Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1224 - 409: The Dilemma of Two Towns, the Longyou Model, Golden Order Prison Warden, Lin Kai’s Reminder
Previously on Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely...
"I originally figured it would take thirty percent, but unexpectedly, we managed to cut some costs, hahaha!"
Once Xiahou Zhang and Murong Chui had been escorted away, Qiu Peng's fury evaporated in an instant. He whirled back toward the hall, glancing up at Xia Chuan with a broad smile lighting up his features.
Out of the over six hundred individuals filling the hall earlier, now only a bit more than thirty lingered behind.
Qiu Peng's remark hit home, and the group grasped that his outburst had been mere theater, prompting relieved grins all around.
"It's a venture brimming with massive gains; even a mere half percent slice would line their pockets handsomely. Without the seamless integration of these two towns ahead, why would the Lord ever extend such generosity? Fingers crossed those two fellows catch on once they're back!"
Xia Chuan's statement drew a vigorous nod from Qiu Peng, his tone quivering faintly as he added, "Per the Lord's blueprint, should these two towns consent to unification, absorption into our mighty Great Xia is only a question of when!"
Excitement rippled through the hall at those words, igniting the assembly.
The more hot-blooded Yuan Cheng surged with adrenaline briefly, then a thought struck him, prompting him to eye Xia Chuan and inquire, "Swallowing up Muyin Jiangxia is settled, no doubt, but the remaining Six Towns? Minister, surely the Lord has strategies lined up for those Six Towns too?"
Without question!
Yuan Cheng's query pulled Xia Chuan's mind back to prior exchanges with Xia Hong. He scanned the faces in the hall and murmured in response, "Longyou Model."
Longyou Model...
Yuwen Dao, Qiu Peng, Yuan Cheng, Li Tiancheng, along with the other thirty-plus souls present, heard those four syllables and promptly bowed their heads, sinking into contemplation.
Li Tiancheng snapped out of it quickest; lifting his gaze to Xia Chuan, he probed, "Is the Lord aiming to replicate the Longyou era, rallying the Six Towns under the guise of united defense against invaders, positioning Great Xia as the dominant force in Moao South Slope akin to Long Mountain's role back then?"
Hailing from Long Mountain himself, and having played a key part in executing the Longyou Model, Li Tiancheng instantly decoded the essence of Xia Hong's succinct phrase.
His insight sparked clarity for the rest, and understanding dawned across the group in a flash.
Yuwen Dao bobbed his head emphatically in support, declaring, "The call to stand together against outer threats never loses its pull; in today's Moao South Slope Territory, it rings even truer than in the Longyou days of old."
"Cough, cough..."
Li Tiancheng flushed a bit at Yuwen Dao's implication and cleared his throat with a couple of soft coughs.
He knew full well the subtext: during Long Mountain's push against supposed external foes, Longyou faced no real peril, yet eleven major camps still fell in line without resistance;
Contrast that with the current Moao South Slope Territory, where true powerhouses from the Outer Domain eye this land hungrily. If the Six Towns recognize the danger, Great Xia's banner of joint resistance ought to sail smoothly.
On top of that, the Six Towns likely know of Cai Qiu Feudal Town already.
Great Xia's presence in the Nine Towns Territory spans just five years, yet they've sniffed out traces of Cai Qiu Feudal Town's schemes. How could the entrenched Six Towns, with decades under their belt, remain oblivious to Cai Qiu?
"Cai Qiu Feudal Town lurks in shadows for now, unexposed. Launching a direct assault to claim the Six Towns might rouse them prematurely. Victory could slip away even if we prevail. The Lord's choice to inch closer via the Longyou Model proves shrewd!"
Xu Ning delved deeper into the strategy, and his words hushed the room, gradually unveiling expressions of astonishment among the listeners.
"True enough, we've only nabbed a Cai Qiu figure thus far. Heaven knows what greater threats hide in the wings? Haste could backfire, sparking renewed unity among the Six Towns through chaotic infighting that hands the win to outsiders."
"The Lord mentioned today's Hongmen City fiasco as a setup to incite rifts in the Nine Towns of Southern Slope. I'm starting to wonder if Cai Qiu Feudal Town pulled the strings!"
Lin Kai's speculation sent a flicker of intrigue through Xia Chuan's eyes.
"This wave of relocation in Bashang wraps up by month's end. At that point, Xia City's populace will balloon past 2.5 million. Blending in that influx demands time, especially with Jiangxia and Muyin towns on the horizon, so no need to hasten on the Six Towns front.
With Cai Qiu Feudal Town up north, the Northern Three Towns serve as a buffer in our favor. Our immediate goal: forge a pact across the Nine Towns, starting by binding the Six Towns, blocking any pivot toward Cai Qiu or other Outer Domain powers!"
"Spot on!"
"That's the core reason the Lord floated the Longyou Model."
"Ah, it clicks now."
......
Xia Chuan's concluding explanation unveiled the profound intent behind Xia Hong's Longyou Model proposal for the entire group.
"Thus, our immediate task: broadcast the Cai Qiu Feudal Town affair far and wide, stirring vigilance across Moao Mountain's South Slope—ideally, outright animosity—so we can muster against outer foes. Through pressure or appeal, we roll out the Nine Towns' alliance, ensuring not one strays to Outer Domain influences!"
Yuwen Dao laid out the forthcoming action plainly.
Anticipation gleamed on every face in the crowd.
"Haven't we got the perfect hook for that?"
Xu Ning piped up abruptly. The others hesitated at first, but as his eyes shifted to Yuan Cheng, Yuwen Dao, and Qiu Peng, realization bloomed, joy etching their expressions.
"Right on the mark!"
"We can shift the blame for those Three Towns Chamber of Commerce fatalities straight to Cai Qiu!"
"Yang Zhun voiced his own doubts today about hidden agitators sowing discord in the Nine Towns; slapping this on Cai Qiu slots in seamlessly."
