As a provincial capital, Jingzhou has an advantage that other places don't have, which is the presence of a postal and telegraph office, or more accurately, a telegraph machine.

  When Wang Zhenyu first learned of the news, he was very excited and rushed to the post office to see the telegraph machine. However, what made him disappointed was that this thing was too big and not like what he had imagined.

  In May, the Beijing Postal Department issued an order to upgrade the Jingzhou Postal Office to a bureau, which had little to do with Wang Zhenyu.

  But Ye Zuwen felt very convenient, because he didn't have to send someone back to Wuhan to deliver the message, a telegram could directly find Cheng Zufu.

  Cheng Zuofu quickly replied that he would bring technical personnel to Jingzhou together, and also brought Ye Zuowen's second son Guowei and Qianjin Ye Ziyun. At first, Ye Zuowen was not clear about the situation in Jingzhou, and out of caution, he did not bring his daughter with him, which made Ye Ziyun very unhappy, and she had a big tantrum at home, smashing many things. Ye Zuowen was so angry that he said to Ye Ziyun: "With your appearance, how can you marry someone?"

  Ye Zhiwen smiled triumphantly and didn't say a word, implying that she had already found a way out. Ye Zuowen could only smile wryly in response.

  Arrived in Jingzhou, saw the future son-in-law so capable, not only won over the local merchants and clan forces, but also wiped out the bandits that had been troubling the surrounding areas for decades. In admiration and fondness, the original plan was to visit Wang Zhenyu's parents in Baoqing Prefecture and settle the marriage, but Wang Zhenyu was busy with official duties every day, so this trip couldn't be arranged.

  Wang Zhenyu thought about it and decided that it would be better to invite his parents over. Considering multiple aspects, their own family's land was not worth guarding, and with Wang Longzhong losing power soon, once he himself embarked on the path of expansion and contention for hegemony, his family members would inevitably be implicated. Since this was the case, it was better to move the whole family into his own sphere of influence to avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble.

  This matter can only be handled by Maxi Cheng, first because his parents know him, and secondly, if they are to move here, it's not just their own family, but also Maxi Cheng's family that will have to move together.

  Wang Zhenyu deliberated and then ordered his subordinates to relocate their families to Jingzhou, with each household receiving 80 taels of silver for travel expenses and 120 taels of silver for resettlement. Upon issuing this order, many battalion-level officers requested leave to return home, and Yang Wanguo approved them all in accordance with Wang Zhenyu's intentions.

  Cheng Zuofu arrived in Jingzhou on June 3rd. Ye Ziyuan saw Wang Zhenyu from afar and revealed a sweet smile, gazing at him with a look of longing. If they weren't in front of everyone, she would have probably rushed into his arms already.

  Wang Zhenyu also felt a sense of emotion, not having seen her for several months, this little girl had grown even more beautiful and charming. Wang Zhenyu couldn't help but think of a phrase: "A woman is like a flower, blooming only once in her life for the man she loves."

  Thinking of this, Wang Zhenyu's heart couldn't help but feel a warmth, his eyes fixed on Ye Zhiwen's bright and dark big eyes, motionless.

  Ye Zuwen quickly noticed and shook his head in his heart, after all, he was still young. So he coughed softly a few times, as if to remind Wang Zhenyu to pay attention to the occasion.

  Wang Zhenyu immediately came to his senses when he heard his future father-in-law coughing, took a big step forward, and shook hands with Cheng Zufu: "Old predecessor, I've long heard of your great name, today I'm lucky enough to meet you, it's the good fortune of this junior. This junior has already set up a banquet tonight, old predecessor must drink heavily, no drunkenness means no return."

  Cheng Zuofu was extremely hesitant and uncertain from the moment he received Ye Zuwen's telegram until he arrived in Jingzhou. What kind of person was this General Wang, would he be able to get help, how much would he have to pay, all these were unknown.

  However, he was unwilling to be swallowed up like this, and he couldn't let his hard work of several decades be destroyed in an instant. So, despite his heavy doubts, he still came without hesitation. When Wang Zhenyu warmly welcomed him, Cheng Zufu's worries instantly dissipated, because people who understand etiquette are bound by rules, and such people will not look too awkward no matter what they eat.

  Looking at the young Wang Zhenyu, Cheng Zufu, who was once proud and ambitious, couldn't help but sigh: "Hearing about someone is not as good as meeting them in person. General Wang is indeed a young and promising talent... we old folks..."

  After a simple exchange of pleasantries, everyone sat down to eat and considered it a welcome for Cheng Zufu and his party.

  Wang Zhenyu, as the host, was naturally the core of the banquet and occasionally introduced everyone to the various specialties of Jingzhou Prefecture. Ye Zuwen's second son, Ye Guowei, who was only 15 years old, sat with Ye Ziyuan and quietly complained to his sister: "Sister, this place is really poor, and there are so many mosquitoes. Look, I've been bitten by so many bumps."

  Ye Zhiwen, who usually doted on her younger brother, seemed to have not heard him at all. Her attention was completely focused on Wang Zhenyu.

  Ye Guowei glanced at his sister, who was infatuated with flowers, and became sullen, no longer speaking. However, Song Haomin's sharp eyes noticed that the second young master of the Ye family, with his delicate skin, was not feeling well, so he immediately ordered a guard to fetch a small box of wind oil balm and deliver it over.

  Ye Guowei didn't take the hint, and Gongzi's temper flared up as he threw the wind oil: "What's the use of this thing? This place is broken and dirty to death. I want to go home!"

  That tin of wind oil was thrown out by Ye Guowei, immediately drawing a perfect parabola, hitting the middle of the table, and then bouncing back, heading straight for Wang Zhenyu. The guards standing on both sides saw this scene, each one tense with anxiety. That team leader who looked like a living Yama was always saying that if the commander lost even a single hair, everyone would get punished. Fortunately, the trajectory of the tin of wind oil was slightly off, only passing in front of Wang Zhenyu's eyes, and the guards' hearts, which had been lifted to their throats, finally fell back down along with the small tin of wind oil.

  Wang Zhenyu was busy flattering Cheng Zufu when a bottle of wind oil suddenly flew in front of him, scaring both him and Cheng Zufu. He turned his head to look at the little guy with a proud face, just in time to see Ye Ziyuan sitting next to him with a bright red face, who was using her finger to fiercely poke the little guy who threw things. Wang Zhenyu couldn't help but laugh, and he even forgot about the unpleasant scare from earlier, instead being amused by Ye Ziyuan's actions.

  Ye Zuowen's face turned red with rage, "Don't want to stay then get out, scram! Get out of here!"

  Ye Guowei had never seen his father so angry before, and immediately retracted his arrogant tone, shrinking his neck and fleeing in a hurry.

  Wang Zhenyu gave Song Haomin a glance, then hastily pulled Ye Zuwen: "Don't be angry, Ye Gong, this is still a child. When he grows up in the future, he will definitely be as polite as Guo Xuan. Don't worry."

  Ye Zuwen sighed and sat down: "Lord Cheng, Wen Zheng, Ye Mou has no way to teach his son, and it's laughable for you to see."

  After the dinner party, Cheng Zufu and Ye Zuwen stayed behind, accompanied by Ye Guoxuan and Song Haomin. Wang Zhenyu got straight to the point and started discussing the cement factory with Cheng Zufu.

  "Cheng Lao, Wang Mou is a junior, speaking directly, don't mind. This Hubei cement plant, Wang Mou thinks it's not necessary to move again, isn't that what you want? You can give him the factory and equipment, as long as he can bring all the technical personnel to Jingzhou, Wang Mou is willing to spend money to set up a larger cement plant."

  Cheng Zuofu did not expect that Wang Zhenyu had no intention of acquiring the Hubei Cement Plant, but instead wanted to start anew and establish a cement plant in Jingzhou. He couldn't help but hesitate.

  Wang Zhenyu continued: "I rescued a group of geologists from the bandits, and they told me that in Jingzhou Prefecture's Ken Shan Kou Town, both limestone and clay are available. As for equipment procurement, Ye Weng has connections and channels, so there's no need to worry. In terms of production, Cheng Gong is good at management, and Wang Mou is also trustworthy. As for sales, Wang Mou is in charge, I don't know about Ye Weng, what does Cheng Gong think?"

  Cheng Zuofu finally spoke up after hearing this: "Cheng is not talented, and the Hubei Cement Factory has become what it is today. How can I be good at management? It's embarrassing to even mention it! However, Cheng wants to know, General Wang, how big a factory do you plan to build? The annual output of Cheng's Hubei Cement Factory is only around 400,000 to 500,000 tons."

  Wang Zhenyu thought for a moment and then said: "After careful consideration, Wang thinks that the annual output must reach 1 million tons."

  This is really a case of "no surprise, no death", Cheng Zufu spent eight years and invested nearly 3 million to accumulate an annual output of 40,000-50,000 tons. This young general came up with 1 million tons right away, if Ye Zuowen hadn't guaranteed it, Cheng Zufu would have thought this guy was joking.

  The reason is obvious, even if relying on Cheng Zufu's management to avoid some unnecessary losses, the output of 500,000 tons would require at least $3 million in equipment costs, and for 1 million tons, it would cost at least $40-60 million. This does not include land acquisition compensation, transportation construction, and later-stage transportation and labor inputs.

  Wang Zhenyu, however, paid no attention to other people's thoughts and continued to say: "The times are progressing, society is developing, now we need to develop industry and commerce, transportation comes first, and this road construction, the first thing that needs to be done is to have cement, urban construction also cannot do without cement, industrial factory buildings also need cement. It can be said that cement is the foundation of industrial production, without cement, wanting to establish modern industrial civilization on a stone road is no different from telling a joke. As for practical industry saving the country, it's even more just empty talk."

  Cheng Zuofu and Ye Zuwen nodded in agreement.

  Wang Zhenyu continued: "Before Mr. Cheng arrived, I had already decided to allocate 400 mu of land at Kengshan Pass to build a cement factory. Reaching an annual output of one million tons all at once is unrealistic. As for funding, Mr. Ye knows that it's not a big problem to scrape together the necessary funds, but technology can't be rushed. So, after some thought, I think we should do this in phases: the first phase will start with 100,000 tons, followed by 200,000 tons, 300,000 tons, and finally 400,000 tons. We'll complete one phase per year, and I plan to start the fourth phase in the fourth year of the Republic. What do you two think? With cement production in place here in western Hunan, we can then focus on large-scale construction of highways, railways, steel smelting, and textile mills... We want to make our old China's industry strong and big, based in western Hunan, so those powerful countries won't dare bully us."

  Later on, Wang Zhenyu became passionate and forcibly linked running a cement plant with national rejuvenation.

  Cheng Zufu was also swayed by this emotion, and began to indulge in this beautiful blueprint. In Wang Zhenyu, he seemed to see a person, someone he had admired but who had already left the world. Zhang Zhidong, Lord Zhang, you may be able to see from heaven that your cause has been taken up by others.

  "General Cheng, I'm a military man, when I say something, I mean it. However, what needs to be clarified must be clarified. This cement factory will definitely make money, so the dividend distribution must be settled first. You and Old Ye each take 30%, and I'll take 40%. Is that acceptable?"

  Cheng Zuofu stood up excitedly and shouted: "Wen Zheng, you don't have to say anything else. I, Cheng, don't want a single cent of dividends. As long as I can run this factory well, achieve the dream of enriching the country and strengthening the military through industry, and save the nation through industry, then I will have no regrets in this life. There's nothing more to say, I'll go back to Hubei tomorrow and move Huaxin Company over here. As for the Hubei Cement Factory, let Ri take an empty shell there."

  Wang Zhenyu came to this era and saw such a patriotic master for the first time. Surprised, he also stood up: "Old predecessor, compared to you, I am ashamed of myself! This red profit, you must not decline. If you really don't want it, just hang it under your name, do good deeds or improve workers' lives, whatever you mean, if you decline again, Ye Weng will be ashamed to death."

  Cheng Zuofu finally calmed down, wiping away the two lines of turbid tears that had fallen from his eyes with his sleeve. "In those years when I followed Zhang Zhidong to set up this cement factory, it was indeed a difficult journey. Now that Wen Zheng and Ye Weng have come to assist me, I only hope that we can succeed in this matter and comfort the spirit of Zhang Zhidong in heaven."

  At this moment, Wang Zhenyu suddenly understood from Cheng Zufu why the Chinese nation has so many problems, but after experiencing 5,000 years of turmoil, it can still stand upright. It is because there are people like Zhang Zhidong and Cheng Zufu. They may not have the opportunity to seize historical moments, nor do they have the opportunity to compete for dominance in the world, but they have always been doing things, down-to-earth for this country, this nation. They, and only they, put national interests before personal gains, and compared to themselves, the difference is not just a little bit. Shame on me!