Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 587: Chapter 251: Understanding, Winning Hearts First, Next Steps (Part 3)

After all, having been a leader, Chen Yingyuan pointed out Xia Hong’s thoughts in one sentence.

”That’s right, it’s about earning people’s hearts!”

Xia Hong showed a hint of approval and continued, ”I have already saved these people once in Gourd Valley. After returning to Wushuang, we saved them again using Solidified Fire Oil. With these two lifesaving instances, these people will naturally have a good impression of Great Xia. Even if they return to their own camps, whenever they confront Great Xia in the future, they will subconsciously feel inferior. This sentiment is likely to accompany their return and spread to others in Long Mountain and Zhaoyang.”

Upon hearing these words, Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, and others immediately revealed expressions of contemplation, as if they faintly understood Xia Hong’s intentions.

”For Longyou, Great Xia has always been an outsider. We conquered Beehive, Wushuang, and Hanqiong by force, and the Earth-digging Realm of these three groups is almost exhausted. Therefore, we don’t have to consider the resistance from these three groups, but it’s different for other camps!”

Xia Hong paused, looking around the room, and continued, ”You must all remember, Great Xia expands outward not only for territory but also for population. If everyone in Longyou hates us, even if we occupy this land, can you peacefully live and hunt here afterward? Can you effectively manage this area?”

”Moreover, taking down Beehive, Wushuang, and Hanqiong has added nearly seventy thousand to our camp’s population. Most of them are still in Longyou. Bringing all of them back to Xia City is a massive project, not to mention the integration that follows, which requires a significant amount of resources. If more trouble arises because of these over 1,600 Earth-digging Realm individuals, it would be a loss rather than a gain!”

”The biggest challenge before us now is the Longyou Army and the Blood Guard Army. If we were to go to war with these two, do you think Great Xia could win now? Time, we need a lot of time. First, to properly assimilate the new population; second, to make every effort to close the power gap with Long Mountain and Zhaoyang!”

......

After Xia Hong finished speaking, everyone, including Xia Chuan, showed an expression of guilt.

In the past few days, Great Xia had been advancing triumphantly, winning over three camps consecutively, and this invincible progress had made them slightly conceited, even beginning to disregard the strength of Long Mountain and Zhaoyang.

Suddenly realizing this, they were shocked to find that Great Xia’s strength was still inferior to the two, and they broke out in a cold sweat.

Seeing the atmosphere in the hall grow heavier, Xia Hong, knowing that everyone had awakened to reality, first showed a trace of satisfaction in his eyes. Then he thought of something, a gleam of insight flashing in his eyes, and he said slowly, ”Moreover, these over 1,600 Earth-digging Realm individuals were all abandoned once by Li Xuanling and Hou Tong. Do you think there might be a grudge in their hearts?”

Everyone, including Xia Chuan, suddenly had a light in their eyes.

At the back of the hall, Chen Yingyuan and the others lowered their heads in thought, and after a moment, they looked up at Xia Hong, feeling a trace of chill in their hearts.

”Li Xuanling and Hou Tong and their people must have been infected with Dewdrop, and both families probably have some silver. But from what I know, silver is scarce and can’t be provided to everyone, so many people still can’t solve the Dewdrop Plague. If we let all 1,600 of these people return and spread the news about Solidified Fire Oil, do you think they will come to us?”

By this point, Xia Chuan, Qiu Peng, Luo Yuan, and the others finally understood Xia Hong’s intention, and their expressions immediately brightened.

Especially Qiu Peng, who was in charge of the Camp Supply Department, upon hearing the last part, was incredibly excited. Recalling that he had just doubted Xia Hong, his face was full of shame, and he directly walked to the center of the hall, kneeling before Xia Hong.

”I was short-sighted and almost ruined the leader’s plans. Please forgive me, leader!”

Xia Hong shook his head. Not only did he not blame Qiu Peng, but he also admired him for daring to question him. After all, this represented Qiu Peng’s insight and thought, rather than being a subordinate who blindly followed.

Truth be told, among the current Cold Resistance Level individuals in Great Xia, not many possess this quality. According to Xia Hong’s observation, there were only Xia Chuan, Yuwen Dao, Yue Feng, and Xu Ning before.

With Xia Hong’s supreme status among the Great Xia people, truly possessing this quality requires courage, vision, and strength; all three are indispensable. Therefore, those who possess this quality, in Xia Hong’s view, are capable of taking charge independently.

Yue Feng and Xu Ning can respectively serve as Guardians of Valley and Defense Envoy of Wuyuan for this reason.

With the addition of Qiu Peng today, Xia Hong was naturally happier, as it represented the emergence of more talents in Great Xia.

Showing a smile, Xia Hong thought of something and suddenly spoke to those below:

”For those 23 people wanting to defect to Great Xia, you should take more effort to find out what’s going on. Don’t just randomly accept people. While we wish to gather intelligence on Long Mountain and Zhaoyang, they certainly wish to do the same about us.”

Everyone was momentarily stunned upon hearing this statement. After a moment of contemplation, they understood Xia Hong’s meaning and immediately turned their gaze to Qiu Peng.

Qiu Peng, who had just delivered the news about the 23 defectors, suddenly realized what was happening and was filled with a sense of fear. He looked up at Xia Hong and wanted to speak, but Xia Hong waved his hand before he could.

”Handle the specific matters yourselves. I need to start my cultivation. Come to me only if there are special circumstances.”

”Yes, leader!”

Everyone bowed and then respectfully exited the hall.

As soon as they left the hall, Qiu Peng immediately followed behind Xia Chuan.

”Minister, did the leader mean that these 23 people likely have fake intentions of defecting to gather intelligence on Great Xia?”

Walking ahead, Xia Chuan nodded slightly, revealing a hint of coldness in his eyes:

”Not necessarily all of them, but it’s highly probable that some are mixed in among them. That’s why the leader asked us to take the time to find out. There are more than two hours until nightfall. Let’s call those 23 in one by one to talk. By the way, I have an idea...”

After hearing what Xia Chuan said, Qiu Peng’s eyes grew brighter, and his face showed a marked expression of admiration. It wasn’t until Xia Chuan finished speaking that he said:

”I’ll handle it right away!”