My girlfriend is from 1949

"Oxen are indeed a problem!"

Lin Wan pursed her lips, her delicate brows furrowing involuntarily.

She did want to buy oxen in modern times, but the time-space treasure chest couldn't transport living creatures.

Even if you buy a large number of oxen, if you put them in a treasure chest and send them over, they will only turn into dead oxen.

Aside from bleeding them out and eating their flesh, there's no way for them to come back to life and farm the land.

I couldn't help but recall a news article I read in a magazine, and I exclaimed: "After World War II, the level of agricultural mechanization in Western countries improved rapidly."

Tractors, combine harvesters, and other mechanical power have largely replaced animal power, and oxen are no longer the main source of power for plowing.

Due to prolonged warfare, my country faces a severe shortage of draft cattle.

Even if one wanted to spend money to buy cattle from the West, the price and shipping costs would be high, and the quantity would not be large.

While it is possible to purchase food directly from the future world, the daily food demand of our 400 million compatriots faces a huge gap.

If all the resources are used to transport food, then other supplies will be impossible to transport.

Therefore, only one-third of our shipments these times were grain.

Moreover, the main purpose is to stockpile resources in advance so that we can engage in a price war with unscrupulous capitalists in a couple of days!

Once grain prices stabilize, we will still need to grow our own grain.

Alternatively, we can increase the quantity of stockings we purchase.

Use all the dollars earned to buy agricultural machinery?

However, most of the paddy fields in the south are terraced, so the large-scale equipment purchased would not be of use.

"Oxen are still the best for plowing!"

Lin Wan sighed and brought up the current situation and difficulties.

As a journalist who also studied in the West, I had access to even more information.

When I was doing agricultural reporting before, I also extracted data from foreign countries for comparison.

However, the West was able to develop its industry because of a relatively stable environment.

Even though there was World War I and World War II, the wars were actually not very long.

Furthermore, the silver reparations received after our invasion also accelerated economic development.

The amount of compensation that was forced upon them was as high as 13 billion taels of silver.

The first-class imported ironclad warships purchased at that time were the "Dingyuan" and the "Zhenyuan".

Each ship cost approximately 140 million to 170 million taels of silver, and also included a full set of equipment such as cannons.

These two 7000-ton behemoths were built by the German Vulcan shipyard and were the most expensive warships at the time.

If the 13 billion taels of silver in reparations had been used entirely for military and technological development, what level would it have reached?

At that time, the Japanese Navy had 31 main combat ships, and if torpedo boats and auxiliary ships were included, the total number exceeded 50. In key battles such as the Battle of the Yellow Sea, 12 main ships actually participated in the battle.

To put it bluntly, 13 billion taels of silver could buy 866 ships, including the "Dingyuan" and "Zhenyuan".

Even without using cannonballs, ten ships ramming one of them could sink all the Japanese warships!

However, in order to raise these reparations, the entire country and its people were plunged into poverty.

Even if they wanted to develop military and technology, they didn't have the money.

The great powers used these indemnities to develop their economies and militaries.

At the time, the Japanese navy was very wary of the Beiyang Fleet and was not even certain of victory.

However, after 1894, they received a large amount of reparations, and by 1918 they had the money to build an aircraft carrier.

They developed a powerful air force and navy by plundering China's resources.

As one side gains at the expense of the other, the gap between us and the rest of the world naturally widens.

It can be said that the development of Western powers and Japan was built on the plunder of China.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, we were no longer oppressed by foreign powers, no longer had to cede territory or pay indemnities, and we gained the ability to be independent.

That's how it was able to surpass the former powers and become the world's third largest power in just a few decades!

Now, we have become a great power!

This further confirms that our suffering is inextricably linked to those robbers.

Now that our country is strong, those former imperialist powers can no longer leech off us. Look at what they've become!

Everyone present clenched their fists, holding back a surge of anger.

We must build a strong motherland and never be bullied by foreign powers again!

The first step is to ensure that people have enough to eat.

Zheng Changlin pondered for a moment, then asked, "Comrade Huai'an, you have more experience than us, do you have any solutions?"

Perhaps future technologies will provide a solution to this problem.

Chen Huai'an pursed his lips and asked, "Director Zheng, what's the status of the oil distribution map that Wanwan brought back two months ago?"

Zheng Changlin paused for a moment, then pondered and said, "Those resource distribution maps have all been sent to Beiping."

I'm not in charge of this area, so I don't know the specifics.

However, as far as I know, the Daqing Oilfield in Heilongjiang has already completed its exploration ahead of schedule, based on the information you provided.

The team heading to the Shandong oilfield should arrive in a couple of days.

Construction is currently underway and we believe it will be producing oil soon.

With the accurate information you provided, the exploration team will soon have good news to share.

With these two large oil fields, it is sufficient to supply the current domestic needs.

Of course, if we urgently need oil, we can buy it from Big Brother.

Zheng Changlin recounted the current situation, a look of sudden realization appearing on his face.

"Are you planning to buy farmland machinery from the future?"

That is one way to solve the problem of the shortage of oxen for plowing in the north.

However, in the more fragmented paddy fields of the south, manual labor is the only option.

Purchasing large agricultural machinery for unified local use is one possible solution.

However, this only solved half the problem.

In the south, where the rice paddies are terraced, layer upon layer, it's impossible to install such large-scale equipment.

"The problems in the south can be solved too!"

Chen Huai'an grinned, a confident smile on his face.

"You've all seen the outboard motors that were delivered before, right?"

It's basically just a diesel generator; add a few tiller blades and you can plow the land.

With just diesel fuel, one person can easily plow the land by simply turning the blade.

It can reclaim wasteland and till the soil, making it very convenient to use.

Hand-held tillers aren't expensive; I remember one costing around a thousand yuan.

If you buy a lot, the price can be even lower.

Moreover, it is not as precious as a draft ox, does not need to rest, and can keep moving as long as there is oil.

"Each production team will have two or three machines, and with unified use, the efficiency will be much higher than that of oxen!"

In fact, this estimate is already conservative.

Nowadays, a production team only has three to five oxen for plowing.

Take good care of her, so she doesn't get too tired.

But hand-held tillers aren't so delicate; as long as you give them fuel, they can be used like crazy!

As long as you're not afraid of hard work, you can keep reclaiming wasteland.

With the assistance of hand-held tillers, the area of ​​arable land can be greatly increased, and with fertilizers, yields can also be increased.

It will only take one or two years to solve the problem of feeding the people!

Lin Wan and Zheng Changlin were delighted to hear that there were such good things.

Their goal is nothing less than national prosperity and a better life for the people!

With the issue of oxen resolved, the atmosphere relaxed.

Suddenly, a strong, clear voice rang out from outside: "Report!"

"Come in."

With Wang Hai's permission, he strode in.

He handed Zheng Changlin a slip of paper: "Director, your telegram!"