Zhang Heng sized up Decius, while Decius was also secretly glancing at Zhang Heng.
He had already read Zhang Heng's letter of appointment and knew that this Easterner was Commodus's newly appointed adviser, sent specifically to deal with the delayed completion of the bronze statue.
Decius wiped away a cold sweat and took the initiative to speak. "There's actually no problem on the craftsmen's side. We finished casting the molds long ago. We just need to pour the molten bronze into them, wait for it to cool, then break away the outer layer. But Binota Mine, which has been supplying us with Copper ore, recently had an accident. A mine tunnel collapsed and buried around twenty slaves. The remaining slaves are still clearing the tunnel. We don't know when they'll be able to resume work. Without ore, we can't continue either."
"Then change mines. You have alternatives, don't you?" Zhang Heng asked.
"Yes. There are four mines on the outskirts of Rome. Binota is only a small one, and we also have an agreement with another mine. If Binota can't meet our needs, the other one will deliver Copper ore to us, but..." Decius trailed off.
"But what?"
"But His Majesty has recently been minting new bronze coins. Ore from the other mines is being supplied there first, so they don't have any surplus ore for us." Decius spread his hands.
"What about copper ore produced in other cities?"
"Once transportation costs are included, the price would nearly double. And it would take time to ship it here. I'm afraid we're already running out of time." Decius looked helpless as well. He was not the eldest legitimate son and could not inherit his father's seat in the Senate, so his father had gone to great lengths to secure this job