The convoy entered the rolling Boundary Mountains, where ice caps and rock intermingled and supported one another, forming a complex structure of ice caverns.
Clearly, the Monochoria Family had put considerable effort into excavating these caves.
They had carved a passage through the rock walls and ice caps wide enough for several carriages to travel side by side, allowing merchant caravans to pass easily through the Boundary Mountains and enter the interior of the Sancha River Mouth territory.
Beyond the Boundary Mountains, mountains still stretched as far as the eye could see.
Compared with Guangguang River Valley's simplistic terrain of a basin squeezed between two mountains, the far more expansive Sancha River Mouth had clearly richer terrain.
"This whole area is undeveloped mountain country. Once we cross it, we'll enter the broad and flat river-mouth plains," eldest brother Roland said with a sigh. "Guangguang River Valley lacks manpower, and Sancha River Mouth lacks manpower too!"
Then he shook his head and laughed. "Which of our warm enclaves doesn't lack manpower? In the end, our foundation just isn't deep enough."
"The family has brought quite a few people over from Volcanic Oasis these past years, hasn't it?" Russell said.
"Not as many as you imagine. The main issue is insufficient grain production. If we bring in too many serfs and then encounter a bad year, a great many could starve to death. Red Castle places great importance on population. If too many serfs die in a territory, it'll cause trouble."
"I thought Red Castle wouldn't care about such things." Russell had always believed that lords decided everything in their territories and that no one could interfere.
"How could Red Castle not care?" Roland said, leaning to one side. "Land is closely tied to dragons. Whether a piece of land can be