Finalizing Telegraph Order

When Octavia's cost calculations were released, everyone was shocked. 9,000 gold was enough to pay the territory's current army for half a year, although this was also largely due to the fact that the territory's army size had been reduced by half after the troop reduction.

However, Powell was still somewhat unwilling at this point. In his early years, he had served as a caravan manager and then as the head of the territory's civil service for a long time, so he was very concerned about the timeliness of communications.

While everyone was discussing it enthusiastically, he approached Weber, who was standing nearby, and asked, "How much contingency fund does your Finance Department have left? Can you raise some more?"

Weber looked troubled. "There's not much left. I had to temporarily allocate some money for river dredging and maintenance at the Marquis's request. I can't give you any more if you ask me for it."

Powell stared at Weber's face, but Weber remained calm and composed.

Powell sighed, "How about this, find a way to give me next year's operational budget first, and add it to our current funds, give me 20,000 gold!"

Weber quickly shook his head. "Next year's budget is for next year, how could I possibly give it to you in advance?"

Powell scoffed. "Next year's budget is still next year's. I just want the money. Anyway, isn't it all already in your coffers?"

Because immigration and territorial expansion have required a lot of money in recent years, especially when purchasing supplies from some chambers of commerce, which require deposits, Victor gave the Finance Department a sum of money in advance to facilitate the flow of funds.

Weber, thinking Powell intended to take the money, was immediately alarmed. "If you use this money, you'll be violating the Marquis's orders! This is money meant to cover the deposit!"

Powell: "I'll explain to the Marquis later. Besides, since the Marquis showed us such a wonderful machine today, he must want to promote it."

Besides, as you know, the cost of a factory decreases when it produces more products. We should spend more money on purchasing; we might be able to save a lot of money.

And I just want to ask, even with this extra money, could you give me 20,000 gold?

Weber finally breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow, "That's almost 20,000 gold! You scared me to death! I really thought you were going to embezzle the money!"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Powell stepped out of the crowd again and walked aggressively towards Octavia.

Octavia looked at the middle-aged man who was the head of the territory's civil service, and felt a little intimidated by Powell's high position and noble title.

Unexpectedly, Powell lowered his head and said in a gentle tone, "Duchess Octavia, our Government Affairs Office is willing to offer a contract worth 20,000 gold coins for the purchase and installation of telegraph machines and a complete set of equipment. Do you think this could cover all the towns in the territory?"

After all, the line from Wood Fort Town to Sea Song Town has already been built, right? Could we use this existing line to connect the other villages and towns along the way?

Octavia was also taken aback by Powell's change, and it took her a while to react. "It's not that it's impossible, but that circuit is just an experimental circuit, and we need to further improve and upgrade it."

20,000 gold coins should be enough to complete the laying of the railway lines and the installation of telegraph machines along the way, but not enough for Red Soil Town to the west of Wood Fort Town and other large settlements!

Moreover, we don't have enough manpower right now. Even if all production and installation are completed, it will have to wait until next year! (Because Red Soil Village is located between the iron mine and Riverside Village, its population has increased significantly in recent years. In addition, with the new immigrants relocated from the Government Affairs Office, it was officially upgraded to Red Soil Town not long ago.)

Powell nodded. "That's enough, let's take it one step at a time!"