Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2953 Joining Hands to Build the Northern Frontier
With Ye Feng's support, Warrior Energy Company responded enthusiastically. They not only shared some of their core technologies with enterprises in various divisions and cities of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on preferential terms, but also proactively invested in helping remote regiments build distributed photovoltaic power stations, solving the long-standing electricity problems in the areas.

The company's representative stated, "As an enterprise that originated from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, we cannot only consider economic benefits, but also political and social responsibilities. Supporting the overall development of the Corps is our bounden duty."

This collaborative model, based on shared values ​​and a sense of mission, has produced an unexpected "chemical reaction."

The mutual distrust and vicious competition that may have existed between different divisions and cities, and between enterprises, have decreased, and have been replaced by more cooperation and resource sharing.

The new energy industry of the entire Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is developing rapidly on a healthy track, not only becoming a new economic growth point, but also greatly improving the energy structure and people's livelihood in the border areas.

In terms of promoting ethnic unity, with the deepening of values ​​education, the concept of "cherishing ethnic unity as one would cherish one's own eyes" has become more deeply rooted in people's hearts.

The joint activities between grassroots units and local villages and towns have become more diverse and colorful, extending from cultural exchanges to production assistance, technical support, and joint security efforts.

That harmonious atmosphere of "discussing things together and helping each other in times of difficulty" has become a solid foundation for social stability and long-term peace and security in the border areas.

Of course, shaping and consolidating values ​​is not something that can be done overnight; it is always accompanied by challenges.

With the development of the market economy and the complex changes in the external environment, erroneous ideologies such as money worship, hedonism, and extreme individualism will still occasionally attempt to erode the spiritual bulwark of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

At an internal meeting, Yifei reminded everyone: "We must be prepared for a long-term battle. Building values ​​is like rowing against the current; if you don't move forward, you fall behind. We must keep at it and persevere until we succeed."

She proposed that the next step should focus on "both ends".

First, we must focus on the "source" by strengthening education on the history and spirit of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for young students, so that the red gene can be passed down from generation to generation.

Second, we must focus on the "leaders." Leading cadres must set an example by taking the lead, doing what they ask others to do, and resolutely refraining from doing what they ask others not to do, thus influencing and motivating the entire team through their exemplary actions.

At the same time, she also emphasized the need to pay more attention to humanistic care, focus on the practical difficulties and psychological needs of cadres and employees, and strive to improve working and living conditions so that everyone can feel the warmth of the organization and the progress of the times while making contributions, thereby enhancing their sense of belonging and identity with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

A year later, on August 1st, Army Day, the Military Reclamation City once again held a grand celebration.

Compared to previous years, this year's event seems to have a deeper meaning and a more vibrant spirit.

In the exhibition area showcasing the deeds of heroes and role models in the square, crowds gathered around the display boards featuring veteran role models like Wei Quanyou and newly emerging exemplary figures.

Young parents, in particular, patiently explained the stories behind the scenes to their children. The children's innocent faces were filled with reverence.

The cultural performances included a new drama, "Watching Over," adapted from the story of Wei Quanyou, and a dance, "The Fields of Youth," which reflects the spirit of the new era's Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps youth.

The actors' heartfelt performances deeply moved every audience member present.

As night fell, dazzling fireworks once again illuminated the night sky over the military reclamation city. When the words "The Spirit of the Corps Will Shine Forever" bloomed brilliantly in the night sky, thunderous applause resounded in the square.

Yifei, Ye Qianqian, and other leaders of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps stood on the reviewing stand alongside model workers like Wei Quanyou and representatives of various ethnic groups. Looking at the joyful, peaceful, and vibrant scene before her, Yifei was deeply moved.

She saw that the wrinkles on the faces of the older generation of the Production and Construction Corps members were etched with contentment and peace.

The eyes of the middle-aged generation are filled with determination and a sense of responsibility.

The smiles on the faces of the younger generation radiate confidence and hope.

A powerful spiritual bond that tightly connects the past, present, and future.

Looking at the colorful sky, the old man Wei Quanyou said softly to Yifei beside him, "Girl, do you see that? Our corps is full of energy and spirit!"

Yifei nodded vigorously, her eyes slightly moist: "Uncle Wei, yes, our spirit will not be lost, and it will be passed down!"

She knows that the road to reshaping values ​​and consolidating spiritual foundations is still long, but the direction is clear and the steps have already been taken.

The legend of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps lies in its unwavering commitment to its original aspirations, its dedication to its mission, and its inheritance of its spirit, which continues to write new and glorious chapters.

And she, as a part of this, will continue to burn herself out and illuminate the way forward on this ancient yet young, vast yet vibrant land.

The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps' vigorous campaign naturally drew the attention of Ayijiang and Liu Junken, provincial leaders who were eager to follow suit. After all, they were also cadres who had come from the military reclamation city.

Northern Xinjiang is a vast and sparsely populated region, covering nearly one-fifth of the entire Chinese territory, but with a population of just over 20 million, who are divided into 56 ethnic groups.

Because of differences in culture, beliefs, and customs, the situation is very complex, making it naturally difficult to manage.

As Yang Geyong's daughter, and being of mixed Han and Kazakh descent, Ayijiang naturally has some advantages.

In addition, as a Harvard graduate, he is extremely familiar with the development of the world economy. Having worked in the military reclamation city and northern Xinjiang for so many years, now is the perfect time for him to make his mark.

With Liu Junken, the former mayor of the military reclamation city and a demobilized military cadre, full of drive, Ayijiang only needs to oversee things from behind.

After carefully analyzing the current situation in northern Xinjiang, the two decided to form a joint military unit and, while developing the economy, also begin to re-establish their values.

Ayijiang already held a part-time position in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, while Ye Qianqian also held a position in the province, so they naturally hit it off immediately.

After several meetings and discussions, it was decided to promote the experience of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps again in northern Xinjiang.

This collaboration is comprehensive, and they have also decided to utilize the water source improvement fund established by Liu Qinghua, the former mayor of Junken City.

Although the fund is currently managed by Ye Feng, its usage rights are limited to the territory of northern Xinjiang.

The original plan was to divert water from Tibet into Xinjiang, but it was shelved for various reasons. Instead, a large hydropower station was built, but the benefits to northern Xinjiang were minimal.

They decided to use this fund to systematically improve the drinking water problem in northern Xinjiang, breaking down the boundaries between local authorities and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and forming a unified and complete system.

Once the resolution is formed, its implementation will naturally be faster, although this requires strong financial backing and a construction team.

But these are no longer problems for the current military reclamation city. Of course, preliminary surveying and design are required, which will take a considerable amount of time.

The resolution of the joint meeting between the Northern Xinjiang government and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps was like a strong spring breeze, instantly spreading throughout the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains.

Led by Ayijiang and Liu Junken, and with the collaboration of Ye Qianqian and Yifei, a grand plan aimed at systematically transforming the drinking water landscape in northern Xinjiang has been officially named the "Northern Xinjiang Clear Spring Project" and has entered the preliminary survey and design stage.

The water source improvement fund established by Liu Qinghua, the former mayor of Junken City, received its first batch of huge funds quickly under Ye Feng's management, providing ample "ammunition" for this battle concerning people's livelihood and development.

In the project command center jointly established by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Design Institute and the Provincial Water Conservancy Design Institute, a huge map of northern Xinjiang began to be covered with lines and markings of various colors. The initial idea is to utilize the existing water network of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, combined with the unique geographical and climatic conditions of northern Xinjiang, to construct an intelligent water network covering the divisions and regiments of the Corps, local counties and townships, and connecting oases and pastoral areas.

This involves more than just building canals and diverting water; it also includes a series of complex projects such as reservoir construction, renovation of old pipelines, promotion of water-saving irrigation, and ecological protection of water sources.

The chief engineer is Chen Shanhe, a senior expert from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Design Institute, who is nearly 60 years old and a veteran of water conservancy.

His hair was gray and his face was etched with the marks of time, but his eyes were sharp and he had a thorough understanding of the hydrogeology of northern Xinjiang.

His deputy is Gulimire Maimaiti, a young technical backbone from the provincial institute, a Uyghur girl in her early thirties who has already shown her talent.

She is quick-witted, fluent in both Chinese and Uyghur, and serves as an important bridge between the local area and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as between the technical team and the local people.

The survey and design team split into several groups and went deep into the Gobi Desert, snow-capped mountains and grasslands to begin arduous and meticulous fieldwork.

However, the grand blueprint soon encountered its first shadow on the real world—not from nature, but from the human heart.

The first survey team, led by Gulimi Tropical Team, was responsible for route surveying in an area on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert.

This area is both a reclamation area of ​​a division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and adjacent to Awat Township, a traditional pastoral township with Uyghurs as the main ethnic group.

According to the preliminary design, a main canal needs to be drawn from the reservoir in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reclamation area, passing through a buffer zone about five kilometers wide, to provide a stable water source for the increasingly depleted old irrigation area of ​​Awati Township.

This was originally a typical example of the "Qingquan Plan" promoting integration between the military and local communities and benefiting people of all ethnic groups.

However, when Gulimiri led the technicians and stepped into the buffer zone with measuring instruments, they unexpectedly encountered resistance.

Several herders from Awati Township arrived on motorcycles, their faces displeased. Leading them was Uncle Aishan, a notorious "stubborn old man" in the township.

"Hey, where are you from? What are you measuring here for?" Uncle Aishan asked in broken Chinese, his tone wary.

Gulimire immediately stepped forward and explained with a smile in fluent Uyghur:

"Uncle, we are the 'Clear Spring Project' survey team. We are preparing to build a new irrigation canal so that our township will no longer have to worry about irrigation water."

Uncle Aishan sized her up and the corps technicians behind her, and snorted:
"An irrigation canal? Water diverted from the Corps? Who knows if they'll intercept the water halfway through? Or tamper with it? There have been conflicts over water before!"

It turns out that this buffer zone had historically been the site of some friction between the Corps companies and local villages and towns over the ownership of water resources.

Although the matter was later resolved through coordination with higher authorities, the seeds of estrangement and suspicion were sown in the hearts of older villagers like Aishan.

They worried that the new canal would become a new means for the Corps to control them, or that the cost of water would be too high for them to afford.

Gulimire patiently explained that this was a people-benefiting project jointly promoted by the province and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, with unified planning and subsidies for water rights and water prices, aiming at common development.

However, Aishan and others remained skeptical and refused to allow the survey team to conduct measurements on land they considered to belong to the township.

"Unless the Corps guarantees that we will have the final say on water usage from now on!" Aishan said firmly.

When the news reached the command center, Chen Shanhe frowned. He had experienced that era of scarce resources and fragmented operations, and he understood the root of this concern.

Technical problems are easy to solve, but these psychological "boundaries" based on historical issues and distrust are more difficult to overcome than surveying the terrain.

"It seems that having blueprints and funds alone is not enough."

Chen Shanhe said to Ayijiang and Ye Qianqian, who had come to discuss the matter, "We need to clear the 'blockages' in people's hearts first."

Ayijiang and Ye Qianqian knew that if this matter wasn't handled properly, the promotion of the "Clear Spring Project" would be impossible. They decided to go to Awati Township themselves.

There was no grand meeting; they simply traveled to Uncle Aishan's house.

The low-lying mud-brick house had a carpet laid out under the grape trellis in the yard. Ayijiang's mixed-race features and fluent Kazakh (similar to Uyghur) made Aishan's family feel a sense of familiarity.

Ye Qianqian then smiled and recounted the story of how, in the early days of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the older generation of soldiers helped each other with the local ethnic minority people and worked together to reclaim wasteland and build farmland.

“Uncle Aishan, my old commander served in this area back then. He also said that it was the villagers who taught them how to plant saxaul trees in the sandy land to prevent wind erosion and fix the sand. We are all one family.”

Ayijiang took over the conversation, and instead of engaging in empty rhetoric, she explained in detail the operational model of the "Clear Spring Project".

A water user association was established, composed of representatives from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, local governments, and water users, to jointly manage water channels, negotiate water prices, allocate water volume, and ensure financial transparency.

Furthermore, once the project is completed, local villagers will be given priority in being hired for maintenance and management to increase their income.

“Uncle, look,” Ayijiang pointed to the slightly wilted grapevines in the yard, “with a stable and sufficient water supply, your grapes will grow better and you can sell them for more money. Your grandchildren may be able to develop in their hometown in the future and won’t have to go so far away to work anymore.”

Uncle Aishan listened in silence, picking up and putting down the milk tea bowl in his hand.

At this moment, Gulimire arrived with a veteran employee of the Production and Construction Corps—Zhao Jianguo, the former company commander who had been stationed in this area for many years.

Company Commander Zhao and Aishan actually knew each other; they had even put out a grassland fire together years ago.

"Old Aishan, if you can't trust others, can't you trust me, Old Zhao?"

Company Commander Zhao's voice boomed, "The completion of this irrigation canal is a tremendous benefit for both of us! I swear on my honor as a veteran, I will never let our fellow villagers suffer any losses!"

The village's young Party Secretary, a college graduate village official with modern education, also stood by, offering advice and analyzing the pros and cons.

As he spoke each earnest word, Aishan gradually became moved.

Looking at the sincere provincial leaders, the familiar old friends from the Production and Construction Corps, and the young village cadres eager for change, the frost on Uncle Aishan's face gradually melted away.

He picked up a bowl of freshly poured milk tea and handed it to Ayijiang: "Leaders, what you said makes sense. We're not trying to make things difficult for you, we're just afraid... afraid it will be like before."

Ayijiang accepted the milk tea with both hands and said solemnly:

"Uncle, times have changed. Now we share the same goal: to live a good life and build a better hometown. Let this bowl of milk tea be our new promise."