Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1537: Chapter 481: Continuation of Dan Medicine, Feudal Town System and Countering the Ruse (Part 2)

The design of such a system clearly aims to prevent the local authorities from growing too powerful. Those who hold high-ranking positions can naturally see this point.

So, to avoid arousing suspicion from those above, the Six Department Heads and the Prefectural Governor tend to maintain a measured distance from each other, being careful not to get too close.

Typically, the Governor Mansion and the Six Ministries operate without interfering with each other. Only in special circumstances, when ordered by the Landgrave or the two Commanders, do they come together to handle matters.

However, speaking of governance, while the Prefectural Governor doesn’t oversee the Six Ministries, it’s not like they have no power in the County City. For instance, most of the County Guard Army and Town Guard Army fall under the Prefectural Governor’s control.

The main duties of the Prefectural Governor involve defending the territory, so naturally they must have troops at their disposal. Therefore, in the absence of orders from the Landgrave, Commander, or the Military Department, these County Guard Army and Town Guard Army listen only to the Prefectural Governor, essentially functioning as the Governor’s personal forces.

The Prefectural Governor cannot personally lead these troops, yet they lack the authority to bring in people from the Military Department to manage them. Hence, the Governor Mansion sets up three Adviser positions. Advisers must assist the governor in handling various affairs and also help command the troops, essentially serving as the governor’s trusted aides.

Chen Cang is also one of the Four Vassals, and the situation is naturally the same!

In Yanling, there are three major Advisers, appointed in the following order: Zhao Yixin, Chen Tianhong, Yang Zhun.

Chen Tianhong is from the Longxing Chen Family. Considering the intriguing relationship between the Chen Family and the Chu Family, it seemed unlikely for him to become confidant to the Prefectural Governor Chu Tianxu. But nothing is absolute; Chen Tianhong not only became an Adviser for Yanling County but also turned out to be the closest to the governor among the three major Advisers.

“Yang Zhun aside, as someone from the Nine Towns, he is an outsider to Chen Cang and likely took the Adviser position for Cultivation Resources and is understandably not very close to Chu Tianxu;

But Zhao Yixin, being Chu Tianxu’s direct eldest disciple, holds an unusual connection, yet Chen Tianhong is closer to Chu Tianxu than Zhao Yixin. This suggests that he is one of the rare ones in the Longxing Chen Family who has genuinely set aside factional prejudices, wishing to avoid internal conflict and hoping for unity in Chen Cang to continue its growth and prosperity…”

In the year 291 of Chen Cang, on November 25th, at night

In the main hall of the Chen Mansion, Ji Hong was standing at the door, waiting to be summoned by Chen Tianhong.

To be honest, after Chen Tianhong accepted him as a Closed-door Disciple, he treated Ji Hong very well. Whether it was daily Cultivation Resources or his treatment in the mansion over the past few years, there was almost no difference compared to the mansion’s most outstanding Chen Family members.

Unfortunately, they each serve different masters; Ji Hong was born Great Xia’s man, and would die as Great Xia’s ghost. From the day he was coerced into coming to Chen Cang, he made clear his future mission. Moreover, he already knew that Chen Yiqing was Chen Tianhong’s clan nephew. With that relationship alone, no matter how well Chen Tianhong treated him, it wouldn’t make a difference!

Ji Hong’s eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness as he mentally reviewed Chen Tianhong’s general circumstances, taking a slightly deep breath to suppress the turmoil within.

“Young master, the Master invites you inside!”

Upon hearing the message from the maid of the main hall, Ji Hong’s face broke into a smile, nodding as he walked inside.

In the main hall, an elder with graying hair and wearing a blue brocade robe was seated at the head table. Upon seeing Ji Hong enter, he immediately smiled.

“What, even a martial fanatic like you has time to visit me?”

Chen Tianhong, now 158 years old, is considered quite old with the lifespan of 200 years at the Xianyang Level, much less having the Peak of Xianyang cultivation and 43 Jun in strength. Yet, he no longer holds much hope of passing the Tribulation Body. His only remaining wish now is to nurture a few more outstanding young talents for Chen Cang and the Chen Family.

Obsessed with the Sword Dao all his life, three years ago on his way back to the mansion, he unexpectedly saw his nephew Chen Yiqing bringing back this young man who was practicing with the sword. Seeing the young man’s demonstrated talent in the Sword Dao, Chen Tianhong was overjoyed, eagerly inquiring about Ji Hong’s background from Chen Yiqing. After learning that he hailed from the Southern Wilderness, Chen Tianhong immediately took him in as a disciple.

Moreover, after a period of interaction, he increasingly appreciated this little disciple, ultimately announcing that he would no longer take in any more disciples, effectively treating Ji Hong as a Closed-door Disciple.

His disciple was excellent in everything, except being too obsessed with cultivation, almost not engaging in any activities other than cultivating. The heavens reward those who diligently strive for cultivation, and Chen Tianhong is naturally well aware of Ji Hong’s strength as a master.

In August this year, when Cai Qiu Prince Cai Shihong came to the County City to cause trouble, seeing that the Governor Mansion couldn’t present a promising candidate, Chen Tianhong directly brought Ji Hong out.

Ji Hong did not disappoint him; he utterly defeated Cai Shihong, allowing Chen Tianhong to gain significant face at the Governor Mansion.

Thinking of this, his affection for this little disciple has grown even stronger.

“Master, your disciple recently heard about a strange affair around the city, and I thought it might be problematic, so I came to report it.”

“What strange affair?”

Ji Hong responded with a bow, “Didn’t you mention last month that I should go out often and make friends? I’ve stayed in the mansion for so long and it wasn’t easy to interact freely with others, considering there are many guests in the mansion, I picked a young man named Jiang Kang from among them.”

“Jiang Kang…”

Chen Tianhong raised his eyebrows slightly at the mention, murmured the name and immediately remembered something. He looked up and said, “The guest who joined the mansion in May, who makes a living by running commerce, and is a family member of Jiang Fan?”

Ji Hong quickly nodded, “Indeed, Brother Jiang is Elder Jiang’s grandson, he’s straightforward, and I got along well with him.”

Chen Tianhong said nothing further, just waited for Ji Hong’s follow-up.

“Elder Jiang returned from running commerce in early May, and I hosted a table at Worldly Noble Tavern originally intending to invite only Jiang Kang, but seeing Elder Jiang and his entire family there, I extended the invitation to them all.”

“And then?”

“Then I met a very intriguing young man at the feast, he looked about the same age as me, likely just over thirty, but I couldn’t read his strength. I later asked Jiang Kang about it, and he said that was his elder brother Jiang Hong, with Cold Resistance Level Cultivation.”

“Cold Resistance Level Cultivation, and you couldn’t see through it?”

Chen Tianhong immediately questioned with an expression of surprise on hearing this.

His little disciple’s qualifications are unquestionable, combined with his earnest diligence, he now boasts 59 Manes strength, yet for him not to see through a Cold Resistance Level is rare.

Although Jiang Fan possesses Xianyang Level cultivation, with only 3 Jun in strength, it looks like he just broke through, but having such an outstanding grandson is indeed a blessing.

However, for a Cold Resistance Level with unreadable strength, Ji Hong need not specifically come to report it, so there must be more to it. Knowing this, he continued to listen, waiting for Ji Hong to finish.

“Things got odd afterward, for several days after I met with Jiang Kang, I noticed his face looking rather unpleasant. Being friends, I asked him what was wrong, but he wouldn’t say no matter what. Finally, having no choice, I privately approached Elder Jiang to seek clarity.

Elder Jiang initially didn’t wish to say, but I assured him that no matter what, he was a guest of the Chen Mansion. If there was truly something troubling him, you wouldn’t sit idly by, and even if you couldn’t handle it, there’s the Governor Mansion. Given the vastness of Chen Cang, surely someone could help? After much back-and-forth, Elder Jiang finally agreed to speak.”

At this point, Ji Hong paused slightly, then resumed with visible shock in his eyes, continuing, “Elder Jiang stated that since returning to the Chen Mansion on the fifth, his elder grandson’s conduct had been strangely unfamiliar towards his family, and sometimes exuded powerful, untraceable aura. Thus, he suspected that the grandson he brought back might have been swapped!”

Ji Hong appropriately displayed horror on his face, gulping deeply before continuing, “Yet, he dared not ascertain this openly, fearing that once exposed, the whole family wouldn’t survive. So, the entire Chen Mansion remains anxious day by day.”

Swapped?

Sometimes exuding aura even he couldn’t perceive?

“A Deceitful Monster?”

“Probably not. According to Elder Jiang, Jiang Hong showed no resistance toward silver, and even an Advanced Deceit Detection Stone near him showed no reaction.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Tianhong’s brows furrowed deeply.

“You go bring Jiang Fan now…”

Mid-sentence, Chen Tianhong suddenly stopped, then rose directly from his seat and looked outside at the dark sky, shook his head, “Jiang Fan is a newly appointed guest in the mansion, encountering an event of this magnitude must be taken seriously. If something indeed goes wrong, it wouldn’t look good if word spreads. I’ll head over to the Jiang Mansion now to investigate; you wait here for me.”

“The disciple obeys!”

Ji Hong nodded quickly, watching as Chen Tianhong departed, his eyes filled with a concealed expression.