The eastern barrier of the glorious empire, within the Huaishui Pass.

This is the first pass in the empire, and its geographical location is extremely important. In addition, the existence of this aggressive evil neighbor in the east makes the role of Huaishui Pass more prominent.

Now that the two countries are at war and the war has officially begun, the tiger and wolf army of the Riga Empire has not been able to set foot in the hinterland of the glorious empire for half a step, and it is precisely because of the protection of this Xiongguan that it is relied on.

In view of this, the empire has always spared no effort in repairing, maintaining, reinforcing and expanding the Huaishui Pass, and has never stopped. Even the various living facilities of the garrison soldiers outside of combat and training are constantly being improved. The actual area of Huaishui Pass is spreading and expanding into the interior of the empire.

Therefore, although Huaishui Pass is said to be a pass, it is not inferior to the medium-sized cities in the glorious empire in terms of its size and permanent population.

In the most central location of Huaishui Pass, there is a building complex with the highest area and the highest premises. Judging from that scale, it is obviously not something that ordinary people can afford.

In the end, this place is close to the border, and it is often harassed by the Riga Emperor's ** team, and the big and small wars are never interrupted, and the rich and powerful nobles are naturally not very happy to place the mansion in this dangerous place.

Judging from the rough, simple, and chiseled style of those buildings, it is true that they do not match the preferences of the aristocracy. The solemnity exuded by the entire complex, and the dull and murderous atmosphere, are more like a military institution.

This is the government of Huaishui Pass, and it is also the highest administrative command center of the Huaishui Pass garrison.

If there is no war in peacetime, it is usually a general under the command of Grand Duke Mattesias who is stationed here to command. Now that the Riga Empire army is coming, the owner of the government here has of course been replaced by the Duke.

On the top floor of the tallest building, in the spacious hall where you could clearly see the battle situation on the front line at Huaishui Pass, Grand Duke Mattesias, who had reached the age of sixties, was writing a letter on the case.

On the large long table, there were two stacks of official documents on the right-hand side, each more than a foot high. But to the left hand side of the Duke, there are two other piles of official documents waiting to be reviewed.

After writing down instructions for the processing of a document again, the Grand Duke breathed a sigh of relief, put down what he was holding, and stood up with his neck twisted.

A middle-aged man next to him brought a cup of hot tea at the right time.

Grand Duke Mattesias took the teacup, took a big sip, and slowly paced to the window.

Outside the window, it is the direction of the Huaishui Pass city wall.

"What's going on with the people of Riga?"

The middle-aged man immediately replied: "Earlier, I gathered the army and lined up the array, looking like I was planning to attack the city. It turned out to be just a show, a bluff, and the troops in the formation soon dispersed and returned to their camps. ”

"Oh." Grand Duke Mattesias nodded.

He did hear the sound of a gathering horn from the front of the gate just now.

In recent times, the pace of the offensive on the part of the Riga Empire has slowed down considerably, and the size of the troops invested has also been greatly reduced. Even those soldiers were far less brave and ruthless than before, and they were cautious, taking self-preservation as the first priority.

In that situation, it was as if the entire invading army, from top to bottom, regarded the attack on Huaishui Pass as a coping errand.

It's kind of funny.

As the active attacker, to fight or not to fight, the initiative is in the hands of the Riga Empire. There's really no need to waste time and energy on such superficial work.

But Grand Duke Mattesias knew the enemy why.

They are waiting.

Without the sudden mutiny of Taranto, General Dino could only storm Huaishui Pass. There is no other way out. Since there is a problem within the glorious empire, and there is a possibility that there is no need to smash the turtle shell of Huaishui Pass, the Riga people are naturally happy to retain their strength and sit back and watch the enemy fight among themselves.

This kind of transformation is not only because of Taranto's rebellion, but also because of the bloody battles of the soldiers of Huaishui Pass, and the attention of the enemy in exchange for swords and flesh and blood.

And respect!

This fierce army of people everywhere recognizes their strength.

This is the highest standard of honor!

In this regard, the Grand Duke was helpless.

You can't open the city gates, take the initiative, and start a field battle with the enemy, right?

He has long passed the age when he ignores the upsurge of blood, and he will not really think that the army in his hand is enough to confront the enemy head-on just because he has blocked the attack of the Riga.

If it weren't for the advantages of the city wall, and the enthusiasm of the young men alone, would they be able to make up for the shortcomings and disadvantages of experience, training, and command, and repel the enemy's attacks again and again?

But the Duke doesn't need to do anything. As long as he doesn't let the doglegs of the Riga people step into the Huaishui Pass for half a step, he will complete the task.

As for counterinsurgency, it can only be handed over to the old guys, and he no longer has the ability to distract him.

Didn't you see that the cunning Dino dwarf didn't plan to break through the barrier, but he still had to attack frequently. He just wanted to crucify the Grand Duke's forces and the troops mobilized by the other provinces here, so that they could not put down the rebellion with all their might.

This national battle has developed to the present, and the main battlefield has quietly shifted from the front of Huaishui Pass to the side of Taranto.

"Although it is a false alarm, it is still necessary to let the boys not relax. Regardless of whether the other party really fights or not, they must all be ready for battle. Didn't the Riga people practice drills, and we also practiced with them. It's time to add a training program, who is afraid of whom. ”

Grand Duke Mattesias looked at the camp of the Riga, and gave the order with arrogance.

"Yes!" The middle-aged man bowed down to receive the order.

The Grand Duke withdrew his gaze and sat down at the long table.

"What is the conclusion of the staff on the Taranto side?"

After all, it is within the territory of the glorious empire, and the channels for the transmission of information are unimpeded. The latest movements of the Aberdeen army in Taranto can be transmitted to the high-level of the imperial capital and various provinces at any time.

The counterinsurgency army marched all the way, was forced to retreat by the siege of Wei and Zhao by Taranto, and then to the brief confrontation between the leaders of the two sides on the edge of the Hengyuan Grand Canyon, all of which were brought together from formal or informal channels and placed on the desk of Grand Duke Mattesias.

The Duke turned around and threw the information to the Duke's Palace's staff, asking them to study the plans and objectives of the Taranto rebels and deduce the further trend of the battle.

Even if you can't directly send troops to help, it's better to have a preparation in advance than to be in a hurry and unable to deal with something when something suddenly happens.

"Well, not yet." The middle-aged man hesitated slightly, but still gave a negative answer.

In fact, it is not that there are no conclusions, on the contrary, there are too many conclusions, but no one can convince anyone. Such a result is actually no different from no result.

"Okay, let them hurry." The Duke shook his head.

He was not dissatisfied with the work of the staff group.

One squatted outside the door, and another came in the house. Of the six famous generals of the Riga Empire, two of them are accounted for here. There are tigers in front and wolves in the back, and I have a headache.

"Huh~" The middle-aged man looked out the window, "Lord Duke, the people of the Hilton family are here." ”

"Well, please ask them to come up." The Grand Duke nodded, and seized the time to continue to deal with the mountain of case files.

……

"Young owner! Less proprietors! ”

"Young owner, you're here again!"

"Young owner, you are so handsome today......"

“……”

Irving? Riding on a snow-white horse, Hilton and the Hilton family's convoy slowly walked through the heavily guarded checkpoint on the main road of the inner city.

The officers and men guarding the checkpoint are all old acquaintances, and although they are strict and careful, their expressions on their faces are very relaxed.

When the residents on both sides of the road saw the convoy, they were extremely enthusiastic and kept greeting and greeting Owen. There are even some bold girls who directly say "**".

Owen smiled and waved as he continued to direct the convoy towards the Huaishui Guanfu. The friendliness and enthusiasm of the soldiers and civilians in Huaishui Pass made him feel a trance in his heart.

In just over a year, the changes that have taken place in him have not only surprised his patriarch father and some people who are familiar with him, but even he himself feels a little unreal.

Back then, the young master of the Hilton family took Edinburgh and a group of aristocratic children to chase chickens and dogs all day long, and did not do their job. To put it mildly, it is called Ren Xia and righteousness, but what is actually going on, everyone knows it in their hearts.

Since Hengling's adventure, rescued by Anthony in danger, Owen's life trajectory has taken a huge turn. Not only did he re-engage with the family business, but he gradually gained the approval of his father and family executives. Now, it is slowly taking charge of the business on behalf of the Hilton family and the merchants.

For example, this invitation from the Grand Duke.

And the Hilton family also ushered in a huge opportunity after getting Anthony to join.

In the face of the sudden attack of a group of old nobles in Edinburgh, Anthony not only resolved the biggest crisis in the family's history by virtue of his strong personal strength and a plan far beyond his age, but also took advantage of the situation to completely defeat the Marquis Fontaine family, making the once hostile family fall to Hilton and become a strategic ally of his family.

Since then, the Hilton family has made a second leap forward. The influence on the political level is finally equal to the business status of the family.

When Patriarch Silvio and the rest of the family were still happily consolidating and digesting this huge victory, they definitely did not expect that in a short period of time, another great opportunity would be placed in front of the Hilton family again.

"Patriotic businessmen"!

With the outbreak of the Great War with the Riga Empire, all the big merchants, including the Hilton family, received a letter sent in the name of the royal family.

The meaning of the letter is very simple, that is, I hope that the major merchants with rich families can put the country first and support the foreign wars of the glorious empire from all aspects, and the imperial family and subjects will be grateful to all the "patriotic businessmen" for their hearts to serve the country.

Throughout the article, removing those flowery rhetoric, the core content is that the royal family hopes that the big merchants can have real money and real support, and in return, they will receive the honor of "patriotic businessmen".

The big nobles and big merchants politely sent the royal family out, and when they turned around, they crumpled the letters and threw them into the garbage heap.

In exchange for a fictitious title for the merchant's money?

Your Majesty, this is crazy about money, right?

The thoughts of the top brass of the Hilton family were the same as those of other families at first, but the subsequent words of Patriarch Silvio made everyone's opinion on this matter change radically:

"Mr. Anthony asked me to bring me a message, and he suggested that we take over this 'business.'"

Even though the boy is no longer in Hilton now, he is still nominally a member of the Hilton family. And the weight of this young man's words is still unimaginable.

Thus, the Hilton family became the first and only "patriotic businessman" family at that time.

Of course, becoming a "patriotic businessman" does not mean donating money and property for free, and the royal family will never make such a brainless request. Just keep the profits on the goods a little lower, a little lower, and it will greatly reduce the financial pressure on the empire.

For big merchants, the silver that should have gone into their own pockets was cut off in half or even more than half, which was cutting their flesh, who wants to?

Only the Hiltons are willing.

The Hilton family was involved in a wide range of businesses, including swords, weapons, armor, horses, carriages, tents, food, medicine, clothing, and so on. It can be said that if their scale is a little larger, and the cargo throughput is a little higher, they can completely complete all the logistics supply of an army alone.

And for all these military purchase orders, they only charge the cost price, and they don't charge more than one or two pieces of silver.

Patriarch Silvio is also a bold man, either he doesn't do it, and since he does it, he does it thoroughly.

This move has greatly affected the income of the family business in a short period of time.

This is also to be expected, the number of orders for the army is huge, and the manpower, material resources and funds occupied are also extremely large, and of course they cannot take care of other businesses.

But less than a month later, the situation suddenly took a huge turn.

In the frenzy of "joining the army", "serving the country" and "resisting the invaders" in the empire, there was actually such a rather alternative family among the big merchants who could be used as synonymous with profit-seeking and forgetting righteousness for profit.

They worked hard for the army's logistical supply with pure strength, but they did not earn a penny.

It's so rare!

With the name of the "patriotic businessman" Hilton family resounding throughout the empire, the family business suddenly ushered in a wave of strong rise after a short decline.

On the same street, in the same area, as long as there is a Hilton family store, as long as there are goods you need in the store, you don't need to look at other shops, you can buy here.

Far away?

It doesn't matter, just take a few extra steps.

Not the one you are used to at home?

It doesn't matter, you get used to it.

A little more expensive?

Of course, expensive has valuable value, I don't see that people don't even make a little money from the country for such a big order as the emperor's ** team, will they deliberately cheat us with shoddy silver.

Anyway, the things sold by the Hilton family are good: the low price is the goods are of good quality and low price, and the price is real; The high price is that the goods are of good quality, high grade, and good value for money.

The traffic of the Hilton family store has increased several times or dozens of times.

Because of the large orders received from the army, the family's shops all over the empire have been diverted a lot. Now business has suddenly surged, and the clerks are even more busy and can't tell the difference between east and west, north and south.

But inside the store, and even on the street outside the store, the number of customers waiting in line to come in has not decreased at all. Even if the shops next to them are very empty, even if they have played a big sign with a discount, everyone will not take a second look.

Seeing that the clerks were really busy, some customers had an idea, took out money and put it on the counter, picked up the things on the shelf and turned around and left.

The customers around look around, hey, this method is good!

Everyone followed suit, and they didn't need to wait for the clerk to greet them, and they completed the transaction by themselves.

When you need to make change, the customers don't bother the clerk, and you don't want those changes. Not only that, but some guests even deliberately left double, triple, or more silver.

The Hilton family is willing to give up huge profits in order to support the country's armament, and even other businesses have been greatly affected. Can't we just give a little bit of love to the Hilton family?

In just a few days, all the goods in the Hilton family's stores around the country were in stock and needed to be replenished urgently.

Seeing that the business of the Hilton family was so hot, the eyes of the major aristocratic merchants were red, and the bowels of regret were green.

Patriotic businessman, how can you be without me?

In response to His Majesty's call, major merchants actively joined the ranks of patriotic merchants.

But sometimes, one step earlier or one step later, the gap is like heaven and earth, far apart.

For these later "patriotic businessmen", the people did not buy it: why did they go earlier? Seeing that it was profitable, this swarmed up. Sure enough, except for the Hilton family, all businessmen are a virtuous character.

And with the envoys sent by the imperial capital, they rushed to the Hilton family's mansion with gongs and drums all the way, and sent a certificate of commendation from His Majesty the King himself, which instantly pushed the prestige of the Hilton family to the peak.

In the Empire, who else does not know the name of the Hilton family!

Even more valuable than the prestige of the family is the friendly attitude of the entire imperial public towards the Hilton family. This is an intangible, yet invaluable asset.

For example, everyone called Owen just now.

Generally, the heirs of the rulers of large families or large businesses will be called "young owners" within the family.

Like Owen, wherever he goes, people will affectionately call him "Young Boss", as if everyone is from the Hilton family.

Such treatment, in the entire glorious empire, is unique, and there is no semicolon!