Traveling through 1937, I came to fight against the Kwantung Army

1 month 16 day,

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month,

The legal New Year's Eve in Haizhou State!

From this day on, the whole country will enter the New Year carnival season, which will last from Little New Year to the 16th day of the first lunar month!

The Haizhou Municipal Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on the same day that the New Year Carnival season will have 11 days of holidays, including 3 days for the Little New Year, 5 days for the Spring Festival, and 3 days for the Lantern Festival!

There is no way, the Chinese people have this cultural tradition, and the roots of the Chinese people are also here!

The Ministry of the Interior also announced that it will distribute 1000 yuan of Haizhou currency to every citizen in the country!

Regular cash payments have become a tradition in Haizhou! The government has money on its books. In 1954 alone, the government achieved an annual fiscal surplus of 2900 billion yuan through foreign trade, resource sales and financial investment!

In addition to the government's universal subsidies,

Today, various government agencies, manufacturers, and companies have begun distributing year-end bonuses to their employees!

Therefore, the carnival season is also the peak sales season for various manufacturers and merchants, and they are all holding promotional discount activities!

The General Motors Sales Department in Rubber Garden Town, Haizhou City, was also decorated with lights and colorful flags.

There is a banner hanging at the door.

"To celebrate the grand opening of General Motors, all models are discounted by 10% or more!"

Robert, Raymond and Sales Manager Wang Long stood at the door with confidence.

Robert invested a huge amount of money in this sales department, which was built using the model of a steel structure greenhouse.

Among them, in the main exhibition hall covering an area of ​​more than 5000 square meters, there are 15 models of General Motors' two major brands, Chevrolet and Buick, which are the latest products produced in the United States!

Many people came to the sales hall one after another.

They were wearing all kinds of clothes, including businessmen in suits, simple and down-to-earth workers, and young people dressed fashionably.

These customers stopped in front of each car. Some gently touched the car body, feeling its smooth texture; some carefully checked the configuration inside the car with expressions of amazement and appreciation on their faces; others communicated with each other, seemingly praising the performance and appearance of the car.

However, when they saw the price tag of the car, their excitement turned into hesitation. Several sales consultants approached them enthusiastically, talking endlessly about the car's advanced technology, excellent performance and high-quality services, trying to dispel the customers' concerns. But the customers just smiled politely and shook their heads.

A whole morning passed like this. Although people came and went in the sales department, no deal was made.

The showroom was so quiet that it was a bit depressing. Only occasionally could one hear customers whispering: "This price is too expensive, at least 30% more expensive than the cars produced locally in Haizhou!" "I haven't used it to see whether it performs well, but this price difference is really unacceptable!"

Robert and Raymond were puzzled. Why didn't anyone place an order?

They had done sufficient market research before coming here. There are four major brands in Haizhou. One is the state-owned Quanlutong, and the other three are privately owned, namely Luda, Hengwei, and Xingliao!

Compared with General Motors, the product prices of several companies are slightly lower by 10%-15%, but Robert has absolute confidence in the quality and technology of his company. In addition, with the % discount this time, it stands to reason that Haizhou's local manufacturers no longer have any advantage in terms of price!

Wang Long came back in a hurry. He had just visited other car sales departments. As a highly paid business manager hired by an American company in Haizhou, he had the responsibility to find out what was going on.

Robert and Raymond frowned as they listened to Wang Long's report.

"I just checked the situation of my peers. Today is the beginning of the carnival season in Haizhou. Several domestic automobile companies started to hold promotional activities three days ago. The discounts are at least 30% off, and there are even 40% off...!"

When the two heard this, they looked at each other in astonishment!

Even at the current price, their car sales still lose about 500 yuan per car. Robert's strategy is to bring customers in first, and then look for opportunities to adjust prices as long as word of mouth is good.

But if the price is reduced further, the headquarters will not be able to explain it at all!

Robert gritted his teeth and said,

"These damn guys, I'm here to report to the headquarters!"

The same morning,

About 400 meters west of the Presidential Palace,

The coastal avenue in front of the Haizhou State Ministry of National Defense Building has been decorated with a new look. The early morning sunlight shines through the coconut grove, casting mottled light and shadows on the outer wall of the off-white marble building.

At the top of the building, the brand-new national emblem of a golden dragon swallowing a ball sparkles in the sun, and the gold-plated inscription "Defend Peace, Build National Defense" below is solemn and eye-catching.

At ten o'clock in the morning, the military band played a stirring march, and the honor guards of the navy, army and air force marched into the square in unison, holding guns and guarding the unveiling plaque covered with red silk.

Kang Huaifu, the first Minister of National Defense, dressed in casual clothes, walked onto the viewing platform side by side with President Yin Xinjun. The people gathered below the platform, envoys from various countries and media reporters burst into warm applause.

In order to coordinate the national defense construction, the research and development, manufacturing and procurement of military equipment, and facilitate foreign exchanges, Yin Xinjun decided to establish the Ministry of National Defense. However, the Minister of Defense will be a civilian and will not participate in commanding the troops!

After the establishment of the Ministry of National Defense, the military functions of the former Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Navigation were all transferred to the Ministry of National Defense, implementing the separation of military and civilian affairs!

"I declare that the Ministry of National Defense of Haizhou State is officially established!" Yin Xinjun's voice resounded through the loudspeaker, and 21 cannon salutes fired, startling flocks of egrets on the sea.

Minister Kang Huaifu and President Yin Xinjun held the two ends of the red silk together and pulled hard. The silk cloth on the plaque slid down like flowing clouds, and the seven large gold-plated characters "Ministry of National Defense of Haizhou State" were revealed. The square suddenly became boiling!

After the unveiling ceremony, the main entrance of the Ministry of National Defense building slowly opened. Then, in the press reception room on the first floor, Fang Yuan, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense of Haizhou State, held the first press conference!

Facing the reporters from all over the world,

Fang Yuan said in a deep voice,

"At the invitation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Emirate of Sharjah, the Haizhou Navy's "Mulan!" aircraft carrier battle group will depart on February 2 to pay a military visit to the three countries and conduct a series of friendly military exchanges with them!"

A blonde woman asked maliciously,

"I'm a reporter from the Associated Press. May I ask how many aircraft carriers the Haizhou Navy currently has? Are there any plans for further expansion?"

Fang Yuan looked at the materials in his hand and said,

"Our Haizhou Navy currently has 17 aircraft carrier battle groups. According to the latest procurement plan of the Ministry of National Defense, we will continue to purchase 5 aircraft carriers in the next three years to maintain a standing defense force of 22 aircraft carrier battle groups!"

"Defense force? You have to know that most countries in the world don't even have an aircraft carrier! Who is Haizhou buying so many aircraft carriers to defend?"

Fang Yuan remained calm and said slowly,

"In this world, there are always a few lowly countries that stir up trouble every day, hoping that the world will not be in chaos. We adhere to the principle of national defense construction that if others do not offend me, I will not offend others. If others offend me, I will offend them. Of course, the naval power of Haizhou is mainly to protect the country's coastal defense line and the smooth and orderly conduct of ocean trade!"