Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1363: 441: Three Surprises, Four Feudal Class Structures, Lesson 1_2

Capítulo 1363: Chapter 441: Three Surprises, Four Feudal Class Structures, Lesson 1_2

Xia Hong gave a slight shake of his head. It wasn't regret, as where there's gain, there must be loss. He had already foreseen all of this when he chose to fabricate a grand background and powerful backing for himself in Evergreen Valley. After all, no matter how crucial intelligence gathering was, it couldn't compare to his own personal safety.

Though direct inquiry was impossible, he could still infer aspects of Cai Qiu from peripheral details, for instance, the prices of Dan Medicine, seeing the whole picture from a single glance.

“Washing Marrow Pill, I procured a total of 10 pills, unit price 250,000 taels; Bone Burning Pill, only 1 pill, unit price 490,000 taels; Top-grade Bone Shedding Pill, 20 pills, unit price 200,000 taels. From the prices of these three types of Dan Medicine alone, one can deduce that Cai Qiu’s price level is, with high probability, comparable to Great Xia, not significantly different. Now, this is quite interesting…”

Great Xia currently boasts a total territory exceeding 23,000 square kilometers, with a population of 2.8 million;

Whereas Cai Qiu, based on Xia Hong’s current findings, commands a territory of 150,000 square kilometers. Even underestimating slightly, that's approximately 6.5 times Great Xia's territory. Its population surpasses 18 million, which also aligns roughly with a 6.5-fold multiple.

If calculated this way, the notion of both sides possessing comparable price levels seems plausible.

However, upon closer reflection, it becomes apparent that this is far from the truth.

Xia Hong resided in Evergreen Valley for over four months. During this period, he not only engaged in hunting but also dedicated time to observing the conditions of numerous village-level camps. Without exaggeration, in terms of living standards, Evergreen Valley, if placed within Nine Towns’ jurisdiction, would undoubtedly rank in the upper-middle tier.

Setting aside population quality, Xia Hong even believes that, excluding Great Xia, the conditions in the other Eight Towns are all inferior to Evergreen Valley.

And Evergreen Valley is merely the region Cai Qiu is least inclined to concern itself with.

From this, it can be inferred that Cai Qiu’s resource endowment significantly surpasses that of Great Xia—a 6.5-fold estimate is certainly conservative.

Secondly, resource endowment is but one facet. More critically, the ability to acquire resources, which is directly proportional to the population size, plays a vital role.

A larger population naturally allows for the acquisition of more resources. Simultaneously, due to the substantial population base, a greater number of powerhouses emerge, and consequently, the high-level and even top-tier resources they can secure naturally increase. This is quite straightforward to comprehend.

This leads to a crucial question: how can a Cai Qiu Feudal Town, possessing superior resource endowment, a larger population, and higher average Cultivation, ultimately exhibit an overall price level identical to Great Xia?

“This Six-class System must be fundamentally flawed. With a high probability, the population distribution across the six classes is severely imbalanced, resulting in inequitable resource distribution, completely blocked advancement pathways for the lower classes, and immense squandering of both manpower and material resources…

Recalling his experiences and observations in Evergreen Valley over four months, coupled with his rough assessments after entering the city, Xia Hong immediately pinpointed the ailments plaguing Cai Qiu.

Setting aside other matters for the moment, utilizing cultivators at the Cold Resistance Level as rickshaw pullers is an act simply unimaginable within the Nine Towns Territory.

That particular carriage in which Miss Mengya was traveling was actually supported by no fewer than 30 porters at the Cold Resistance Level. Even if all 30 were merely ordinary cultivators at that level, it still represented an incredibly staggering waste of human potential.

Within Evergreen Valley's population exceeding one million, those who could achieve Civilian Status or higher, recognized as proper individuals, numbered fewer than six thousand. According to the Hu Brothers, the remaining individuals at the Cold Resistance Level were either of lowly status, Slave Status, or unregistered individuals, who were simply not included in Cai Qiu’s official statistics.

“Only those who have undergone registration are formally integrated into Cai Qiu’s governance framework. The core issue lies in the fact that the last two tiers within this Six-class System can barely be considered fully human.

Individuals with Civilian Status are permitted to hunt and gather freely, required only to submit thirty percent of all their earnings; the remainder is entirely theirs to dispose of, whether for sale or barter. Advancing one level to Military Status offers even more favorable terms, demanding only a twenty percent submission.

Individuals relegated to Slave Status are forbidden from solo hunting or foraging; they must accompany their designated master's household, with all their acquisitions belonging to said household. Nevertheless, by customary unwritten agreement, the master's household typically bestows thirty percent of the bounty upon them.

Those classified under lowly status endure an even more dire existence. Permission to hunt and gather is granted only when they are engaged by others. Any private endeavors, while potentially undiscovered, carry severe penalties upon detection: not only are all collected materials forfeit, but imprisonment also awaits.

Despite these harsh realities, individuals still opt for lowly or Slave Status, a testament to the fact that the oppression faced without any defined status is considerably more brutal.

In essence, Cai Qiu's governance operates on two primary pillars:

Firstly, the extensive commodification of silver. The silver trade within Cai Qiu is remarkably advanced. Every facet of life, from Cultivation Resources and labor acquisition to sustenance, attire, shelter, and transportation, is quantified in silver. It is virtually impossible to navigate daily life without it. Furthermore, the Feudal Town maintains absolute control over all Silver Mines within its dominion, imposing the death penalty, including the extermination of one's entire clan, for any unsanctioned mining activities.

Secondly, the stringent control over Cultivation Resources. Any resource pertinent to Cultivation, applicable to Cold Resistance Level and above—such as Dan Medicine and Spiritual Wine—can solely be procured from the Treasure Pavilion located in each city. Even the Spirit Plants essential for refining these Dan Medicines are prohibited from appearing on the open market. Unauthorized private refining incurs the same capital punishment of clan extermination as trading with external parties…

The Ice Abyss has perpetually operated on the principle of might makes right. This fundamental ethos has long dictated that any encampment would inevitably witness the strong preying upon the weak. Great Xia is no exception to this rule.

Cai Qiu's implementation of the Six-class System is not inherently egregious. Consider, for instance, Slave Status: when Great Xia first instituted the Household Registration System, Xia Hong had already contemplated such a classification and nearly enacted it.

The most crucial element of this Six-class System lies in the precise management of population distribution across each stratum. The optimal configuration resembles an ellipsoidal structure: the apex and the base populations are kept minimal and equal, while a substantial populace is maintained within the middle tiers of Military Status and Civilian Status, as these two categories form the foundational bedrock of society.