bookrandom Chapter 426: The success lies in the present, the benefit lies in the autumn
Chapter 426: The success lies in the present, the benefit lies in the autumn
Zhang Chi looked up at Wu Qi, but instead of saying anything, he chuckled and almost spit out the tea at the corner of his mouth.
After laughing for a while, he put down the enamel teacup and patted the table: "You kid, you still don't understand human nature."
"I really don't understand." Xiao Qi frowned, "Look at this Natuna Islands, this is the first time I've heard of it, I thought it was a newly made name.
But you let the host of the radio station I manage read out scripts all day long, saying things like 'since ancient times', 'our ancestors opened up new territories', and 'fishermen have been traveling here and there since ancient times', isn't that just... " He said, making faces with a wink.
Zhang Chi looked at Xiao Qi, who seemed to have grown a lot taller, and thought about how this kid was just a little kid when he first joined the 66th Regiment. He felt very emotional for a moment.
Now, the young man named Wu Qi is almost as tall as Zhang Chi. Although his voice has not completely lost its childishness, it already reveals a youthful steadiness.
"Do you think this is coaxing a child?" He raised an eyebrow, but his tone was not accusatory. "This matter requires a fusion of emotion and reason. You can't explain the reason, but you can't cut off the emotion."
In Zhang Chi's view, regional prejudice is very common now and in the future.
He stood up and walked to the map, pointing to a large area of sea west of Luzon Island, east of Annan, and north of Singapore (pictured), and said:
"This place may look far away, but it's been recorded in ancient books for a long time. The Song Dynasty's "Records of Foreign Countries" mentions nearby islands and reefs. During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He sailed to the West, replenishing supplies and stopping along the way. How could those ships dock there out of thin air? Aren't they just sheds and docks built by our fishermen and merchants?"
Zhang Chi's tone changed and became serious:
"Think about it again. Those immigrants from China and former Nationalist veterans are not so bad. They joined the army just to get paid and to fight against the Japanese for revenge.
But how many of our An Min Army members are from Singapore, Malacca, and Pegu? How many are local guerrillas recruited from the local community?
Because the conditions in Nanyang are generally good, they are all educated and have high quality.
These people joined the army to drive out the Japanese who oppressed them and invaded their homeland. Now that they have followed us through thick and thin, and the Japanese have been mostly driven out and their land has been recovered, they are naturally relieved.
He paused and continued:
"But the battle isn't over yet. There's still Borneo and Sumatra, and the Natuna Islands are crucial. If we want these soldiers to continue to shed blood and sweat, we have to give them a 'reason'."
The purpose of this propaganda is not to deceive them, but to remind them that these places do not belong to others but were built and cultivated by our ancestors.
Xiao Qi lowered his head and remained silent. After a while, he spoke: "I understand. We need to give them a reason to continue fighting. Especially those who feel that their homes have been recaptured."
"That's right." Zhang Chi smiled, with a hint of relief in his eyes, "And you are the person I chose to get this done."
"Me?" Xiao Qi was stunned and pointed at the tip of his nose, "But I..."
"You and I are close," Zhang Chi interrupted directly. "You know what I want and how to execute it. I don't need you to go to the printing house to supervise the typesetting, nor do I need you to go to the radio station to learn the broadcasting style. I just want you to grasp the general direction and stabilize the situation."
"But I'm so young and don't have much practical experience..." Xiao Qi still felt a little guilty and touched his lips which had no beard yet and were just covered with some hair.
"Don't underestimate yourself. You've been doing well lately. And you're loyal," Zhang Chi said word by word. "The South China Morning Post and the radio station are now the mouthpieces of our Anmin Army. With you here, I can rest assured."
Besides, aren't those copycats, old intellectuals, and pedantic writers just looking for a safe position? If you give them clear directions and teach them a lesson when they don't obey, they'll be able to write well on their own."
As he spoke, Zhang Chi took out a folder from the drawer and spread it on the table:
"This will be the focus of our publicity efforts over the next few weeks, especially the articles on the Natuna Islands and Borneo. We should seek out more historians, veterans of the Nanyang Association, and established families with rich histories, dig through archives and old news stories, and uncover those stories of our ancestors crossing the sea to reclaim wasteland."
We should do some research with a purpose, and write it as 'since ancient times'. After all, this is a place built by the ancestors of the Chinese in Southeast Asia. We can't just hand this island over to those natives, right?
Xiao Qi took it and flipped through it, frowning. "This is too mixed. Some of the writing is quite mysterious, saying that a temple was built during the Ming Dynasty and that Mazu was worshipped..."
"Then write about it," Zhang Chi said with a smile. "How many of those who went to Southeast Asia in the past were originally from Fujian and Chaozhou? They believed in Mazu, and promoting this will make them feel attached. Isn't the point of this promotion to convince and gain everyone's approval?
Thinking about the 21st century before he traveled through time, when countless fellow villagers used visas to travel abroad that were issued by Mazu, Zhang Chi couldn't help but smile.
Today, the Natuna Islands are part of the Netherlands' East Sindhu Islands colony. The island has a small population, mostly of Chinese descent, who mainly make a living by fishing and a small amount of farming.
In the original history, after the Japanese surrendered in 45, the local natives of the East Sindhu Islands demanded independence and, by the way, inherited the Natuna Islands, which were basically deserted islands at that time.
However, this archipelago is not only large, but also rich in resources. The surrounding waters are not only rich in traditional fishery resources, but also teem with high-value marine fish such as tuna, grouper, and lobster.
Moreover, there are huge oil and gas resources within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, especially the Natuna gas field, which is one of the world's largest offshore natural gas fields with reserves of approximately 46 trillion cubic feet.
If all of it were mined, it would be enough for the 21st century Dragon Country (with a population of 14 billion and 430 million households) to use for six years.
Calculated based on the White Eagle banknotes before Zhang Chi traveled through time, it would be worth 1.84 trillion US dollars.
Such a huge wealth of natural resources is in the hands of the Anmin Army, and there are no Japanese troops stationed on the island. The White Eagle people and the John people have not set their sights on this deserted island, so it can be said to be within easy reach.
Zhang Chi clicked on the map again:
"The Japanese didn't deploy many troops there, nor did they consider it a priority. I guess they thought it was too far, too desolate, and too difficult to defend. But we are different. We are close. We control Singapore and the Strait of Malacca. If we take Natuna, we will have completely blocked the western route to Borneo."
Xiao Qi nodded: "Then I understand. I'll take care of this matter."
"Don't just focus on the newspapers and radio," Zhang Chi suddenly laughed. "Have the art troupe write some songs, preferably ones that are passed down orally. For example, 'Fishing boats sail thousands of miles across the South China Sea, our ancestors cast their nets to welcome the arrival of the Tunin',' or 'Three generations share the same boat, born on an island, our ancestral roots stretch deep five hundred years ago.' These kinds of phrases, paired with a Nanyang folk tune, will resonate with everyone."
After saying that, Zhang Chi waved his hand and said, "Just go ahead and do it. It just so happens that Chairman Huan Borong Huan recently gave me several cars. If you do a good job, I'll approve another one for you to drive."
"Really?" Xiao Qi said in surprise, "Then I'll leave now!"
Looking at Xiao Qi's back as he ran out of the door in a hurry, a complicated smile appeared on Zhang Chi's face.
The sea, there are countless resources buried beneath the surface. He is now relying on propaganda and orders to make everyone fight and bleed, but perhaps he cannot give them rewards commensurate with their sacrifices.
But this was a deed of great benefit to the present generation and future generations, so he had no choice but to do it. As for the evaluation, that would be left to future generations.