Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1809: Chapter 578: Xiahou Yong and Jiang Yiqing, New Officials Take Office

Even at this moment, his good brother Jiang Yiqing, sitting across from him, was about the same age, but his strength was 31 plumes, three plumes higher than his.

If he doesn’t rely on his family, what else can he do?

Jiang Yiqing grew up wearing the same pants as Xiahou Yong, and upon seeing his expression, he immediately knew what he was thinking. He shook his head and said, “Don’t be reluctant. This is no longer Jiangxia City. To be honest, if you don’t rely on the elders, it’s not just us two who don’t have a chance to rise, even the few standouts are the same…”

He paused before continuing, “Yichen, you know him, right?”

At his words, Xiahou Yong immediately nodded. Jiang Yichen was considered the brightest genius among their two families, stronger even than his sister Xiahou Qingqing. Three years ago, he took tenth place in the youth group of the Great Xia Martial Arts Competition, basking in glory, including himself. None of the young descents from both families didn’t envy him.

“Didn’t he join the Dragon Forbidden Captain? I heard Qingqing mention that early last year he went in as a captain, almost becoming one of the Eight Camp Commanders?”

Although Xiahou Yong himself wasn’t very talented, he had a sister, Xiahou Qingqing, the most talented among five generations of Xiahou descendants. Moreover, Xiahou Qingqing married into the renowned Xiao Family of Great Xia, enabling him to occasionally hear about the Dragon Forbidden Captain news from his brother-in-law Xiao Hen.

Jiang Yiqing shook his head and said, “Everything at the Dragon Forbidden Captain is based on strength; the capable rise and the weak fall. Last September, he was defeated by a descendant from the Xiang Family in his team, and lost his captain position long ago.”

Xiahou Yong was taken aback upon hearing this and subconsciously wanted to ask something but quickly figured it out and showed understanding without saying more.

This was too normal!

Last year he also heard his brother-in-law Xiao Hen talk about the exceptionally fierce competition in the Dragon Forbidden Captain, with captains being replaced almost monthly. Many people were vying for the commander’s position. Xiao Hen, the Commander of the Sixth Camp, was almost defeated several times by battalion captains.

“Is the descendant of the Xiang Family, Xiang Chengchuan or Xiang Chenghai?”

“Xiang Chenghai, 26 years old this year, with a basic strength of 39 plumes.”

Hearing 39 plumes, Xiahou Yong first showed surprise, then sighed slightly.

There are too many renowned families in today’s Great Xia, with local noble families such as the Zhao Family, Xiao Family, Luo Family, along with Yuan, Lin, Xu, Qiu, Yuwen, Hong, Zhu, Meng, and many other top aristocratic families. The new generation descendants of these strong families, if they are of suitable age and have grown up, possess extremely frightening strength.

Many top clans joined Great Xia at the same time as their two families, such as the Murong Family, Mu Family, and the Dragon Valley Li Family, Jinshan Shangguan Family, Wuchuan Qin Family who are soon to move.

Nowadays in Xia City, geniuses are emerging one after another like mushrooms after rain, breaking cultivation records at the Martial Arts Pavilion almost every few months. In the previous years’ martial arts competitions, there were even cases where 14-year-olds pretended to be 15 to compete, leading the Camp Supply Department to strengthen the age screening process for martial arts competitions and set the competition as a five-year event.

Geniuses like Jiang Yichen still struggle, let alone people like him and Jiang Yiqing whose talent is not considered outstanding. Thinking like this, the position of Defense Envoy obtained through the elders’ exchange seems not that hard to accept.

Clearing his mind, Xiahou Yong looked at the bustling crowd on the streets of Qinghe Town and suddenly thought of something. He turned his head and spoke softly, “Actually, it’s not just thanks to great-grandfather and great-uncle’s efforts. There are many young descendants being promoted this time like us. You know the reason, right?”

“Of course, I know!”

Jiang Yiqing immediately nodded, then said, “This northern expedition was a great victory, and from Southern Slope territory onwards, it’s all under Great Xia’s hands. I’ve heard from people in the Inner City that the Garrison Department immediately added more than 300 stations, including five major towns, and more than thirty original camps of the Five Towns garrison…”

With so much new territory, it means a large batch of positions will be added. The Eight Divisions of Great Xia have promotion rules that consider both strength and seniority. A batch of well-performing Guardians and Defense Envoys in the original Great Xia Territory moved up, leaving many positions to be filled.

They knew well that the core reason they both could become Gold Wall Defense Envoy and Dragon River Defense Envoy lay here.

However, what Xiahou Yong meant to say, was evidently something more.

His expression grew solemn as he further lowered his voice, leaning closer to Jiang Yiqing and saying, “Even with this, there aren’t that many positions available. Qingqing privately disclosed to me that the Minister intends to add the position of Governor in the major cities. The Governor has the power to command the Eight Departments, though nominally under the Garrison Department, they hold a Third Rank, equivalent to Deputy Director.”

Governor!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yiqing’s expression was slightly dazed, his breathing momentarily halted.

“The Minister is planning to consolidate power…”

The administrative structure of Great Xia has always been clear with a three-tier system, centered on Minister Xia Chuan, Xia Chuan commands the Eight Divisions, and then each division manages its respective Eight Departments.

However, as Great Xia’s territory has been rapidly expanding in recent years, the affairs managed by the Eight Divisions have significantly increased, and complications have started to surface. One typical issue is that the heads of the eight departments in various cities are on the same level, with no one able to make a definitive decision.

In earlier years, the Garrison Department established the Guardian position on top of the Defense Envoy, clearly stipulating that only during wartime or in special periods does the Guardian have the power to command the Eight Departments stationed, otherwise, in daily times, the Guardian and other seven department chiefs are on equal basis.

This has become problematic, especially with the rapid expansion of Great Xia’s territory, as it’s about to confront the Feudal Towns. If the roles are still unclear as before, truly encountering any issues could easily delay important matters.