Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1546 - 484: Recruiting, Who Is the Corpses in the Tomb, Easy to Invite Gods In, Hard to Send Them Away (3)

Just now, in front of everyone at the county city, he was so overbearing. Yet upon leaving the city and catching up with me, he was so sincere and even humble in his invitation to me in private.

Chu Longteng is formidable, and his son, Chu Tianxu, is by no means simple either!

Changing faces as fast as turning pages, switching demeanor smoothly and naturally, and in his invitation, there was even seventy to eighty percent sincerity, clearly showing his earnest intention to invite me.

The demeanor of a hero!

The phrase "heroic demeanor" flashed in Xia Hong’s mind as he glanced deeply at Chu Tianxu, then slowly smiled and said, "I have to admit, Governor Chu’s words are logical and well-grounded. I am somewhat tempted, but..."

Saying this, Xia Hong paused, turning his gaze towards Xue Zijing, then gently shook his head and shifted the conversation, "The Four Vassals have been established for over three hundred years, with Chen Cang being the latest, also for over a hundred years. In all this time, the Four Vassals have maintained the status quo. As Hong sees it, the entirety of Moao River is now stagnant. Without external forces to stimulate change, there’s no prospect of a breakthrough!"

Hearing this, Chu Tianxu’s expression slightly stiffened, clearly not expecting Xia Hong to say such words; but Xue Zijing appeared thoughtful, curiously watching Xia Hong, awaiting his next words.

"The Six-class System has been in practice for over a hundred years, and the lineages of the vassal governors and the aristocratic families of the Four Vassals have long since become parasites leeching off the populace. Once people become dependent on a single path, it becomes very difficult to turn back.

Governor Chu’s ambitious reforms with Grand Master Xue’s assistance are, in my view, nothing more than a desperate struggle. Even if the influential families of Chen Cang disagree, the same goes for the lineages of the other Three Vassals; these powerful aristocratic families would not just sit by and watch your reforms succeed.

Chen Cang is powerful, but Governor Chu cannot simply decree as he pleases.

The so-called pilot reform using Yanling as a test ground, a ten-year-long process to observe the effects, is the result of compromising with the vassals and the aristocracy, and such compromised reforms are unlikely to succeed.

Any genuine reform requires sacrifice and bloodshed, touching upon the roots, and for Chen Cang, the roots are the four classes: the populace, the military, the aristocrats, and the hereditary elite. Defying them is akin to undermining the foundation of the feudal towns.

Hong wagers, this Yanling county’s ten-year reform will neither change the plight of slaves and commoners at its root nor leave you without the resentment of the four aristocratic classes. If it ends without incident, that’s one thing, but should it lead to major issues, be assured the Three Vassals will not miss an opportunity to strike you while you’re down..."

Seeing Chu Tianxu’s face grow darker, Xia Hong paused, then turned to Xue Zijing with a smile, saying, "Someone as smart as Mr. Xue should have attempted to lobby the higher-ups in Chen Cang long ago. The prospect of strengthening through reform isn’t lost on anyone. Who doesn’t realize that once the strength of the vassals rises after the initial pain, everyone’s benefits would increase? The problem is, which party is willing to bear the cost of that pain?"

Saying this, Xia Hong looked back at Chu Tianxu, shaking his head, "Governor Chu just mentioned that the Hezang branch has a legacy of 401 years. Fu Wanhe’s lifespan is nearly at its end, focused solely on extending it, while his four sons struggle incessantly for power, clearly showing Hezang is now but bones in a tomb, a sentiment Hong deeply shares. However..."

Xia Hong’s eyes flickered with a peculiar light, ignoring Chu Tianxu’s increasingly dark expression and laughing aloud, "In Hong’s eyes, isn’t the same true with the four vassals of Moao River, each with over three hundred years of legacy?"

After saying this, Xia Hong had no further wish to continue the dialogue. He suddenly unleashed his internal energy, shattering the snowflakes around him, and swiftly flew east.

"Mr. Xue, should you truly succeed with the reforms, you will have done a good deed for the people of Yanling County. Hong will await its outcome, for we shall meet again!"

Xia Hong left a cryptic remark through the air, making Chu Tianxu’s already gloomy face look even worse; as for Xue Zijing, he watched Xia Hong’s departing figure with a mounting curiosity and speculation in his eyes.

Xia Hong flew over twenty kilometers eastward, confirming there was no one around before swiftly changing course southwards, flying toward the Blood Miasma Plain.

"Chu Yan’er has already seen me once in Xia City. Given her artistry, she could easily capture my likeness. If Xue Zijing exposes my fake identity as a Daqin Prince to Chu Tianxu, and Chen Cang expends a little effort investigating, my identity will soon be exposed; in the future, I really cannot frequent the feudal towns carelessly!"

In the sky, Xia Hong pondered for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

His objectives in the feudal towns were basically all accomplished. Returning now to the territory of the Nine Towns, whether his identity is exposed or not no longer mattered.

"As for the Southern Wilderness Spear Demon Yang Zun, he didn’t appear in the city, which confirms Ji Hong’s information was accurate; indeed, he is not in the county city but in Chen Cang’s Tuoyuan Camp.

Last month, Jiang Xinfan mentioned that Chen Cang and Cai Qiu dispatched over ten Xianyang Levels each to infiltrate the Northern Three Towns last year, sowing discord among the towns to dismantle the alliance. He didn’t specifically mention Yang Zun at the time, so the real Yang Zun surely did not return last year."

As for now?

Xia Hong furrowed his brow slightly, yet he wasn’t worried about Xia City’s safety. Even if the two vassals sent over a hundred Xianyang Levels each, they wouldn’t destabilize Xia City.

His sole concern was whether the feudal towns would dispatch some formidable figure to carry out insidious deeds.

Just like that Chen Yiqing, who, with mere strength of over 50 duffers, used his memory-altering skills to harm so many people in secret.

Chen Cang, having a connection with the territory of the Nine Towns, might very well send the real Yang Zun to stir things up.

"That Yang Zun, already possessing 41 Jun of strength four years ago, would now be even stronger. If he operates covertly, it could lead to quite a headache. I hope Xuanling and Xia Chuan won’t take it too lightly!"

Thinking of this, Xia Hong shook his head slightly, a smile forming on his face.

In his wife and younger brother, he had complete confidence.

As for Xia Chuan, having been steering the Great Xia for fifteen years since the Mud Slope era, all aspects considered, his actions were much more comprehensive than even his own as a lord.

As for his wife, Li Xuanling, it’s not an exaggeration to say that had he been a mere native of the Ice Abyss during the Long Mountain Battle, or if he hadn’t had the system’s assistance, the victor between Great Xia and Long Mountain might still be uncertain.

Not just his wife and brother, but also Yuwen Dao, along with Yue Feng, Xu Ning, Lu Yang, Qiu Peng, and the newcomers like Xiang Fuhai, Mu Longhe, Xiahou Zhang... Great Xia now had plenty who could stand on their own.

"With so many, just one Yang Zun wouldn’t stir much of a storm!"

At ease, Xia Hong gazed at the Blood Miasma Plain now up close, his eyes filled with anticipation as he swiftly vanished inside.

.........

Moao Calendar 136, December 20th

Southern Slope Territory, Wuchuan Town, Main Hall

Qin Feng sat upright in the main seat, looking at the more than ten people seated on the left and right below, his face full of hesitation, clearly weighing something in his mind.

Sitting at the top of the left was Jinshan Lord Shangguan Yang, while the right was Beishuo Town Chief Yang Fa. Seeing Qin Feng’s prolonged silence, the two took turns trying to persuade him:

"Brother Qin, are you truly content to let Great Xia dominate our entire Southern Slope?"

"Cao Qianyang and Long Mingyuan both promised that as long as the Northern Three Towns take the lead, they would immediately follow. Then we five families would form an alliance, with Muyin as meat in the bowl. By dividing Muyin, first break off an arm of Great Xia, then work together to resist Xia Hong. Only thus can we secure the Five Towns!"

"To my knowledge, the upper echelons of Chui Mountain, Muyin, and Jiangxia, as well as most of the Cold Resistance Levels, have long secretly submitted to Great Xia. Many high-ranking offspring have already settled in Xia City. Great Xia controls four towns. If we Five Towns don’t unite, we’ll surely be picked off individually and meet our doom!"

"Both Chen Cang and Cai Qiu have explicitly conveyed that they won’t head south within twenty years, and both vassals are happy to see a Southern Slope Alliance led by our Northern Three Towns. Brother Qin, what exactly are you hesitating about?"

"No matter how strong the two vassals are, that’s for the future. The threat from Great Xia is right now, Brother Qin. Don’t hesitate, quickly..."

"No need for lengthy talks here, Lord Shangguan, and Town Chief Yang; this lord will only ask one question. Even if I agree to withdraw from the alliance with you, what about the allied troops within your two territories?"

With a sharp question, Qin Feng interrupted the two and continued with a cold smile, "Great Xia has been increasing forces in Dongchuan and Yinhe Valley the past two years, stationing over thirty thousand troops each in those areas. Nearly all the soldiers sent by us five families have been persuaded to defect. As things stand, eighty percent of the soldiers are now Great Xia’s men. Should we truly withdraw from the alliance, do you think Great Xia will obediently withdraw these sixty thousand troops from the two towns?"

He paused, looking at Shangguan Yang and Yang Fa with a hint of schadenfreude on his face, and continued, "Inviting the gods is easy; sending them away is hard!"