Chapter 1503: A Shift in Development Focus

After the report concluded, it was time for Baifeng's work arrangements for the second year. Baifeng first had someone roll out a massive map. The officials of Huaxia had all seen this map, but the Suiren Clan had never seen it before; they did not even know what a map was.

"Everyone, take a look. This is the map of our world as it stands now. Over these past few years, our various factions have undergone changes once again. In light of this, I must also adjust our future strategy for Huaxia."

Everyone immediately began taking notes, as they all knew that what was being written down was extremely important. The people of the Suiren Clan had also been provided with pens and paper, but they were not yet accustomed to this mode of work. Seeing everyone preparing to record, they were quite flustered, not knowing what they were supposed to do.

"Before merging with the Suiren Clan, our focus had always been on the western region. Last year, we merged with the Suiren Clan, but we did not dare say we had completely brought them under control, because those places might end up being the primary locations of war. For us in Huaxia, there is no need to control land that must be won through major battles and guarded, yet holds no utility value."

"But now, after a year of exploration, we have discovered that there are important mineral deposits within the territory of the Suiren Clan. That Magnetite Mine alone is enough to guarantee the development of Huaxia City for the next hundred years. Therefore, the territory of the Suiren Clan is no longer useless to us in Huaxia; rather, it is something we need to strive to secure."

"Furthermore, there is the Sulfur Mine. The Sulfur Mine was originally within the territory of the Suiren Clan. Now, we can pass through the territory of the Suiren Clan and then bypass the Xuanyuan Tribe to conduct mining; it is safer, and it is a resource that Huaxia must have, one that also concerns the development of our Huaxia for the next hundred years."

Hearing Baifeng speak of the Suiren Clan in this way, Baoxi straightened his back even more. The fact that the mineral deposits on his own territory were important to Huaxia brought a glow to his own face.

Baifeng paid no mind to Baoxi, instead pointing to several circles drawn on the map and saying: "Here is the current location of Suiren City. Previously, our set goal was to control the territory surrounding the location of Suiren City, and then gradually migrate the population of the Suiren Clan inward."

"However, that method will not work now. Starting next year, the level of investment in the Suiren Clan should be greater. We will provide assistance in every aspect, and besides Suiren City, we must simultaneously assist them in establishing more Villages and begin cultivation."

"This circle here is the territory of the Suiren Clan we previously intended to control. Now, I have expanded this circle. These places are what we must have—the territory we must at least control."

"Within this area are rich mineral deposits. The mineral deposits important to our Huaxia must be firmly controlled. The west has not yet discovered such rich and large-scale mineral deposits, so we will shift our development focus here, to the places where there are mineral deposits."

"The Magnetite Mine can not only be used to attract Iron Sand, but it is itself a rich iron ore from which iron can be refined. Coupled with the fact that we can use magnets to collect large amounts of Iron Sand starting next year, our Huaxia can produce farm tools in large quantities."

"Not just around Huaxia City and Lema City, I want the Suiren Clan to use iron farm tools as well, to let them begin cultivation as early as possible, and then gradually migrate Huaxia's policies and models over. As long as people are wealthy and their bellies are full, they will naturally have the strength to fight and guard our own territory. This is my expectation for the future of the Suiren Clan."

"Of course, this does not mean we are abandoning the west. The west is a territory that can be taken without much difficulty and with almost no competition; naturally, we cannot let it go. However, looking at the current situation, we will slow down the development of the west, because without iron, it is difficult to develop the west on a large scale, and migrating the population to the west is also a major problem."

"The campaign against the Wulenge Tribe cannot stop. Next year, we will continue to launch attacks against them, shrinking their living space, seizing their wealth, and forcing them to give up their territory. If they dare to gather in large numbers to attack Huaxia, then we will annihilate their tribe in advance."

"Regarding the current situation of Huaxia, everyone has gained a sufficient understanding through the reports. We are very wealthy and prosperous; everyone can eat their fill, wear warm clothes, live well, and everyone has work."

"But our combat power is insufficient. Huaxia's military is professionalized. If we want combat power, we cannot have too many Soldiers. Once there are too many Soldiers, Huaxia cannot afford to support them. Every Soldier is a first-class laborer for Huaxia, so we cannot expand the military on a large scale for the sake of external expansion; this is not beneficial to the long-term development of our Huaxia."

"However, the situation has now been forced upon us. Our war against the Shennong Clan has reached its final stage. If we want to minimize losses and waste less time, then next year, we must concentrate our forces and, together with Xuanyuan, launch a final strike against the Shennong Clan to ensure that we can completely annihilate the Shennong Clan next year."

"After the Shennong Clan is annihilated, we can obtain more territory from the Xuanyuan Tribe and also exchange their resources. We can also receive a larger share of the Shennong Clan's population. At that time, that population can be used to fill the west, ensuring that the west can be sufficiently developed."

Baifeng pointed to a line between the three marked points of Huaxia City, Lema City, and the Western Development Group and said: "This entire line is the passage connecting the Western Development Group and Lema City; it is the major road we built. Although we have connected with the Western Development Group, there are so many empty spaces in between that are uninhabited; we are actually disconnected from the Western Development Group."

"The Western Development Group is a springboard and center for our development of the west, but it cannot mean that these places can be left empty and uninhabited."

"Starting next year, as long as new population arrives, they must all be arranged along this road, starting from Villages, letting them engage in cultivation and construction."

"In the future, Huaxia can no longer build cities first and then establish Villages. That was a helpless move from the earliest days of Huaxia; we could only take cities as the center to drive the construction of surrounding Villages."

"But now Huaxia has developed to a new stage. We must let them start from Villages, gradually gathering into towns, and then becoming cities."

"If the Geography is somewhat special, we can provide help and support to let them form towns as quickly as possible, but it cannot be like it is now. For Huaxia, it is not beneficial; spreading out such a large layout in many places is truly a burden."