Chapter 164: Trade Blockade! A New Route?

"What?!"

Roko's pupils shrank violently.

Martina's expression also instantly became grave.

Trade blockade!

For Vanguard Valley, which had just started and was waiting to be rebuilt, these four words were no different from pulling the firewood from under the cauldron!

The Xin Feng Province was located on the border of the kingdom, with barren land and scarce resources.

Many daily and strategic necessities, such as salt, cloth, medicinal herbs, and some special ores, needed to be imported from those wealthy provinces in the west.

Once this trade line was cut off.

Vanguard Valley would soon fall into a predicament of material shortages.

By then, let alone development, even maintaining the most basic life of the people in the territory would become a problem.

"Is the news true?"

Roko suppressed the shock in his heart and asked in a deep voice.

"Absolutely true, Master!"

The scout took a crumpled piece of sheepskin from his bosom.

"This is a copy of the blockade order that our informant planted in the Sunset Province risked his life to send out!"

"On it are the handwritten signatures and seals of the three Governor Marquises of Sunset Province, Silver Moon Province, and Alva Province!"

Roko took the sheepskin and quickly browsed through it.

The content was exactly the same as what the scout had said.

The blockade order was worded severely and with a firm attitude.

From this day on, any merchant is prohibited from transporting any materials to the Xin Feng Province.

Violators will be treated as treason, have all their property confiscated, and be sentenced to hanging!

"Why would they do this?"

Roko slammed the sheepskin onto the table.

He couldn't figure it out.

He had no grudges with those provinces in the west; why would they suddenly deal such a poisonous hand to him?

"Roko, have you forgotten about Mr. Silas's companion, that noble named Philip?"

Martina reminded him softly from the side.

"I investigated, and that Philip is the nephew of Marquis Archibald, the Governor of Sunset Province."

"Last time, he suffered such a big loss here, so he must have added fuel to the fire when he went back to complain to his uncle."

"Plus, the huge commercial value shown by the strong liquor and Obsidian Gold equipment in our territory—"

"It's normal for those greedy old nobles to be tempted."

Roko's face instantly turned gloomy.

He remembered.

That arrogant and rude idiot.

So the root of the problem was here.

"A bunch of insatiable old bastards!"

Roko gritted his teeth and cursed.

"They want to use the blockade to force us to submit!"

"Force us to hand over the recipe for the strong liquor and the forging technology for Obsidian Gold!"

"Yes."

Martina nodded, her face full of worry.

"Our scouts reported that the three western provinces have already set up heavy checkpoints on the border, and all merchant caravans have been stopped."

"The salt we have in reserve is only enough to support the entire territory for half a month."

"Once the salt runs out, large-scale panic will inevitably break out in the territory."

"By then, the hearts of the people and the morale of the army that we have just stabilized will likely collapse instantly."

The air in the study seemed to freeze.

This was a dead end even more difficult than the fiscal crisis.

If money is gone, you can think of ways to borrow or earn it.

But these strategic materials that have been choked off by others cannot be bought even with money.

Roko's knuckles tapped the tabletop unconsciously.

Once, and then again.

His brain was frantically thinking of countermeasures.

Forcefully break through the checkpoints?

No.

That would be equivalent to openly declaring war on the three western provinces.

With Vanguard Valley's current strength, it would be no different from throwing an egg against a rock.

Seek help from the Commercial Alliance?

Although Silas represents the Commercial Alliance.

But they are merchants after all, and profit-seeking is their nature.

They wouldn't offend the deeply rooted western noble group for his sake.

This path is also a dead end.

Could it be that he really has to bow his head to those old guys?

Hand over the secrets of the strong liquor and Obsidian Gold?

No!

Absolutely not!

A flash of determination crossed Roko's eyes.

That is the foundation of his survival!

Once handed over, he would lose all his advantages and trump cards, completely becoming fish meat waiting to be slaughtered.

He absolutely must not do this!

But if he doesn't compromise, what can he do?

Watch the territory fall into chaos due to material shortages?

Roko's head began to ache.

This was the most difficult and unsolvable problem he had encountered since coming to this world.

Just then.

The nobles under his command who had just been stripped of their military power also heard the news of the trade blockade.

They were like sharks that smelled blood, immediately becoming active.

They gathered in groups of three or five, whispering to each other.

"Did you hear? The western provinces have blockaded us!"

"Haha! Truly, heaven helps me! That Roko is finished this time!"

"That's right! Without salt and grain, let's see how he maintains his rule!"

"Let's go! Let's find him! Tell him that for the safety of the territory, he should apologize to the western nobles and hand over those technologies!"

"Right! Force him to hand over the technology! By then, we can get a piece of the pie too!"

"If he doesn't comply, we'll incite the people to pressure him together!"

"Let's see if he still dares to kill innocent people like last time!"

A group of nobles with ulterior motives hit it off immediately.

They tidied up their clothes, put on a look of worry and concern for the territory, and marched toward the Lord's Mansion.

They wanted to use this crisis to challenge Roko.

To take back the power and interests that belonged to them!

Lord's Mansion, study.

Roko and Martina were racking their brains over a giant map.

The map detailed the geographical locations of the Xin Feng Province and the three western provinces, as well as all the main traffic routes.

But they looked for a long time and couldn't find a way to break the blockade.

All land routes were blocked tightly by the western nobles' armies and checkpoints.

Trying to get through was harder than ascending to heaven.

"Is there really no way?"

Roko grabbed his hair in frustration.

This feeling of having strength but nowhere to use it made him very frustrated.

"Don't be in a hurry."

Martina looked at him, her wise eyes flashing with a calm light that was out of place with the current predicament.

"I actually don't think things have reached the end of the rope."

"Oh?"

Roko raised his head, looking at her somewhat unexpectedly.

"Do you have a way?"

"It can't be called a way yet."

Martina smiled modestly.

"Just an immature idea."

"Let's hear it."

Roko's spirits lifted.

He knew Martina never said things she wasn't sure about.

Since she said so, she must have discovered something extraordinary.

"Roko, look."

Martina extended her slender fingers and lightly swept across the map.

"The three western provinces have blocked all official roads leading to us."

"However, they overlooked one place."

Her finger finally stopped on a vast black mountain range between the Xin Feng Province and the Sunset Province.

"Black Mist Mountains?"

Roko frowned.

"I've heard of this place."

"The mountains are steep, covered in poisonous miasma and fog all year round, and there are all kinds of powerful magic beasts."

"Since ancient times, it has been a famous 'death forbidden zone'."

"Let alone merchant caravans, even the most experienced adventurers don't dare to step foot in it easily."

"We can't let the merchant caravans go through here, right?"

"Isn't that going to their deaths?"

"Under normal circumstances, of course not."

The corner of Martina's mouth hooked into a mysterious arc.

"But what if someone leads the way?"

"Lead the way? Who?"

Roko was somewhat puzzled.

"Could there be someone familiar with this death forbidden zone?"

"Yes."

Martina nodded and said a name that Roko didn't expect.

"Red Leaf Forest Tribe."

"Zewen Brick."

Roko's eyes lit up instantly.

That's right!

How could he have forgotten this important ally!

The Red Leaf Forest Tribe has lived on the edge of the Black Mist Mountains for generations.

They are natural hunters and trackers.

Regarding the understanding of that mountain range, I'm afraid no one is deeper than them.

If they could get their help.

Open up a secret trade route that bypasses official checkpoints and traverses the Black Mist Mountains,

Wouldn't the western nobles' blockade be in name only?

"I understand!"

Roko slapped his thigh and said excitedly.

"You want us to cooperate with Red Leaf Forest and establish a secret smuggling route!"

"Correct."

A flash of cunning light crossed Martina's eyes.

"Those western nobles think they can use a blockade to choke our throats."

"But they never dreamed that we would open up an invisible lifeline right under their noses!"

"Haha! Good! What a good invisible lifeline!"

Roko couldn't help but laugh loudly.

The gloom in his heart was swept away.

"Martina, every time I'm in the most difficult situation, you always bring me hope!"

"You flatter me."

A blush flew across Martina's face.

"This is all my duty."

"No time to lose!"

Roko stood up immediately.

"I'll go to Red Leaf Forest myself to discuss this with Zewen!"

"Roko, you don't need to go."

Martina stopped him.

"I've already sent someone to handle this matter."

"On the day you ordered the military exercise, I already sent Captain Bake with your handwritten letter and our most elite scouts to Red Leaf Forest in secret."

"Calculating the time, they should have already finished talking with Chief Zewen."

Roko was stunned.

He looked at Martina's calm and beautiful face, his heart filled with shock.

Martina actually thought further and acted earlier than him.

She seemed to always be able to walk ahead of the problems.

Paving all the roads for him in advance.

How great!

Just then.

A guard reported from outside the door.

"Master, those nobles of the alliance have all come."

"They are outside the Lord's Mansion, requesting to see you."

Roko and Martina looked at each other.

Both saw a playful smile in each other's eyes.

What was meant to come, finally came.

"Let them in."

Roko sat back in his chair and said lightly.

"I want to see what kind of tricks these guys want to play."

Soon.

More than a dozen nobles walked into the study.

As soon as they entered, they put on a look of heartbreak and concern for the country and the people.

"Master Roko! You must make the decision for the hundreds of thousands of people in our Xin Feng Province!"

Those nobles came up and put a big hat on Roko.

"That's right, Master! The western trade blockade has already made our territories complain!"

"If this continues, we won't be able to live!"

"We implore the Master to prioritize the overall situation and apologize to the western nobles, bow your head!"

"As long as you are willing to hand over the liquor and Obsidian Gold technology, I believe they will definitely lift the blockade!"

Other nobles also echoed one after another.

They said one thing and I said another.

Portraying Roko as a selfish tyrant who disregarded the safety of the entire province for personal gain.

As if all the mistakes were his.

Only by sacrificing himself could he save everyone.

Roko just listened to their performance quietly.

There was no extra expression on his face.

Until they were dry-mouthed and stopped.

Roko slowly opened his mouth to ask.

"Finished?"

The nobles were stunned and nodded.

"If you're finished, then get out."

Roko's voice was flat, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"What?!"

All the nobles thought they had misheard.

"I told you to get out."

Roko repeated, his voice still flat.

"Roko! You—don't go too far!"

Those nobles were trembling with anger.

"We came with good intentions to offer you advice! You actually humiliate us like this!"

"Offer advice?"

Roko sneered.

"You want to use this crisis to force me to hand over the core technology so you can get a piece of the pie, right?"

"Don't think I don't know the little schemes in your hearts."

"I—"

The nobles' faces turned green and white.

Being called out by Roko, they couldn't refute.

"I tell you."

Roko stood up, and a powerful momentum radiated from his body.

"I, Roko, have never been threatened by anyone."

"The western blockade, I will solve it myself."

"No need for you to point fingers here."

"From now on, whoever dares to spread rumors in my territory and shake the morale of the army."

"Don't blame me for not remembering the friendship of the alliance."

"Last time, I killed a hundred people."

"Next time, I don't know how many it will be."

Having said that, he ignored these ashen-faced nobles and walked straight out of the study.

He was going to the city to welcome his true allies.

Bake and Zewen should be arriving soon.

Sunset Province, Governor's Mansion.

Marquis Archibald was pacing back and forth in the study in frustration.

His face, which was always majestic, was covered with clouds at this moment.

The trade blockade order had been issued for almost half a month.

However, the development of the matter was completely beyond his expectations.

That Roko, who in his eyes was just a remote small Lord, not only didn't send anyone to beg for mercy and request reconciliation as he imagined.

Instead, there was no movement at all. **CHAPTER 165**