you would be a county magistrate or something like that in a seaside fishing village in southern China, he would have definitely thought that this guy was talking nonsense. However, today this seemingly ridiculous plot has actually happened. Qiao Zhiya doesn't know how to describe his mixed feelings now. To be honest, he is not particularly interested in politics, but he knows that in this group, politics is undoubtedly a shortcut to the top of power.
In contrast, although joining the army can quickly accumulate military merit and gain promotion, there are still risks involved. Since the establishment of the militia, although no time traveler officer has been killed in battle, injuries are inevitable. When Qiao Zhiya went to Annan for the first time to participate in the Battle of Hengshan, he was bravely wounded in the battle. Although his arm was only scratched by a cold arrow shot by the South Vietnamese army, it is difficult to imagine that the arrow missed it by half a foot. What consequences will there be. Swords and guns have no eyesight. No one on the battlefield dares to say that they are tough enough to cope with any situation. Qiao Zhiya does not want to become a professional soldier in the army for a long time. This current path is really suitable for his current situation and mentality.
At Tao Donglai's request, the reception banquet was kept very short. This is not because Tao Donglai consciously advocates integrity, but because his time in the local area is relatively limited, and there are many tasks that need to be assigned to Qiao Zhiya, it is better to save the time for eating and drinking to do something practical.
One of the tasks Tao Donglai wants to explain to Qiao Zhiya is the arrangements for the recent reception of the Qiong Lianfa inspection team. In view of the fact that the number of immigrants introduced from Annan has begun to trend downward, the Executive Committee believes that the source of labor in the Shilu area of Changzhou can no longer rely solely on the transportation from Annan. There are some channels that can be utilized, and they must be fully utilized. For example, the local Li Miao indigenous people used the influence of Ming merchants on the mainland to bring a large number of laborers here to participate in the construction.
Of course, whether it is the railway from Changhua to Shilu or the large-scale mineral deposits that will be fully exploited in the Shilu area, the executive committee will not allow outsiders to directly participate in the operation of these important projects that are related to Haihan's future national economy and people's livelihood. But if you want Ming businessmen to contribute money and effort, it will definitely not work if you don’t give them any benefits. Based on certain operating examples from another time and space, Schneider gave the Executive Committee a more practical method, which is to issue bonds for related projects.
Bonds are not unfamiliar to time travellers, but in this era, they are considered a relatively advanced way of operating funds. However, Schneider came up with this idea not entirely to raise project funds. The current economic situation of Haihan Group does not require it to absorb funds from outside to build large-scale projects. To put it bluntly, this is actually the same as when Sanya was developed and the project investment was attracted. The methods used were exactly the same, but in order to circumvent the prohibition against allowing external funds to participate in the operation of important industries, Schneider came up with bonds, a compromise method that would not touch the restricted area. If done properly, it can even solve the problem of labor shortage.
The solution to this problem is not complicated. That is to add a purchase right threshold to bonds with good returns and promising market prospects. That is, the purchase rights are directly linked to the number of immigrants provided by the buyer. The more immigrants are attracted per unit time, the higher the purchase rights. Accordingly, more "Jonesy Development Bonds" can be purchased. Of course, in this process, the costs of recruiting and transporting immigrants are all borne by Haihan. The person in charge only needs to drag the immigrants to the designated location and sign an employment agreement with Haihan.
Although there are many merchants and businesses in Haihan that are constantly attracting skilled immigrants to Haihan, for the booming Haihan, the population will always be in short supply. The Executive Committee also hopes that through this brand-new method, it can stimulate those large businessmen who have maintained close cooperative relations with Haihan, so that they can focus part of their energy on the immigration field and make full use of their influence in the mainland. Absorb and transfer the population needed for Haihan. Tao Donglai crossed his legs and sipped hot tea. This was mountain wild tea picked by the Li people in Shizidong from their previous settlement. Although it was not as mellow as the Tieguanyin in Anxi, Fujian Province that Tao Donglai liked very much, it still had another very special flavor. Simple mountain flavor.
Tao Donglai put down his tea cup and started to get to the point: "Qiong Lianfa's inspection team will arrive in Changhua in about two or three days, so I came here a few days in advance to standardize the administrative establishment here so that you don't have to worry about it. The responsibilities and rights of the stall nearby have always been unclear..."
When Qiao Zhiya heard this, he not only thought to himself that the reason why his promotion opportunity came so quickly was because of Qiong Lianfa's roundabout efforts. but. The executive committee changed the original work process for this reason, and Tao Donglai personally came to Changhua to make a front-line stand. It can be felt from this that they attach great importance to the bond investment matter.
Since it is a project that the Executive Committee attaches great importance to, it can basically be equated with the four words "nothing can be lost". Qiao Zhiya didn't want his first project to be messed up after taking office, so he listened very carefully.
Tao Donglaijie continued: "Our purpose of building this railway and the project to be developed in Shilu do not need to be kept secret from this inspection group. Because our profit prospects on this project can only be determined by the content of the project. to reflect.”
Qiao Zhiya nodded in agreement and said: "Actually, it's useless for outsiders to know what we plan to do here. Who else besides us has the ability to develop this place? The Changhua County government can't even control ten miles outside the city, let alone develop it. Shi Lu.”
Tao Donglai responded: "Speaking of this, I heard that the Ming military attache in Changhua has been dragged into the water by you?"
"The general of the Ming Army in Changhua County is called Xiao Laosan. He is also a clever man who can see the limelight. Last time I caught a fugitive, I showed my hand in front of him and calmed him down. Then I chose Completely cooperate with us. This guy is not particularly greedy for money. He is very satisfied with a few dozen taels of silver a month.”
If Xiao Laosan knew that Qiao Zhiya was evaluating him like this behind his back, he would definitely feel dumbfounded. This price was originally offered by Qiao Zhiya tentatively, but for Xiao Laosan it was already a considerable amount of income. You must know that if he relied solely on military salary, his annual income would be the same as the monthly payment offered by Qiao Zhiya. The price is almost the same, it’s really strange that Xiao Laosan is not tempted.
But if Xiao Laosan knew the sky-high investment amount of the Changhua project and the scale of the industrial base Haihan planned to build in this area, he would probably have raised the price. It is precisely because of the lack of this awareness that Xiao Laosan missed the opportunity to make more profits for his small treasury. Of course, if he really dared to deliberately blackmail Haihan, he would probably become one of the few officials who died in the line of duty in the history of Changhua County.
"When the time comes, please invite this Xiao Laosan out and ask him to endorse the inspection team, so that those Ming businessmen can feel more at ease." When Tao Dong came to see Qiao Zhiya, he looked like he was eating him to death, and immediately gave him An advanced version of his mission.
"No problem!" Qiao Zhiya agreed immediately. Although Xiao Laosan is not yet obedient to his words, if there is any invitation from Qiao Zhiya, he will actively participate in it. Moreover, what Tao Dong mentioned was official business, and there would definitely be some hard-earned money given to Xiao Laosan. With his character of not letting go of dozens of taels of silver, he would certainly not refuse this innocuous task.
Asking Ming officials to come forward and endorse various development projects in Haihan has become the standard operating method for relevant departments to carry out development in the nominal Ming control area. The first to use this routine were the two official Ming Dynasty agencies, Yazhou Shuizhai and Yulin Inspection Department. At that time, the main purpose was to use the reputation of official institutions to stabilize the uneasy psychology of the immigrants who had just arrived in Victory Port. Later, this very effective method was promoted. Even when Haihan recruited immigrants in rural areas of Guangdong, he used official documents issued by the Yacheng government to ensure that Haihan's recruitment was reasonable and legal, and it was completely semi-official. Immigration did achieve excellent results at the time. After all, compared to Haihan, who had a mysterious background, the name of the Ming Dynasty had more credibility.
These successful experiences are constantly being summarized and then applied in various subsequent projects. Although the members of Qiong Lianfa's inspection team are all senior partners of Haihan and have full confidence in Haihan, if obtaining official endorsement is just a piece of cake, then Haihan will not hesitate to spend some money to make things more beautiful. Some. As for Qiao Zhiya, he naturally regarded this as an opportunity to show off his abilities in front of Tao Donglai.
(End of chapter)