Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

In addition to these three people, Zhou Bin, Vice Chairman of the North China People's Government and Director of the North China Finance and Economics Committee, Yao Yilin, Minister of the North China Industry and Commerce Department, Lin Haiyun, Deputy Minister, Rong Zihe, Minister of the North China Finance Department, and Wu Bo, Deputy Minister, also attended.

Marshal Nie and the others were looking at the report written by Wei Hongjun.

After flipping through it, Marshal Nie said, "This is a report on the ironstone mine discovered in the Baotou area more than ten years ago."

"Yes."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

Then he said, "I have studied this information carefully. More than a decade ago, Mr. Ding Daoheng, a famous Chinese geologist, went to Baiyunebo in Baotou to survey and brought back some ore, which he then handed over to Mr. He Zuolin. The report in our hands is the one written by Mr. He Zuolin after studying it under a microscope. He Zuolin graduated from Beiyang University and studied under the famous geologist Mr. Li Siguang. He later worked as a teacher at a university and as a researcher at the Institute of Geology. He is currently the head of the Department of Geology and Mineral Resources at Shandong University. In addition to iron ore, He Zuolin also discovered two rare earth elements in this ore. I don't know what the specific rare earth elements are, but the presence of iron ore is undeniable.

Reports from Ding Daoheng and He Zuolin indicate that the Bayan Obo region has significant iron ore reserves. Many areas around Baotou have a history of coal mining, indicating significant coal reserves. If we also find limestone deposits, Baotou will have the foundation for a steel mill.

Wei Hongjun is planning the Baotou Iron and Steel Company in the present time.

Of course, building a steel company is no easy task. Given the North China Bureau's capabilities, establishing the Baotou Steel Plant on its own would be extremely difficult. Ultimately, it would require state support. However, simply because Baotou Steel can't be built at this stage doesn't mean we should just sit back and do nothing.

Wei Hongjun needs to do the preliminary preparation work.

Historically, around 1950, the central government began to send people to explore Bayan Obo, and finally confirmed that a steel company could be established in Baotou.

However, the country had nothing at the time and could only negotiate with the Soviet Union.

It wasn't until 1952, when China and the Soviet Union reached a series of cooperation agreements, that the establishment of the Baotou Iron and Steel Company truly began. Preparations began in 1953, and by 1959, Baotou Steel's first iron production had occurred, having invested over 20 billion yuan.

A steel plant does not mean setting up a steel plant in isolation.

It is a complete steel conglomerate.

Starting with the most basic ore dressing, steel mills also need auxiliary minerals such as coal and limestone. Water and electricity are also needed, followed by iron and steelmaking, steel rolling, and finally rare earth mineral separation.

very complicated.

"Tell me what you think."

Wei Hongjun said, "My suggestion is that we organize an exploration team now. Conduct a large-scale exploration of the Baotou area, especially Bayan Obo. Officially determine the iron ore reserves here and see if a steel mill can be established here. If the iron ore reserves here are sufficient and a steel mill can be established, then the North China Bureau should first establish a preparatory group to conduct more extensive research and preparations."

"Deputy Secretary Wei, given the current financial situation of our North China People's Government, a steel plant is simply out of the question."

Rong Zihe, the Minister of Finance of North China, spoke.

Building a steel mill is a good thing.

But steel mills cost a huge amount of money. While the current finances of the North China People's Government aren't exactly tight, they're not as tight as one might imagine. If it were a small steel mill, there might not be a problem.

However, the North China Bureau was unable to build a high-output steel mill because such a mill would require hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, which was beyond the reach of a local central bureau.

"Deputy Secretary Wei, there are many difficulties from a technical perspective.

Yao Yilin, Minister of Industry and Commerce, said: "Not to mention the difficulty of building a steel plant, providing water and electricity is no simple matter. Although I have never been to Bayan Obo, the place looks like a sparsely populated place based on the map, and the northern region has cold winters. Building a steel complex in such a place is really beyond our current capabilities."

"I know the difficulties of running a steel joint venture. The Xuanhua Iron and Steel Plant was built entirely by the Japanese. But in the past few years, we have only been patching up the foundation built by the Japanese, slightly increasing production, and not daring to make major changes. It is because of our poor foundation that although we have always wanted to upgrade the Xuanhua Iron and Steel Plant, we lack the technical strength. If we want to build a steel plant in Baotou, there will be even more problems. From funding to technical issues, as well as the transportation and environment in Baotou, they are all very difficult. If Baotou really wants to build a steel plant, it will be a national project, not something that our North China Bureau can complete alone.

Wei Hongjun certainly understood the difficulties of building the Baotou Iron and Steel Plant.

But that's not the reason.

Wei Hongjun pointed to the map and said, "We must develop Baotou. Our future industrial development and industrial deployment must have centers in every region. Only in this way can the whole country develop together. Northwest my country is very poor, and the industrial base is almost zero. But because of this, we must pay more attention to it. And from the current perspective, the situation in Baotou is very good. We have discovered iron ore here, and there are many coal mines around. In terms of transportation, Baotou is also better than other northwestern cities. Not to mention the Pingsui Road is here, the Baoshi Railway from Baotou to Shiguai is also in operation. We can completely develop basic industries in this area around Baotou. With Baotou as the center, we can develop the economy of the western Suiyuan area."

"So we should do all the preliminary work in advance. Then, conduct a thorough demonstration and submit it to the Central Committee for approval. If we wait for the Central Committee to conduct demonstration and approval, we will waste a lot of time. If our North China Bureau does the preliminary work well, then after the Central Committee approves and supports it, we can quickly start work. This can greatly shorten the time. The preliminary exploration work, the preliminary preparation work, and the demonstration work may be a bit difficult, but I believe that with the strength of our North China Bureau, we can complete it.

Marshal Nie looked at Bo Shuchun and Dong Biwu.

Asked: "What do you think?"

Bo Shuchun nodded.

Looking at the map, he said, "Comrade Wei Hongjun's idea about Baotou makes a lot of sense. Once we can truly develop the steel industry in Baotou, we'll have industry in this area. It can drive economic development in the entire western Suiyuan area. And if it's just preliminary exploration and demonstration work, I don't think there will be much of a financial problem. Technically, we can recruit teachers and students from the geology departments of North China University, North China University of Technology, and other universities in the Pingjin area to form a team."

Bo Shuchun has currently been promoted to the central government.

The main thing is to start accepting central financial work.

However, the central government does not have a dedicated Ministry of Finance, so the Ministry of Finance of the North China People's Government currently serves as the central Ministry of Finance. Rong Zihe, the Minister of Finance of North China, has always cooperated with Bo Shuchun in this work.

Therefore, Bo Shuchun no longer participated much in the work of the North China Bureau.

However, this time the work was more important, so Wei Hongjun invited Nie Shuai, Bo Shuchun, and Dong Biwu to participate. Bo Shuchun considered Baotou's development from an economic perspective. If Baotou could truly build a steel plant, it would play a crucial role in the economic development of the entire Suixi region.

Dong Biwu also nodded.

Whether a steel mill can be built in Baotou remains a hypothesis. Although iron ore and rare earth minerals were discovered in 1933, the exact extent of the iron ore reserves requires comprehensive exploration. Only by determining the iron ore reserves can we determine whether a steel mill can be built here. This includes exploring the auxiliary minerals necessary for a steel mill, particularly coal and limestone.

Once these are completed, the next step will be to conduct research and form a preparatory group.

Seeing that Bo Shuchun and Dong Biwu both agreed, and then looking at the officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, who had no objections, Marshal Nie said, "I agree too. The North China Bureau can do the preliminary work."

Chapter 733 Coal Mine Renovation

"Comrade Lai Jifa, what do you think?"

After getting the consent of Marshal Nie and others, Wei Hongjun began to make preliminary preparations for Baotou Steel. Now Wei Hongjun not only presided over the daily work of the North China Bureau, but also presided over the daily work of the North China People's Government.

Because Dong Biwu was promoted to the central government and began to be responsible for the work of the Political and Legal Committee.

Of course, many central departments are currently empty.

Dong Biwu and his colleagues were transferred to the central government to set up these departments.

Many departments of the North China Bureau were departments of the North China People's Government on the one hand, and began to act as central ministries on the other.

The establishment of a steel joint venture in Baotou is a big deal.

So Wei Hongjun invited cadres from several departments to discuss this matter.

Once the Central Committee finally approved the establishment of the Baotou Iron and Steel Company, it would become the North China Bureau's most important task. Therefore, Wei Hongjun chose a prominent figure to lead this task: Lai Jifa, Deputy Minister of the Enterprise Department of the North China People's Government. Lai Jifa was also a cadre from western Fujian.

During the Red Army period, he was a cadre of the Second Red Division.

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, he joined the 129th Division and later served as Director of the 129th Division's Military Industry Department. Following the outbreak of the War of Liberation, he served as Director of the Machinery Manufacturing Department of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region Finance and Economics Committee and Deputy Director of the Border Region Government's Industry Department. Following the establishment of the North China Bureau, he became a cadre within it. With the establishment of the North China People's Government, he began serving as Deputy Minister of the Enterprise Department.

Currently, the Enterprise Department of the North China People’s Government is responsible for all state-owned enterprises under the control of the North China Bureau.

The state-owned enterprises currently controlled by the North China People's Government mainly come from military factories established during the Anti-Japanese War and the War of Liberation, the Japanese and puppet military factories confiscated at the end of the Anti-Japanese War, and the bureaucratic assets confiscated after the liberation of various places.

The power is great.

The Enterprise Department of the North China Government will be transformed into a central government department in the future. The Ministry of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Fuel Industry, Ministry of Textile Industry, Ministry of Food Industry, and Ministry of Light Industry will all have Enterprise Departments.

"Deputy Secretary Wei, we can move forward. However, to form an exploration team to explore Baotou, we need the support of the Ministry of Education. Currently, most geological technical talent is in major universities. Our business department, on the other hand, lacks such talent."

Lai Jifa spoke.

Although Lai Jifa was in charge of a large number of factories, he was now planning to build his own steel mill, which was no small matter and he could not help but take it seriously.

He carefully reviewed previous ore reports on Baotou, as well as historical data on coal mines in surrounding areas. He agreed with Wei Hongjun's idea, believing that Baotou had the foundation for a steel mill. Furthermore, if Baotou could actually establish a steel mill, the entire Suiyuan, northwestern Shanxi, and northern Shaanxi regions would be impacted.

But it's not easy.

This is a steel mill after all.

Lai Jifa had managed a steel mill in the Enterprise Ministry, so he understood better than anyone how difficult it was to build a steel mill.

Not to mention the financial issues, there are also a lot of technical difficulties.

Currently, North China controls a total of six steel mills: Xuanhua Iron and Steel (Xuanhua Iron and Steel), Shijingshan Iron and Steel (Shougang), Yangquan Iron and Steel (the predecessor of Yanggang and Changzhi Iron and Steel), Tangshan Iron and Steel (Tangshan Iron and Steel), Tianjin Iron and Steel (Tiangang), and Northwest Iron and Steel (Taiyuan Iron and Steel). In addition to these six mills, there are also several smaller privately owned rolling mills. Of course, with the exception of Xuanhua and Shijingshan, the production capacity of these mills is limited, with annual output of only a few thousand tons.

The North China Enterprise Department has repeatedly attempted to expand the Xuanhua and Shijingshan Iron and Steel Plants. Currently, these two plants are the largest in North China, having been expanded with significant investment from the Japanese. Xuanhua's annual pig iron production reaches 30 tons, while Shijingshan's is around 24 tons. However, these expansion attempts have resulted in only minor changes, with minimal increases in production. Further expansion is technically impractical. However, several smaller steel mills have experienced relatively successful expansions.

Because he had done these jobs, Lai Jifa understood better than anyone how difficult it was to build a new steel plant.

Wei Hongjun entrusted this preliminary work to himself, so Lai Jifa was of course very cautious.

Wei Hongjun nodded.

He looked at Sun Yi, the Minister of Education of North China, and Vice Ministers Liu Kaifeng and Sun Wenshu.

Since the outbreak of the Battle of Pingjin, Wei Hongjun chose Sun Yi as the person in charge of taking over the colleges and universities in Pingjin. Sun Yi's work has gradually turned completely to education. Of course, Sun Yi has been engaged in education since the Anti-Japanese War.

Starting as the principal of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military and Political Cadre School, he later served as the president of the North China Military and Political University. This time, after restructuring the North China People's Government, he was appointed Minister of Education. In fact, Wei Hongjun himself didn't know whether this change was good or bad for Sun Yi. Historically, Sun Yi was a lieutenant general, and now he is the Minister of Education of North China. It is unknown whether he will be able to receive a higher rank in the future.

Liu Kaifeng was the former director of the Education Department of the Jincha region. Wei Hongjun and Liu Kaifeng were close friends. Not only during the early years of promoting literacy campaigns in the base area, but also during the later development of university and primary education in Jinchayi, the two collaborated seamlessly. Liu Kaifeng, having started his career in literacy and primary education, possessed a deep understanding of the current state of education in rural China.

As for Sun Wenshu, she was Yang Xiufeng's lover.

Both Yang Xiufeng and Sun Wenshu are veteran party members and revolutionaries.

Yang Xiufeng was one of the leaders of the December 9th Movement, and Sun Wenshu was both his wife and his assistant. Because of this experience, Yang Xiufeng had a great influence on education in the Pingjin area.

He himself is a university professor.

In addition, he led the December 9th Movement, and he definitely has many students all over the world.

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, college students from the Pingjin area flocked to the Eighth Route Army base, many of whom were students of Yang Xiufeng.

When Yang Xiufeng went to the southern Hebei base and passed by the Hebei-Central Military Region, a large number of students who had participated in the December 9th Movement came to visit him.

Because of this qualification, Sun Wenshu was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Education of North China this time.

"What does the Ministry of Education say? Can we form an exploration team from teachers and students from universities in the Beijing-Tianjin area?"

Sun Yi read Sun's letter.

Although Sun Yi personally participated in the takeover of Pingjin University and is currently the Minister of Education, no one can compare to Sun Wenshu in terms of his understanding of Pingjin University.

Sun Wenshu nodded.

"No problem. We have a good foundation in universities in the Pingjin area. Organizing an exploration team won't be a problem."

"Deputy Minister Sun, you have to understand that the Baiyunebo area is extremely desolate and the environment is extremely harsh. Exploration work will not be easy.

Lai Jifa spoke.

Sun Wenshu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Vice Minister Lai. Our geology students are all capable of enduring hardships. However, our teachers and students are both valuable assets, and their safety must be guaranteed."

Sun Wenshu spoke.

Wei Hongjun nodded and said, "After the exploration team was formed, I assigned a reinforcement platoon to protect the safety of the exploration team.

"That's no problem."

Although Sun Wenshu is a woman, she is very generous.

They have all experienced war.

Not so much hesitancy.

Upon hearing Sun Wenshu's assurance, Lai Jifa also patted his chest and promised, "Deputy Secretary Wei, our Enterprise Department will draw a group of technical personnel from various steel mills and coal mines to form a preparatory technical team. As soon as the exploration team has any news, I will take the preparatory team staff to Baotou to investigate possible locations for the steel mill construction and do the preliminary preparatory work. I will not return until the preliminary work is completed."