Road construction
Brooke kept accusing and Julie followed suit to persuade.
The two of them spoke in unison for a long time, and Elena, who had been indifferent the whole time, finally spoke: "Cousin, since you want to do business with me, what can you offer? How much initial investment can you invest? Besides money, can you organize a stable cargo caravan? If your superior lord also wants to join, will you accept or reject it?"
Brook pursed his lips and said, "You ship the goods to me first, and I'll handle the rest myself. When I make money, I'll give you half."
Ship the goods first, and then give her half when you make money?
Are you trying to get something for nothing?
Elena chuckled.
"As for the freight caravan, don't worry, I will organize it." Brook continued.
Elena glanced at him: "What about Count Werner?"
"If the Earl is interested in joining, we will naturally accept his kindness." Brooke said affirmatively.
"Who will pay the profit?" Elena went straight to the point.
Since Brooke wanted to show goodwill to Count Werner, he would definitely not let Count Werner invest. Even if Count Werner insisted on investing, he would only take a symbolic amount. Therefore, if there was no investment but dividends were to be distributed, the profits must be divided between the two of them.
Brooke said without hesitation, "Of course we paid for it together. It's a reasonable expense."
Ha, ha, ha, Elena sneered: "I refuse, cousin, you should go back and don't think about the partnership."
Brooke's face turned red with anger after being directly rejected again.
Julie persuaded again.
Unfortunately, this time Elena ignored them and turned away.
Faced with Elena's indifference and indifference, Brooke and Julie could only leave angrily.
After driving away the incomprehensible relatives, Elena once again devoted herself to the business of making money.
After being promoted to a low-level mage, Elena became even more skilled in making medicine, with her single output being three times higher than before.
The output was produced in batches and quickly turned into income, and the gold coins in the warehouse soon piled up into a small mountain.
She personally moved the gold coins into the private vault, and looking at the box after box of gold coins, Elena was swelled.
She is really rich now!
Now she is a true aristocrat with territory, money and title!
What is the first thing to do after you have money?
Of course it’s shopping.
Elena was excited to go to Booker Harbor for some shopping.
The old butler suddenly appeared.
"Miss, the young cowherd from Abang Village is here again," the old housekeeper asked. "Should we summon him?"
"Eh? Is there something he's here for?" Elena was stunned.
The old housekeeper said, "He said that all the injured cows have recovered. Not a single one is disabled. They are all strong cows that can work in the fields well now."
Elena had almost forgotten about this matter, and she felt better after hearing the good news: "Okay, let him go to the temporary classroom."
In the temporary classroom, Los was waiting excitedly.
Five cows, five cows that were seriously injured with broken bones, have all recovered and none of them are disabled. This is such great news.
Elena came in briskly. "Los, I heard that all the cows you were taking care of are back on track? Are they able to go to the fields now?"
Los quickly knelt on the ground and replied: "Yes, everyone can go out to work."
"It's fine. You're raising them well." Elena was very satisfied with Los's efforts. Although she had taught Los how to cure the cows and given him a magic potion to cure them, she was not 100% sure. She was really happy that Los could cure all the cows and none of them were disabled.
"You have worked very hard. The cow was cured, and you have made a great contribution." Elena praised Los again.
Los's face flushed with excitement: "It's all thanks to you."
"Okay, now I have a task for you," said Elena.
"Yes." Ross responded immediately.
Elena looked at his energetic appearance and smiled: "You are very positive, very good."
Los had his head lowered, a huge grin on his face as he faced the ground.
"I told you before that I wanted to use your cattle shed in Abang Village as a testing ground to significantly improve our cattle-raising techniques so we can raise even more cattle in the future. But since you're no longer a cattleherd in Abang Village, I'll bring you over directly. I'll circle the hills near Fussen Town and build a cattle farm there, putting you directly in charge." Elena paused and asked, "What do you think? Are you willing to accept this mission?"
Let him continue raising cattle.
Let him raise more cattle.
Ross's face turned red with excitement.
Yes, yes, of course I am.
Los had already made up his mind to go to the fields and work as a farmer after the injured cow recovered, but he didn't expect that there would be such a big surprise waiting for him.
"Yes, I am willing. Los is willing to raise cattle for you, young lady, for the rest of my life." Los quickly agreed loudly, fearing that agreeing too late would make the Viscountess dissatisfied.
Elena was startled by Los's extremely loud voice.
However, hearing Los speak so loudly and enthusiastically, Elena was also very happy: "In that case, go back and pack your luggage and come directly to the Viscount's Mansion the day after tomorrow."
Los said loudly: "Thank you for your kindness. Your light will shine on this land forever."
The Viscountess wanted to build a new cattle farm, and the administrative office immediately took action after receiving the order.
Building a cattle farm and enclosing a suitable hill is a small matter, and building a standard cattle shed is also a small matter, but buying cattle is a big deal. The cattle breeds must be carefully selected. Only when the first generation of calves are the best can we guarantee that the second generation of calves will also be the best.
The agricultural officer of the administrative office specially sent a deputy to select good calves throughout the territory. However, there are definitely not many good calves in the territory, so after selecting them, they will have to go to Booker Harbor to buy them.
But if you buy it, you have to pay.
As soon as the agricultural officer's report came in, Elena immediately took out 10 gold coins to buy the cow.
In addition to buying cattle, you also have to select good enough pasture for sowing. Good pasture is needed to raise cattle. There is no good pasture around the town of Fussen, and even the pasture in the entire territory is not good. You must go to Book Harbor to buy good pasture and sow it on the mountain.
Swish, Elena waved her pen and bought grass for 10 gold coins.
The cattle farm also needs a clean and stable water source. It is best to build a reservoir. Although there is a stream on the selected hill, the stream also needs to be drained. A water diversion channel must be dug and a reservoir must be built. The water outlet must also be protected. This ensures that the water source is clean and the cattle can drink to their heart's content.
Swish, Elena waved her pen and built a reservoir with 10 gold coins.
The cattle farm is on the mountain, and material transportation is a problem. Whether it is delivering wood and stone to the mountain to build houses, or delivering milk, yogurt, and cheese down the mountain in the future, or even driving cattle down the mountain, a solid, flat, and wide road is needed.
Swish, Elena waved her pen and used 20 gold coins to build a road.
Elena approved the payments one by one, and finally the total amount was added together, and 50 gold coins were spent.
Elena's heart twitched, she felt so distressed.
Although 50 gold coins are not a lot, they are all the money she earned through hard work.
Your own money is the most valuable.
After taking several deep breaths, Elena suppressed her heartache and handed the approval slip to the treasurer, asking him to transfer the funds as soon as possible.
However, in order to keep the accounts clear and prevent someone from embezzling her money, Elena also specifically instructed the financial officer to set up a separate account book for the cattle farm's money, and that the funds must be used for specific purposes.
The treasurer repeatedly assured that the accounts would be made clear.
After the financial officer left, Elena was still feeling distressed.
"Since you are so dedicated to raising cattle, when will you start implementing your road plan?" The elusive Leonard suddenly appeared.
Elena was already used to it, and she said calmly: "Wait a while, I have no money now."
She had already spent 50 gold coins in one go and needed to make some money back.
Leonard only mentioned it briefly, without pressing her. He then asked, "Have you ever thought about making a strengthening potion or a restoring potion?"
Strengthening agent, an upgraded version of the recovery agent, one bottle has the same effect as five bottles of recovery agent, and the price is also five times.
The Soul Restoring Potion is an upgraded version of the Magic Potion. One bottle has the same effect as five bottles of Magic Potion, and the price is also five times higher.
Elena was stunned and immediately opened the potion book in her mind. The preparation of strength-building potions and soul-restoring potions was not difficult, but there were more types of raw materials, which made it more troublesome to handle. In addition, the mental strength required was higher, and the starting requirement was a low-level magician.
"You are already a low-level wizard now, and you have enough money to buy raw materials. So, why don't you try making strength-building potions and soul-restoring potions?" Leonard's words were simply the devil's temptation.
Elena was shamefully moved.
She wanted to try making a strengthening potion and a restoring potion.
Elena immediately ordered a batch of raw materials. Since it was a trial production, the quantity she ordered was not large. Cornflower Pharmacy had stock in stock and delivered it to her that day.
With the raw materials, Elena made several bottles of strengthening agent and resurrection agent in the pharmacy in front of Leonard that day.
Another 100% success rate.
Leonard carefully looked at several bottles of potions, then looked at Elena several times, his eyes becoming brighter and brighter: "You really have a talent for making medicine."
Elena clicked her tongue and raised her chin: "Of course." She was awesome and proud.
The next day, the Bellflower Pharmacy put new products on the shelves, the Strengthening Potion and the Restoring Potion. In order to celebrate the lord's creation of a higher-level potion, on the first day of the new products' launch, buy ten medium bottles and get three small bottles for free.
The caravans that were purchasing goods in the town of Fussen immediately went crazy, waving their wallets and scrambling to place orders.
The small nobles and wealthy families who got the news a little later also rushed to the scene with their money bags.
At the same time, this good news spread rapidly in all directions as if it had wings.
That day, Elena received a large amount of gold coins.
Elena lay on the bed happily, counting the gold coins over and over again, and even dreamed of lying on a mountain of gold coins and playing with them.
Gold coins make her happy.
After a wonderful night, Elena woke up the next day and regained her sanity. The road lessons that Leonard had taught her emerged in her mind.
Roads are an important basis for regime control.
Roads must be built.
This money must not be saved.
Elena knew it in her heart, but she was emotionally reluctant to part with the money she had worked so hard to earn.
Since her magic potion shop opened, there have been many caravans traveling back and forth. With the voluntary help and contributions of these caravans, several main roads connecting the territory border with the territory center, the town of Fison, have been well built. The roads have been widened, depressions have been filled, and many winding detours have been straightened.
It can be said that Elena didn't spend much money, and several main roads connecting the border and the town of Fussen were built.
After tasting the sweetness of the caravan's voluntary help and contribution, Elena no longer wanted to pay for the road construction herself.
However, after thinking about it more deeply, Elena became conflicted and lowered her head to pick at her nails.
The voluntary construction of roads by caravans means that they no longer have to pay tolls when passing through, and the taxes on road traffic that should have been paid cannot be collected.
Roads are never free to travel. The ownership of the roads belongs to the lords. In addition to the lords, all people who set foot on the roads, whether they are foreign lords or nobles within the territory, not to mention civilians and merchants, need to pay tolls, which are road tolls.
However, no matter which world we are in, in addition to the explicit legal rules, there are also some invisible rules.
For example, regarding the caravan building a road, according to the invisible rules of this world, if the caravan pays for and provides manpower to build the road, then no road toll can be collected from the caravan.
This is to protect the interests of the caravans and also to protect the interests of the nobles behind the large caravans.
Therefore, in the short term, the caravan benefited from building the road, but in the long term, it was the caravan that benefited.
Alas, sugarcane cannot be sweet at both ends.
Thinking of this, the balance in Elena's heart tilted towards road construction.
Alas, for a lord, collecting taxes is the most important thing. He can't let the caravans spend a small amount of money to get a big profit.
After thinking it through, Elena made a decision.
"Have you decided to build the road?" The elusive Leonard appeared again.
Elena glanced at him and hummed.
"A wise decision." Leonard praised her and threw her an apple.
Elena caught the apple and took a bite. It was crisp and sweet.
Well, let the kitchen make apple pie today.
Elena quickly issued a new order to build roads.
After the order was issued, Elena called the treasurer and asked him to make a budget for road construction throughout the territory. At the same time, she allocated him a special fund of 50 gold coins for road construction.
Just like a cattle farm, special account books should be established and funds should be used for specific purposes.
The financial officer was very efficient. He prepared the budget in two days and came to report to Elena.
"Why is it so expensive?!" Elena saw the total amount on the budget at first glance, and her heart skipped a beat.
It was much more expensive than she expected.
The treasurer clenched his fists nervously and explained carefully, "I have made two budgets. The first one is more expensive because we're hiring mages, but it's faster. The second one is much cheaper because we're hiring villagers. Each village can contribute some people to the work, so the labor is free. The Viscount's Mansion only needs to pay for the materials and food."
Elena quickly flipped back and found that the second budget met her expectations.
Elena breathed a sigh of relief and asked casually, "If we follow the second budget, how long will it take?"
"Well," the finance official said, looking troubled. "If we're just repairing the roads around Fussen, it'll take three months. But if we're repairing the main roads throughout the entire territory..."
Elena stared at him. What she wanted to repair was the main road of the entire territory. Otherwise, why would she withdraw 50 gold coins in advance?
50 gold coins, do you know how much you can buy?
A cattle farm can be built. In her original world, it is just a small ranch, which cannot be built without millions.
"Tell me, how long will it take?" Elena asked coldly.
The treasurer shuddered and immediately replied, "It would conservatively take two years to build the entire territory's main road."
"Two years?" Elena thought she had misheard.
The financial officer replied stubbornly, "Yes, because during the busy farming season, there are fewer people working in the fields, so roads cannot be built. Moreover, there is the rainy season, during which time roads cannot be built. Even if they are built, they will easily deteriorate."
Elena opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, she just felt depressed.
So, if you want speed, you have to spend more money, a lot more money.
If you want to save money, you have to spend time, at least two years.
She doesn't want either option.
Heartbroken and silent, Elena silently digested the two budgets. She read them carefully one by one, trying to better understand the reality.
The first budget was to hire a wizard. There were many wizards in Booker Harbor who took on external business. For road construction, the market price was 5 silver coins per person per day. Although it was expensive, the work was fast. The main roads of the entire territory could be completed in about ten days.
The second budget mobilized the villagers. The manpower was free, and it only required providing the villagers with two meals a day. However, it took a long time, at least two years.
Elena quickly did a calculation in her mind.
Ignore the input for now and consider the benefits directly.
The biggest comparison point between the two budgets is time, ten days versus two years.
When it comes to engineering, time is money.
The sooner the road is completed, the sooner it will be unobstructed, and the sooner it will attract caravans. Once the caravans arrive, the border checkpoints will have tax revenue and road tolls will also generate income.
So although the first budget is expensive, it will generate immediate benefits after ten days.
The second budget, although cheaper, would take two years. During these two years, the roads would be blocked, caravans would not come at all, and customs taxes would be almost zero.
Comparing the two, it is more cost-effective to hold back the pain and invest a large sum of money directly to get returns as soon as possible.
"I'll make it back soon, I'll make it back soon..." Elena muttered to herself to encourage herself while signing and stamping the first budget.
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