In the blink of an eye, storm clouds brewed overhead. The nearly two-decade-old Keep Achieving Comrcial Firm was facing its biggest crisis yet.
However, this recent oppression against the Qian and Wang families seed only to be the tip of the iceberg.
anwhile,
In the northwest of Qing An Prefecture, near the Southern Desert, a trade route that had existed for almost three thousand years, known as the "Qingbei Corridor", stretched out.
Due to the mountainous landscape within the Da Qian Realm, the terrain of Qing An Prefecture was relatively flat, making it ideal for large-scale goods transportation. Coupled with its shorter distance, the trading caravans from the three counties of Liaoyuan, Lingbei, and Longzuo would usually take this "Qingbei Corridor" when heading to the National Capital.
The Qian family's caravans from Longzuo were no exception.
Over the years, the Qian family's caravans had traversed this route countless tis, making them exceedingly familiar with it.
Qian Zhong was a manager in the Qian family's trading firm. Over the years, he had been in charge of the Qingbei Corridor transportation route.
He would make several round trips between the National Capital and Longzuo every year.
After all these years of travel, he too was imnsely familiar with every aspect of this route.
He had a clear understanding of when to set off, what speed to maintain, and how long it would take to find rest stops during their trade trips. His ti estimations were always impeccably accurate, never deviating by more than two hours.
On this day, as per usual, he carefully tid their departure with the caravan to leave the town in the early afternoon. This way, they would be able to reach the relay station at the National Capital by dusk to rest.
The Qian family had been operating their trading firm for many years, with transportation being one of their primary services. Their business encompassed the transport of crude iron from the Southern Desert to iron-deficient Longzuo, part of the grain transport for the Zuoqiu family of Qingan, and shipping Wang Ning Wang family's foreign glass and other commodities to the National Capital.
Accordingly, the Qian family's transportation-related production chain had beco quite mature. They had warehouses in various counties for hoarding and transferring goods and had significantly advanced in the crucial aspect of transportation tools.
The Qian family used specifically purchased northern buffaloes for their long-distance cart transportation. These buffaloes were larger, stronger, and quicker than their southern counterparts.
The cart compartnts were also specially modified. They were fully enclosed with locks to shield against rain and wind and even had so ability to defend against an unexpected fierce beast attack, greatly increasing the chances of preserving the goods.
In the front half of the cart, near the driving area, a small separate room was specifically designed.
This small room was separated from the rear compartnt, and could only be accessed from the front. It contained two beds, allowing for the rotation of the drivers. Occasionally, it could also accommodate people in case of outdoor stays.
The modified goods cart, not only convenient, but its cargo capacity was also 1.5 to 2 tis that of regular ox carts. This significantly enhanced the Qian family's trade firm's transport capacity while also reducing losses or damages during transport.
Transport capacity and credibility were at the heart of the Qian family's trading firm's foundation.
Precisely because of their excellent transportation capabilities and their tiliness and quality assurance reputation developed over the years, did other prominent families trust them with their goods transport.
However, today, there was an issue on this normally smooth route.
"What's the matter up ahead? Go and ask."
Seeing the traffic jam ahead, Qian Zhong sensed that sothing was amiss and ordered his fellow worker to check it out.
The worker imdiately climbed down from the ox cart, borrowed a horse from a guard, and hurriedly rode towards the queue's front.
Although this convoy was only one of many belonging to the Qian family's business, it was by no ans small. It comprised forty-eight ox carts and personal guards, stretching almost two miles long.
Although Qian Zhong possessed the powers of the Spirit Platform Realm, he was unable to see or hear what was happening almost a mile away from his central position, hence leaving him rather puzzled.
After a while, the worker galloped back, a look of concern on his face, "Uncle Zhong, the road ahead is blocked by an obstacle with the Qing An Prefecture's soldiers on guard. They claid they are repairing the road and have temporarily suspended its use."
"Repairing the road?" Qian Zhong was puzzled, "The Qingbei Corridor has been used for so many years that the compacted earth is harder than any official road. Why would it need repairs? Also, I've never heard of Qing An Prefecture repairing this road over the years."
For so reason, Qian Zhong had an ominous feeling.
"Uncle Zhong, what should we do now?" The worker asked, "Should we rest here while waiting for the road to be repaired?"
"No," Qian Zhong shook his head, "Apart from the usual north-south mixed goods, a considerable portion of this shipnt consists of foreign glass products that the Tiangong Workshop custom-made for the Wang family. I had made an agreent with the Tiangong Workshop's Shopkeeper earlier, the goods must be delivered within a month at the latest. We can't afford any more delays."
The Wang family had completed the custom-made foreign glass products two months ago and handed them over to the Qian family. The Qian family had ample ti for transport. If they still missed the delivery ti, it would be the Qian family's liability, and they would inevitably have to pay substantial penalties for breach of contract.
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