11 Proceedings (1/2)
By the time Ouyang Shuo came into the central chamber, everyone had arrived.
On the front wall of the chamber was a water painting whose painter was unknown, with a few rough lines and pens under it. In the middle of the hall was a red sandalwood chair, with three normal chairs on both sides of it.
To his left, the first seat was taken by General Shi, followed by Zhao Dexian and Zheng Shanpao. To his right was Cui Yingyu, followed by Zhao Youfang and Zheng Dahai.
He greeted everyone one by one as he sat down on the chair, saying simply, “Let’s begin. Yingyu, first report on the territories resources to summarize the situation.”
“Yes,” Cui Yingyu stated crisply, standing up. “Our stock of resources is currently as follows: 4750 units of grain, 220 units of wood, 390 units of stone, 450 units of iron. Our resources output is currently: Logging, 100 units of wood per day; quarry, 50 units of stone per day. According to the current progress of our territory, construction is expected to encounter a shortage of wood, and it has been recommended to increase logging operations.”
Hearing her report, Ouyang Shuo did not immediately respond. He had taken the opportunity to look at the few construction blueprints that he had bought from the Basic Market again, and took a look at their construction conditions.
Ferry: Provides transport services on both sides of the river. Construction conditions: Public docks, ferry construction blueprints, Boatman, wood 40 units, stone 20 units. Build time: One day.
Basic Terminal: Provides cargo distribution for docked civilian vessels. Construction conditions: terminal construction blueprints, wood 400 units, stone 200 units. Construction time: three days.
Basic Shipyard: Constructs ordinary civilian vessels, including ordinary fishing boats and passenger ships. Construction conditions: basic shipbuilder, wood 100 units, stone 50 units. Construction time: two days.
Village Temple: the villagers believe in the land, raises morale of residents. Construction conditions: village temple construction blueprints, wood 400 units, stone 350 units. Construction time: two days.
He calculated in his heart. Together with the basic barracks and the 5 civilian squares which had not been calculated, he was very sure about the resources needed for a grade 1 village.
After his calculations were complete, Ouyang Shuo started with this, “I just figured out some statistics a bit. To complete all of the construction projects, the total need for wood is 1240 units, for stone, 760 units. Very good report, very detailed. This does not include the subsequent construction materials of fishing vessels that we will be needing.”
“Our current wood production speed has been unable to keep up with our construction speed, adding to it is imperative. There are a total of 87 people in the territory. In addition to our special talents, 70 of them are farmers. The labor force is still adequate, so I have decided to increase the lumber field to 20 farmers.” Saying that, Ouyang Shuo turned to Zhao Youfang. “Manager Zhao, you have to do a good job of coordinating the workers, work hard to protect our timber supply.”
Zhao Youfang quickly rose and said loudly, “Yes! I will ensure the task is completed!”
Ouyang Shuo smiled, “In addition, your mission from a few days ago, how did it go?”
Zhao Youfang frowned and said, “These days I traveled the territory and found that within our territory there is only the single forest to the west. These woods are only expected to produce 8000 units of wood. Outside our territory, I have not probed because of fear of an accident.”
Ouyang Shuo pondered a moment, looking around the crowd, and said seriously, “Manager Zhao just raised a sharp problem. We are logging and quarrying outside the village, and are vulnerable to beasts and bandits out there. The terminal will be focused on construction of the ferry, but the shipyard and ferry will be outside our current security, and are vulnerable. These will be core industries of the territory, and we must ensure their safe operation.
“I am afraid it is difficult to take care of it all. For now, the top priority is to build the basic military camp, train up some militia, and improve the military strength of the territory.”
Seeing General Shi getting excited, Ouyang Shuo smiled and said to him, “General Shi, the task of forming the militia team, I give to you. Recruitment is set to ten men. From now on, I can promise you that as long as you qualify the men to be soldiers, the work teams of all the departments will release them to you.”
General Shi laughed, and said loudly, “I will no longer be an general with no men! Please rest assured, Lord, that the final results will be a blood-thirsty and powerful militia, and will not disappoint the trust of the Lord!”
Ouyang Shuo nodded, and turned to Zhao Dexian. He took the building plans for the barracks, ferry, dock, shipyards and village temple out of his resource bag. “Elder Dexian, take the remaining five building plans. Arrange their overall construction order. For the next four days, all of the extra workers that come in, in addition to special talents, will join your construction team.”
Zhao Dexian quickly rose to take the drawings, saying loudly, “As long as the material is supplied in a timely manner, I guarantee that within five days all the buildings will be completed.”
As the Elder took his seat again, Ouyang Shuo continued, “With short-term plans addressed, I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about long term plans, so that everyone has a good idea where we are going. The ocean will be the core of the future development of the territory. Controlling the ocean, we will be able to strangle the trade throat of the world, and occupy the strategic center of the transitional wars in the future.”
“To achieve this strategic goal, we must build a strong sea fleet. Therefore, shipbuilding will become the core industry in the future. We are fortunate that our territory now has a senior shipbuilder.” Ouyang Shuo turned to Zheng Dahai, and said to him, “Master Zheng, I hope that you will be able to quickly find yourself apprentices, and cultivate a number of basic, intermediate, and even advanced shipbuilders.”
Zheng Dahai got up calmly, and said evenly, “I accept the task from sire!”
Ouyang Shuo nodded, looking around. “These proceedings are done for today. The arrangements for the tasks assigned by this meeting will be implemented one by one!”
Everyone else had risen, and said together, “We will live up to the trust sire has given us!”
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Gaia 1st year, 10th day. After four days of construction, the construction projects of the territories were nearing completion.
The ferry, basic barracks, and the remaining five residences had been completed. The basic shipyard, basic docks, and village temple had also entered the finishing stage, and would be completed today.
The ferry had been built on the northern shore of the Friendship River, at the landing location of Ouyang Shuo and General Shi’s raft from the very first day, a very memorable location. With the ferry, they could cross the Friendship River, and explore the hinterlands of the Lianzhou Basin. Shipyards and docks were being built on the eastern side of his territory, near the canyon’s edge.
Over the past four days, sixty more immigrants had arrived, mostly lumberjacks, fishermen, and farmers, along with five special talents. An older man, nearly fifty but hale and hearty, and also easy going, everyone called him Old Man Zhang. Ouyang Shuo put him on the dock for the ferry, where he had once hidden his simple raft.
The biggest harvest was a twenty year old man of clear and beautiful appearance, almost childlike, named Gu Xiuwen. Although he wasn’t a scholar, he had passed the county tests and government assessments, coupled with his grade meant he was already a decently learned man.
What’s more special was that Gu Xiuwen, although he was only a black iron level talent, had a specialty. This showed that he had great potential. With a little training, he could be promoted to silver level at any time.
Name: Gu Xiuwen (Black Iron rank)
Identity: Shanhai Village Civil Servant
Occupation: Civil Servant
Loyalty: 75 Points
Command: 25 [Force]: 15 [Intelligence]: 35 [Political]: 40
Specialty: Strong knowledge of government (enhances the territory’s administrative efficiency 5%)