Chapter 373: Chen Hua and Kong Xiu, Chaos in Muyin, The Defeated Basha

Mo'ao Era 132, March 1st, Daytime

Muyin Town, a residence on the outskirts.

A middle-aged man wearing thousand-forged iron armor knocked on the gate, then coughed three times in succession.

Creak...

The gate was opened from the inside, the middle-aged man walked in quickly, and then the gate was closed rapidly.

The owner of the house was also a middle-aged man, but he was not wearing armor, just casual clothes. After closing the door, he led the visitor into the house, sat down in the inner room, and then looked at the iron armor on the visitor, a look of disbelief appearing on his face:

"You really infiltrated the Garrison Troops? This works too?"

Clang...

Seeing Chen Hua's expression, Kong Xiu patted the iron armor on his body and couldn't help laughing triumphantly: "Hahaha, I said it would work, you didn't believe me. We've been here for less than half a year and were able to infiltrate the town. It shows that this Muyin Town has long been riddled with spies. I estimate that many people in the top brass have been bought by outsiders. You expect strict screening from two hastily assembled Garrison Troops? I just went to sign up and showed my cultivation, and they didn't even think about it, directly recruiting me."

Chen Hua was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head repeatedly: "If the Garrison Troops are so reckless, I'm afraid this Muyin Town is truly nearing its demise."

Speaking of this, he paused, a look of disbelief appearing on his face as he continued:

"These Garrison Troops are the town's greatest reliance. Murong Chui couldn't possibly not know, right? Even this can be messed up? Are they really not planning to resist?"

"It's useless to know. Murong Chui is only the town head, and the position of the Muyin Town military commander is vacant. Lord Murong Yan is acting in that capacity. Murong Yan is currently leading everyone in the Murong clan's main branch, single-mindedly wanting to defect to Jin Shan Town. He views his second grandfather as a thorn in his side; how could he possibly cooperate with him to properly reorganize the army?"

Hearing Kong Xiu's words, Chen Hua's expression froze slightly. Thinking of the internal situation of the Murong clan he had learned about in the two-plus months since infiltrating the town, he nodded gently, a look of excitement appearing on his face.

He and Kong Xiu were both from Five Ape Mountain and were only incorporated into Great Xia in the fourth month of the first year.

Kong Xiu was the head of the East Peak Camp, and he was the head of the West Peak Camp.

In the seven years since being incorporated into Great Xia, although both had successfully broken through to the Frost-Resisting level, to be honest, other than each having a high-level hunting team in their hands, they had achieved almost nothing in other aspects.

A Frost-Resisting level cultivation is naturally remarkable for an individual, but looking at Great Xia today, it counts for nothing. At most, it can guarantee you a position as a captain of an intermediate hunting team; you can't even think about anything else.

Both of them had been heads before, so they were naturally unwilling to live an ordinary life. In the seven years since being incorporated into Great Xia, they hadn't even managed to become mid-level officials, so both naturally felt very frustrated and were eager to find an opportunity to get ahead.

The problem was that the opportunity to get ahead in Great Xia was too difficult.

Just calculate it and you'll know. Great Xia currently has 28 external garrison points, of which only Wuyuan, Dongling, and Longshan have subordinate offices. Counting the nine districts of the Xia City headquarters, there are a total of 12 major garrison points and 25 minor garrison points.

Just counting the number of garrison points, one major garrison point has eight subordinate offices, totaling sixteen positions, and minor garrison points only have two positions—the Garrison Commander and Deputy Garrison Commander. That is to say, at most, there are only 242 garrison point positions.

Of course, this does not mean Great Xia only has 242 positions.

There are also the Si Zheng and members of the eight departments, the Commanders and Captains of the Military Department, the City Gate Order... but even counting these, the number of positions in Great Xia that can be ranked is at most less than four hundred.

But Great Xia's current Frost-Resisting level experts have already exceeded six thousand.

With more monks than gruel, it is naturally not that simple to get ranked.

Moreover, being ranked is at most the first step to getting ahead. Further ahead, there is the even more difficult task of being enfeoffed and establishing a sect, which is the highest pursuit of the people of Great Xia at present.

There are only so many positions in total, and whenever one becomes vacant, everyone fights for it. He and Kong Xiu broke through to the Frost-Resisting level in the third year of Great Xia. Their strength is not considered strong, and they have no special advantages, so it is naturally difficult to be noticed.

However, thinking about others, it is actually not that hard to accept.

Even Xiao Kangcheng, who was incorporated into Great Xia at the same time as them, only became the Zhaoyang Garrison Commander last year by taking advantage of Shi Ping's promotion to Wuyuan Garrison Commander.

Not to mention Xiao Kangcheng's father-in-law relationship with Xia Chuan, he broke through to the Frost-Resisting level in the second year of Great Xia, a year earlier than them, and made great contributions during Great Xia's conquest of Longyou, being among the first batch to be enfeoffed as a ninth-rank Ying Xuan Ling Viscount.

Even Xiao Kangcheng struggled for five years before becoming a sixth-rank Garrison Commander. Since both of them have no foundation and average talent, it is naturally as difficult as ascending to heaven for them to climb to the upper levels.

Two equally frustrated people, upon learning in early October last year that Si Cheng Xia Chuan wanted to send people to infiltrate the Jiuzhen to gather intelligence, signed up without thinking.

It's interesting to say, but there were actually many people who signed up at the time, and many were stronger than them. The reason the two were chosen was precisely because they were old enough and their strength was not too strong.

Since it is infiltration, one naturally cannot be too eye-catching. Ordinary Frost-Resisting level experts like them, nearly fifty years old, without war-body qualifications, and with average strength, are indeed the most suitable candidates.

In early October, the two, along with thirty other Frost-Resisting level secret agents, arrived at Dongling via the Cold-Jade secret path. According to Lu Yang's arrangement, there were four secret agents per town—two responsible for gathering intelligence and two responsible for sending news back to Dongling. He and Kong Xiu were responsible for gathering intelligence in Muyin Town.

When the two first arrived, they were naturally extremely careful, directly infiltrating a village-level camp that was not considered strong, intending to slowly gather intelligence on Muyin.

But they had only been in that camp for less than two months when the town began to conscript Frost-Resisting level experts and Earth-Digging Realm limits from every village. The two didn't know the specific reason, but they didn't want to miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so they accepted the conscription and entered the town.

Now they have been in the town for more than two months, not only figuring out the reason for that conscription but also gathering a large amount of intelligence on the town.

"Murong Yan is now basically led by the nose by his wife, Shangguan Hong. The conscription two months ago was highly likely Shangguan Hong's idea. Conscripting all the Frost-Resisting level experts and Earth-Digging Realm limits from the village-level camps below into the town, on the surface, was to increase the town's strength and strengthen the city defense, but secretly, it was to enhance the strength of the Lord Murong clan's main branch, so they could compete with the second branch."

Hearing Kong Xiu's words, Chen Hua laughed: "This Murong Chui is also too indecisive. His second branch clearly has the strength to seize the Lord's throne from Murong Yan, but he cherishes his reputation and has always let this little grandson have his way. Now that the tail is too big to wag, it's difficult to clean up. I estimate that this Muyin Town will likely end up benefiting Jin Shan Town."

The Murong clan only has two branches.

The main branch is the line of the former Lord Murong Ding. The main branch is not prosperous, and Murong Ding's three sons did not live past fifty, leaving only a dozen grandchildren. The grandson with the best talent, Murong Yan, is the current Muyin Town Lord;

The second branch is the line of Town Head Murong Chui. Compared to his elder brother Murong Ding's branch, the second branch is much more prosperous. Murong Chui's five children are all alive, and there are more than thirty grandchildren.

The relationship between the brothers Murong Chui and Murong Ding was impeccable. During the years Murong Ding was Lord, with the two brothers suppressing things, there was basically no conflict between the main and second branches. But ever since Murong Ding passed away four years ago and the Lord's throne fell to his grandson Murong Yan, the conflict between the two branches could no longer be suppressed.

According to the unspoken rules of the Jiuzhen for many years, the positions of Military Head and Town Head can be held by Frost-Resisting level experts, but the Lord's throne must be a Manifestation-level expert. I don't know how Murong Ding arranged it when he passed away, but he didn't pass the Lordship to Murong Chui, but passed it down a generation to his grandson Murong Yan.

Murong Chui didn't have any objections, but the disciples of the second branch made a huge fuss.

The main branch was not prosperous, and there wasn't a single Manifestation-level expert. Other than the title of Lord, Murong Yan basically didn't get any real benefits. The real power in the town was basically still controlled by his uncle Murong Chui. How could he be reconciled?

Originally, no matter how unreconciled he was, Murong Yan had no way out. After all, Murong Chui was the town's only Manifestation-level expert. It was good enough that he could be this Lord; what other way could he have?

But three years ago, Jin Shan Town Head Shangguan Lie suddenly came to the door, holding a marriage contract signed by Murong Ding before his death. The two names recorded on the marriage contract were Murong Yan and his granddaughter Shangguan Hong.

Coming to the door with a marriage contract at this time, and wanting to marry the Lord, how could Murong Chui, an old man, not see Jin Shan Town's sinister intentions? He declined repeatedly, even at the cost of offending Shangguan Lie, preferring to pay a sky-high price in silver to cancel the marriage contract.

But Murong Yan opened his mouth and agreed!

Since the parties involved agreed, what else could Murong Chui, this second grandfather, say?

Thus, three years ago, Shangguan Hong successfully married into Muyin Town.

The source of all conflict also began here.

With this Lord's wife, Shangguan Hong, Jin Shan Town unscrupulously inserted a large number of people into Muyin Town. On the surface, there were two or three hundred Frost-Resisting level experts, and secretly, who knows how many there were.

At the same time, with his father-in-law and the entire Jin Shan Town as his backing, and his wife giving advice on the side, Murong Yan also began to try to reclaim his Lord's power, starting to lead people to compete with his second grandfather, Murong Chui.

Chen Hua and Kong Xiu had been in the town for more than two months, so they controlled a lot of information. At first, Jin Shan Town's actions were relatively restrained, and inserting people was sneaky, three or five at a time. But later, it became more and more excessive. Three days ago, they sent more than thirty Frost-Resisting level experts in one wave.

"The reason is seamless. Forming a personal guard for the Lord, and grandiosely saying it was recruited from the outside. Conscripting all the Frost-Resisting level experts from the village-level camps in the territory was also a cover for their people to come in. Who doesn't know that those are all people from Jin Shan Town?"

"In the entire Muyin Town, there are only three thousand-plus Frost-Resisting level experts. Jin Shan Town has already sent more than five hundred on the surface, and who knows how many have infiltrated secretly."

"If Murong Chui had thought of a way from the beginning, it would have been fine; at most, it would have taken more effort. Now, I estimate it's difficult. Of the three thousand-plus Frost-Resisting level experts in the town, at least one-third are loyal to Murong Yan. Adding the people from Jin Shan Town, the strength of the two sides is basically balanced. And Jin Shan Town has been staring at this side. Even if Murong Chui wants to manage it now, he can't."

Hearing Kong Xiu's words, Chen Hua frowned and replied: "The city defense of Muyin Town during this period is really too lax. Two non-Jiuzhen people like us can easily infiltrate, let alone people from the Jiuzhen. I won't talk about the other five towns in the south-central region, but Beishuo and Wu Chuan must have also had people infiltrate."

Kong Xiu's expression froze slightly upon hearing this. After pondering for a moment, a look of solemnity rose on his face, and he nodded: "Definitely. The one who first wanted to take action against Muyin was Wu Chuan Town. The other seven towns jointly applied pressure, and Wu Chuan finally gave up."

"Now Jin Shan also wants to annex Muyin, Basha is unable to protect itself, Jiangxia is severely damaged, and the other three towns in the south-central region are all guarding against Great Awakening Temple. I estimate they have no heart or energy to manage this side. But Beishuo and Wu Chuan towns are different. They have the strength and are afraid of Jin Shan growing too big, so they definitely won't sit idly by."

"In that case, the three northern towns are all staring at Muyin now. Should we send this news back tonight?"

"Of course!"

The two calculated for a while, integrated all the intelligence gathered over the past two days, and then waited for the night to come.

Great Xia placed four secret agents in each of the eight towns, two responsible for gathering intelligence and two responsible for transmission. The two responsible for transmission were south and north, connecting the entire eight towns into a straight line, summarizing the intelligence through Lu Yang of Dongling, and finally transmitting it to Xia City.

The contact method was set before leaving Dongling last year. Unless there was a special situation, even-numbered days were for receiving intelligence from the south, and odd-numbered days were for sending intelligence to the north. The specific meeting method was to meet once at the agreed location during the first hour after nightfall, which ensured that the intelligence was delivered to Xia City as soon as possible.

Today is the 1st, which is just the day to send intelligence to the north.

Kong Xiu had already infiltrated the Garrison Troops, so he naturally couldn't leave the city casually anymore.

So after nightfall, Chen Hua immediately took his weapons and bow and arrows, feigning that he was going hunting, and left the town.

Leaving the town and walking three or five kilometers toward the Mo'ao Mountain on the east side, confirming that no one was following him, Chen Hua changed his route and swept toward the northwest side. After galloping for more than twenty kilometers, he soon arrived at the agreed meeting place.

The meeting time was the first hour after nightfall. If it was less than an hour, it meant the other party couldn't make it, so he didn't need to wait and would come next time.

There had been many such special situations in the past, so Chen Hua was very patient, sitting by a big tree, counting the time and waiting slowly.

But today, he didn't wait long. Ten minutes later, someone came from the north.

It was just that when he looked north, his expression changed instantly, and he jumped onto the big tree, hiding quickly.

Because there was more than one person coming from the north—there were more than twenty.

"Zheng Qing was caught? How could so many people come!"

The people responsible for transmitting intelligence in Muyin were Zhang Fan and Zheng Qing. The one from the north was Zheng Qing. The two sides had been cooperating for half a year and were very familiar with each other.

In the past, meetings were one-on-one. Suddenly appearing with so many people, Chen Hua naturally became vigilant, thinking that Zheng Qing had been caught.

If he was caught, that would be a big deal.

Chen Hua's expression became much more solemn instantly. He wanted to turn and run, but gritted his teeth and stayed, slowly drawing the big knife behind his back, looking at the twenty-plus people, trying to see if Zheng Qing was among them.

Fortunately, Zheng Qing was there.

He was still the first one, and clearly leading the way for the twenty people behind him, constantly pointing his finger at his location.

"Traitor!"

Chen Hua cursed these two words in his heart, looking at Zheng Qing who was constantly approaching, the killing intent in his eyes was extremely strong.

But soon, as he saw the appearance of the few people behind Zheng Qing, the killing intent in his eyes vanished instantly, turning into astonishment and joy.

He quickly sheathed his big knife, then jumped down from the big tree without thinking, and rushed directly toward Zheng Qing and the others.

"Subordinate Chen Hua, greetings to the Si Zheng!"

Among the twenty people behind Zheng Qing, the leader was none other than Military Department Si Zheng Director Yu Wen Tao, and the two behind Director Yu Wen Tao were also recognized by Chen Hua—they were Long Wu Army Deputy Commander Hou Quan and Long Wu Army Scout Camp Captain Director Yu Wen Yong.

Although Director Yu Wen Tao and the nineteen people behind him were all wearing casual clothes, everyone was carrying a large package. Judging from the shape of the packages, it was easy to tell that they were battle armor.

The Long Wu Army, taking action?

Countless thoughts flashed through Chen Hua's mind in an instant, but in the end, he could only reach this conclusion, his heart still filled with confusion.

"No need for formalities. Chen Hua, I heard you have already infiltrated Muyin Town. Well done. What is the situation there now? Tell me."

Director Yu Wen Tao's praise was not without reason. He had seen Chen Hua from far away just now, including the series of changes in his expression.

He could guess Chen Hua's thoughts instantly, which was why he gave such a good evaluation. However, his nature was naturally cold, and it was not easy for him to say these four words. After finishing, he started asking about the military situation directly.

From Chen Hua's slightly excited reaction after hearing the praise, one could see how difficult it was to get Director Yu Wen Tao's praise. ===== CHAPTER 374 =====