Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1739: Chapter 552: Chu Tianming’s Breakthrough Tactics, Vertical and Horizontal Alliances (Part 2)

“So that’s how it is, it seems this Chu Tianming is quite a character!”

“Just a desperate means to break the deadlock. If Chu Longteng had not orchestrated this trial and was determined to bring ten thousand troops for an attack, our Great Xia would truly suffer a heavy blow.”

“Chen Cang indeed has the grandeur of a state, and today’s Landgrave could very well be a future Lord. With so many supporters of Chu Tianming, how could he have no thoughts about the position of Landgrave?”

“Speaking of which, it’s a trouble created by Chu Longteng himself. According to the information gathered by Jiang Xinfan, Chu Longteng initially intended to make his eldest son the heir, but who could have thought he’d change his mind later? How could Chu Tianming possibly accept that?”

……

Upon hearing the words of the crowd, Xia Chuan’s lips curled slightly into a smile, and he replied slowly, “I fear that he has no concerns. Since there is chaos in establishing the heir in Chen Cang, it is an opportunity for our Great Xia. Chu Longteng wants to use us to help him solve the issues of establishing an heir, we just won’t comply. What is a mere East River City? If we can add fuel to the fire and give up the entire East River Territory, even I, the Minister, would be willing to!”

The crowd was slightly startled upon hearing this, struck by Xia Chuan’s determination.

Now that all seven districts of the entire Beishuo region are under Great Xia’s control, Xia Chuan not only intends to yield East River City but is willing to hand over the entire East River district. Such determination is truly astonishing.

However, after the initial surprise, everyone quickly understood.

Xia Chuan’s willingness to yield the acquired territory is on the one hand to add fuel to the chaos in Chen Cang, and on the other hand, it might be Great Xia’s best choice at the moment.

Currently, Great Xia lacks the capacity to simultaneously fight the two vassal towns, even considering the Lord’s Beast Emperor-level Puppet, this is an undeniable fact.

Yielding an already emptied East River City not only stirs the chaos in succession in Chen Cang but also avoids a direct confrontation with Chen Cang, why not?

Once we counter Cai Qiu’s offensive, we will have more room to specifically deal with Chen Cang later, making it much easier.

As for Xia Chuan, his thinking differs from the others.

He is genuinely willing to yield the entire East River district.

According to information brought back by Jiang Xinfan, once the reform in Yanling County succeeds, it is very likely that Chen Cang’s strength will greatly increase, and correspondingly, it would mean Chu Tianxu rises to power successfully. Therefore, Great Xia joining hands with Chu Tianming, subtly obstructing Chu Tianxu, is necessary.

It now appears that Chu Tianming’s rise to power best aligns with Great Xia’s interests!

“Minister, not only have we let Chen Cang’s ten thousand troops out of the Blood Corridor, but now we have given them East River City; the Beishuo region we struggled to conquer, seven out of ten parts are given away for nothing, reclaiming it may not be so easy in the future?”

Xia Chuan raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing Mu Qinghe speak and immediately showed a trace of appreciation on his face.

Fang Tianqing, a consultant sent by Chu Tianming, made it clear that Chen Cang’s ten thousand troops only take East River City and will not continue southwards.

This statement, in different words, suggests that Chen Cang’s ten thousand troops might never leave East River City again, which means while Chu Tianming’s intent might be on Cai Qiu, he still had a hand in the Southern Slope Territory.

Moreover, this move is actually quite shrewd.

The access for Chen Cang’s southward movement is in the Jiuqu Blood Corridor, where the ten thousand troops have exited, occupied territory fifty kilometers south of Danxue Peak, and captured East River City that Great Xia spent years building. This firmly planted a stake in the South Road Territory. Once this campaign ends, it will be easier for Chen Cang to wage war on Great Xia in the future.

Conversely, if Great Xia relinquishes East River City now, reclaiming it later will be difficult, severing Chen Cang’s extended reach will be less likely.

Xia Chuan took a slight breath and said gravely, “This is probably the biggest hidden danger we’ve left behind this time. However, there’s no need to worry too much. Times change, even if Chu Tianming cannot capture the whole Lin Chu County, he can still make Cai Qiu lose a significant piece of territory. By then, Cai Qianshan will surely be more wary of Chen Cang. We can strategically offer an olive branch and join forces with them against Chen Cang.”

Upon hearing Xia Chuan’s words, everyone was momentarily stunned.

It’s not their fault; the withdrawal from East River City by the Xia Army actually means cooperating with Chen Cang against Cai Qiu. But according to Xia Chuan, once this cooperation ends and the campaign with Cai Qiu concludes, they will immediately join forces with Cai Qiu against Chen Cang.

“Doesn’t this mean our Great Xia becomes a fence-sitter?”

“It’s a bit disgraceful!”

“After all, they are feudal towns, being a bit flexible can be understood.”

……

Upon hearing everyone’s words, Xia Chuan’s face showed a slight smile as he recalled the words his elder brother had previously asked Xu Ning to convey, he shook his head lightly and said to everyone:

“In cooperation between individuals, integrity and trust should be upheld, but between villages this is not necessary. Whether it’s our Great Xia, Chen Cang, or Cai Qiu, each holds vast territories, each has millions of citizens, and one move can decide the lives and deaths of hundreds of thousands, even millions of people, how can emotions dictate actions?

Today you are strong, I will work with you against others. Tomorrow you are weak, I will naturally cooperate with others against you. Such alliances and strategies are always the way for Great Feudal Town foreign affairs. Now, you are all commanding a troop; if you can’t understand this simple truth, how will you battle for Great Xia in the future?”