The train stopped at the Bailu Township Station in Hengtang County. Here, the train needs to add water and coal. At the same time, many supplies on the train will be unloaded, some fuel will be loaded, and other personnel will get on and off the train frequently, so they are still very busy.

There is no doubt that Bailu Township Railway Station is a large station, even larger than the previous station Hengtang Town Station. Here, a branch line leading to Kaiyuan County in the west has been opened, and a steady stream of coal is transported from the west and then transported to surrounding areas, becoming the main source of industrial coal and domestic coal for residents.

The economically developed and densely populated East Coast prairie, even after years of tree planting and afforestation movement by people on the east coast, the forest coverage rate is still very low and the timber resources are not rich at all. Of course, the law does not allow trees to be cut down at will, let alone make fuel after cutting down. This low-end method of utilization is strictly prohibited on the East Coast prairie. Therefore, local industrial and domestic fuels are completely solved by the import of coal from the outside and honeycomb coal.

Chengji Coal Mine is the largest coal mine on the east coast. In terms of reserves and mining volume, it far exceeds that of Ping'an Coal Mine, Tieling Coal Mine, Heishan Coal Mine, Heijindao Coal Mine and other mature coal mines operating on the east coast, and has a lot of profits. Currently, the coal mine is managed by the Ministry of Coal, which has been newly established for less than two years. This is also one of the only two self-operated coal mines under the Ministry of Coal, and the other is Heijindao Coal Mine.

It has to be mentioned here that due to the early economic inertia of the East Coast, the ownership of the earliest coal mines developed in China was not in the hands of the Coal Ministry. For example, Tieling Coal Mine is in the hands of the Tieling Heavy Industry Consortium, Ping An Mining Bureau is a subordinate unit of the Ping An Coal Steel Consortium, and the Heishan Coal Mine is owned by the Heishan Industrial Company. As for the earliest Tacheng Coal Mine, it belongs to the local government and has little to do with the local area of ​​the East Coast.

Therefore, the newly established coal department is actually quite hard-working, and can only manage two coal mines in the south and the north, which looks a bit shabby. Fortunately, the reserves of Chengji Coal Mine are very large. Even after three hundred years, it is still a world-class coal mine. Although the coal quality is not good, the combustion calorific value is low, the ash content is large, and the sulfur content is high, is it coal? Although the Navy does not look down on it, and the somewhat picky industrial departments do not look down on it, but there is no big problem in heating, cooking and boiling boilers. Therefore, after several expansions of production scale, the total profit of Chengji Coal Mine steadily increased, occupying the largest share in the domestic commercial coal market, which has led to the increase in funds on hand in the coal department. It can have money to build various coal storage bases in China, explore on a large scale within the country, and start further overseas expansion.

In the latter case, the Ministry of Coal is currently investing in the east coast of South Africa. Not only do they invest in the construction of large open-pit coal storage bases, coal washing plants, and honeycomb coal plants in the Yiyang Bay area, they are also actively recruiting personnel, exploration areas, and bidding for mining rights. Considering that the coal mining industry now needs a license to enter, and private investors must form a consortium to have the strength to operate coal mines, the Ministry of Coal’s competitor in South Africa is just Yicheng Steel Plant. This company has signed a long-term supply agreement with the local energy company Chenggao Coal Mine, so it is not very interested in the remaining coal mines in South Africa, so the Ministry of Coal has almost no competitors in South Africa. As long as the funds are in place, it is only a matter of time to sweep the large coal storage belts on the east coast, and the future prospects are really unlimited.

Of course, the above plans are all future events.

As for the moment, because of the large amount of money spent in China and the government has taken away a lot of profits to fill the holes in water conservancy construction in Hejian area, the Ministry of Coal has not had much energy to invest overseas. All they can do is to eat up the discovered coal mines and then hope that the Ministry of Transport will improve the road infrastructure on the east coast of South Africa as soon as possible so that they can transport coal to Yiyang Port to sea more cheaply. That's all - everything must be done slowly!

Louis Almeida got off the bus accompanied by the East Coast people and wandered around the train station. The sky was a little gray. I don’t know if it was because of the cloudy day or because of the high pollution of coal powder here, maybe it was both.

The ground near the train station, except for a few places paved with stone slabs, is mostly cinder roads, which is also the norm for cities near the East Coast Railway. Both sides of the cinder road are filled with carriages of large and small, including carriages and people, but it seems that most of them are recruiting people. Louis observed that from time to time, travelers wearing leather hats came over and bargained, and then got on the carriage. After the people on a carriage were almost full, the coachman raised his whip and shouted to leave.

"A very vibrant town." Louis nodded and said to the East Coast diplomat who accompanied him: "I have lived in Bahia and Pernambuco for a while before. There are also very prosperous towns there, but to be honest, they are not as good as here. There is a smell here that I can't say. Well, the city is cleaner, people are more energetic and faster, probably that's all. I don't know what magic you used, but it should work. At least everyone has been mobilized and full of hope."

"This is a magic called money," Zheng Dexiang said with a smile. "Silver coins travel from one city to another bring goods, thriving the market, driving everyone to work hard for what they want. This magic used to be popular in United Provinces for a while, and earlier Lisbon must have been very popular."

"It's a pity that Lisbon does not have enough money inflows. From the king to the common people, everyone is eager for money. To be honest, the series of gold mines that your country has taken place in the San Francisco River basin greatly shocked the capital market of Lisbon. I don't know how many people regretted losing this land easily, because in their opinion, these gold could have entered their pockets and contributed to the construction of Lisbon, but now all this is gone." Luis Almeida said in a self-deprecating tone: "The Duke of Melloir, who has lost power, has been found by many people, and people have accused him of easily ceding this large piece of land for you. The poor Duke has no argument, what can he say? He is now just an old nobleman, and is jealous of the king, and he can't say anything."

"Dear friend, I think you shouldn't always stare at gold. To be honest, our country mines these things only as strategic reserves. They are of great use, but they are not as great as you imagined. Although our country is chasing money, this is just a process, but not a result. It seems difficult for outsiders to understand this." Zheng Dexiang said.

In fact, he did not intend to explain the economic principles and other factors to Almeida, because it is difficult. In fact, even in the East Coast, which was established by industry, there are many people in China who are yelling that the government is short of money? Go and grab silver mines! Why do you have to work hard to do business, argue with others for the market? Go and dig gold mines!

Grab silver mines and mine gold mines, it sounds very simple, and can also quickly accumulate hard currency. But the question is, what do you do to pursue hard currency? The national policy of the East Coast is to develop industry, improve technical level, and continuously push productivity to higher levels. In this process, gold and silver are only necessary catalysts, and chasing profits is a process, a means, rather than the ultimate goal!

The East Coast Republic continues to explore the market overseas and sell domestic industrial finished products. In this process, the company obtains profits, and then due to competitive factors, it has to invest a lot of profits again into production management, technological improvements, theoretical innovations, and then produces more competitive goods, such a virtuous cycle.

This is also the main factor for East Coast people to continue to grab the market. Without a market, how can the company operate? Without user feedback, how do you know what aspects should be improved? Can these things be solved by stealing silver ore and digging gold? It is completely putting the cart before the horse!

The East Coast Government is now also mining gold mines in a planned manner. However, the gold mined every year has always been very cautious. It can be said that most of it is used to repay foreign debts and a small part is invested in the domestic market. Officials of the State Administration of Precious Metals understand that when the productivity level has not been improved, investing a large amount of money in the market cannot obtain enough goods and services. The effect is actually diminishing, and the benefits are not great in addition to causing inflation. The currency invested in the market every year must be commensurate with the population size, land area and economic development level, and it is not as much as you want. From this perspective, gold and silver mines are of course very important to the East Coast, but they are not so stupid as to dig and grab them at all costs.

"Luius, I probably understand your intention to mention gold mines. Sometimes I think you Portuguese have a very flexible head and can have many good ideas. Yes, we took away your gold mines, but so what? India is a larger, inexhaustible gold mine. Indians, like ants, can create huge amounts of wealth with their hands. As long as India is controlled, no gold mine can produce higher output than its output." Zheng Dexiang said with a smile: "India trade has always been important for you.

I think you should understand this truth too. But to be honest, sending troops to seize the fortresses that the Dutch have occupied is not a good idea, and it will only cause you to suffer greater losses. And you also know that if the Dutch Republic has ruled, has good relations with our country, and big contracts are signed one by one. In this case, no one is willing to offend the number one customer for your interests in India. The Cape Verde Islands are not worth our efforts, do you understand, Louis?"

"Of course we are not ignoring the interests of your country. In fact, we think that instead of wasting a lot of energy on the Dutch, we might as well invest our funds in more efficient places. You know, the Mughal dynasty is now in a storm, and local rebellions and wildfires are spreading everywhere. The rebels with hatred, ambitious generals, and foreign forces taking advantage of the waters have messed up the originally peaceful situation of the country." Before Louis could speak, Zheng Dexiang immediately said: "We have been operating in Diu for some years. Your country has a deep foundation in Daman and Goa. So why don't we expand further? The Indians don't have much energy to interfere in external affairs now. As long as we do not show obvious hostility, then we are safe. Aurangzeb has no reason to target us specifically, he is very busy."

"You mean... expanding the sphere of influence through trade?" Luis Almeida asked in confusion.

"That's right. As long as it is a legitimate trade act, it is to give Aurangzebu a face. In addition, he needs money and arms now, so we can easily get a trade permit, and then we can take the opportunity to build commercial stations, fortresses, and expand our power step by step. I don't need to teach you this, you look more skilled." Zheng Dexiang teased: "The rebellion in India will not end in a short time. Aurangzebu will be trapped in this quagmire for a long time and will be exhausted. That's our opportunity. Think about it, the vast territory, the numerous people, and the countless wealth, what are you waiting for? My friend."

"So, what kind of help can your country provide if we agree to expand in the northwest of India?" asked Luis Almeida. These are questions that must be clarified, otherwise he would not be able to make a statement to King Pedro when he returned.

"Naval assistance ensures that others will not disturb us." Zheng Dexiang said with his finger: "The assistance from the army, including providing army equipment and helping to train some army soldiers, is worth more than 100,000 yuan. Of course, there is also the last point, we can provide agency rights for some goods, your country can get goods from us at a preferential price and then sell them to the Indian subcontinent. Speaking of which, these three points are very sincere, more real money than real money. How about it? Louis, if you miss this village, you will not have this store! The little money you purchase from the Portuguese Cape Verde Islands is worth mentioning compared to the huge interests of India. And this is actually a rare opportunity for our government to give you care in terms of the traditional friendship between the East and Portugal."

Louis listened silently, without saying a word. The conditions offered by the East Coast people do sound pretty good and very attractive, but the question is whether there are any traps in it? The East Coast people have never been able to get up early because of the generous purchase of the Cape Verde Islands. It always makes people feel a little suspicious. Did they do anything wrong with Brazil that I am sorry for us?
Chapter completed!