Great Wilderness Demon Lord

The construction of the post station took a total of twelve days.

The site was chosen on the east side outside the South Gate, right next to the market, covering an area of ​​about five acres. The courtyard was surrounded by a wooden fence, forming its own private space. Inside the fence, there were three rows of wooden houses, ten rooms in each row, each room capable of accommodating four or five people.

Behind the wooden house was a row of spacious and clean stables, enough to tether fifty or sixty horses. In the center of the courtyard was an open space paved with fine pebbles, specifically for caravans to park their vehicles and horses, so that even in rainy or snowy weather, there was no need to worry about muddy roads.

Most importantly, there was the kitchen on the north side of the inn. Inside were two large stoves, and pots, pans, and utensils were all readily available. Manager Wu had specially asked someone to invite three cooks from Zhenhuang Pass, all of whom were experienced chefs who had worked in restaurants and were quite skilled.

One of the cooks, surnamed Sun, was rumored to have studied under a renowned master in the capital, acquiring exceptional culinary skills. Later, upon returning to the north, he was hired by Steward Wu at a high price to work at the post station, where he was put in charge of managing the meals.

On the day the inn opened, Xiao Yunlan made a special trip to check it out. At that time, Chef Sun was busy in the kitchen with two helpers. The stove was roaring and warm. A large pot was stewing mutton, and the rich aroma wafted through the kitchen and filled the entire courtyard.

On the cutting board beside him were neatly arranged cabbages, radishes, and green beans, freshly picked from a vegetable garden outside the city, looking incredibly fresh. Xiao Yunlan stepped forward, scooped up a spoonful of mutton from the pot, and tasted it—the meat was tender and flavorful, truly living up to its reputation.

He looked at Chef Sun and asked in a deep voice, "How many people can you feed in a day?"

Cook Sun quickly wiped the water off his hands and bowed, replying, "General, these two large stoves alone can feed a hundred or so people in one meal. If the number of caravans increases in the future and we can't keep up, we can add another stove. I also have two apprentices with me; they'll be more than enough to help out on weekdays."

Xiao Yunlan nodded slightly, then turned to check the wooden hut and the stable. Although the wooden hut was simple, it was clean and tidy, with each room covered with dry hay and a thin blanket, enough for one to rest comfortably. The stable was also spacious and well-ventilated, with the troughs already filled with fresh hay, enough for the horses to eat and rest well.

Manager Wu followed closely behind, handing over a piece of paper and bowing as he said, "General, I have drafted a set of rules for the post station. Please take a look and see if it is appropriate."

Xiao Yunlan reached out and took the note, glancing at it quickly. The handwriting on the note was neat and clear, stating: "For lodging, each person will be charged ten copper coins per night; meals will be charged separately, with breakfast costing two copper coins (including steamed buns, porridge, and pickled vegetables), and lunch and dinner each costing five copper coins (one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and one staple food), which can be ordered separately as needed; horses will be charged five copper coins per night, with fodder charged separately, five copper coins per horse per day, which is sufficient for feeding; storage of goods will be charged according to weight, with twenty copper coins per night for every hundred catties, and less than one hundred catties will be charged as one hundred catties."

Xiao Yunlan said calmly, "This price is very fair. Let's try it for a month first. If there are any problems, we can adjust it."

Manager Wu quickly agreed, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

The inn was very successful in the first few days after it opened. The first group to check in was the caravan of the Xiao Family Chamber of Commerce. They had been traveling here for many years and had a good relationship with Manager Wu. Seeing that the inn was in good condition, they booked five wooden houses without hesitation.

Immediately afterward, Manager Chen and his group, returning from the north, laden with furs and medicinal herbs, also checked in. In addition, several other small caravans, some heading to trade deep into the Great Wilderness and others just returning from it, all chose to rest here.

Chef Sun's culinary skills were indeed well-deserved. The stewed mutton was tender and flavorful, the vegetables were fresh and crisp, and the large, soft steamed buns were served with great care, drawing praise from the caravan members. These merchants, who were often away on the road and usually only ate dry rations and cold meat, were delighted to have a hot and delicious meal. They all raved about it and became increasingly satisfied with the inn.

Word of mouth gradually spread, and more and more merchant caravans came to stay at the inn. Sometimes the wooden cabins were completely full, and some merchants would rather sleep on the floor in the cabins than stay elsewhere—just to have a hot meal cooked by Chef Sun and a place to rest in peace.

Every evening, Xiao Yu would take a stroll around the inn to ask the guests if they had any needs and to settle the day's accounts. He was meticulous and kept clear records of the accounts, listing out exactly how many people stayed each day and how much money was collected, without a single mistake.

At the end of July, Xiao Yu delivered the accounts of the post station for the past twelve days to Xiao Yunlan's desk and bowed, saying, "Grand Uncle, the expenses for lodging, meals, horses, and goods storage at the post station over these twelve days amounted to a considerable sum. After deducting the cook's wages, food costs, and various miscellaneous expenses, we made a net profit of three to four thousand coins."

Xiao Yunlan picked up the account book, slowly flipped through it, and nodded slightly. These three or four thousand coins were equivalent to about seven or eight shi of grain. Although it wasn't a lot, it was a steady stream of income that, over time, would amount to a considerable sum.

He returned the account book to Xiao Yu and instructed in a deep voice, "Keep a close eye on the affairs of the post station. When the caravans arrive, be humble and polite, and take the opportunity to ask them where they came from, where they are going, and what they have seen and heard along the way. Write down any useful information and report it to me later."

Xiao Yu bowed in agreement and turned to leave.

One evening in early August, as the sun set, its afterglow bathed the fortress of Wangbeibao in a warm golden light. Xiao Yunlan stood atop the fortress, gazing at the increasingly bustling area outside the city—in the border market, several tribes were busy trading, their voices clamoring; over at the post station, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, mingling with the evening glow on the horizon, and the enticing aroma of food wafted on the breeze.

Several caravans were parked outside the post station, their workers busy unloading goods. The shouts and sounds of the carts mingled together, creating a vibrant scene. In the distance, another caravan slowly approached; judging by its flag, it was the Xiao Family Merchant Guild's procession.

Zhao Meng quietly stood behind him at some point, gazing at the scene before him, and sighed softly, "General, our Wangbei Fortress used to be desolate and deserted, but now it has become so lively and more and more like what it used to be."

Xiao Yunlan remained silent, simply gazing at the vibrant atmosphere before him. From late autumn of last year until now, Wangbei Fort was merely an isolated city on the edge of the Great Wilderness, desolate and sparsely populated; but now, caravans come and go in an endless stream, and various tribes have come to submit, the entire fort brimming with the lively spirit of life. Such a transformation has occurred in just over half a year.

He knew in his heart that the current situation was far from over. Deep within the Great Wilderness lay many unexplored dangers; the threat from the Wolf Barbarians had never truly been eliminated. The road ahead was still long, and he could only move forward step by step, steadily and surely.

Xiao Yunlan slowly turned around and walked down the fortress step by step. The new batch of mopping-up teams was scheduled to depart tomorrow, led by Tieshan, with their destination in the northwest—where there had been recent activity from wandering barbarians. The new recruits in the fortress who had just joined the army needed such a practical opportunity to hone their skills, familiarize themselves with warfare, and develop exceptional abilities.