Volume 2 King of the Northwest Chapter 22: Happy
"Manager Luo, from now on, Shaanxi's gun maintenance will depend on you."
Dai Jiliang was standing at the gate of the Shaanxi Ordnance Repair Factory in Baijia Village, southwest of Xiaoyan Pagoda. The technician invited by Chu Gan from the Shanghai factory was talking to him face to face.
"Please rest assured, Marshal!"
The technician was from southern Zhejiang, and his dialect, which Dai Jiliang could not figure out whether it was from Wenzhou or Jinhua, made him confused.
"Although we can only repair damaged guns now, once the machine the Marshal mentioned arrives, I, Lao Luo, will make sure we can make guns."
Because Dai Jiliang took into account the production efficiency and production cost issues of state-owned enterprises, the Shaanxi Ordnance Repair Factory that finally appeared in front of everyone was a private enterprise controlled by Shaanxi Fu Company, which used option rewards for many technicians.
"Once the gunpowder factory is built, we can also try to produce the hand grenades that you mentioned. But Marshal, if we want to make guns, we need to solve the steel problem as soon as possible!"
"Manager Luo, please rest assured!"
Dai Jiliang pointed at Chen Guang beside him.
"If you have any questions in the future, please ask Supervisor Chen."
The full title of Chen Guang is Ordnance Manufacturing Supervisor. If there are any unqualified products, he will be the first to be punished.
"As for steel."
There are no good iron ore in Shaanxi. The only available iron ore is poor iron ore. As a result, building a steel plant would be a bit of a waste of time and effort.
"I'll try to get some from the Han factory."
Dai Jiliang is temporarily unable to change this situation, so this is the only way to solve it now.
"Then we can only wait."
Mr. Luo is a very honest person. In fact, he also hopes to get the guns out as soon as possible. After all, the 27 of them who came out of the Shanghai factory and the other 15 masters brought by Dai Jiliang from Hanzhong all have more or less shares in this newly started arsenal. Once profits are generated, everyone will have a share.
"Marshal, something bad has happened!"
A groom came running over in a panic.
"The second lady in the mansion fainted!"
"Chen Guang, I'll leave everything to you and Manager Luo. If you have done a good job, I will reward you. If you have done a bad job, you should know the consequences."
Although Dai Jiliang was anxious, he still gave a few instructions on the spot. After he finished speaking, he turned around and mounted his horse. The group galloped quickly into the city. Dai Jiliang asked while whipping his horse.
"Have you sent someone to invite Mr. Jiren?"
"I have sent someone to invite him."
The groom answered loudly, so Dai Jiliang spurred his horse and rode even faster.
"Congratulations, Marshal! Congratulations, Marshal!"
After finally returning to the Governor's Mansion in the city from outside the South Gate, Dai Jiliang felt relieved as soon as he entered the door and heard Huang Zhuzhai's hearty Shaanxi dialect.
"The Second Madam is pregnant, but it's her first child, so the reaction is a little bit big. It's okay. Take good care of her and the Marshal will definitely have a fat boy."
"Come here, get some good wine and send it to Mr. Jiren for me!"
Dai Jiliang doesn't drink, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have good wine at home. Using money to reward Huang Zhuzhai is too vulgar, and he may not accept it, but giving wine as a gift is relatively more elegant.
However, Dai Jiliang did not expect that the matter was not over yet.
"Marshal, I noticed that Madam's face looked a little off just now, so I took her pulse."
Huang Jiren did not refuse Dai Jiliang's gift. This was a lucky wine and it would be bad to refuse it.
"Congratulations, Marshal. Madam is two months pregnant now."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Dai Jiliang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Good, great! Congratulations, congratulations!"
However, after laughing for a while, Dai Jiliang suddenly stopped laughing, took two steps absent-mindedly, and then raised his head.
"By the way, Mr. Jiren, I would also like to trouble you to take a look at my fourth child."
Dai Jiliang suddenly thought that Li Yuan and Qi Xiu were both pregnant, but it was unreasonable for Wen Shi, who often watered them, to have no reaction at all. You know, Dai Jiliang pitied Qi Xi's young age, and gave her to Qi Xiu every time. But Wen Shi was not like that. Could it be that she really had her body damaged in the bandit's lair and could no longer have children? It would be a pity if that was the case.
"No problem. Madam, please come out so I can check your pulse."
Huang Zhuzhai nodded in agreement. Dai Jiliang had promised to give him 10,000 yuan a year to open a Chinese medicine school, so he had to do his best in this small matter.
"Marshal, Governor Li is here to check on your wife ."
Before Mrs. Wen came out, another uninvited guest came. Li Genyuan actually came to visit in such a brazen manner that Dai Jiliang was shocked.
But when he thought about it, first his guards rode their horses through the downtown area in broad daylight, and then he rode his horse back from outside the city and headed straight for his home. He knew that something was wrong with the female family member. Governor Li had been in Shaanxi for nearly three months, and he had Han Wangchen and other geographical geeks under him. It was impossible that he knew nothing about what was happening in the market. So whether they came to sell their goods or to test the waters, Dai Jiliang couldn't just turn them away.
"Mr. Ji Ren, please come to the inner hall to diagnose my fourth child."
Dai Jiliang gave a slight signal, and Huang Zhuzhai, who did not want to be involved in the struggle between the two giants, naturally avoided it as he wished.
"Please, no, open the door and I will greet you personally."
Since Li Genyuan can pretend to let bygones be bygones, Dai Jiliang can of course come out and greet him with a smile.
"Senior, I heard that my sister-in-law was not feeling well, so I came to visit her. I hope you will accept this small gift."
Standing at the gate and looking at the two people's hypocritical expressions, it was hard to tell that the tense situation in Xi'an these days was instigated by these two people.
"Brother Yinquan, you are too polite. I'm very happy that you can come. Come in!"
Dai Jiliang welcomed Li Genyuan in with a smile, and the host and the guest took their seats.
"Brother Yinquan, you are the same. You see, once you come, all the civil and military officials in the city will be here soon."
Dai Jiliang scolded the other party. Indeed, for someone in Dai Jiliang's position, dealing with guests was indeed a hassle.
"You're here, so why are you giving me a present? To be honest, if it wasn't sent by your brother Yinquan, I would have had someone throw it out the door."
"Then I have to thank you for showing mercy, Senior."
Li Genyuan answered in Japanese with a double meaning.
"Sister-in-law, what is this?"
"My wife and my second child both have it."
This is a matter of pride, and Dai Jiliang certainly publicized it loudly. Having a large family is what the Chinese people talk about most.
"By the way, what has Director Han been busy with recently? Why can't I see him? Did he go to the countryside?"
"I am going to visit several counties below and investigate the collection of autumn taxes in various places."
Since Dai Jiliang brought the conversation to Han Jun, Li Genyuan naturally could not tell the truth.
"Director Han is not here. If he were here, I would also talk to him in person."
Although both sides had their own offense and defense in the previous round, Dai Jiliang suffered a loss on the issue of Shaanxi Fu Company, and failed to use the issue of smoking ban to stump Li Genyuan, so he was a little frustrated and couldn't help but attack indirectly.
"Brother Yinquan, the price of the agreement you signed with the Japanese company to transfer the Yanchang oil mine is too low. How are you going to explain this to the provincial council and the people of the province? Director Han Wangchen is incompetent."
"I am considering the province's tight finances!"
Although Li Genyuan did not know the relationship between explanation and cover-up, it did not prevent him from continuing to defend Han Jun.
"Besides, Mr. Hirono proposed that Shaanxi will be paid 20,000 yuan every year for the next 10 years to build the road from Yanchuan to Tongzhou. I am also thinking about the people in northern Shaanxi!"
"Oh, I see. 400,000 is not bad at all."
It was for the sake of the people in northern Shaanxi, not for the sake of the Shaanxi militia's march south, right? Dai Jiliang accepted this explanation with a fake smile.
"By the way, there is one more thing I need to inform you of. The Ministry of Transport has approved that Shaanxi can build a railway on its own. I have chosen Xiyao Road, and the preliminary survey has already begun."
As soon as Zeng Zhisheng set out, the matter could no longer be concealed. Since the three parties had reached an agreement, the next step would naturally be to raise funds from the outside. It was not too early to tell Li Genyuan now.
"Where's the capital? Where will the money for building the railway come from?"
Li Genyuan keenly grasped the crux of the problem.
"Shaanfu Company used its assets as collateral to borrow 1.25 million from Shanghai Meihua Foreign Company. The two parties jointly established Shaanxi Railway Company, of which Meihua Foreign Company held 45% of the shares and Shaanxifu Company held 10%. The rest was raised from merchants and civilians in Shaanxi, Shanghai, Shanxi and Tianjin. Of course, local landowners could also use their land as shares."
Dai Jiliang said this lightly, not caring that Li Genyuan's face had turned red.
Shaanxi Fu Company, it is this Shaanxi Fu Company again. Dai Jiliang is slapping Li Genyuan in the face. You want to investigate and expose the shady dealings. Well, I will lay this company out on the table and see how you investigate and expose them.
"This matter should also be reported to the Shaanxi Provincial Council."
Li Genyuan suddenly smiled, suppressed his unhappiness, and responded calmly.
"This involves road rights, it's a serious matter!"
"The oil fields have been sold, but the Americans only own 45% of them, which is irrelevant to the overall situation."
Dai Jiliang was waiting for Li Genyuan with a sneer on his face.
"By the way, the Army Department just sent a telegram asking if there was any smuggling of arms in Shaanxi. I'm very confused. I wonder if Brother Yinquan knows about this?"
"how could I know?"
Li Genyuan's hands trembled and he almost spilled the tea, but he immediately calmed down and answered as if nothing had happened.
"The military power is in your hands, Senior. The military governor is the mother-in-law, and the governor is the daughter-in-law. How can a mother-in-law not ask questions of her daughter-in-law?"
"Yes, then I will call the Army Department right away and tell them that there is no evidence of this and that it was a rogue who impersonated me. If the departments discover it, they can confiscate it on the spot. What do you think?"
Dai Jiliang curled his lips and looked at the other party coldly. "Now is not the time to confront each other. I'm just giving you a warning. If you still don't know how to restrain yourself, don't blame me for not considering the feelings of a classmate."
"Whatever the senior says is what it is."
Li Genyuan answered expressionlessly.
"I have no other opinion."
"That's good. Brother Yinquan, if the President and Prime Minister Duan could cooperate as closely as we do, there wouldn't be any disputes between the government and the parliament!"
Dai Jiliang seemed to be taking advantage of his situation, but as soon as he said this, he immediately felt that he was getting too complacent, so he immediately brought up a topic to distract Li Genyuan's attention.
"Brother Yinquan, I'm going to Shanghai to buy some phones. Does your provincial government want them? But it's not free. We have to share the cost after all."
"The telephone is a good thing, but the provincial government has no money. You, the governor, hold the purse in one hand, and now you don't even have next month's salary. I don't want to give up this thing."
Li Genyuan took the opportunity to complain. Yes, the autumn tax was coming soon, and if Dai Jiliang refused to loosen his grip, he would take the lead in rioting over pay.
"Hey, you are from Shaanxi, why are you complaining to me about being poor?"
Dai Jiliang denied all responsibility, as if Li Genyuan really had the final say over Shaanxi's finances.
"Okay, okay. I was originally planning to pay the salaries of all levels of staff after the autumn tax revenue came in. Since Brother Yinquan is urging me so urgently, I think I'll use last month's lijin revenue of 200,000 yuan to pay for this expense first! Wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll have the lijin bureau transfer the money directly to the Ministry of Finance."
"Then I would like to thank you on behalf of all the officials in Shaanxi."
Upon hearing that Dai Jiliang had given in, Li Genyuan let out a long sigh of relief. He had been annoyed by the constant demands for wages these days, and now he could finally take a breath.
"But Brother Yinquan, you should also ask Director Han to urge Northern Shaanxi to pay the autumn tax as soon as possible, otherwise we will have to apply for food grain for the next year, right?"
Upon hearing Li Genyuan's thanks, Dai Jiliang couldn't help but have an idea. He decided to make good use of it and let Han Wangchen go to collect the autumn tax in northern Shaanxi. Regardless of whether the other party paid it or not, Dai Jiliang would have something to say.
"I will let Brother Wangchen go to northern Shaanxi."
Li Genyuan of course agreed immediately to be able to contact northern Shaanxi openly. The two people were very happy and talked some nonsense. Only then did Li Genyuan say goodbye and leave.
"What did Mr. Yoshito say?"
After finally sending away Li Genyuan, who came to visit in the name of debt collection, Dai Jiliang remembered that there was another person in the mansion.
"Mr. Huang has passed away. He left a prescription, saying that if you follow it for a year, you will recover."
The servant's words made Dai Jiliang feel relieved.
"There's still some wine in the house, right? Send a few more jars to your house, sir. By the way, if anyone comes to visit and bring gifts, I won't see them!"
Dai Jiliang stood up. What was Li Genyuan doing? Was he showing weakness or did he have ulterior motives? Dai Jiliang needed to think carefully about this issue.
