Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1380 - 447: Feint to the East, Strike to the West; Cai Qiu Prince; Chui Mountain Fruit_2

A frosty smile graced Lin Kai’s lips the moment Cai Shiqi’s name was uttered.

Though he was reluctant to concede, it was undeniable that Cai Shiqi, the scion of Cai Qiu, ranked among the most renowned figures within the Nine Towns at this present moment.

Cai Shiqi commenced his operations within the Nine Towns' domain last October. However, through intelligence gathered by Jinshan Town, Lin Kai was already aware that this entourage had initially arrived from Cai Qiu as early as the conclusion of August in the preceding year. They had deliberately lingered in Jinshan Town for over a month before making their strategic debut.

The primary catalyst for his considerable renown was the distinctive Innocence Conference he orchestrated towards the end of last year. This event took place in a locale known as Qinggang Mountain, situated on the frontier between Jinshan and Wuchuan, and was conducted under the auspices of the two Lords, Shangguan Yang and Qin Feng.

Even before the conference commenced, Cai Shiqi had ensured that word of mouth spread like wildfire throughout the entire Nine Towns territory, originating from Jinshan and Wuchuan. Intriguingly, on the invitations extended to the Lords of the Seven Towns, his name was conspicuously placed before those of the two Lords, Qin Feng and Shangguan Yang.

The so-called Innocence Conference was, in essence, a meticulously planned endeavor to absolve Cai Qiu Feudal Town of the unjust accusations and grievances stemming from Chen Yiqing’s transgressions the previous year.

To be perfectly candid, Cai Shiqi possessed a certain degree of cunning. The joint invitation, bearing the seals of the Lords of Jinshan and Wuchuan, was treated with considerable weight by the Seven Towns, resulting in the attendance of six Lords. Only Great Xia dispatched Xiang Fuhai.

There was simply no alternative. If circumstances permitted, Great Xia would never engage in such a spectacle-seeking maneuver. The crux of the matter was that Lord Xia Hong was indisposed, rendering his attendance impossible even if he had desired it. Consequently, they proclaimed that Xia Hong was in seclusion and appointed Xiang Fuhai as his substitute.

While Xiang Fuhai was the official representative, the delegation was, in reality, led by Xia Chuan. The pretense of Xiang Fuhai leading the contingent was merely a courtesy to preserve the dignity of Cai Qiu’s Prince; the absence of their Lord necessitated the dispatch of at least an individual of the Cold Resistance Level to avoid undue offense.

Alas, their assumptions regarding the sensitivity of Cai Qiu’s Prince proved to be an underestimation. Despite Xia Chuan’s meticulous consideration, upon realizing the absence of Great Xia’s Lord, Cai Shiqi unleashed his fury upon Great Xia, resorting to the extreme of labeling them as uncivilized barbarians.

"A mere 53 animal mane level; if it weren’t for Cai Qiu’s name, huh..."

When a ruler faces disgrace, their subordinates are bound by honor to perish. Lin Kai himself bore witness to the proceedings at the Innocence Conference. Great Xia suffered such a public humiliation orchestrated by a mere youth that had Xia Chuan not intervened with swiftness, he and his compatriots from Yuan Cheng would have already dispatched Cai Shiqi.

Regardless of the preceding events, following the conclusion of the Innocence Conference, Cai Shiqi meticulously detailed the incident involving Chen Yiqing, skillfully leveraging the situation to absolve Cai Qiu of its perceived wrongs.

Furthermore, he unequivocally cemented his reputation within the Nine Towns, forcefully proclaiming that Cai Qiu Feudal Town would never again engage in wanton acts akin to Chen Cang’s, and pledged to usher in an era of enduring peace and stability throughout the Nine Towns territory in the days ahead.

Whether this promise held any genuine weight was a separate issue altogether, but at the very least, among the governing bodies of each respective town, a significant portion of their previous apprehension and mistrust directed towards Cai Qiu had now irrevocably shifted towards Chen Cang.

In the subsequent months, Cai Shiqi traversed the northern territories, a figure of chivalry at every turn, thereby garnering a considerable wave of positive sentiment for Cai Qiu.

Considering these established facts, it was hardly surprising that the recent occurrences at Chui Mountain became inextricably linked with Cai Shiqi.

"Currently, it is confirmed that Chen Cang stands behind Beishuo, while Cai Qiu supports both Wuchuan and Jinshan. These two factions are presently locked in contention over Chui Mountain.

Chen Cang’s objective is for Beishuo to annex Chui Mountain; conversely, Cai Qiu is strenuously opposing this annexation.

Cai Shiqi himself is already positioned within Chui Mountain Town, yet Chen Cang’s unseen influence persists. The disparity in hierarchy is evident; does this simpleton genuinely believe he can intimidate Duan Hong with a mere contingent of fifty individuals at the Cold Resistance Level?"

Ying Yi, who was also privy to the situation in Chui Mountain and the intelligence concerning Cai Shiqi, naturally grasped the implications of Lin Kai’s assertions. The thought of Cai Shiqi prompted him to shake his head, a look of utter disbelief creasing his brow.

Based on his understanding, Cai Shiqi currently commands a force of over fifty individuals at the Cold Resistance Level within Chui Mountain. Without the full backing of Shangguan Yang and Qin Feng, what conceivable confidence could he possess to coerce Duan Hong into aligning with Beishuo?

Lin Kai offered a subtle smile, his head shaking gently. "Were Chen Cang absent and Cai Qiu acting as a solitary Feudal Town, Cai Shiqi’s intimidation tactics might prove effective. However, with another Feudal Town involved, their efficacy is severely diminished. Duan Hong’s proactive cooperation over the past several months, consistently permitting Beishuo’s personnel into the town, clearly indicates he harbors no genuine apprehension concerning Cai Shiqi’s threats."

"In the end, it all comes down to power. Regardless of Cai Qiu's strength, an issue that's far away cannot be easily resolved. Duan Hong's allegiance already leans towards Beishuo, especially with Chen Cang backing him. What are those fifty individuals with Cold Resistance truly capable of? His status as a princely heir of Cai Qiu might at best safeguard his life, but it's far from sufficient to interfere in the matters of the Nine Towns."

Ying Yi sighed, shaking his head. While he acknowledged his inferior birth compared to Cai Shiqi, he was confident in his ability to assess situations, believing he wouldn't fall short against him.

As his thoughts concluded, a sudden idea struck him. He looked up at Lin Kai and inquired softly, "Sir, is the infiltration of Cai Qiu still managed directly by the Minister? Given Lord Duan Hong's active collaboration, the number of Beishuo individuals currently within Chui Mountain Town should surpass our own..."

"That might not necessarily be true!"

Lin Kai abruptly cut Ying Yi off, a smile gracing his lips. The so-called Beishuo people sneaking into town was a reference to Cai Shiqi.