After completing the exploration and site selection tasks of several factories of the Coal and Iron United Company, and arranging the preliminary preparations, the group took a boat to the Granville Wharf in the northwest of the Blue Lagoon Mountains, from which they transferred horses to the largest and most advantageous redstone mine under the name of the Brooke family to inspect the work.

It took almost two hours from the wharf, and the convoy had been driving down the bumpy and narrow cinder road to the bottom of a mountain, and the two got out of the carriage, and there was already a group of people waiting by the side of a mountain road, and they saw Viscount Pound and Xia Lin, and one of them, a brightly dressed young man, hurriedly greeted them.

"Lord Viscount, may the glory of Brooke be with you forever, who is this guest?"

"This is our family's guest, Viscount Charlem Karl, a wise man valued by Her Royal Highness.

Viscount Charlin, in front of me is the redstone mine of our Brooke family, this is my cousin Lucas Brooke, who is quite capable, and he is usually in charge of these mines! ”

"Welcome, Your Excellency Viscount Charlin!"

Although Lucas is much older than Xia Lin, the status gap between the two determines that Lucas should salute Xia Lin respectfully like a junior at this time, and Xia Lin does not have too much awkwardness in his heart, but nods lightly:

"Nice to meet you! Lucas is in charge! ”

"The scenery in the Blue Lagoon is not bad, but it's not the time yet, Lucas, you can take us to see how the mine is doing!"

Seeing that the two had greeted each other, Viscount Pound spoke a little impatiently, obviously not having the idea of staying in such a barren place for long.

"Then please come with me, two viscounts!"

Lucas and the men he had brought with him immediately set off to lead the way, and Charlene and Viscount Pound followed them upward.

Although the redstone mine is the largest mine under the name of the Brooke family, but the conditions are not much better, looking at the mountain road under his feet that is only one meter and five wide, with a slope of at least more than 30 degrees, Xia Lin quickly decided that it was the first place that needed to be improved, so he walked down along the way, Xia Lin kept observing the situation of the road and thinking about the construction plan of each section of the road.

After walking through the narrow mountain road for more than ten minutes, they arrived at the mining camp located halfway up the hill of the Red Stone Mine, Xia Lin and his party rested in the camp under the arrangement and reception of Lucas, drank a few cups of tea, and then Xia Lin began to inspect again.

Located halfway up the Red Rock Mountain, the Red Rock Mine Mine Camp is divided into two parts, the outer camp where the managers and mine guards live and the inner camp where the miners live.

"Viscount Pound, I need to go to the inner camp and have a look at your mines!"

After briefly checking the outer camp and having a little foundation in his heart, Xia Lin pleaded with Viscount Pound.

"Viscount Xia Lin, there is nothing to see in the inner camp, it's just a group of slaves' nests, the head of the family and Viscount Xia Lin might as well go back with me and continue to rest for a while! Captain Matthews led people to hunt a few brocade feather chickens in the nearby mountain forest, and the banquet can start after a while! ”

Lucas invited with a flattering smile on his face, Viscount Pound was obviously very moved when he heard this, after all, he accompanied Xia Lin to this place in a carriage from the Blue Lagoon Pier, his ass was very seriously tortured, and he just rested for a while and followed Xia Lin non-stop to continue that investigation, which was really a burden for an enlightened nobleman like him who did not exercise regularly.

"No, no need, I'm here to solve your production problems, it's still early, let's look at the general situation first and then talk about resting."

Xia Lin was not interested in the endless banquets among the nobles, not to mention that it was only about two o'clock in the afternoon, and he had eaten lunch when he was on the boat, and there was no hunger in his stomach at all, so he simply refused neatly.

"That's right, then listen to Sir Charlin! Lucas, take us around the camp! ”

Viscount Pound hesitated for a moment, but finally complied with Xia Lin's advice.

"Oh well! Please come with me! ”

Lucas looked a little disappointed, but he was not the son of Viscount Pound, so he naturally did not dare to be presumptuous, and honestly led the group into the inner camp where the miners lived.

It was still early afternoon, and the camp was empty, so Xia Lin checked the living conditions of the miners, and found that they were worse than the slums.

Basically, a pit was dug and a hut was built out of wood and thatch, and such a humble hut would certainly have no effect on insulating the cold in the early winter of the four seasons in the middle of the realm, and it would certainly be a terrible steamer in the summer.

Xia Lin made another excuse to look at the food provided by the Brooke family to the miners, which was a ball made of rice bran and rotten vegetable leaves fed to the livestock, which looked the size of a fist and was not bad.

However, the smell is a little sour, and even a person from a slum like Xia Lin can't accept it.

It is no wonder that a mining slave can dig ten pounds of ore in a day, that is, almost sixty-five pounds of ore, such living conditions and dietary conditions, these slaves have the strength to dig out so much ore is not bad.

"Viscount Pound, what is the approximate cost of your Chamber of Commerce to buy a slave now? How much did it cost to buy a slave before? ”

Xia Lin feels that the problem of mining output is not only limited to technology, but also has a big problem in management.

Slavery is the most motivating system for labor, and if it weren't for the Brooke Chamber of Commerce's stipulation that a minimum amount of mining should be reached every day in order to have food, the labor efficiency of these more than 100 slaves together would not be as efficient as ten real miners.

"Now it's about 15 silver mars! It used to seem like it only cost 5 to 10 silver mar. How? Does Sir Charin want to buy a batch of slaves? ”

Viscount Pound, who pinched his nose and frowned, lowered his head and carefully searched for a place to settle in the dirty camp, replied casually.

"No, 15 silver mar buy a slave elsewhere, and then transport it all the way to Urgana, this slave will cost at least 25 silver mar, I don't think this cost is low, has Viscount Pound considered another way to manage these slaves?"

"In what way?"

"For example, they were promised that they would be able to pay them back for a small amount of money from their work, that they could be given some hope of regaining their freedom, and that they would be better sheltered and fed for the hard-working slaves.

I think that if this is managed, these slaves will work harder, and the output of the mine will naturally be higher. ”

Xia Lin explained his thoughts.

"Viscount Xia Lin, how can these slackers work hard? Slaves are slaves, and even if you whip them, they won't become industrious, and you're just wasting money. ”

Lucas shook his head when he heard Xia Lin's words, and said with a look of disapproval.

"Lucas! Don't be rude in front of my guests! ”

Viscount Pound scolded, and Lucas stopped talking abruptly, but judging from Viscount Pound's disapproving expression, he obviously agreed with Lucas's idea in his heart.

"Viscount Charin, I think you come from a slum and may be able to ...... these slaves Well, it's more sympathetic, but please don't forget that they are slaves, animals, tools, but not people!

Although Lucas's words are a bit rude, there is some truth to it, Viscount Charin, we will not do this any good. ”

(End of chapter)