The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 116: Smuggling Plans
Henwell's plan is straightforward: let the bandits disrupt the trade routes, affecting Peace Haven's tax revenue.
A single bandit group isn't enough to warrant the duchy stationing a legion in Peace Haven.
It's not about Henwell's reaction but rather the reactions of the other two neighboring powers. How would the Kingdom of Ika perceive it? What would the Kingdom of Obiken think?
Thus, the task of dealing with the bandits would fall to Peace Haven's Defense Force and the Patrol Cavalry. These two forces are no longer under Henwell's direct command. After years of neglect, their combat effectiveness has significantly declined. While they still meet the duchy's standard military criteria, the bandits they're up against are no ordinary group.
This is a formidable bandit gang with nearly a thousand cavalry and over three thousand infantry, the dominant force among all the bandits at the tri-border area.
If the Patrol Cavalry and Defense Force attempt to suppress them, the bandits even could easily rally other outlaw groups to confront Peace Haven's forces head-on. Should Peace Haven's troops suffer even a minor setback, the entire region would immediately feel the impact.
The commercial sector would undoubtedly take a massive hit. After all, security is a crucial element in a favorable business environment.
In such a scenario, Henwell, as the only noble with territorial claims in Peace Haven, would naturally be compelled to deploy his troops to eliminate the bandits. This situation would provide him with a much broader scope for maneuvering and action.
Nurturing bandits for self-preservation—this is Henwell's long-laid contingency plan. However, he doesn't believe the situation is that dire yet. He's simply taking precautions by secretly supplying large quantities of arms to Senra and Scar Tiger, allowing them to recruit and prepare just in case.
If the Grand Duke ever harbors any ideas against him, Henwell won't be an easy target. Unlike Fabio, who has royal blood and won't truly rebel, Henwell has fewer reservations. Should his interests be threatened, he will be ready to retaliate.
Henwell has a formidable force of over ten thousand troops and extensive industries.So if he defeats the duchy's legion,it would make both the Kingdom of Ika and the Kingdom of Ogiro eager to extend their support.
If that happens, the benefits of becoming a count would be too tempting for Henwell to ignore. Over the past three years, he hasn't been lounging around or enjoying the comforts of his maids.
All this hard work is so that, if things become irreparable, he can stand up and voice his demands. But that's the worst-case scenario. In the long run, rebellion offers no real benefit at this moment.
Thus, after setting his plans, Henwell instructs his subordinates to maintain an outward appearance of relaxation while staying vigilant internally.
Henwell sets out once more, heading to the Kingdom of Billie. A few days later, when Henwell reached the border, a caravan had already arrived here. This is Henwell's official trade caravan, maintaining commerce with the Kingdom of Billie. The caravan is led by Yasa, a former fugitive from Billie. Henwell has arranged for Yasa to have a complete and legal identity, as long as he avoids the northern regions of Billie, there wouldn't be any issues.
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Yasa is leading a caravan of a hundred large carts, ready to enter the kingdom with Henwell. These four-wheeled carts are crafted by Henwell's carriage workshop. The horses are equipped with breast collars and saddle harnesses, and thanks to advancements in steel refining and casting workshops, Henwell has developed a simple steering mechanism.
This innovation allows the carts to bear heavier loads and have some steering capability, reducing strain on the horses and wheels.
Additionally, Henwell has integrated basic spring suspension to enhance the stability of the ride. The use of bearings and steel axles increases the carts' load capacity and durability. Although Henwell hasn't yet found a substitute for rubber, which limits the wheel strength, he has still managed to produce carts with over a ton of load capacity, making them quite advanced.
To further increase load capacity, additional wheels would be necessary—six or eight wheels would certainly handle more weight. However, the costs and maintenance would rise significantly, making it not worth the effort.
Henwell approaches Yasa, the caravan leader, and asks, "Are the goods all loaded?"
Yasa replies in a low voice, "Don't worry! They won't find a thing." Even though Henwell has customs clearance certificates between the two countries, it's always wise to be cautious.
Henwell continues, "How are the new carts? Any suggestions?"
Yasa responds, "The steering is a bit slow, and if we're going fast and need to stop suddenly, it's hard to brake, which can easily lead to tipping over. The weight is significant, so they require good road conditions and aren't suitable for narrow paths—only for major trade routes. The cost is also high, so there might be resistance to widespread adoption."
"Perhaps we should make them a bit smaller. Overall, for large caravans on main trade routes, they're quite good. But replacing mainstream carts on a large scale will take time."
Henwell nods lightly, "No rush! We've got cart craftsmen with the caravan this time, right? If you encounter any issues on the road or have ideas for improvements or specific modification needs, you can discuss them with the craftsmen."
Henwell's new cart workshop fulfills orders exclusively for his own caravan. Since this is his first attempt at cart-making, he's not expecting perfection. As always, collecting feedback and finding solutions will lead to technological updates and improvements.
Soon enough, Henwell personally experiences the drawbacks of these large carts. In poor road conditions, especially during the rainy season at the end of spring, they easily get stuck in the mud. While he can ensure good roads in Peace Haven, other areas aren't as fortunate. However, in clear weather on gravel-hardened trade routes, the speed is quite impressive.
After more than half a month, Henwell and his group reach a city near the capital. In the warehouse district outside the city, Henwell rents a large area. That evening, Fathead Kivel approaches him, asking, "The Flash, how much cargo this time?"
"Thirty carts! There's a lot of stuff. I'll unload it into the warehouse, and after we leave, you can take it away in batches."
These large warehouses in the district are owned by the youth gladiator organization, allowing them to discreetly receive goods from Henwell. Last time, under the guise of helping Arius with his social endeavors, Henwell smuggled dozens of carts of contraband into the country along with the duchy's specialties.
This time is no different, though he only brings thirty carts. Thanks to the higher load capacity, the amount of goods is even greater than before.
The next day, Henwell departs with the caravan, and no one realizes that a third of the goods have already been offloaded. Of the remaining cargo, a small portion is meant for Arius, while the rest are Henwell's own goods to be sold in the surrounding trade district.
Robin, the knight accompanying Arius, is quite disdainful of the situation. This annoying "Henwell" is once again using Arius's name to dodge tariffs and make money. However, Henwell treats everyone equally, bringing letters and gifts from the duchy for all. In the entire delegation, Robin is the only one harboring any grudge against Henwell.
Chapter 116: Smuggling Plans
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