Chapter 223

Brian was chased and killed by Abram so that he had to run back to hammer castle to seek the protection of his son and daughter-in-law. For the time being, after dinner here, Donne had begun to discuss matters related to paving the road with Fiona.

The thousands of tons of asphalt obtained from the dwarf kingdom can only meet the first phase of the road project in Ellington. These asphalt is only enough to lay the areas covered by the old and new urban areas of Ellington, and even other villages in Ellington can not be completely connected.

"Lord, although it hasn't started yet, I think the project costs a lot, and we can't afford it by ourselves."

Fiona roughly estimated the cost of paving the road. She didn't care much at first, but she was shocked after calculation. According to the data given by Donne and the thickness of paving, the cost of paving a square meter of new road with asphalt is almost a gold coin!

Doesn't look like much?

According to Donne's plan, the main road should be at least 16 meters wide and the secondary channel should be at least 10 meters wide. Then the distance of one meter is 26 gold coins. The total length of the main roads in the old and new urban areas is about 50 kilometers, which is already 130000 gold coins!

Just now, Ellington City, which has not been completely completed, needs 130000 gold coins to complete the road laying, not to mention that in the complete planning map, the total length of the road has exceeded hundreds of kilometers, and there are roads connecting other villages and towns!

If you want to transform all the roads in Ellington, don't even think about it without millions of gold coins!

If you want to connect with other territories and build an asphalt highway network, the investment required is even greater. It is calculated in tens of millions and billions! This kind of project can only be completed with the efforts of one country. Does Ellington want to complete this kind of project? It's just a dream!

"I never said I had to bear it myself."

Donne looked indifferent: "just pave the roads in the territory first. For roads in other places, after those people come to Ellington, naturally someone will come to us for cooperation. At that time, we just need to formulate standards, sell materials, technologies and equipment to make money."

"... I see!"

Fiona almost immediately understood what Donne meant. No matter how much she said, it's better to experience it personally. Use ready-made examples to let those people feel the benefits of asphalt highway, and they will take the initiative to pave the road themselves.

Donne is not worried about the funds for later road construction, because he knows that after the benefits of asphalt roads spread, more and more people will want to build roads.

Think about it, once you feel the stability on the asphalt road, who can stand the muddy dirt road once it rains? Or is it a bumpy and bumpy stone road?

To be more exaggerated, the asphalt road has also brought about an improvement in efficiency. All major chambers of commerce are not fools. If the roads are replaced by this flat asphalt road, how much faster will their wagon caravan advance? You should know that time is money. Business opportunities are fleeting. If you can take the first step, you can make a lot of money. If you fall behind, you can only pick up some leftovers.

"At present, all we have to do is build Ellington well."

Donne said earnestly: "as long as Ellington is built, all problems will be solved, and there is no need to worry about other things."

"I understand, but..."

Fiona pulled out a letter: "Hilton's message from Alex. Leandre, the head of the noble Council, is secretly searching for any information about you. It doesn't seem to be good news."

Donne waved his hand carelessly: "search freely. My news has long been on the table of the aristocrats in arlinks."

"Oh, there is another message from 'night song'. President Berkeley has decided to launch a business alliance to block Datang chamber of Commerce. It has been unanimously agreed that all members of the business alliance refuse to sell anything to Datang chamber of Commerce... Lord, who is night song?"

"A little thief jumping up and down... Hum!"

"Thieves? How can thieves know this kind of news... This is not good news."

Fiona pinched her eyebrows and had a headache: "we are still importing food from caspamiburg and Bain. The food industries in these two cities are people of commercial alliances. The commercial alliances block us, and we can't even buy food!"

Donne frowned: "how long can the grain harvested this month, plus the food purchased before, last?"

"It can last up to four months. If there is a Warcraft attack in winter, or a cold wave, or a war, it will lead to food shortage."

"Four months... That is, the cold month at the end of the year..."

"Yes, the spring harvest is two months away from the dawn month."

Donne was stunned: "the harvested grain can't resist the spring harvest. How did you spend the winter here before?"

Tina, who brought tea, whispered: "Lord, Ellington will starve many people every winter... Everyone can't eat enough, so we can barely carry it to the spring harvest..."

Fiona added: "thanks to the emergence of combine harvesters, the grain harvest this season is very rapid, basically no waste, and there is no loss due to weather and Warcraft. Therefore, the grain output has increased by about 30% compared with previous years, but it is not enough for per capita rations."

"This is mainly because recently, there are many more people in Ellington than before, which has almost doubled, but the planting area of grain has not expanded. On the contrary, we have also promoted and increased the planting area of mint and two kinds of herbs, so the problem suddenly broke out."

"What about the grain rationing system?"

"It can last another month until the frozen month next year."

Donne knocked on the table: "that is to say, even if the rationing system is implemented, we must get at least one more month's food for everyone in Ellington before winter."

"Yes, but considering the problem of stability, it's best to buy food for two months."

Fiona said reluctantly: "Although we have managed Ellington, in fact, Ellington is extremely fragile. At this time, you, our Lord, are the most critical. As long as you can solve our problems, Ellington can continue to develop. If you can't solve a problem, Ellington is likely to collapse with a little pressure and frustration."

"After all, most of the people who come to Ellington now are poor refugees. These people risk their lives and go all the way to Ellington so that they can have a full meal. Once they know that Ellington can't even provide food in winter, who else is willing to stay here?"

Donne nodded with a smile: "I see. Don't worry, food is not a problem."

"Laugh! You can laugh!"

Fiona was almost mad: "now where can you find someone to sell you food? Even if you are willing to sell it, you will certainly take the opportunity to blackmail the price after learning the news of the blockade of the business alliance. We can't afford this toss!"

"Secret."

Donne waved his hand: "I know the problem of food. Let's put it aside and go back to the previous problem first, that is, paving the road."

"What else? Cost accounting is clear... Oh, yes!"

Fiona clapped her hands: "although you have always said that asphalt can pave the road and is a good thing, you haven't said how to pave the road."

"Well, it's very simple, but you still need training, because you need two kinds of machines."

Donne smiled: "I began to study pavers and rollers this afternoon, but later production... Our spare parts processing plant may not be able to keep up, and the production capacity is seriously insufficient."

"Not lack of capacity!"

Fiona sighed again: "the technology of lathes and presses you have developed is very convenient, which can easily expand production capacity, but - we don't have so many people now! In the spare parts processing plant, the workers on the production line are too busy to turn around. There are still construction outside. Where else can we use them?"

"Speaking of employment, we are short of people now, but if we recruit more people, our food gap will be even greater. Now this is an inextricable dead cycle. Unless we can solve the food problem, we can safely recruit refugees."

"In addition, Lord, we are now rebuilding Ellington. At the same time, we are also engaged in water conservancy, road construction, improving mining industry, rectifying agriculture and expanding Commerce... Don't you think we have taken too big steps?"

Fiona stared at Donne and said, "seriously, it's enough for ordinary people to do one thing casually, but Lord, you take it out the same way, and I always feel that there seems to be a hidden anxiety under your leisurely face. Is it my illusion?"

"Of course."

Donne said innocently, "what do I have to worry about? Don't forget that I'm a mage. Even if Ellington is broken by me, I'll just leave. Can't I stay here for burial? Oh, of course, don't worry. If I'm going to leave, I won't forget to take you with me."

"Lord..."

When Donne said this, Fiona and Tina could not remember what they had just discussed. Their eyes were foggy and moved. They wanted to come up and offer a kiss immediately.

"It's almost time. You can sort out the documents here. I'll think about the roller first."

The smiling Donne got up and left the study. As soon as the door was closed, the smile on his face disappeared. He couldn't help muttering: "women's intuition is really terrible... Can you feel it?"

"Lord? What are you talking about?"

Donne's face turned and said, "eh? Marlene, you changed your hair? You look so beautiful!"

He knows very well that women, especially curious women, are very dangerous creatures. If an attribute "beautiful" is added to this, it will be even more dangerous.

Fortunately, however, this creature has a very fatal weakness, that is, it is extremely perceptual and likes to ignore normal logic

Therefore, they can easily divert their attention.

"Ah, Lord, really?"

Marlene's curiosity was immediately transferred. She turned around happily, and then asked shyly, "is that... Am I beautiful or Tina beautiful?"

"They are all beautiful... I went out in advance. Are you busy?"

Marlene's voice was so sweet that most people couldn't control it. Donne smiled at her and hurried away from the Lord's house.