Chapter 356 The energy crisis

During the repeated discussions of many staff members, Meng Xiang also felt that the Japanese were planning a large attack. At this time, the Japanese seemed weak and retreated, but in fact they were still as vicious as before. However, they recited the word "tolerance". Thinking of the perseverance of the Japanese in the Pacific Battle as known in later generations, Meng Xiang did not dare to be careless at all.

However, Zhangjiakou easily accepted the economic development and layout of Zhangjiakou, Meng Xiang immediately started to defend fortifications there. Without a direct construction of the base, it was built entirely by his own strength. Meng Xiang clearly felt the pressure. The cement of Qixin Cement Plant resumed production, but the fortifications built not only require cement, but also sand, stone and steel bars to form reinforced concrete fortifications. The high price of steel cement still made Meng Xiang feel pain. Fortunately, the machine gun cannons equipped with reliance on the base, saving a lot of money.

There are not many fixed fortifications, and Meng Xiang's plan is better than producing weapons directly. Offense is more suitable for the next step of action than passive defense. The Great Wall is not where the vanguard's footsteps stop. Crossing the Great Wall and standing on the Mongolian Plateau to look north is what the vanguard's army needs to do.

From this comparison, Meng Xiang clearly felt the huge help from the base. Obviously, the help from the base is not just that.

"Power power and energy are the foundation of industry!" Zhou Bai said. China's industrial foundation is weak, electricity and energy are both in short supply, and various power equipment is even in short supply. In this country with abundant manpower, manpower is even replacing the work of cattle and horses. However, when it comes to the Pioneer Army, this is well solved by the base.

The engines on tanks, aircraft, trucks, and warships were disassembled and pushed back for rebuilt. The various engines that were extra were the source of power systems for various factories in the war zone. Although Meng Xiang did not dare to choose the best engine, even the steam engines during World War I were in short supply in China at this time. The steam engines on these high-quality coal-fired military ships were most suitable for use in China today.

The lack of oil has made coal the main energy source in the war zone. Imported oil and coal-based oil are used in military operations. Not to mention those combat backup oils, even in daily training, various aircraft, vehicles, tanks and ships have become bottomless pits and swallowing up a lot of money.

"Power power and energy are also the foundation of modern military." Meng Xiang not only sighed. Later experiences gave him more feelings.

The original troops could still support them by imports and coal-based oil, but with the expansion of the Pioneer Army, especially after the Fifth Fleet, the fuel was obviously insufficient. Not to mention the oil used for civilian ships, the Zhenyuan alone went out for a walk, and nearly a thousand tons of fuel would be gone. Even if the fuel was cheap in this era, it would not be able to stop the large number. There were also the heavy patrols of the Peak and the Canglong who burned heavy oil. The naval talents were originally lacking, and it would not be possible to train, but when training, it kept moving, which consumed too much.

The army's tanks and vehicles are constantly consuming a lot of fuel in training newcomers, especially those Soviet-made tanks, all of which are oil tigers.

Although those vehicles consume less fuel, at this time, there are more than 10,000 vehicles of various types in the Special Administrative Region, and the energy consumed in one day is more than those tanks and tigers. Once a war breaks out, some of these vehicles will be provided for military use, while the fuel supply of the other part will be restricted.

The fuel consumption of the aircraft is even higher. The fuel consumed by the Pioneer Army's several airborne aircraft has been amazed by Meng Xiang. There are nearly a thousand new flight students and pilots practicing operations every day. Planes from airports in various places continue to take off and land, and a lot of white silver rose into the sky with the engine's blue smoke.

With the addition of civilian oil, thousands of tons of oil consumed in the war zone in a day. This is really beyond the base's ability to coal-based oil and foreign imports.

It is precisely because of the tight oil and fuel, and the civilian power is mainly coal-fired, but even so, the rapidly increasing demand for coal has caused major coal mines to become nervous. In order to collect coal, accidents occur frequently. Without others launching strikes to protest, the Pioneer Army issued relevant safety production laws on Meng Xiang's instructions, forcing miners to implement strict safety measures, directly seal or even confiscate mines if they fail.

The support of the minimum living allowance also makes coal workers feel dissatisfied and can also go on strike directly.

The Labor Protection Law, which has been implemented by the SAR, gives workers the right to strike, but according to the employment contract, it needs to be notified three to seven days in advance to avoid causing too much loss.

Although the repeated strikes affected coal mine production, Meng Xiang did not impose a stop. As long as they did not violate the relevant *** strike regulations, the government would only serve as a neutral mediator to mediate for both labor and capital.

"I really can't do it anymore! I won't open it anymore." A thin mine owner wearing three big gold rings shouted.

"I gave it to the eight-hour working system a day. I also gave it to the one-day vacation a week. We are rectifying and improving safety measures. But these poor people are not satisfied with it and demanding a salary increase. This is the third time. I will definitely not do it." He shouted at several miner representatives in the distance in the mediation court.

"If you want me to tell me, can you dismiss some people by using a few more machines? Look, there is a new set of electric winches installed in our mine, which is faster than the speed of carrying coal by one hundred people. If those people are saved, they will pay less taxes." A big belly mine owner next to him said with a flushed face.

"That's right! But is that thing expensive?" asked the thin mine owner.

"Not high, isn't there a power station in the SAR? It's very convenient to pull it up. This power machine is better served than that steam engine." The fat mine owner smiled.

"Oh! Then are you here..."

"Something happened in the mine safety, and I'm dealing with the compensation issue!" The fat mine owner smiled bitterly, "Brother, be careful, don't have an accident. If there is an accident, you will be fined and you will lose everything."

Such fines initially led many coal mine owners to find connections or come to the door directly and come to tell each other.

But Meng Xiang did not give in at all, which led many coal mine owners to join forces and stop mining. He planned to force the Pioneer Military Government to give in, but Meng Xiang vigorously started the production of mining trucks. Bases in various places reduced production, and the mining coal was given priority for winter heating and factory construction. With the minerals seized from the Japanese and traitors under the Pioneer Army, he survived this coal waste. The base's full implementation was not a sloppy statement and colluded with outsiders.

When the coal mine owners saw the company under the Pioneer Army's name making money every day, they finally couldn't hold on and opened a coal ban, and the loose alliance collapsed without using violent means.

A crisis was lifted, but Meng Xiang realized that relying on coal alone was not suitable. Various power equipment was disassembled from the base and loaded into various factories. The power supply connected to the base's power station was transmitted to the surrounding cities through the concealment of several small-power power stations established, and the power supply of surrounding cities was supplied when the base was not in a tight state of production. However, because there were not many electric systems during World War II, it could not replace the dominant position of internal combustion engines in the next few decades under many conditions. The base's various diesel engines and gasoline engines have the most complete varieties and the largest number.

But he was stumped by the supply of oil. Meng Xiang also understood the helplessness of the Germans and Japanese in history.

In 37 years, the production of oil from the Japanese and local areas in the occupied areas was only 2.5 million barrels, and the production was not enough for the vanguard army to consume, let alone the larger fleet of the Japanese. Later, the ships could not be driven without oil. It was really a joke.

Even Chiang was helpless at this time. The Pioneer Army could at least produce coal-based oil and transport it through cows to solve most of the fuel problems. After Chiang Kai-shek fell in the ports such as Guangdong, his contact with the Pioneer Army was also separated by the Japanese. Fuel was even more difficult. Britain and the United States were obviously on the side of the Japanese in this matter. In addition to some civilian lighting kerosene, there were limited supply, others were shirking it with various excuses. The war in China also increased the risks of those oil merchants, causing their spirit of adventure to stop before the Japanese naval guns.

The Yanchang He Yongping Oilfield discovered in Shaanxi cannot solve the practical difficulties by producing several tons per day. Weng Wenbo, Sun Jianchu and others were staying in the Geology Academy of Jixia Academy at this time. Although Yumen Oilfield was also exploring, the progress has been unfast. Meng Xiang only knew the Yumen Oilfield, but the specific oilfield address was not remembered. The Yumen Oilfield in later generations was too small.

The urgent Central Military Army used various methods to solve the gasoline problem. They are preparing to use beets, sugarcane and mixed grains to produce alcohol factories to replace gasoline. There are also factories that use tung oil and rapeseed oil as raw materials to produce gasoline. Sichuan's natural gas is also being developed. In history, these have played a lot of roles, but they are still a drop in the bucket.

"We need an oil field!" Meng Xiang thought for a long time and felt that he should directly exploit oil to alleviate the pressure on oil in the war zone. Compared to being discovered by the Japanese, the risk of rushing in a crazy way is still more practical. Moreover, as long as you do a good job of confidentiality, secretly exploiting oil or producing oil is not large, the Japanese feel that attacking there is not as cost-effective as Nanyang, and you should not attract wolves.

"But where are we going to mine?"
Chapter completed!