After Art led the Sentry Cavalry away from Sap, he did not return directly to the Valley Knight Territory, but instead rode south after leaving the mountainous area, heading towards the Border Outpost.
In early spring, the snow melted, and the north-south trade route was muddy and impassable. The military horses, which were barely suitable as warhorses, could not accelerate on the muddy roads, and it was not until the evening of the second day after leaving Sap that they finally saw the Border Outpost in the wilderness.
As the only place with a military presence within a hundred miles of the wilderness border, a small, temporary settlement had begun to form here.
Since the Outpost was largely completed last autumn, refugees and small cross-border merchants traveling between Provence and Burgundy had set up small tents around the Outpost to rest and recuperate. There was even a shrewd refugee merchant from Provence who set up a temporary small shack in the open space next to the Border Outpost to cook and sell wheat paste to passersby. Of course, this small shack was set up with Simon's permission and after paying taxes.
Many of the southern refugees who fled to Burgundy County last winter remained near the Outpost. The severe winter had just passed, and some had already set off to beg for food further north, while those refugees who still had some provisions remained here, waiting for the weather to warm up before seeking survival in the north. This was because, compared to the long and dangerous journey north, this Outpost at least had Soldiers stationed there, and there were no bandits harassing the surroundings.
If it weren't for the lack of arable land here, they would even want to stay and become farmers...
"My Lord, I thought you wouldn't be able to inspect the Outpost until after the spring plowing, but I didn't expect you to come now," said Simon, the Commander of the Border Outpost, and Benjamin, who came out of the Outpost to greet Art, who had come for inspection.
"We just returned from suppressing bandits in Sap. This is my territory, and I am very concerned about the situation at this Outpost. Alright, Simon, arrange food and lodging for us. We've been bouncing on horseback for two days, and we need a good rest and some hot food." Art handed the reins to Simon and walked directly into the Outpost.
According to Art's vision, the Border Outpost was built on a small hill next to the road north of a small stream bridge. Around the hill was a twenty-foot-high spiked wooden fence, and at the highest point of the hill stood a watchtower. Around the watchtower were two houses, a warehouse, and a military horse eating hay in the stable. At the Outpost gate, a Soldier with a spear stood guard, and on the watchtower, another Soldier with a crossbow and a horn hanging from his waist kept watch. Fifty feet in front of the main gate of the Outpost, on the trade route, there was a row of wooden barricades. Passing convoys and pedestrians had to stop in front of the barricades for inspection before the barricades were moved to allow smooth passage.
At the base of the Outpost's wooden wall and fence, there were seven or eight simple tents made of old felt and cloth. Bonfires were lit in front of these simple tents, and some refugees sat around the bonfires to keep warm.
Simon saw Art glance at the several refugee camps outside the Outpost fence as he entered the gate, and he voluntarily said to Art, "My Lord, the tents and shacks outside the Outpost are temporarily set up by passing refugees. These people have all been carefully scrutinized, and I only allowed them to stay after confirming they posed no danger."
Art walked towards the houses in the Outpost, saying to Simon, "You're doing the right thing. This place is my territory, and since it's a territory, it needs people. In the future, this place will become the first checkpoint for entering Burgundy County from eastern Provence. Besides wanting to turn this place into a Border Outpost and a tax station, I also want to gradually build it into a transit point for goods from north and south. In the future, whether it's southern goods like spices, raw silk, porcelain, and silk brought from the south, or northern goods like furs, grain, and velvet passing through from the north, I hope they can all be traded here. If possible, I want to turn this Outpost into a town, replacing Tinietz's position in north-south trade."
"So for now, if there's an opportunity to make this place prosperous, as long as it doesn't threaten the safety of the Outpost, you can boldly proceed. I just saw a small shack selling food by the fence; such shacks can be allowed, as long as they pay taxes and obey regulations, they can be freely established."
"In addition, I have already instructed the merchant team to recruit a group of literate and numerate clerks, and one will also be assigned to this Outpost. At that time, if there are refugees who truly wish to reside in the Outpost area long-term, as long as they pass your inspection and are registered, they can become my people and receive my protection. The Outpost area does not have suitable land for cultivation, so it's best to select residents who are skilled in business and trade, even if they are general merchants, they can still find a livelihood without relying on land."
Simon nodded in agreement.
"This matter can be attempted. I see a dozen or so refugees around the Outpost, and since they're idle anyway, when the weather improves in a couple of days, you can mark out a flat piece of land next to the Outpost and have these refugees cut down trees to build a fence, creating a small free market. If passing merchants wish to sell their goods on the spot, they can enter the fenced area to trade, and your Outpost will be responsible for managing this market. Additionally, you can have passersby spread the word that a small free trade market has been established in the border area."
"Once the free market is truly established, we can gradually control the southern goods trade through this free market!" Art grew more excited as he spoke.
Simon did not immediately grasp the profound meaning of it. He seemed to understand yet not understand, asking, "My Lord, if this place becomes a prosperous free market, or even a commercial town, then those with malicious intentions will set their sights on it~"
Art smiled easily and replied, "Simon, don't forget we still have an army. My army is not for show. If anyone dares to harbor ill intentions towards my territory, I will surely let him taste the might of my sword. Moreover, you must remember that this place is our own territory. On our own territory, everything is up to us. If you are worried about the Outpost being attacked later, I will select more Soldiers from the new recruit team to guard the Outpost.
"As for the previous task of recruiting refugees for the Border Outpost, it can be temporarily stopped, because there are already many commoners in the Valley, and both cultivated and barren land need time to produce grain. I also need to put more of my money and energy into the army and the merchant team. If I continue to recruit refugees for farming, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it. However, ordinary refugees will no longer be recruited. If there are skilled individuals such as craftsmen, merchants, Medical Officers, or literate people, they can still be recruited into the Valley."
"There are also two major tasks that your Outpost must undertake: firstly, continue to collect entry taxes from passing merchant teams. I have already had the merchant team carve a howling wolf seal. In the future, any merchant team passing through the Outpost, after paying taxes according to regulations, will be issued a document stamped with the seal. From the Outpost all the way to Tinietz, I will send people to inspect. If a merchant team is found without a tax-paid document issued by the Border Outpost, I will confiscate all their goods and punish them doubly. Secondly, I am giving you a secret mission: from now on, any goods related to the Dean Family that pass through the Outpost must be intercepted and a heavy tax of fifty percent collected. If they dare to refuse, confiscate the goods on the spot and say that it is an order from Art, the Lord of this land, Court Guard Knight, and Tinietz Southern Border Security Patrol Officer. If they dare to use force, let them go for now, then report back to the Valley by fast horse, and I will bring troops to deal with it. From now on, I will slowly tighten the Dean Family's stranglehold on the southern goods trade!"
Simon nodded slightly, but with reservations, saying, "My Lord, from last autumn until now, I have only seen three merchant teams operating under the Dean Family's banner on this trade route. Each time, they brought a large number of merchant team guards. If we were to fight them head-on, I'm afraid we would..."
"Simon, I know what you're worried about. I just said, you must remember that this place is our own territory. I don't care about other places, but any merchant team associated with the Dean Family passing through here cannot be allowed to pass easily. If you can handle it yourself, handle it. If you can't, report it to me by fast horse. I won't openly plunder the Dean Family's merchant teams, but from the Border Outpost to Tinietz, there are hundreds of miles, and there are indeed many mountain bandits and vagrants along the way~~"
Simon looked enlightened and said firmly, "Don't worry, My Lord. With you and the army as my backing, I'm not afraid."
Art nodded in approval a few times, then changed the subject, saying, "Of course, strangling the Dean Family's neck is just a minor detail. The main tasks of the Border Outpost are still collecting commercial taxes, purchasing southern goods, maintaining public order, and developing the free market. You must grasp these main tasks and carry them out."
"Simon, remember, treat friends as warm as sunshine, and treat enemies as piercing as winter~"
"Yes, My Lord, I remember!"
Art stood up from a low stool in the Outpost house and said, "Alright, Simon, accompany me to see your food, supplies, and weapon reserves..."
As he spoke, Art, accompanied by Simon, inspected the warehouse in the Outpost, understanding the Soldiers' food, clothing, and daily necessities, and promised to send a batch of weapons, armor, and bedding to the Outpost after returning to the Valley.
That evening, the Border Outpost held a simple banquet for Art, Angus, and Ron and the others. Art also gave some rewards to the Outpost guards at the banquet, and everyone was naturally joyful...
The next day, Art, accompanied by Angus and the cavalry of the Sentry Cavalry, patrolled fifty miles up and down the stream in front of the Outpost. Their only goal was to dismantle all bridges up and down the stream that could be used by pedestrians, ensuring that there was only one road from Provence to Burgundy. Furthermore, Art ordered the Outpost to warn passing pedestrians and merchants that any pedestrian or merchant who entered Burgundy County without passing through the Outpost would be deemed to have trespassed on the territory, and once caught, they would be severely punished!
After inspecting the Border Outpost and giving direct instructions to Simon and Benjamin, the two Commanders, establishing the general direction for the Outpost's development, Art and his entourage left the Border Outpost, traveling north and then turning east, heading towards the new Patrol Team station at the Giant Stone Pile, located south of Laine Manor...
