Chapter 742

The higher-ups didn't care, but it didn't mean that the people below them didn't care. Agente had a high position and was a member of the rich and powerful. Even if he offended someone, no one could do anything to him.

The people below him couldn't do the same. Don't think that it was the higher-ups who collected money and benefits. In fact, most of the grey transactions were done by the people below him.

As the head of logistics, Agente wasn't that cheap to the point that he would do it himself for a few train carriages.

Since the subordinates received benefits, the boss would also get a share. The reason the trade could go on was because everyone was in the same boat.

…

Brittany Michelin was having a mental breakdown recently. A train of goods destined for Moscow was unloaded in Samara.

Fine, he admitted that transporting military supplies was important, and the railway had been requisitioned by the military a long time ago. But no matter what, they couldn't stop everyone from making money, right?

Time was money, and money was life. Although the Russian Empire's businesses mainly relied on their backers, Brittany didn't lack backers.

But business was business. Now that the goods had been unloaded, if there were no new train carriages, they would have to pay the penalty fee if they couldn't deliver the goods on time.

"Director Iksil, I need a reasonable explanation. Why did you unload my goods?

Do you know how much money we're losing every day we're delayed?

Who is going to bear this loss?

Don't forget, you have already received the money. Now you suddenly broke the contract. Do you think that I, Brittany, am a pushover?

Or do you think that Marquis Kristanval has already retired, and you can do whatever you want? "

Looking at the angry Brittany, Director Iksil was helpless.

He didn't want to break the contract, but he had no choice. The higher-ups had given him a strict order to ensure the supply of supplies to the frontline. If he couldn't complete the task, not only would he lose his position, he might even lose his head.

"Mr. Brittany, I'm very sorry. The higher-ups have given us a strict order to ensure that the frontline supplies are delivered on time. Now, all the vehicles have been sent.

Your goods will have to wait for another half a month! When the time comes, I will arrange a train carriage for you first. "

This explanation obviously didn't satisfy Brittany. Paying the penalty fee was fine.

Although Samara was a transportation hub, it didn't mean that there were enough warehouses in the area, and it also didn't mean that all the supplies could be stored.

If they were stored in the open for half a month, they could be used as fertilizer.

Even if the weather was good, half a month was enough for the potatoes and corn to sprout. At that time, they could only be sold to the workers.

"Director Iksil, you must be joking, right? It's not like you don don't know what these goods are. If I could wait for half a month, why would I come to you? "

Do as you see fit. If you think Marquis Cristanval is a pushover, just leave him be! "

Brittany didn't want an explanation, but a problem that needed to be solved. He knew very well what kind of people the Russian bureaucrats were. If they wanted to get things done, they either had to throw in money or use their backers to pressure them.

The money had already been spent, and Brittany was not a spendthrift. She would not break the rules by paying repeatedly, so she could only use her backer to pressure them.

Iksil's expression changed drastically. Even though he knew that Brittany was just putting on a show, the chances of Marquis Cristanval getting involved in this kind of thing was very low.

But even if he didn't get involved now, it didn't mean that he wouldn't take revenge in the future. After all, he had touched his wallet.

. "Marquis Kristanval had retired, but he was the former finance minister. His connections in the government couldn't be underestimated.

Maybe the higher-ups could handle it, but Kesir, a small division chief, couldn't handle it.

"Monsieur Brittany, to tell you the truth, no one can do anything about it.

General Ozienets warned the logistics department. If we can't make sure the supplies arrive on time, he will report us to His Majesty Tsar.

Once the truth is revealed, the logistics department, you businessmen, and even Marquis Kristanval can't escape.

Is money more important or your life? You decide. Because of Marquis Kristanval, we can refund the freight.

However, you can take this money back. From now on, everyone will go their separate ways. The logistics department will never work with you again. "

It was Brittany's turn to have a headache now that the cards were on the table. The problem wasn't that Iksil didn't do anything. It was that he didn't dare to do anything.

Based on Brittany's understanding of Iksil, money was his life. As long as he had enough money, he could do anything.

He thought that Iksil just wanted to raise the price and extort money. He didn't expect the problem to involve the upper echelons.

If he really took the money back, both sides would fall out. Commoners shouldn't fight with officials. Even if he had a backer, Brittany was still afraid.

After hesitating for a while, Brittany said, "Mr. Iksil, can't you think of something? A few trains won't be a problem for the frontlines.

If you're in a hurry, you can recruit more laborers and use more animals. It will be done.

This batch of goods really can't be delayed. To tell you the truth, the agricultural products are only on the surface. There's still a part inside … "

The higher the value of the goods, the more troublesome it was. Iksil was having a headache. If it was just agricultural products, even if some of them were damaged, the loss would be limited.

But there was a batch of special 'medicine' inside. The situation was different. This kind of business wasn't something Brittany could do alone. There would definitely be a bunch of big shots waiting to split the spoils.

If he cut off these people's source of income, there would definitely be revenge. As the person involved, Iksil might become a punching bag.

After hesitating for a while, Iksil frowned and said, "Alright, Brittany. You don't have to think about the military.

The military is watching. If anything happens, we'll all be finished. Even the people behind you won't be able to handle it.

If you're in a hurry, I can transfer some laborers and carriages to you. The rest is up to you.

Oh right, we recently imported a batch of trucks from Austria. If you want, I can lend them to you.

But the cost will have to be calculated separately. Who told you not to inform me beforehand? The transportation of special medicine and agricultural products is different. "

After knowing that this was the bottom line, Brittany didn't want to continue thinking about the military train. He didn't want to get involved in the conflict between the logistics department and the military. If he wasn't careful, he would really be crushed.

"Sure, but you have to help coordinate with the local authorities and ask them to repair the roads. Otherwise, the trucks won't be able to run."

Iksil nodded, "Don't worry, the roads have already been repaired. As long as you don't take shortcuts, most of the roads will be passable. "

Most of the roads were passable, but it also meant that some parts were impassable. However, this wasn't a problem that Kesir was worried about. He would take it as long as he could.

If the cars couldn't pass, then they would use the carriages. If the carriages couldn't move, then they would use manpower. Anyway, this was how the logistics system of the Russian Empire was structured.

In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that the Tsarist government discovered the military value of the trucks during their inspection in Austria, the logistics department wouldn't even purchase them.

It wasn't that these trucks weren't good, but they weren't suitable for the Russian Empire.

Not to mention the transportation waste, the most troublesome part was the maintenance. Not to mention the import of spare parts, even the repair workers had to be hired from outside.

If all these problems could be overcome, then the harsh winter would be even more troublesome.

When the temperature was a few degrees below zero, the engine could barely be ignited by external heating. When it was thirty to forty degrees below zero, the engine had to be kept warm. Otherwise, there was a certain chance that the engine would be destroyed.

With this performance, especially when the Austrians specially made these vehicles for the Russians, ordinary trucks would be destroyed in Russia's winter.

…