What is unexpected is that the dispute over the tobacco monopoly has triggered a dispute over the direction of economic policy among the northwest's top leaders, and the opposing parties are exactly two schoolmates and friends of the newly promoted Director of Finance and Director of Economic Development. This is also Lu's best friend. Man and Mu Haoran did not expect it.
Xiao Tang, the administrative director, has remained silent on his views on this issue. In his view, James's ideas are too conservative, while Yang Zhengbin's views are too radical. He is more inclined to adopt a golden mean. Currently, the tobacco monopoly system is not implemented in the tobacco production and processing area of Northern Luzon, but in the remaining tobacco consumption areas controlled by the northwest, tobacco monopoly can be implemented. After all, the implementation of tobacco monopoly can gain Relatively stable and sufficient fiscal and taxation, and operating tobacco trade is originally a highly profitable industry. However, given that there is indeed a large amount of wasteland in southern North Luzon, more funds need to be invested in this industry. The implementation of tobacco monopoly will undoubtedly make The investment enthusiasm of small and medium-sized investors has been dampened, and Xiao Tang also believes that the businessmen who entered early have already occupied considerable advantages. If the tobacco monopoly is implemented, it will undoubtedly make those tobacco plantation owners and processors more powerful. There may even be a monopoly situation like Yang Zhengbin said, which is something Northwest does not want to see.
But the concerns raised by James also exist. Allowing tobacco, an industry with huge profit margins, to develop on its own may also lead to the emergence of a disordered state. It is also necessary to constrain it within a reasonable range. Therefore, after consultations between several parties, After accepting the reasonable factors of James and Yang Zhengbin, Northwest finally decided to adopt Xiao Tang's suggestion and temporarily not adopt a tobacco monopoly in Northern Luzon, but the time limit was one year. After one year, if the two If the government feels that the conditions are ripe for implementing a tobacco monopoly, it will apply to the Northwest Administrative Office for approval before implementing it. Other regions in the northwest will implement tobacco monopoly starting from June. Businessmen who need to engage in tobacco trading must obtain a tobacco monopoly franchise. Of course, this must be paid A considerable amount of licensing fees, while adopting supportive policies to encourage the export of Northern Luzon tobacco to regions and countries outside the northwest.
Long before the meeting, workshop owners and businessmen from the two provinces of Northern Luzon sent representatives to request to attend the meeting in the name of the Chamber of Commerce. In their view, this economic meeting will determine the economic development of the northwest in the future. The direction of development policy is even more important than any business they do. Their request surprised the Northwest Administrative Office. This was the first time that Xiao Tang had attended a government meeting and sat in on it. After not consulting with a group of colleagues and asking for the consent of Wu Feng, who was inspecting Tianshui, Zhengyuan finally agreed. Influenced by the merchants of the two northern Luzon provinces, the merchants of the six northwest provinces and the Western Region Alliance countries all followed suit. , and businessmen from Lulong, Xikang, and Longdong were even more eager to learn about the daily operations of the northwest administrative agencies and northwest economic policies from this meeting. In the end, Xiao Tang had to make mandatory provisions, and every prefecture (country) chamber of commerce sent a party to participate. No more than five representatives may observe the meeting.
While the preparations for the meeting were in full swing, Wu Feng took the time to inspect Longdong and Tianshui from Qingyang via Bonan on a half-vacation and half-inspection basis. At the same time, he inspected the preparations of the Northwest First Army already stationed in Tianshui and Longdong. Condition.
"Chongxin, the situation is unexpected. I originally wanted the forces in the Central Plains to restrain each other and win a period of rest, but it seems that the situation may not change as we imagined." Wu Feng walked on the rugged road with his hands behind his back. On the mountain road, there is a green landscape in front of you. Surrounded by mountains, there is a huge flat dam with strange peaks protruding and standing on thousands of walls. The high and mysterious valleys bring cool breezes, pine waves, and gurgling streams along the winding ravines. Flowing down, the silver beads splashed, turning into beautiful rainbow shadows in the sunlight. A deep green pool was at the bottom of the ravine, as calm as the mirror surface, causing ripples when the breeze passed by.
"Your Excellency, are you worried that the Kaman people will take the opportunity to go south?" Liang Chongxin followed closely behind Wu Feng and continued. His strong body looked particularly thick, and his deep eyes that had weathered the weather were even more shining.
"Well, it's hard to say. Now that the Sisluo people have the Motte and Baiin people behind them, I don't think they will act rashly. The defense line from Yinchuan Fucheng to Ganlan Fortress is already quite solid. Even if the Sisluo people want to make a move, What a name, the lack of independent generals makes them need to think twice before taking action. I think Yinchuan will be able to hold on for more than half a month even if they face heavy troops from the Heathrow people." Wu Feng replied lightly, with a look of joy on his face. With a smile on his face, he felt particularly relaxed when he saw his beloved women taking off their shoes and socks to play in the water.
"But the Kaman people are a little different. They have the advantage of the Jiayuguan natural barrier and can drive south anytime and anywhere. Our Taixuan and Yinchuan and the vast eastern area of Nanjie Locke are all under their threat, and they have now occupied Beijie The residents of Locke's Jiama and Fanlin areas have a tradition of intermarriage with the residents of the southern border area of Kaman. In the past two years, the Kaman people have adopted the policy of Huaihe and ethnic assimilation, and have achieved certain results. , according to the intelligence department, many influential people in these two places have already fallen into the arms of the Kaman people. It is estimated that this phenomenon will become more and more obvious as time goes by. Without Jiama and Fanlin With the resistance and containment of the people in both places, I am afraid that Southern Jerok will face greater pressure, and the Kaman people will never be willing to just take Northern Jerok. The last time it was just a trick for us, and next time we may be We won't have such good luck." Wu Feng sighed slightly. The enemies he faced in the northwest were too powerful. Not to mention the restraints of other forces nearby, just one Kaman was enough to give him a headache.
"Hey, since you want to marry the daughter of Grand Duke Allen, how can you not pay a price? Sir, you have to think about it. Grand Duke Allen only has one daughter, Princess Anne. After a hundred years, there will be no adults in this huge land of Jeroke. Do you inherit?" Before Liang Chongxin could answer, the man following Liang Chongxin smiled and took over the conversation, "The Kaman people can achieve Huairou assimilation, and they can assimilate back as long as we recapture Beijerok. Presumably, this Grand Duke family will rule the Czech Republic. Is Locke’s hundreds of years of history not worth the efforts of the Kaman people for several years?”
Glancing at the man who was joking in his words, Wu Feng snorted: "Shalang, you are a little too loud. How can you recover Beijerok? Can you come up with a plan for me to see? I am very knowledgeable. Interested."
The words choked Shalang and he scratched his scalp in embarrassment. He was speechless for a long time. Another man next to him quickly answered: "Sir, although this Kaman people are powerful, they are not invulnerable. The upper class in their country are not the same." Intrigue? In the last battle, I think the emperor was also a little uneasy about Gomez. If he can make good use of it, maybe he can also achieve miraculous results. Don't you often say that the decisive battle between the good warriors and outside the battlefield, in the temple Above?"
Looking at the capable man who helped Shalang save the situation with a half-smile, Wufeng aimed at Liang Chongxin: "Chongxin, it seems that these guys have learned to be smooth-tongued after you, and they speak like a lotus. It’s a set. The first legion is worthy of being the first legion, and it’s not easy to even talk the talk."
"Sir, you are wrong to blame me. He has always been like this. This is not the first time you have seen his eloquence. You should be proud of having such high-quality subordinates." Liang Chongxin replied with a smile, The friendship between these two people is a result of hard work. Although Liang Chongxin has been promoted to the commander of the army, his private relationship is still very good.
Wu Feng snorted and said nothing more, but focused on the women playing by the pool. In the past few years in the northwest, it was rare for him to have time to spend time with the women around him to relax and have a vacation. , this time there was nothing particularly important during the inspection of Longdong and Tianshui. Wu Feng simply offered to ask the women around him to follow him. This news made the Hua Guan girls so excited that they fell asleep on the first day of the trip. Didn't even sleep well.
Seeing a few women playing leisurely by the water, Wu Feng even complained about why it wasn't hot anymore. Maybe he could bathe with these beloved women and enjoy the pleasure that nature brings to him. .
"It's really a paradise. If I could stay here and live leisurely for the rest of my life, without having to worry about other worries, it would be so pleasant." Wu Feng praised with some emotion, but several of his subordinates around him Hearing this, he was startled.
"Sir, in fact, this kind of life cannot exist. It is impossible for people to live in this world without worries. You see, the people living in this mountain may live the kind of life you mentioned, but they also need Just as you worry about trivial matters such as firewood, rice, oil, and salt, you will still be busy with getting married and having children, and you will still be busy working for your family's livelihood. A truly carefree life can only exist in people's fantasies." Liang Chongxin, standing behind Wu Feng, answered calmly.
He turned around and looked at Liang Chongxin with some surprise. Wufeng nodded: "Chongxin, I don't think you can say such philosophical words. Yes, in the eyes of outsiders, maybe we are the most beautiful people now." Infinite, we have the power of life and death, but who knows the countless hardships hidden behind us?"
Shaking his head, Wu Feng smiled bitterly, shrugged and said, "Maybe some people will say that we are being coy. Maybe only people in the industry can really understand our feelings. Forget it, let's not say these things that are disappointing. It’s over.”