Everyone in the Mountain Confederation and his party suffered real hardships.

Not to mention the physical exertion caused by climbing uphill, there are many steep roads along the way. Most of the roads can only be passed by one horse. Seventy or eighty packhorses and green mules plus thirty or so accompanying riding horses will

The team formed a formation without the leader.

Fortunately, the government applied for some heavy troops from the legion's baggage team to accompany them, and there were several "locals" who directed them back and forth, so there was no major danger to the entire team. However, the death or injury of one or two horses was unavoidable.

After five days of arduous trek, the huge team finally arrived at a slightly flatter area in the mountainous area.

Here, everyone slowly realized the beauty of the mountains after the ruggedness.

In the past five days, the team basically spent their time sleeping and sleeping in mountain cols and wastelands. It was not completely deserted along the way, but there was really no land to support people in those barren mountains and rivers, and the occasional "villages" that could be seen were only three or five thatched houses.

A small settlement made up of wooden shacks. When the poor people saw this huge team, they were so scared that they hid in their houses and did not dare to come out.

Although these simple mountain people showed great enthusiasm after strangers presented them with peaceful and friendly gifts, the few thatched houses that could only accommodate a broken bed could not provide shelter for the huge team from the wind and snow.

What's more, there are cattle, sheep and livestock sleeping together with the mountain people in that house.

After crossing a pass that was still covered with thick snow, the flat land in the mountain valley finally appeared in everyone's eyes.

The canyon flatland is located between two mountains. The white snow is dotted on the grass that has begun to turn green. Cattle and sheep are scattered in groups on the grass, greedily eating the young grass shoots that have just sprouted.

A small town is embedded in the canyon flatland. Wisps of green smoke rise from the gray and white houses in the town and float until they are at the same height as the snow line of the ridge and turn into floating clouds.

Atlema stopped and savored the spring scenery under the snow-capped mountains.

"Romon, this is your hometown? It's pretty good." Art said to the man walking behind him.

Romon was the mountain mercenary captain who had just joined the Wells Legion. This time Art visited the Mountain Confederacy and specially brought him with him.

Romon said in a common language with a strong mountain flavor: "Your Majesty, if I lived here, I wouldn't take my guys to go out into the mountains to work as mercenaries. Our community tribe is still here.

There is no flat land or herds of cattle and sheep in the mountains a day's journey away."

"This town is called Warrobe. It is a free town and belongs to the state of Bern. One day's journey east from Warrobe you can reach the city of Yver on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, which is a good place."

"I know the head of Yver City. Since the winter of last year, with the authorization of the Ministry of Commerce of the Government, I have established some trade relations with Yver City. They carry wool, cheese, and nuts and dried goods from the mountains.

Go to Andermatt Castle to exchange grain, cloth, spices and all the goods that are in short supply in the mountainous area." Antayas patted his horse and came to Art's side at some point.

Romon nodded, "Yes, Lord Antayas. Since we broke with the Habsburgs sixteen years ago, trade channels have been shrinking every year. Starting from the year before last, our Mountain Confederacy began to fight back, but the Habsburgs

The fort blocked the trade routes from the east into the mountains, so the lords in the mountains and the various autonomous states had to find new sources of trade."

While a few people were chatting, the team behind them also followed.

"Antyas, pass the order, the team will rest here tonight." Art lightly kicked the horse's belly and walked towards the town...

............

In the Mountain Confederation, since the "Permanent Alliance" rose up against the Habsburgs, nobles like "counts" have become rare big shots, especially since this "big shot" also carried a cargo of seventy or eighty pack horses.

Therefore, after the outpost reported the personal visit of the Earl of Wells from the Burgundian kingdom, the mayor of Vallob came up with the specifications for receiving the royal family to entertain Art.

Walob is said to be a town, but if placed in a plain area, it can only be regarded as a village fortress. There are more than 40 wooden houses scattered with a few stone houses, and there are less than 200 townspeople almost crowded.

Fills all the space.

There is a small courtyard in the center of the town, which is not only the mayor's residence but also the only hotel in the entire town of Warrob.

The town is too small, so most people can only set up tents in the small square in the town. However, the townspeople here are very enthusiastic. After paying a small amount of food and cloth, each household lights a fire to cook and cook.

All the cheese and dried meat that the family was reluctant to eat were turned into food to entertain distinguished guests from outside the mountains.

Of course, Art, Ron, Antayas and a few people with some status were personally entertained by the mayor.

The mayor is an elderly man. His slightly bloated figure shows that his family is not poor. In fact, his family was once the tribal leader here. There are few nobles in the Mountain Confederation, so the mayor is actually the local lord.

The mayor's residence is not very big. It consists of a three-story stone building in a wooden fence, with several stone houses on the left and right. There are also a row of stables, animal sheds and servants' huts on the outside.

The ground floor of the three-story stone building in the center and the houses on both sides are naturally hotels. The mayor, his two wives and five children live on the second floor and above.

Art later learned that tribal customs were still maintained in some parts of the Mountain Confederation, so it was not uncommon for a man to have multiple wives.

When a distinguished guest comes to visit, the host will naturally provide warm hospitality.

The mayor vacated the second floor of the stone house where the family lived, and arranged for Art, Ron, and Antayas to live there, as well as two deputy ministers of government affairs, two knightly guards from the Earl's Guard, and Antayas.

The chief guard was also politely arranged to stay in the stone houses on both sides of the main house.

Walking on the mountain road for five consecutive days and sleeping in the open was really hard, so Art asked Ron to settle the team in person, while he fell into the mayor's not-so-luxurious bedroom and slept soundly.

In the evening, Art, who had had enough sleep, was personally invited by the mayor to attend a banquet in the hall on the first floor. In addition to the mayor, there were also several prominent figures in the town accompanying him.

The mountains are poor, and although Warrob's conditions are slightly better, the mayor's enthusiasm can only encourage the distinguished guests to eat more meat and drink more glasses of good wine.

Of course, although the drinks here are not as good as the beer produced in Wales and the wine from Bordeaux, the cattle and sheep raised in the mountains drinking snow water are indeed extremely delicious.

The people in the mountainous area are simple and honest, but Art did not regard the people here as fools. For this sumptuous reception, Art gave valuable goods worth three thousand pfennigs to the mayor and allowed the town of Warob to be included.

Trading partner of Continental Trading Company.

After repairing for a while in Warrob, the team set off again the next morning.

According to Art's plan, the team was divided into two parts. An official from the government took fifty packhorses carrying food, accompanied by Romon, and visited various tribes, including Romon's hometown.

While sending half of the food to trade, they also promoted the Wells Province's recruitment policy and recruited high-quality mountain people to join the Wells Army.
Chapter completed!