Business

Two days later, at dawn, as the rising sun cast its golden rays upon the vast and somewhat desolate Northern Territory, the majestic and familiar outline of the tall walls of Fran City finally appeared clearly on the horizon!

Bathed in the morning sun, the gray city walls seemed to be draped in a golden coat, and the flags fluttering on the city towers were faintly visible.

"We're almost there! Fran City is just ahead!" one of the guards couldn't help but whisper, his tone filled with the relief of a long journey and the warmth of returning home.

Karl reined in his horse, slowed it down, and stopped to gaze into the distance.

Looking at that familiar city, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up in my heart.

There lay his beloved, whom he cherished deeply; there were elders who treated him like a son or nephew and gave him selfless assistance; and there lay many important memories of his life and boundless hopes for the future.

As the caravan slowly approached and passed through the bustling, towering city gates of Fran City, Karl, mounted on horseback, keenly sensed that the atmosphere inside the city was quite different from when he last visited.

At that time, the shadow of war loomed, and a tense and grim atmosphere permeated the streets. Soldiers and civilians hurried about, their faces filled with worry.

At this moment, although the city gate guards' checks remained strict, their expressions were noticeably more relaxed.

On the main street of the city, caravans, horse-drawn carriages, and pack animals came and went in an orderly fashion.

Most of the shops on both sides of the street had already opened, their signs swaying in the wind. The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and the noise of carriages and horses mingled together, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

The fear of war had lessened on people's faces, replaced by a sense of normalcy and contentment in their daily lives.

Karl gestured for the group to stop and rest temporarily in a relatively spacious open area near the city gate. Just then, he saw a sizable caravan preparing to depart by the roadside.

Karl's heart skipped a beat. He dismounted and walked toward the capable-looking middle-aged man who was directing the loading of goods in the caravan.

"Excuse me, sir," Karl said calmly, "Your goods are loaded to the brim. Where are you trying to make your fortune?"

Seeing Karl's distinguished bearing and the elite cavalry following behind him, the caravan leader dared not be negligent. He quickly put down the manifest in his hand and respectfully replied, "Sir, we are heading north to Carnford!"

"Carnford?" Karl's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive.

"Exactly!" The leader's face immediately lit up with excitement and anticipation, and he became more talkative. "My lord, you must have heard about it, right? Carnford! He's remarkable! That young Lord Karl is a true hero!"

"With only a few thousand men, they withstood the siege of Sauron's army of one hundred thousand, slaughtering them and sending them fleeing in disarray, their corpses strewn across the battlefield! This is a tremendous victory!"

He became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke, as if he were proud of it. "With such a heroic Lord in charge of this place, it will surely be peaceful in the future! I heard that everything there is being rebuilt now, and it's a time when all kinds of supplies are needed. It's also a good opportunity to invest and settle down!"

"Our boss has a keen eye; he immediately sent us ahead to scout out some in-demand goods, planning to set up a branch in Carnford, mainly dealing in furs, medicinal herbs, and timber. This is not only to make money, but also, in a way, to contribute to the kingdom's reconstruction of the Northern Territory and the prosperity of the region!"

The caravan leader's words, brimming with business acumen and optimism, struck Karl like a wake-up call.

He stood there, stunned, his gaze following the caravan that had begun to move slowly northward toward Carnford, the place he had just left, a great wave of emotion surging within him.

Yes! He suddenly realized that Carnford was no longer a border fortress for which he needed to painstakingly prove its worth to outsiders.

This fierce yet glorious victory is itself the loudest and most effective advertisement!

It proclaimed its strength, security, and immense potential under its Lord's leadership to the world through blood and sacrifice, becoming a magnet for talent, capital, and opportunity!

Even though Karl was currently short of money, the name "Carnford" was the most reliable endorsement! The value inherent in this land, which he and his soldiers had protected with their lives, was now incomparable!

Thinking of this, it was as if lightning had struck Karl's mind, and an important area that he had long ignored or had no time to pay attention to suddenly emerged clearly.

Business!

He had previously devoted almost all his energy and resources to military defense and basic survival, and his thoughts were always focused on the height of the city walls, the training of soldiers, the storage of grain, and the sharpness of weapons.

This is certainly the foundation for survival in chaotic times.

However, he overlooked to some extent that a truly stable, powerful, and sustainable territory, in addition to a strong military shield, also needs a thriving economic lifeline to provide nourishment!

Carnford's rising reputation and widespread recognition for its safety in itself represent enormous economic potential.

Even simply levying reasonable and standardized commercial taxes on these spontaneously arriving merchants would be a sustainable and stable source of enormous revenue, far exceeding agricultural taxes and occasional spoils of war! This would completely change the predicament of the territory's meager finances.

Moreover, they could not be content with merely passively collecting taxes! A bolder, more forward-thinking idea took shape in Karl's mind: Carnford had to take the initiative and build his own business network! He needed to form official or semi-official caravans!

Although the Northern Territory is harsh and cold, its produce is exceptionally unique and valuable! Rare mountain goods, medicinal herbs with remarkable healing properties, high-quality and durable timber, and especially the thick, warm animal pelts that are considered luxuries in the South...

These specialties are highly sought-after goods in the warm and prosperous southern hinterland of the kingdom, such as the Royal Capital and even the commercial cities further south, and can be exchanged for amazing profits!

Carnford could leverage its geographical advantage to systematically acquire these specialties from local hunters, mountain people, and herders at relatively fair prices. Then, it could assemble caravans with armed guards and travel south along established or soon-to-be-secured trade routes.

Use the furs and delicacies of the Northern Territory to trade for the food, cloth, ironware, salt, spices, and most importantly, gold coins that Carnford desperately needs!

Once this commercial artery for transporting goods from the north to the south is established and put into effective operation, Carnford will undergo a crucial transformation.

It has transformed from a purely military-consumption-oriented border fortress into a self-sustaining commercial hub and regional center with ever-increasing wealth!

This will provide a continuous source of endogenous power for the long-term development of the territory, the strengthening of the military, and the improvement of people's livelihoods!

"Once we return from Fran City, this matter must be put on the agenda immediately!" Karl made up his mind.