The road from Shuguang City to the west has been built for 4 kilometers, which is much longer than expected.
The two huge industrial behemoths moved forward steadily. Their majestic bodies and deafening roars became one of the wonders of Dawn City.
It attracted many people to stop and watch.
It’s not just the little players watching the fun.
Traders, travelers, mercenaries, wastelanders, and residents living nearby couldn't help but cast surprised glances at the monster.
And was so surprised that he couldn't move his eyes away.
"What it is?"
"Road-building machine?!"
"My God, the big-antlered deer...I have never seen such a big one!"
"It is said that it was transported from Ideal City!"
"Ideal City?! It's actually an Ideal City... It must be more than 3,000 kilometers away from here!"
"How many cows will it take to drag it here?"
"Stupid! I don't know how to use an airplane! Wouldn't it fly over with wings?"
"hiss……"
"It would be great if I could go there and see it in this life."
Standing next to the newly formed highway, although Chu Guang was not as fussy as those ignorant wastelanders, nor was he like a few civil servants who called it unscientific, the shock and emotion in his heart were almost the same.
.
Look at the yearning eyes of those wastelanders. I haven't even started winning yet, but these guys from the east coast are already winning.
The land is sealed off?
Become a king and become a prime minister?
That’s all the way to play in the Age of Empires.
A slightly more sophisticated "conquest" is all about power projection and regional influence. Not only does it not reduce stability and production capacity, it also saves a series of financial expenditures such as suppression and maintenance costs, and the benefits generated are far greater than direct control.
As for how to increase regional influence?
Advanced technology, abundant materials, prosperous culture, lofty ideals, excellent education, etc. can all be achieved.
Chu Guang felt that this matter was very complicated when unfolded, but in the abstract it was actually similar to emotional matters.
Handsome or beautiful, rich, well-spoken, well-educated, smart or thick-skinned... As long as anyone has one or two advantages, and the other points are not so disadvantageous that people cannot accept it, there is always no shortage of "confidants" or "dog-lickers"
”.
For example, although he himself is a little poorer, has a stupid mouth, and is too thin-skinned, there are still a lot of cute little players who surround him every day to gain favor with him.
In the final analysis, he is still too handsome.
The alliance is in a similar situation at the moment.
Although they fought several good battles and the confidence of the survivors was as high as ever, whether it was their background or their financial resources, their power was still weak compared to the established survivors in the wasteland.
These rich and handsome people from the east coast just stop here, even if they have no subjective intention to show off, or even no need at all, the regional influence will rise sharply.
In fact, let alone those poor wastelanders.
Chu Guang also hopes to go to the east coast one day to see what the survivor settlement that is said to be closest to the pre-war era looks like.
How can a city with an area less than half of Mumbai accommodate millions or tens of millions of people and build tall buildings that soar into the clouds?
This may provide him with some management experience.
Of course, although there are objective differences, we should not underestimate ourselves.
The alliance also has its own BUFF.
Aid from the "Fallen Empire" is both an opportunity and a challenge.
If it is grasped well, the new alliance can save more than ten years of detours, but if it is not grasped well, it may also take more than ten years of detours.
And as a manager.
What he has to do is to maximize his own advantages as much as possible.
Just when Chu Guang was thinking about how to get some wool from these old friends, the expression on his face was interpreted as envy in Luo Hua's eyes.
After looking at Chu Guang and then at Li Changkong's secretly happy self, Luo Hua, who was leaning on a cane, felt inexplicably unhappy.
When they sent out the Pioneer, the guys from the Ideal Group resisted and refused to contribute, but now they have come out to increase their presence.
This made him feel like he was being tricked by the tauren.
Driven by comparison, Luo Hua couldn't help but make a comment.
"Don't overestimate the abilities of these people... Their main business in Ideal City is real estate. If it hadn't been for this, I would have almost forgotten that they would even build roads."
However, after hearing his words, the expression on Chu Guang's face became even more surprised.
“Property?!”
Maybe he doesn't have enough imagination.
What kind of real estate company can be so awesome?!
"Um."
Luo Hua nodded, curled his lips and continued.
"... Repair water pipes, clean the outer walls of the building, clean the air exchangers, maintain elevators, generate electricity, and there used to be logistics and distribution, but now they are also outsourced... As for this kind of heavy engineering equipment, they don't have the ability to build it."
Seeing the unconvinced expression on his face, Chu Guang suddenly felt something in his heart and spoke.
"I heard that heavy engineering equipment is the main business of Silver Wing Group?"
"That's right," a hint of pride appeared on Luo Hua's face, "The Pioneer is our masterpiece! More than 80% of its components were completed by us independently."
Chu Guang asked immediately.
"Can you make this kind of road construction machine? How much does it cost?"
"Uh... I don't know about that," Luo Hua scratched his head, "Five to six million? Ten to twenty million? The price depends on the model. You can ask Yi Chuan for the specific quotation. I haven't been back for three years.
Yes, he knows the market better than me."
"..."
After hearing this quotation, Chu Guang finally felt at this moment how cheap the magnetically confined plasma cutting machine tool that Li De sold to him was.
117,000 Cr.
It’s only a little more expensive than building a kilometer of cement road. It’s so conscientious!
But then again, Cr at that time was actually different from now.
As a general equivalent exchange, the meaning of currency in different scenarios will also have certain differences.
At that time, the Pioneer needed local resources and labor, and Chu Guang needed the technology on the Pioneer. Cr's role was only in pricing and exchange.
Therefore, under the circumstances at that time, it was not Ideal City that provided the credit guarantee for Cr, but the Pioneer itself.
The quotation list provided by both parties does not represent the value of the product itself, but is more like the result of a game.
Even now, the list provided to them by the five major groups is obviously not the market situation of Ideal City, but more like the balance reached by their internal game.
Chu Guang believed that building an emergency cement road of 1 kilometer in Yunjian Province would definitely not require as much as 100,000 Cr.
But this doesn't matter to the Alliance.
As part of the 300 million military aid, he doesn't need to pay anyway.
All he has to do is spend money.
…
Li Changkong was responsible for building the road, so there was no need for Chu Guang to keep an eye on it. After watching for a while, he went about his own business.
Including a series of infrastructure projects such as railways, optical cables, electric cables, high-voltage electricity, etc., as long as they are related to supply lines, the Ideal Group will take over them.
With a huge sum of 300 million Cr in hand, Chu Guang also experienced the feeling of being pampered.
Of course.
After all, this money is given by others, and it is definitely not as free as what you have in your pocket. The total funds that can be used for infrastructure construction are only 70 million, and a quarter of it has been spent so far.
Most of the remaining 230 million is military equipment assistance, which can only purchase weapons and heavy equipment to fight against the legion.
The budget that can be used for industrial upgrading is only a little over 30 million Cr.
In order to make full use of the funds, Chu Guang convened a meeting with representatives from various industries for discussion, and opened a post on the forum to solicit players' opinions.
After thinking about it, using the planner's vest was a bit inconsistent with his style, so Chu Guang simply wore the NPC's vests.
They can't get online anyway.
[Beta0.4 version frontier: industrial upgrade!]
[Old Luca: Our allies from the east coast plan to spend 30 million Cr to help us improve production technology. The alliance will usher in a round of industrial upgrading! The budget is limited, do you have any good ideas? 】
Tails: "Eh?! Wait, isn't the new expansion pack about fighting?! (Surprised)"
Sisi: "emmm... It seems that the game will finally be updated with some equipment with a slightly higher technical content. I look forward to it."
Quit smoking: "Awesome! Fighting and leveling up at the same time?"
I kept my voice low and Bronn said, "Do you still have to ask? Every time there is a war, the prices of copper, coal, and sulfur skyrocket. If possible, we must open the mine first!"
Ya'er, I want to go to the toilet: "There is nothing wrong with mining, but now the production capacity of several mines from Qingshi County to Xizhou City is not low. The cost is mainly in transportation. When the transportation capacity increases, the cost will naturally come down... I feel
It’s time to upgrade the train, the camel machine is too slow!”
Who has Ward's athlete's foot? Levin: "Machine tools! The one with magnetically confined plasma would be great! More machine tools! (color) (color)"
Professor Yang, the King of Lightning: "There are machines with more horsepower in Boulder City. The ones bought from Ideal City are advanced, but there is no guarantee that they will not adapt to the climate. I would suggest focusing on improving the light industry first. Currently, the consumer goods produced by the alliance are not suitable for Jushi.
The city has great export advantages, and we can definitely continue to expand our advantages!"
Quit smoking: "Wait, are you eligible for closed beta testing?"
Thunder and Lightning Dharma King Professor Yang: "Hey, I will shed tears if I talk too much.T.T"
Less than half a minute after the post was posted.
The debate in the comment area below quickly became heated.
Chu Guang unexpectedly discovered that for this kind of issue that has little to do with the game itself, cloud players are much more enthusiastic about participating than closed beta players.
Unfortunately, these heated debates did not produce many constructive results, and most of them ended up in vain.
In the end, it was Elder Brother Fang who was praised by the closed beta players.
Fang Chang: "This topic is too abstract. The problem of the alliance is not that it lacks something, but that it lacks everything. Heavy industry provides production means, and light industry produces consumption means. One is internal strength and the other is external strength. The former is important, but the latter is not.
?Needless to mention agriculture, the alliance’s highest output value at present is not consumer goods, but the tens of thousands of acres of farmland north of Linghu! I also think agricultural technology should be upgraded.”
Macabazi: "I agree! Agricultural technology really needs to be upgraded. The alliance's population is about to exceed 100,000! If it continues to grow, it won't be able to support it! (Baring teeth)"
Professor Yang, the King of Thunder and Lightning: “Isn’t this a discussion of the order of precedence?”
Fang Chang: "The discussion is a discussion, but this issue cannot be resolved by debating scriptures. It must be combined with the actual situation. I think that instead of centralized procurement by the alliance, it is better to establish a channel for exchange and procurement and leave it to each industry to decide.
What equipment should be introduced? If you make money by opening a textile factory, you will naturally upgrade your textile equipment; if you make money by opening a steel factory, you will naturally upgrade your steelmaking plant."
Mole on the run in the canyon: "+1, insiders know better than outsiders what they need. They can solve the most critical technical pain points with the least cost, which is much more efficient than a group of outsiders picking and choosing without a clue."
After browsing through the comments below the post, Chu Guang touched his chin with interest.
"interesting."
In fact, when purchasing industrial equipment from Boulder City, he adopted exactly this method of establishing a currency exchange mechanism and purchasing channels, allowing professional players and NPCs who run factories to purchase appropriate equipment according to their own needs.
However, the situation in Ideal City is obviously different from that in Boulder City.
With a distance of three thousand kilometers, it is difficult for the two sides to form a stable trading market, allowing the alliance to earn foreign exchange from Ideal City.
He only has 30 million Cr to use, and it is impossible to leave it completely to the market for adjustment.
Currently, there are 317 items in the procurement list given by representatives of various industries, 57 of which are listed as the first priority.
Of these 57 projects, 80% are concentrated in heavy industry and 20% are light industry. According to the quotation evaluated by Yichuan, it far exceeds the 30 million budget.
It will take at least 50 million Cr to do it.
If you want to get more aid, you must achieve enough results on the battlefield. Only when you see that the money you spend is working, will companies spend more money to make bets.
However, Chu Guang always had the feeling that when he was painting a cake for those on the east coast, those people were also painting a cake for himself.
Do you want a military factory that can produce 10,000 rounds of artillery shells a day?
Do you want a coal mine with an annual output of 10,000 tons?
Including automated cable factories, auto repair shops, tractor factories, etc. Do you want it?
Knock the big noses out of you on the West Coast.
The first aid of 30 million is more like an advance payment.
Looking at the funding gap of at least 20 million on the list and the production lines proposed by the players, Chu Guang couldn't help but sigh.
"It would be great if I could find a way to earn some Cr."
Xiao Qi, who was sitting at the computer desk, tilted her head.
"Master, isn't thirty million enough for you?"
Chu Guang shook his head.
"It's not enough. I consulted the representative of Silver Wing Group and the price quoted for just one paving machine is close to 30 million... This does not include the maintenance cost."
The puppet controlled by Xiaoqi had a surprised expression on its face and whispered.
"Thirty million... is enough to build 300 kilometers of roads."
Chu Guang, who was leaning on the chair, nodded.
"Well, including maintenance costs, the total mileage is less than 500 kilometers. It is better to outsource the project directly to Ideal Group, so I didn't include it on the first purchase list."
Xiaoqi: "Then how do you plan to solve the funding gap?"
Although it doesn't have any good ideas, it feels that its owner must have a solution.
Chu Guang sighed, stared at the ceiling above his head, and muttered to himself.
"At present, there is only one way, and that is to achieve beautiful results on the frontal battlefield. In this way, we will also have enough chips to ask companies to increase their support for us."
but.
Relying on others' charity is never a long-term solution.
When the war ends and the Legion is expelled, aid from the east coast will naturally be suspended.
If only I could find a way to gather some wool.
It's a pity that this time it's the android army. Those iron guys don't even get paid. Not only do they not consume, but they even turn off the power in order to save electricity, not giving him a chance at all.
Just relying on those four representatives, no matter how rich they are, no matter how much money they waste, they will only spend ten or twenty thousand to survive.
In the face of the size of the league, this little money is just a drop in the bucket.
Just when Chu Guang was having a headache, a new email reminder suddenly popped up in the lower right corner of the computer screen.
The email was sent from Camp No. 101.
The sender is Pai, that extremely smart little girl.
[Master asked me to tell you that the fusion reactor will be repaired soon! It will be ignited in two days. Do you want to come over? 】
The moment he saw this line of news, Chu Guang's eyes suddenly lit up and he sat up from his chair suddenly.
yes.
There is also a reactor!
After all his calculations, he missed this thing.
"Yes!!"
Looking at the owner who suddenly became energetic, Xiao Qi, who was sitting on the table, blinked curiously.
"Yes?"
"OEM!" Chu Guang laughed and continued with bright eyes, "We can first introduce some spare parts production projects from enterprises, so as to not only complete the industrial upgrade, but also find a market for the upgraded industry!"
It’s still the fault of inertial thinking!
He has been busy in meetings these two days, focusing only on the subsidies issued by the company and the wages in the pockets of dispatched employees, and almost forgot about the transaction that brought him money!
Xiao Qi said in confusion: "But... didn't you say that 3,000 kilometers is too far and the goods produced by the alliance cannot be transported there?"
Chu Guang answered without hesitation.
"That was before!"
"As long as the reactor is re-ignited, Xizhou City's electricity costs will drop to the same level as Ideal City! Our electricity can even be cheaper than theirs!"
The reactor used in Xizhou City is a relic left over from the Prosperity Era. Its principle is the pure helium three reaction in the third generation of controlled fusion. It is the same technical principle as the reactor widely used in Ideal City.
If we only look at it from a technical perspective, there is not much difference in the cost of nuclear power between the two parties.
However, calculating costs cannot only consider material consumption, but also operations, maintenance and other aspects.
Due to the current low level of electrification in Xizhou City, even if some industries are relocated from Shuguang City, the energy generated by the controllable fusion reactor will still not be fully digested.
In other words, even if the reactor is operating at the lowest output power, there will be a problem of excess energy.
Therefore, in an economic sense, the cost of electricity in the Alliance is actually much lower than that of Ideal City. No matter where it is used, as long as this excess electricity can be used to create even a little bit of value, it will be a waste of money.
No loss at all.
For enterprises, planes transporting military aid materials will always fly over. Flying back empty is a waste of hundreds or even thousands of tons of transportation capacity. It is better to carry something back.
In addition, Xizhou City is rich in electricity and mineral resources, so it will definitely be profitable for them to transfer some of the less profitable industries from the east coast!
Although this sounds counterintuitive, on the premise that Xizhou City has a controllable fusion reactor, the transportation cost between the company and the alliance may be lower than the transportation cost between the company and the survivor settlement in neighboring provinces.
Even if the two sides are 3,000 kilometers apart!
Although the limit of air transport capacity is a problem, it is completely sufficient based on the current economic size of the alliance!
By the time the transportation capacity begins to be tight, the industrial output value of Xizhou City will have increased many times, and the river port on the Tianshui tributary will also be developed.
Building a few more freighters with a displacement of thousands of tons will not only allow us to do business with Ideal City, but also bring all the survivor settlements along the river within thousands of kilometers into the alliance's trade territory.
Drawing a blueprint for the future in his mind, Chu Guang felt his thoughts suddenly opened up, and a happy smile couldn't help but appear on his face.
This is more than a win-win situation.
It's almost a win, isn't it?
Although she didn't want to disturb her master's daydream, Xiao Qi couldn't help but whisper a reminder.
"But Master... nuclear fuel is limited, right? Xiaoqi thinks it's better to use it sparingly."
Chu Guang answered without hesitation.
"You are right, but no matter how frugal we are, the limited inventory will one day be exhausted. Problems caused by development must be solved through development!"
People can't stop eating just because they might choke to death.
As long as the alliance is developed to the point where it is capable of restoring Earth-to-Moon flights before the nuclear fuel in the southern part of the River Valley province is exhausted, these problems will naturally be solved!
But if it really develops to that extent, with the size of the alliance, it must not need to rely on anyone anymore...
With his fingers clicking on the keyboard, Chu Guang hit the Enter button and replied an email to Pai who was far away in Xizhou City.
"want!"
"I'll come over right now!"
…
Just when Chu Guang was busy communicating with Camp 101 about matters related to reactor ignition, Shuguang City First Hospital welcomed a special guest at the door.
Yu Feng, who was walking beside Yun You in the hospital corridor, explained in a low voice.
"... When we passed through Yongdong City before, we encountered a little trouble. The mutant slime mold there is different from other places. It has evolved very difficultly. It is not only extremely aggressive, but also disguises itself as a normal survivor.
By."
"In order to break out, twenty commando soldiers were infected by mutant slime mold and were unable to complete the next mission. Our captain left them here for treatment."
He is the apprentice and employee of Hedin, the logistics chief of the expedition.
In order to help the alliance build an ammunition production line and introduce instant noodles production technology, he was asked by his boss to stay here and connect with the reinforcements that would arrive later.
It is worth mentioning that since the logistics of the expedition team is outsourced to corporate partners, he, like his boss, is not an employee of the company, nor does he have a resident status in Ideal City. He was just born in a certain place in Yunjian Province.
An ordinary wastelander in a settlement.
To him, senior employees of the company are undoubtedly big shots.
Even technical personnel such as engineers.
After listening to his statement, Yun You nodded slowly.
"I've heard about your story. The employees of Silver Wing Group mentioned the abnormal situation in Yongdong City in the report, but we don't care about that for the time being. The crew of the Pioneer and No. 0 Shelter are the first
Priority…how are their injuries?”
Yu Feng shook his head.
"It's very bad... The alliance has some excellent biological experts and experience in fighting slime mold, but you should have seen that the medical conditions and scientific research infrastructure here are too backward."
"All they can do is maintain the status quo and prevent the injuries of those injured from worsening. If they want to be completely cured, I'm afraid they have to be transferred to a hospital in Ideal City."
Yun You sighed softly and spoke in a condolence tone.
"Thank you for your hard work... our plane will take you home after the energy is replenished."
Yu Feng smiled sheepishly.
"Actually... it's not hard work at all. The living conditions here are pretty good. Of course, it's definitely not as lively as the Ideal City."
Yun You said nothing.
To her, this was obviously a comforting statement.
After all, no matter from which angle you look at it, the development here is far lower than that of Ideal City, and even worse than some of the larger survivor settlements in Yunjian Province.
It can only be said that compared to other survivor villages in the interior, the lifestyle of the people here is indeed relatively more civilized.
After all, there are many shelter residents living here, so they can still play some role.
Under the leadership of Yu Feng and the hospital nurse, Yun You walked to the door of the ward and faintly heard voices coming from inside.
"Yes!"
"Damn, I can't afford it..."
"Where's your bomb?"
"Where the hell did I get the bomb?!"
"Hahaha, I have the bomb here! Goodbye three times!"
"@#%!"
"Don't worry, hurry up!"
Yun You, who was standing at the door, was slightly stunned, not understanding their discussion.
To A?
bomb?
Is this... discussing a battle plan?
She couldn't help but feel a little distressed when she thought of these poor children being sent to distant battlefields to bleed and die for people they had never met.
If it hadn't been for that expedition that went its own way, they wouldn't have had to endure these pains.
Taking a deep breath, Yun You reached out and pushed open the door.
However, when she saw the situation in the ward clearly, she froze on the spot.
In the messy ward, a dozen shirtless old men were gathered in a circle, with a small table in the middle.
On the table was a pile of scattered papers and silver steel pendants, and beer bottles and cigarette butts were scattered on the concrete floor beside it.
Seeing Yun You standing at the door, a few young men were still playing cards with playful smiles, without reacting at all, but Shen Rui, who had his arms wrapped around his arms, changed his expression.
Others don't recognize this person.
But as a veteran under Yun Song, he recognized it...
Noticing Yu Feng's crazy look, Shen Rui was about to say something to ease the embarrassment at the moment.
However, before he could speak, a light cough came from the door, breaking the laughter, curses and jokes in the room.
Looking at these young men, Yun You, who was standing at the door, slowly spoke.