The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Secretary Liu followed Zhang Chi's gaze and found that those golden balls of fur did seem to make people happy.

"Pets? Just these cats and mice?"

She still found it a little hard to believe. How could this be compared with military affairs and oil cooperation?

"Don't underestimate them." Zhang Chi held the beauty in his arms, his tone full of unquestionable control, "Behind this is a huge blue ocean market worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and even potentially tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars in the future.

Pet food, nutritional supplements, pet toys, pet clothing, pet medical care, grooming, breeding, sales, and even pet funeral services... This will form an extremely large and complete industry chain capable of absorbing massive employment opportunities!

He took Secretary Liu in his arms and walked to the back of the desk. He sat down, but did not let her go. Instead, he exerted force with his arms and pulled her to sit on his strong thighs.

Secretary Liu let out a soft cry, her cheeks turning even redder. After a symbolic struggle, she obediently sat sideways on his lap, her body nestled against his broad chest.

Zhang Chi put one arm around her waist and the other on her thigh covered in nylon stockings, and nodded his chin towards the hamsters:

"These are Syrian golden hamsters. I've asked around, and they were already popular among the upper classes of John Country and White Eagle before the war, considered novel and adorable companion pets. But the outbreak of the world war completely interrupted their commercialization. Now, almost no one in the world has the ability and energy to breed and promote them on a large scale."

"And we now have these precious breeding stocks gifted by the princess, as well as these two purebred Persian cats." Zhang Chi's tone was filled with excitement, his thoughts becoming clearer and clearer. "Immediately notify the Institute of Agriculture and Biology. No, establish a separate 'South China Sea Rare Species Breeding Center' and recruit the best genetic breeding and veterinary experts."

"As for the first mission of this breeding center after its establishment, we will focus on researching, domesticating, and breeding these golden hamsters. The goal is to create a breed with a more docile temperament, a wider range of fur colors (gold, cream, cinnamon, spotted, etc.), a stronger physique, and suitable for family breeding. We'll call it... 'South China Sea Chinchilla.'

We need to establish a strict pedigree and carry out scientific breeding..."

Secretary Liu grabbed Zhang Chi's mischievous hand and whispered, "But this thing looks a bit like a mouse after all. Can everyone really accept it?"

Zhang Chi lowered his head and gently kissed the beautiful woman's hair in his arms, and said with confidence about the future: "As long as they are cute enough, everyone will accept them."

"In addition to these golden hamsters, we can also study local rat species, such as the 'roof rat' common in Southeast Asia. We can select individuals of moderate size and relatively docile temperament, and conduct multi-generational targeted breeding and clean farming. The goal is to cultivate a large rat species with diverse fur colors, no odor, and friendly, suitable as a companion pet. I think it would be called the 'Southeast Asian flower rat'."

Secretary Liu said angrily, "Hate it! Why can't you get along with rats?"

Zhang Chi smiled and said lovingly, "Then let's breed pet cats. Using these two purebred Persian cats, we can create our own Persian cat population. We'll also add the purebred Siamese cats we obtained from Siam and crossbreed them with the local high-quality short-haired native cats (Malayan cats). Combining the slenderness, elegance, key coloring, and friendliness of the Siamese with the robust physique and adaptability of the Malayan cat, we'll create a brand new breed: the 'Southern Sea Leopard Cat'. It's short-haired, has beautiful tiger or spotted markings, is muscular, and is both wild and beautiful, yet friendly and sensible."

Secretary Liu smiled with satisfaction, his hands still moving: "This is pretty good, I like that cat."

Zhang Chi hummed in surprise before continuing, "At the same time, we will also establish a purebred breeding base for Siamese and Persian cats, striving to develop a high-end boutique product line."

"High-end...boutique...line?" Secretary Liu said vaguely, "What's that?"

Zhang Chi spoke faster and faster, as if he saw a huge industrial empire rising:

"Once the war is over, the world will usher in a wave of rapid economic growth and urbanization. The demand for companion pets will explode among countless families, especially the urban middle class and those who need spiritual comfort after the war.

We must seize the initiative, set industry standards, and build our brand. From seed sourcing, breeding, feed processing, pet food and supplies to chain pet stores and medical services... we want to establish a complete and unique industry chain for Nanyang."

-----

More than an hour later, Zhang Chi sat behind the conference table, his eyes fixed on Zhang Guangsong and the assembled economic and agricultural officials:

"This is not just about making money, it's about the future demographic structure of our Southeast Asia."

"If the Chinese want to thrive, we can't just rely on traditional agriculture. We need to create more diversified, higher value-added jobs in light industry, biotechnology, and the service industry."

Thinking of future generations, Zhang Chi's voice was firm and decisive:

"A mature pet industry chain, from breeders, keepers, veterinarians, nutritionists, product developers, production line workers, to sales, beauticians, logistics...how many jobs can it create? How many families can it support? How many decent jobs can it provide that don't require leaving home to farm or work in the mines?"

The officials below lowered their heads, listened attentively, and took notes.

"Only with stable jobs that offer promising prospects can young people settle down and start families, and only then will they be willing to have more children. Only then will our nation have a future, and only then will Nanyang have a continuous flow of new energy and creativity."

Zhang Chi is very clear that if there are not enough well-paid jobs, people will probably be reluctant to have children. After all, hope is very important.

Given the complex national conditions in Southeast Asia, if the Chinese do not work hard to have children, it is likely to lead to a chain reaction and eventually cause a total collapse.

"This pet industry needs to be developed quickly and treated as a strategic industry, with resources invested and policy support. I want to see the preliminary breeding plan and industry plan before the founding ceremony."

The office was silent as everyone was stunned by Zhang Chi's wild yet insightful and strategic plan.

From two cats and a few hamsters, it can be extended to the strategic level of a huge industrial chain, jobs and national reproduction.

This young leader's thinking is always at the forefront of the times!

Zhang Chi looked at the pairs of admiring eyes below and felt ashamed.

Who could have known that these were all thought out by his brain working rapidly while he was being intimate with the beauty?

"Yes! Commander-in-Chief! We'll do it right away!" Everyone responded in unison, their eyes full of enthusiasm and admiration.

Zhang Chi walked to the window and looked at the vibrant city of Yangon outside.

He wants the oil from Persia and Southeast Asia, and he also wants various new industries such as electronics, pets, medicine, and culture.

His blueprint for the future of Nanyang is becoming more and more three-dimensional and solid.