It was extremely difficult to conduct trade on the wasteland.
Bandits as numerous as flies, mutants that were impossible to guard against … All kinds of difficulties made trade between survival bases extremely difficult. Usually, only survival bases that were close to each other could produce a stable trade route.
One of the more famous ones was the trade route between Liuding Town and Beer Bottle Company. Both sides even sent out a portion of their forces to establish a supply station along the route with firepower. These supply stations would usually have a medium-sized assault force stationed there to provide security assistance to the caravans that joined the trade routes.
The reason why this trade route was created was because of the extreme disparity in production and technology between survival bases.
For example, everyone knew that Liuding Town was actually a giant aircraft carrier. The aircraft carrier named Bohai was paralyzed in the port due to a nuclear explosion during the war. After the war, it was abandoned due to many reasons. It wasn't until the cataclysm that it was reused by the survivors. After a lot of "illegal modifications" were done to the ship, it could no longer be called a ship. It was more like a platform on the water. The absolute safety made it a paradise for the apocalypse with entertainment as the main focus and high technology as the secondary.
But Liuding Town's industrial capacity was almost zero. Even the bombs needed for the Gauss cannon lying on the deck could not be produced by themselves, let alone the anti-air missiles. Since it was impossible to build a factory on the ship. The factories built on the port were mostly small workshops that could not be used for heavy industrial production.
But Beer Bottle Company solved this problem for Liuding Town.
Don't misunderstand, Beer Bottle Company did not produce beer bottles, but rather, it was a survival base that focused on heavy industrial production. The base was located in the heavy industrial park near the port in the rural area of Wanghai City. Not only could it produce the 10kg bombs needed for the electromagnetic cannon, but it could also produce highly advanced guided missiles. But the production was not high, and most of the industrial materials were obtained from waste products.
Of course, this was a digression.
…
"To expand the market in Wanghai City, I plan to build a supply station here. In fact, I have already begun to do so, but whether it's manpower or equipment, we are lacking. Regarding this, the company headquarters instructed me to use local resources. The first year's profit will all be invested into the construction of the base. Population, basic equipment, weapons, we can discuss these three points. By the way, I don't need criminals who can't be trusted. "
"Supply station? Why don't you just set it up at Sixth Street? We can provide the safest protection for your business. "Zhao Chenwu raised the question in his mind with a frown.
"The Sixth Street may have a good reputation in Wanghai, but to us, there are still many unfamiliar places. These are the instructions given by the company. I'm just following the instructions. " Jiang Chen continued to bluff as he threw all the questions to the company outside of Wanghai.
Needless to say, this explanation was indeed very convenient and convincing.
Zhao Chenwu said after thinking for a moment.
"The population is not a problem. Generally speaking, the labor force in the slums is still in a surplus state. Although I can't sell non-criminals in principle, but … "A mysterious smile flashed across Zhao Chenwu's face." If there aren't too many of them, I can make them have a small accident and make them tradeable. "
Rules were set by people, so there were bound to be loopholes within the framework, as long as it was not too excessive.
Jiang Chen nodded.
"I don't need a lot, around 30 people should be enough."
Thirty people, compared to the population of over ten thousand in the slums, was just a drop in the ocean. Presumably, no one would impeach him for these 30 people, so Zhao Chenwu naturally agreed on the spot.
"As for the basic equipment, everything I need is on this list." Jiang Chen smiled as he took out an electronic card and gently placed it on the table.
The graphene card could store 12 gigabytes of holographic information. It could be charged by placing it under the sun. It was a very convenient device. It was also sold very cheaply in the Sixth Street market.
Zhao Chenwu took the card and didn't feel offended. He pressed the start button at the bottom left, and a list appeared in front of him.
"… Corrosion resistant cement synthesizer, carbon nanotube generator, graphene cutting machine … These are all not a problem. The Sixth Street's inventory has some of these things. I can just buy them under the Zhao Corporation's name. But the firearms production line, and the nanochip production machine … "Zhao Chenwu had a troubled expression on his face." These things are not easy to obtain. Production lines related to firearms were strictly prohibited in any survival camp. As for the nanochip production machine, not only is it too large to transport, but even if you buy it, without a certain industrial foundation, it won't be able to produce anything. "
Zhao Chenwu didn't lie. Although the nanochip had a wide range of uses, it must be used to produce holographic equipment. It was also a necessary step for Jiang Chen to enter the holographic computer market. But the production of the chip required a series of supporting production lines. For example, the nano-scale silicon plate used by the nanochip required special cutting equipment.
Jiang Chen rubbed his chin and thought for a moment.
[Looks like this can't be rushed. It's better to take it one step at a time.]
Jiang Chen made up his mind and made some concessions.
"Forget about the firearms production equipment and the nanochip production machine. But for the defense of the supply station, would Mr. Zhao be interested in the firearms business?"
How could he not be interested? Zhao Chenwu, of course, immediately promised that as long as it was licensed by the Sixth Street, he would be able to get it for Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen, of course, expressed his gratitude.
Since the two sides reached an agreement on the items to be traded, the next step was to discuss the details of the cooperation.
After a series of detailed discussions, the details of the trade were finally finalized. The female assistant named Su Lei professionally created an electronic contract on the spot and handed it to Jiang Chen and her boss. After Jiang Chen carefully examined it and confirmed that the content was the same as what they discussed, he pressed his fingerprint on it. Zhao Chenwu, on the other hand, trusted his secretary's ability very much. He only took a cursory glance and pressed his fingerprint.
When the two genetic IDs appeared on the electronic contract, it meant that the agreement was officially in effect. But to put it bluntly, it was only a symbolic thing since there were no commercial issues in the apocalypse. The key to maintaining the agreement was that both sides would benefit from it.
Canned fruits were priced at 30 crystals, canned meat was priced at 10-20 crystals, and compressed biscuits were priced at one crystal. The reason why the price wasn't set too high was because Jiang Chen planned to sell them in bulk. As the saying goes, the rarer something is, the greater its value. When Jiang Chen only took out 20 cans, each can was worth 50 crystals. But now that they signed a stable trade agreement, the canned food would have an endless supply, and that kind of high price would no longer appear.
But the price was not low either, it was five times higher than the price of the mutant beef canned food, and he still had to adjust the retail price. If the price was any higher, even the rich wouldn't be able to afford it.
As to the production equipment that Jiang Chen needed, the prices varied. The anti-corrosive cement only cost 300 crystals, but the graphene cutting machine cost as much as 11000 crystals. And this was the price after a certain discount according to the market price.
The Sixth Street's mass-produced Reaper Assault Rifle was priced at 20 crystals each. This high-performance assault rifle was a standard NATO weapon. Like Jiang Chen's PK2000, it used the same 7.62mm ammunition. It was slightly less powerful, but it was stable and suitable for combat. Jiang Chen purchased 40 at once, as well as some heat sensor grenades and EMP grenades. Jiang Chen was satisfied with the price Zhao Chenwu offered. It was 90% of the market price. It was compensation for Jiang Chen's concession on the price of the canned food.
Although it was compensation, he probably didn't know that the cost of Jiang Chen's goods was less than one crystal.
All of the goods were delivered to the warehouse that Jiang Chen rented beforehand. Zhao Chenwu was also shocked at how Jiang Chen was able to smuggle the canned food in without anyone noticing. He didn't receive any reports from his subordinates about a large amount of canned food similar to the ones that appeared in the Inner Circle entering the base. Although the goods entering the Sixth Street didn't need to pay taxes before the transaction, a simple registration was still required.
Zhao Chenwu was wary of Jiang Chen's "power", but he didn't say anything. Since the two of them didn't have a conflict of interest, a strong ally was beneficial to him.
To be able to transport goods in the wilderness filled with mutants and bandits, there must be something special about it. It was probably some special transportation technology.
Zhao Chenwu wouldn't have guessed that Jiang Chen obtained the food from a parallel world.
Although the delivery was done at the Sixth Street, Jiang Chen didn't want to personally make a trip here every time. Otherwise, he wouldn't have anything to do every day. Jiang Chen didn't have any concerns as he drew a line on the holographic map. It was the safe sewer tunnel that he explored.
That's right, he used the sewer tunnel as a trade route. It was not uncommon in the apocalypse. The Wanghai City drainage system in this world was very wide, and the platforms on both sides of the river were large enough for a small car to pass through. As long as the entrance to the sewer tunnel was slightly modified, and the hidden dangerous tunnels were sealed, the entire sewer tunnel could be described as a golden trade route! But because the sewer tunnels were not completely connected to each other on land, not all survival bases could use this trade route.
When Zhao Chenwu heard that there was a sewer tunnel that could directly connect to Jiang Chen's base, he was ecstatic as he generously offered to take over the reconstruction of the sewer tunnel. Of course, since it was trade, it was a matter of mutual benefit. Jiang Chen didn't want to owe anyone anything, so he also contributed 1000 crystals to show his support for the project.
The reconstruction work was not too troublesome as a few pieces of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and aluminum composite boards were used to seal off the tunnels. The material was not only light but also extremely sturdy. Even if mutants such as Death Claws were ferocious, they would not be able to destroy it.
The entrances and exits of the sewer were controlled by both sides. Zhao Chenwu sent out his private force to set up a checkpoint at the exit of the Sixth Street, and Jiang Chen was responsible for setting up a checkpoint on his side to ensure the safety and security of the route. Naturally, the exits along the way were completely blocked in accordance with the usual practice. This was also considered to prevent other bandits from sneaking in and assassinating them.
In the future, the delivery of goods would be done in the sewer tunnel near Jiang Chen's mansion. The initial rule was a centralized transaction at the beginning of each month. Jiang Chen was responsible for providing 1000 canned meat and ten thousand hardtacks, as well as an order. Zhao Chenwu would bring the weapons and other supplies Jiang Chen needed based on the content of the order, and he would offer a discount of 10% of the market price. Jiang Chen promised that as long as Zhao Chenwu did not breach the agreement, he would only work with him on the Sixth Street food business.
Also, because Zhao Chenwu had vehicles that could operate in the sewer tunnel, he also had a strong escort capability, so the transportation was naturally handled by him.
As to whether or not Jiang Chen had to worry about Zhao Chenwu using the force in his hands?
Hehe, as the old saying goes, anyone who could reach this position was not an idiot. He wouldn't kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. Also, Jiang Chen was only a supply station. It was unknown if the real food production base was in the province. He didn't have the ability to send troops through the unknown wilderness. Because the closer they were to the city center, the more dangerous the zombies were, and the further they were from the city center, it was the world of mutants that were similar to wild animals.
Only a gambler would risk being removed from the Sixth Street and use a known benefit to gamble on an unknown possibility.
Instead, he was worried that bandits would target Jiang Chen's base, and he even offered to sell Jiang Chen a defense agreement, but Jiang Chen politely declined.
What a joke. Although his safety was guaranteed this way, how could he go back to "stock up" with someone watching him every day? Conjuring a bunch of resources out of nowhere would definitely raise suspicions.
After the delivery, Jiang Chen not only received the supplies he wanted, but he also had 210 crystals left. Yang Chenwu readily agreed to help Jiang Chen, so Jiang Chen didn't reject the offer.
The storage dimension's capacity was limited, and the production equipment was not small. If they were to be transported in several batches, it would be unsafe in many ways.
The negotiation went smoothly. After signing such a large contract, Zhao Chenwu was naturally happy. He immediately invited Jiang Chen to visit the industrial zone of the Sixth Street with him. Jiang Chen, of course, gladly accepted. He sat in Zhao Chenwu's car and accepted the invitation.
What kind of power did the man who controlled one-tenth of the Sixth Street possess? Jiang Chen was also quite curious about this.
Since his ally wanted to show him his power, Jiang Chen had no reason to reject.
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