Chapter 3440
"Xingdao, which is regarded as a distant frontier in China, turns out to have such commercial value!"
Qian Shaobao couldn't help but sigh after listening to Tan Tianlei's introduction. The level of infrastructure and prosperity of Star Island far exceeded his knowledge before coming here.
In this way, the Executive Committee has given the Singdao Region a high degree of autonomy and allowed it to recruit immigrants and high-level talents domestically. This should also be extremely optimistic about the development prospects of Singdao.
Tan Tianlei continued: "The institutions set up by some small countries in the South China Sea on Xingdao often have both diplomatic and commercial functions. They are both embassies and business stores."
Qian Shaobao asked: "Then the officials they stationed on Star Island are also diplomats and businessmen?"
Tan Tianlei nodded and said: "These small countries themselves are not so particular. The integration of politics and business is a more efficient way of operation for them."
The territory and population of some small countries in the South China Sea are far less than that of Haihan. The population of some countries is even less than 10,000, and there is no need to maintain a complex bureaucratic system.
The economic benefits these countries gain from trade on Star Island are even greater than their domestic tax revenue. This means that the official institutions set up on Star Island are the main financial resources of these small countries. Naturally, this important resource cannot be left to the control of outsiders, and the people in charge are often the princes and nobles of the country.
Of course, in relatively large countries such as Aceh, Johor, and Myanmar, the establishment of relevant institutions is much more formal. Commercial embassies and embassies each have their own set of people and have clear divisions of functions.
Tan Tianlei took them into several foreign business stores at will. The heads of these institutions obviously recognized him. They were all very enthusiastic and hurriedly introduced their products to the two distinguished guests brought by Tan Tianlei.
Qian Shaobao quickly noticed that the commodities exported by these South China Sea countries to Haihan were mainly local specialties and raw materials, such as various agricultural products, animal skins, metal ores, etc. Some countries also have labor export business, and the government organizes young and strong citizens to work in construction sites, mines and other places under the jurisdiction of the Singdao Region.
Most of the goods they purchased from Haihan were various mass-produced industrial products, mainly metal products.
The Sing Tao Region began exploiting the Dumai oil field on the island of Sumatra across the strait eight years ago. In the past few years, the local primary petrochemical industry has gradually been established. Therefore, among the industrial products sold to neighboring countries, there are already supporting downstream industrial chains - kerosene lamps and kerosene lighters, which are both hot products with excellent sales.
There is naturally a huge scissor gap in the transactions between industrial products and agricultural products. The selling price of a kerosene lamp is almost equivalent to the income of a foreign worker working in Xingdao for a month. One liter of kerosene can be exchanged for forty or fifty kilograms of grain from these South China Sea countries.
To complement this, there is also the financial and monetary system that Haihan has been promoting. Haihan banknotes have become a credit currency with circulation capacity in many countries, and are increasingly replacing gold, silver and precious metal currencies in cross-border trade.
It is not easy to promote Haihan culture to the indigenous people of the South China Sea. Writing and language are huge obstacles, but the process of promoting banknotes is much simpler. After all, these colorful paper currencies can really be purchased from Haihan. All goods are even more cost-effective than bartering.
The impact of the financial and monetary system on the South China Sea countries is even greater than the promotion of Haihan culture. When the value of Haihan banknotes circulating in a country reaches a certain level, Haihan no longer needs to use military means. Financial means alone can affect the country's people's livelihood and government affairs.
Although Qian Shaobao studied military affairs, he was not completely unfamiliar with finance. When he saw these foreign businessmen enthusiastically stating that all transactions could be settled with Haihan banknotes, he knew that Haihan currency was very important in the world. It has occupied a core position in the trade system constructed by the island region. After not passing a few foreign shops, it was already noon. Tan Tianlei had already made arrangements for this and took them to a nearby high-end restaurant.
After entering the private room, Qian Shaobao saw that the two brothers Luo Shenghuai and Luo Shengding whom he had met at the reception banquet yesterday were already waiting, so he knew that today was another unavoidable social event.
Both of Roger's sons served in the Lujiu Division. Also present were Ruan Zhengcheng, the son of Ruan Fu, the commander of the Lujiu Division, and Han Wendong, the son of Xingdao Sheriff Han Zhengshan.
As well as two officers, Mu Zhennan and Wu Chengzhi, who were transferred from the Cam Ranh Port base to participate in the Malacca military operation in the first half of the year. These two men are the sons of military bosses Mu Xiabai and Wu Sen respectively. They are both working in the navy. They happened to be on Xingdao recently and were free, so they were invited by the Luo brothers.
Qian Shaobao was not completely unfamiliar with these people. He had known some of them since he was a cadet at the Sanya Military Academy in his early years.
Qian Shaobao still wanted to be polite, but the Luo brothers had already pushed him to the top position without any explanation.
Luo Shenghuai patted him on the shoulder and said: "Yesterday's banquet was hosted by our elders, today it is up to us to fulfill our friendship as landlords!"
Luo Shengding continued: "There were too many elders on yesterday's occasion, and everyone couldn't let go. Today we are all our own, so don't hide them!"
Seeing that everyone had distributed bottles of Sanya special brew, Qian Shaobao had to smile bitterly and said: "If you drink this meal, you won't be able to do anything serious in the afternoon!"
Tan Tianlei said: "It doesn't matter, Xingdao is not a big place, so you don't have to worry about visiting it for half a day."
When Qian Shaobao saw this, he knew he couldn't shirk it, so he simply settled down to socialize.
After drinking for three rounds, Luo Shenghuai said: "Brother Qian, when we sent out troops at the beginning of this year, my brother and I were thinking that General Qian should transfer you to the South China Sea early to participate in the operation. We missed a great opportunity to gain military honors." ! ”
"But there is a saying that goes well, although you are late, you are here after all! General Qian will probably let go and start a big fight in Phuket next!"
Qian Shaobao heard that the other party seemed to be testing his words, and responded with a smile: "To be honest, I don't know what my father's plans are, and I can only find out after I go to Phuket. But you have always Haven't you heard anything from General Luo here?"
Luo Shenghuai put down his glass and said sternly: "Everyone knows that there will be action next year, but the specific where to go and who the opponent is is still extremely secret. I guess only you and my father know."
Qian Shaobao said: "That's probably to avoid leaking the news beforehand!"
Luo Shengding took over the conversation and said: "Last time we sent troops in the name of exterminating pirates, we started formulating an action plan several months in advance. But what exactly we are going to do this time has not yet announced a clear goal. I don't think it will happen again. This action is so simple.”