Zhao Erxun, who had been an official for many years and had a deep experience, did not disclose the will of the court to the outside world. Instead, he ordered his student and confidant adviser, Yuan Jinkai, a third-rank alternative, to quietly bring the 3 million German Deutsche Bank cash check that was urgently exchanged, and took a German freighter that transported steel and machines for West China Company to Shanghai, and then rushed from Shanghai to Beijing to mediate. Therefore, there was no fluctuation in the entire Sichuan.

The Sichuan Army Quick Training School and Army Primary School have started one after another. Xiao Yiming, the Supervisory and Training Office, who is in charge of military training and education, and the military chief of the Quick Training School, has begun to get busy.

As the deputy chief of staff of the Sichuan Army and the General Office of the Army Primary School Jiang Dengxuan also selected several new textbooks compiled by Xiao Yiming. After the Governor asked Xiao Yiming to help guide theoretical teaching, Xiao Yiming's weekly lecture tasks doubled. Fortunately, the North School Field, where the Army Primary School is located, is located west of Xiao Yiming's residence, and there is no need to run back and forth.

Despite this, Xiao Yiming's workload increased several times. In addition to the fact that the matter must be completed, his old city renovation plan was unanimously approved by the Governor's Office and the Chengdu Government Office. The first phase of the project, which only requires an investment of 50,000 yuan, can be recovered in half a year, is enough to transform the crowded and dirty arsenal area of ​​the southeastern city arsenal factory.

This area with sewage flowing and smelly smell is on the edge of the Yu River. In addition to the more than 3,000 armed factories who originally lived, thousands of poor and poor people have been pouring in over the years. There are many low and simple thatched huts and earth walls, which are even more dirty and chaotic than other slums. It has become a source of fires and epidemics that officials and Chengdu people are extremely worried about. Therefore, Xiao Yiming and Zhou Shanpei, the General Office of the Quanye Road, jointly formulated a complete and reasonable renovation plan, which was unanimously recognized by the government officials at all levels. It took only three days to discuss the first plan. The first plan was listed as the first "people-friendly project" to start construction immediately.

There is another important reason why the Governor’s Office, Chengdu Government Office and Quanyedao strongly support it:

Officials at all levels saw the huge benefits that the commander of the New Army Zhong Ying obtained from the incident involving the Wenshu Temple. Zhong Ying thoroughly investigated the legal land of Wenshu Temple in the name of the army and found that the more than 400 acres of land occupied by Wenshu Temple over the past century had no legal basis. He then reported to the Governor's Office for approval and confiscated them all in the name of the army. Then it was divided into nearly 100 pieces of homesteads for public auction, "to make up for the long-term arrears of the New Army and the border army's military funds."

In just half a month, all the land was sold out, and the "military" made a profit of more than 70,000 yuan through auction. No one knew whether it would "make up for military capital", but people in the officialdom knew in their hearts that the total income of the "military" was far more than this public figure.

This incident is very attractive to any yamen. Thinking of the difficulty of obtaining legal land contracts in more than 100 temples and temples in the city, how can officials at all levels still sit still? Now that there is the opportunity of the magnificent "People-friendly Project", who is willing to let go of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make money?

With Zhong Ying's shield, few people noticed that West China Company obtained 90 acres of land adjacent to Xindao to the west of Wenshu Temple through normal auctions. Few people knew that these 90 acres of land did not cost Xiao Yiming a penny. However, West China Company widely promoted after obtaining the land: 80 acres of land of 90 acres were used for the construction of "Xiang Hua Middle School". After the project was completed, it will be waived with the minimum tuition fee in the whole city, and even all fees will be waived to recruit poor children to school, making contributions to Bashu's education within its capacity!

The remaining ten acres of land located at the intersection of the Cross Street became the location of the newly established West China Times. Due to poor management, Chengdu Business Daily reached a cooperation with West China Industrial Company, and the newspaper after the cooperation was renamed West China Times.

This incident caused a great sensation in Chengdu and the entire Sichuan cultural circle, military and political circles. Almost everyone can easily foresee that it will be a matter of time before the West China Daily, which has received sufficient financial support from West China Company, will become one of the best newspapers in Sichuan Province.

From the recruitment notices published continuously by major newspapers in the province, you can see the ambition of the West China Times - the Xinbao solemnly promised: the salary of professionals is increased by 100, senior editors, and reporters will increase their salary by five times on the original basis, and will use generous remuneration to encourage knowledgeable people from all walks of life to participate in the great innovation movement to revitalize Sichuan's industries and improve the quality of education for all!

The literati and poets in the province were moved. Rumors were made that several famous cultural celebrities in Chongqing and Luzhou who were frustrated but talented in the officialdom of Luzhou had rushed to Chengdu and quietly found the newly appointed president of the West China Times. Mr. Zou Wenhan, the leader of the Bashu literary world who retired from his former deputy governor of Sichuan, contacted him. Such jokes were also circulated in the literary circle:

"I won't let me be an official, right? I'm not interested. Go to the West China Times and take the money higher than being an official. I feel in a bad mood, so I write two articles to expose your **, so that the people of Sichuan can spit on your ancestors!"

On March 1, a group of 42 German industrial and commercial inspection team arrived in Chengdu and were welcomed by the "Chengdu General Chamber of Commerce", the newly established "Sichuan Industry and Commerce Federation" and more than a thousand representatives from all walks of life. Dozens of Germans were moved while being surprised. The guests and hosts met intimately, and the atmosphere was extremely harmonious.

After the Germans lived in the West Hotel on the east side of the German New Consulate on Hanjiang Road, they were even more surprised. They never expected that in the poor and backward inland China, there was such a beautiful street that was no less than a European metropolis. There was such a beautiful hotel covering an area of ​​more than ten acres and up to six floors. The bathroom and sanitation facilities in each spacious room were extremely exquisite and beautiful. They perfectly combined Chinese ceramic craftsmanship and the latest European architectural design, and were first-class in all parts of Europe. However, they did not know that this building, known as the "No. 1 Hotel in Bashu", cost Xiao Yiming more than 70,000 yuan. Moreover, all brothers, including Sister Yi, are still heartbroken by this prodigal behavior of "swelling and pretending to be fat".

The German delegation did not disappoint Xiao Yiming. Representatives and engineers of seven well-known companies, including the world-famous Rhine Metal Products and Machinery Equipment Company, Krupp, Mauser, Germany's third largest smokeless gunpowder manufacturer, Hopp Chemical Industry Company, and the heads of the two German traders in China, arrived.

After these elites in various fields settled down, they immediately presented precious gifts to Xiao Yiming: two sets of advanced surveying and mapping equipment, twelve pairs of Zeiss six-fold telescopes, and more than 100 sets of technical books and academic journals that record the latest technology and development directions in Europe.

Looking at the unexpected generous gifts, Xiao Yiming was very happy and kept thanking him. After the dinner, he immediately held a symposium with the German delegation to introduce the political situation of Sichuan and the economic situation in various places in detail. He also provided the delegation with five brief introductions to the history, geography and industry and commerce in Sichuan translated into English.

Finally, Xiao Yiming regretfully told seven mechanical engineers and senior weapons manufacturing technicians from Mauser Company and Ryin Company:

"As the central government increases Sichuan taxes, Sichuan's financial situation has been deeply affected. The Sichuan Arsenal, which was originally scheduled to hire, will have to stop the expansion and equipment purchase plan after you repair and debug existing equipment. However, I urge you to accept the employment of West China Industrial Company, the largest private company in Sichuan, as the technical and production director of the Metal Products Company under West China Company, and help West China Metal Products Company conduct and ultimately complete enterprise development assessment, factory design and construction, mechanical equipment introduction and installation, product development and design, and weapon equipment production, so that West China Metal Gold Products Company will become a first-class military enterprise in China within five years."

Dozens of Germans looked at each other and communicated for a moment. After fully understanding Xiao Yiming's meaning, they were very surprised. It was not because of the sudden change in the Sichuan Arsenal, but because of Xiao Yiming's majestic goal. Except for the German Consul Mr. Fu Diegen and the military officer Major Sharp Le, everyone showed suspicion.

Mr. Ball, the permanent representative of Mauser Company to China, asked:

"Dear Xiao, first of all, please allow me to express my gratitude to you and your West China Metal Products Company, and congratulate you for the successful completion of the equipment and material purchase and sales cooperation between us! Please forgive my frankness. We all want to know how much investment can you give to our West China Metal Products Company? What is the investment plan? If we do not understand these important situations, it may be difficult to cooperate with you further."

Xiao Yiming solemnly replied: "As of seven days ago, in order to express our deeper sincerity to you, we have deposited 350,000 silver dollars in the Chengdu Branch of Deutsche Bank in your country, equivalent to about 720,000 German marks. This money will be used as the construction funds for chemical plants and bullet production plants, and will be used exclusively. In addition, within 20 days from today, we will deposit one million marks into the Chengdu Branch of Deutsche Bank as a special fund for purchasing advanced mechanical processing equipment of your company and Ryin Company. I believe that when you go to various mining areas and scheduled factory construction sites in Sichuan, you will see the fund guarantee letter presented by Deutsche Bank."

Everyone nodded slightly and found that although it was not the largest investment in the China** Industrial Project, it was basically feasible to establish a medium-sized light weapons manufacturer and supporting workshop in China, and the confidence that had been lost began to be established bit by bit.

Xiao Yiming glanced around and continued:

"Since then, we will invest no less than 500,000 marks of funds every year to personnel training, product development, equipment maintenance and technology upgrades. This is the goal we have made and are working hard for, and we hope to get your support and understanding.

"In addition, in order to illustrate my sincerity, I have to tell you something I don't want to disclose - as of mid-February, we purchased three batches of 9mm C96 military pistols from Mauser, totaling 2,300 bullets, totaling 350,000 bullets, all of which have been sold out, with a total profit of 126,000 marks; we purchased 3,000 American Colt M1903 pistols and 250,000 7.65mm bullets through Jardines, the United States, and sold out, with a total profit of about 90,000 marks.

"Everyone, the last two batches of pistols and ammunition signed with your Guoli and Company, Jardines, UK, are about to arrive. Within three months, it will bring us West China Company a profit of about 250,000 marks. Moreover, this is just a small gain to initially open up the weapons markets of Sichuan and surrounding provinces, and we will do better in the future."

The whole hall exclaimed. No one expected that only two inconspicuous small weapons would make Xiao Yiming profit so much. Many people quietly looked at the military officer Sharp Le. Seeing Sharp Le nodding frequently, they immediately turned to Xiao Yiming, their eyes full of admiration and enthusiasm.

Ball of Mauser Company was so excited that he almost jumped up. The more than 5,000 Mauser C96 pistols and more than 400,000 bullets he sold over the past three years, the profits he could make were almost the same as those of Xiao Yiming. What is this concept? This means that China's vast inland region has a huge market, and he and two German distributors did not seize this big market.

"Dear Xiao, I admire the great achievements you and your company have made, and I am very willing to carry out further and lasting cooperation with your company."

Mr. Zieg, the representative of Ryin Company, made a statement with a smile.

Xiao Yiming responded enthusiastically: "Dear Mr. Zieg, your company's two batches of seven models of steel have been shipped to our warehouse. Our technicians are very satisfied with the quality of your company's products and are willing to carry out long-term and close cooperation with your company. In addition, I would like to tell Mr. Zieg a plan that is being discussed by the Sichuan Provincial Government. Although the implementation of this plan requires two to three years, it may be of some reference for Mr. Zieg. The plan is a ten-year plan for Sichuan highway construction. The goal is to complete the construction of highways between about 150 counties in the province. It is initially estimated that more than 500 large and small bridges need to be built. Among them, the road from Chongqing to Nanbu County of Qi (Jiang) County is a key project for priority construction, because Qi (Jiang) County currently has the fourth largest high-quality iron ore area in China."

Zigg stood up with a smile and solemnly bowed to Xiao Yiming to express his gratitude.

Xiao Yiming also stood up to respond, and then asked very gracefully: "Are you interested in visiting the governor of Sichuan in the near future? If you want, I will be honored to take on the introduction work as the second person in charge of the Sichuan Army Training and Education Department. In addition, the highest military and political chief of Sichuan Province and the head of the Chengdu government will also welcome everyone."

Everyone was happy again and said that this was an honor. Many people immediately realized that the young, handsome and fluent Chinese in front of them really meant that the Germans present showed his great ability and strong confidence through meeting and exchanging opinions with the Governor and the highest military and political officials in Sichuan Province.
Chapter completed!