Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 398: The Territory's Financial Revenue and Expenditure

Nelson's Ministry of Internal Affairs could be considered to have temporarily passed the test.

Following that, Linus of the Engineering Group arrived in a hurry. He was also very busy, but not truly overwhelmingly busy. Because he further had an extremely capable assistant—Zhao Qingshan. This was a general-level existence in terms of engineering construction; he was even faintly poised to become the soul figure of the Engineering Group.

At the same time, among the non-outsider player system within the territory, he was currently the sole Four-Star Artisan. His future prospects were boundless. Today, he was one of the most important builders constructing the Level 4 City Wall, capable of standing side-by-side with Zhao Xuanxuan and Thomas.

Under these circumstances, the original boss of the Engineering Group, Linus, had honorably retreated to the second line of command, taking charge of logistics aspects such as personnel dispatching, supply of materials, and so on. Right now, he even had the time to accept Li Wei's inquiries.

"Replying to the Lord, the current Engineering Group has already imposingly become the number one major group within our territory. As of this moment, we already possess 54 Three-Star Artisans. And prior to the apocalypse, they all at the very least held university degrees. At the same time, we also possess an extremely robust frontline construction and execution team. On average, they all start as Two-Star Artisans, and the total headcount is three hundred people. This is a core backbone team; every person is capable of leading ten unskilled laborers."

"Right now, the massive joint battle for the Level 4 City Wall we are currently undertaking has concentrated our crack troops and capable generals. We drafted five hundred unskilled laborers each from Riverside Fortress and Hathaway's Baron Territory. The headquarters here drafted one thousand unskilled laborers. The total number of people participating in construction has reached 2,355 individuals. We must ensure the Level 4 City Wall is completely built and finalized within two months."

"Currently, the project has already commenced the first phase: excavating the foundations and stockpiling materials. A total of 84 electric trucks, 20 electric buses, fifteen small and five medium concrete mixers, one Small Nuclear Power Plant, and ten steam generators have all been put into operation. The aspect of electrical power is not a problem. As for the supply of food, the Chef Group, Fishing and Hunting Group, and Gathering Group also guarantee they can supply it with their full strength."

"However, there are two matters that still require the Lord's approval. This first matter was instructed by Lady Qin Yu. Building the Level 4 City Wall requires using at least fifty thousand cubic meters of Level 4 Stone blocks. And up until now, the only place capable of producing Level 4 Stone blocks is Hathaway's stronghold on the South Bank. But if we extensively mine from there, it might cause some damage to the main body of Hathaway's stronghold. Therefore, after our evaluations, we determined we can at most mine thirty thousand cubic meters from there. Thus, this requires us to conduct new mineral prospecting. But it's a great pity; Level 4 Stone mines like the one at Hathaway's stronghold are far too rare."

"So what are your thoughts? Directly use the Magic Well to upgrade Level 3 Stone blocks?"

Li Wei asked directly; this wasn't difficult to guess."Yes, Lord. Of course, this matter isn't urgent for the moment. These Level 4 Stone blocks might not be used until a month from now."

"Very well, I understand. Then what is the second matter?"

"Replying to the Lord, it's like this. Although the number of constructors participating in the Level 4 City Wall currently reaches as high as 2,355 people, in reality, it is still slightly insufficient. Therefore, I boldly request the allocation of at least 300 soldiers to participate in the engineering construction. Especially during some engineering phases requiring heavy physical labor. Like this, we can shorten the construction period forward as much as possible."

Linus suggested cautiously. But his suggestion was correct.

At this time, when even the Frost Duke had announced peace negotiations, withdrawing three hundred soldiers to throw into the construction of the Level 4 City Wall was extremely necessary. After all, these soldiers currently all basically possessed Three-Star strength. Each person was comparable to a small excavator.

Perhaps they couldn't reach the standards technically, but during these foolish, large, black, and rough earth-moving engineering phases, they were extremely crucial.

"Alright. What three hundred people? All four hundred current soldiers will come over to help. But they are restricted only to excavating earth. After the earth excavation is finished, only two hundred soldiers can be left for you."

Li Wei brought the hammer down with the final word.

This matter was feasible. Right now, Hathaway's Baron Territory had the Red-Clothed Witch Anna holding the fort, and Riverside Fortress had Li Yue holding the fort.

The territory headquarters here even gathered three Second-Order Casters. If this couldn't be considered safe, what else could be considered safe?

However, the matter of utilizing magic to upgrade the stone mine couldn't be treated carelessly.

He had to go take a look first.

Sending Linus off, Li Wei took out his Prestige Card, took a brief look, and was somewhat astonished.

Because having weathered through that previous wave of terrifying, once-in-a-millennium flood peak, the territory's magic reserves not only hadn't been depleted too much, but had actually slightly increased instead.

For example, that Three-Star Magic Well at the territory's side. Previously, because it needed to forge Enchanted Equipment for the cavalrymen, it directly consumed 30 units. And in order to combat the flood peak, it had also provided 20 units of magic to Hathaway. Resultingly, after a bout of tossing and turning, the magic reserves of this Magic Well still had 80 units.

As for that Three-Star Magic Well at Riverside Fortress, it had broken through to 60 units.

Even the One-Star Magic Well at Hathaway's Baron Territory had stockpiled reaching 40 units.

Good heavens, is this a flood disaster? This is clearly wishing me a prosperous fortune and wishing me wealth!

The Frost Duke is a good person!

However, leaving this matter for Second Aunt to handle was sufficient.

Actually, over these past two days since returning, Li Wei hadn't seen Second Aunt. She, Hathaway, and Qin Yu—the three of them—were overwhelmingly busy working next to the Magic Well in the south. Each person acted as if facing a formidable enemy, highly tense.

But he had no need to go disturb them at this time. He didn't understand anyway, let alone be of any help. At most, he just provided all the Barbarian gold coins over to them; the rest was just waiting, and that was that.

Following that, Li Wei headed downstairs. He prepared to make a trip to the Three-Star Temple. Because he needed to resolve the problem of cultivating two more Temple Priests.

This was also one of the mandatory conditions to upgrade to a Level 5 Territory.

Today's temple grandeur was already vastly different from the past.

Although the main building hadn't changed, the surrounding environment was considerably excellent. Ornamental trees specially transplanted back from the mountains, neatly planted flowerbeds, jade-green and orderly lawns, as well as a cemetery.

Alright, this last one was something Li Wei hadn't expected. Nelson and this bunch of guys had actually placed the cemetery inside the city. The city wall being built next would just happen to incorporate it inside.

Regarding this, he didn't interfere either. In short, the Temple + Cemetery directly occupied five thousand square meters.

"Lord, good day!"

Strolling along the path, two cleaners resting by the side of the road bowed and greeted Li Wei from afar—extremely natural, extremely respectful.

But as long as Li Wei stopped and spoke a couple of words to them, they would become extremely restrained and uneasy.

This was the case seven or eight times out of ten.

Therefore, Li Wei had also learned to wear a smile, nod his head, and directly walk past.

Mhm, the changes in this territory were quite major. Whether from the overall appearance, or the psychology of the territory's populace. Even though Li Wei had only not permanently resided here for five or six months.

The shadow of the former Ruins Town could not be found in the slightest bit anymore.

The former Central Park had thoroughly turned into a fifty-mu vegetable garden.

Surrounding this green tract, civilian residences rose from the ground one after another. Some had already completed simple interior decorating and had families move in; some had only just completed the construction of the main body.

And in several relatively good locations facing the street, there were even some simple little stalls.

The stall owners were mostly pregnant women. They were qualified to not work, and could receive the minimum wage of three silver coins every month. But this didn't delay them from doing some small business to subsidize their household expenses.

For example, they would sew some small knick-knacks the Tailoring Workshop wouldn't produce.

Like scarves, face masks, inner linings for armor, insoles, socks, gloves, and the like.

Concurrently, they would also make some snacks that needed to be eaten that very day.

Or some people directly became barbers, or laundresses and such.

These were small corners that even Nelson and their Ministry of Internal Affairs didn't have the time to attend to. But today, they also managed to occupy a tiny little ecological niche.

Oh, and it wasn't just this. Li Wei also saw stalls selling firewood and charcoal, stalls selling some wild berries and wild vegetables.

Currently within the territory, although it was said they were eating from a communal pot, it wasn't demanded that everything be entirely communal and public.

After completing their daily work quotas, anyone who wanted to work overtime got overtime pay; those who didn't want to work overtime could do their own private work. Because each department group was like individual companies that had taken on projects. To a certain extent, the department bosses needed to be responsible for their own profits and losses, but they also couldn't violate the constitution, ensuring everyone enjoyed the most basic Humanistic Care.

Therefore, under the premise where every family could receive a free house and didn't need to worry about starving to death, doing a bit more private work and saving up a bit more money was a matter of course.

Moreover, this had to form positive feedback. That is, it had to allow the territory's Freemen to have an extremely clear expectation for the future.

For instance, being able to save up three gold coins this year, and being able to save up to five gold coins next year.

Currently, looking at the whole picture, it was still pretty good.

Over these past two days, as long as Li Wei found the time, he would use the Prestige Card to check the backend data family by family, not letting even the singles off the hook.

Checking their salary income, consumption revenue and expenditure, and so on.

Mhm, having few people meant he could just be this willful and capricious.

The Prestige Card was his cheat device.

Currently, up until the end of the month, the sum of total salary income and other incomes of all Freemen in the territory had finally broken through the 5,000 gold coin major threshold.

Aside from the army whose salaries were issued personally by Li Wei, the rest of these salaries were issued by the various department groups.

At the same time, this month, the territory's financial expenditure was eight thousand gold coins.

And simultaneously, the territory's financial revenue was very little. Because currently, there were no territory taxes yet.

Therefore, in reality, the territory's financial revenue was Li Wei's revenue. This month's revenue was only 3,508 gold coins.

Looking at the data, it was somewhat operating at a loss.

But considering the entire territory was all Li Wei's property, then it wasn't a problem either.

The Northern Fortress, Southern Fortress, Hathaway's Baron Territory, the Great Bridge—these also had to be calculated as part of the revenue, ah.

Therefore, every month, Li Wei would inject a portion of gold coins into the territory's finances, making its upper limit reach ten thousand gold coins. For example, the financial revenue at the end of this month was only 3,508 gold coins, so he had to supplement 6,492 gold coins at the beginning of the month.

The gold transitions that vanished in the middle had actually all flowed into the pockets of the Freemen. Whether they kept it for savings or for consumption, it was all pretty good.

Because this would facilitate the formation of an internal market, and gradually facilitate the perfection of finance and taxation.

When the finances could become responsible for their own profits and losses, or even bear the majority of the expenditures, Li Wei would then cut off the current territory public treasury from his own private treasury. Only then could this be considered a smooth and stable landing.

(End of this chapter)