Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1719: Chapter 544: News from Chen Cang, Xia Chuan’s Deployment_2

Xia Chuan had actually caught some hints, but since he hadn’t personally visited Chen Cang, he couldn’t deduce much based solely on the information brought back by Chen Yingba.

“Master is truly wise. What I’m about to discuss is the most important piece of information among the many messages Lord Jiang asked me to convey…”

Chen Yingba’s face was filled with admiration, evidently shocked by Xia Chuan’s keen insight. After pausing for a moment, he continued in a deep voice, “Based on the speculations of Lord Jiang and young Ji Hong, Chu Longteng does not favor his eldest son, Chu Tianming. However, constrained by the seniority-based inheritance system, he cannot openly strip Chu Tianming of his succession rights. Thus, he orchestrates this test, possibly because he foresees that a southern advance won’t end well. By leveraging our hands, he aims to dispel Chu Tianming’s succession thoughts and then rightfully appoint his third son, Chu Tianxu, as the Little Landgrave.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Chuan’s expression immediately tensed.

This speculation, one must admit, is rather bold.

Chu Longteng possesses the cultivation of the Fourth Turn Tribulation Body Realm, with rumors claiming him as the foremost power in Moao River. Leading the strongest vassal among the Four Vassals, under the current capacity of Great Xia, could Chu Longteng truly conclude that marching a grand army south would yield no results?

Following this line of thought, Xia Chuan’s expression soon became peculiar.

Admittedly, it’s somewhat plausible!

If Chu Longteng had witnessed the entire engagement between Great Xia and Cai Qiu, then indeed, it might be possible.

During the battle of Beishuo City, big brother Xia Hong deployed only two Beast Emperor Puppets, but in the subsequent battle at Aikou, fourteen were actually used.

Setting aside the troop numbers, the current strength of the Xia Army is probably insufficient to instill much fear in Chen Cang. However, the Beast Emperor-level Puppets are a different story. A single normal beast emperor puppet can contend with two or three First Transformation Tribulation Body Realm individuals, not to mention that big brother has several Double-Line and even Three-Rowed Beast Emperor Puppets in his possession.

Additionally, big brother only deployed fourteen Beast Emperor-level Puppets, but that doesn’t mean he only has that many at his disposal.

To exaggerate not, given the strength currently showcased by Great Xia, unless Chen Cang mobilizes all its forces for a full-scale war, defeat is impossible.

But the problem is, if Chen Cang were to concentrate all its power against Great Xia, would the other Three Vassals remain indifferent?

Hence, the annihilation of Great Xia is already an impossibility.

“Using Great Xia’s hands to resolve the internal power struggle, if Chu Longteng truly thinks this way, it shows some cunning. This matter requires careful contemplation…”

Based on the information relayed by Jiang Xinfan, Xia Chuan has a vague impression of Chen Cang, enabling him to deduce quite a few things.

Chen Cang seems strong, but it harbors numerous hidden troubles.

Chu Longteng and Chen Liwu are like twin suns in the sky, and the Chu and Chen families haven’t fully merged, harboring mutual discord. The top prestigious families circle around these two major families. During calm times, everyone gets along fine, but once issues arise, unity becomes hard to ensure.

The affluent upper-class families control the Six Town Departments, and the Five Prefectures and Two Lakes are also dominated by the Chu and Chen lineage. The Six-class System is unwieldy, with slave and lowly status people disproportionately outnumbering others, causing considerable public grievances throughout the Feudal Towns; albeit still within manageable bounds, when considering Chen Family’s patronage of the Frost Ash Association, future developments are unpredictable.

Of course, these issues are also present among the other Three Vassals in Moao River. Even compared to them, the problems in Chen Cang are relatively minor, but what drives Chu Longteng’s ambition to unify Moao River?

The other Three Vassals’ Landgraves might recognize their issues, but aren’t pursuing unification due to a lack of ambition or resources.

Chu Longteng possesses ambition, thus he’ll confront these issues head-on, demonstrating leadership through reform and restructuring—likely the best testament to his aspiration.

Chu Tianxu most likely represents Chen Cang’s collective support for Chu Longteng. Whether Chen Cang advances further hinges on the success of Yanling’s decade-long reform. As long as Chu Longteng harbors ambition, the Little Landgrave position can only belong to Chu Tianxu; should he indeed appoint Chu Tianming as Little Landgrave, he’d essentially bow to the conservatives within Chen Cang, stifling reform efforts.

Xia Chuan sorted through his thoughts, his eyes gradually lighting up.

“Minister, both Lord Jiang and young Ji Hong have reported that Yanling’s reform faces significant resistance, and though it suppresses the wealthy, it undeniably benefits Chen Cang, giving more people the opportunity to transcend class boundaries. Observing the recent months, the reform’s impact is quite promising, with Chu Tianxu’s prestige soaring and Yanling’s status within Chen Cang’s Five Prefectures and Two Lakes rising steadily, prompting many families from outside counties to relocate to Yanling County.

If continued, Chen Cang would genuinely thrive, contrary to the interests of Great Xia. Although Lord Jiang has covertly undertaken some actions, his manpower is scarce, compounded by the formidable strength of Feudal Towns, so our limited forces simply can’t stir any considerable waves. He sends word to the Minister: to interrupt Chen Cang’s reform requires further investment.”

Xia Chuan hearing this, waved his hand and immediately understood.

Last year, he sent Jiang Xinfan over with only eight people: Chen Hua, Kong Xiu, Luo Ming, Hong Yu, Meng Ao, Zhu Kang, Chen Yingba, and Wu Ningyuan. Counting Ji Hong previously sent, Great Xia has only ten undercover agents at Chen Cang, among whom only Jiang Xinfan possesses Xianyang-level strength.

With such few personnel, even in a vassal of Chen Cang’s size, making waves is impossible; hoping Jiang Xinfan would play a decisive role or influence Yanling’s reform process demands greater investment.

However, now is not ideal!

The urgent matter at hand is dealing with the two vassal armies.

“Minister, Lord Xu has arrived!”

“Quickly let him in.”

Just as Xia Chuan was about to speak, the voice of an orderly soldier announced from outside the tent, hearing Xu Ning had arrived, he hurriedly called him in.

Seeing Xu Ning walk in brimming with excitement, Xia Chuan relaxed completely even before he spoke.

“Master, Jinyang’s great victory, both Towns’ allied forces have surrendered entirely. From Cai Qiu, totaling 153 at Xianyang level, 81 have been slain. Cai Qianshan was furious and attacked the Lord with eight Tribulation Body cultivators. The Lord deployed fourteen Beast Emperor-level Puppets, heavily wounding four of them. Cai Qianshan vowed to march south in three days, claiming he’ll obliterate Jinyang completely, leaving no survivors!”

“Hahahahahaha…”

Xia Chuan laughed aloud, turning to Chen Yingba and chuckled, “All of you listen, these vassals’ boasts grow ever larger; Chen Cang claims it will pacify the Southern Slope, annihilating Great Xia in a month; Cai Qiu purports to massacre Jinyang in three days. It’s laughable that Great Xia is but one entity, even if we cleaned our neck, it’s uncertain whose blade would strike first.”

Xu Ning paused, after Chen Yingba beside him explained, he finally grasped Xia Chuan’s words, and smirked coldly, “None have arrived yet, but they’re quick to declare bold threats.”

Pausing briefly, he continued, “Jiuqu Blood Corridor and Bone-Eroding Path, both are major strategic passes that are easy to defend but hard to attack. No matter how strong their armies, if they can’t seize them, what good is all that might?”

The Lord commanded Yuan Cheng and Luo Yuan, leading an army of ten thousand at the Bone-Eroding Path’s exit. Cai Qiu, with only twenty thousand troops, even if backed by a hundred thousand, cannot breach Bone-Eroding Path.”

Jiuqu Blood Corridor, Bone-Eroding Path—just by hearing these names, you can glean the nature of these terrains, not easily overcome by sheer numbers.

“With both Towns’ allied forces having surrendered, there’s no need to continue besieging Wuchuan City. Zhao Long, Hou Tong, I’ll leave five thousand troops for you, prepare to take over Wuchuan City.

Liu Yuan will lead the remaining fifteen thousand troops northwards to garrison East River City.

Beishuo City should be settled by now too. Zhou Yuan, notify Yue Feng to leave two thousand to control Beishuo City, and have the rest eight thousand return to East River City.”

“Your order, Master!”

As Xia Chuan issued military commands, the gathered generals all subtly lifted their expressions, promptly bowing and receiving orders.

With both Towns’ allied forces collapsing, Cai Qiu retreating, the Southern Slope Territory is essentially unified now. With the lord personally stationed at Jinyang, along with Yuan Cheng and Luo Yuan’s two divisions, sufficient to resist Cai Qiu, Xia Chuan now reallocates troops north to East River City naturally to counter Chen Cang.

Whether Great Xia can genuinely consolidate the Southern Slope hinges on the upcoming engagement with Chen Cang and Cai Qiu armies.

The moment for awarding achievements hasn’t arrived.

Ahead lies the true test!