You can generate as much resources as a long distance trade route does with a short distance, like 2 buildings away, trade route by clicking on the caravans and clicking a certain way. I believe it's shift clicking a distant spot, then they carry as much resources as if they were traveling that far. I haven't done it myself so I forgot how exactly to do it, but a man who ruined our game by exploiting this trick on the migratation map showed me it.
This trick nullifies the need to mine gold, mine stone, chop wood, or make farms
Thank you