Chapter 423 Development Planning of Nanyang Office
In Nanyang City, the seat of the Nanyang Office, in the evening, the dim street lights shed a faint light. Li Mu led several guards to walk on the bluestone slabs on the streets of Nanyang, looking at Nanyang City in this period.
The appearance of the streetlight surprised him but also took it for granted.
Li Mu had read some information. As early as 1879, electricity had appeared in China. British engineer Bi Xiaopu lit the country's first electric light on Zhapu Road in Shanghai. Three years later, the British built China's first electric lamp in the Shanghai Concession.
Power plant, and 15 electric lights are connected in series along the Bund.
In 1888, Li Hongzhang also lit up the Forbidden City in Beijing, allowing Cixi to use electricity, and established a power plant the next year. From this year on, the domestic electric power industry developed rapidly, and the number of users increased year by year.
By the time of the 1911 Revolution in 1911, there were 80 power plants in the country, and the total capacity of power generation equipment reached 37,000 kilowatts.
Since then, electricity has developed even more rapidly in China. According to the relevant information he read, before the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the country's annual power generation had reached 4.45 billion kilowatts, ranking 14th in the world.
4.45 billion kilowatts, which means that before the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, China's annual power generation had reached 4.45 billion kilowatts, with an average of 10 kilowatts per capita.
Although most of them are concentrated in big cities such as Nanjing, Shanghai, Peiping, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Wuhan, as well as developed coastal areas, inland areas account for only a small proportion.
However, it can also be seen that electricity was widely used at that time, and power plants of various sizes were spread across the country.
Although Nanyang is inland, it is such a large area with a population of more than five million. As a local government and the economic and administrative center of Nanyang City, it is actually very common to have electricity and street lights.
Not only electricity, but also telephones are now widely used.
According to the information he knew, telephones began to develop rapidly in China since the Beiyang period. At first, telephones could only be used within the same city, and the lines often failed, especially when it was windy or rainy, and the wires were either twisted or disconnected, making them very unreliable.
Spectrum.
The first long-distance telephone line in China appeared in 1927, namely the Nanjing-Shanghai long-distance telephone line.
Since then, this telephone line has been continuously extended. From 1931 to 1934, Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hankou and other cities successively opened municipal automatic telephone offices. Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hebei, Hunan, etc.
The province has also successively launched intra-provincial long-distance telephone services.
On this basis, starting from January 1934, the Ministry of Communications planned to build long-distance telephone lines for nine provinces, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Shandong, and Hebei, with a total length of 3,173 kilometers. The project was completed in 1936
The construction was basically completed in February.
Unfortunately, with the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, many telephone lines were cut off, and these places soon fell into the hands of little books.
Li Mu spent a long time walking around Nanyang City. With the appearance of street lights and the war in the coastal areas, many people poured in with their families, making the city obviously more lively and prosperous.
However, there are also a lot more beggars and homeless people, making this prosperity seem a bit deformed.
Li Mu frowned and asked, "We have launched so many projects, and we are in need of manpower everywhere. We are also being paid well. Why are there so many beggars and homeless people?"
"Looking for a job, not only taking care of food and housing, but also saving some savings, is no better than being a beggar here."
Xu Weixin, the adjutant who had just taken office, said: "Guanzu, these people must have formed a habit. Our Nanyang City is pretty good now. There are many people willing to give alms to them. If there is no shortage of food, where can they go to work?"
."
Li Mu frowned and said: "The fighting on the frontline is intense. It is conceivable that in the future, more and more people will flee to the mainland, and there will be more and more people here, and there will also be more and more refugees and beggars."
"It's nothing to beg for food. There are too many homeless people and beggars, which can easily cause problems and have a great impact on public security. We can't let it go like this."
As he spoke, he turned around and ordered: "Adjutant Xu, tomorrow you will take people to gather all these beggars and homeless people and screen them one by one. If they are really disabled and have no ability to work, you can let them beg. Those lazy people with sound limbs,
They will all be sent to construction sites with stricter supervision, and we will not squeeze them. We will take care of their food, housing, and wages, but we cannot let them live like this."
Xu Weixin said: "Yes, group seat!"
While walking, Li Mu saw some little beggars again. He walked over and asked a few words, and sighed: "In prosperity, people suffer; in death, people suffer. This time of war, many families have been torn apart, and how many children have become orphans!"
"
"Adjutant Xu, tomorrow all the little beggars and homeless children in the city will be sent to the Salesian Home. Depending on the number of people, Mr. Xu will be invited to teach them how to read. Otherwise, if they are wandering in the society like this, they will either continue to be beggars or they will not leave.
The right path, or death by starvation, will not be of any benefit to society as a whole."
Xu Weixin hesitated and said: "Yes, group. However, I heard that the Salesian Kindergarten in the city is also in a difficult situation now. The war is going on in the front, and the local finances are empty. There is not much money to allocate to them, so they can barely maintain it.
With."
"If we send so many more people and teach them to read, then..."
Li Mu said: "This is also a problem. Which place is not financially empty now? Forget it, in my name, donate 50,000 French currency to the Salesian Home. First, take these children in and educate them. Later, when the finances are rich, then
Find a solution."
Fifty thousand French currency is now worth almost 30,000 to 40,000 yuan. The legal currency before 1939 was actually quite valuable. After 1939, due to the random issuance of currency, it began to depreciate on a large scale and became increasingly worthless.
For the Salesian Home, this is definitely a huge asset, even if it raises thousands of children.
Xu Weixin said solemnly: "Yes, group seat!"
The group continued to walk when suddenly there was a loud noise in front of them. Li Mu looked up and saw that it was a dozen green-skinned hooligans who were looking around and collecting protection fees from the stalls that were set up at night. Some merchants did not want to pay and were directly beaten by a group of people.
He kicked the stall over with his feet, and a group of people came up to punch and kick him.
Li Mu felt angry when he saw it. With his current status, it was not easy for him to rush forward and take action.
He turned around and ordered Xu Weixin: "Adjutant Xu, I leave it to you. Arrest the person first and interrogate him properly. I will listen to the report in an hour."
Xu Weixin said: "Yes, group seat!"
The group of people went shopping wearing casual clothes. On the surface, they were only followed by a few guards, but in fact there was a group of policemen far away behind them.
After Li Mu finished speaking, he was not in the mood to continue shopping and turned back. Xu Weixin immediately called the guards behind and went up to arrest the person.
Li Mu's residence in Nanyang City is a garden of more than 20 acres called "Yu Garden", with pavilions, pavilions, flowers and plants. In the middle is a small foreign-style building that combines Chinese and Western styles and is luxuriously decorated. It is considered the best in Nanyang City.
The mansion.
It is said that it was originally built by a certain parent official in Nanyang, and continued to be repaired by several officials until it became what it is today. After some tidying up, it just became Li Mu's residence.
When we returned to Yu Garden, dinner had just been prepared. A few young and beautiful maids quickly prepared the food. There was a table full of delicacies. Several chefs in Yu Garden were proficient in various cuisines. It is said that some of their ancestors were from the imperial dining room.
from.
Li Mu has never been one to treat him badly. As long as there are conditions, he can enjoy what he deserves.
As a martial arts practitioner, I exercise a lot every day and eat a lot. I quickly eat everything on the table, and I feel satisfied.
As soon as he finished rinsing his mouth, Xu Weixin came over to report, and Li Mu asked the maid to go down.
After listening to the report, he frowned and said: "So, now there are three major gangs in Nanyang City. They have used some means to monopolize a lot of business, and they also charge protection fees. The person who took action today is one of them called the Little Knife Club."
Xu Weixin said: "That's what they told me, and I asked someone to find out more about it. That's indeed what happened."
Li Mu raised his hand and knocked on the table: "Nanyang does not need these gray forces, and will not allow these unstable factors to exist."
"The task of suppressing bandits over there is almost over now. Except for a few who fled into the deep mountains and forests, the bandit troubles have been wiped out. Tomorrow, transfer two battalions into the city, and then notify the police station and ask him to cooperate with you to bring these few
Catch all the gangs in one fell swoop."
"Hold a public trial, shoot those with serious crimes, and send the rest to work in the mountains. There is a shortage of labor! After a few years of training, when they have improved, we will release them."
Xu Weixin stood at attention and saluted: "Yes, group seat!"
Li Mu smiled and said, "I'll leave this matter to you. Okay, go back and rest."
Xu Weixin then turned around and went out.
After taking control of Nanyang City, Li Mu thought about the future development of Nanyang for a long time. He had three development strategies for this.
The first is limited investment; the second is only focused investment in the industrial and military fields; the third is all-round investment, letting a hundred flowers bloom, and building Nanyang from all aspects.
After thinking for a long time, Li Mu chose the third option, investing in Nanyang in an all-round way, building it up from all aspects, and striving for a hundred flowers to bloom in all fields.
There was a reason for his choice. Nanyang was indeed a good place with fertile land and a large number of manpower. Most importantly, it was the last city to fall in Yu Province.
The time of the fall seemed to be April 1945, only a few months before Xiao Benzi's surrender.
Except for the month of fighting during the fall, there were no major battles in other times, and everything was basically peaceful.
It is very suitable for operation and development as a base, and with him there, it is impossible for the Nanyang area to fall again.
On the morning of the next day, Li Mu convened a meeting with the heads of various departments in the office. There were three topics on the agenda, one was education, the other was infrastructure construction, and the last one was conscription and building militia reserves.
Educational issues, mainly in Nanyang area, try to ensure that every child of school age should have books to read and learn.
Make four-year compulsory primary education as universal as possible.
Li Mu's requirements are not high, asking everyone to complete four years of compulsory primary school education, and at least be able to read and write, not be illiterate.
Among them, those who are talented and among the best can continue to attend middle school.
This aspect is very difficult, not because of talent issues. Before the Anti-Japanese War, the literacy rate in the Republic of China was about 15 to 20%. Teachers are still easy to find. The main problem is funding.
If four-year compulsory primary education is to be universalized, at least 1,500 primary schools may need to be built in the entire Nanyang region.
To build a new primary school, even if most of them are in rural areas, the cost of materials and labor is relatively cheap. Adding tables, chairs, benches, and basic teaching tools will cost about three to four hundred yuan, which is not a small sum of money.
If apportionment is required, it will definitely increase the burden on farmers. They may prefer that their children not go to school rather than bear these heavy apportionments.
Many officials are worried, fearing that Li Muchen will cause trouble. With his status and power, no one can stop him as long as he makes up his mind.
Li Mu can only say that you are overthinking. Although the construction cost of 1,500 primary schools is quite large, it is actually not as much as imagined, only about 500,000 silver dollars.
After thinking about it, under the shocked eyes of everyone, Li Mu himself subsidized one million French currency, equivalent to more than 700,000 silver dollars. Not only was the construction cost of 1,500 primary schools not a problem, but the corresponding construction and repair costs of junior high schools as well.
There is also.
This is how basic compulsory education is solved.
The second issue is infrastructure construction, mainly roads, electricity and communications.
Regarding the road problem, Li Mu has carried out large-scale repairs in Nanyang, and several main roads have all been built into highways. In fact, before the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, basically all provinces and important cities in the country had opened roads.
, Nanyang area itself already has several roads connecting it with the outside world.
After these roads are built, transportation and communication in Nanyang will be more convenient.
Regarding power issues, there are currently 11 power plants in Nanyang, three in Nanyang City, and eight in the counties below. There are still many counties that currently do not have electricity.
Li Mu plans to build another batch of thermal power plants. The main task is of course to provide power support for the major factories that will be built next. With abundant electricity, it can also be supplied to Nanyang City and the private sector.
Currently, there are three power plants in Nanyang City, but the power is not very high. Due to the outbreak of the war, some machines cannot be purchased, and naturally it is impossible to expand or build new power plants.
Now, in Nanyang City, less than one-tenth of the households have access to electricity. First, because the price of electricity is too expensive, ordinary families cannot afford it; second, there is really not enough electricity, and so much electricity is generated every day, but it cannot be supplied.
So many people.
In the future, when thermal power plants are built, if there are wealthy people, they can supply part of the power to the private sector.
Then there is the communication issue. Li Mu plans to use telegraph and telephone to build a communication network covering Nanyang.
Every county, every important base and town, factory, school... must be connected by telephone and telegraph.
This is not difficult. Before the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, communication networks in many coastal areas and big cities were much larger than this.
The final issue is the issue of conscription and the establishment of militia reserves.
The territory has expanded, there is no shortage of money, and there is no shortage of weapons. One reinforced group is obviously not enough.
Li Mu planned to recruit 20,000 new soldiers and at the same time form a militia reserve of about 100,000 people.
Nanyang itself has a population of more than five million, and coupled with the large number of people fleeing for safety, the population is even greater.
Recruiting 20,000 new soldiers and forming a militia reserve of 100,000 people will not place a heavy burden on the local area.
Nowadays, wars are raging on the front and wars are in chaos everywhere. The stability and prosperity of Nanyang also need to be maintained by the army. Naturally, this issue was passed without any surprise.
Next, is the implementation and construction phase.