Lord of the Desert

Chapter 559 Snowman
As shown on the map, Liangzhou produced large quantities of steel, tools, firearms, explosives, machinery, clocks, and textiles, and could also transship grain; while Hezhou in the northern border region possessed high-quality medicinal herbs, furs, exotic animals, and precious minerals from Dahua.

The market price difference can be as large as four to five times, and the profit potential it contains is self-evident.

“Over the past few months, we have made initial progress on several routes in the Throat Mountains.”

Shen Xichen switched to the second map scroll.

"The narrowest point of Moon Spirit Valley spans about seventy meters. If a bridge could be built, it would save thirty miles of mountain road. The slope of Qiqiong Mountain is less than thirty feet thick. If a tunnel could be built through it, it would save three mountain ridges..."

He speaks very quickly and with great confidence.

"According to estimates, the completion of the above-mentioned project will reduce the one-way travel time from fifteen days to twelve days. With further optimization, it is not impossible to shorten it to within ten days. At that time, Beacon City will become the most important trade hub in the Northern Frontier, along with Congrui Pass. Given time, it may very well become the second Whiterun City!"

The blueprint in the painting is naturally inspiring.

"Captain Hong, it would be wonderful if we could open up the trade route, but what about that ferocious beast in the Throat-Slaying Mountain..."

Song Mingjie asked with a forced smile.

"I will deal with that Gu Diao personally."

Hong Fan replied, as if he were referring to some kind of ordinary, exotic species.

"Very good, very good."

Song Mingjie forced a smile, his old face resembling a shrunken chrysanthemum.

He dismissed Hong Fan's use of the word "personally," even finding it laughable.

But the Shen family from Xijing had arrived after all—if "Ten Thousand Feet of Ice" were to make a move, the Gu Diao would indeed be nothing.

"No need to rush. I've called you here just to give you an advance notice."

Hong Fan noticed the doubts of the crowd and tried to reassure them.

"Forgive my bluntness, Captain, while the Gu Diao must be eliminated first, it's not just a problem with the Gu Diao."

Seeing this, Yong Yu mustered her courage and said.

"Is Lady Yong referring to the Iron Melting Palace?"

Shen Xichen's question carried a hint of disdain.

He witnessed firsthand how Hong Fan used alliances and maneuvering to subdue the Zhu family. The size of Rongtie Palace was at most less than a quarter of that of Tongyun Manor. Once the trade route was established, it would be doomed without any effort to defeat.

"Alas, it's not just the Iron Melting Palace, or rather, it's not just the Iron Melting Palace."

Suo Chengzhou, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up.

"Actually, I have no deep-seated hatred for Commander Hong, and the people in the city are not all loyal to the Left Guard General's Mansion. Everyone can see that you've come here to do something big, but the key is that you can't do it."

He chuckled softly, with a sense of despondency and sorrow—Guo Han was dead, and the garrison was rendered powerless, all because of the orders from the Left Guard General's Office, but the Zhenbei Guard had not given any explanation for this.

This undeniable weakness greatly disappointed Suo Chengzhou.

“Hong Fan, if you were here twenty or even ten years from now, as a martial arts master, let alone trade routes, even if you wanted to unify Zhenbeiwei, you would have many followers.”

"But you're only at the Innate Realm right now."

"Let me be frank, your handling of Fengsui City was too brutal. Now, anything you want to do will not get past the Left Guard General's Mansion."

After he finished speaking, he leaned back in his chair in silence.

"To say that the town is guarding it is an exaggeration."

Hongbo snorted through his nose.

"Once the trade route to Juehou Mountain is opened, can Huo Zhan still find another ferocious beast?"

“Captain Hong, the Northern Frontier can gain a lot from this trade route, but not everything.”

Suo Chengzhou looked up and glanced sideways.

"Putting everything else aside, has the Fengsui City Defense Command received any military intelligence reports in the past month or so? Are you able to keep track of the military situation across the entire northern frontier in real time?"

Hongbo was speechless.

He always just followed orders without caring about the specific direction. "How can you get anything done if you don't even know where to attack or where to defend?"

Suo Chengzhou shook his head, seemingly relieved by the release of his emotions.

“Captain Hong, you are not a native of the Northern Frontier after all. If you can’t do it, you can leave. But the Song family, the Xiang family, and even the people of the whole city still need to live in the Northern Frontier.”

"I understand what Commander Suo means."

Hong Fan was not offended by this, but nodded repeatedly.

"However, I am not so pessimistic."

He has always claimed that he is not good at political strategy, but he is very good at making and dividing the pie. Those who have tasted the sweetness from him will naturally stand on his side. After all, although there are people in this world who use their brains to direct their butts, most people use their butts to direct their brains.

"We are about to set off for Whiterun. The journey will surely be filled with heavy snow and muddy roads."

"But the new year should bring a new look, so let's not rush to see what happens after the new year."

Hong Fan finished speaking with a smile and left his seat.

······
December 23rd, the end of the year is approaching.

Outside Congrui Pass, adjacent to the Ling River, lies the largest city in northern Xinjiang with a population of 700,000, shrouded in snow.

At 7:00 AM, Hong Fan lifted the thick curtain and stepped into the heavy snow outside the inn.

The rose-red sunrise floated in the low eastern sky, while the mountains outside the city tightly gripped the drifting clouds.

The houses along the street, built with slabs and bricks, have extremely thick walls and are strictly oriented north to south to capture the precious December sunlight to the maximum extent.

Hong Fan listened intently.

Three streets away, a pharmacy clerk was pounding medicine, the sound of the copper pestle striking the mortar clear and crisp.

In the deep alley, snow slid down the steep rooftops, creating a mini avalanche.

The wind suppressed the shouts and calls of people.

The old man selling frozen pears huddled under the eaves, the pears, black and shiny, arranged like a small tower—his gray-black cotton-padded coat, worn for a long time, was torn, the exposed white cotton fluff resembling a deep snowfall blowing only on one person.

Hong Fan let out a sigh that resembled a white mist, which then vanished without a trace.

Whiterun is the economic and logistical hub north of Kuaiye Mountain, but its standard of living is still behind that of Xijing, let alone Shenjing.

Going back inside, passing through the vestibule, there's a temperature difference of over twenty degrees Celsius in less than ten meters.

The fire raged in the fireplace.

"Get ready to go."

Hong Fan glanced around the hall and saw that Hong Bo and the others had changed into formal attire and were doing a final check on each other.

The meeting was scheduled for 9:00 AM, and Hong Fan arrived 15 minutes early as is customary.

The residence of the General of the Central Guard.

The guards remained in the front yard to rest.

Hong Fan entered the main hall alone with his attendant. The first thing he saw was a magnificent map of the northern part of Kuaiye Mountain, and the rugged throne beneath it.

Three circles of chairs were placed between the twelve wide pine pillars, and half of them were occupied at the moment, making quite a racket.

Hong Fanfu attracted everyone's attention as soon as he entered, silencing the noise. Zhenbeiwei was not a large place, so everyone who entered knew each other. When a handsome stranger suddenly appeared, they knew who he was without even asking.

Silence and scrutinizing gazes are both forms of invisible pressure.

But Hong Fan strode in calmly and nodded to Kou Yong, who was sitting in the outer circle in a wide robe.

We walked through the hall and took our seats.

The noise quickly subsided.

(End of this chapter)