Wu Tianxing’s face turned grave upon hearing this, and he said slowly, "The Alliance Hierarch is getting old, and there aren’t many days left for him. Marquis Zhaoyang Hu is at the peak of his power, with the camp’s strength growing daily. Having such mindset is understandable."
"But it’s not just mindset. When I went to Long Mountain this ti, I heard that Marquis Hu, through intimidation or bribery, has begun secretly persuading other camps to overthrow our Old Alliance Leader and establish a Zhaoyang Alliance!"
"Hiss... Is the Old Alliance Leader not dealing with him?"
"Deal, how to deal with it? Now it’s the eldest young master who has the final say in Long Mountain. The Old Alliance Leader hasn’t even appeared in person. If it weren’t for the hidden sentries, I would think he might not even be alive anymore."
Wu Tianxing’s expression flickered slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Chief, if it’s really like this, then our camp must make plans early."
Chen Yingyuan’s brow furrowed, clearly understanding the aning behind Wu Tianxing’s words.
The Longyou Alliance has sustained itself for the past fifteen years, in essence, due to the Old Alliance Leader and his Long Mountain camp having enough strength to hold the fort.
When the person is gone, politics falls.
Once the Old Alliance Leader is no longer here, relying solely on the eldest son...
If the Longyou Alliance collapses and Chen Yingyuan hasn’t found a backup plan ahead of ti, the outco for Hive Camp wouldn’t be good.
Enemies are on all fronts: north, west, and now a Great Xia camp is erging in the south, crucially unrestricted by the alliance treaty...
"Let think about it first. That Marquis Hu is not a good person. The Old Alliance Leader lent him grain and manpower back then to help him return and inherit Zhaoyang Camp, which was a great favor to him. It’s only been thirteen years, and with his strength, he imdiately turns back to bite. Who would dare collaborate with such a person? Let’s wait and see."
Wu Tianxing’s expression first paused, then he asked, "What about the Alliance Leader Order issued by the eldest young master? Ten pounds of Jade Bone, five million pounds of Iron Ore, and we also have to send a hostage over. Should we comply with all of it?"
This question made Chen Yingyuan’s face instantly darken.
Chen Yingba was also aware of the Alliance Leader Order, and couldn’t help but say angrily, "I think this eldest young master is just going mad. The Old Alliance Leader doesn’t have long to live, and the Longyou Alliance is clearly on the brink of collapse. He’s still thinking of hoarding and exploiting. Isn’t he forcing us ten families to rebel? Big brother, in my opinion, we should just join under Marquis Hu!"
As soon as he said this, Chen Yingyuan’s brow furrowed deeply.
Wu Tianxing remained silent, his gaze drifting elsewhere.
"If things were truly that simple, you fool!"
Chen Yingyuan cursed inwardly, but he didn’t have the heart to explain to his straightforward brother. He could only sigh deeply and said, "The Alliance Leader Order gave a year’s grace anyway. Hive Camp is the farthest from Long Mountain. Let’s see what the other camps do first, then we’ll decide..."
Saying this, he paused, glanced at Chen Yingba, and continued:
"Xia Hong is not to be trifled with. You, stay honest with the Hunting Team in the near future, and don’t co near Jing Valley."
"Yes, big brother."
Seeing Chen Yingba nod in agreent, he turned his gaze to Wu Tianxing and said,
"Old Wu, go and make contact with Luo Ming, see if you can gather more information about Great Xia. If suitable, see if we can re-establish trade relations. The territory of Mirror Immortal has been taken over by them, and the Arrow Bamboo Forest is surely in their hands. Raw bamboo silk and Snow Bamboo are good resources on this side of Longyou, try to get as much as possible. Oh, and Iron Ore and Coal Mines, they should also be in need of Cold Beast at."
Wu Tianxing nodded in acknowledgnt.
...
First Year of the Great Xia, May 18
The wooden building in the valley was once again filled with noise.
"Who is getting married today?"
"The tenth family, hurry and take a look."
"Today it’s Zhao Bao, captain of the Golden Eagle Team."
"It’s the last family, right? Tonight we’ll get another bowl of salted at soup."
"Tsk tsk... That at soup slls so good, just thinking about it makes my mouth water."
"That soup has salt added to it."
"No wonder it slls so good. I heard that salt is made from grinding Interdiate Beast Bone Powder together with other herbs. Over at the Camp Supply Departnt, it costs 500 contribution points per pound, an outrageous price that only the top-ranking hunting team captains can afford."
"Expensive as it is, its benefits are astonishing. I heard from so lords at the Camp Supply Departnt that consuming salt over a long period can not only enhance one’s cultivation talent but also increase longevity!"
"Longevity?"
"And the aged wine tastes great too. I went to inquire at the Camp Supply Departnt yesterday, and guess how much contribution value one pound of aged wine costs?"
"How much?"
"It costs 100 points."
"Hiss... That is way too expensive!"
"Expensive, but nothing can be done. Haven’t you noticed over the past few days that many in the Earth-digging Realm receive aged wine but save it without drinking it, giving it to their own children or nephews in the Logging Realm? I heard it’s because drinking aged wine can increase strength."
"Ah?"
...
Ever since Xia Hong announced that the following ten newlywed couples would have their weddings conducted according to the standards of Xia Chuan’s wedding night, the wooden building in the valley had been busy with a new couple tying the knot every day.
The most distressed about this situation was Qiu Peng, the Camp Supply Departnt Director.
"Ten weddings in ten days, plus your own ceremony, Lord Chief, it’s been eleven consecutive days. Our Camp Supply Departnt has bled heavily."
On the top floor of the wooden building, Xia Chuan, once again donning the black cloak, heard Qiu Peng’s grievance and asked, "What, used a lot of supplies?"
Qiu Peng imdiately nodded, opened the accounting book in his hand, and said with a worried face, "Over twenty thousand people, and everyone except infants has a sip of at soup. Each wedding consus 30 pounds of salt, 1500 pounds of beast at, and ten bottles of aged wine. If calculated by contribution value, in these eleven days, the supplies spent by the Camp Supply Departnt nearly reach two hundred thousand."
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