Roxias meticulously calculated the price for him and found that the iron ore he owned was insufficient to exchange for such a large quantity of goods. However, he was unwilling to reduce the number of items he wanted to purchase, so Roxias had no choice but to write him an IOU to offset it in the next ore transaction.
After the discussions between the two parties concluded, Roxias’s subordinates completed drafting the sales contract, each party signed (with a handprint), and three copies were made, marking the completion of the entire negotiation process.
For Karsipengpas and his party, this contract held little significance; as long as the grain and goods were transported back to the tribe, neither the elder nor the tribesmen would inspect the contract or inquire about details.
However, for Roxias, the ledger of iron ore trade and every contract must be meticulously completed and carefully preserved, because not only the Finance Department conducts periodic inspections, but occasionally the Civil Affairs Department would also conduct spot checks.
Roxias felt he would never commit fraud or violate the decree, but if work negligence resulted in incomplete contracts or documents, causing the Civil Affairs Department to use this as a reason to impede his promotion, regret would only come too late.
Upon completing all the formalities, Karsipengpas stated, "As I need to participate in your summer festival, time is tight, so I won’t stay longer here. Once you’ve gathered the wheat and cloth, hand them over to Omantimenas. He is responsible for inspection and leading the fleet back."
Omantimenas was one of the two Aldean tribesmen who had just entered with Roxias’s subordinates. He was a rare noble well-versed in mathematics from a western mountainous tribe among the Aldeans, and an invaluable assistant to Karsipengpas in managing the iron mines.
In the past, whenever Karsipengpas had matters to attend to, he frequently delegated Omantimenas to lead the fleet to trade iron ore, so Roxias wasn’t surprised, and he responded, "Okay, I will handle the goods transfer with him."
After leaving the river port, Karsipengpas, along with Agatakus and the others, headed straight to the main house of Snowdonia. Today, it served as the office of the administrative officer of Snowdonia, and Karsipengpas was a frequent visitor. Hence, upon receiving the order that "Xie Pangbo agreed to meet," the gate guards immediately granted entry.
Xie Pangbo, once a noble slave in Sarabia, was later forced to join the rebel army, following Pigeris. After the establishment of the Nix Tribe, he managed the Snowdonia market. Due to his outstanding achievements, he was later promoted to the administrative officer of Snowdonia and has held this position for more than three years. During this period, Snowdonia maintained stability, the tribesmen prospered, commerce thrived, and it almost became the trade center along the Kupa River and throughout Aldean Territory, to which he contributed significantly.
Xie Pangbo warmly received Karsipengpas and his party, as he understood that Snowdonia’s prosperity and stability were inseparable from the significant contributions of the Aldeans. Important figures such as Karsipengpas and Cleobrotas in the Aldean tribe were crucial pillars maintaining long-term friendly relations between the two tribes.
Upon learning that Karsipengpas was going to participate in the Ophelia summer festival, Xie Pangbo expressed his envy. As the administrative officer of Snowdonia, he had to preside over the festival in the town, preventing him from visiting Ophelia to watch the competitions and participate in the rituals.
After Karsipengpas requested for a certification document for Agatakus and the others, he inquired in detail about the current situation of the Adriatic Pirates and gladly prepared the document, stamping it with a large seal.
He also suggested providing a carriage for Karsipengpas to take them to Ophelia.
Karsipengpas accepted Xie Pangbo’s kind gesture, knowing it would save time.
After they left, Xie Pangbo pondered for a moment and wrote a memorial, sending it swiftly to Ophelia through his subordinates.
By the time Karsipengpas and his party exited the courtyard gate, the carriage awaited alongside the road.
This carriage belonged to the transportation team stationed in Snowdonia, typically responsible for transporting goods for the tribe or tribesmen, naturally charging a fee.
The carriage canopy was quite spacious, offering room even after Karsipengpas and his party sat down. Moreover, rather than being pulled by oxen and donkeys as before, it was drawn by four horses.
The driver cracked the whip, and the carriage slowly moved along the roads in the town. After exiting the east gate and hitting the road, the carriage began to accelerate.
"Clip-clop, clip-clop..." With the sound of hooves, everyone stared blankly at the road ahead.
"Unexpected, isn’t it? To see broad avenues like those in Italy here," Karsipengpas said with slight pride.
Unexpectedly, the driver interjected upon hearing this, "The roads built by the Romans are not as good as ours!"
Karsipengpas earnestly replied, "You’re right, that’s indeed the case."
Although Agatakus and the others were astonished by this road, strikingly similar to the ones constructed by the Romans, claiming to be better was somewhat boastful, so out of politeness, they refrained from retorting.
As the carriage sped along the flat, sturdy road, practically flying, Agatakus finally noticed something odd.
By now, it was already morning, with numerous pedestrians on the sidewalks and many carriages and carts in the central road, yet the carriage they were riding moved swiftly and unhindered...
Agatakus curiously remarked, "Hmm, the approaching carriages appear to move along the other side of the road, and those traveling with us stay on this side. Could it be...?"
"Hahaha, you realized that pretty fast," the driver proudly laughed, "After this road was completed, Leader Maximus personally issued a decree, requiring everyone and every vehicle on the road to keep right when heading east or south, and left when heading west or north.
Initially, people were unwilling, finding it troublesome. There were frequent violations, often caught and punished by patrols. Eventually, everyone got used to it and found it really beneficial! Especially for carriages and carts on these roads, it’s faster, more convenient, and less prone to accidents!
Our leader truly deserves the title of Divine Son; his wisdom is beyond comparison with us ordinary folks! Let me tell you, I stayed in Italy for decades, and despite the numerous roads built by the Romans, I’ve never seen them issue such a decree to order vehicles on the roads..."
Agatakus and the others had no words to respond.
The carriage raced along the road, the clatter of hooves and wheels forming an exhilarating symphony, while the breeze brushed their hair, whisking away the oppressive heat. To the left of the road flowed the gently shimmering Kupa River; to the right lay vast wheatfields, their golden ears waving like ocean waves. Amidst the sea of grain, an occasional house rose, surrounded by sheep...
"Oh, the Nix people are even breeding horses!" Diocles exclaimed in surprise, knowing that as an Illyrian himself, his fellow countrymen rarely raised horses due to poverty, lack of conditions, and inability to afford it. For them, horse breeding was a luxury.
"Not just horses and sheep, but also a lot of pigs in those houses," the driver interjected loudly, "The Skodisqi people and Pannonians are skilled in pig breeding. After we defeated the Segestica Tribe, we captured plenty of pigs. Some were taken to the market for sale by the tribe; the rest were given to the Labor Department for careful nurturing. The piglets produced were also periodically sold at the market.
Pigs, with their unselective diets, are easy to raise. Given enough food, they can gain dozens of pounds in just over half a year, providing not only a sufficient meat supply but also plenty of fat. A sow can birth many piglets in one litter, and they produce abundant manure, offering substantial fertilizer for the fields...
With so many benefits, every household has built a pigsty in their yard, learning pig farming from the Skodisqi people, which has made the town quite smelly. Updates are released by novel※fire.net
The tribe even issued a decree prohibiting livestock breeding within towns! So everyone had to build houses in their fields for raising pigs, cattle, and sheep. It makes feeding them easier, and their manure conveniently fertilizes the fields... Some even stay in these field houses during farming busy periods.
As for horse breeding, the tribe still has few people raising horses. Although most tribesmen devote several acres for purple alfalfa fields and have enough grain to feed horses, the tribe’s horses remain few, primarily concentrated within the Agricultural Department.
The Agricultural Department has professionals for horse breeding, supposedly near a thousand horses there. Each year, they sell some of the lesser-quality horses at the market. Initially, the prices were reasonable, and everyone wanted to buy for plowing, carrying goods, and traveling, but the competition drove prices up. Those able to buy even one horse considered themselves fortunate, though compared to me, they’re still lacking–I have three horses at home!"
"How does your family own so many horses?!" Everyone in the carriage was amazed.
"I, from a young age, was a slave tending to horses, and upon reaching adulthood, became a slave driver, transporting goods for others with only the wish to someday own my own horses. Now, this wish is finally fulfilled! Though, acquiring these horses nearly exhausted all my money."
The driver showed a satisfied expression, but soon with a trace of worry: "Although our tribe still has few horses, donkeys are quite common, with nearly every two or three families owning a donkey cart. As both river and road transportation continue to improve, fewer tribesmen request us for goods transport. In a few years, when everyone has their own horse, our transportation team might just be disbanded..."
"If the Nix tribesmen no longer need you, your transportation team can transport goods for us Aldean tribesmen," Karsipengpas casually offered.