Chapter 1, The War of Resistance, Radar, and Financial Issues

The Chief of Staff of the Northwest Air Force, Ding Guo, stood before Dai Jiliang with a face full of shame. Although, thanks to the efforts of the anti-aircraft artillery and the Northwest Air Force, Xi'an had only suffered over 30 bomb attacks, with 12 buildings damaged to varying degrees, 17 people killed, and 22 injured, resulting in direct losses of just over 50,000 yuan, this was nonetheless the first time the Northwest homeland had been attacked by the enemy. Previously, he had confidently assured that he would never allow Japanese aircraft to succeed, and now being unable to fulfill that promise left him with no way to explain himself. 17 people were killed, 22 were injured, and direct losses amounted to just over 50,000 yuan, but this was indeed the first time the Northwest homeland had faced an enemy attack. He had previously sworn that he would never allow Japanese aircraft to succeed, and now failing to do so left him unable to account for it.

I will certainly make thorough adjustments to the operations of the air defense command posts across various regions, and I will not allow a single Japanese aircraft to fly over the Yellow River

However, on one hand, this sum of money has already been utilized according to his intentions to purchase war-related enterprises and stocks in the United States, in order to share in the dividends of World War II in the future. On the other hand, while this amount may seem substantial to an individual, if it were to be invested domestically, it would only amount to 2 billion taels of silver, which would not even be sufficient to cover the existing deficit in the northwest. Therefore, he had to seek alternative solutions to address this issue

"Jun Zuo, should there also be regulation on resources such as steel, petroleum, and rubber?"

Liu Shangqing furrowed his brows and looked at Dai Jiliang

Due to the occupation of provinces such as Hebei, Shandong, Chahar, and Shanxi, as well as regions like southern Jiangsu, southern Anhui, northern Zhejiang, and eastern Hubei, the export capacity of the Northwest has been significantly affected. Although these impacts can be alleviated in the short term due to the demands of our side and the Guizhou National Government, in the long run, this influence is deepening rather than diminishing

Dai Jiliang lifted the teacup and took a sip

If we do not wish to cause a larger scale of inflation, from a technical standpoint, the banks are already powerless.

I still remember the three-year drought, during which we also reached a point of utter despair. How did we manage to endure it?

At this point, Dai Jiliang further elaborates on this matter at https://www.hetushu.com

After losing several allied aircraft, the enemy finally retreated in fear. However, the retribution is not yet over. The Northwest aircraft that took off from Fuping, Dali, and Yuncheng have long been waiting on their return route, clearly indicating that they will have to pay the necessary price for today's brutality

Very good! However, we need to speed up. You should already be aware of the situation in Xi'an, right?

After thinking for half a day, Dai Jiliang finally spoke up

Despite having invested a substantial amount of funds several years earlier to collaborate with the Italian Marconi Laboratory on the practical research of air defense radar, Northwest has faced delays in completing the initial experiments due to insufficient research capabilities, low industrial processing standards, and Marconi's deliberate concealment and blockade of certain related technologies. As a result, it has only recently officially entered the construction phase, nearly three years later than the British Marconi Company, which established its first radar station as early as 1936. However, it is fortunate that a critical breakthrough has finally been achieved.

Since the outbreak of the War of Resistance more than a year ago, the Northwest has accumulated military expenditures exceeding 2.55 billion yuan. During the same period, expenditures for resettling refugees and relocating factories amounted to 410 million yuan. Additionally, there have been extra investments in railways such as the Baocheng, Pingxing, and Chengyu lines, investments in the Panzhihua iron mine and Chengdu Steel Plant, along with the usual administrative, educational, and military expenditures for the normal fiscal year. As of today, the Northwest has incurred a deficit exceeding 4.4 billion yuan

Moreover, you need to further enhance the operational capabilities of the Thousand-Mile Eye system, developing it towards larger scale, long-range, miniaturization, portability, and airborne applications

With their guidance and the dozens of rehearsals conducted beforehand, a significant portion of the city's residents were safely escorted into the air raid shelters before the enemy aircraft arrived

Dai Jiliang pondered the meaning of the vocabulary and nodded slightly

Liu Shangqing served as the Director of the Finance Department in Fengtian in 1913, and subsequently managed the General Bank of the Three Eastern Provinces for many years. He made significant contributions to solving the financial issues of the Fengtian clique, establishing himself as an expert in the financial sector. However, even such an expert finds himself at a loss in the face of the current severe economic situation

If these factories were to collapse, it would not only be a significant blow to the economy of the Northwest, but it would also impact the frontline military operations. Therefore, not only should they not be easily regulated, but even if regulation becomes absolutely necessary, you must widely consult the opinions of the industrial sector.

According to the route returned by the Japanese aircraft, the Fourth Air Force determined that the Japanese aircraft took off from Taiyuan, descended along the line of the Lüliang Mountains, and then entered Shaanxi Province through Xiangning and Jixian. By the time the air defense observation posts at the front lines in Yichuan and other areas detected them, it was already too late

Qian, he is not without it; Gu Changqing, who successfully implemented silver speculation, has at least nearly 1 billion US dollars.

The situation on Sima's side is also a painful scripture. Although the large-scale import of goods from abroad in the northwest has come to an end due to the complete severance of external supply lines, the impact of the reduction in income on the northwest's fiscal revenue is greater than the savings achieved from reduced expenditures.

Dai Jiliang listened to several reports while secretly calculating in his mind

At this moment, braving the shrapnel from the four directions, it is the firefighters of the rescue team who are at the forefront.

Dai Jiliang did not need to look at the report handed over by Ding Guo to know that, in fact, the Japanese army's bombing could be described as counterproductive.

Dai Jiliang is indicating.

Chen Guang is the Deputy Director of the Northwest Armament Bureau. The position of Director was initially held concurrently by Zhang Binnan, the Deputy Commander of the Northwest Army, who acted on behalf of the Commander. Later, it was taken over by Zhang Xueliang, the Deputy Commander of the Northwest National Defense Army and Vice Chairman of the Northwest National Defense Army Political Committee. However, everyone knows that the real power still lies in the hands of this old man, Ma, who has followed Dai Jiliang for over twenty years

Under the bombardment of the defending troops, a portion of the Japanese aircraft, in a state of panic, indiscriminately dropped their bombs and turned to flee, yet a part of the enemy planes still penetrated into the city center, dropping deadly bombs, and thus flames erupted.

Russia has agreed to sell a considerable quantity of scrap steel to us. As long as we endure these most challenging years, once the Panzhihua project is put into production, there will be no issues regarding steel. As for rubber

Good, very good! Money is not an issue; I will arrange for the military affairs bureau to specially approve this expense.

Unified sales and unified procurement

However, the result of shooting down six Japanese planes and damaging several others did not satisfy him. Nevertheless, this was not solely Ding Guo's responsibility. He then picked up the phone and said, "Connect me to Chen Guang."

The sound of the anti-aircraft artillery "thump, thump, thump" echoed, which was the clamor of the 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns positioned on the high ground within the urban area. This was followed by the roar of the 88mm German-made anti-aircraft artillery group, producing a series of "clang, clang, clang" sounds. Finally, the crisp sounds of the 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun and the 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun also rang out, enveloping the city in a haze of smoke and fire

This is unnecessary, as the Joint Logistics Command still has a large quantity of supplies procured from private factories

Yes, yes, the radar network on the western front must also be established as soon as possible

Is Chen Guang there

However, the country has now reached a critical moment of life and death, and economic issues must not become a burden on the war

Dai Jiliang responded in this manner

Of course, there are also a few individuals who harbor a sense of luck, believing that the dozens of warnings about the wolf have once again turned into a drill that is difficult to discern between reality and illusion

In order to address the deficit issue, since the outbreak of the war, the Northwest Bank has cumulatively issued approximately 1 billion yuan, and currently, the value of the Northwest currency has depreciated by about 55% compared to before the war

Chairman Liu, rest assured, the Northwest has experience in regulation, and the intention of the esteemed leader is not comprehensive control. Based on the experience during the three years of severe drought, it may not necessarily cause a serious impact on the market

The sharp sound of the alarm suddenly rang out on a sunny autumn day in October, causing the pedestrians in motion and the so-called office workers hiding in the buildings to momentarily freeze before surging forth like a tide.

The tram has already pulled over, and the auxiliary police officers wearing red armbands are directing traffic, sweating profusely.

This is approximately the meaning. I believe that the most important issue in today's finance is to avoid hyperinflation, allowing the majority of the people in the Northwest to survive in order to sustain a long-term resistance. Consequently, the regulation of essential living materials becomes imperative.

In addition to these brave firefighters, there are also nurses and doctors who have been incorporated into the battlefield emergency rescue team according to the three prevention plans of the Northwest National Defense Government. They arrive in haste, taking over the injured from the officers, either providing immediate assistance on the spot or rushing away with stretchers. At this moment, no one complains about being a civilian and not belonging in the war; everyone demonstrates through their actions what it means to be "loyal," what it means to be "fearless," and "well done!"

The call was quickly connected

Chief of Staff Ding is right beside me. Yes, the Armament Department must ensure a smooth handover with the Air Force. The two units need to quickly establish a radar network in major cities and around significant projects such as Lanzhou, Chongqing, Hanzhong, Baoji, Chengdu, Qingtongxia, and Longyangxia. We cannot allow the achievements of our twenty years of construction to be easily destroyed by the little devils.

I do not understand economic issues

Amidst the firefighters who were racing against time to carry out rescue operations, a sudden eruption of immense cheers broke out. The medical staff nearby looked up and saw a fireball exploding in mid-air, along with another Japanese aircraft plummeting rapidly while trailing black smoke. Consequently, they too joined in the cheers.

Natural rubber has largely cut off its sources and is to be classified as a primary controlled product, while synthetic rubber is not included in this category

Sima immediately explained to Liu Shangqing, but after the explanation, he himself had questions.

Money is not the issue, but it is a significant problem. Just as Dai Jiliang made a promise to Chen Guang, several bigwigs from the Finance Committee came knocking at the door.

However, the solemn expressions of the soldiers and the messages conveyed through the loudspeakers along the roadside reminded them that the atrocities of the invaders had ultimately descended upon this peaceful land, indifferent to the goodwill of the people.

They were continuously using water trucks to suppress the flames spreading in all directions, while also wading through streets covered with shattered glass and other debris, rushing into the already ignited houses to rescue those trapped inside.

Dai Jiliang looked at Sima

Are you aware of the intelligence regarding the bombing of Xi'an by the Japanese army? I will instruct the Xi'an Air Defense Command to address the vulnerabilities in the air defense alert posts, but when will the Qianliyan system be officially put into use? The construction of twelve chain base stations and two relay stations in Baishui, Pucheng, Huaxian, Lantian, and Yaozhou must be completed within two months

Despite profiting immensely from the surge in silver prices, Northwest Bank had just filled its previous financial gaps, only to face an even larger deficit, leaving Tang Benan at a loss for solutions

Sima's eyes lit up, and he blurted out a sentence: "Does 'Junzuo' mean centralized distribution and procurement?"

Certainly, what impacted him even more was that the sales of morphine and heroin were temporarily interrupted due to the war. With this source of income that had long been planned now gone, he found himself in an even more precarious financial situation

This indeed ensures the needs of the public are met, but is the manpower required excessively large