To the best of Roland's knowledge, there does not seem to be a precedent for a similar "franchise" model of project financing in the world of Vares. However, this is not a new thing on the earth, for example, many toll highways are using the "BOT" model, and on this basis, "BOO", "BOOT", "BLT", "PPP" and other derivative models have been developed.

As for the success story of the "concession" in terms of transport construction, Roland is most impressed by the Channel Tunnel.

This concession agreement was signed in 1987 and the project was completed in 1993. The government granted the contractor a 55-year concession period during which the company could build, own and operate the tunnel on its own, after which the tunnel was repossessed by the government.

Judging from the operation practice after completion, except for the occasional unhappiness of car owners passing by, it has been a success overall.

Now, Roland intends to apply this tried-and-true model of engineering to the construction of transportation in the Far East, giving private contractors a concession for a certain number of years, which can be used as collateral to issue construction bonds or shares, and in the future, when the road is completed, to pay off debts and make a profit by selling tickets or collecting tolls.

Theoretically, the pricing of tickets and tolls should be at the discretion of the contractor, but given the financial burden that exorbitant tolls can be on passers-by, the government will also make recommendations on the charging scale in due course.

Contractors usually don't set their fees too high, otherwise they will force pedestrians to take long detours, which will affect revenue. On the other hand, although the government will not force contractors to lower their fees, public criticism is also an effective way to exert pressure, and the government's attitude will directly affect the stock trend of the road operator's company, prompting investors to sell the company's bonds, and the consequences can be imagined.

Who does business who does not understand the truth that "the people do not fight with the officials"? There are some things that Roland doesn't need to dwell on in the highest decision-making circles like cabinet meetings – that would be an insult to the intelligence of the participants.

After some succinct explanations, His Majesty the King and the Cabinet had a clear understanding of the "concession" proposed by Roland, and agreed to try to introduce this model in the field of transport construction.

In order to get the people to participate in the construction of the country's transportation, it is necessary to make a lot of publicity in the newspapers and explain the details of the policy, and this is the job of Mr. John Plitt.

Cabinet meetings run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. After the meeting ended, Roland originally planned to accompany his father to a late lunch, but as soon as he left the gate of the official hall, he saw the thin figure of the "old goat" standing in the wind, with a slight cold wind blowing from behind him, and his black coat blowing in the wind, which reminded Roland of the wings of bats......

He saw that Zinovi was waiting for him, probably because he wanted to exchange something in private, so he smiled apologetically at his father: "Your Majesty, I still have some business, you and Aunt Genia will go to dinner first." ”

Rudolph glanced at the lonely old figure in the drizzle in the distance, and said to his son: "For the sake of his age, try to give him some face, if he doesn't know how to lift, I will let him get out!" ”

"Look at what you're talking about...... I have only some disagreements with Mr. Zinovi, far from being able to work together. Roland smiled softly, said goodbye to his father, and turned to walk into the rain.

If you don't play an umbrella, your clothes will be soaked in the drizzle unconsciously, and the slightest coolness will sink into your heart.

Zinovi had an umbrella in his hand, but he didn't open it, acting as a crutch and casually clipped under his armpit. Roland noticed that his umbrella was different, the handle and skeleton were forged from enchanted steel, and the tip of the umbrella was as sharp as a dagger, shining coldly in the drizzle.

Seeing the umbrella folded up as a sword, Roland naturally remembered that Zinovi was a well-known fencing master in Krasburg. There are many rumors about his swordsmanship. For example, he once encountered an assassin hired by a rival to assassinate him during a night journey, and he used an umbrella to kill all four assassins; For example, he once invited the leaders of the workers who led the strike at the steel mills to negotiate, and when the negotiations broke down, he suddenly swung an umbrella and pierced the throat of the other party.

The above rumors that smell of blood may be exaggerated, but it is not difficult to see Zinovi's temperament and style of doing things. A man in his sixties, with a net worth of millions, and even killed assassins and executed negotiation opponents with his own hands, Roland had to suspect that behind the gloomy and introverted image of the old goat, there was a hidden bloodthirsty ferocity.

"Mr. Zinovi, aren't you going home yet?"

"Your Highness, I am waiting for you here, and I have two words I want to say to you privately."

"Tell me."

"We may have some conflicting opinions in the cabinet, but it's not a big deal, after all, our original intention is to make this new country strong as soon as possible." Zinovi sighed softly, and a trace of loneliness appeared on his old face, "Maybe I'm really old, my mind can't keep up with the trend of the times, and I think I'm very clever...... After some guidance from you, I found that there were many loopholes, but fortunately, you came up with a better solution, and I am convinced. ”

Roland smiled with relief: "Mr. Zinovi, I only have an occasional wit, a little clever, not worth mentioning, I am far worse than you in the actual experience of the industrial field, the transportation construction in the Far East is inseparable from your leadership, there is no problem between us, please don't have a mustard." ”

Zinovi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on his face: "Thank you Your Highness for your understanding, it seems that my old bones can still come in handy, but then again, I am not good at transportation construction, especially railway transportation, the cabinet still has to set up a Ministry of Transportation as soon as possible and appoint a full-time Minister of Transportation." ”

Roland's heart moved slightly: "What do you think about the selection of the Minister of Transportation?" ”

"Since Your Highness has asked, I will not hide it, the existing railway line in the Far East was completed 15 years ago, and the chief engineer in charge of the construction at that time was named Matwei Wittgenstein, who was also an expert in locomotive design, and now lives in seclusion in his hometown of Sayre, a small town in the eastern part of our country, near Lighthouse Mountain, known as ' If Your Highness has time, you may wish to pay a visit to Mr. Matvey in the town of Sayre, and perhaps you will be able to persuade the strange old man to return to the post of Minister of Transport, which will be of great benefit to the cause of transport construction in our country. ”

After saying these words, Zinovi smiled faintly, opened the umbrella and turned to leave, and the old and thin figure gradually disappeared into the depths of the rain curtain.

PS. On the cost of railways and roads

The content of this chapter on the financing of transport construction does not deal with the difference between the cost of railways and roads.

According to the information I searched (China Construction Network: "Comparison of Railway Engineering Cost and Highway"), in general, the cost of railway and highway is basically the same, but the highway in the data seems to refer to highway and national highway.

Of course, the Far East does not need and cannot build the highways of the 21st century on the planet, and historically, railway engineering does not seem to have changed as much as roads, so the cost of building railways in the Far East should be higher than roads.

I'm not sure if the above speculation is true, and I have to avoid this question in the text, lest it be a joke.