There is actually nothing wrong with the design of this entire set of development, and even the final trick of killing the donkey is feasible in reality.
Therefore, the strategy offered by the young man was simply a conspiracy, a real trick that a brain like Zheng Tong could not see any problems with.
But looking at the overall situation, this flawless trick can really be fatal to Zheng Guo's national destiny.
You know, there is the Datang Group, a force sharpening its knives and eyeing it with eager eyes, on the side. The current development focus of the Datang Group is on conquering Zheng State.
When the state of Zheng really had some industrial foundation and roads connecting everywhere, where would it be Zheng Tong's turn to cut leeks?
At that time, Tang Mo's mechanized troops will control these places that already have industrial foundations at a faster speed, and directly absorb Zheng Guo's investment into their own belly.
With this in mind, is it wrong to say that Zheng Guo pursued industrialization and engaged in the Westernization Movement? No, on the contrary, if Zheng Guo fails, Zheng Tong will not even have a chance to struggle. If he starts industrialization, he will at least have a vague chance to struggle.
Although you will still lose in the end and lose everything, there is a difference between sitting at home and waiting for others to come to kill you, and taking the capital and giving it a try.
No one would choose to sit still and wait for death, so even if he sees through everything, Zheng Tong will still make the choice to struggle - not to mention, Zheng Tong cannot see this level.
His position has been decided, and there is no concept of Zheng Guo being destroyed in his mind. This is the limitation, this is the thinking mode of the monarch!
Any ruler will subconsciously block the option of ending his rule. They will be selectively blind until everything becomes irreversible.
The same was true for Zheng Tong. There was nothing special about him, so he naturally began to fantasize about a Zheng State that would rise against the odds in his hands.
"Kill?" He looked into the young man's small eyes and asked tentatively.
"Of course those who are obedient can be used for their own purposes." At this moment, the ugly young man had become pleasing to Zheng Tong's mind.
Zheng Tong, who was even more satisfied with this young man, looked at Li Jun: "General... Sir, I want to ask you whether your sword is sharp."
"Killing for your majesty, my sword can cut iron like clay!" Li Jun quickly expressed his stance with a smile that was flattering.
"Uh... Hahaha! Hahahaha!" Zheng Tong laughed proudly, smiled, stretched out his hand to grab the young man's hand, and asked: "Sir, you are so young, but you are so talented. Don’t know where your master is from?”
The young man replied with a smile: "To be honest, I once studied at the Bunas Datang Group's military academy."
"Huh?" Zheng Tong frowned when he heard the name Datang Group, and held the young man's hand slightly harder.
The young man was neither humble nor arrogant, and explained: "Your Majesty, no matter how dissatisfied I am with the Datang Group, I still have to tell the truth. The Military Academy of the Datang Group is really the best school in the world. In this regard, even if I have nothing to do with the people there, Many people have different views, but we have to admit it.”
Seeing how frank the young man was, Zheng Tong couldn't understand the situation. He stared at the young man, waiting for the young man to continue to explain.
"Your Majesty, I am studying to assist Zuo Mingzhu and benefit the country. I have never thought that wherever I study, I will serve." The young man explained: "I am from the Zheng Kingdom. If I don't return to my country to assist His Majesty Zuo, I will force myself to do so." Hasn’t my motherland lived this life in vain?”
Who doesn't know how to sing a high-profile song? It's costless to shout slogans. Anyway, pick what the other party likes to hear. If you put it nicely, there will definitely be no problem in the end.
Therefore, young people continue to portray themselves as patriotic returnees who give up the favorable conditions abroad and return to China to build their hometown: "That's why I was kicked out before I graduated. Your Majesty, don't laugh at this."
"Well said!" Zheng Tong was indeed very satisfied with this statement, but as the leader of the country, he naturally had his own thoughts and judgments.
So he continued to laugh and said: "Why are you laughing at me, sir? Don't go to a place like that! No matter how nice it is, it is still an uncomfortable place! By the way, I haven't asked you your name yet."
"Pang Tong!" The young man remembered the nickname the principal gave him that day and replied proudly. He didn't know where the name came from. He only remembered that the principal patted his shoulder and smiled weirdly, and kept mumbling meaningless words like "Wolong and Phoenix".
"Mr. Pang... will temporarily accept the deputy position of the Ministry of Industry, and be made an earl! Reward... a mansion!" Zheng Tong found that when he offered the official position, he was far from saying that he felt sorry for the reward.
He had the intention to give this ugly man 10,000 gold coins, and then reward him with some servants and concubines... But he only remembered in the middle of the sentence that these all cost money!
This so-called deputy position of the Ministry of Industry actually has no real power. The earl is just a supplement. The salary of the title has not been paid for many years. So in the end, apart from a house, there was nothing valuable left.
So he hesitated. Just when he was hesitating, the young man named Pang Tong spoke directly and thoughtfully, interrupting his reward: "Thank you, Your Majesty! I am extremely honored to be able to relieve your Majesty's worries."
This just-in-time interruption made Zheng Tong feel very comfortable, secretly saying that the other party was sensible. But he still wanted to do enough to save his face, so he patted the back of the young man's hand and said again: "Now the country is in a difficult situation. You and General Li will work together with me. In the future... we will never forget each other!"
Now he only has this skill left, so he uses it naturally, skillfully and affectionately.
This "phoenix chick" from another world also has outstanding acting skills. He immediately got into his role, and his tears were so sincere that it was heartbreaking.
Soon, Zheng Tong ordered someone to send this person away. When only Li Jun and himself were left in the room, he asked: "Is this person...reliable?"
"Your Majesty, if you can give us such a strategy, you must... really want to find an official position in Zheng State to honor your ancestors, right?" Li Jun didn't say anything, because he knew that Zheng Tong would definitely not unconditionally trust this young man who called himself Pang Tong. .
Sure enough, Zheng Tong sighed and said: "He revealed his identity himself. He probably guessed that we would definitely check him out... But it may not be that he is open-minded, so he didn't hide it. You don't need to worry about this matter, I will handle it." .”
This meant arranging for personal review, and Li Jun didn't take it seriously. Anyway, Zheng Tong was willing to do the best on his own, so he avoided suspicion.
"What do you think of the strategy he mentioned?" Zheng Tong glanced at Li Jun and brought the topic back to the "Zheng Guo's version of the Westernization Movement."
"I think there is some truth. We are short of money, and Cyric's weapons are not cheap. If we keep buying Cyric's weapons, we won't be able to get much faster." Li Jun immediately defended himself The person who introduced the recommendation said: "What's more, we actually have no money now. If we don't use this strategy, we have nothing to do now. Why not try..."
Zheng Tong immediately nodded in agreement and said: "Indeed, we don't have any money anyway, so why not open an opening and let those businessmen who have nothing to lose!"
After saying that, he held Li Jun down and ordered: "You can handle this matter yourself. You can't get it through Pang Tong's hands. Do you understand? Then I will arrange for my confidants to find you. This kind of business is natural for the royal family." You should do it too.”
"I...understand." Li Jun immediately lowered his head. He knew that Zheng Tong's confidants were definitely here to make a fortune, and they were also here to monitor him. It was impossible for Zheng Tong to completely trust someone in such a big matter.
Even before arriving, Li Jun had already determined that Zheng Tong would not allow "Pang Tong" who offered the plan to participate in the execution of the plan.
But this ugly young man didn't care about this at all. He claimed that he was just here to offer suggestions and had nothing to do with how to operate in the future.
This open-mindedness and freedom also convinced Li Jun that the young man did not have any conspiracy. Because if there is really a hidden backhand, it is impossible to hand over the entire plan to unrelated people for operation and execution.
Sure enough, on the next day, this ingenious plan made the civil service group nod: they had no reason to reject such a plan, because this plan would really give money to them!
As long as Zheng Guo starts to build various local workshops, profits will definitely be generated. At that time, the exploitation of local officials, the bribes from profit sharing, and the taxes submitted will all be real benefits.
How could anyone object to such a plan? Even Zhang Ming didn't see anything fishy, so he simply nodded in agreement.
It's just that they also made a little compromise: when setting up industry and starting the "Westernization Movement", they had to take care of several arsenals.
No one objected to such a trivial request. His Majesty the King made concessions and stopped engaging in the deceptive arms procurement plan. Of course, they could turn a blind eye to these so-called arsenals.
After the plan was approved, the matter of raising money also went smoothly. After receiving the contracts, many businesses began to raise funds spontaneously and started Zheng's industrialization.
Businessmen in coastal cities are particularly active in this matter. Not only did they raise a large amount of funds, they also immediately started building factories.
Yes, the enthusiasm of these coastal businessmen for opening factories is frightening. Their attitudes are so positive that even before they even talk about buying equipment, the foundations of the factories have begun to be dug.
What's even more outrageous is that the roads connecting various factories seem to have been paved for a long time, and even the train station has begun to take shape on the outskirts of the port.
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I still owe you two more updates... After staying up all night, I can finally go to sleep for a while...