Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1574: Chapter 494: Hatred and Growth, The Scapegoat Murong Ping (2)

Li Xuanling truly felt a bit of regret at this moment. She knew very well the immense risk her son faced by leaving the city at this critical juncture. But after keeping her son confined for over four years, her maternal instincts couldn’t resist his persistent pleas.

Originally, with the protection of Meng Ying and the two others, plus several Beast King Puppets, there shouldn’t have been any danger in Milk Tiger Forest just outside the city. She even deliberately moved up the date of her son’s trial there by two days.

Who would have expected that Yang Jian’s group could lie in wait deep in Redwood Ridge for so long? As soon as Xia Yusheng’s imperial carriage moved, they came immediately.

Invisibility and cross-border transmission, such feudal town tactics, are indeed indefensible. If it weren’t for Han Yue’s life-saving protection, this time…

“Mother, if I don’t break through to Xianyang Level, Sheng’er will never take a step outside Xia City again!”

Li Xuanling’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Xia Yusheng’s firm words.

The nearby Qiu Peng and others’ expressions changed slightly upon hearing this, seeing the determination on Xia Yusheng’s young face stirred something in them.

The Second Prince seems to have grown up!

At this moment, Xia Yuyao also turned to look at her brother, her eyes full of amazement.

She knew better than anyone how much her brother longed for the world outside Xia City. Being able to say such a thing in front of their mother showed the significant impact this incident had on him.

It was the first time Li Xuanling had heard her son speak so decisively. A trace of intrigue crossed her eyes, and after contemplating for a moment, she softly said, “With your aptitude, breaking through to Xianyang Level is not difficult. I hope you keep your word!”

Han Yue’s death seemed to have greatly assisted her son’s growth.

After this thought appeared in Li Xuanling’s mind, she waved her hand and said, “Han Shuang, go with Tie Xinchuan to arrange Han Yue’s affairs. Yuan Bai, you go too. Yao’er, Sheng’er, return to the Star-picking Hall yourselves first.”

“Subordinates take their leave!”

Tie Xinchuan, Han Shuang, Yuan Bai, and the other Dragon Forbidden Captains all saluted and left the hall. Xia Yuyao then took her brother by the hand and, bypassing the high platform, headed towards the Star-picking Hall behind the Lord’s Hall.

When most of the people had left the hall, Li Xuanling turned to Qiu Peng and others and asked, “Who is in charge of the Prison Department in Xia City now?”

The Director of the Prison Department was Xiang Fuhai, but as Xiang Fuhai was currently stationed with the army in Jinshan Town, Jinyang City, someone else was in charge within the department.

A middle-aged elder immediately stepped forward from behind Qiu Peng, saluted, and said, “Deputy Director of the Prison Department, Murong Ping, greets Madam.”

Murong Chui had five sons, the most gifted being his eldest, Murong Ping, and his youngest, Murong Yuan. Currently, only these two had broken through to Xianyang Level. Murong Ping was appointed Deputy Director of the Prison Department last year, while Murong Yuan held a military position.

When Murong Ping stepped forward, his expression was very uneasy, clearly aware of why Li Xuanling had called him out.

Sure enough, Li Xuanling looked at him and sneered, “As soon as Sheng’er’s imperial carriage left the city, Yang Jian and the others got the news immediately. In recent years, I’ve often heard your Prison Department boast about how many spies from the Five Towns you’ve caught. Now it seems it was all just self-aggrandizement, with no real merit. At next month’s year-end evaluation of the Eight Departments, your Prison Department will directly come last!”

Murong Ping began to sweat when he heard this, and his face turned pale when Li Xuanling’s final words came out.

Not only him, but Qiu Peng and the others also felt a jolt in their hearts, turning to look at Murong Ping with a touch of sympathy on their faces.

This Deputy Director, Murong Ping, probably won’t hold his position for much longer…

It was already December 26th, and the annual evaluation of Great Xia was about to begin. The evaluation affected year-end Contribution Value accounts for officials at all levels, not only were the officials comparing with each other, but the Eight Departments were also competing. The evaluation results of the Eight Departments affected personnel at all levels within the department. Li Xuanling’s words meant that the entire year’s earnings for the Prison Department would be directly reduced by about thirty percent.

What does a thirty percent reduction mean?

A Chief of Punishment at a major outpost could typically earn about 1.5 million Contribution Value points throughout the year with normal evaluation results. A thirty percent reduction means 450,000 fewer Contribution Value points, which, according to the current Contribution Value to silver ratio in Great Xia, equates to 45,000 taels of silver.

This sum of money may not mean much to those at Xianyang Level, but for those at Cold Resistance Level, it’s already a lot. Moreover, this is only the loss for one Chief of Punishment. With Great Xia’s current territories covering the Three Towns of Muyin, Chui Mountain, and Jiangxia, the number of major outposts has long surpassed 100. Chiefs of Punishment, Vice Chiefs of Punishment, Gold, Silver, and Iron-level Prison Guards, and Prison Envoys at all levels… everyone’s income will be reduced by thirty percent, which in total is quite terrifying.

Li Xuanling’s meaning was clear: with Xiang Fuhai stationed in Jinyang, what happened in Xia City this time had nothing to do with him. All the responsibility lay with Murong Ping, the one in charge.

With the year-end evaluation directly relegated to last place and earnings suddenly reduced by thirty percent, news of the incident in Xia City would soon spread. Once the personnel of the Prison Department at all levels learned the truth, even if they didn’t say anything aloud, there would inevitably be significant discontent towards Murong Ping, the Deputy Director.

Great Xia’s vast territory meant that even though the Eight Departments of the Inner City were the power center, the sheer distance meant all the specifics still needed to be handled by lower-level officials. For those in key positions, like Directors and Deputy Directors of the departments, once they lose the support of lower ranks, the situation becomes dire.

Let alone Murong Ping being merely a Deputy Director, even if it was Director Xiang Fuhai, if he offended everyone below him, his resignation wouldn’t be far off.