Chapter 82

Gao Yang set the standard for purchasing frozen pork at a price of no more than 8,000 RMB per ton, with a total monthly budget of no more than 200 million RMB.

In 1925, the Chinese were known as the "Sick Men of East Asia," mainly because most people lacked adequate nutrition and rarely ate meat, making them look pale and sickly. Gao Yang planned to sell a portion of the meat at a low price to the market.

Of course, Gao Yang could not yet meet the consumption needs of everyone, and could only prioritize the military, students, workers, and other important sectors.

Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation are the main necessities of human life. In terms of food, the main items are rice, meat, and oil. Solving these items would basically cover most of the dietary needs.

Gao Yang originally planned to order a batch of long-distance fishing boats to bring to the 1925 timeline, as the marine resources in 1925 were extremely abundant, with annual catches easily reaching millions of tons.

However, the Origin Point reminded him that the modern fishing boats, from their engines to their nets and winches, were all high-tech in 1925! Before he had the strength to confront the entire world, it was best to build or purchase fishing boats from the 1925 timeline to avoid exposing his secrets. Gao Yang seriously accepted the Origin Point's advice.

From ancient times, clothing has been a necessity for humans to protect against the cold and wind. In 1925 China, textiles were the second largest consumer good after food.

In Gao Yang's territory, the living standards of the people were relatively affluent compared to the rest of China at the time.

In that era, in many places, families were so poor that they only had one pair of pants, and whoever went out wore them. People worked in the fields at night to avoid being seen without pants. Such a life was incomprehensible to modern people.

Gao Yang assigned Fang Nanyu the task of purchasing textiles, specifically large quantities of 40-count cotton fabric. Most cotton fabric products on the Chinese market were 30-count or 40-count. 60-count and above were mostly exported and used for high-end clothing, which Gao Yang did not need.

Gao Yang needed fabric that was cheap, in large quantities, and of average quality. His bottom line was 2.3-meter-wide 40-count white pure cotton fabric at no more than 13 RMB per meter, with a monthly purchase of 10 million meters.

He did not want printed fabric because Gao Yang planned to bring the pure cotton fabric to 1925 and have it printed at local dyeing factories, which would create more jobs.

In 1925 China, only people living in big cities would buy clothes from stores. Most Chinese people bought a few yards of fabric and made their own clothes at home.

The leftover scraps could be used to make children's clothes. For an ordinary family, buying fabric to make clothes was a significant expense, usually only done during holidays.

Gao Yang's plan was to flood the market with low-priced cotton fabric. 40-count cotton fabric was only average in modern times, but in 1925, it was of very high quality. The main product during the Republic of China era was 21-count cotton fabric. The quality difference was obvious to the naked eye. Additionally, Gao Yang's large-scale purchase of fabric was also aimed at undermining the Japanese economy.

In 1925, most of China's cotton fabric market was dominated by foreign trading companies, with the Japanese having the largest share. In Shanghai, there were about 200 stores specializing in Japanese goods, and Japanese goods accounted for 70% to 80% of the industry's total sales.

Moreover, the Japanese exported large quantities of silk products to China. The model was simple: buy cotton and raw silk from China at low prices, process them, and sell them back to China, taking away large profits to develop their own economy. This strategy continued for decades and even centuries.

Gao Yang planned to engage in a textile war with the Japanese, using low-priced, high-quality cotton fabric to squeeze out the Japanese market share, severely damaging their foreign trade exports, and pressuring the Japanese economy, forcing them into the militarist era earlier.

Regarding housing and transportation, Gao Yang had already begun large-scale road and bridge construction. Building railways was too expensive, and Gao Yang's current economic strength was not enough to purchase large quantities of steel rails and other components. His solution was to build highways and connect major cities.

Sand and gravel were abundant in 1925, and the main focus was on purchasing various grades of cement and rebar, as well as sand excavation equipment and gravel crushers. Modern Chinese cement and rebar were often criticized for poor quality, but in 1925, they were top-notch products.

For the massive consumption of cement, Gao Yang required Fang Nanyu to purchase at least 200 million RMB worth of cement at no more than 330 RMB per ton each month.

For the even more important rebar, Gao Yang required a purchase price of no more than 3,500 RMB per ton, with a monthly budget of 100 million RMB.

All in all, the monthly expenses amounted to nearly 1 billion RMB! Indeed, money doesn't last long. Additionally, the increased cargo volume required Gao Yang to build large warehouses in Africa and the 1925 timeline, increasing the risk of exposure.

The 1925 timeline was easier to hide in, as it was on his own territory. The modern timeline was more complicated, and he needed to resolve the African situation as soon as possible.

To transport the purchased goods to Africa, Gao Yang instructed Fang Nanyu to purchase a batch of bulk carriers under the name of the SC Trading Company's shipping division. After transporting the goods to Africa, Gao Yang would store them in his storage space and bring them to the 1925 timeline.

After arranging the work, Gao Yang set off for Africa. After a flight of over ten hours, he arrived at the airport and saw Claude waiting for him.

"The weather here is really hot. Does Africa not have seasons?" Gao Yang took off his jacket, put on his sunglasses, and looked up at the sun, which was pouring down heat, and asked Claude with a helpless expression.

Claude smiled and said, "Boss, I've been here for almost 10 years, and I've never experienced cold weather. It's always this hot." Gao Yang shook his head helplessly and got into the car to turn on the air conditioning.

In the car, Gao Yang first asked Claude for detailed information about the local government's requirements. After reading the letter, Gao Yang confirmed that the local government was planning to seize his assets. Gao Yang then led his people to the town where the poachers gathered, which he had passed through during his first visit to the mine.

A few hours later, Gao Yang's group entered the town and headed straight for Carlos's bar, where they found Carlos, the local boss.

After a brief exchange, Carlos invited Gao Yang to sit down. "Respected Mr. Smith, oh, I mean, respected Mr. Gao, what brings you here today?" Carlos rubbed his bald head and smiled.

After a few hours of bumpy travel, Gao Yang leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and took out a cigarette. "Mr. Carlos, I want to see Chief Enzuba. Please convey the message to him." After lighting the cigarette, Gao Yang said with a calm expression.

"Ha ha, Mr. Gao, I think you've misunderstood something. I'm just a fur trader. If you want to buy some crafts, I can help you. As for Chief Enzuba, I don't know such an important person." Carlos's eyes showed a hint of coldness as he rubbed his chin and smiled.

Gao Yang's eyes turned cold, and his voice deepened. "Tell Chief Enzuba I'll wait for him for three hours. After three hours, I'll leave!" He then got up and left.

Carlos sat behind his desk, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. After Gao Yang left, he rubbed his bald head and thought for a moment before pressing the phone. "Prepare the car for me!"

Gao Yang's group went to a hotel in the center of town to rest. After their first contact with Carlos, Gao Yang had the Origin Point conduct a detailed investigation into his background, learning that he had close ties with the Punu people, who were the main anti-government armed group in the country. Before arriving in Africa, Gao Yang had the Origin Point gather detailed intelligence on the Punu people.

Gao Yang's plan was simple: to support the Punu people in establishing a new government closely aligned with him. In return for helping them come to power, everything Gao Yang had in the mine would remain a secret.

Waiting was the most boring part. Gao Yang leaned back on the sofa, his leg resting on the armrest, and put on his headphones to watch a music video by Chae Soo-bin. He had a faint smile on his face while watching the video.

After more than two hours, the bodyguard knocked on the door and reported that Carlos was accompanying several people to visit. Gao Yang's lips curled slightly, and he put away the tablet and let the guests in.

Soon, Carlos and several black men dressed in local attire entered, accompanied by bodyguards.

After mutual introductions and pleasantries, they all took their seats. This area was formerly a French colony, and the locals generally spoke French, which Gao Yang also knew, so there were no communication barriers.

Gao Yang leaned back on the sofa and looked at the muscular Chief Enzuba, who was sitting opposite him, and smiled. "Chief, I think you've been waiting for me, haven't you?"

Chief Enzuba looked like a strong man, but his constantly moving, clear eyes revealed a sharp and agile mind.

Chief Enzuba clasped his hands together, smiled, and showed a row of white teeth. "Mr. Gao, I heard you've encountered some trouble. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Gao Yang crossed his legs, his left elbow resting on the armrest, and said with a faint smile, "Chief, I think you've misunderstood something. It's not that you help me, but that you