Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 812: Chapter 319: Military Merit and Bestowal of Titles, Hearts Stirred

After Mu Dong finished explaining, he seemed to remember something and continued, “The meaning of ‘Imperial-made’ might not be clear to everyone. It signifies the Lord’s personal commission for these creations. So once the ownership of this horizontal blade war armor is confirmed, the Craftsmen Department will engrave the owner’s name on it, signifying that these are exclusive weapons and armor.”

If noble titles bestow tangible benefits, then the robes, weapons, and war armors before everyone now represent status and reputation.

As long as one wears these robes, pairs them with this Imperial-made horizontal blade, and dons this Imperial-made war armor, who in Xia City would not recognize them?

The pursuit of fame and profit is human nature. Even the nearly ninety people standing in the grand hall, all with Cold Resistance level cultivation, cannot escape this principle.

Moreover, what Xia Hong discussed now was only the treatment of the lowest Dark Feather Marquis!

Going up to Red Cloud, Qingming, Zidian… the benefits surely get better and better. What kind of luxurious treatment would the highest rank of Zhunbo receive then?

Thinking of this question, everyone’s breathing became heavier, and the desire in their eyes gradually reached its peak.

In their minds, there was only one phrase:

Secure a noble title, definitely secure a noble title!

……

Xia Hong did not disturb everyone; the matter of securing noble titles held great significance behind it, and expecting to fully explain it in such a short time wasn’t realistic. They had to slowly contemplate and understand it themselves over time.

For now, the considerable benefits of a noble title were enough to drive these people mad.

“That’s enough about securing noble titles for now. Next, we’ll proceed with discussing rewards and merits from the Longyou campaign between April and July…”

As Xia Hong spoke to this point, he paused and gestured to the servant beside him to hand the stack of documents on the table to Xia Chuan.

Xia Chuan took the documents, his expression brightened, and he turned to face everyone, picking up the first volume of the documents.

The main event today had finally arrived!

Everyone raised their heads, looking towards Xia Chuan and the others at the front with eyes full of envy and curiosity.

Xia Hong had spent so much time discussing the matter of securing noble titles earlier, evidently as a preparation for bestowing rewards and merits at this moment, of course everyone understood.

In this Longyou campaign, besides the Cloud Dragon Army, it was Xia Chuan, Yuwen Dao, Liu Yuan, and a few others at the Cold Resistance level who truly shone.

Now they were all curious, how much military merit did these people accumulate, what titles would they be granted — the lowest Dark Feather, or perhaps…

“Zhu Ling, Huang Yong, Ying Xuan, for defending the Beehive, fought valiantly and never retreated, though ultimately fell in battle. They upheld the prestige of Great Xia and did not lose the spirit of the Xia people. The Lord decrees to posthumously honor them as Ninth-rank Dark Feather Marquises, and when their offspring reach adulthood and meet the requisite military merits, they may inherit the titles!”

……

Upon hearing the first document, everyone was momentarily stunned, showing a bit of sentiment. But soon they suddenly realized something, and their gaze became incredibly fervent.

This title, can be passed on to offspring?

This meant that even if they died for Great Xia, the title wouldn’t be lost. As long as their descendants weren’t too useless, they could essentially inherit it.

Understanding this, the allure of noble titles instantly soared tremendously in everyone’s hearts.

And Xia Chuan continued to read the documents for conferring titles.

In total, twenty-four were granted the title of Ninth-rank Dark Feather Marquis, namely:

Yuan Cheng, Qiu Peng, Yue Feng, Lin Kai, Lu Yang, Xu Ning, Liu Yuan, Zhu Yuan, Zhao Long, Zhao Hu, Zhao Bao, Chen Yingyuan, Peng Bo, Li Longkai, Ying Yi, Zou Yuankai, Zhu Shun, Lu Sheng, Tong Xinglong, Li Yuankun, Xiao Kangcheng, Hong Guang, Hong Tian, Hong Gang, Mu Dong, Meng Yi.

These twenty-four participated in the Longyou campaign since April, including the Lower Beehive, attacking Wushuang, capturing Hanqiong, and later defending the Beehive and attacking Long Mountain; they were involved in all.

The more they participated, the more military merits they naturally accrued.

As Xia Chuan read each name, he laid out all their military achievements and merits, clearly having done adequate homework over the past two months to investigate their military accomplishments.

All twenty-four people received their enfeoffment documents from Xia Chuan, and then obtained the Hundred Forged Xuanling Iron Order symbolizing their viscount identity, respectfully bowing to Xia Hong above:

“Subordinate thanks the Lord for the rewards, long live Great Xia, long live the Lord!”

“No need for formalities. Rise.”

After everyone rose and returned to their previous positions, they then turned their heads in unison to look towards Mu Dong at the front.

Mu Dong saw the look in everyone’s eyes and immediately understood, gave a pat on his head and laughed, “The robes, weapons, and war armors are still being hastily produced as we speak. What you see today are merely samples, there’s no need for impatience, they will all be completed within three months at the latest. By then, I will personally deliver them to your homes.”

“Hahaha, no rush at all.”

“After all, they won’t run away, good work takes time, nothing to worry about.”

“Hahaha, no need to worry, who doesn’t trust the craftsmanship of Director Mu?”

……

Mu Dong pointed out everyone’s anxiousness over the robe, weapon, and armor set, causing the hall to burst into laughter, easing the atmosphere significantly.

Of course, after the laughter subsided, their eyes turned universally towards Yuwen Dao in the front row, and Xia Chuan, who held the last two enfeoffment documents.

Only these two had yet to be rewarded.

Xia Chuan was already proceeding:

“Hunting Department Director Yuwen Dao, for the April attack on the Beehive, exploring Yang Lu, campaigning against Wushuang, the July battles at Changbai Gully and Ning Yuan Hill, advancing north with the Lord against White Abyss, combating at Xiling, and the final assault on Long Mountain, all with outstanding military achievements, unparalleled in the camp, hence the Lord decrees Yuwen Dao be granted the title of Eighth-rank Red Cloud Marquis.”

Xia Chuan paused slightly here, then continued, “The Eighth-rank Red Cloud Marquis has a stipend double that of the Ninth-rank Dark Feather Marquis, with an Imperial-made horizontal blade at the Ten Thousand Forged level, war armor at the Thousand Forged level.

They may exempt one descendant from labor for life, the lady is decreed the title of Eighth-rank Viscountess, also exempt from labor for life, descendants may be titled as heirs, and may build a 400-square-meter estate in Xia City, equipped with five maids and ten attendants.”

Hmm…

The double stipend aside, the Imperial-made weapon is at the Ten Thousand Forged level, the war armor is a Thousand Forged level which Great Xia hasn’t even developed yet, not to mention those other benefits.

The gaze of the entire audience at Yuwen Dao instantly filled with envy.

And clearly, Yuwen Dao himself was not calm either. He stepped forward, received his enfeoffment document, then bowed deeply to Xia Hong on the platform, saying solemnly, “Subordinate thanks the Lord for the rewards, long live Great Xia, long live the Lord!”

“No need for formalities, rise.”

Finally came Xia Chuan’s own enfeoffment document. For convenience, he did not recite all the terms but simply read out the title he was conferred.

“Minister Xia Chuan, conferred the title of Eighth-rank Red Cloud Marquis!”

Honestly, when everyone heard that Xia Chuan’s title matched that of Yuwen Dao, there was more or less some surprise on their faces, especially those Cold Resistance levels newly joined to Longyou.

From April, leading troops to seize the Beehive, advancing into Wushuang, capturing Hanqiong, to later stubbornly defending the Beehive; one could say Great Xia’s successful capture of Longyou couldn’t have happened without Xia Chuan’s ministerial role, which, to some extent, was on par with Xia Hong the Lord.

Plus, considering his relationship with Xia Hong, people felt in their hearts that even if he was directly made a Zhunbo, it wouldn’t be unacceptable.

But in the end, he was only granted a title identical to Yuwen Dao’s as an Eighth-rank Marquis.

The value of this noble title is astonishingly high!

The numerous Cold Resistance levels who weren’t conferred a title ended up having this idea flash in their minds, making their expressions involuntarily hot.

“Anyone conferred a noble title shares a common fate with Great Xia; as Great Xia grows stronger, your conditions will rise accordingly. Conversely, if Great Xia declines, your benefits and status will also diminish. Therefore, conferment is just the start; don’t think that obtaining a title means success and resting on your laurels.

Additionally, I must emphasize one point: having a title doesn’t mean you’re in a privileged class. On the contrary, you must uphold the camp regulations more zealously than those ordinary people. Otherwise, I will severely penalize, or even revoke your titles—that’s definitely possible. Do you understand?”

On hearing Xia Hong’s warning, the newly conferred over twenty people immediately became solemn and nodded, responding in unison:

“Understood, Lord!”

“Good to hear. Recently, the population of Xia City has been growing, and the establishment of the Prison Department is imminent. For maintenance of city order and normal civilian life, legal codifications will soon be introduced. When ordinary people break these laws, there will be corresponding punitive measures. But if those of you with titles violate these laws, the punitive measures will be doubled. Don’t say I didn’t warn you in advance.”

Realizing Xia Hong wasn’t joking, their previously solemn expressions gained a few more shades of seriousness.