Judith is not so much provoking as she is simply training troops.
When you are powerful enough, your neighbor’s nerves become extremely sensitive, and the current situation at the southwest border is just that.
In fact, it is quite difficult for Judith to launch an attack on An Zhu. The southwest border is still primarily defensive, and now Lind’s main forces are focused on watching the Demon Clan in the Northern and Central regions, making it challenging to muster enough strength for a national extermination war.
Moreover, An Zhu’s strategic depth makes it difficult for armored troops to execute a blitzkrieg. Even if they were to succeed, the enemy currently has many high-level professionals who could counterattack.
So, with just a little thought, it becomes clear that Cape cannot genuinely launch a large-scale offensive right now, but this is only from Judith’s perspective.
Judith is not in a hurry because Lind’s demand from her is actually quite simple: it is to ensure that these soldiers learn the basic soldier’s code and engrave those operations into their bones.
In addition, she is also providing these soldiers with ideological training, dispatching several secretaries to work with them.
These actions are essentially aimed at rooting out the southwest border army, transforming it into the kingdom’s army in the true sense, but Judith has no objections. After all, under the noble laws gradually promoted in the royal capital, Judith and Scott have retained the power to command troops due to their merits and status, making them an unattainable existence among the nobles.
If Judith is to say that aside from training troops, the only preparation she is making for war is intelligence.
Warfare is warfare and business is business; even if both sides are nearly at each other’s throats, it does not affect the merchants on both sides from engaging in trade. Furthermore, to Judith, this is just the beginning; the real clashes are still far off.
Merchants from both sides also bear the responsibility of gathering intelligence, but both sides are tacitly aware of it.
Herbert is a merchant tasked with gathering intelligence in An Zhu.
“So, Brother Herbert, you used to be a noble from the Northern Border.”
The voice of the factory owner in An Zhu, speaking to Herbert, was sharp and grating, like a duck being choked, and coupled with the factory owner’s rather poor appearance—dressed in an old black coat with worn cuffs and collar, and even the little round glasses on the bridge of his nose were somewhat foggy and yellowed—it was hard to imagine he was a factory owner in control of several large factories.
“Yes, once my brother wanted to bring our Milan Great Pearl onto the carriage, but that saintess discarded the pearl in order to carry more common folk.”
Herbert spoke animatedly, slamming his fist on the table, his eyes seemingly reminiscing about that great pearl.
Hearing Herbert’s description, the factory owner couldn’t help but exclaim, “You just tossed away such a large pearl?”
“Yes, after that, we had no choice but to go out and make a living.”
Herbert sighed deeply, by now the factory owner completely believed his words. According to the narrative, he could have sold all the workers in his factory and still not acquired that pearl, which was merely a small thing left behind during their flight.
“That’s simply outrageous; you left behind so many things just to end up with a scrap of fabric from a saintess’s cloak!”
The factory owner also slammed the already wobbling table again.
“Yes, how can one stay in such a country?”
Herbert kept sighing, and every time this topic was mentioned, he could only stifle his laughter with sighs and even tears.
With that scrap of fabric, Herbert’s family not only preserved some assets and power during the reforms targeting the nobles but also managed to enter politics more smoothly than other nobles.
Even those nobles from the royal capital who once viewed Herbert’s family as nouveau riche mush now treat him with respect.
If Herbert was given a million chances to choose again, he would just kick that unfathomable pearl aside.
Some trivial wealth had brought a return worth thousands of times, and just thinking about it made Herbert laugh in his sleep. Now, having to repeatedly bring it up in front of these people in An Zhu, he was already exerting all his energy to hold back laughter.
Listening to Herbert’s throat emitting a cough, the factory owner thought Herbert was reminiscing about sad past events and was about to cry, so he comforted him, “Alright, Sir Herbert, let’s not bring that up anymore.”
Herbert felt as if he had been pardoned and managed to suppress his laughter.
“Let’s talk about business, Sir Herbert.”
Hearing this, Herbert knew his performance had been recognized by the other party.
The two then left the small room, ambling through the factory while discussing the main matters.
The factory was quite dimly lit, with even the lights off; such a factory would be shut down for reorganization in the Northern Border.
Just as the factory owner was about to discuss business, he noticed Herbert’s hesitating gaze and asked, “Sir Herbert, is there a problem with this factory?”
“It’s so dark here; what if the workers can’t see and get caught in the machinery?”
“Well, that’s indeed a bit troublesome, but don’t worry, we have the most professional maintenance workers who can fix the equipment soon.”
“And what about the workers?”
“Who cares? Just switch to new workers; An Zhu is currently not lacking in people. Sir Herbert, let’s discuss business instead.”
Herbert then realized the systems in An Zhu are completely different from those in the Northern Border. It was evident that An Zhu’s system is much more efficient. However, Herbert still felt that something was off, and after sighing, he said, “Alright, let’s discuss business.”
“What you mentioned earlier—that you can acquire some special goods and even military equipment from Cape—is that true?”
The factory owner’s small eyes sparkled behind the slightly yellowed lenses.
“That’s correct; as long as the price is right, those large items may be difficult for me to procure.”
The factory owner wasn’t really expecting those so-called large items but rather asked, “What about those cannons and ray guns?”
At this, the factory owner also added quietly, “I need them in large quantities.”
That kind of old-fashioned equipment, naturally, could be had in abundance. If you ask why, it’s because Herbert was tasked with smuggling to create foreign exchange revenue.
However, Herbert curiously asked, “What would you need so much for? Are you planning to incite a rebellion among these workers?”
“No, no, no, certainly not me, Sir Herbert. As long as you can provide, I can arrange for you to meet a significant figure; this is what he needs, and we’re just here to make some money for the connection.”
At that moment, Herbert felt his heart skip a beat. A big opportunity was at hand.
Yet Herbert remained quite restrained and said, “I’ll do my best, but you need to know that procuring that equipment isn’t easy.”
“That’s enough.”
The factory owner revealed a set of yellow teeth and eagerly nodded.
Not long after, Herbert met the factory owner’s behind-the-scenes figure.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Herbert. I’ve already heard about your matters from my subordinates.”
Caron extended his hand to greet Herbert.
