Chapter 59: The Marketplace is Like a Battlefield

  In Northeast China, April is still quite chilly, with daytime temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius. The troops changed into warmer clothing, and the Blood Wolf Battle Team was the first to use woolen sweaters and other warm undergarments.

  Things have become much easier, and Hu Zhiyong began to prepare for going out to investigate the resource problems in various places. A batch of old soldiers from the troops were all taken away, and after a short period of training, they started setting up shops in the county towns of the war zone.

  Can't afford to lose the child, can't catch the wolf, Hu Zhiyong had already bribed some officials in Xinjing, and also paid a portion of war supplies to the military department of the island nation. Liang Chenghua took over as the president of the Chamber of Commerce, he couldn't understand why Hu Zhiyong wanted to use supplies to aid the enemy.

  "Don't you understand?" Hu Zhiyong looked around at everyone in the conference room unexpectedly: "None of you understand?"

  Liáng Chéng Fú looked around and stood up saying: "It's clear, isn't it? You're supplying materials to the Japanese army, that's helping them occupy our country!"

  "Yes, dozens of cars with canned goods and grain, not to mention the money, at least enough for a travel group to sustain themselves for a month!" Ma Xiandeng panted heavily, accusing in an unhappy tone.

  "This is just the surface, you haven't seen the substance!" Hu Zhiyong hung the map on the wall and drew a line on the northeast part of the map with his baton: "One year later, Manchukuo will be divided into eleven military control zones. The arable land area is 400 million hectares, of which 250 million hectares have been cultivated. The forest area is 1.7 billion hectares. Annual production includes 2.5 million tons of soybeans, 20 million tons of wheat, 7 million tons of rice, 10 million tons of millet, 8 million tons of sorghum, 5 million tons of corn, 600,000 tons of miscellaneous grains and beans, 3 million tons of cotton, and 1.6 million tons of tobacco. The livestock includes 4 million horses, 3 million cattle, 30 million sheep, and 40 million pigs. In addition, according to the requirements of the Kwantung Army, Manchukuo must provide Japan with more than 100 million tons of grain every year."

  Everyone listened quietly, and everyone was amazed at Hu Zhiyong's detailed understanding of these numbers. But one thing is clear: the Japanese will not transport food from their country to feed their troops, and can only complete military supplies through war and plunder.

  Japan established machinery, munitions and aircraft industries in Northeast China, and the funds of their domestic financiers flowed rapidly into Manchukuo. There were more than 40 special companies including Manchurian Telephone and Telegraph Company, Manchurian Machinery Manufacturing Company, Manchurian Mining Company, Manchurian Airline Company, Manchurian Synthetic Oil Company, Manchurian Textile Company, Manchurian Woolen Textile Company, Manchurian Chemical Industry Company, Manchurian Forestry Company, Manchurian Gold Mining Company, Manchurian Livestock Company, Manchurian Fishery Company, Manchurian Tobacco Company, Manchurian Agricultural Production Cooperative and Manchurian Development Cooperative. These companies were jointly invested by Japanese investors and Manchukuo with profits divided according to the share ratio of both parties when profitable, while the Manchukuo government guaranteed a 10% profit for Japanese investment in case of loss.

  My goal is clear, to quickly occupy the markets in various places before the laws of Manchukuo are sound! Grains, hides, meats, and mountain goods are our main business targets, while minerals can only be watched being plundered by them.

  Everyone doesn't understand why I want to give away grain and canned goods. Think about it, if we don't perform well, if we don't satisfy Manchukuo and the Japanese military department, can our business expand in various counties? If hides, grains, and meat are taken away by the Japanese, not only will it harm the people of Northeast China, but also provide them with supplies. Is this result really the best?

  Hu Zhiyong's words shocked everyone. They realized that the young master of the Hu family was not only a hot-headed white radish, but also had long-term and comprehensive considerations. The doubts were dispelled, and everyone whispered to each other in hushed tones.

  "They occupy the land of China for what, this is something everyone must understand, that is for resources! The market is like a battlefield, we only have a few years, and we must take action first. Canned food factories need meat as our excuse. Garment factories and shoe factories are also our excuses to seize hides and cotton. The reason for grain is even more sufficient, we want to raise a large number of animals to meet the needs of our own canned food factory!"

  Are the Japanese stupid? No! They haven't even had time to think about these things, and of course they won't let others touch their supplies. I can only use a cooperative attitude to make good relations between the two, so we can reach our expected goal!"

  Hu Zhiyong finished speaking and sat down in his chair, looking at everyone. Liang Chengfu sighed and shook his head: "We are rough men, we can't understand complicated things. Young master, from now on you don't need to explain things to us, just give us orders!"

  "Is it?" Hu Zhiyong smiled slightly: "I'm afraid everyone thinks I'm a traitor, and shoots me in the back!"

  "Haha——" Everyone burst out laughing. Ma Xian Deng said very seriously: "If your reason is not reasonable, a sneak attack will definitely happen!"

  Yin Long slapped the table, startling everyone. He stood up sternly and said to all the military, political, and business leaders: "Is that all you have to say? You all think you're reasonable? Bullshit, it's all just bullshit!"

  Hu Zhiyong saw Yin Long get angry and hastily stood up. He waved his big hand: "You sit down, listen to me finish!"

  "Is the third young master worthy of everyone's trust?"

  "Need I say more? If we didn't trust him, we wouldn't have stayed!" said Lei Hu, the commander of the fifth squad.

  "Is this what you call trust? Do you need to question every move before taking action? No! There are three or four hundred people in the hall, to be honest, I don't dare guarantee that everyone is truly working for the country and the people. If one person betrays everyone, betrays Young Master, and betrays our plan, Zhuanghe will completely collapse under your misunderstanding and suspicion!"

  Everyone's body shook, and they nodded unconsciously.

  "Right!" Liang Chengfu stood up, taking over the conversation from Silver Dragon: "The commander is right, this kind of questioning will not be allowed to happen again. As the saying goes: 'Brothers unite, their benefits can cut through gold.' We must ensure that our efforts are concentrated in one direction and our strength is used together! Today I was the first to make a mistake, please allow me to punish myself by deducting a month's salary!"

  "General, Liang Shizhang, I'm a mixed person, it's my dissatisfaction with the young master!" Ma Xiandeng stood up and bowed to Hu Zhiyong: "Young master, I believe no one is dissatisfied with you, but looking at the rampant Japanese army, they are anxious in their hearts."

  "Hahaha!" Hu Zhiyong burst into a long laugh and waved his hand for everyone to sit down.

  "I can understand everyone's feelings! Brothers, when a thief breaks into someone's home, who wouldn't fight to the death?! But we cannot, comrades. Because if we die, China will lose one more hot-blooded son. Although our military strength is not as good as that of the Japanese army, it does not mean we will let the thieves sleep comfortably in our home. A foreign president once studied Sun Tzu's Art of War and said:"

  "When an army is enraged and attached like ants, killing one-third of the soldiers but still unable to capture the city, this is a disaster in attacking. Therefore, those who are skilled at using troops, conquer others' armies without fighting, capture others' cities without besieging them, destroy others' countries without prolonged sieges, must compete with the whole world for complete victory, so the army does not tire and the advantage can be preserved, this is the method of planning an attack."

  "It's not an attack to pull down a city, nor is it a long-lasting destruction of a country. Well said!" Liang Chengfu shouted loudly: "Huaxia is a great nation, and we have never lacked brave men. The little devils can only burn our houses and occupy our resources, but they cannot take away our land and the roots of the Huaxia people!"

  Everyone applauded enthusiastically, and the words of Hu Zhiyong and Liang Chengfu greatly boosted their morale. The meeting ended, and everyone left the conference room in high spirits. In the large room, only five people were left after a while.

  Shi Yinsi served as the county magistrate of two counties, and Liang Chenghua was the chamber of commerce president of two counties. Yinlong Army Commander and Liang Chengfu Brigade Commander were in charge of the military, these five people controlled the military, political, and commercial lifelines of Zhuanghe and Xiuyan.

  Li Chenghua, 40 years old, was originally the head of a department in the Northeast Army's logistics. This man had a good business mind and was promoted by Hu Zhiyong to become the number one person in commerce.

  "Master, Manchuria has 300 counties and 19 provincial capitals. According to your instructions, we have arranged for 12 people in each county town and 15 people in each provincial capital. More than 6,000 people were drawn from the troops, with more than 4,000 being transferred, and over 1,000 were selected and sent from local areas."

  Liang Chenghua handed over the list of personnel from various places to Hu Zhiyong, with detailed personal files written on them. Hu Zhiyong admired and said: "Not simple, able to complete these in four days, your work efficiency is indeed high!"

  "Master, the troops suddenly withdrew two regiments. Our eight infantry regiments, one artillery regiment and one cavalry regiment are now left with only six infantry regiments." Liang Chengfu suggested: "The troops should be compressed, but they must be further rectified!"

  Yin Long said slowly: "Still two divisions, artillery and cavalry return to the command of the military department, you only have three infantry regiments defending Xiyan."

  "Can Xiaoyan's artillery be deployed?" Liang Chengfu asked anxiously.

  "There is. The First Battalion of Artillery lives outside the county town of Xiyan, but his command belongs to the military department!" Hu Zhiyong joked: "You don't think this is depriving you of your command, do you?"

  "Hey, I'm still the deputy commander!" Liang Chengfu laughed loudly. He knew this was a more direct command center, so he wasn't surprised.

  "The battlefield is not far from us, but we mustn't be careless. Training and patrolling must be taken seriously, and those who are derelict in their duties will be severely punished!" After Yin Long took over as the army commander, he was almost like a different person. His dignity and presence had undergone great changes, Hu Zhiyong nodded secretly: "He looks like a general, while I look like a clown. Heh heh, my judgment is not bad after all!"

  Liang Chengfu had also been skeptical of Yinlong, but after a brief contact of just over ten days, his view of Yinlong underwent a fundamental change. Calm, concise and decisive, he was indeed capable of being a military commander.

  "Yes, currently it's mainly a trade war and economic war. The mission of the troops is to protect our two counties from being attacked by bandits and occupied by the Japanese army." Hu Zhiyong looked at Yin Long with satisfaction: "I can rest assured that the military is in your and Commander Liang's hands, continue to intensify training, five years later I will send them to the battlefield!"

  "Five years later, 1937?" Yin Long and Liang Chengfu's spirits lifted greatly, they were clear that Young Master would not say this without a reason.

  "In the second half of 1937, Japan will launch a comprehensive invasion war against China. I'm telling you, at that time, the KMT and CPC will cooperate for the second time, and the real arrival of the Chinese resistance war! Comrades, in these five years, we need to stockpile large quantities of weapons, supplies, food, and select excellent soldiers to supplement the troops to replace you on defense. Commander Liang, don't be too happy yet, once you leave Zhuanghe, many people will die in the cruel war!"

  "Master, I've lived six more years, and even if I die on the battlefield, I won't spare those little devils!" Liang Chengfu burst out laughing, indicating his willingness to go to the front line.

  "Report! Kameda and Lieutenant Colonel Akino have arrived together for a visit!" The gate guard ran to the entrance, loudly reporting.

  "Qiu Ye?" Hu Zhiyong said: "Let them in!"

  "Yes!"

  The gate guard left, and the four people of Yinlong hurriedly said goodbye. Hu Zhiyong shouted to Shi Yinsi: "Third Uncle, you stay."

  "Me?" Shi Yin shook his head: "I'm no match for those little devils, it's better to hide."

  "This won't do, as a key member of the government agency, you can't afford to make such a big mistake." Hu Zhiyong stopped him: "Don't worry, they're not tigers!"

  "Hu San Shao, are tigers or wolves more ferocious?" Akino stood at the door, one hand on the hilt of his sword, staring at Hu Zhiyong.

  PS: Thank you for your enthusiastic collection, I'm thrilled to be the number one historical military book in daily collections. It's an honor that can't be expressed, so here's another chapter for everyone to enjoy! The rewards from Yinhuan and Suisheng have been added to the update queue!