Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Heilongjiang directly abolished county-level transportation companies and a small number of special-area transportation companies, and merged all the trucks in these transportation companies into provincial transportation companies.

Of course, Heilongjiang's original plan was different. Due to the heavy freight workload, Heilongjiang province concentrated its resources to develop large-scale transportation companies. However, after stabilizing, when it sought to develop grassroots transportation companies, it discovered that county and township rural cooperatives had already met the transportation needs of these areas.

"The so-called conflict is that some grassroots government transport companies feel that cooperative freight transport companies have taken away their business, so they want to suppress them and take back their market share."

After hearing what Tao Zhu and Ouyang Qin said, Ke Qingshi spoke without any concealment.

Although newly arrived at the central government, Ke Qingshi's temper remained unchanged. He spoke directly, "Our country's economy is currently booming, and the demand for freight is enormous. Government transport companies can't meet this demand, and they can't cover all areas of freight. Allowing collective enterprises to develop this is a good thing." "Take the rural areas around Shanghai, for example. Freight transportation is completely handed over to cooperative transport companies, and as a result, they meet half of Shanghai's demand for agricultural and sideline products."

After the deployment, Shanghai began to produce a large number of rear three-wheeled motorcycles, mainly to sell to these newly developed freight companies. They used these rear three-wheeled motorcycles to transport batches of agricultural and sideline products to Shanghai.

The best thing about these transportation companies is their flexibility.

State-owned transport companies have heavy workloads, transporting bulk goods, and prefer not to take small orders. However, these transport companies, which emerged from collective enterprises, go door to door and into the countryside to help local cooperatives complete their transportation tasks.

Of course, the rapid growth of these three-wheeled transport companies is also related to the current surge in China's oil production, which allows the central government to release gasoline and diesel on a large scale.

"In fact, I think Heilongjiang's approach is the most suitable. Provinces and cities should set up some large-scale transportation companies to mainly handle the transportation of bulk goods. As for the transportation of smaller bulk cargoes, collective enterprises can be responsible. Why should government agencies compete with collective enterprises for business?"

"Our local governments should carefully study the spirit of the Ninth and Tenth National Congresses. They repeatedly emphasized that mixed-ownership enterprises are also part of the socialist economic system. Local transportation companies have shares held by local governments and cooperatives. Although they are mixed-ownership enterprises, the shares are generally held by local governments and collectives. Why must we suppress such enterprises? Far from suppressing them, we should encourage their development. This is because these mixed-ownership enterprises can effectively fill gaps left unserved by the planned economy."

Both the Ninth and Tenth National Congresses clearly stated that mixed-ownership enterprises are part of the economic system in the primary stage of socialism. Yet, many officials still label these enterprises as "other" enterprises.

This is what Ke Qingshi said.

"I agree with Comrade Ke Qingshi's opinion."

Deng Zhihui spoke.

Rural industry and commerce were developed solely by the Ministry of Rural Affairs. You cannot say that just because rural industry and commerce have developed, they are affecting state-owned transport companies and should be shut down.

If this continues, what credibility will the government have in rural areas?

Since the development of rural industry and commerce,

In 1961, rural grain revenue was 52 billion yuan, but rural industrial and commercial taxes had reached 71 billion yuan.

The development of rural industry and commerce not only creates a large amount of tax revenue for the government, but also greatly increases the income of the rural people.

Therefore, whoever suppresses the development of rural industry and commerce,

Deng Zhihui couldn't agree.

Deng Zhihui continued, "The development of these transportation companies of varying ownership demonstrates that there is a significant demand for them in our counties and townships. Given this demand, how can we suppress them? Can our state-owned transportation companies guarantee that they can meet the freight transportation needs of counties and townships?"

"From 1959 to 1961, my country suffered a severe drought, and the amount of agricultural products in the country dropped sharply.

The national free market for agricultural and sideline products has also shrunk significantly. Despite this, the continued presence of so many transportation companies in counties and townships demonstrates the robust grassroots economy and the significant demand for freight.

"Judging from the current situation, drought is still a problem in northern my country this year, but it's much better than in 1961. my country's agriculture will definitely rebound this year, and the free market for agricultural and sideline products will become active again. This means that the demand for freight transportation in my country's counties and townships this year will far exceed that of 1961. If we suppress those cooperative transportation companies at this time, who will fill the freight transportation needs of counties and townships?"

There will also be a drought in 1962, but at present the national drought situation will be much better than in 1961.

Spring plowing has already begun in some areas.

The drought eased significantly in 1961, especially in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, where many small rivers that had previously dried up due to drought began to flow again.

The same is true in the northern region.

In winter, although there is not much snow,

But there have been several heavy snowfalls, which have greatly alleviated the drought in recent years.

So we can roughly judge that the most serious nationwide drought since the founding of New China is about to pass.

After Deng Zhihui finished speaking, Deng Xixian also spoke up, "Comrade Deng Zhihui is very sensible. We must understand that those transportation companies didn't suddenly appear out of nowhere. They were created because of the demand for freight transportation at the grassroots level. We can't confuse this cause and effect relationship."

"Understanding this causal relationship will provide a standard for how we adjust policies. The 'four benefits' outlined by Comrade Wei Hongjun in his Tenth Political Report are perfectly suited to the current situation. We need to analyze whether the freight transport companies developed from these cooperatives meet this standard. If so, why should we suppress them? Why should we ban them?"

Wei Hongjun listened quietly to everyone's discussion.

Now, the central government's overall economic thinking has gradually begun to change. New things are no longer treated as demons and monsters to be viewed with caution.

"Correct."

Zhou Bin also nodded.

"State-owned transport companies are responsible for transporting commodities that are crucial to the national economy and people's livelihoods. Grassroots transport companies primarily invigorate county and township economies. This is a very good situation, and we shouldn't suppress it. Instead, we should consider how to better encourage their cooperation."

"What the Ministry of Transport needs to do now is to formulate more detailed regulations on freight transportation. It will guide those freight transportation companies that have grown wildly in a more formal direction.

So that they can better serve socialist construction."

Chen Yun glanced at Wei Hongjun.

Noticing that Wei Hongjun had no intention of speaking, he said, "Comrade Wang Shoudao, you've heard the comrades' opinions. What are your thoughts?"

Wang Shoudao didn't expect that he would be bombarded by so many people as soon as this question came out.

But this is not the Ministry of Transport’s business.

It was the local government that wanted this. So Wang Shoudao said, "After I return, I'll discuss with the comrades at the Ministry of Transportation how to formulate more detailed and clear regulations on cargo transportation."

"it is good."

Chen Yun nodded.

Wei Hongjun spoke up at this time, "Comrade Chen Tanqiu, the Secretariat should issue a notice to the local Party committees. Don't just ban or suppress these new things that don't violate the law or the socialist economy. We need to observe the emergence of new things. We must ensure that the local Party committees study the Ten Great Spirits more."

Chen Tanqiu attended the meeting as the second secretary of the Secretariat, who is in charge of the daily work of the Secretariat.

But Chen Tanqiu is very low-key.

I will not express my opinions casually on the content of the meeting.

Chen Tanqiu nodded after hearing Wei Hongjun's words.

"it is good."

After the Ministry of Transportation finished its questions, Li Fuchun spoke, "Since the last steel conference decided to develop oxygen converter steelmaking in the steel industry, several steel mills that have undergone renovations have been very successful, greatly increasing their steelmaking capacity. Judging from this recent renovation, the production efficiency of the 100-ton oxygen converter is even higher than the 500-ton open-hearth furnace currently used by our large steel mills. Those local steel mills using 30-ton and 50-ton converters have greatly increased their steelmaking speed."

"While this is a good thing, it also presents a problem. After Guangzhou Iron and Steel Plant improved its oxygen converter steelmaking technology, its output quickly exceeded one million tons. Guangdong Province wants to continue investing in the expansion of Guangzhou Iron and Steel Plant, but Guangzhou Iron and Steel Plant currently does not have enough iron ore to support the expansion."

Tao Zhu interjected, "The Guangzhou Iron and Steel Plant has indeed encountered the problem Comrade Li Fuchun mentioned. When the Guangzhou Iron and Steel Plant was first established, its designed annual output was 30 tons. After several subsequent expansions, the designed annual output was around 70 tons. However, in 1959, the oxygen converter steelmaking upgrade and the expansion of the steel plant led to a rapid increase in output. The current problem facing the Guangzhou Iron and Steel Plant is that a shortage of iron ore has hampered its expansion."

After Tao Zhu finished speaking, Li Fuchun continued, "This problem isn't limited to the Guangzhou Steel Plant. Most of my country's current steel mills have high design outputs, but actual outputs are low. However, as we've implemented technological upgrades, actual outputs are rapidly approaching design outputs. These same issues are also occurring in Jiangsu. Therefore, the development of my country's steel industry is placing greater demands on iron ore mining. However, the British businessman has provided us with a new idea."

1141 Advice from British Merchants

"Yes."

Tao Zhu continued: "When I was in Guangdong, some British businessmen were very dissatisfied with the shortage of steel in the Chinese market.

As a result, some factories established by British merchants in Guangdong were unable to expand production. This was particularly true of bicycle factories. The total designed production capacity of all bicycle factories established by British merchants in Guangdong reached 700 million units, but actual production was less than half that. This problem was not due to production problems or problems with the workers, but rather to insufficient steel supplies.

"It's not just bicycle factories; many other light industrial factories in Guangdong are experiencing this problem. The severe shortage of steel is restricting their output."

Why China must give priority to the development of heavy industry.

This is the reason.

Heavy industry is the foundation of all industries. If heavy industry cannot develop, the development of light industry will be directly suppressed. Although China's heavy industry has been developing in recent years,

However, the shortage of steel is becoming increasingly serious, directly restricting the development of China's light industry.

This restriction not only affects domestic enterprises, but also Sino-foreign joint ventures, which may also be subject to this restriction.

“Before the Tenth Congress, some British businessmen approached us. They had heard that the Guangzhou Steel Plant had seen a significant increase in production, but was unable to expand production in the short term due to a lack of iron ore.

So what they're saying is that they can import the iron ore we need from other countries, but they require us to guarantee the steel they need for their factories every year. They're willing to discuss the specific annual quota with us."

British businessmen are very satisfied with their cooperation with China.

Chinese farmers are indeed not as skilled as professional workers, but they are very willing to learn. Their enthusiasm for learning is simply incomparable to that of the people in the British colonies.

China's farmers have experienced the darkest days of old China.

Therefore, after entering the new China, they became the masters of their own destiny.

Their enthusiasm for production is completely different. In order to change their poor lives, they are truly not afraid of hardship or fatigue.

And although the People's Republic of China was founded only a dozen years ago, the Chinese farmers today have undergone tremendous changes compared to the farmers in old China. This is because these Chinese farmers have experienced mutual aid groups and cooperatives after liberation.

They have participated in large-scale government projects, which require a high degree of organization. Therefore, Chinese farmers are no longer the small-scale peasant farmers of the past. While they may not be as organized and disciplined as the People's Liberation Army, they are stronger than the armies of many other countries.

The organization displayed by these farmers after entering the factory astounded the British merchants. Initially, they were concerned that these farmers, lacking worker training, might not adapt to factory production. However, having experienced the rural cooperative economy, Chinese farmers quickly adopted the cooperative production model of the factory.

British businessmen were very satisfied with these workers who came from peasant backgrounds.

This also applies to the efficiency of the Chinese government. When Baoan District was just beginning to develop,

There is a lack of everything. Factories, housing, transportation,

Almost nothing. But China directly dispatched 100,000 construction engineering troops to participate in the construction, and within a few years, the Bao'an District had become an industrial city. If there was a power shortage, the Guangdong Provincial Government could quickly build a thermal power plant. If there was a water shortage, they would quickly build a city-wide water system. Whatever was needed, the Chinese government could quickly complete the supporting infrastructure.

Therefore, British businessmen are very satisfied with their investment in Guangdong.

The only complaint is the shortage of steel.

This problem has always restricted the profits of many British businesses.

Many of their factories were designed for high production output, but so far have failed to reach that capacity, a fact they are extremely dissatisfied with. They have also considered importing some steel to address the shortage in the Chinese market. However, after careful calculation, they realized that importing the steel themselves, paying tariffs, and then processing it through various processes would be too costly.

Now they saw that the Guangzhou Steel Plant's output could be increased, the only problem being a shortage of iron ore. They began to itch in again, and offered advice to Tao Zhu, Chen Tao, and the others.

That is they can help buy iron ore.

The only requirement is that their steel needs must be guaranteed every year.

“Imported iron ore?”

Chen Yun thought for a moment and asked, "How do we solve the foreign exchange problem?"

"British businessmen have also given advice in this regard."

Li Fuchun said, "The British merchants are saying we have two options. One is for us to directly purchase the iron ore from them with foreign exchange. In this way, they will act as a middleman, and the price of the iron ore will not be much higher than the international market price, so they can make a small profit. There are no other requirements."

British businessmen are really smart. Or rather, doing business and trade is already deeply rooted in their bones. As long as it is a business that can make money,

British businessmen can think of various methods.

It's like the iron ore business.

British businesses doing business with China can clearly sense the growth of the country's steel industry. While the amount of steel released into the Chinese market continues to increase annually, the shortage is becoming increasingly severe. This demonstrates the current state of China's economic development.

British businessmen are different from Chinese ones.

When China purchases iron ore on the international market, prices fluctuate dramatically. Even for a socialist country like China, if it were to directly purchase iron ore, it would require countless connections. However, if British merchants were to act as agents, they would have no such problems and could easily secure the ore. They could even exploit China's imports to manipulate iron ore futures prices. The profits would be staggering.