Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1408 - 452: Continuous Arrivals, Chui Mountain Affairs Settled, Master of Nine Towns, Alliance Agreement Finalized
Previously on Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely...
Although the revolt was swiftly suppressed, the subsequent issues were far from being resolved at the same pace.
The remaining forces of Beishuo were in dire need of containment; the principal figures of the Duan Family required definite handling; the assets belonging to the Duan Family absolutely had to be confiscated; all the various industries and resources within Chui Mountain Town and the wider region needed meticulous cataloging; and those individuals who had participated in the mutiny alongside the Mu Family deserved recognition for the living and recompense for the fallen...
Naturally, the most crucial undertaking was the formation of an alliance!
The establishment of an alliance treaty certainly could not be achieved through mere spoken words alone.
An alliance essentially constituted a political entity, necessitating discussions on its fundamental objectives; the specific actions it would undertake; the designation of an Alliance Hierarch; the scope of the Hierarch's authority; the types of directives the towns were obligated to follow, and those they were permitted to disregard; as well as the repercussions for defying mandatory commands...
Countless minute details required careful deliberation!
The Chui Mountain summit commenced on the evening of May 16th and continued for more than half a month, finally culminating in the emergence of tangible results by early June.
Moao Calendar Year 134, June 3rd
Within the esteemed Lord’s Hall of Chui Mountain, the primary seat, formerly occupied by Duan Hong, stood prominently. Surrounding it were eight other seats designated for the Eight Town Lords, each adorned with a golden beast-skin document placed before it.
The central seat remained unoccupied, presumably reserved for the absent Xia Hong. Li Xuanling had arranged an additional desk situated in front of the main seat for her own use, upon which rested a document of similar golden beast-skin material.
"Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this document represents the finalized draft of our alliance treaty. Today, I shall proceed to read aloud the five most pivotal articles..."
Li Xuanling allowed a brief moment of silence to pass before raising her voice and declaring:
"In the Southern Slope of Moao, where the Mountain River is Demarcated, the Nine Towns Starry Array signifies a relationship of mutual dependence.
Now, with external fiefdoms harboring covetous intentions, the Nine Towns situated here have united through a solemn blood oath, forging a treaty as enduring as gold and stone, hereby proclaiming to the populace of the Southern Slope: effective from the treaty's inception, the Nine Towns shall function as a single entity, sharing in all joys and adversities, triumphs and tribulations, life and death.
The treaty stipulations are as follows:
Firstly, all parties shall pledge unwavering allegiance to the Alliance Hierarch. The Nine Towns Alliance, initiated under the auspices of Great Xia, will naturally be under the leadership of Great Xia, with the position of Hierarch assumed by our Great Xia Lord, Xia Hong. The lords of the Eight Towns, along with their respective citizens, shall henceforth recognize Xia Hong as their supreme Hierarch. Pertaining to matters concerning the Outer Domain, should any commands issued by the Hierarch not be adhered to by the towns, Great Xia, in conjunction with the other towns, shall jointly impose censure;
Secondly, united beneath a singular banner, a permanent allied military force shall be established commencing today, comprising approximately three thousand soldiers. This force will be entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the alliance's borders and repelling any foreign aggressors. The budget for this military contingent shall be allocated proportionally based on the personnel contributed by each of the Nine Towns. Furthermore, within the four realms of the Southern Slope, during any outbreak of hostilities, each town is obligated to commit no less than seventy percent of its genuine combat-ready forces to bolster the allied military's strength. Any attempts to conceal available forces will result in joint censure by Great Xia and the allied towns;
Thirdly, embodying the principle of a strong populace and a robust military, as decreed by the Hierarch's words, foreign fiefdoms pose a significant threat. At present, the collective strength of the Nine Towns is insufficient to effectively confront such powers, making the enhancement of our capabilities an urgent necessity. Great Xia's cultivation resources, both in terms of quality and quantity, surpass those of the Eight Towns and should consequently be shared equitably among all citizens; likewise, the resources possessed by the Eight Towns ought to be exchanged mutually, thereby fostering the rapid strengthening of both the populace and the military.
Commencing next month, all resource sites located within the Southern Slope, accessible to any Advanced Hunting Team bearing an alliance-issued token, shall grant free passage. The respective towns are expressly forbidden from imposing any obstructions. Additionally, Great Xia will, starting next month, successively establish Ten Thousand Treasures Sub-Buildings in Jin Mountain, Wuchuan, Beishuo, Yangqu, Dragon Valley, and Chui Mountain – six of the Nine Towns. These branches, working in concert with the Eight Towns, will comprehensively supply cultivation resources to elevate the average strength across all Nine Towns;
Fourthly, in a unified effort to defend against external fiefdoms, the alliance's immediate strategic priority is to preempt the southward expansion of Chen Cang and Cai Qiu’s two vassal towns. It is understood that the ingress points for these two fiefdoms into our Nine Towns lie to the north, within the jurisdiction of Beishuo Dongchuan, and in the Jinshan Yinhe Valley region. The lords of Beishuo and Jin Mountain are tasked, by the month of July, with designating these areas as jointly governed territories under the alliance's purview, managed by the alliance itself to prevent any infiltration by foreign powers;
Fifthly, a solemn oath of eternal fidelity shall be sworn: on the fifteenth day of January each year, the Lords of the Eight Towns shall make a pilgrimage to Xia City to reaffirm their allegiance. Any transgression against the alliance or a violation of sworn promises shall result in the permanent stagnation of the offender's cultivation. The Eight Towns shall jointly administer this censure, and failure to provide assistance during a time of crisis shall lead to the immediate revocation of alliance status, branding the defaulter as a sworn enemy!"
Following the conclusion of Li Xuanling's pronouncements, a subtle stiffness became apparent in the countenances of the Eight Town Lords.
After a fortnight of deliberation, their understanding was complete. This alliance, it was clear, had been in Great Xia’s strategic planning for a considerable period, not merely a spontaneous decision. The five articles presented were the most pivotal, yet the treaty’s finer points encompassed a multitude of clauses, easily numbering in the dozens. These five primary articles served as the compelling justification for their eventual agreement. Notably, the final clause, binding them with a cultivation curse as a solemn oath, provided an exceptionally strong safeguard for the treaty’s integrity. All individuals present were astute strategists, undoubtedly perceiving Great Xia’s underlying objectives. The true shock, however, stemmed from the sheer avarice displayed by the two subordinate towns! Should Great Xia prove capable of repelling the fiefdom incursions on behalf of the Eight Towns, they would offer their unwavering support. Confronted with the forceful annexations by the fiefdoms, Great Xia’s comparatively gentle approach to integration was undeniably more palatable. Furthermore, the unpredictable nature of future developments cannot be overlooked, can it? Once the immediate peril is averted, whether Great Xia eventually absorbs them or the reverse occurs, who can definitively foretell the outcome? "Esteemed colleagues, let us formalize this treaty!" With a small bowl and a dagger presented, Li Xuanling addressed the assembly with a smile.