Chapter 684: Witness of the Times (Fourth update, please subscribe)
Not everyone has the opportunity to naturalize and become a Ming citizen.
The immigration principle of the Ming Dynasty was very simple. In addition to the Chinese who could be naturalized directly, other ethnic groups, that is, women, could be naturalized through marriage. In addition, talents from various industries were welcomed by the Ming Dynasty. After all, the development of the Ming Dynasty was inseparable from the input of foreign intelligence. In fact, until 1874, more than 70% of the professors in the higher education institutions of the Ming Dynasty were foreigners. Foreigners or naturalized people were also common in various industries. Some of them were engineers, some were technical experts, and some were managers.
Li Bai, if you only look at the name, he must be Chinese, but what is the truth? He is Bavarian. Fourteen years ago, when he was still called William Hansen, he was hired by Lady Elizabeth in Buenos Aires. Then he came to Nanhua, which was just a wasteland at that time.
And now?
This is already the most prosperous city in the Southern Hemisphere.
Early in the morning, as usual, while having breakfast and reading the newspaper, Li Bai heard his son say to him.
"Dad, the school notified me yesterday that I have to go to the base for training for half a month. When that time comes, I won't be back."
Li Mu was eating breakfast while talking. Although he spoke fluent Chinese, he had blond hair like his father. He was already seventeen years old and basically grew up in Nanhua.
If you don't look at his appearance, no one would think he is of European descent.
"Well, remember to be safe when training at the base."
The curriculum arrangement for middle school students in the Ming Dynasty was different from that in other countries. They had to undergo half a month of military training every semester. As an old Nanhua native, Li Bai knew very well that the Ming Dynasty was training middle school students in the same way as cultivating grassroots officers. This was a custom inherited from Nanhua and had not changed until now.
"I know, Dad. It's not the first time we go to the base. It's just a simple training."
After giving his son a few simple instructions and having breakfast, Li Bai went to the company in his chauffeured "Qianlima" car as usual.
Around nine o'clock in the morning, Li Bai arrived at his office on the top floor of the Northern Mining Company, and his secretary Zhao Guoshu followed him in.
"What's the current situation at the mine in the north?"
When Li Bai took off his coat and hung it in the closet attached to the wall, he asked. Zhao Guoshu flicked the notebook he took out of his pocket, opened it, and told him that he had just received a telegram.
"Deputy Manager, the output of Beihai Coal Mine exceeded 700,000 tons last month, and it is expected that the output this year will exceed 8 million tons. There will definitely be no problem."
"Um,"
Nodding, Li Bai continued.
"The coal mines in the North Sea are very important to the Empire. They are related to the safety of the Empire's fuel supply. The output must be guaranteed. It must be very cold in the North Sea now!"
"Yes, it snowed at the end of last month, and now the temperature has dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius. Although it has a certain impact on the production of the open-pit mine, as in the past, the working hours have been extended there, and the output can still be guaranteed."
The northern territories of the Ming Dynasty also implemented the same labor laws as the Ming Dynasty. However, the labor laws only apply to the people of the Ming Dynasty. Those "contract workers" are certainly not protected by the labor laws of the Ming Dynasty. After all, they are all from the colonies. The laws of the country should give priority to protecting its own citizens. Otherwise, how can they give priority to protecting foreigners?
"Um,"
Li Bai nodded without any expression. The mines in the Beihai Governor's District were different from other places. A large number of foreign workers were employed there. Working overtime and overtime were of course the most normal things.
"How is the progress of the Moyuhe Coal Mine?"
The Moyuhe Coal Mine is a newly-commissioned coal mine of the company, with an annual output of 2 million tons of coking coal. For Daming, which is making every effort to promote the development of the steel industry, the importance of the coal mine is self-evident.
"I was just about to report this to you. The coal mine called and asked the company to send at least 100 more technicians, and specifically asked for 10 steam shovel operators."
What does the Ming Dynasty’s northern territory lack most?
It's still people! Not only is there a shortage of ordinary labor, but there is also a shortage of technical personnel.
"I understand. Coordinate with the school and send people there as soon as possible. The coal from Moyu River is high-quality coal suitable for coking. The domestic demand is huge!"
After thinking about it, Li Bai said.
"If the students don't want to go, we can increase their salary. Although Beihai is not as prosperous as Nanhua, they will definitely be willing to go as long as the salary is in place. We can also entrust employment agencies to recruit some employees. Beihai is no longer the Beihai of the past. Nanhua was just a beach with nothing back then. People need to have foresight!"
People need to have foresight!
For Li Bai, he is still glad for his original choice. If he had not made the right choice, how could he have become the deputy manager of a mining company?
Even when he was in the office, looking out the window at the bustling city, Li Bai felt as if he was in a dream.
Just a dozen years later, this place has become the largest and most prosperous city in the Southern Hemisphere. And he is a witness to all of this.
…
In fact, there were many witnesses in Nanhua, and Zhao Qihang was one of them, but in his memory, it was more about the school.
He was an orphan, his parents died in the war. In 1861, when he was 5 years old, he was sent on a ship by the Taiping Army like other people, and then arrived at Nanhua. All his inner fears were quickly eliminated after arriving in Nanhua.
In Nanhua, he entered a military school with other orphans. They studied and lived in the school. For the next ten years, the school was his home and his classmates were his brothers and sisters.
Early in the morning, standing in front of the school gate, Zhao Qihang was a little hesitant. He wanted to go home again before leaving.
"Why? If you want to go, just go in and take a look. After all, this is our home."
As Wang Feng spoke, he took a cigarette out of the box and handed one to Zhao Qihang. He looked at the inconspicuous gate of the school and said.
"I……"
Zhao Qihang said somewhat embarrassedly.
"I have accomplished nothing since I graduated from high school. Not to mention college, I even took the entrance exam to a technical college three times. I don't know what to say when I meet them..."
Even when he said this, he felt a little embarrassed.
"So? You have to be successful before you can go home?"
Wang Feng smiled at his brother who was two years younger than him.
"No matter what, this is our home. No matter whether they are successful or not, well, they are all... His Majesty's children."
Yes, they are all Your Majesty's children. This school for raising orphans was founded by Your Majesty himself. His Majesty is still the principal, and the Queen also goes to school every month. Your Majesty and the Queen are their parents.
"You can't say that we changed our identities just because we didn't study well."
"Yes, our identities cannot be changed. We are all His Majesty's children. Everyone in Ming Dynasty knows that the children of the Military Academy are the best. But what about me?"
The children who graduated from the Ming Military Academy have achieved quite good results in various industries. After all, this school is the first modern school in the Ming Dynasty. More than half of the children who graduated from here were admitted to universities and colleges, and naturally played their roles in various industries.
Even in the Ming Dynasty, there is a saying that "all military personnel are talented." Of course, not everyone is like this, at least Zhao Qihang thinks he is a failure.
This is also the reason why he stood in front of his house, hesitating.
"All the military officers are talented, but I... am not!"
Shaking his head, Zhao Qihang said as if he had made a great decision.
"I won't go to school today, Third Brother. When I come back next time, we'll go see Aunt Li and the others together. I've already found a job in the Northern Territory. Although it's a bit far, the salary is not low, and there's also a job."
After saying that, he waved at Wang Feng, and walked towards the tram that had just arrived with his luggage without hesitation. When he was about to get on the train, Wang Feng jumped on as well.
"Let's go. I'll take you there."
After getting in the car, the two of them just sat there, looking out the window in silence, looking at the bustling crowds of people rushing to their respective posts...
I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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