When two people with evil intentions sit face to face, every word they speak may contain a deep meaning.

Meng Shaoyuan doesn't like dealing with politicians, not at all.

But he has to do this now.

Marcos showered "Colonel Charles" with compliments.

It is nothing more than his outstanding performance in the war.

Meng Shaoyuan had heard this kind of talk too many times.

Of course, there are also fresh ones.

Marcos told Meng Shaoyuan that "Colonel Charles" played a crucial role in the rapid reconstruction of Manila.

If he and the US military under his command had not stabilized the situation in Manila, otherwise, the capital of the Philippines would never have been rebuilt so quickly.

Meng Shaoyuan accepted the compliment calmly.

However, during this process, Meng Shaoyuan would occasionally praise this rising star in Philippine politics.

Everyone is acting anyway.

"Colonel, I am just a little person." Marcos said humbly: "My visit will not cause any disturbance to Manila. Although I met President Osmina, it is the same for me and the Filipino people.

I am deeply grateful to the American personnel, but I cannot express my gratitude."

This is what I said.

It was always there that Ming Li declared his loyalty to the Americans.

But in fact, he used the most euphemistic way to express his dissatisfaction with the fact that no American appeared in Malacañang Palace.

Meng Shaoyuan smiled slightly: "I personally extend my warmest welcome to Mr. Marcos' visit. I also hope that the friendship between the United States and the Philippines can be maintained forever. After careful discussions with Mr. Levi, the U.S. Plenipotentiary in Manila, I believe that

President Osmina's interview with you is a matter that belongs to the Philippines and Americans should not interfere.

The United States' energy is mainly focused on the continued attack on the Japanese troops in the Philippines and the reconstruction of the Philippines. Mr. Marcos, you probably don't know the complexity and importance of the work in Manila.

You are the administrator of the eight provinces of Northern Luzon personally appointed by General MacArthur, and you have a heavy responsibility, but I can tell you clearly that even the eight provinces of Northern Luzon cannot compare with the political and economic status of Manila."

What he said was without accusation.

As the political and economic center of the Philippines, Manila has a unique status in the entire Philippines.

The Port of Manila, in particular, carries an extremely important task.

A large amount of military and civilian supplies are continuously transported to this port.

The Port of Manila has become the lifeline of the Philippines.

Meng Shaoyuan told Marcos in a subtle way, yes, you have the trust of General MacArthur, and all eight provinces of Northern Luzon are under your management, but so what?

Not to mention that there are still a large number of Japanese troops fighting in the eight provinces of Northern Luzon, so it is impossible to truly control them. Even if you have complete control, so what?

No matter from which angle you look at it, Manila is the only one in the Philippines.

Maybe you can be majestic in other places, but here, you are actually just a little person.

This is also true.

After Roxas became President of the Philippines, Marcos was appointed as his secretary.

The position of presidential secretary is still very important and respected, but it does not have much real power.

A dignified administrator of the eight provinces of Northern Luzon became the presidential secretary. From a general political point of view, Marcos had to do this.

But this disappointed Marcos, who had greater aspirations and ambitions.

In his view, since he is the administrator of the eight provinces of Northern Luzon and helped Roxas during his most difficult time, he should be given a more important position after Roxas successfully ran for president.

For example, the head of a certain department.

Or by virtue of his military exploits and his status as a "Filipino Hero" and a recipient of 32 medals, he can enter the Ministry of National Defense and hold important positions.

But Roxas only gave him the position of presidential secretary.

In this position, I can stay with the president more and maintain a close relationship.

But in fact, Marcos would rather be a senator.

If Roxas had not died of a heart attack two years later while visiting Iraq, Marcos would have continued to serve as his secretary, thereby losing several years of direct political front office.

Politics is so strange, no one knows when opportunities will arise.

As soon as Roxas died, Marcos made a decisive decision to run for Congress, thus starting a smooth political career in the future.

At this time, the words of "Colonel Charles" made Marcos, who had always been arrogant, feel frustrated.

I, the administrator of the eight provinces of Northern Luzon, whom I attach great importance to, are worthless in the eyes of Americans.

Perhaps, his status is not as good as that of the mayor of Manila.

The bruises on him are almost gone.

Meng Shaoyuan changed the subject: "Mr. Marcos, in the eight provinces of Northern Luzon you manage, in addition to the Japanese army, they are still resisting. The factors of the war have left them traumatized. The most fatal factors are the shortage of cash and the skyrocketing prices of finished products.

, however, the prices of rice and tobacco, which are the local pillar industries, miraculously did not rise."

This was the most embarrassing thing for Marcos, who was the top administrator of the place.

In the entire Northern Luzon region, the Cagayan Valley has the most extensive farmland.

In fact, it has long been known as the rice granary of Northern Luzon.

It produces enough rice to make up for the food shortage in Ilocos and mountainous provinces.

Cigar and cigarette factories in Manila have also produced tobacco since the 18th century.

Despite rice surpluses and tobacco production, locals have not risen from the quagmire of poverty.

Neither the Spaniards, nor the Americans before them, nor the Japanese later, saw fit to establish any significant manufacturing industry in the area.

Moreover, there is no local road network.

After the U.S. military landed on Luzon Island, the Japanese army collected a large amount of food in the Cagayan River.

But it didn't take long for the Japanese army to suffer from serious food shortages, and eventually people began to eat each other.

Why?

Because although the Japanese army worked hard to collect food, they were embarrassed to find that they did not have roads to smoothly transport the food to a safe area.

Moreover, the land in Northern Luzon was crazily expropriated by local big families.

The Narendasan family, the arch-enemy of the Marcos family, directly embezzled more than 10,000 hectares of land.

The Marcos family is even worse.

Marcos's father, Marcos Sr., alone appropriated 20,000 hectares of land in one fell swoop.

Therefore, the assets of Northern Luzon are actually in the hands of big bureaucratic capital.

They don't care at all if rice and tobacco cannot be transported.

What they value is local logging, extorting local logging merchants, constantly taxing merchants, smuggling logs, and stealing cattle!

That’s right, cattle stealing!

The bureaucracy directed the police and their personal thugs to seize land and property from poor settlers.

Even the cattle were spared.

Cattle stealing has even become an important source of income for them.

How is it possible to run a place like this?

As the top local administrator, Marcos was also the direct recipient of the benefits.

He will not, dare not, and is unwilling to stop these dirty transactions.

He must do his best to protect the interests of his family.

Although the Marcos family and the Narendasan family are mortal enemies, they have one thing in common:

The interests of the big family are unshakable!

This point is "sacred and unchangeable" whether the Marcos family or the Narendasan family is in power in Northern Luzon!

"Yes, Colonel, you know the situation in Northern Luzon well." Marcos had to admit: "But what can we do? It is very difficult to transport the rice and tobacco produced, and the entry of finished products

"

"It's very regrettable." Meng Shaoyuan sighed: "I have some friends, some powerful friends in the United States, who are very willing to help the Administrator resolve the current predicament."

Marcos's eyes lit up.

If this is the case, he will become a real star.

You will gain a lot of political prestige as a result.

"Colonel, I am willing to listen." Marcos said hurriedly.

Meng Shaoyuan took out a cigarette and lit it: "My friends will set up a company, inject a large amount of capital, and actively solve the difficult situation encountered in Northern Luzon, especially the Cagayan River.
To be continued...