Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1383 - 448: Chui Mountain Fission (Part 2)

The most egregious action was the stripping of Mu Qinghe from his role as Deputy Army Chief. Because the Third Army of the Yellow Armor Army comprised Mu Family’s loyal soldiers, perhaps to avert widespread unrest, Duan Hong elected to keep Mu Qinghe as the Commander of the Third Army.

With the Mu Family and Mu Longhe’s former loyalists experiencing such open oppression and targeted persecution, alongside their continuous marginalization within the town, how could they possibly remain content?

The Duan Family’s motivations were not difficult to decipher.

Mu Longhe, after all, stood as one of the sole two Xianyang Level cultivators in the entirety of Chui Mountain. Furthermore, in terms of seniority, even the Town Lord Duan Hong could not claim precedence over him. Such an influential figure, possessing significant sway in both the military and throughout the town, naturally provided an opportune moment for the Duan Family to seize control and consolidate their power over Chui Mountain, especially now that he had met with misfortune.

The issue, however, stemmed from their excessive haste and apparent lack of discretion.

Mu Longhe had indeed been incapacitated, but he was not dead. Moreover, Xia Hong had publicly vowed to facilitate his return after a decade. Less than two years had elapsed since the pivotal battle of Hongmen, yet not a single member of the Mu Family remained among the town’s upper echelons.

Even Mu Longhe’s former subordinates, save for a select few who promptly pledged their allegiance to the Duan Family, had largely been dismissed, relegated to idleness at home, or reduced to ordinary hunters, completely stripped of their former authority.

Presently, throughout Chui Mountain, only the Third Army of the Yellow Armor Army remained under Mu Family influence. According to the soldier who initially voiced his concerns, Town Lord Duan Hong was on the verge of taking action against the Third Army. Mu Qinghe’s command was set to be revoked imminently, and following this, these Third Army soldiers would likely face dismissal, replaced by others.

The soldier who first spoke cast a glance at the middle-aged Silver Armor General, a fleeting shadow crossing his eyes before he tentatively began to articulate his thoughts with a slow cadence: "The Town Lord is far too... shortsighted!"

Upon hearing him openly criticize the Town Lord Duan Hong, the assembled soldiers displayed expressions of astonishment. Nevertheless, they remained silent, merely lifting their gazes to observe him.

"In his haste to oust the Army Chief’s former subordinates and the Mu Family, why would he seek to have us defect to Beishuo? Our Chui Mountain Town still possesses fifteen thousand of the Defensive Army, coupled with these three thousand Yellow Armor soldiers. We are capable of maintaining our footing within the Nine Towns and safeguarding the legacy of Chui Mountain Town. Why must we grovel and beg for favors from others?"

At this declaration, the soldiers’ countenances abruptly shifted, taking on a somber hue.

The alliance between the Duan Family and the Yang Family was an open secret within Chui Mountain. Over the past year or two, Town Lord Duan Hong's overtures towards Beishuo, while perhaps not universally known in town, were certainly common knowledge among these Yellow Armor soldiers.

Regardless of external perceptions, these individuals, as the very foundation of Chui Mountain Town, whether driven by genuine sentiment or pragmatic considerations, harbored no desire to be absorbed by Beishuo.

Even setting aside those concerns, Town Lord Duan Hong regarded Mu Longhe’s former followers in the same dismissive manner he treated the Mu Family. Should he genuinely intend to align Chui Mountain with Beishuo, he would undoubtedly prioritize the interests of his direct command, the Yellow Armor First Army, and the Duan Family.

These soldiers, along with the Mu Family and the town’s populace, would ultimately serve merely as bargaining chips for Duan Hong in his bid for allegiance with Beishuo, destined to be sacrificed amidst the ruination of Chui Mountain Town’s heritage.

"It is a profound regret that the Army Chief is not present. Had the Army Chief remained, the Town Lord would not dare to act with such impunity. Before the late Lord Duan Zhao passed, his final words cautioned against Beishuo’s treachery, yet it appears the Lord has long since disregarded this warning."

"For years, I have been vexed by the Beishuo populace, particularly those few from the Yang Family. Each time they grace Chui Mountain with their presence, they conduct themselves as if they are the rightful proprietors, showing no regard whatsoever for the people of Chui Mountain. The Duan Family are a band of spineless sycophants, treating them as though they were their own fathers, hmph..."

"If we are truly in need of a powerful patron, are Jin Mountain and Wuchuan not far superior alternatives to Beishuo?"

"And then there is Great Xia. Although Lord Xia Hong severed the Army Chief’s limbs, he ultimately spared his life. In the presence of numerous witnesses, he not only commended the Army Chief’s virtuous character but also pledged to confine him for a mere ten years. Considering the circumstances imposed by the Six Towns during last year's battle of Hongmen, Lord Xia Hong's actions were remarkably magnanimous. In my estimation, they truly uphold his renowned benevolence."

"Indeed, Great Xia is thriving, already the undisputed number one town in Moao. If one seeks to depend on the Northern Three Towns, it would be wiser to forgo such notions."

"I have journeyed to Hongmen, and without a shred of exaggeration, when its situation is compared, the other eight town cities pale in comparison, let alone Xia City."

"Following last year’s Martial Arts Competition finals, numerous whispers emerged from Xia City. Their contribution value system, it is said, makes the Dragon Carp Pill cost less than 4000 silver. As for the Green Cod Pill, Black Death Pill, and Yangyuan Pill – these precious Dan Medicines – when acquired by their own populace, the price difference compared to outsiders is more than twentyfold!"

"I too have heard this; no wonder the youths of Great Xia are so formidable. Last year’s Martial Arts Competition rankings, within both the top hundred lists, individuals from other towns constituted merely a little over ten percent."

......

From discussions initially brimming with righteous indignation about their own town's predicament, the conversation naturally shifted to a deep longing for Great Xia, veering off-topic without conscious realization.

The soldier who had subtly guided the discourse, sensing the opportune moment, abruptly turned his head towards the middle-aged Silver Armor General standing ahead. He bowed and inquired, "Captain Helian, you are the son of Commander Helian, considered among the old retinue of the Army Chief. Are you content to remain mere support for the Duan Family, and merge into Beishuo?"

The middle-aged man, addressed directly, was momentarily startled. He then raised his gaze to meet the watching eyes of all the soldiers, before lowering his head to contemplate the matter.

Observing his contemplation, the soldiers refrained from disturbing him, waiting in quiet anticipation. Though their lips were sealed, their eyes conveyed a palpable sense of expectation.

Each division within the Yellow Armor Army comprises one thousand individuals, organized into three battalions: the most esteemed is the Scout Camp, numbering two hundred; followed by the First and Second Camps, each consisting of four hundred.

These more than one hundred individuals present all belonged to the Scout Camp.

And the middle-aged Silver Armor General before them was none other than Helian Ba, the Captain of the Scout Camp.

Helian Ba’s father, Helian Shan, was precisely one of Mu Longhe’s three prominent disciples. Last year, he was removed from his position as one of the Town Defense Army Commanders by Lord Duan Hong.

This can be considered a direct line; Helian Shan, being Mu Longhe’s disciple, and Helian Ba, the disciple’s grandson, had held a position in the Third Army of the Yellow Armor Army from an early stage. In terms of lineage, they were clearly old subordinates of Mu Longhe.

Consequently, concerning the stifling sense of suppression felt internally, the assembled soldiers were likely outmatched by Helian Ba, considering his father’s demotion from a significant town figure to a sidelined role.

With the impending reform of the three armies, and even Commander Mu Qinghe being dismissed, Helian Ba’s position as Captain was naturally untenable.

Helian Ba, meeting everyone’s expectant gazes, displayed clear anger on his countenance: "Of course, I am unwilling! My father, Helian Shan, once followed the path of our Grandmaster, engaging in countless battles, both grand and small, allowing Chui Mountain to stand firm within the Nine Towns. Without exaggeration, half of Chui Mountain was secured by the efforts of our Grandmaster and my father’s men. Now, we find ourselves becoming mere bargaining chips for the Duan Family, used to curry favor with Beishuo. Damn the Duan Family! If they truly dare to proceed with this, I will openly rebel!"

Open rebellion!

As Helian Ba’s defiant words echoed, the entire group of soldiers gathered around the campfire fell into a profound, deathly silence.

Initially, a flicker of innate fear crossed their faces. Then, they lowered their heads, lost in deep contemplation, their eyes reflecting a tempest of struggle and indecision.

"That’s right! Rebel against them, damn it! The Duan Family’s actions are utterly despicable. The Mu Family has sacrificed so much for our Chui Mountain; yet, they are discarded like a broken wagon. Quickly now, who can guarantee that we, the people, won’t face the same fate as the Mu Family in the future?"

Finally, one voice broke the oppressive quiet!

Once a single voice spoke, soon others followed.

"Rebel!"

"Indeed, rebel."