amaotonovel Chapter 117 Highway
Chapter 117 Highway
In Nan Rongxi's study.
Nan Rongxi sat in the study of the palace, the afternoon sun shining through the window onto the table, she was holding a roasted sweet potato in her hand, enjoying a moment of peace. The sweet potato was roasted just right, the skin was crispy, the inside was soft and sweet, and every bite was full of the flavor of autumn.
But this tranquility did not last long. There was a sudden and urgent knock on the study door, and then Dacongming and Youyue pushed the door open, with a bit of anxiety and eagerness on their faces.
"Your Majesty!" Da Congming spoke first, his voice trembling slightly. "Dabai Country is now at a critical stage of development, but the inconvenience of transportation has become our biggest bottleneck. Commercial activities in various places are severely restricted. Carriages are bumpy on dilapidated roads, which is inefficient and time-consuming."
Youyue also added: "Yes, Your Majesty, now our communication with the outside world is becoming more and more frequent, but the condition of the roads has seriously affected our development speed. If we want to prosper, it is imperative to build roads."
Da Congming continued to add: "Your Majesty, if Dabai wants to be strong, building roads is a top priority. But right now we are short of funds, and building roads does not generate immediate economic benefits, and it will also incur maintenance costs, so we have always been a headache."
After listening to their report, Nan Rongxi slowly put down the sweet potato in his hand, thought for a moment and said: "Your suggestion is worth considering. Road construction is an important aspect of national development, but funds are limited. We must think carefully about using roads to make money."
Da Congming looked puzzled: "Your Majesty, how can we make money from building roads?"
Nan Rongxi smiled slightly: "We will make this road wider and straighter, and call it a highway. Then we will set up a toll booth in every place and charge according to the distance used!"
"Highway tolls?" Youyue's eyes widened. It was obvious that this proposal was beyond his expectation. "Your Majesty, this is indeed a novel idea, but will the people be willing to pay for it?"
Nan Rongxi nodded and said, "I didn't say that we would charge the common people. The highway only charges those who ride in horse-drawn carriages. Those who have horse-drawn carriages are all rich people. Moreover, we can charge according to the goods on the carriages!"
"You two must understand that when our roads become wider and smoother, and carriages and wagons can travel quickly on them, merchants will be able to deliver goods to their destinations more quickly. Time is money, and they will naturally be willing to pay a certain fee to save time. Moreover, it will cost them more to take other routes."
Hearing this, Dacongming and Youyue both showed an expression of sudden enlightenment. They didn't expect that the emperor could come up with such a clever way to solve this difficult problem.
Nan Rongxi looked out the window, as if he could already see the broad highway stretching out before his eyes. "We can also set up some preferential policies, such as discounts for merchants who use the highway for a long time, or purchase monthly or annual passes. This will not only guarantee our income, but also attract more people to use the highway."
After hearing this, Dacongming's eyes lit up, and he praised sincerely: "Your Majesty, your wisdom is unmatched. Such a strategy can not only help us solve the financial difficulties, but also lay a solid foundation for the country's economic prosperity. I will immediately organize people to start the preparatory work!"
Nan Rongxi nodded, her face filled with confidence and expectation, "Okay, smart guy, go ahead. Don't forget, our goal is to make this highway a landmark project of Dabai Country and an important channel for us to communicate with the outside world!"
Nan Rongxi paused for a moment and added, "Oh, by the way, regarding the design of the road, I have a special idea. When building it, we cannot just be satisfied with the traditional road layout, but should be innovative."
With a gleam of wisdom in her eyes, she continued, "I think that the sidewalk and carriageway should be clearly separated. The sidewalk should be on the outside of the road so that pedestrians can stay away from the carriageway when walking and reduce the risk of collision with carriages. The carriageway should be on the inside to ensure that the carriages will not threaten the safety of pedestrians when traveling at high speeds."
Da Congming nodded repeatedly after hearing this, with an expression of admiration on his face. "Your Majesty, you are so thoughtful. Such a design can indeed greatly improve the safety and smoothness of traffic. Separating the sidewalk and the carriageway can not only reduce the occurrence of accidents, but also allow carriages to run more smoothly, improving the overall traffic efficiency."
He took a deep breath and continued, "Your Majesty, your design is truly ingenious. I will strictly follow your instructions and will never let you down! I will organize the best craftsmen and architects to ensure that this highway can be perfectly presented according to your requirements."
Nan Rongxi smiled and nodded, she was full of confidence in her decision and design. She firmly believed that this innovative highway would become a business card of Dabai Country, showing Dabai Country's wisdom and strength to other countries.
The entire pendulum was soon put into the construction of the highway.
The rising sun had just cast its golden rays, and the construction site was already bustling with activity. Hundreds of craftsmen were wielding shovels and pickaxes, their movements in unison, as if they were performing a carefully choreographed dance. They shoveled up, turned over, and leveled the soil, gradually forming a broad roadbed.
Not far away, a team of horse-drawn carriages loaded with sand and gravel slowly drove over. The sand and gravel made a rustling sound when they were dumped, as if cheering for the hard work of the craftsmen. Then, a group of workers quickly stepped forward with wooden rakes and shovels, and spread the sand and gravel evenly on the roadbed. Their movements were quick and accurate, as if they were engaged in a silent competition.
As the project progressed, the road gradually extended, winding across the land like a giant dragon. The sun shone on the newly laid sand and stones, flashing a dazzling light, as if announcing the birth of this new road.
The construction site is filled with the smell of soil, sand and stone, as well as the smell of the craftsmen's sweat. These smells intertwine to form a unique construction site smell. Despite the hard work, the craftsmen's faces are filled with smiles of pride and satisfaction. They know that they are making history and making their own contributions to the prosperity of the country.
From time to time, you can hear the supervisors' shouts and the craftsmen's responses. These sounds interweave to form a magnificent symphony of labor.
The sun gradually rose higher, but the enthusiasm on the construction site did not diminish. The craftsmen were still sweating profusely, and their figures looked more tenacious and great in the sun.
After the completion of the expressway, it gradually showed its unique charm. The design of separating the sidewalk and carriageway made the traffic more orderly, pedestrians and carriages went their own way, and the incidence of traffic accidents was greatly reduced.
At the same time, the width and flatness of the highway also allowed horse-drawn carriages to travel at high speeds, making commercial activities more convenient and efficient, and the tax revenue began to grow wildly.