"Commissioner Xiao, the regional policy shift is very stressful, right?" On December 15, 1692, in the office of the Yicheng County Regional Administration, Zhu Minghao, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asked with a smile.

Zhu Minghao is the upcoming ambassador of the East Coast to Persia. He is from a diplomatic family and is proficient in multiple languages. He is a newly emerging outstanding talent within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is even under thirty years old. This time, the Persian Safavi Dynasty officially established diplomatic relations with the East Coast Republic and sent ambassadors to each other. Zhu was appointed by Foreign Minister Gao Wengang to take office in Isfahan and serve as the ambassador to Persia. This is an important experience.

From Dongfang Port to Persia, it is naturally necessary to pass South Africa. Zhu Minghao, who was on the naval frigate, took advantage of the time when the ship was docking and repairing, went ashore to visit his father's close friend, Commissioner Xiao Jingzong and Xiao, and presented him with gifts from his hometown, which made Xiao very happy for a while.

Today, in Xiao Jingzong's office, the two sides also had a chat. Commissioner Xiao wanted to learn some formal or rumor from Zhu Minghao, and Zhu Minghao also wanted to learn some things about the Indian Ocean trade and the Persian Kingdom from the old generation.

"Who said no? The policy changes as soon as possible, leaving no room for buffering for us. The cadres in the whole region are very distressed. Many of the previous investments have been wasted or cannot be used for the time being. Alas." Because the two families have a good family, Xiao Jingzong spoke casually in front of Zhu Minghao. He only heard him say: "I won't talk about anything else. The region makes great efforts to build reservoirs, roads, inns, outposts, farms, markets, hotels, shops and other infrastructure in the mountains on the west side will probably not be able to effectively perform due to the lack of sufficient pioneering population and customers."

"Aren't there many gold diggers? Are their consumption power not strong?" Zhu Minghao said in confusion.

"You can't expect gold hunters to farm. They are all used to wildness and lawlessness, not high-quality pioneers. They basically only have consumption, so don't expect anything else." Xiao Jingzong lit a cigarette, looked at Zhu Minghao, and said, "Now most of the pioneer population will turn to the north to resettle. This is a principle set by the State Council, and we cannot disobey. It's a pity that the whole region has worked hard for so many years, and finally let the superior agree to detain more immigrants passing by the Far East. He was about to show his strength, but the policy changed and all had to fill the line along the marching railway."

Zhu Minghao nodded silently when he heard this. But he felt that the Yicheng Regional Administration would not lose much, after all, the local government invested in building railways for them. Many examples from local and overseas colonies prove that the railway may be a financial burden when the population is not dense enough in the early stage. However, if the population on both sides increases and the economy slowly develops, its value will be infinitely increased and will contribute a large amount of income to the finances - this is not only the profit of the railway itself, but also the tax revenue after the accelerated development of the local economy. Therefore, in the long run, the marching railway is a gift from the Executive Committee to the vast number of people in the Yicheng region. There is no doubt about this. I believe that Xiao Jingzong is also very clear in his heart.

"And what is most unacceptable is that the annual financial allocation of one million yuan promised by the Ministry of Finance is simply empty talk! I have asked my Finance Director. The Ministry of Finance sent more than 500,000 yuan in cash in four batches through the East Coast Agricultural Bank, and also asked the East African Transportation Company to bring a batch of grain, textiles and labor tools, with a total value of only tens of thousands of yuan. In other words, the Ministry of Finance only sent us 600,000 yuan in 1692, which was 40% less than the original promise. This is simply outrageous!" Xiao Jingzong said with some dissatisfaction.

In fact, the main reason why Xiao Jingzong was so angry was that he originally wanted to embezzle part of the funds from it for local construction. Now the Yicheng Railway has been opened, the Yicheng Iron Factory has started construction, and the Yicheng Port has just been expanded, but the largest state-owned enterprises in these three regions (Yicheng Coal Mine has good coal quality and now the controlling rights have been taken away by the Ministry of Coal) still need to continue to invest funds to maintain operations. However, the region's finances are tight, so we can only find ways to do this special fund.

Xiao Jingzong knew very well that there are more than 30,000 immigrants of various types living near Guanghui City. There are about 20,000 people living in Yicheng and Chenggao counties. The total of 50,000 or 60,000 people actually cost less than 1.5 million a year (including the part that Yicheng and New China Island need to bear). Even if the battle needs and the redemption of land and property costs can be spent a million yuan a year, it will give the regional administration a great space for operation. But who would have thought that the bureaucrats of the local finance ministry

We were so shameless that we only sent 600,000 yuan to come! The Hezhong area sent 85,000 yuan in grain, which was only more than half of the specified amount. New China Island is relatively wealthy and honest, but they only sent 150,000 yuan in cash and 60,000 yuan in grain, wood, building materials, and even they took some spices, sugar and coffee to pay the bill. This is a fucking useless! The Indians and the Eight Banners of the Island were so luxurious that they needed to enjoy a lot of spices to cook food?

If we calculate this, in three aspects, we only sent about 900,000 yuan of money to the account of the Yicheng Regional Administration. It is enough, but there is really not a few money left to do anything else. After all, the thousands of newcomers this year are penniless, and many of them are in poor health. They have to supplement their nutrition and treat their diseases, which is actually a lot of money.

The only benefit is that the 100,000 yuan spent by the Yicheng Regional Administration seems to be able to save money for it. The urban water supply and drainage facilities in Yicheng Port are a bit old, and a new water supply plant and a sewage treatment plant are also built. It was originally scheduled to be renovated this year and next year, with a budget of 200,000 yuan. As a result, a new order was raised. Lin Chaoen, the county magistrate of Yicheng and deputy commissioner of the Regional Administration, was so angry that they cursed. Fortunately, they were lucky. They saved 100,000 yuan this year and are expected to save 100,000 yuan next year. This money will be released. It's great!

"Uncle Xiao, the orders from the superior cannot be violated, we can only find a way slowly. Moreover, now is the critical moment-" At this point, Zhu Minghao wisely did not continue, but he believed that Xiao Jingzong understood what he meant.

Of course, Xiao Jingzong understood what he meant! He had been working as a commissioner of the Yicheng Regional Administrative Office for many years, but he had never had the opportunity to go further. The main reason was that there were too few "carrot pits", that is, there were too few positions for senior officials, which was not enough for them to be promoted by department-level cadres, which was a pity.

Xiao Jingzong has been active in recent years and once had the opportunity to return to the local ministry to serve. Especially last year, the position of director of the newly established Public Assets Management Committee was already waving to him. It was also a real-power ministerial position, but Xiao Jingzong actually gave up and wanted to serve as the top leader in overseas colonies.

Many local people regret Xiao Jingzong's choice because it is a position of high status and power, and many people are eager for it. He actually gave up giving it to others, which is surprising. However, some people think that Xiao Jingzong is more ambitious and wants to climb to a higher level than high-ranking officials. After all, being the director of the Public Assets Management Committee means that the possibility of him entering the Executive Committee is greatly reduced. With the current political traditions on the East Coast, if you do not have the administrative history of overseas colonies, it is difficult to become one of the nine members of the Executive Committee, unless you are a professional official in the diplomatic, judicial or financial fields, but Xiao Jingzong is obviously not.

Therefore, he could only follow the traditional route honestly, first go to the overseas colony as the top leader, and spend at least one five-year term, and then look at opportunities and luck to see if he can go back to the local area and advance to the Executive Committee, and become one of the nine top-notch bosses. There is no other way.

Xiao Jingzong has basically decided to go to the Far East or the Pacific region to serve, which has cost their family a lot of political resources. Therefore, at this critical moment, even if he is unwilling to do so, he has to implement any local policies without fail. Otherwise, if he makes a big boss unhappy, his transfer will probably be ruined.

"I won't talk about this anymore." Xiao Jingzong waved his hand after hearing this and said, "Tell me about your appointment in Persia. How about it? Do you have any idea in your heart? Is there anything you need help?"

"I also studied the Persian Safavi dynasty for a little while and felt that this country is currently at a delicate crossroads, a bit like the flowers and brocades of the Northern Song Dynasty in my country, and the sturdy fire cooking oil has gone from prosperity to decline. Various domestic contradictions emerge one after another, but the bureaucratic class is very corrupt and incompetent. The vested interests are unwilling to give up their own benefits, and are even willing to fight against the royal power. To be honest, this country is a bit dangerous, but it has not yet reached an irreversible level. In short, it depends on the operations of their ruling class later." Zhu Minghao said: "Of course our country has no intention of interfering in their internal affairs at present. After I take office, I will strictly follow the instructions of the ministry, establish a good relationship with the upper Persian level, increase the trade between the two countries, and crack down on other countries or companies that covet Persian trade. In addition, the Navy proposed that the Bahrain Island has also been approved, and I will also focus on it."

"Balin Island? Are you sure? If you can succeed, it will be a great achievement." Xiao Jingzong asked with a look of movement.

"It's still possible." Zhu Minghao replied in a deep voice: "Strictly speaking, Balin Island is not actually the land of the Persian Kingdom. They just sent troops to the island in their early years and asked the locals on the island to surrender. Fortunately, they did not compete with them for this island, so they have been ruled in a confused manner for so many years. In fact, this island is not very useful to them, and they don't care much. If we can give them conditions that will make them excited, they can control it through diplomatic or commercial means, which is not difficult."

"It's good that you have this confidence. The Persians are not people who are not in the world. They have a large number of hostile forces in Central Asia, and they have a bad relationship with the Ottoman Empire in the west and have poor relations in India. Even the Kalmyks and Cossacks in the north will plunder this country from time to time. These are known from Persian merchants who come to trade in Xinhuaxia Island, and they should not be wrong in general. So, as long as you think of a good idea, this problem is indeed not difficult to solve." Xiao Jingzong said with a smile: "And after you achieve your achievements as Persian ambassador, you will probably be able to get into the eyes of some big shots. At this time, if you do more activities and transfer to Europe, the future upward space will be opened. Work hard, Xiao Zhu, I'm optimistic about you, really."

"Okay, when you go to Persia to serve, I have to worry about the things in front of me. Tens of thousands of Indians, Mestiso people, and the resettlement of the Eight Banners of the Islands, went north to make me feel overwhelmed. In addition, the shortage of immigration is also a headache. Oh, why bother?" Xiao Jingzong extinguished the cigarette butts and said distressedly. After saying that, he seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, Xiao Zhu, do you know some merchants who specialize in population trade? I need it here. As long as the price is not too outrageous, I can still squeeze out some of them. How about it, is there?"

"Uncle Xiao, I really know a few." Zhu Minghao laughed at the moment he heard this and said, "Wang Bingji, Zhang Yilan, I played polo with them several times when I was in the local area, and they are still well-known in this field. In addition, my childhood friend, Man Xiaofeng, who runs the Kurland business, has also begun to get involved in this area recently. He has five ships under his belt, all of which can be sailed from the ocean. Uncle Xiao, if you need it, I can introduce them to you."
Chapter completed!