Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1226: Chapter 409: The Dilemma of the Two Towns, the Longyou Model, Golden Order Prison Warden, Lin Kai’s Reminder_5

Being praised by so many people, Hou Ming immediately bowed to show humility.

Upon hearing his words, Xia Chuan frowned slightly and said, ”Fighting battles is a skill, but investigating cases, punishing the wicked, and protecting the peace of Xia City is also a skill. Your achievements are no less significant than theirs, so there’s no need to be overly modest.”

Hou Ming’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

The last time he heard these words was from Lord Xia Hong, which was why he could focus on his work in the Prison Department. Hearing it again from Xia Chuan, no doubt served as a great encouragement to him.

”Regarding the case of the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce, how do you plan to proceed? Is there hope for solving it?”

Upon hearing Xia Chuan’s question, Hou Ming immediately became spirited and bowed, saying in a deep voice, ”Minister, rest assured, the lord has ordered the Three Towns to send all the corpses over in ten days. As long as I can see the corpses, I have a fifty percent chance of solving it, and with the eyewitnesses from the Three Towns cooperating, I dare say, unless it’s truly not...”

At this point, Hou Ming realized it wasn’t appropriate, glanced at Yuwen Dao, Yuan Cheng, and Qiu Peng, and chose not to continue.

”Then our innocence is in your hands.”

Yuwen Dao naturally understood why he stopped and immediately responded with a smile.

Yuan Cheng, on the other hand, replied angrily, ”I really wish I were the one who killed them. Once the true culprit is found, I’ll surely make them regret it.”

Qiu Peng said nothing, just shook his head lightly, pondered for a moment, and then said with a slightly peculiar expression, ”I’m just curious why Yang Ning and the others would dare to swear an oath in front of so many people.”

Hearing this, everyone recalled the scene of Yang Ning and the others making their oath, their expressions froze, even Yuan Cheng and Yuwen Dao showed a brief stiff expression.

In the Ice Abyss, no one would casually swear involving their cultivation.

This can be confirmed, so what Yang Ning and the others said is most likely true, at least they themselves believe it completely.

This is the strangest part.

Didn’t they know if they were murderers?

”There’s not likely a scenario where three people resembling us, with great power, went and killed the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce people, right?”

Yuan Cheng suddenly spoke up, revealing through his angry tone that this was an unintended comment.

Nonetheless, this unintended comment led Xia Chuan, Yuwen Dao, and everyone present to suddenly change their expressions.

”Don’t be surprised, it’s quite possible!”

Yuan Cheng was taken aback and looked at Xia Chuan in confusion.

”It can be understood if linked with the deceitful monster!”

Upon hearing Xia Chuan’s words, Yuan Cheng immediately got it.

Yes, back during the Mud Slope period, wasn’t that Wooden Puppet Monster responsible for creating thirteen people identical to the logging team, and causing havoc in the cave?

Xia Chuan frowned slightly and instructed Hou Ming, ”Investigate as usual first, if you find no leads, then consider from this angle.”

Hou Ming immediately bowed respectfully and said, ”I obey!”

”Alright, we’ve mostly discussed the matters...”

Xia Chuan turned to look at everyone and ordered, ”Yue Feng, Zhao Long, Meng Yi, Hou Tong, you will lead the Mountain River, Falcon Hunting, Xiong Wu, and Beizhao armies and depart immediately to garrison Long Mountain.”

”Understood!”

”Hou Quan, you take the Dragon Martial Army back to Bashang City to garrison, and additionally, the Tiger Leopard, Black Arrow, and Dragon Slayer armies will also garrison the Bashang area going forward.”

”Understood!”

”Divine Martial garrison Mirror Valley; Longyuan garrison Zhaoyang; Xuanwu garrison Wuyuan; Dongyang Army continues returning to Hanqiong.”

”Understood!”

”Cloud Dragon Army will garrison at Hongmen without moving, Falcon and Beizhao armies continue assisting Bashang in completing the population relocation.”

”Understood!”

The people remaining in the hall at this moment, aside from the Eight Departments Director, were the Commanders of Great Xia’s fifteen armies. Xia Chuan dispersed everyone but intentionally left these people to arrange the later garrison tasks for the military.

”Barring unforeseen events, there should be no warfare in Great Xia for the coming years. Long Mountain, Bashang, Mirror Valley, Zhaoyang, Wuyuan, Hanqiong—these six regions are either resource-rich or close to resource-rich areas, all suitable for military exercises. Stationing the fifteen armies in these places aims to ensure you don’t slacken in military preparation. The fifteen Commanders are all present today, and should there be warfare, the strengths and weaknesses of the fifteen armies will be evident as soon as you hit the battlefield, don’t let me accuse the weakest army later!”

Hearing Xia Chuan’s serious tone, everyone’s demeanor grew several degrees more solemn, and they collectively bowed and shouted, ”Understood!”

”Yuwen Dao, Yuan Cheng, Qiu Peng, you remain at Hongmen. After the Six Towns send over those corpses, cooperate with Hou Ming in settling the matter.”

”Understood!”

”All others return to Xia City, alright, disperse everyone!”

”Understood!”

The group bowed and bid farewell to Xia Chuan, swiftly leaving the great hall.

Upon leaving the hall, Lin Kai suddenly thought of something and approached Xu Ning directly, asking in a low voice, ”Xu Ning, did you arrange a marriage for your younger brother Xu An, with the woman named Zhao Yuanxiu, right?”

Xu Ning immediately nodded, smiling, ”Indeed, but I didn’t arrange it. Zhao Long and his three brothers came to me seeking the match. That Zhao Yuanxiu is Zhao Bao’s eldest daughter. When I was serving in Wuyuan, I met her; she was of top-notch beauty and character. Xu An got himself a good wife!”

Lin Kai’s expression froze, asking, ”Did you ask Xu An about it, did he agree?”

Xu Ning was taken aback by the question and his expression turned peculiar, ”I brought it up to him last month, he didn’t say much, young people are reserved...”

”Ah, you need to pay more attention to Xu An!”

Lin Kai interrupted Xu Ning, seeing his confused face, continued to ask, ”Do you remember Ji Hong and Ji Jiang, the brothers?”

”Of course, they are old-timers from the Mud Slope era, that Ji Hong is no simple character, he’s got top-grade Battle Body Talent, just selected by Director Yuwen to join the Dragon Martial Army, and his future prospects are limitless!”

Lin Kai kept shaking his head, continuing, ”Your brother Xu An likes his sister Ji Jiang, you know. They used to spend a lot of time together when he was stationed in Wuyuan, I’ve come across them several times.”

Xu Ning frowned upon hearing this, recalling last month when he discussed the marriage with Xu An, noting his brother’s reluctance in expressing his thoughts, only now realizing it wasn’t a matter of being reserved, but wanting to refuse.

”Why didn’t he tell me...”

Xu Ning paused mid-sentence.

Having reliant on each other for nearly ten years, Xu Ning is well aware of his younger brother’s personality.

Xu An never refuses anything his elder brother says, and given how serious Xu Ning was in discussing the marriage last month, his brother probably wouldn’t have voiced any objections.

”I will ask him about it in person later!”

Lin Kai immediately nodded and said, ”Marriage is not a trivial matter and must be clarified, I heard it from someone in the Zhao Family last night, recalled seeing Xu An and Ji Jiang together in Wuyuan, and came to remind you.”

Xu Ning nodded, knowing that previously when he served as the Five Originals Guardian, Lin Kai, Xu An, and Zhao Bao were his subordinates, and they were very close, knowing these things is not surprising.