Chapter 667 - 665: Always Feeling Something Is Not Right
The Emperor slightly furrowed his brow, it was happening again. Previously, Prince Fu had suggested handing the project over to Jinrong, likely because he thinks the project’s cost is too low, and there’s not enough of a lucrative opportunity, right?
"Rail transportation is a major project, not some minor local endeavor spanning just tens of miles. Jinrong has never worked on a project, I’m afraid he lacks the experience to take on such a large task."
Prince Fu seemed to also realize the inappropriateness and, after thinking it over, added, "Imperial Father is right, how about this, Sixth Brother and the Qi Family Construction Business will handle laying the tracks, and the Ministry of Revenue will supply the tracks, railroad ties, and various auxiliary parts. We will only be responsible for collecting materials according to the length of the route and assembling and laying the tracks."
The Emperor sized up Prince Fu once more. If all materials were to be turned into finished products and directly transported to the construction site, then the laying work would be quite simple, and there would be no chance for graft within the project. And creating the tracks, railroad ties, and spare parts, along with the anti-corrosion treatment, requires many processes, which naturally creates opportunities for exploitation.
The track materials required for such a large project could probably only be produced by the Ministry of Revenue’s organizational capacity. The issue is that while Prince Fu has significant self-interest, his proposal is not bad.
The Emperor’s expression darkened, yet he ordered Prince Yu to be summoned.
Jinrong entered the Imperial Study Room, paid his respects to the Emperor, and listened as the Emperor said, the task of laying the wooden tracks would be handed to him and that he only needed to assemble and lay the preformed tracks and materials, without concerning himself with anything else.
Then, the Emperor repeated the reason for changing to his lead on this matter.