Chapter 242 Since it’s a win-win situation, of course I want them all
Night falls.
Since the boss had not returned from discussing business, the caravan camped in the open space outside the south gate of the outpost.
The smell at the north entrance of the outpost aroused their greed, and the two caravan guards took advantage of the meal break to sneak out of the camp, hoping to exchange their chips for some food.
However, what the two of them didn't expect was that when they swaggeringly took out their chips and slapped them on the table, what they got in exchange was not the fawning and flattery of these country bumpkins.
instead……
dislike?
The two of them were stunned for a moment.
Could it be that I saw it wrong?
"Mompi, why is it this kind of plastic piece again?"
Zhang Hai, who had his back turned to the customer, cursed, raised his flour-stained fist, knocked on the price board next to him, and said in non-standard couplets.
"Ten chips."
Ten chips?!
The eyes of the two caravan guards were widened, and they suspected that they had heard wrongly.
Their daily salary is only ten chips!
And this is when I'm on duty.
For a meal in Boulder City, you can get a good meal with 5 chips. The chips in the surrounding survivor settlements will be more valuable, and usually 3 chips can satisfy you.
It’s unheard of to ask for ten chips for a bowl of noodles!
"Ten chips?! Did you make a mistake?"
"Damn it, aren't you too dark?"
"Do you think we are deliberately looking for trouble from other places?"
However, Zhang Hai, who was standing in front of the booth, was indifferent to the complaints and protests of the two people, and his expression did not change at all.
What all players know is that the white plastic pieces can be exchanged for silver coins, and only two coins can be exchanged for one. Isn’t it unreasonable to sell ramen with five silver coins for ten chips?
This is very reasonable!
I didn’t even charge their handling fee, that’s generous enough, okay?
Of course, the main reason was that Zhang Hai couldn't understand what the two people were talking about.
Otherwise he will definitely scold you back.
Laughed.
Who has he been afraid of because of his bad mouth?
The players nearby were watching the fun and talking curiously.
"What are these two NPCs talking about?"
"I guess he scolded Boss Zhang's ramen for being too dark."
"Hahaha, you deserve it! Well done! I wanted to scold you a long time ago!"
"Wait a minute, let me write down their curse words first."
"Why do you remember that thing?"
"Shout during the fight, otherwise you will say shit, and the other party won't understand you even if you shout, and they will think you are uneducated. Why not learn the dialect of the NPCs and shout with momentum!"
"Damn it! Good brother, you have to teach me how to do it!"
On other people's territory, the two guards did not dare to cause trouble.
What's more, there are so many pairs of eyes watching.
The two cursed for a while and then went to other stalls.
However, what made them collapse was that the situation at other stalls was the same, and the prices were ridiculously expensive. It wasn't until they finally found someone who could communicate that they asked why.
"If you use chips, it's twice the price." Qiucao took out a silver coin and waved it in front of the two of them, "Those blue coats all use this kind of coin to trade."
Qiuye, who was squatting next to her sister, also nodded vigorously.
"That's right! This is their currency!"
The two caravan guards looked at each other, confused.
What coin is this?
They had been to so many places, but this was the first time they met.
"I'll give you two chips, can you sell me this silver coin?" the caravan guard with a beard asked tentatively.
Qiucao shook her head and declined politely.
"It's useless for us to ask for this."
Qiuye nodded vigorously.
"That's right! You'd better find Xiaoyu to change it!"
Two caravan guards: "..."
Is there actually a place in Qingquan City where chips are not circulating?
How strange!
And who is Xiaoyu?
Not far away, Zhang Hai who was below looked up and saw the two NPCs walking towards the outside of the market, and couldn't help but laugh.
"Which country do these NPCs come from? Why are they so poor?"
I can't even afford a bowl of ramen.
Even if he didn’t buy it, he kept beeping at him for a long time.
It made him think there was some hidden mission.
While holding a bowl and drinking noodle soup, the canyon-escaping mole glanced at him and said.
"You are not in a good time. In the previous expansion of 'Land Sailing', when the people from the company first came here, the kind of paper they gave could be exchanged for 100 silver coins."
Zhang Hai smacked his tongue.
"100 silver coins? It doesn't feel like much."
Elf King Fugui rolled his eyes.
"It's less Versailles. We're talking about silver coins from a few versions ago. Can we compare? At that time, a liver was only 10 silver coins a day!"
The construction site boy and Brick: "Hey, I miss the time when I had a bowl of mushroom soup for 5 copper coins."
The fugitive mole in the canyon glanced at him sideways: "Come on, I felt distressed for a long time even if I fired a single shot. Are you sure you want to go back to the old version?"
The boy at the construction site and Bian scratched their heads.
"Well, forget it then."
If you think about it this way, the new version is still fun.
It's so satisfying to rush forward with a light machine gun in hand.
On the other side, the two caravan guards who had slipped out and deserted went straight back to the camp after leaving the market.
Originally, they planned to sneak in quietly without anyone noticing, but by chance, their captain was standing at the entrance of the camp.
The two of them looked awkward for a moment, but Naihe had already locked eyes and couldn't pretend they didn't see it, so they had no choice but to walk past.
Staring at the two of them with his penetrating electronic eye, Han Long said expressionlessly.
"What did you two do?"
The young guard hesitated for a long time and was speechless. The older guard reacted quickly and spoke quickly.
"Report to the captain, we are going to gather information!"
Han Long looked at the two people.
"What information?"
"Price! We are learning about local prices!" The older guard continued speaking quickly, "The consumption level here is ridiculously high. They actually charge ten chips for a bowl of noodles!"
Another guard reacted and quickly answered.
"That's right, and they don't use chips here. They use something called silver coins to trade. It takes two chips to exchange for one silver coin. It's simply too expensive!"
Two chips for one silver coin?
Han Long frowned slightly.
This is interesting information, I can tell the boss later.
but……
One yard owned by a yard.
Staring at the two of them expressionlessly, Han Long said slowly.
"According to the rules of the caravan, if you leave the camp without authorization at night, you will be fined one week's salary. The second time, you will be fined all your salary and you will be expelled from the caravan."
"If I catch you violating discipline next time, you should know what it means."
Being stared at by the electronic eye, the two of them shuddered involuntarily, lowered their heads quickly, and said nervously.
"yes……"
"We don't dare anymore."
It is not easy to find a decent job in Boulder City. The average caravan will not just recruit a few people with unknown origins into the team, let alone take the risk of being set up by competitors to recruit those who are used by other merchants.
Guy fired from the team.
Being expelled from the caravan and having no skills, they usually have only two options to take.
Either work in a factory and make screws, earning a barely subsistence salary, until one day you can no longer work and die in an uncared alley.
Or become a mercenary, do whatever your employer asks you to do, and trade your life for chips.
This threat still carries a lot of weight!
The two of them walked dejectedly into the camp.
Han Long did not look at the two of them, but continued to look in the direction of the south entrance.
It's been more than two hours.
The boss hasn't come back yet.
His brows furrowed slightly, and just when he was wondering if he should find someone to inquire about his boss, his electronic eyes suddenly moved slightly and locked on the north.
Soon, a familiar figure came into his eyes.
Seeing the boss coming back from the north, Han Long finally breathed a sigh of relief and walked up to him.
"Boss, you're finally back. I'm planning to send someone to find you."
"Don't be so nervous. I have a good relationship with the people here."
With a beaming expression on his face, Liszt looked at his right-hand man and continued, "Call Qian Duo and Qian Lai for me. I'm waiting for them in the tent. I have something important to explain to them."
Although he was curious about what it was about, the boss didn't take the initiative to say it, so Han Long didn't ask any more questions and nodded cleanly.
"yes."
…
Liszt didn't wait long when he returned to the tent.
Soon, the curtain of the tent was opened, and two people, one tall and one short, walked in.
"Boss, are you looking for us?"
The taller one is named Qian Duo, and the short one is named Qian Lai. They are both Liszt's apprentices and have been with him since they were eleven or twelve years old. They have been with him for seven or eight years now.
Liszt had been training the two of them as his successors. Originally, he planned to wait until the tenth year to gradually hand over the caravan business to the two, while he went to the inner city of Boulder City to live the upper class society of his dreams.
life.
But now, it seems that this day can be brought forward.
"I just received a shipment from Blue Jacket, a total of 200 rifles and 50,000 rounds of ammunition. In exchange, I plan to leave them the twenty sets of KV-1 exoskeletons in stock."
One exoskeleton for 10 rifles?
When the two of them heard this, they suddenly had surprised expressions on their faces.
Qian Duo reminded cautiously.
"But...boss, aren't you planning to take this shipment to Honghe Town and trade with the slave merchants there?"
The situation in the River Valley Province has been turbulent recently. The slave traders in Red River Town have purchased a lot of goods. The mines cannot absorb so much, and the price of slaves has been suppressed very low.
The slave owners in Red River Town need exoskeletons to improve the efficiency of mining, and they also need exoskeletons to improve the combat effectiveness of their soldiers.
According to the information collected in the tavern, a set of KV-1 exoskeleton powered by solid hydrogen power is said to be able to replace 4 to 5 strong slaves.
In Boulder City, KV-1 exoskeleton is not a rare thing. Although Liszt usually sells chips for 800 to 1,000 points outside, the actual purchase cost is only about 400 to 500 points, and the actual production cost is only 300.
Get ahead.
The cost of the battery accounts for half of the cost, and the 12 motors distributed on the exoskeleton account for the other half. As for the bamboo pole-like connecting parts, they are gifts.
After most people buy the KV-1 exoskeleton, they need to modify it before they can use it.
As for an assault rifle, the normal selling price is around 150 to 200, but the actual cost may be one-third or even one-quarter.
A set of exoskeletons is exchanged for 10 rifles, and the rifles are from the survivor's estate outside. It is difficult to evaluate whether this transaction is a profit or a loss.
The key is, when they get to their next stop, can they sell these rifles?
However, compared to the worries of the two apprentices, the expression on Liszt's face was full of confidence.
"It doesn't matter, Red River Town is preparing for a war with the Snake Clan of the Bone-Chewing Tribe. They need not just exoskeletons, but also a large number of weapons. Rifles and bullets can also be sold at very good prices there, and the most important thing is
, if we can open the market, this trade route will become a gold mine!"
"The second thing those blue coats promised me is that as long as we can sell their weapons to Red River Town and then transport the phosphate ore, sulfur ore, rare metals, aluminum, etc. they need, they can give us
Sending more goods...this will at least double the profit."
"The reason why I came to you is for this matter," Liszt paused for a moment and looked at the two people standing in front of him. "You have been following me for a while. I have learned about your growth."
You've seen it all. Now, it's time to put what you have learned to use! According to what I said, you take the caravan to Honghe Town, and then use our goods to buy back that batch of supplies according to the list I gave you."
There were surprised expressions on their faces.
Although they had thought that one day the boss would hand over the caravan to them, they did not expect that this day would come so quickly.
Qian Lai asked hurriedly.
"What about you, boss?"
Liszt said with a slight smile.
"Me? Of course I have more important things to deal with! I plan to open a factory here to produce solid-state hydrogen batteries and the motors needed to assemble exoskeletons."
The two people standing in the tent looked at each other blankly.
Open a factory?
it's here?
And it also produces solid-state hydrogen batteries and motors for exoskeletons?
this……
It sounds too weird.
Although there are some big shots who will open some simple industries outside of Boulder City, the taxes and land rent saved are usually lost in another form.
There is no order at all outside of Boulder City. Not only do you need to hire a large number of guards, but you also have to spend a lot of money to convince the engineers and workers of Boulder City to leave the huge wall that is full of security.
The goods produced must also be extremely careful. No insurance company will provide insurance for them. Not only do you have to be careful of predators, but you also have to be careful of malicious damage by competitors, and the dirty hands and feet of the wastelanders who work.
Without orderly soil, even seeds cannot germinate, let alone start a factory.
However……
Their boss is full of confidence at the moment.
I don’t know what kind of ecstasy soup was poured into me.
"If you have a lot of money, follow what I just said and follow Han Long and the others to Honghe Town to negotiate the deal. You can transfer a small part of the profits appropriately, but we must make our customers believe that this is a long-term deal."
Business! We will continue to provide them with weapons, and this business can continue."
"Qian Lai, you go back to Boulder City and purchase relevant production equipment according to the list I gave you. Whether it's discarded goods or bottom-of-the-box goods, you can buy them. Also, remember to collect some for me that can
You should know where to find the engineers who operate that equipment."
Although they had some doubts in their hearts, Qian Duo and Qian Lai still nodded.
"Okay boss."
After explaining the matter clearly, Liszt let the two of them go down, while he sat down on the sleeping bag, dug out the electric teapot from the package on the side, and made himself a cup of hot cocoa.
This is a habit he has developed during his many years of traveling.
Drinking something sweet and hot can help you fall asleep faster.
He held the cup in his hands to warm it, and looking at the rising white mist, a proud smile suddenly appeared on Liszt's face unconsciously.
"My special mother is really a genius!"
This time.
Really going to get rich!
…
When discussing cooperation previously, the manager named Chu Guang gave him two plans.
The first plan is to invest in setting up a factory.
Shelter No. 404 provides labor and can also provide him with a loan of 100,000 silver coins. He only needs to drag the production equipment over and start work immediately.
20% of the goods produced go to the shelter, and the remaining 80% can be sold anywhere.
Whether it is exported to Boulder City or sold to local workshops in the industrial zone.
When he first heard about this plan, Liszt was a little confused, so he asked at that time.
"If silver coins can't be directly converted into chips here, then what's the point of earning more silver coins?"
Regarding his doubts, the manager patiently explained to him.
"Although silver coins cannot be directly exchanged for chips, you can use them to buy what you want, and then take it back to Boulder City and exchange it for the plastic pieces you like... I mean those colorful chips."
"Although rather than doing this, I recommend you to take a longer view and use silver coins to build a house, open a hotel, open a tavern, or expand production."
"Next month at the latest, I have a large group of caravans passing by here. I forgot to tell you that because we extended a helping hand to the pioneers of the enterprise during the war, we are now the enterprise's permanent strategic partners. You are a merchant, so you should
You know what this means. As long as the caravans from the east coast, they will be more inclined to come to our place to rest. Imagine the good things they carry with them, do you still think that silver coins are useless?"
"Even if agriculture and industry are completely abandoned, this place will soon prosper because of trade. Believe me, the silver coins in your pocket will never treat you badly, and you will use them to make more."
As if he felt that the strength was not enough, after the manager said this, he drew another piece of cake for him.
"Next year, we will plant at least 3,000 acres of kamu trees, which will be 30 times the supply of Brown Farm!"
"We will export half of the raw materials and supply half of the raw materials to the local market. Industrial raw materials such as rubber and alkanes here will be very cheap. Whether you sell it to Boulder City or process them directly into commodities here, it will be
It will definitely make you a lot of money.”
After hearing these words, Liszt immediately made a calculation in his mind.
3,000 acres of Camu trees.
If so much could be grown, the rubber and biomass oil produced here could supply at least 13% of Boulder City's consumption.
This is already a very scary ratio.
Compared with the planting area here, his plantation in the south and several small survivor gathering places nearby are just like small things.
He immediately agreed to the first plan proposed by the manager.
Because he can hardly see the shortcomings of this plan.
Especially when he learned from Chu Guang that the army of these blue coats not only defeated the legion's thousand-man team, but also defeated two teams of the Bone Chewing Tribe sent to the northern suburbs of Qingquan City at a very small cost.
After joining the Thousand-Man Team, this confidence became even stronger!
The black snake's body fell on the gallows at the north entrance. It is easy to verify the authenticity of this sentence.
For a new survivor stronghold, this strength is already very strong!
Even if the militia of Boulder City wants to deal with so many looters, it will take some time and cost.
It can ensure the safety of industrial areas and provide labor and raw materials.
Coupled with previous transactions, the manager's credit is considered reliable.
Liszt felt that he could give it a try.
What he needs to do is not difficult. He only needs to buy some equipment with chips, then hire some unemployed engineers to operate the equipment, and guide the refugees who are said to have a little education to engage in production.
This will cost about 100,000 or even 200,000 chips. Advanced equipment may be more expensive, maybe 1 million.
Although this amount of money is not a small amount for him, his credit is good, and there are two real estate properties in the inner city of Boulder City that can be mortgaged, so it is not difficult to get a loan from a bank.
He chose the safest product.
Solid-state hydrogen batteries and motors for exoskeletons.
Even if the local market cannot digest these two things, they can be dragged to Boulder City and sold, or they can be assembled into simple exoskeletons themselves, sold to places like Red River Town, and brought back in exchange for slaves or raw materials.
No matter how you look at it, this business is a profitable business.
And it’s a stable batch!
The same goes for the second plan.
However, this plan focuses on sales cooperation, which requires him to spend a little effort to sell the products produced here to further places.
Is this a problem for a businessman?
This is what he relied on for a living!
How to choose?
It took Liszt almost only half a minute to make his decision.