Chapter 359 Gutian Kingdom
The vast snowy plains were flying by as a lone figure moved in the direction of the border between Tuamei and Gutian Kingdoms. The two were in the state of prolonged conflict with skirmishes happening every month or two between small-scale forces.
Wu Long did not consider it much of an obstacle, as the speed at which he moved was faster than anyone who should be at the border could see, and for those who could like the mercenaries he was well acquainted with, there was nothing they could do to stop him.
In addition, Old Yen had supplied him with information about the camps and army positions of both countries beforehand, thus making it extremely easy for him to pass through.
Soon, the plains began climbing up with occasional hills and rock formations appearing in the distance and with time becoming more frequent, and eventually he entered the zone of conflict between the two countries which was a tricky terrain with hills covering the field of view at every turn.
Only a large, dark mass of mountains towering on the Western side of the horizon was an exception as it was too tall and conspicuous among the white snowy hills and against the pale grey of winter sky.
As Wu Long passed the border, he was soon greeted by a man looking to be in his mid-forties in simple but neat black clothing with no ornaments, respectfully bowing as soon as the distance was close enough to see each other.
"Welcome to the Gutian Kingdom, Boss. I hope the road was comfortable"
"Haha, spare me the long-winded greetings, Old Yen. It's good to see you're well"
Wu Long chuckled at the solemn speech and the middle-aged man lowered his head once more, but not before the former could notice a glint of joy in his eyes.
"Boss is too kind to this old man. Please, this way"
Old Yen then half turned, and gestured in the direction of the Gutian Kingdom's depths with his hand, and receiving a nod from Wu Long, sped forward leading the way. Wu Long followed him closely.
Gutian Kingdom's land was a slope with the lowest point at the sea level in the East, and the highest point at the border with Fantian Kingdom in the West, the mountains separating the two countries being considerably shorter in height from one side than the other.
The structure of the slope made it obvious that it was the accumulated landmass that was gathered and compressed by the Great Catastrophe in the distant past, shoving massive amounts of rock and soil and pushing it toward the territory that was the current Fantian Kingdom until the formation of the border mountains caused by the spontaneous compression of rocky minerals. And while time chiseled away at the terrain of the Gutian Kingdom with landslides and mudflows bringing the highest points down and slightly evening the territory out, the border mountains that were formed of the hardest rocks further compressed by the blast, heat and pressure did not change much, solidifying a natural dividing line.
As Wu Long followed Old Yen and went further south, they rarely passed fields or any vegetation at all, the whole region riddled with uneven swaths of land, with hard, rocky soil under the snow.
"It doesn't really look very settler-friendly"
Wu Long chuckled as they were traveling, and Old Yen nodded in agreement.
"The solid rock and minerals in the soil make it difficult to produce crops, thus pushing any settlers who ever inhabited this land since the Great Catastrophe to make their living through mining out the valuable ores"
"A country of miners and metallurgy, as well as rock craftsmanship, supplying most of the Azure Eagle Continent, huh. It certainly does look the part"
"Even the Azure Eagle Empire relies on imports from this region for metal and stonemasonry.
It is also because of this rich with minerals soil that the Tuamei Kingdom decided to launch a territorial dispute, hoping to get this thin stretch of land between the Fantian Kingdom and the sea that is commonly referred to as the 'Neck' by the locals"
Old Yen shook his head, sighing at this conflict.
"And they thought the Gutian Kingdom would fold?"
Wu Long raised his eyebrow.
"The trick was that Tuamei Kingdom along with Fantian and Tingren Kingdoms are the best producers of grains, and since Gutian Kingdom relies entirely on imports for food, their bet was likely that the latter would simply give in, not wishing to escalate relationships with one of their largest suppliers"
Old Yen grinned as he voiced the last part, already foreshadowing the outcome of this assumtion.
"The problem was that they did not coordinate with the other two suppliers, and both Fantian and Tingren Kingdom only took advantage of this and increased their export, and not only that, Jurong Kingdom with legalized slavery was able to increase their production of foods that grew in warm climates, supplying the difference.
Tuamei was then left with a surplus of food supplies that they do not know where to sell and a military campaign they cannot back down from now that it started, so it has been going like this for decades"
Wu Long chuckled as he heard the basic explanation Old Yen was giving him of the conflict. He previously only knew that there was a territorial dispute between the countries, not really caring about the details.
"But then, how did they not collapse if they lost their biggest buyer?"
caring about the details.
"But then, how did they not collapse if they lost their biggest "They were basically bailed out by the Golden Ox Trading Company who are shipping the grains to the Cloud Piercing Continent. This deal solidified their place as a strong contender for the most influential trading company on the continent, as well as basically put the whole Tuamei Kingdom in their pocket"
Old Yen's voice darkened as he talked. The more he learned about what people Wu Long was going up against, the more grim the situation appeared as their hands seemed to have reached everywhere on the continent.
"Did you investigate the Bullshit Training Camp?"
"Yes, as soon as Boss told me it was in the Gutian Kingdom I looked into it. As I told you before in the reports over the communication talismans, the Golden Ox's traces are hidden very well here but I have found the headquarters of their Mercenary Corps"
"Good work"
"Boss, I know it is not my place to say this but... the situation right now is shaky and making a move..."
"I know, don't worry. I am not planning to tear it down at the moment. I was going to do that but it is true that the situation has changed. Now it is the war of attrition and whoever makes a direct attack first would be the most exposed"
Wu Long shook his head, letting Old Yen sigh with relief. As they spoke they circled around a few mining villages and small towns, arriving at a large city.
However, they did not enter the city gates, instead heading for a district outside the walls with a lot of inns and taverns as well as brothels, a part of town for the people traveling through. Thestreets with with mud and horse manure all over gave off a filthy atmosphere, and even the snow was dark from dirt and all of the smoke from the chimneys.
At the secluded back entrance of an old, dilapidated building which appeared to be a tavern that was currently closed, an ordinary man noticed Old Yen approaching and knocked on the door, which immediately opened as Old Yen and Wu Long's figures quickly disappeared inside while the plain-looking man resumed his idle pose with a bored look.
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