Lashio is 120 kilometers south of Muse Port and is the central city of Shan State in northern Myanmar. Shan State considers itself the capital, but the outside world does not recognize it. However, the investment license obtained by 'Holy Light' is from these local states.
given.
Danbo came here from Muse in the north in a small four-wheeled truck. There were more than twenty trucks in his fleet, and this time he was carrying goods to Lashio for sale.
Although it is said to be a central city, Lashio actually has a population of only about 200,000, which is equivalent to a town or even a township in China. Such a small population cannot support much power, let alone a strong armed force.
The convoy coming from the north stopped at the checkpoint outside the city, and several Shan soldiers came to check the passes. Most of them were thin and small, and their military uniforms were baggy, and the weapons in their hands seemed particularly mismatched.
The road from Muse to Lashio is still a dirt road, but it is much better than the rugged village mountain road. Each small four-wheel truck pulled two tons of cargo, which was basically daily necessities.
Danbo jumped off the leading minivan and spoke with a local accent to get close to the soldiers at the checkpoint. He took out a pack of cigarettes and handed them out to each of them one by one. When half the pack was left, they were all given to the little boss guarding the checkpoint.
The cigarettes are 'Dachongjiu', a very old brand, with low quality and low price. 'Shengguang' wholesales a lot of them, specifically for dumping at the bottom of Southeast Asia, and the prices sold are two or three times more expensive than in China.
Not only are cigarettes expensive, but everything sold by Holy Light in Myanmar is also expensive.
After receiving the cigarettes from Danbo, the soldiers guarding the checkpoint were also satisfied. Their current requirements were not high and they were happy if they could get a cigarette. Twenty-odd small four-wheel trucks drove into Lashio easily without any inspection.
The urban construction of Lashio is not as good as that of small counties in China. The roads are not good and the houses are not good, but it does not mean that there is no need for goods here. The convoy has just passed the checkpoint and before it has time to go to the market, more than a dozen local businessmen crowded on both sides of the road.
Danbo jumped out of the car, waved his hands and shouted: "Get out of the way, don't block the road, let the convoy enter the market to unload the goods. If you don't get out of the way, I will run you over."
Danbo had to use pushing and shoving to get the local merchants away, and it took a lot of effort to let the convoy enter the newly built market on the outskirts of the city.
'Shengguang Overseas Development Company' currently only penetrates into the area of 50 to 60 kilometers around the port. Except for a small number of 'exploration' teams that will travel hundreds of kilometers away, most of the company's employees focus on laying a solid foundation.
But in order to exert influence, the company does not mind sending fleets to pull goods to certain central cities. In addition to Lashio, there are also Myitkyina further north, Mandalay in the south, or Yangon further south.
As the capital, Yangon is in the southernmost part of Myanmar, nearly 600 kilometers away from the central city of Mandalay, and the farthest distance from northern Myanmar is 1,200 kilometers. For backward countries, distance is the biggest obstacle to rule.
.
Danbo was born in northern Myanmar and has never left his hometown. In the past, his scope of activities was limited to a small circle, and his understanding of the world was like a frog at the bottom of a well.
At the field hospital in Laojie County, Danbo saw TV, rode in a car, listened to the radio, and came into contact with industrial civilization for the first time. In the past, this was only available to leaders at the level of 'general', and he had only a smattering of knowledge about it at most.
But after staying in the hospital for half a month, he got up early every morning and listened to the "China People's Broadcasting Station" and watched CCTV's "News Network" at night. All movies and TV series were in Chinese, and he received information that he had never thought of before.
Danba didn't think there was anything wrong with it, but it was very novel. He and many of his peers were like sponges absorbing water, eagerly accepting the knowledge instilled in them. Whatever the group said, he felt it was right because the group was strong enough.
Half a month later, when the gunshot wound on his thigh was almost healed, Danbo joined hundreds of young people in the Holy Light Overseas Development Company. He did not realize what this meant at all, he only knew that it was a good job
Errands.
Without the 'Holy Light', these young people would have either worked hard in the fields or joined a certain force to carry guns and serve as cannon fodder. But now the 'Holy Light' has provided them with jobs that are more secure and profitable.
This is the same as the United States harvesting high-end talents from around the world. Improving income and environment is almost unfavorable. Only those with an extremely strong will can resist this temptation, and ordinary people cannot do it at all.
Danbo's task is to act as a part-time translator and guide. He leads the company's team around, either going deep into the mountains to find scattered local villages or armed forces, or following the convoy to do business in the "big city".
When the convoy arrived in Lashio, all the unloaded items were worthless things.
Tin buckets, candles, flashlights, thermos bottles, medical alcohol, salt, gasoline and diesel, everything is available. As long as you need it in daily life, the group will provide it.
The products all come from small enterprises in Yunnan. Before undergoing large-scale transformation, Myanmar's market can support these enterprises with backward technology. This can at least stabilize employment, or accommodate some employees eliminated by the restructuring of state-owned enterprises.
Due to the devastation of the civil war, Myanmar has no industry and can only provide some agricultural and forestry products. Industrial products are basically purchased from outside, and the source is often low-end goods from China, Thailand or Vietnam.
After the goods were unloaded, local businessmen drove small three-wheelers also from the "Holy Light" to make purchases. The transactions were conducted directly using Ruanmei coins. The price of the light industrial products sold was more expensive than in Yunnan, but the local products purchased were cheaper than in Yunnan.
As long as Myanmar does not have its own industrial capabilities, the "scissors gap" of dumping will not stop. This is completely different from the group's business in Eastern Europe, where Mao has industrial capabilities.
After unloading the goods, the convoy will purchase rice from Mandalay and other places, load it into trucks, and transport it away. The trade volume each time is not very large, at most 30,000 to 40,000 yuan, but convoys come every day.
As a translator, Danbo also had to help the team discuss the next order. Local businessmen wanted almost everything, including more vehicles, more gasoline and diesel, fertilizers and pesticides, and generators and tractors.
Rich people will buy a few second-hand video recorders, video tapes, or other home appliances. There is a huge demand for trade between the two sides, and the only restriction is that the roads are too poor to run large trucks carrying more than ten tons.
As for the railway? It's still too far away.
It was already afternoon when the convoy arrived in Lashio, and it was a bit dangerous to go back on bad roads at night. As a guide, Danbo arranged for the convoy driver to stay in a warehouse in the city. He himself wanted to go shopping.
In the past, Lashio was a big city to Danbo. He had longed for this place for a long time and had never been there. But now that he is here, he is disappointed every time he visits.
Compared with Muse, which is being rapidly modernized due to investment and construction by the Holy Light, Lashio only has low mud houses, broken streets, and open ditches.
There are soldiers everywhere in the city, always ready for war, but they are completely inferior to the security personnel of the company. The weapons and equipment are far different, and there are only a few cars - 'Holy Light' can be driven here as a company.
Unparalleled.
There are only a few roads in Lashio, so walking here and there is just like that. His interest waned, and Danbo was about to turn around and meet at the warehouse.
Suddenly, two foreigners with cameras appeared on the road. The translator stopped Danbo and said arrogantly: "This is a reporter from the British BBC who wants to interview you. Talk to them carefully and they will give you money."