The docks, thermal power plants, train stations and various infrastructures built by American companies in the Tianjin base are of high quality and have begun to function. Due to the use of railways, steam locomotives, telegraphs, telephones, ports, ships, etc., the improvement has been doubled immediately

The total logistics volume has increased, and the industrial products of Ningwu Prefecture are moving from here to the whole country and the world, and their influence is growing.

The quality of power coal, metallurgical coal and chemical coal produced by coal mines across Shanxi is extremely high. In the current steam engine era, coal as the main energy source is as valuable as Middle Eastern oil in the 21st century.

Before the opening of the Beijing-Taiwan Railway, the industrial coal in Tianjin was imported Japanese coal. After the opening of the railway, the problem of large-volume transportation was solved, and high-quality Shanxi coal immediately replaced inferior Japanese coal and occupied the entire Tianjin coal market.

After that, orders from Europe and the United States and other countries followed one after another. In this way, the adoption of advanced mining machinery in Shanxi greatly increased coal production capacity, which in turn caused the oversupply of coal in the province to be immediately reversed and became in short supply.

However, Kang Fan and others were very conservative on the issue of coal exports. While giving priority to meeting the needs of the province and other domestic provinces, they limited supply to the international market in accordance with the actual situation in exchange for industrial raw materials that Ningwu Prefecture urgently needed. This has also become

The main way for the industry in Ningwu Prefecture to solve the problem of supply of scarce industrial raw materials.

After receiving sufficient coal supply from Shanxi, the thermal power plant of the Tianjin base provided a large amount of electricity to the base and the residents and commercial facilities around the base, and also guaranteed the urgent power needs of the newly built Tianjin shipyard. This shipyard is the largest shipyard in the Tianjin base.

Important industrial facilities, carrying the future of Kangfan

The design scale and standards of the Navy Dream far exceed that of the Daqing Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. The technology and equipment used are currently the most advanced in the world. Thanks to Donovan, if it hadn't been for him

Relations, these advanced shipbuilding equipment from Britain and the United States will definitely not be obtained so easily.

Because the Tianjin base has a special open and free social environment, it is similar to concessions in neighboring countries. Therefore, with the rapid development of industry and commerce, the local service industry has also emerged rapidly. Now the Tianjin base is a place of feasting, singing and dancing.

Shengping, Chinese and foreign personnel

In this bustling place where people live together, there are a large number of hotels, restaurants, brothels, opium dens, casinos, bars, cafes, dance halls, theaters and other various service and entertainment venues run by Chinese and foreign businessmen. Although it is very lively, it is a mixed bag.

There is a mixed bag of good and bad, and it must be managed effectively.

Donovan and He Shuikuan became the top administrative managers of the base. They each had their own division of labor. Donovan was responsible for external affairs and He Shuikuan was responsible for the internal affairs of the base. They formed an administrative organization composed of personnel recruited from the public in the base.

Together they manage the base. Zuo Tingdong, Matthew and other members of the escort team received short-term training at Chiang Saen Military Academy in batches. After returning, they all became police officers of the base and continued to assume the task of maintaining social order in the Tianjin base.

In addition, Kang Fan also added an intelligence agency of the Security Bureau and a capable special operations force to the base to strengthen the defense of the base. With the joint efforts of everyone, the Tianjin base has become the place with the best security situation in the entire Tianjin concession area.

.

Although Kang Fan was promoted again during his trip to Beijing, his reform suggestions were not adopted. He knew that the reform was doomed to fail, but he was powerless and felt quite depressed. After meeting Donovan at the Tianjin base, he felt slightly better. .

Donovan accompanied Kang Fan and Mei Xiang around, and when they arrived at the dock, they saw two cargo ships from Li Yuanyang Shipping Company unloading goods. One was a batch of cotton imported from the United States, and the other was loading a batch of cotton exported to Russia. A batch of plastic raincoats and chemical fiber fabrics. The freighter "Helen" commanded by Captain Li is transporting the last batch of ordered medicines and bandages, cotton wool, gauze and other medical rescue supplies to the Italian government. It has not yet returned. Donovan estimates that he should have already returned by this time. We have crossed the 40th parallel of south latitude, known as the "Roaring Forty Degrees", and are sailing on the Indian Ocean. If nothing goes wrong, we should arrive in Tianjin within a week.

The 40th parallel south latitude has always been known for its harsh climate, raging storms, and huge waves. It is a sea area that is daunting to sailors around the world.

"That's really hard for him." Kang Fan couldn't help sighing, "Why did he have to take a detour to South Africa? Wouldn't it be closer to go back to Tianjin via the Suez Canal? The last time Mei Xiang and I took his boat, we took the Suez Canal."

Donovan shook his head, "Captain Li just told me that he was going to South Africa on his return trip. He didn't say what he was going to do. Since he did this, there must be a reason for him. He is an old sailor. We don't need to Worry about him. But the war between Italy and Ethiopia that you told me about ended just as you expected. I would like to know how you predicted it so accurately? "

"It all happened two years ago. Let the past go by." Kang Fan said with a smile.

Donovan always wanted to ask, but Kang Fan walked around and refused to give him a chance to ask. In the end, this question could only be buried in the bottom of his heart like many other questions.

"Emperor Guangxu agreed to my request: From now on, the large wilderness to the southwest of the base will be ours." Kang Fan said excitedly: "In this way, the Tianjin base has been expanded several times, and it can do a lot of work." There’s a lot going on.”

Donovan was puzzled, "There's not even a ghost in that wilderness. What do you want to do? Raise cattle?"

Kang Fan smiled secretly, pulled Donovan's bluff, and whispered, "There is oil there."

"Oil?!" Donovan screamed and jumped up to his feet.

Kang Fan grabbed him and said with a smile: "Don't get excited." He pointed to his feet, "Just below, there is a large oil field with geological reserves of hundreds of millions of tons."

Donovan stopped talking.

Kang Fan said: "Currently, we do not have the ability to mine domestically, so we can only help you find American oil companies for help."

Donovan thought for a while and asked Kang Fan doubtfully: "Are you really sure there will be oil under our feet?"

Kang Fan smiled and said: "How about you trust me one more time?"

Donovan sighed, "Okay. I'll get started as soon as possible."

Petroleum is an important chemical raw material and is called the "blood of industry" by later generations. In addition to refining gasoline, diesel, kerosene and other fuels, it can also be made into important petroleum solvents and chemical raw materials, lubricants, paraffin, petroleum asphalt, petroleum coke, etc. Chemical products are widely used in various fields of industry and agriculture.

If this oil field in Tianjin is completed and put into operation, it will provide crucial prerequisites for Ningwu Prefecture to enter the era of internal combustion engines as soon as possible and realize a new round of industrial upgrading. Although the production capacity of military and civilian power machinery currently using internal combustion engines is steadily increasing

In the process, the number is not very large, and the mountain

The existing coal chemical industry in Western China can basically meet the supply of various types of oil. However, as the civilian field and the military have increasingly urgent needs for automobiles, crawler tractors and construction machinery, after the production capacity of various factories has been increased, a large number of these equipment have entered the military

, the days of civilian use are not far away.

By that time, the demand for various types of fuel and various petroleum products in the two places will increase dramatically. It is urgent to develop and build an ideal petroleum base, and it will take a long time to achieve this goal, so

Kang Fan would ask Donovan to start immediately. During the development and construction of the Tianjin oil base, a group of Chinese technicians with excellent skills will be trained. With these talents, the next step will be to develop the Heilongjiang area with their own strength.

That oil field has even greater reserves.

Mei Xiang was very happy in Tianjin, but she could never forget her supervisor Kang Fan. The place was full of colorful prostitutes, opium dens with people coming and going, chaotic and noisy casinos, dance halls with day and night carnivals, etc. It was really tempting.

How could Kang Fan, a person who was unwilling to be lonely, remain unmoved? At this moment, seeing the conversation between the two of them pause for a moment, he came over again and asked Kang Fan to go shopping with him.

A week later, Kang Fan found out that the reason why Captain Li took a detour to South Africa was to pick up his cousin Judy Wood, a real blonde beauty with a slim waist, long legs, and snow-white skin. Kang Fan went to the base alone

I inspected the deserted beach in the southeast with great interest, and on my way back, I

Hao and Judy came face to face, and each was attracted by the other's compelling temperament. After looking at each other for a long time, Judy smiled shyly, walked around Kang Fan, and prepared to continue on his own way. Kang Fan didn't know what was wrong, and thought

Without thinking, she took Judy's hand. Judy was surprised, stopped and looked at Kang Fan with interest.

"Is something wrong?" Judy asked Kang Fan with a smile.

Only then did Kang Fan realize his gaffe and hurriedly let go, feeling a little embarrassed, "I'm sorry, it's okay, I just took a look."

Judy didn't expect that Kang Fan could speak such fluent and standard English, and she couldn't help but become interested, "Are you talking about looking at me?"

Kang Fan felt his face was very hot, smiled, said sorry and turned away. Judy chased after him reluctantly.

"Gentleman, please stay." Judy called to him.

Kang Fan walked away in a hurry, and Judy caught up with him and grabbed his sleeve. At this time, Donovan and Captain Li walked over and happened to see this scene. They looked at each other and were very surprised.

"Kang Fan, why are you running?" Donovan blocked Kang Fan's way.

Kang Fan saw it was him and smiled, "I'm not looking for you."

Captain Li laughed loudly, "Mr. Kang, are you looking for Father Donovan or my cousin?"

Only then did Kang Fan and Judy know each other's identities, and they looked at each other and smiled in unison.

"What happened just now? You two have never met before?" Captain Li asked.

Kang Fan smiled and said, "Just in time." He looked at Judy as he spoke, expecting her to give a better explanation.

Judy raised her eyebrows and said, "This Mr. Kang came up and grabbed my hand without saying anything, and I won't let him go."

Kang Fan was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to say. He lowered his head and stroked the tip of his nose. Donovan smiled and bent over. Captain Li pulled Judy and whispered something in her ear. After a while, Judy

Walked up to Kang Fan and smiled happily.

"Nice to meet you, Lord Kang." Judy took the initiative to extend her hand to Kang Fan this time.

Kang Fan hesitated and said, "It's better not to shake it. I can't touch your hand."

Judy forced her hand into Kang Fan's and then said bitterly: "You can't even grab my hand this time!"

Kang Fan had no choice but to hold it and looked up to see Judy's bright eyes.

Judy made a special trip to bring Kang Fan a precious gift from the Ethiopian government - Emperor Menalik's personal savings: a bag of unpolished diamonds. "Mr. Kang, Emperor Menalik asked me to answer: Menalik

On behalf of all the people of Ethiopia, Emperor Leake would like to express his heartfelt thanks to you for your selfless assistance in the war against the Italian invaders!" Judy said with joy.

Kang Fan smiled, turned to Donovan and said, "Last time I asked you to donate those medicines to the Ethiopian government, you were still very reluctant. What are you going to say this time?"

Donovan smiled helplessly, "I have nothing to say."

Kang Fan said: "We do righteous things, even if we get nothing, we should do it. I once told you: people cannot always be just for profit."

"I understand, and I agree with this. When I was preaching and practicing medicine in your country during those years, most of the people I helped were penniless people. How could they give me material benefits? But I

I have never refused anyone’s request, because I have gained their respect and trust from the bottom of their hearts, and that’s enough!

"Donovan said, "Okay, let me tell you about Miss Wood: Miss Wood has been engaged in diplomatic work in Africa for many years and is very familiar with Africa. The medicine you entrusted me to give to Ethiopia was transported by Captain Li, and

It was delivered to Emperor Menalik of Ethiopia by Miss Wood. You have to thank her."

Kang Fan turned to look at Judy, still a little uncomfortable, "Thank you, Miss Wood!"

"You've already held my hand and you still call me Miss Wood?" Judy said dissatisfied.

Kang Fan smiled awkwardly and had to change his words: "Thank you, Judy!"

Judy smiled and said, "Why were you so calm and calm when you grabbed my hand earlier?"

Kang Fan suddenly said with a serious face: "We have a kind of domestic animal in China that will never let go of anything it bites. Do you know what this Chinese domestic animal is, Judy?"

Judy was puzzled: "What?"

Kang Fan smiled evilly and said as he ran: "We Chinese call this kind of domestic animal 'pig'."

Laughter came from behind, mixed with Judy's shout: "Mr. Kang, you are so disgusting!"

When they arrived at He Shuikuan's house, Mei Xiang was still sleeping soundly in the back room. It's no wonder she wasn't tired after these days of crazy shopping and shopping! She still held the unfinished sweater for Kang Fan in her hand, and the bright metal sweater needles were scattered on the

Beside his face, Kang Fan took away the knitting needle, pulled up the quilt, covered Mei Xiang's exposed shoulders, turned around, and closed the door.
To be continued...