On March 20, after the gathering at the Fenhe camp, it was time for Kang Fan to lead his army towards Heilongjiang.

At the suggestion of Mei Xiang's classmates, starting from 1900, March 16 of the lunar calendar will be designated as the anniversary of everyone's arrival in this era. Every year on this day, Kang Fan, Mei Xiang, Zhong Hanqiang and Mei Xiang's classmates will put down

We work together and come to Fenhe Camp for a while. We do farm work together, talk, play, barbecue, drink, sing, dance, etc., live a pastoral life, enhance feelings, cultivate body and mind, and discuss and formulate the next step.

administrative work.

This year, Kang Fan made it clear to everyone his intention to intervene in the Russo-Japanese War, and everyone except Mei Xiang agreed.

From 1900 to 1904, due to strong demand from the military and civilian fields, industrial and agricultural production in Shanxi and Heilongjiang was in full swing, and the supply of various minerals, raw materials, etc. became increasingly tight. The development of Tianjin oil fields and the subsequent development of the petrochemical industry,

It injected new vitality into the economic development of the two places. The heavy chemical industry, mainly coal deep processing and petrochemical industry, developed faster than other basic industries during this period, producing various fuels, lubricants, solvents, chemicals, etc.

Raw materials are widely used in Shanxi's machinery manufacturing products. Especially after the military and civilian sectors of the two places began to use cars and aircraft on a large scale, the demand for fuel, rubber, synthetic materials, etc. became increasingly huge. The heavy chemical industry

The development meets these needs in a timely manner.

In this way, the two places have all the conditions to enter the era of internal combustion engines. Entering this era means greater demand for various industrial raw materials. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain smooth and sufficient raw material supply channels and origins.

has become crucial.

Therefore, it is necessary to increase the control of metal and non-metal minerals, cotton and other agricultural cash crops in surrounding provinces such as Zhili, Henan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shengjing and other places, as well as imported foreign raw materials and origins.

The first method adopted is to use the support of the imperial court and economic means to strengthen control over these domestic provinces; the second is to strengthen ties with countries in Asia, America, Africa, Europe and other countries through friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in order to obtain a stable supply of raw materials.

The above two methods have a common means of promotion - money. Through large-scale investment in the production areas of these raw materials, on the one hand, it can help the local area to increase the production of raw materials, on the other hand, it can ensure the demand of Shanxi, the best of both worlds. Money is not an issue now, both

The sales volume and profits of local industrial products are increasing significantly every year, and as the pace of product upgrading accelerates, the huge trade surplus will continue to be maintained. In addition to various daily necessities that have maintained good sales momentum, representative products

In addition to medicines and medicines, the export of various new hardware, machinery, electrical and chemical products has also risen strongly, with sales rising year after year. However, Kangfan has no plans to sell cars and aircraft. First, it must prioritize domestic demand in the two places, and second, export

For the purpose of technical protection. Therefore, as long as the money is enough, anything can be done easily.

However, some things cannot be solved with money alone. Shanxi is not the only one who wants to occupy the raw material production areas and product sales markets for a long time. Other world powers also want to do so. The main purpose of each powerful country launching aggressive wars is to obtain their own products.

sales markets and raw material supply places, that is, overseas colonies. At present, the Qing Empire cannot even effectively protect its own territory, let alone open up overseas colonies.

Therefore, for Shanxi, gradually controlling and possessing and substantively protecting the existing land and resources of the Qing Empire is the most important strategic goal now and in the future. The Qing Empire can be said to be the largest product sales market in the world today.

, the most abundant raw material supply place and the most sufficient labor supply place. As long as various domestic resources are properly utilized, Shanxi's development will be even more powerful.

Kang Fan felt that this was very similar to the unique colonial system of the Western powers: Shanxi could be regarded as the small homeland of the Western powers, while the entire Qing Empire could be regarded as Shanxi's vast overseas colonies, and this system was established with the use of force by the Western powers.

It is different from the colonial system in that it is safer, more stable and more convenient because it has the same clan and master and takes advantage of the right time, location and people.

In this way, Shanxi, an emerging industrial entity, had its hands in almost all domestic raw material production areas and sales markets after 1900, posing a substantial threat to the enterprises of Western powers in the Qing Empire. This resulted in continuous contradictions and frictions.

Although the Empress Dowager Cixi firmly supported Shanxi in this matter, she did not dare to offend the governments of other countries too much. On the surface, she could only act as a peacemaker and stay out of the matter, advocating for a peaceful solution through negotiation between the two parties. Under this situation, Shanxi used its own amount to

Huge capital investment and equal and mutually beneficial business practices, and more importantly, the use of its superior geopolitical status to use its strong political, economic and military influence to actually control the production and sales of various domestic raw material origins. And the West

The enterprises of the great powers within the territory of the Qing Empire could only rely on Shanxi and purchase the raw materials of the Qing Empire at clear market prices in an orderly manner. They could no longer plunder as they had in the past.

Therefore, the raw material origins and raw material suppliers of the Qing Empire were able to carry out normal market operations under the protection of Shanxi. In every respect, they were much more comfortable than before, and they became more dependent on Shanxi.

In this way, Shanxi's industrial production can be maintained with the existing domestic supply of raw materials. Moreover, comparing the inspection report provided by the Shanxi Ministry of Land and Resources with the geological data of his own era that Kang Fan had, Kang Fan found that

Most of the naturally formed and complete mineral resource reserves in the country are still sleeping underground, and the mineral resources that have been developed and utilized are far less than one-tenth of the total resources! This is national power!

Despite this, Shanxi will also seize the opportunity to make short-term investments in foreign raw material markets, such as natural rubber in Southeast Asia and South America, and oil in the Middle East, to expand raw material and energy supply channels, and withdraw it at the first sign of trouble, and it will not suffer

Fatal impact.

By the end of 1904, the main basic industrial products of Shanxi and Heilongjiang, such as coal, crude oil, crude steel, rubber, cement, power generation, etc., had ranked first in Asia, leaving Japan, the strongest industrial country in Asia, far behind.

After his death, it has fully caught up with the Western powers in various aspects such as infrastructure construction, industrial and agricultural productivity, people's living standards, culture and education, scientific and technological strength, and government execution. Its political, economic, and military influence has spread all over the northern part of the Qing Empire.

In the major provinces of Shanxi and Heilongjiang, no world power dares to underestimate Shanxi and Heilongjiang anymore. They have to consider what attitude they should take to face the newly rising local forces of the Qing Empire, and the United States is in this matter.

He took the lead in setting a good example for them: peaceful coexistence, friendly cooperation, and mutual benefit.

Everyone understands that it is already a crazy idea to dare to squeeze benefits from the Qing Empire with only one or two countries' meager military force as in the past, because the powerful combat effectiveness of this new force's army has begun to emerge, and their

The hidden scientific and technological strength will only be more terrifying, not to mention that behind him stands a huge empire that is still in decline - the Qing Dynasty.

If they do this, their development potential is really extraordinary. As long as they are willing, it is very realistic to seize the rule of the entire northern region of the Qing Empire. Therefore, considering their own interests, there are only two attitudes to choose from:

Either accept and give up some of the vested interests within the Qing Empire; or strangle it before it becomes too powerful. This is probably the most troublesome choice currently facing the world's powers.

But there is no room for two tigers in one mountain, and the struggle for interests will eventually become superficial, and by then, there must be a result.

For Kang Fan and others, the only way out is to avoid being suffocated by the world's powers, so that each power has to adopt an accepting attitude, and achieve its own strong rise. And to achieve a strong rise, challenge or even defeat several contemporary world powers.

Kang Fan and the others must do it, and the upcoming Russo-Japanese War provides the best opportunity for this.

Zhong Hanqiang, Mei Xiang and Mei Xiang's classmates all understand the cruelty and implications of this war, and have worked hard day and night in their respective jobs over the past few years. Inspired by them, everyone is working hard.

, and the achievements achieved as a result are also huge. This not only created good external conditions for Kang Fan to concentrate on his army construction work, but also made a fruitful contribution to winning the war. But they had a great impact on Kang Fan

His worries deepened as the war approached, because among the people who came with him, only Kang Fan was a personal participant in the war, while the others were just working in the rear. Even if they worked ten times harder, Kang Fan would not be able to face it.

There are many dangers, and this is where Mei Xiang always feels that God is unfair to Kang Fan.

After the Jin Army's standing army troops stationed in northern Shanxi, central Shanxi and southern Shanxi received Kang Fan's telegram at the same time through the radio communication network, they completed their assembly within a week and started to set off one after another. Most of the troops had already been deployed in the past few months.

Each of them set off to designated areas in Heilongjiang in batches. Kang Fan and the security battalion, the special operations force of the Security Bureau, and some members of the staff were the last batch of troops to depart. Zhong Hanqiang, Mei Xiang, and He Shuixiu all came to see them off. Although Mei Xiang's classmates

They had heard about it, but they didn't know the specific purpose and time of the operation. For confidentiality reasons, they didn't ask deliberately, so they couldn't come with them this time.

The loudspeaker on the broad and clean platform of Taiyuan Railway Station kept announcing the train numbers and unit numbers, and from time to time some music was played to relieve the dull and tense atmosphere. The officers and soldiers of the internal security forces put the train station and nearby areas under martial law and watched.

Rows of military columns coming from all over Shanxi roared past. The officers and soldiers, various weapons and equipment, and combat supplies on the military columns were covered by green military tarpaulins. It was impossible to see the loading from the outside.

What is.

"After I leave, I will leave this place to you, Lao Zhong." Kang Fan said to Zhong Hanqiang.

Zhong Hanqiang nodded, "There is nothing to worry about here. But you must take care of yourself."

Kang Fan smiled, "Don't worry about me." As he said this, he turned to look at Mei Xiang and He Shuixiu, "Two beauties, I'm leaving then?"

Mei Xiang and He Shuixiu looked at him silently, without speaking, with relaxed expressions.

Kang Fan felt unusual and looked back at the two of them suspiciously before getting into the car. Mei Xiang's expression remained the same, but there was a smile on He Shuixiu's lips that could not be concealed.

"What bad idea are you making again?" Kang Fan was puzzled.

After boarding the special train, the staff of the staff department were already studying the maps of the Heilongjiang area. These maps were all based on the atlas brought by Kang Fan and revised by the technical staff of the Shanxi Ministry of Land and Resources with reference to the actual contemporary conditions. They are absolutely worthy of the title.

This is the most accurate map of our time.

Seeing him come in, several staff members stood at attention and saluted: "Hello, principal."

Kang Fan returned the gift and said: "Keep in regular contact with the troops that have set out early, and be sure to coordinate well."

Everyone gave the order in unison.

The special train was moving at an electric speed, and there was some shaking, but it did not affect people's normal activities. In the carriage specially set up for himself, Kang Fan saw Mei Xiang and He Shuixiu, and he couldn't help being stunned.

"What's going on?!" Kang Fan was very unhappy and turned to question Captain Li of the Special Operations Force of the Security Bureau who was standing next to him.

"Principal, you two insist on following me, but there is nothing I can do." Captain Li explained.

Several veterans from the guard camp also echoed in unison.

Kang Fan waved his hand displeased. Captain Li grinned awkwardly and pulled everyone together to slip out of the carriage.

"What kind of prestige are you trying to show off? I'm surprised you came with me." Mei Xiang said angrily.

Kang Fan's tense face immediately softened, "It's very dangerous to go there."

"You only have to go if it's dangerous." He Shuixiu winked mischievously and interjected with a smile.

"That's right." Mei Xiang supported from the side.

Kang Fan really had no choice but to mutter reluctantly: "Just cause more trouble for me."

Mei Xiang said: "I don't blame you for being troublesome now. We need people like you in this troubled world, and you just came here out of nowhere. So I decided to support you with my actual actions. I can't do what I did a few times again."

That way you can bear the risk alone, and if we die together, I don't have to worry about you all the time."

Kang Fan had nothing to say. Looking at these two beautiful women, he felt warm in his heart.

In the past few years, everyone has been busy with their own work. The peace has lasted for a long time, and life has become relatively peaceful. He Shuixiu is smart and can learn everything, especially in medical skills. After Mei Xiang's system and careful training, He Shuixiu has become a master of medicine.

She has very high attainments. After a few years, following Mei Xiang, she has become an educated woman with modern thoughts, behaviors and skills. She has become more mature and confident. She is no longer the coquettish girl from a traditional wealthy family.

Miss.

Because He Shuichang has always felt guilty about his daughter's marriage, he already regarded him as the apple of his eye. This time, he took more care of his daughter and allowed his daughter to do what she liked, as long as she was happy. And He Shuixiu followed her all day long.

Together with Mei Xiang and her classmates, Mei Xiang is really as free and happy as a bird out of its cage. However, the tree wants to be quiet but the wind does not stop, the invaders are persistent, peace is still fragile, and war will eventually be inevitable. In this world,

At that time, she was able to come with Mei Xiang. I wonder how long He Shuichang, the Minister of Agriculture of Shanxi, had been engaged in a fierce ideological struggle!
Chapter completed!