nashuaworldcup Chapter 117 Road Construction Strategy
Chapter 117 Road Construction Strategy
Hearing what Chu Gongcao said, Liu Anruo, who was standing aside, was slightly stunned, with an expression of disbelief on his face, and he could not believe what he heard.
Is cement really made?
"Master Chu, are you serious?"
Chu Gongcao, who was kneeling there, still had the same hard-to-conceal smile of excitement on his face that he had when he came.
"Of course it's true. How dare I deceive my lord?"
At this moment, Yun Zhi, who was sitting above, stopped tapping the table and slowly raised her eyelids, looking at the people below, "Master Chu, please stand up first."
After seeing her stand up, he asked, "Have you conducted any experiments? What were the results?"
Chu Gong Cao nodded hurriedly. "My Lord, I have done some experiments. The road paved with this cement mixed with river sand and gravel is smooth and solid. I have repeated the experiment several times and it has always been so. Only then did I dare to come to see you."
Hearing this, Yun Zhi showed a clear smile on her face, "Thank you for your hard work during this period, and you will be rewarded handsomely."
Hearing this, the smile on Chu Gongcao's face became even brighter. She hurriedly saluted and said, "Thank you, my lord. This is all part of our job and we don't deserve any reward."
Although he said this, he was actually thinking about going back and making those people happy.
For the sake of cement, these people have been busy all the time, from morning to night, without any slackness, and they haven't even taken a ten-day holiday.
Since their lord has entrusted them with an important task, they naturally want to complete it as soon as possible.
Moreover, they also know that cement is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. The sooner it is produced, the sooner the people can benefit from it.
Hard work pays off. After more than a year, I finally succeeded in making it.
"Those who have made contributions will naturally be rewarded."
"Yes Yes Yes."
As Chu Gongcao said this, his face almost broke with laughter. Everyone knew that his lord had always been generous and gave generous rewards.
"If there is nothing else, Lord Chu, please leave first."
"I came here today for this very matter. Now that the Lord has been informed, I will take my leave."
The door creaked open and creaked closed.
The room was quiet for a moment.
Liu Anruo looked up at Yun Zhi who was sitting above.
"Now that cement has been developed, cement plants will begin to be built in various locations, but..."
Speaking of this, Liu Anruo hesitated slightly.
"I'm afraid the money in our treasury isn't enough to build roads everywhere. We can only wait until there's more money in the treasury and use it to build a section. This way, we should be able to complete the road in a few years."
Nowadays, corvee labor has been abolished, and the people will be paid for building roads.
The silver and money in the treasury mainly came from taxes, official salt, and the spoils of property seized during the capture of cities.
Now, we can add this cement factory, after all, people will buy it to build houses.
But they had only become rich for a few years, and they had been fighting wars all the time, which cost a lot of money. The money in the treasury was not enough to build the road.
"Unless... we first transfer the money we got from Marquis Anding, then perhaps we can complete the construction in a little over a year."
"That pen can't be moved."
As for the use of the money, Liu Anruo had naturally heard from Yun Zhi.
But she had to say it.
As for the decision-making power, it lies in Yun Zhi's hands.
"Yes, then let's wait a few years. We can repair the surrounding area first."
Looking at the serious Liu Anruo, Yun Zhi supported her head with one hand and chuckled, "Why should we spend money to build a road? We can build this road without spending a penny."
Hearing this, Liu Anruo's face became more and more confused. "My lord, you are planning to levy corvée labor. Although you didn't issue an official document to cancel it before, I'm afraid that suddenly doing this will cause dissatisfaction among the people."
Most people are like this. They suddenly take back what they have been giving. They just go back to their previous life, but they become resentful towards the person who has done them good.
Yun Zhi raised an eyebrow, "No, no."
If it’s not conscription of labor service, then what is it?
Liu Anruo frowned and thought for a moment, but couldn't figure out how to build the road without spending a penny.
She bowed to Yun Zhi and said, "Please help me solve this problem, my lord."
"An Ruo, looking around the world, who has the most money besides the nobles?"
"They are merchants. Some of them can even be said to be as wealthy as a country."
"Yes, they are merchants, but they also have the lowest status. People of low status value money as well as reputation."
Among the four classes of people, scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants, the status of merchants has been the lowest since ancient times.
Otherwise, why would so many people study hard and take imperial examinations for decades just to gain fame?
After hearing this, Liu Anruo had some vague guesses.
"Why don't we give this task to them and let them report to the government a section of road they choose to build. Once it's built, they can name the road."
Naming rights.
How could this not excite the merchants?
Imagine that after this road is built, when people walk on it, they can see the road name engraved on the stone tablet, and even the words "built by someone" will be written below the road name.
The people will then remember you, and whenever they go on the road, they will praise you as a great man, and you will gain a reputation.
Perhaps this kind act can make people pay more attention to your business.
only……
"My lord, don't be afraid that the name you chose... is a little bad."
"So what? The road has been repaired anyway. Besides, the people aren't blaming me for the bad name."
They would just say that the businessman is uneducated.
Also.
Liu Anruo nodded. No matter what crappy name they came up with, they had a way out anyway.
Seeing that Liu Anruo understood the deeper meaning behind this, Yun Zhi continued, "Of course, if we only rely on this, some merchants may still be hesitant."
Yes, you have a reputation, but it costs a lot of money, and how much money can the people have to buy their own things? It's just a small profit.
It would be better to give out porridge occasionally, which can also bring good reputation, and the cost is less than building roads.
"So, we have to make some concessions. The merchants who have made the greatest contributions to the road construction in the county will receive the cement recipe and be granted the right to sell it. They may even have the opportunity to become imperial merchants in the future."
Hang a carrot in front of them and they will be more motivated to work.
"Isn't the cement sold by the government this time?"
"If you want to save money, you have to give them some benefits."
If you want the horse to run, you naturally have to feed it grass.
After figuring everything out, Liu Anruo looked at Yun Zhi with shining eyes, "My lord is wise."
If you calculate it this way, not only did they not spend a penny, they could even make a lot of money at this time.
If merchants want to build roads, they need cement, and if they want cement, they have to buy it from the cement factory.
The total amount of cement needed in various places is quite large, so you can imagine how much money is earned.
The people received their wages, the merchants gained reputation, and they built a road without spending any money, achieving three goals at one stroke.
"Okay, after the cement plants are built in various places, this notice will be sent out."
"Yes."
In the blink of an eye, two months passed.
Cement plants have been built in various places and have started producing cement.
At this time, a notice was posted on the bulletin boards of various counties.