Laoshan.
A convoy of hundreds of steam vehicles arrived at Laoshan, outside the gate of the Kyushu Academy of Sciences.
Li Zhen had packed up his neat clothes and was leaving with a large group of people. But he saw Xun Jiayuan walking out wearing decent clothes.
Li Zhen was stunned at first why Xun Jiayuan appeared here.
Then I remembered that Xun Jiayuan gave up his position as a standing committee member and settled in the Kyushu Academy of Sciences, where he indulged in scientific research. Basically he didn't go out and walk around. After a while, Li Zhen forgot about it.
"Haha, Mr. Xun."
Li Zhen said hello.
Xun Jiayuan nodded: "Let's go. We are here to hold some kind of meeting. I have already resigned as a standing committee member, so why am I still there?"
"You are of the older generation after all. I will definitely bring you along for such a big event as a meeting."
Xun Jiayuan laughed, his face flushed, and he and Li Zhen walked out hand in hand, chatting while walking.
Xun Jiayuan didn't know what happened, so Li Zhen explained to him: "Maybe Emperor Du thought it was time to go to war. So let's hold a meeting to discuss it."
Xun Jiayuan was confused: "Start a war? Against whom?"
"Hahaha, Mr. Xun, you are so confused. It must be a matter between Yamato Kingdom and Rakshasa Kingdom."
Xun Jiayuan slapped his forehead: "Oh, yes, yes, yes. I forgot about it. I have been spending this time in your library, studying all kinds of knowledge. One day passed like two days, and I forgot about myself."
Li Zhen took a deep look at Xun Jiayuan, feeling pleased for him in his heart. In the last few years of his life, he found his destination, just like Lin Xiufeng of the Aviation Academy. Everyone has their own hobbies.
Isn't such a person a kind of happiness
"Accept the emperor's order. Escort Li Zhen Party Leader and Commissioner Xun Jiayuan to Quancheng County."
The top officer of the motorcade stood at the gate, holding a document in his hand to declare. The eyes he looked at the two of them were reverent, yet timid.
Li Zhen waved his hand: "Let's go."
After getting on the car, the steam car didn't stop for a moment and immediately turned around and headed for Quancheng County. At various places along the way, military and police officers cleared the way for smooth passage.
But it was only at night one day later that we arrived at Quancheng County.
While walking on the bumpy road, Li Zhen kept thinking and pondering.
Xun Jiayuan, who was in the same car, asked: "What is the party leader thinking?"
Li Zhen looked out the car window and whispered: "I'm wondering, is the distance between people in New Kyushu too far?"
"how do I say this?"
"It takes a day to get from Laoshan to Quancheng County, even if the steam train has troops clearing the way. If no one clears the way, will this time be extended?"
"Hahaha, it's close enough. From Laoshan to Xizhou, it's far. It's a quick trip, and it will take a week or two."
"No, I'm not talking about relative distance. I was wondering if it would be possible to bring the entire New Kyushu closer."
"How to get closer?"
Li Zhen hesitated for a while: "Mr. Only then can there be an exit. Only steam vehicles are allowed to drive on this kind of road. It is flat and unobstructed."
"This idea... is quite novel. Can't the horse go up as well?"
"No. Only steam cars are allowed up there."
"Then what kind of road is this? Aren't roads just for people to walk on?"
"No. Our current roads have roads in some places and no roads in some places. Some places are mud roads. Some places are still mountain roads. And the road I am talking about directly cuts through the mountains in a straight line. This can save money. A lot of time. No horses on the road, no people. Clear flow."
"Opening the mountain? This is a big project. The cost of building this road is not low, right?"
"Yes. The cost of building this kind of road should be very expensive..."
Li Zhen looked back, smiled, and said softly: "But I am in New Kyushu, and I am not short of money."
Xun Jiayuan was stunned and couldn't help but smile: "No matter how short of money we are, we must have a planned economy. We cannot be a prodigal country. Once this road is built, the actual significance is lower than the cost."
"No. Mr. Xun, you can read some economics books when you have time. You will understand what time means to businessmen. What convenient transportation means to a region."
"I definitely understand the importance of transportation. But... the government will lose money. The cost of this road, just for the straight line from Laoshan to Quancheng County. The cost is probably not less than hundreds of millions of Kyushu dollars, right?"
"More than that. Kyushu coins are worthless now. About one billion."
Xun Jiayuan took a breath of air: "Yes. It will cost at least one billion to start. The price is too high."
"No. If this road is built in Dongzhou, it will pay back in one year."
"Recover your capital? Is this path still profitable?"
"Yes. We set up checkpoints and collect tolls. Mr. Xun knows how many merchants there are in Dongzhou and how much goods need to be transported. Everyone is in a hurry. There is absolutely no problem in returning the money within one year."
"You still charge tolls? What's the difference between that and Roadhog?"
"Of course there is a difference. This road was built by us, and we charge reasonable tolls. But you can also choose not to take this road. You can also choose to take the old road to go to various places. You are not forced to go. This is The biggest difference. The most important thing is... the risks can be shared equally, the government can cooperate with capitalists to develop this road, and the road can be built by letting capitalists take shares and jointly fund the construction. They will be very happy."
"The idea you mentioned... If you put it that way, I think we can still try it. What is this road called?"
"highway."
“…”
Planning in my mind, I arrived at Quancheng County.
All members of the Jiuzhou Party, as well as the current emperor Du Taiping, and the new Jiuzhou Prime Minister Xun Shifei came to pick him up and welcome him.
Xun Shifei was never in a good mood. He was once only one step away from the throne of emperor. As a result, now that Du Taiping is the emperor, he has become the prime minister. Du Taiping is at the lower administrative level, and even in position, he has to stand behind Du Taiping.
"Party leader. It's been a long and dusty journey, thank you for your hard work."
"Mr. Xun, thank you for your hard work."
"I really can't bear to invite you two here in such a hurry. Excuse me, let's go have dinner first."
"First take over the leadership of the party leader."
“…”
Li Zhen waved his hand: "Let's not eat now. Gather the people who should be called, and have a meeting first. Then... invite the more powerful capitalists in Dongzhou to come. After the meeting, I have a meeting to hold for them. There is a meeting today. The task is heavy and we have to decide on at least three major things. Let’s stop eating now.”
Du Taiping was stunned: "The party leader still has a meeting to hold? What's going on?"
Xun Jiayuan laughed loudly: "This is an earth-shattering event. You will know about it later."
“…”
(End of chapter)