Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1365 - 442: Slave Village, No Way Out, Su Xing’er’s Ingenious Mind
Previously on Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely...
Caiqiu Calendar year 297, January 25, daytime
The South Slope’s Nine Towns were practically an open book to the Four Vassals along the Moao River, especially when compared to the Caiqiu and Chencang Feudal Towns.
Furthermore, the high-ranking officials of the Northern Three Towns maintained robust connections with these two feudal towns.
Xia Hong was aware of these dynamics even before his arrival.
However, his understanding proved to be somewhat underdeveloped.
During his stay in Evergreen Valley, he observed that the yearly calendar employed by Caiqiu and the Nine Towns, aside from the year itself, featured completely identical dates.
The Moao Calendar originated in the Northern Three Towns and was later adopted by the other six towns as trade integration progressed.
It’s natural for settlements to develop at different paces, so minor year variations are expected. While dates might align closely due to coinciding natural cycles or chance occurrences, achieving complete synchronization is quite unusual.
For instance, Great Xia’s calendar differs by four days from that of the Nine Towns, which is a common occurrence. The Caiqiu situation suggests a long-standing influence on the Three Towns.
From this, it can be inferred that the bond between the Three Towns and Caiqiu is far more profound than Xia Hong had initially presumed.
Despite reaching this deduction, the formidable mountains, the vast distance, and the absence of communication channels left Xia Hong with no alternative but to silently commit it to memory, planning to address it upon his return to the Nine Towns Territory.
Similar to his time in Xia City, he initially entered a period of seclusion for cultivation, effectively disengaging from the outside world.
At his residence, Zhou Qing and the other servants, though intrigued by their new master, were bound by their social standing and Xia Hong’s directives, thus refraining from disturbing him in his private chambers. All inquiries were to be directed to Su Jing and the other two senior figures.
This particular situation was rather unusual.
Xia Hong arrived in Qinghua City on the evening of January 18th. Although he assumed the role of the mansion’s master immediately upon arrival, Cai Yunzhou promptly invited him to the City Lord Mansion for a banquet. After which, he retreated to his chambers to commence his seclusion.
Consequently, in the span of seven days, Zhou Qing and the other servants had only seen Xia Hong once, on the night he returned from the banquet.
Fortunately, they did have that one encounter; otherwise, these servants might not have been able to recognize their master, a prospect that would be utterly inconceivable in the rigidly structured Cai Qiu Feudal Town.
"Our new master is exceptionally diligent. So young, yet so formidable, and he still trains with such unwavering dedication. For seven days, neither the Deputy City Lords nor the Four Great Commanders, who have persistently extended banquet invitations, have received any response...
"Not only that, but last night, another maidservant from the City Lord Mansion arrived, sought out Housekeeper Zhou, and conveyed an invitation from Miss Mengya, which was similarly declined."
"Tsk, tsk... While others would desperately vie for such opportunities, our master possesses an astonishing level of willpower!"
"What willpower... Haven’t you yourself barely left the mansion these past few days?"
"Indeed, I haven’t ventured out; what are you implying?"
At the entrance of the Hong Mansion, Du He and Wang Long were engaged in conversation during their guard duty today.
Wang Long, possessing more detailed knowledge of the circumstances, inquired if Du He had indeed remained within the mansion for several days. Upon hearing Du He’s affirmative response, he glanced around before leaning in to whisper conspiratorially:
"It's not a matter of willpower; our master simply holds the Deputy City Lords and the Four Great Commanders in low regard. I overheard from outside that when the master entered the city seven days ago, he engaged in a duel with the City Lord, and their strengths were evenly matched."
"What?"
Du He immediately voiced his disbelief. Seeing Wang Long nod in confirmation, his eyes widened in astonishment, and his face registered pure incredulity.
To engage in a duel with the City Lord and emerge without a clear victor...
"It's not solely about strength; did you observe our master’s youth? Seven days ago, upon entering the city, he proclaimed himself the Daqin Prince. During the banquet at the City Lord Mansion seven days ago, the master eloquently described the might of Great Qin, which not only astounded everyone present but even the City Lord himself. The city's elite circles are now abuzz with discussions about the unfathomable power of the Great Qin Feudal Town, suggesting it may far surpass Caiqiu."
Du He listened, his pupils trembling, and then a sudden recollection of the night Xia Hong returned to the mansion seven days prior struck him, leading to an immediate realization: "No wonder, among those qualified to ride in Miss Mengya’s Purple Bell Sedan in all of Qinghua City, you couldn’t even count up to five individuals. I’ve been puzzled these past few days as to how our new master could wield such significant influence."
So young, yet so powerful, and possessing such a formidable background—it's no wonder he possesses the audacity to decline invitations from numerous influential individuals. Even the City Lord dispatched his cherished youngest daughter in an attempt to curry favor. What were the Deputy City Lords and the Four Commanders compared to such an opportunity? It was a chance for an unfettered ascent! With all his confusion dispelled in an instant, Du He immediately offered his reply, looking up at Wang Long with an expression brimming with gratitude. "Heh heh, Hezi, not many in the mansion are aware of this yet. We all originated from the slave village together. Don't say I didn't look out for you!" Du He's face was etched with deep gratitude. After a moment's thought, he solemnly bowed to Wang Long, his voice filled with excitement, "Brother Wang, your immense kindness is something Du He will remember eternally. Should fortune ever permit my slave status to be transferred under the Master's name one day, Du He will certainly repay you, Brother Wang." Nujie Village, as its name suggested, was the settlement where individuals of slave status, essentially slaves, made their residence. Slaves within Cai Qiu typically originated from three distinct avenues. Firstly, individuals lacking any social standing or of the lowest status voluntarily sold themselves into servitude, forming the most substantial group. Secondly, those who once held a fourth-degree citizen status were demoted to slave status as a consequence of criminal offenses. Thirdly, new populations acquired during Cai Qiu's conflicts with external forces or its expeditions into uncharted territories were generally assigned slave or low-status roles.