Chapter 2384 - 2106: That’s How Great I Am, No Need to Thank Me

If this transaction is completed, it should be able to extract over ten billion coins, and if done more slowly, even more might be extracted, especially with the support of various materials; this is the big head.

"But this plan involves finances that won’t be less than those of the Grand Canal. Ports in the South and North, shipping vessels, distribution points for transporting materials everywhere, coordination of traffic roads in various places," Zhao Yun slowly spoke, righteously for the country and the people, "I am willing to support it, but even if I spend all my wealth, I can’t get this done."

"I brought this out because I can’t complete it, but you, Zilong, might be able," Lul Jun inwardly chanted his sense of justice, speaking with a kind of mournful tenderness, "After much deliberation, I concluded that only Zilong can accomplish this plan."

Actually, Lul Jun was eyeing Zhao Yun’s connections, not his money. After all, when it comes to wealth, there are quite a few people in the Central Plains, within Lul Jun’s reach, who are wealthier than Zhao Yun, and many more who are easier to deceive.

For example, Sunx Min, ranked among the top thirty tycoons in the Central Plains, is actually easy to fool; as long as you set aside your dignity and suppress the evil feeling of deceiving a little girl of candies, it’s quite possible to swindle a few billion coins out of Sunx Min.

But that would fall far behind, and deceiving too many people would result in a chain reaction if one of them reacted. Moreover, deceiving a little girl of candies is truly below the belt, although recently, Lul Jun indeed hasn’t shown much baseline, but he still needs to maintain some respectability.

Therefore, after attending Zhao Yun’s wedding, Lul Jun immediately thought of swindling money, later realizing that deceiving Zhao Yun of money held little significance. Although Zhao Yun collected many gifts at the wedding, it wasn’t all that significant.

The crucial part is Zhao Yun’s connections, which are spread throughout the Central Plains. From these people, one could earn over a hundred billion coins just by casually taxing a bit from them. This group is not composed of ordinary people.

This is precisely how accumulating small amounts into a larger sum works, and it is indeed very crucial.

Yes, Zhao Yun might not be able to get it done, but he is upright, with friends all over the world, and together these friends might suffice. And if it’s still not enough, then what about his friends’ friends? Starting with Zhao Yun, Lul Jun saw some glimmers of hope.

"Huh? I can complete this?" Zhao Yun looked at Lul Jun incredulously. This enormous task, although he didn’t attempt it before, he estimated that nearly a hundred billion coins would be needed to accomplish it. But Zhao Yun doesn’t have a hundred billion coins; only the Five Great Merchants barely possess such an amount.

"Yes, Zilong, you can accomplish it," said Lul Jun with a mournful tone. As Zhao Yun was shocked, he solemnly awaited Lul Jun’s answer, for if it was possible, he would certainly proceed.

"Zilong, this task cannot be completed by one person, for the required funds are immense, but the profit behind it is considerable as well. Many would wish to participate, but this task lacks a leading figure, which I am unqualified for, but you, Zilong, have that qualification," stated Lul Jun, staring at Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun, standing upright and achieving for the welfare of the people, caring for his subjects, is indeed a good person. He would promote anything beneficial for the people, even at his expense, especially if it doesn’t harm him much.

Therefore, after Lul Jun laid everything on the table, Zhao Yun understood Lul Jun’s intentions.

"You want me to spearhead this project?" Zhao Yun pondered and said, "But after all, this data was painstakingly gathered by Jir Cai; if I lead, Jir Cai might end up with nothing, and the profit Jir Cai intended might greatly diminish."

"No problem, I’m a shipbuilder," replied Lul Jun nonchalantly. He knew Zhao Yun would agree because his project proposal was legitimate, and the related survey data was genuine. Only because everything was real could it disguise his true intentions.

Zhao Yun chuckled; yes, Lul Jun was a shipbuilder; even without earning a penny, once the shipping prospers, it would be time for the Lul Family to thrive.

"If that’s the case, I’ll keep this proposal with me. After I find someone to review it thoroughly, if nothing’s amiss, I’ll seek some people to handle this matter," Zhao Yun nodded, "But at that time, please let Jir Cai determine a ship price."

Since it benefits the people’s livelihood, Zhao Yun doesn’t mind lending a helping hand. And as for leading and gathering a group of people to undertake this task, Zhao Yun is confident.

Though Zhao Yun himself is not a tycoon, in his impression, many of his friends are tycoons, and besides, this venture is profitable and can address livelihood issues, so why not?

As soon as Zhao Yun said this, Lul Jun was completely at ease, and what followed was a period of waiting. With Zhao Yun’s capability, nothing much needed to be said, and in no time, he would procure the startup funds. Therefore, as a local powerhouse and initiator, the Lul Family would naturally surface in due course.

Although there could be supervisors and people dispatched by others to ensure progress and fund expenditure, Lul Jun was confident that on their turf, the Lul Family would undoubtedly ensure the seventh-generation ship construction continues while building infrastructure without revealing any financial issues.

This was Lul Jun’s confidence in persuading Zhao Yun. Without this assurance, his extensive endeavors would be meaningless, and without sufficient funds to build a grand ship, even a splendid maritime plan would merely be wishful thinking. It’s worth noting that all of Lul Jun’s recent goals pointed towards acquiring funds for constructing the seventh-generation ship.

Be it swindle, embezzle, misappropriation, or delay, it was all aimed at constructing a real seventh-generation ship.

Of course, Lul Jun was aware that the hundreds of billions in material costs were beyond the Lul Family’s reach, nor could they be acquired through deceit alone. But once he resolved to construct the seventh-generation ship, he prepared accordingly.

Indeed, so much money couldn’t be obtained solely through his schemes, but as long as the dragon bone is laid, and portions of the ship shell are riveted, even if discovered, as long as a report is submitted showcasing nearly a hundred billion coins spent, the upper management would likely accept it no matter how they fret!

As for whether he’d end up in the Dark Prison, or face public outcry from those swindled, or unexpectedly survive, it all didn’t matter. As long as his ideal was fulfilled, even dying would not be in vain.

Compared to living a mundane life, dying after witnessing his dream approach reality made the inevitability of death seemingly worthwhile.

After receiving the project proposal, Zhao Yun began running around, even seeking Chen Xi to review it.

Although Chen Xi wasn’t precisely aware of the average commodity prices in several states, he understood the principle of balancing prices and ensuring mutual availability outlined in the proposal. In later ages, both China and the world balanced prices this way.

Therefore, after copying the data and having it verified with minimal error, Chen Xi approved the proposal. Nonetheless, it was similar to what Lul Jun told Zhao Yun: The government had no excess funds to undertake this project at present.

This elevated Zhao Yun’s recognition of Lul Jun’s proposal by threefold.

Chen Xi also had little interest, except mild curiosity, regarding the plan attributed to Lul Jun by Zhao Yun. Moreover, Zhao Yun explained that Lul Jun said once the plan was finalized, their family could begin selling ships.

Chen Xi smiled and merely thought that Lul Jun had gone mad with poverty and was thinking of ways to cut losses. However, in reality, Chen Xi guessed the former part, but the latter part clearly demonstrated that Lul Jun not only wasn’t trying to cut losses but intended to dig even deeper.

After passing Chen Xi’s review, Zhao Yun’s operation accelerated. With Zhao Yun fronting it and Chen Xi’s approval, Zhao Yun’s efforts in recruiting almost didn’t fail.

Secretly observing, Lul Jun felt like he was receiving one hundred million coins today and two hundred million tomorrow. If this pace continued for two years, the seventh-generation ship could undeniably be built. But unfortunately, such good days concluded swiftly.

Zhao Yun didn’t have officials specializing in statistics, but Chen Xi and others did, and since Sunx Qian was also around recently, he, having a substantial grasp over construction, computed the necessary financial and manpower resources, even allowing for a thirty percent margin.

Thus, after over a month’s work, Zhao Yun succeeded in gathering sufficient funds, stored in the Central Bank as a designated fund.

Unsurprisingly, Lul Jun became one of the main supervisors for this special fund, and material costs were also somewhat reduced. In conclusion, the steel required for such a large project was also significant, especially with the need to build permanent structures.

This resolved Lul Jun’s biggest concern. Continuously buying steel from the Lub Central Steel Plant for the seventh-generation ship would inevitably expose him during Chen Xi’s review. But under the guise of a massive project, buying some steel seemed normal.

As for exposure, that was a matter of time. However, Lul Jun was self-assured, thinking that as long as the seventh-generation ship was built to a certain extent, exposure and potential imprisonment wouldn’t matter.

That seventh-generation ship’s terrifying figures would be enough to impress everyone. Without construction, the authorities might hesitate over the dreadful expenses. But as long as part of the construction was completed, spending nearly a hundred billion coins would compel them to continue. Otherwise, earlier investments would all be wasted.

It’s a heart-wrenching decision, so Lul Jun claims, "I’ve made the choice for you in advance. I’m just that great, no need to thank me."