Hukham Valley, Myanmar, where the 4th Agricultural Corps is stationed.
A convoy of more than a dozen jeeps and trucks drove toward the gate of the corps headquarters. The corps commander and chief of staff were already waiting at the gate with more than a dozen division commanders and division chiefs of staff.
The entire headquarters and the surrounding area for several kilometers are lined with sentries and are heavily guarded.
Before the truck stopped, hundreds of heavily armed special forces surged down and immediately surrounded the gate and parking lot of the 4th Peasant Corps headquarters. Immediately, the door of the jeep opened, and Yue Weihan and Shi Di
Wei, Wei Lihuang, Huang Jie and the accompanying senior generals got out of the car one after another.
The generals of the 4th Peasant Corps rushed forward to greet him, stood at attention and saluted.
After a brief announcement, Yue Weihan, accompanied by the commander of the 4th Agricultural Corps, began to inspect the production base.
At this time, the Hukang River Valley was no longer the desolate scene it had been when the expeditionary force was defeated in northern Myanmar years ago. Large areas of primitive jungle in the valley had been cut down, and most of the dense swamps had been filled in. After more than a year,
Over time, this place has become a large farm with millions of acres of fertile land.
Yue Weihan looked around and saw that the farmland was full of rice, cotton, sugar cane, soybeans, corn, potatoes, potatoes and other crops, especially the endless rice fields, with no end in sight at a glance! Hu Kang at this time
Where in the river valley does it look like a place where the devil lives? It looks more like Jiangnan than Jiangnan.
Just when Yue Weihan was filled with emotion, two old farmers wearing bamboo hats and raincoats strolled over from the field stalks.
Behind them were a dozen young men and women, discussing something as they walked. The atmosphere seemed quite lively. When Chu Zhongtian was about to send someone to intercept them, he was stopped by Yue Weihan.
Yue Weihan has already recognized these two "old farmers". On the left is Mr. Zhu Kezhen, a geographer and meteorologist, and on the right is Mr. Ding Ying, an agriculturist and rice expert. As early as the 25th year of the Republic of China (1936),
Mr. Ding Ying created the first hybrid rice variety "Qiangraisui" by crossing wild rice with cultivated rice.
These two are also as powerful as Mount Tai and Beidou in their respective fields.
It has to be said that modern China is really full of talents. A large number of world-renowned top scientists have emerged in the fields of astronomy, geography, physics, chemistry, mathematics and other fields. Now, most of these scientists and experts have come to Yangon. Just now
Nanyang United University, which was founded not long ago, is already a world-class university.
"Mr. Zhu, Mr. Ding!" Yue Weihan strode forward, immediately stood at attention and saluted the two gentlemen.
When Mr. Zhu Kezhen and Mr. Ding Ying saw it was Yue Weihan, they quickly led their students up to shake hands with Yue Weihan.
The reason why Mr. Zhu Kezhen and Mr. Ding Ying respect Yue Weihan is not only because Yue Weihan is a famous anti-Japanese general, but also because of Yue Weihan's unremitting investment in the education and science of the motherland. Since the establishment of Nanyang United University, Yue Weihan has never been in
The cost is less than a penny.
Yue Weihan would rather give half pay to the expedition officers and soldiers than let the UN General Assembly have financial difficulties.
Mr. Cai Yuanpei, the president of Nanyang United University, once said that he originally thought that the Chen brothers already valued education the most, but he did not expect that General Yue Weihan would attach more importance to the education of the motherland. Mr. Cai Yuanpei also said with emotion that as long as he made a request, no matter it was
Whether scientific research funding or teaching funding, General Yue Weihan never gives any discount.
With the strong support of Yue Weihan, the newly founded Nanyang United University grew at an alarming rate.
Beginning in June 1931, hundreds of universities and colleges moved west to the mainland. By the end of the year, Nanyang United University had more than 150,000 teachers and students, including more than 8,000 faculty and staff, and established an astronomy department.
, there are dozens of research institutions in humanities, physics, chemistry, mathematics, atomic energy, etc., and more than 50 academic leaders with academician qualifications are hired at high salaries.
In order to run a school, Yue Weihan demolished almost all the temples in Myanmar, sent special forces Qiao Zhuang to sneak into India, and Siam looted Buddhist holy places.
In Southeast Asia, who are the richest people? They are not high-ranking officials or political figures. The richest people are monks.
The tops of the towers of many temples are inlaid with gold jewels, and there are countless gold vessels and jewels collected in the temples. Yue Weihan has been coveting these gold jewels for more than a day or two. The British were afraid of provoking religious conflicts, so they did not pay attention to them.
Yue Weihan didn't have much scruples in attacking these temples and monks.
The reason is very simple. Yue Weihan knew very well that Buddhism and Islam were completely different.
The core teaching of Buddhism is the great compassionate spirit of "If I don't go to hell, who will go to hell?" You will rob someone with pleasure, and you will kill him without any complaints. However, Islam is completely different. If the Islamists are a little bit dirty, they will turn from sheep to terror.
I think back then, the Islamists fought a war with the Islamists for nearly two centuries over the barren land of Jerusalem.
So, you’d better not mess with Islam, but Buddhism doesn’t matter. No matter how much you mess with it, nothing will happen.
However, for the huge investment required to establish the university, the gold and jewelry obtained from the looting were still only a drop in the bucket. As a last resort, Yue Weihan borrowed US$200 million from the US government and the Morgan family respectively, all of which were reserved for the scientific research and school running of Nanyang United University.
Funding, the expeditionary force will not give you a penny!
After shaking hands and chatting, Yue Weihan asked with a smile: "Mr. Zhu, Mr. Ding, why are you here?"
"Let's take students to do a project here." Mr. Ding Ying replied with a smile, and then said, "General Yue, Myanmar's agricultural conditions are really unique. In the country, there are strict restrictions on what crops can be planted in any season, but
But here there are almost no restrictions and you can grow any crop at any time.”
"Old Ding, this is because Myanmar does not have obvious four seasons." Mr. Zhu Kezhen replied with a smile. "Myanmar only has rainy season and dry season, but they are not as clear-cut as the central African prairie. In the central African prairie, you can
It doesn't rain for six months in a row, but this is impossible in Myanmar, where there is still plenty of rain even in the dry season."
Mr. Ding Ying nodded and said with deep understanding: "Yes, Myanmar rarely experiences extremely bad weather conditions, so the harvest of crops is relatively guaranteed, unlike in China, where severe droughts, floods or typhoons often occur.
Severe weather conditions have resulted in large-scale crop yield reductions and even crop failures..."
Mr. Ding Ying's words seemed to have touched Mr. Zhu Kezhen, so before Mr. Ding Ying could finish speaking, Mr. Zhu Kezhen interrupted forcibly: "General Yue, Old Ding's words reminded me. According to my observation, in the first half of next year, Sichuan,
Provinces such as Xikang, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi are likely to experience a once-in-a-century drought!"
"A severe drought that only happens once in a century!?" Yue Weihan was shocked when he heard this.
In Yue Weihan's impression, there seems to be no official record of severe drought in several southwestern provinces in the 32nd year of the Republic of China (1943). However, it cannot be ruled out that Yue Weihan's crossing caused changes in meteorological conditions, especially from a great scientist like Mr. Zhu Kezhen.
Yue Weihan had to pay attention to it when he raised it.
"Yes." Mr. Zhu Kezhen nodded and said solemnly, "Based on my many years of experience, the possibility is very high."
Yue Weihan's face suddenly became more solemn. If Mr. Zhu Kezhen's prediction came true, he would be in big trouble.
At present, most of China's rivers and mountains have fallen. Only Shanxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xikang, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi Liaoliao provinces have not fallen. In addition to the original residents, these provinces have also seen the influx of as many as 80 million refugees.
, a slight disaster will cause famine, let alone a severe drought that occurs once in a century?
It can be foreseen that if things are really as Mr. Zhu Kezhen said, and several provinces in the southwest are really suffering from a once-in-a-century drought, then even if it is a conservative estimate, at least tens of millions of people will die from famine.
A terrifying sight? Yue Weihan shuddered just thinking about it.
If there is no sufficient preparation, even if the expeditionary force tries its best, it will only be a drop in the bucket!
So far, the production and construction corps of the Expeditionary Force has been ranked as the 15th Agricultural Corps. A total of more than 1.5 million strong men and more than 6 million old, young, women and children have flowed into Myanmar to engage in agricultural production. The population has been equal to that of Myanmar’s aborigines.
However, although Myanmar's geographical environment and climatic conditions are excellent, these 15 corps have just been established, and the crops have only been harvested for two seasons, so there is not much surplus food.
At the moment, Yue Weihan didn't have much time to inspect the farm of the 4th Agricultural Corps anymore. He took a quick walk around the flowers and grass before leading everyone back to Myitkyina.
That night, Yue Weihan flew back to Yangon from Myitkyina overnight.
When Yue Weihan returned to the official residence, Mr. Tan Kah Kee, Mr. Zhuang Xiyan, Mr. Li Qingquan, Ms. Li Qiulian and Mr. Rong Desheng were already waiting in the living room of the official residence.
Mr. Rong Desheng was a well-known national capitalist in modern China. He not only advocated industry to save the country, but also vigorously ran schools. In modern times when comprador capital was rampant, national capital struggled to survive, but the Rong family survived tenaciously, and in
In the 1930s, it took advantage of the great opportunity of the Great Depression in the Western economy to achieve great development.
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the Rong family's businesses suffered heavy losses. After moving west to the mainland, they were suppressed by the comprador chaebols headed by the Kong and Song families. The situation became increasingly difficult. Therefore, when Yue Weihan extended an olive branch to them, Rong De
Mr. Sheng did not hesitate to move the Rong family's property to Myanmar.
Although it has only been less than ten months since the Rong family moved to Myanmar, it has already achieved great development.
Thanks to the strong support of Yue Weihan and the expeditionary force, the Myanmar New Textile Factory founded by Rong easily defeated its British competitors and completely monopolized Myanmar's textile industry. Rong's Myanmar Flour Mill also quickly occupied nearly half of the market.
Market share, in addition, Mr. Yong Desheng is currently also the president of Nanyang Bank.
Yue Weihan absolutely trusted Mr. Rong Desheng's character.
In fact, almost all the national capitalists in modern China are elites who care about the nation and the country. The most obvious fact is that almost all the national capitalists in modern China are keen on running schools. One cares about the motherland and the education industry.
As a national capitalist, his character is by no means comparable to that of a comprador capitalist who is short-sighted and good at business.
After the greetings, Yue Weihan said straight to the point: "Gentlemen, according to the research of Professor Zhu Kezhen, in the first half of next year, several provinces in the southwest may encounter a severe drought that has not been seen in a century, and the possibility is extremely high. I take the liberty to invite you all to come over overnight, that is
I want to discuss a proper response."
"Since it is Professor Zhu's research, there will be no difference," Mr. Tan Kah Kee said, "We should prepare as early as possible."
"As far as I know, the National Government's strategic grain reserves are almost zero!" Mr. Rong Desheng also said solemnly, "If several provinces in the southwest really suffer from a once-in-a-century drought, it can be predicted that there will definitely be an outbreak in the southwest rear area.
An unprecedented famine, in which countless compatriots will die of hunger!"
Ms. Li Qiulian said: "India does have a large amount of surplus grain, but the war in Europe is now tense. The British government will never provide us with free food assistance. The industrial company does not have much funds in its account, but Nanyang Bank has 400 million US dollars in its account.
The funds, but those are the scientific research and education funds of Nanyang United University, alas..."
"General Yue, I have an idea." Mr. Zhuang Xiyan said suddenly.
"Oh?" Yue Weihan's heart moved when he heard this, and he said anxiously, "Mr. Xiyuan (number), I would like to hear the details."
Mr. Zhuang Xiyan smiled slightly and said: "According to my estimate, Myanmar has nearly 100 million acres of arable land, and most of it is fertile and high-yielding water land. Unfortunately, the Burmese people do not know how to manage and are reluctant to use chemical fertilizers, so the yield is extremely low.
It is really a waste of resources to sit on a mountain of treasure but can barely maintain food and clothing."
“And most of the land allocated to the Production and Construction Corps by the Myanmar federal government is wasteland.”
"Why doesn't the general try to lease fertile land from the federal government of Myanmar, and then recruit a large number of strong men from several southwestern provinces to work on it? You don't need all of it. You only need to rent 50 million acres of watered land. If you plant high-yielding crops such as potatoes and potatoes, each acre will
The harvest is at least 2,000 catties, and 50 million acres means more than 100 billion catties, enough to feed 200 million people for half a year."
Yue Weihan was greatly moved when he heard this. Myanmar has a population of less than 10 million, but it dominates nearly 100 million acres of fertile land. It is indeed a waste.
It's just that the Chinese Expeditionary Force entered Burma not long ago, but the British influence on Burma is deeply rooted. If this matter is carried out in a slightly drastic manner, it is very likely to cause a strong backlash from the Burmese indigenous people, and the British will take advantage of this opportunity.
If you stir up trouble behind the scenes, the Chinese Expeditionary Force will be very passive.
While Yue Weihan was hesitating, Mr. Rong Desheng suddenly said: "General, I also have a way. As long as it is done well, we can raise enough food without spending a penny to ensure that 200 million compatriots in several southwest provinces will survive next year.
famine, and it will definitely not trigger a civil uprising in Myanmar, haha.”