Chapter 16: Sparks of Fire (IV)

Military and Political University is cultivating the organizational leadership of the Northwest and Shandong in the future, and a series of scientific research projects are in laying the foundation for science, technology and productivity for the forces led by the People's Party. However, these two aspects alone are not enough. There is another crucial problem to be solved in the Northwest and Yimeng if they want to develop, that is, population size.

In the process of social development, people are the most critical factor. For groups or forces in the war years, the support of the people is the real key to victory. If the two base areas in the northwest and Yimeng are to grow as soon as possible, they cannot do without sufficient human resources.

In 1930, Shandong had a population of more than 36.9 million in 108 counties in the province, which is not counting hundreds of thousands of people going to the northeast to cross the Guandong every year. As for the Yimeng base area, by the end of 34, the population of the six counties in the current six counties had reached 3.82 million. This number was definitely a lot in this era. Compared with the average population of the 108 counties in Shandong Province, the population of each county in Yimeng is also among the forefront.

However, considering the scale of manpower required for armed forces and construction forces during the War of Resistance Against Japan in the future, the existing population of Yimeng seems to be a bit too small. Fortunately, Shandong outside Yimeng has huge population resources available. As long as you seize the opportunity, based on the Yimeng base, the People's Party still has great potential in Shandong and even surrounding provinces.

As for the northwest, the People's Army now controls less than 9 million people in the area. Even if it completely controls Qinghai and Xinjiang provinces in the future, the total population will be around 12 million. Apart from the elderly, weak, women and children, disabled, etc., there are not many young and strong people who are truly suitable for ages. If the northwest wants to develop as soon as possible, it will inevitably add a large number of combined populations in the short term, and this cannot be solved by natural growth.

The provinces such as Shaanxi, Shanxi, Suiyuan, etc., which are adjacent to the northwest, have a population of only 10 million and a small one of only more than 4 million. In addition, the forces of various parties are complicated, it is unrealistic for the People's Army to obtain a large population from these places by force.

After analysis, Zhao Zhenliu’s hope of solving the population shortage in the northwest was placed on the displaced victims caused by years of disasters.

Since the Republic of China, natural disasters have been constant in China, and all forces have basically been focusing on exploitation, destruction, and construction. Not only have they fought for years in various places and were disrepaired in water conservancy, but they even forced the people not to grow food and poppy in order to seek benefits.

Take Wu Xintian and Jing Yuexiu, who once acted as a hero in Shaanxi. The former forced the people to plant poppy in 40 arable land in southern Shaanxi; the latter also collected land taxes for the "white land" in the rotation of people.

As for Yin's food, it should be considered as protecting the people in this era. As far as Zhao Zhenzhong knows now, Sichuan warlords fought in a melee, in order to raise military funds, some warlords imposed land taxes decades later, which far exceeded the standard of Yin's food.

Of course, there are also many local officials in this area to protect their own territories, create and expand disasters, and make people from neighboring provinces homeless.

In the summer of 1933, when the Yellow River flood peak passed, in order to ensure the safety of the Kaifeng area, provincial chairman Liu Zhi sent troops to Lanfeng Yellow River embankment. Nominally, it was a dike, but in fact it dug the river embankment, causing the Yellow River to break in Lanfeng. The surging Yellow River water flowed down along the breach, flooding 22 counties and 6,581 villages in western Shandong. This breach caused 2.1 million people to be affected. After the flood, the victims of Heze, Shouzhang, Cao County, Jining and other counties in western Shandong were homeless and inexplicably grief and angry. Representatives of disaster victims in Heze, Shouzhang and other counties in western Shandong called the Nanjing authorities to sue Liu Zhi.

But Liu Zhi was a powerful general in Chiang Kai-shek, so the Nanjing authorities naturally would not do anything about it. Even if the case caused a sensation due to the report of the Ta Kung Pao in August 2013, it was finally left unresolved. Thousands of flooded villages and millions of victims, such a huge loss, the Nanjing authorities did not have any clear positive response to the accusation of the victims' representatives.

According to the information compiled by Zhou Anshu, not only will the Yellow River continue to flood this year, but the Yellow River will still be affected by disasters in the Yellow River provinces; Sichuan and other places will have severe droughts for more than two consecutive years since this year, and the number of people affected will be tens of millions. If the War of Resistance broke out according to the original historical trajectory, a large number of war refugees will appear.

Since the Nanjing authorities and the provinces under their jurisdiction ignore the lives of the victims, the northwest may as well accept the victims of the nearby Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sui, Sichuan and other provinces. This not only gives the people a way out, but also adds new strength to the northwest.

However, in order to enable the victims to enter the northwest smoothly, Zhao Zhenzhong must solve three problems: First, convene the victims from the disaster area and coordinate all parties to open up a channel to the northwest; Second, there is enough food reserves to cope with the sharp increase in the northwest population; Third, there are enough managers to organize, sort out the huge victims from different places, and provide basic education to enable them to adapt to life and work in the northwest.

In terms of grain reserves, the People's Army has been controlling Ningxia and Gansu for more than four years and has built complete farmland water conservancy facilities. The production of arable land in these two provinces alone is enough to maintain the annual living needs of about 20 million people. If the grain produced in Xinjiang, Qinghai, northern Shaanxi, northwest Shanxi and other places is included, the number of people that can withstand will be even more affordable. This number is calculated by Zhou Anshu, Tian Yunyi, Zou Degui and others for some time, and it should not be bad.

In terms of management personnel, a government management system such as districts, counties, townships and other governments have been established in the Northwest controlled area. With the cooperation of troops, it is no problem to properly resettle the victims who arrive in batches. With the promotion of education in the Northwest region and the increase in schools, it is not difficult to draw personnel to provide appropriate education to the victims and refugees.

What remains is the most critical thing to open up the disaster area from the neighboring provinces to the northwest passage. If this matter is done by the People's Army, it will naturally not work. However, Zhao Zhen's center already has the most suitable candidate, which is Mr. Zhu Qinglan. With Mr. Zhu's reputation for disaster relief in China for many years and his connections with the Nanjing authorities and various provinces, Zhao Zhenzhong believes that it is not difficult to take in and transfer disaster victims from neighboring provinces to the northwest to resettle.

In Zhao Zhenzhong's expectations, Zhu Qinglan came to Baode at the end of April. This was Zhu Qinglan's first visit after Baode was controlled by the People's Army.

Before coming, Zhu Qinglan was a little worried. Although Zhu Rong said in the letter that it was good here and the People's Army was strict in discipline, who knows if that was written by Zhu Rong under the urgency? However, since the People's Army wanted to negotiate with him about some things to help the victims and ensure that there was no political issue involved, he was now powerless and powerful, so he went for the sake of his grandson.

Zhu Qinglan did not travel with others during this trip. When he passed the People's Army checkpoint in Shenchi, he reported the code words he said in the letter, and then drove down to Baode by two People's Army soldiers.

On the road, Zhu Qinglan also looked at two soldiers who drove the way and asked some questions. Both of them answered the general questions about the northwest, but when it came to the critical moment, they smiled and told him that he "don't know" or "can't say it".

Seeing that the two soldiers of the People's Army were rigorous in their work and capable in their work style, Zhu Qinglan thought about the style of the people in various armies in China, and couldn't help but secretly praised the People's Army.

The next afternoon, just when Zhu Qinglan asked the People's Army reception staff, Zhao Zhenzhong, who received a notice from Baode, rushed from Haiyuan to Mr. Zhu.

When Zhu Qinglan saw Zhao Zhenzhong, he was stunned: "Zhenzhong, why have you been here too? I heard that you went abroad last year. When did you come back?"

Zhao Zhenzhong laughed: "Old Zhu, don't worry, let's sit down and talk slowly."

After Zhu Qingxi sat down, he asked Zhu Rong again: "You are here? Where is the child?"

"Dad, Huizhong took the children to Lanzhou. I didn't let them come from here." Zhu Rong quickly explained, "But I have called. Zhenzhong and I are here to pick you up. The children are waiting there and you will see them tomorrow."

Seeing that his son was so energetic that he did not look detained at all, Zhu Qinglan couldn't help asking: "Wait, you are not detained by the People's Army like this. Let me tell you what's going on?"

Zhu Rong scratched her head and said, "Dad, I only wrote to you that there are important matters to help millions of disaster victims in China. I asked you to come and have a dealer, but I didn't say I was detained."

While speaking, Zhu Rong gave Zhao Zhenzhong an inquiry look, and Zhao Zhenzhong nodded.

When Zhu Qinglan heard that his son's family was fine, he felt relieved and said angrily: "You bastard, you have been occupied by the People's Army for several months. Your family is all here. If you don't go home and tell me if you have something to do, you have to come over. That's not being detained?"

Seeing that Zhu Rong didn't dare to talk back, Zhu Qinglan asked again: "Tell me, what's going on?"

"Dad, don't be angry when I said." Zhu Rong looked at Zhu Qinglan carefully and said, "I'm joining the People's Army now."

"Did you join the People's Army?" Zhu Qinglan was shocked and asked in disbelief. Although Zhu Qinglan has no power now, Hao Lai was also respected by the Nanjing authorities as a veteran of the Kuomintang and had once named the central government of the Nanjing authorities. But if his son Zhu Rong joined the People's Army, wouldn't he become a "disruption party"? From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, Zhu Qinglan had always been following bandits and other unrestrained parties when he was in charge. When he was old, his son joined the largest unrestrained party in the country, which really made him a little difficult to accept.

"Why are you?" Zhu Qinglan asked in a deep voice.

Although Zhu Rong is in his prime now and Zhu Qinglan is already old, as the eldest son, Zhu Rong has been disciplined by Zhu Qinglan many times when he was a child. Seeing his father's face calmly, Zhu Rong felt a little weak, and swallowed and began to explain.

"Old Zhu, I agree with Brother Wangxi joining the People's Army." Seeing Zhu Rong's nervous look, Zhao Zhen was a little funny in the center and hurriedly interrupted and rescued, "And I am the biggest leader of the People's Army."

Originally, Zhu Qinglan asked Zhao Zhenzhong without replying to the question, and then his son was attracted by the attention of his son joining the People's Army. In his mind, Zhao Zhenzhong appeared in Baode and had just returned to China to see the industry here. After all, everything on Baode embodies Zhao Zhenzhong's great efforts. Zhu Qinglan never expected that Zhao Zhenzhong, who has always pursued industrial saving, would have anything to do with the People's Army, and would not have thought that Zhao Zhenzhong was the supreme leader of the People's Army.

"You? How is this possible? Isn't it kidding, isn't Zhu Qinglan's eyes wide open, looking disbelief.

Seeing Zhao Zhenzhong answering the words, Zhu Rong breathed a sigh of relief and muttered in her heart: "I only knew that my father was angry and his eyes widened, but I didn't expect that he would stare even when he was surprised."

"This is not a joke. The People's Army was indeed founded by me." Zhao Zhenzhong said frankly, "After visiting Yan Xishan with Mr. Zhu after the Spring Festival in 19 of the Republic of China, I wanted to start an industry in the northwest as soon as possible. But it was delayed by the Central Plains War. It was not until the end of 2019 that Yan Xishan was defeated and stepped down, and he reached an agreement with the Shanxi authorities again.

The northwest has had natural disasters for many years, but in order to fight for power and profit, the government officials fought for more than half a year, and defeated several northern provinces to decline. Since then, I wanted to establish a government in the northwest that can truly speak for the lower-class people and truly strive to achieve a strong country and prosperity.

Fortunately, because I have some conveniences in establishing Sihai Industry and have good relationships with the American Huamei Company, I have been quite successful in establishing the People's Army and establishing local governments.”

Zhu Qinglan really couldn't believe that the People's Army, which occupied several northwest provinces and made the Nanjing authorities unwilling to eat, was just a thought because Zhao Zhenzhong was resentful of the authorities' actions. However, Zhao Zhenzhong really had no need to deceive himself. Thinking about the past when he was helping victims in Jin, Sui and Shaanxi with him, Zhao Zhenzhong was angry and wanted to eliminate all the words "corrupt officials" and "eliminate all those who exploit the people". With the strength of Huamei Company and Sihai Industrial, Zhu Qinglan believed most of the people.

After being stunned for a long time, Zhu Qinglan felt mixed feelings and sighed, "I really didn't expect that things would be like this." Then he asked, "But how could Wangxi join the People's Army?"

Zhu Rong was rescued from the Northeast by Zhao Zhenzhong, and Zhao Zhenzhong sent him to the United States. Zhu Rong and Zhao Zhenzhong, who founded the People's Army, were not surprised to join the People's Army after contacting him. However, Zhu Qinglan had a little doubt in his heart. If Zhao Zhenzhong had the purpose of bringing him into the gang since he rescued Zhu Rong, then this young man would be too scheming, so it would be better to stay away from him.

"Dad, I accidentally came into contact with the idea of ​​the People's Party in the United States. Later, I finally joined the People's Party through an introduction. When I returned to China, I found out that Zhenzhong was the founder of the People's Party and the People's Army, so I squeezed into the People's Army with shamelessness." Zhu Rong added, "There are many capable people in the People's Army who are higher than me. I have nothing worth Zhenzhong's greed for."

What Zhu Rong said made Zhu Qinglan a little overwhelmed. Zhao Zhenzhong not only founded the People's Army, but also set up a People's Party? If someone from Nanjing knew that the Communist Party had not yet been eliminated, a People's Party would have emerged, it would be a big storm.

However, Zhu Rong's words make sense. Zhu Qinglan thought about it and felt that he was a little over-concerned. He had no power and power, except for gaining a good reputation for helping the victims, and there was nothing worthy of the People's Army's calculations. Moreover, Zhao Zhenzhong was able to establish Sihai Industrial, manage Huamei Company's industry in China, and found the People's Party and the People's Army. He could be called a big business, so there was no need to plot against him.

"Oh... I'm old. I was shocked when I heard this little news." Zhu Qinglan sighed and shook his head. Then, he looked at Zhao Zhenzhong with a complicated expression and said, "But, what should I call you?"

"Old Zhu, my parents named me Zhenzhong. If you still call me my name. Besides, Brother Wangxi and I have always been brothers."

"Okay, I'll tell you Zhenzhong." Seeing Zhao Zhenzhong's frank words, Zhu Qinglan didn't make much politeness, and then asked, "Isn't it said that there is still something to rescue the victims?"

"Old Zhu, before talking about the rescue of the disaster victims, Brother Wangxi and I will accompany you to the northwest these days. Let you understand the achievements of our construction over the past few years, so that we can understand that we really want to rescue the disaster victims." Zhao Zhenzhong was not in a hurry, "Old Zhu has been here several times before, so we won't watch it. Based on the current time, we will arrive in Yulin tonight and will arrive in Lanzhou after noon tomorrow."

...

When passing through the Yellow River floating bridge, Zhu Qinglan looked at the two floating bridges that could carry a load of 5 tons and couldn't help but sigh: "The changes in this floating bridge are quite large, much stronger than before."

"Dad, you have been to northern Shaanxi and Gansu before. I can guarantee that you will be surprised when you arrive now." Zhu Rong said confidently while driving.

It seemed to be annotating Zhu Rong's words. After crossing the river, Zhu Qinglan looked at the newly built wide road and the people working with smiles on the fields on the roadside, and the diesel engine water pumps that were irrigating the farmland. Once upon a time, under the rule of Jing Yuexiu, the people in northern Shaanxi had only the sorrow forced by heavy taxes. How could they have such a comfortable smile now?

"These counties east of Yulin were only mastered by us before the Spring Festival. After the Spring Festival, the land was divided, and the government provided subsidies for the family difficulties, and the roads were renovated on the basis of the slack farming period. Of course, according to convention, all new areas must implement a minimum tax exemption of two years. In addition to large-scale trader taxes, all tax exemptions are exempted." Zhao Zhenzhong explained, "It is better to grasp the early places to the west of Yulin. Mr. Zhu will see it tomorrow morning."

Listening to the explanations of Zhao Zhenzhong and Zhu Rong along the way, looking at the scenes on the roadside and the convoys transporting supplies, Zhu Qinglan really couldn't believe that this was the northern Shaanxi that he had traveled many times and was familiar with.

When he was about to arrive in Yulin, Zhu Qinglan saw kites floating in the sky and children running and playing in the wilderness, and couldn't help but blurt out: "What a farm scene."

"Haha, today is Sunday. This age is just a time to be playful. I was locked up in school for a few days. I guess I am seizing the opportunity to go wild now." Zhao Zhenzhong said with a smile.

Immediately, Zhao Zhenzhong explained the free compulsory education that is being implemented now. When Zhu Qinglan learned that all children over 7 years old in the area controlled by the People's Army must go to school and not have to bear it at home, he repeatedly applauded: "This measure is good for ten years and a hundred years of cultivation. Education is a major event that concerns the prosperity of the country and cannot be neglected. It is good to have an education in one piece regardless of wealth, wealth, high and low, and education is good."

"Dad, there are too many measures like this in our People's Military Government. I guess if you get off the bus and chat with the old farmer on the roadside, you can talk to you for a few days." Zhu Rong said excitedly while slowing down the pace to Yulin, "Since I came here to learn about our party's policies and witness the lives of the people under the leadership of our party, I knew that this was what I had longed for before and what I would strive for in the future."

When Zhu Rong didn't hide his support for the People's Party and the People's Army, he still felt a bit complicated. After all, the People's Army is a "chaotic bandit" registered by the authorities. However, the people's lives under the governance of these "chaotic bandits" are much better than those in China that claim to be "model".

...

In the next few days, under the leadership of Zhao Zhenzhong and Zhu Rong, Zhu Qinglan briefly visited the Northwest Military and Political University in Haiyuan, the completed Jingbian Yellow River Bridge, the soon-to-be-completed Ningxia-Lanzhou Railway, the already-built Lanzhou-Jiuquan Railway, the Liujiaxia large-scale water conservancy project, and the iron and steel metallurgy base north of Yongchang.

Of course, during this period, Zhu Qinglan also took the time to personally inquire about the living conditions of farmers and workers in several different places. The situation obtained once again confirmed that the People's Party and the People's Army were truly seeking benefits for the people. Even the landlords who had been expropriated by the government in several homes praised the People's Army. This really made Zhu Qinglan a little strange.

"Your land in your home is expropriated, so you really have no complaints? I heard that the People's Army has liquidated and dealt with many landlords, so don't you worry?" Zhu Qinglan asked a strong gentry in a small hotel in Lanzhou.

"If you say there is no complaint, it must be fake. After all, your own industry has been expropriated. However, that is already a thing of the past." The gentry surnamed Li, who had seen a photo of Zhu Qinglan in the newspaper, was very talkative. "To be honest, the People's Army is still reasonable. In addition to leaving a certain amount of arable land for my own use according to the population of my family, although I did not get cash in the other land I expropriated at the time, I compensated for other land, for example, encourage you to start an industry and commerce, and exempt a certain amount of taxes based on the amount of land collected within a certain period of time. Or you can invest in the stock according to the amount of land collected at your price, become a shareholder of some large enterprises under the control of the government, and then you can pay dividends annually after the company makes a profit. These two methods are much better than taking it for free."

"I originally ran a store, so I bought a wool textile enterprise. The People's Army occupied this place for nearly 4 years. My store has been tax-free, and the company has also received two years of dividends." Li Xiangshen twisted his beard and continued with a smile, "I have experienced more from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China. In contrast, I feel that the people's dolls keep their word and are not bad."

"As for those who have been liquidated, disposed of, or even shot, there are indeed many. However, when those people were dealt with, the people nearby were applauding. Those people either had blood debts, were used to deal with bandits, had done evil things such as selling opium, taking advantage of robbers, forcing good people to become prostitutes, and other evils. Moreover, the disposal of these people was carried out publicly by the people's congress, without any grievances."

After a pause, Li said with some satisfaction: "Although I used to have a lot of real estate in my family, it was all accumulated by my ancestors' hard work. Moreover, I have been doing good deeds such as relief of disaster victims, building bridges and paving roads. The People's Army also nailed a "Enlightened Gentleman" to the door frame of my house to praise me."

...

After more than a week of understanding, Zhu Qinglan had a clear understanding of the actions of the People's Army and the People's Party, and also dispelled his dissatisfaction with Zhu Rong's joining the People's Party and the People's Army. Everything he saw with his own eyes made Zhu Qinglan realize that the actions of the People's Party and the People's Army in the northwest were already the will of the people.

In the Republic of China, a society full of old and intriguing atmosphere, a new force like the People's Party and the People's Army is like a breeze that cleanses the dust, showing its increasingly powerful vitality and will inevitably play an increasingly important role in the future changes in China's situation. Zhu Qinglan knew that he should have a good talk with Zhao Zhenzhong...
Chapter completed!