King
Chapter 779 - 779 51 Safety in Numbers _1

779: Chapter 51, Safety in Numbers _1 779: Chapter 51, Safety in Numbers _1 Accompanied by a few subordinates, they floated on the canal, admiring the natural scenery on both banks, and a feeling of “discussing the country, writing passionately” spontaneously emerged.

Unfortunately, the more they went forward, the less satisfactory the canal became.

The narrowest part was only twenty meters wide, and the shallowest part was only four meters deep.

Such a channel is fine for small boats weighing hundreds of tons to navigate.

If several large ships weighing one or two thousand tons meet in the canal, it’s likely to feel as chaotic as making way on a small country road.

“Jacob, what has your Government Affairs Department been doing?

Why hasn’t it met the design requirement?”

Master Hudson angrily questioned.

A large amount of manpower, financial resources, and materials had been invested, but the canal, in the end, did not meet expectations.

Wasn’t this a slap in the face for Master Hudson?

According to the initial plan, after the navigation of this artificial canal stretching over two hundred kilometers, it would be the most navigable canal within the territory of Alpha Kingdom.

Even the motto was meticulously crafted in Hudson’s mind.

Later, this “Great Swamp Canal” would be the business card of the Mountain Domain to the outside world, demonstrating the territory’s developed transportation system and avoiding being seen as a rural place.

Unfortunately, the plan failed to keep up with the changes.

Currently, the carrying capacity of the Great Swamp Canal was similar to several other artificial canals in the Kingdom, forfeiting the reputation of having the highest navigation capacity.

“Count, we were all following the planned construction.

Theoretically, it is able to withstand the passage of two huge ships simultaneously.

But the flow rate of the canal can’t keep up.

Even though we have drawn several water sources from the territory, the expected level was still not reached.

However, now it’s the dry season.

When we have plenty of rain in the summer, the water level will rise and we will be able to reach our design goal.”

Jacob explained with a wronged face.

Although the projects of the canal led by Lord were treated with earnestness, alas some things cannot be solved by effort alone.

The rainfall in the Mountain Domain is abundant, but no matter how abundant it is, it has its limit.

With a fixed volume of water flow, the upper limit was staunchly set, no matter how arbitrarily the canal was constructed.

Theoretically, Hudson could also create tiered canals, build dams halfway to store water to ensure the water level and open the sluice at fixed times every day for flood navigation.

However, the technology at the time was not up to standard.

Building a few gates was easy, but no one dared to guarantee whether they could be operated freely when put into use.

Just look at the condition of navigation all the way down.

Except for special management organizations set up at both ends to collect fees, the middle part was completely left for everyone to navigate freely.

It’s not to blame the Government Affairs Department for the coarse management, that’s just how things were.

The management of the Great Swamp Canal was just replicating the operation model of other artificial canals in the Kingdom.

Hudson himself didn’t have experience in this aspect either.

Through practical operations, everyone could only explore and move forward.

Imitating other people’s management models might not be the best choice, but it’s the most effective means to build a management system in a short time.

“Apart from waiting for the flood season, does the Government Affairs Department have any other methods?”

Hudson continued to ask.

Obviously, he was discontented that the canal’s navigability did not meet expectation.

“There are ways, but the cost of investment is high, the time consumed is long, and there is still not a guarantee for success.

The Government Affairs Department has plans to widen the canals’ branches after the swamp is fully developed.

It can facilitate everyday irrigation and direct the water from the Black Stone Mountain Range to the canal.

According to the current development progress, it would take at least five years for us to complete the farmland reform of the Great Swamp.

Subsequent water conservancy construction will have to be scheduled later.

Considering the frequent appearance of magical beasts in the Black Stone Mountain Range, the political department is considering whether to leave some swamp areas as a buffer between the two parties.

These two plans are in direct conflict, and they are currently being discussed internally, with no detailed plan or feasibility report I can provide yet.”

Jacob replied seriously.

Hearing this answer, Hudson sighed.

There are many things in the world that don’t go as hoped, to get something, you must pay a price somewhere else.

Whether or not to close in on the magical beasts and be neighbors with them is something Hudson himself dared not hastily decide.

Magic Beasts have a strong territorial awareness, and a clash is almost inevitable when approached.

For low-level magical beasts on the outskirts, Hudson isn’t concerned.

If they come to cause trouble, just capture them: breed the females, and use the males as mounts.

But he has to consider what high-order magical beasts might think.

According to Belsden, there are many horrifying creatures in the Black Stone Mountain range.

The prideful bear, his own pet, said those beasts are tough to stir up, hence, Hudson naturally didn’t want to upset them unnecessarily.

It isn’t about offending all of them, even just offending one of them is a significant risk.

If the one offended is a fool like Maxim, that would still be manageable, devise a few traps, and the beast will always fall for them.

But if the one offended is a cunning bear like Belsden, who loves to play dirty, then there really will be no peace.

Probably when it comes to that, Hudson will have to carry his magical beast even when he goes to the toilet, otherwise, there is a good chance he will die unknowingly.

“Follow your pace and deal with it normally!

Now that the canal has been opened, the next step is to make good use of this canal and make the territory’s economy prosperous.”