novelhk Chapter 342
Chapter 342
See all
: 0.260s Scan: 0.048sThe proposal of the mustache to run a state-owned farm was eventually rejected by Mainz, but the proposal of a state-owned ranch was passed.
Compared with farming, running a ranch requires more funds and technology, which are not affordable for ordinary herders. Moreover, the larger the scale of the ranch, the more complicated the management and operation. It requires a strong organization to operate, and the government is obviously very suitable for such a job!
“General, why do you support state-owned ranches but not state-owned farms?”
The mustache felt that Mainz must have other intentions for making this decision, but he just didn’t guess it for a while!
The mustache’s intuition was quite accurate. The reason why Mainz supported state-owned ranches was not only because of the technical and financial problems that ordinary herdsmen could not handle, but also because he wanted to improve the physical fitness of the Hans people.
“Compared with carbohydrates such as rice and flour, meat products have more energy and can also supplement a large amount of animal protein, which is very helpful for improving people’s physical fitness!”
Mainz did not hide his purpose and told the mustache directly.
Hans in 1925 was obviously poorer than Hans more than ninety years later. Although they were a developed country in the West with very strong industrial strength, a large amount of profits were actually earned by capitalists, and the wages of the bottom-level workers were relatively low, about only half of the wages in the United States.
Hans is far from being as vast as the United States, so the prices of various products in Hans, especially necessities such as food
, are much higher than those in the United States. The low income level and high price level directly lead to the low quality of life in Hans. If it were not for this reason, there would not be so many Hans people who travel thousands of miles to immigrate to North America every year.
With the current income level in Hans, most of the bottom-level people can only maintain basic food and clothing, and there is no way to pursue a higher standard of living. The food they eat is that kind of cheap black bread, not to mention the small quantity, and there is not even butter. In Hans, butter is a luxury.
Black bread is probably the lowest quality bread. This kind of bread is a mixture of bran such as the cortex, germ, endosperm and a small amount of endosperm that are ground down from wheat during the milling process. It has a very hard texture and a bit of sour taste, and the taste is quite bad.
The bread eaten by the upper class is white bread made of refined flour. This kind of bread is sweeter and more delicious, and the texture is also very soft.
People can naturally distinguish between good bread and bad bread, but they simply don’t have enough money to buy good bread, so they can only make do with this kind of bad taste and hard black bread.
Under such living conditions, the physical fitness of the Hans people is far from as good as that of later generations.
In this era, the average height of the Hans people was about 169. Because of the First World War, a large area of famine broke out in Hans, resulting in malnutrition of the newborn population. Therefore, compared with the average height of 169.45 in 1900, it has dropped a little.
This height does not count women. All calculations are for adult men over 0 years old. The source of the data statistics is the measurement data of young people who came to apply for the army when they were recruiting.
The average height of 169 is not considered short in Europe. The average height of the Gauls in the south was only 165 at that time, which was four centimeters shorter than Hans.
However, the average height of the Hans in later generations was as high as 180 cm. The difference of 1 cm in between was really huge!
Logically speaking, the height of the Germans should be relatively tall, and the height of adult men in Hans was so low at that time. The main reason was that the nutrition could not keep up.
The lower-class people could fill their stomachs, but they did not have much money to live a good life. They could only barely maintain a relatively low quality of life.
People who have not experienced this kind of life in person may not understand the life of workers in European countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It is no wonder that workers in various countries often broke out in various movements in this era. The value they created through hard work mostly fell into the pockets of capitalists, and they only got a very small share. It is normal for workers to be dissatisfied with this unbalanced distribution mechanism!
The reason why Mainz wanted to get rid of the Junker nobles was, on the one hand, because the Junker nobles threatened him, and on the other hand, because of another identity of the Junker nobles. They were big capitalists in Hans, who controlled a large number of factories and a large number of means of production.
If they were not eradicated, not only would the people not be able to get a share of the industrial development, but even the country would find it difficult to obtain the corresponding taxes.
After eradicating the Junker nobles, at least their industries fell into the hands of Mainz. Mainz would not exploit workers as cruelly as the unscrupulous capitalists before. He would appropriately improve the workers’ treatment, take out part of the profits and distribute them to the workers, and the remaining profits would be directly collected into the treasury as the country’s fiscal revenue.
In this way, the workers benefited, and the country’s finances also received a lot of taxes, which was a win-win result for the people and the government. Moreover, after the workers’ income level increased, they would have more money in their hands to improve their quality of life. At that time, they would not only buy white bread, but also some poultry, eggs, meat and other foods.
Mainz set up a state-owned ranch to lower the price of high-protein foods such as poultry, eggs and meat, so that the public can buy these foods at a lower price.
In addition, the dairy cows on the ranch can also provide a lot of milk. Mainz plans to promote milk as a drink in primary and secondary schools to improve the physical fitness of children aged 5-15.
When these children who eat high-quality grains, eat meat and eggs from time to time, and drink milk grow up, their physical fitness will definitely be much better than that of the current Hans people, and such excellent physical fitness is the best soldier in the war!
Mainz believes that as long as his plan can be implemented, in ten years, the physical fitness of the Hans people will be improved. If the height calculation is not as high as 180 cm, it will at least exceed 170 and reach about 175!
This height is a full ten centimeters higher than the Gauls, enough to look down on the world!
At that time, when the battlefield really fights, the Hans soldiers will be taller and stronger, run faster, carry heavier weights, and have more advantages in bayonet fighting!
“”So that’s it, I understand!”
When the man with a mustache heard what Mainz said, he suddenly realized it, and he said excitedly:”People’s consumption can expand market demand and increase our domestic market. The improvement of the domestic market can drive the efficiency of the factory. When the factory efficiency improves, the workers’ income level will also increase. At that time, their income will be higher and they will be more willing to spend money. This is a virtuous circle!”
The man with a mustache thought about it and immediately felt that he almost overlooked General Mainz’s good intentions!
It turned out that he was considering the economy!
“Not only that, the improvement of factory efficiency and social consumption can also increase our government’s tax revenue. Minister Xiaomoustache, don’t forget this benefit!” Secretary
Bauman’s eyes lit up, and he also reminded Xiaomoustache
“Yes, yes, the general is really good. This is killing two birds with one stone!”
The little mustache sincerely admired General Mainz, because he could always think of things that others couldn’t think of!
Following such a leader, he felt very at ease.
Although improving the treatment of workers does have such benefits, aren’t the two of them praising themselves too much?
Mainz was embarrassed by them!
“Ahem, come on, do you want to recommend yourself to be the prime minister?”
Mainz didn’t let the two continue to flatter him. He directly pointed out the third purpose of the mustache’s visit: he is the prime minister!
Mainz has announced his participation in the presidential election, and his chances of winning are almost 100%.
Once he becomes president, Mainz’s current position as prime minister will be vacant.
Many people are eyeing this position!
The mustache is only the Minister of the Interior now, and his power is relatively small, so he wants to recommend himself and apply to Mainz, hoping that he can become the next prime minister and take over Mainz’s position!
Hearing Mainz’s words, the mustache’s eyes widened, and his face was full of shock!
The general must be able to read minds, it must be like this!
His thoughts were guessed again!