The Path to Lordship Begins in the North

Judith was less of a provocation and more of a training exercise.

When you are powerful enough, your neighbors become extremely sensitive, and that's the situation on the southwestern border right now.

In fact, it is also difficult for Judith to attack Anjou. The southwestern border is currently mainly for defense, and some of Lind's main forces are still in the northern and central regions keeping an eye on the demons in the eastern border. It is difficult for them to concentrate their forces to launch a war of annihilation.

Moreover, Anjou's strategic depth makes it difficult for armored blitzkrieg to be effective. Even if it succeeds, the enemy currently has many high-level professionals who can launch a counterattack.

So with a little thought, it becomes clear that Capel is unlikely to launch a large-scale attack right now, but this is only from Judith's perspective.

Judith isn't in a hurry, because Lind's requirements for her are simple: to teach these soldiers the basic soldier's code of conduct and to ingrain those procedures into their very being.

In addition, they provided these soldiers with cultural lessons and dispatched some clerks to do ideological work with them.

These actions were essentially digging up the Southwest Border Army, turning it into the kingdom's army in a true sense. However, Judith had no objections. After all, with the noble laws gradually being implemented in the capital, Judith and Scott, due to their merits and status, were able to retain the power to lead troops, a position that was already unattainable for all nobles.

If Judith is to say what preparations she is currently making for war besides training troops, it is intelligence gathering.

War is war, and business is business. Even if both sides are fighting to the point of brain damage, it won't affect the merchants on both sides from continuing their trade. Besides, in Judith's opinion, this is nothing yet, and they are still far from having their brains blown out.

Merchants on both sides were also tasked with gathering intelligence, though both sides kept this a secret.

Herbert was a merchant who was sent to Anjou to gather intelligence.

"In other words, Mr. Herbert, you were once a nobleman in the North."

The voice of the Anjou factory owner who was talking to Herbert was somewhat shrill and harsh, like a duck being choked. In addition, the factory owner's appearance was not very good. He was wearing an old black coat with worn-out cuffs and collar, and even the small round glasses on his nose had blurry and yellowed glass.

It's hard to imagine that this is a factory owner who controls several large factories.

"Yes, my brother once wanted to bring his Milan pearl on the carriage, but that saintess threw it away in order to take more commoners."

Herbert spoke with great emotion, slamming his fist on the table, his eyes seemingly reminiscing about the large pearl.

Upon hearing Herbert's description, the factory owner couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment, "Such a large pearl, just thrown away like that?"

"Yes, we had no other choice but to come out and make a living."

Herbert sighed deeply. By this time, the factory owner completely believed Herbert's words. According to the description, even if he sold all the workers in the factory, he still wouldn't be able to get that big pearl. And this pearl was just a small thing that had been abandoned during the escape.

"This is absolutely outrageous! You left behind so much, and all you got in return was a tattered piece of cloth from the saintess's cloak!"

The factory owner then slammed his fist on the already rickety table one last time.

"Yes, how can anyone live in a country like this?"

Herbert kept sighing, and whenever the topic came up, he could only suppress his smile by sighing or even crying.

Thanks to that tattered cloth, Herbert's family not only preserved some of their assets and power during the later reforms targeting the nobility, but also entered the administrative system more smoothly than other nobles.

Even the nobles of the capital who once regarded the Herbert family as nouveau riche peasants now have to bow respectfully to Herbert.

Even if Herbert had to choose ten thousand times, knowing the outcome already, he would only kick that nonsensical pearl aside.

Some ill-gotten gains brought back a thousandfold return, and Herbert would wake up laughing in his dreams. Now he has to keep mentioning it to people in Anjou, and Herbert is already doing his best to suppress his laughter.

Hearing the coughing sounds coming from Herbert's throat, the factory owner thought that Herbert was recalling sad memories and was about to cry, so he comforted him, "Alright, Sir Herbert, let's not talk about these things now."

Herbert felt as if he had been granted a pardon and barely managed to suppress his laughter.

"Let's get down to business, Sir Herbert."

Upon hearing this, Herbert knew that his acting skills had been recognized by the other party.

The two then left the small room and strolled around the factory owner's factory while discussing business.

The factory was quite dark inside, with no lights on. A factory like this would have to be shut down for rectification in the North.

Just as the factory owner was about to discuss business, he noticed Herbert's hesitant look and asked, "Sir Herbert, is there a problem with this factory?"

"It's so dark. What if the workers can't see clearly and get caught in the machinery?"

"Yes, this is indeed quite troublesome, but don't worry, we have the most professional repairmen who can fix the equipment quickly."

"And what about the workers?"

"Who cares? We can just bring in new workers. Anjou has no shortage of people right now. Sir Herbert, let's get down to business."

Herbert then realized that Anjou's system was completely different from that of the North. It was obvious that Anjou's system was much more efficient, but Herbert still felt that something was wrong. After sighing, Herbert said, "Alright, let's get down to business."

"Is it true that you were able to obtain some special goods, even military equipment, from Capet, as you said before?"

The factory owner's small eyes gleamed through his slightly yellowed glasses.

"That's right, as long as the price is right, but I can't handle those big items."

The factory owner hadn't been expecting any large items, but instead asked, "What about the cannons and ray guns?"

At the same time, the factory owner added quietly, "I want to do it on a large scale."

There was an abundance of that old-style equipment, as one might ask. Why? Because Herbert was acting on orders to smuggle and generate foreign exchange revenue.

However, Herbert still asked with great curiosity, "What are you going to do with such a large scale? Are you trying to get these workers to rebel with you?"

"No, no, no, of course not me, Sir Herbert. If you can provide the necessary information, I can arrange for you to meet a very important person. These are all things he needs. We're just making a little money by connecting you with him."

Herbert felt his heart skip a beat; the big one was coming.

But Herbert remained quite restrained, saying, "I'll try my best, but you should know that this equipment isn't easy to come by."

"that's enough."

The factory owner flashed a set of yellow teeth and nodded enthusiastically.

Soon after, Herbert met the person behind the factory owner.

"It is an honor to meet you, Sir Herbert. I have already heard about your situation from my men."

Caron extended his hand to greet Herbert.