Chapter 133: Talking about Business Routes

With the arrival of the winter solstice, Augusta's carriage finally returned to the province of Melgen.

In just a few months, this piece of land that had been abandoned for decades seemed to have suddenly regained its vitality.

The land underfoot was frozen hard and no longer suitable for planting. When the horse's hooves stepped on it, the soft frost on the surface made a crisp sound.

On the simply repaired official road, from time to time, there were caravans with noble flags struggling forward.

Occasionally, there were some small caravans with barbarian faces interspersed among them.

Most of them were hired barbarians.

When they saw the flag of the two-headed dragon and the knights escorting the team, the caravans blocking the road drove the carriages aside and bowed their heads to send them off.

"Melgen Province is not as desolate as I imagined," Tiona leaned on the cushion, and the maid used a hook to lift a corner of the curtain, revealing the scenery outside for the countess to watch.

The cold wind outside blew in a little, but it slightly dispelled the heat.

The backwardness of the times is only the backwardness of the civilians.

For the nobles, there were all kinds of enjoyment beyond the times.

The backward productivity could not benefit everyone, but it was too simple to benefit one or two nobles.

Derek never opposed enjoyment.

This era was already hard enough, if you were a little stingy with yourself, what would be the point?

Hearing Tiona's voice, Derek also took a look outside.

Some barbarians knelt on the ground, waiting for the earl's caravan to pass.

Some barbarians stood, but they also bent over, humbly expressing their submission.

It was not certain whether the barbarians in Melgen Province were completely conquered, but they were certainly conquered on the surface.

Especially under the gaze of the heavy armored knights, no one would be blind and seek death.

Derek was just a casual glance, but he didn't expect to see an acquaintance.

"Stop!"

The caravan suddenly stopped, and Virut, who was acting as an attendant, rode his horse to the window.

"The earl?"

"Take a rest here, I saw an old friend."

Although Virut was curious about why there was an old friend of the earl here, he still stepped back to arrange for the caravan to rest.

"Who is it? What do you need me to do?" Tiona asked softly.

"A barbarian leader." Derek stood up and prepared to go out, and said a little: "Wait for me to come back."

He knew that Tiona, who came from a count's family, didn't like to contact civilians, especially barbarians.

But Tiona grabbed his hand. Although she didn't like it, she was born in an aristocratic family, so she understood what Derek might do.

"I'll go with you." Tiona responded to Derek's inquiring gaze and said firmly: "The crown is the responsibility."

Derek smiled and pulled her hard: "Then let's go together."

Tiona didn't forget to turn around and tell the maid: "Take the snacks I prepared."

The couple walked out of the luxurious carriage in the surprised eyes of passers-by.

In fact, Gu Li had already guessed that the stop of the convoy might be related to him.

But this idea was so bold that he couldn't believe it.

Being able to sit and drink with the Earl in military uniform was enough for him to brag about the great journey of three generations.

If he could be formally received by the Earl, he would be able to brag about it for eighteen generations.

With a feeling of trepidation and surprise, he saw the Earl approach him.

It was not a summons, but a meeting with him.

"Head Guli, I didn't expect to meet you here. How are you doing recently?"

Derek greeted Guli very cordially. Not only did Guli's face turn red with excitement, but the barbarians behind him were also shaking with excitement.

This made the knights like Virut hold the hilts of their swords nervously, almost thinking that the barbarians were going to do something.

Even other caravans that were also blocked by the Earl's caravan saw this scene from a distance.

"Who is that barbarian?" A merchant asked curiously.

Guli had been working in this area for a few months, so naturally someone knew him.

"It's Guli, the head of the nearby barbarian tribe. He has been learning how to do business with us recently. I didn't expect that he really knew the Earl. I thought he was just bragging."

Everyone immediately asked about Guli's deeds curiously. When they heard the little story between Earl Augusta and the barbarians, everyone was envious.

"It would be great if I were that Guli, even if I had to be a barbarian."

In this era, behavior like Derek's is really unique.

The people present are all from the lower and middle classes of society. They are eager for the favor of the upper class, so they naturally have too much good feelings for this behavior.

In other words, facing Derek's inquiry, Guli replied excitedly: "Your Excellency, thanks to your grace, the business is not bad. I have earned hundreds of gold coins in the past few months."

This amount of gold coin income even exceeds some knights and nobles.

It can be seen that Guli did a good job. Although Derek ordered to take care of it, the specific situation is really unclear.

"Very good, how are the brothers in the tribe doing?"

"Thanks to your grace, life is much better than before. We finally don't have to go hungry this winter."

Guli counted the changes in the tribe. As the tribe that reacted first, the short-term changes were still very obvious.

The most important thing is that the food and goods from the north and even the south of the Locke Kingdom have greatly enriched the basic materials.

I can't say how good it is, but it is definitely much better than before.

The barbarians have a hard life, and a little change will bring a great sense of happiness.

In terms of support, Guli's tribe is definitely a staunch supporter of the Augusta family.

Derek was also very happy. He happily told the people around him: "This is really good news. Augusta has brought the barbarians not war and death, but a better life.

Guli, I believe that the future of the barbarians and the Melgen Province will be better.

Keep working hard. I hope you can become a noble under the Augusta family and lead your people to a better life."

If someone else said this, the barbarians would definitely ignore it.

Even if it was the barbarian king, he would just treat it as the wind in the wilderness, and it would pass as it came.

But the one who said this was Count Augusta, the man who brought them the current changes.

The barbarians were moved to tears, and many of them couldn't help crying.

"Thank you, every winter in the past, there were old people and children who couldn't make it, but this year it definitely won't happen, I promise."

Guli couldn't help but redden his eyes. Although the barbarians were rude, they still had feelings.

The scene was in chaos. If you didn't see it clearly, you would think that they were bullied by the count.

The atmosphere was right, and Derek gave the order on the spot: "Let's camp here today. I'll treat everyone to a meal. Virut... go and invite the merchants over there to come along."