Chapter 1626: Regarding the Shennong Clan

"Is that really so? Then after you take over the Shennong Clan, will nothing change at all? We won't need to make any other changes either?"

Xuanyuan pondered for a moment and said, "That's not quite it, because I need you to start farming and make use of the land here; this way, we can grow more food so that everyone won't starve to death."

"I might also make some changes to where you live, but it's too early to talk about that now, because I haven't yet fully understood the true situation of the Shennong Clan. Let's wait until we have brought Shennong back before we discuss it."

Ting'ao was a bit shocked: "Shennong isn't here? You didn't kill Shennong?"

"Shennong ran away, and I sent Soldiers to chase him. I won't kill Shennong; a living Shennong is far more important than a dead one, so I won't kill him."

Ting'ao nodded: "So that's how it is."

Afterwards, Ting'ao chatted with Xuanyuan and Baifeng, learning about the specific situation of Huaxia and the Xuanyuan Tribe—to what extent they had developed, how wealthy and powerful they were, and also what price had been paid to get Huaxia to take action. After all, Ting'ao could now be considered a member of the Xuanyuan Tribe, so it was necessary for him to know.

At the same time, he also had the Soldiers he brought notify the other hidden Soldiers, letting them come over as well to help clean up the battlefield; they could also contribute some effort.

Although there were not many people on Changyang Mountain, they were the wealthiest, because this was the center of the entire Shennong Clan, possessing the largest quantities of food, furs, and various metals.

The Shennong Clan was an ancient, great tribe; the era in which they smelted and crafted Bronze Ware could be considered quite long ago, and this time, a considerable amount of various Bronze Ware had been seized.

Excluding Weapons and a small number of tools, most of the bronze was used to make various kinds of bronze Ritual Vessels, which were extremely numerous. The Soldiers carried them down from Changyang Mountain one by one; some were truly too large and difficult to move, so they were left in their original positions, waiting for Xuanyuan and Baifeng to make a decision on how to handle them.

Because the craftsmanship of those bronze pieces was quite exquisite, destroying them just to take them away would actually lower their value. They didn't just want a piece of metal, especially Huaxia; although their smelting technology was high, their production techniques for such large, complex-shaped bronze pieces really weren't as good as these great tribes. They only had an advantage in the production of Weapons and tools, and they had almost never made bronze Ritual Vessels.

As for the people of the Xuanyuan Tribe, they valued and were very careful with Ritual Vessels, not daring to damage them easily, so they only took what they could carry.

Furthermore, there were other populations on Changyang Mountain, with many Villages gathered around it, but because the Soldiers had all been drawn to Changyang Mountain, those Villages were basically left with only women and children. It would be quite time-consuming to gather them up, but fortunately, there was no danger.

The surrendered Soldiers and Slaves were lined up and sent down the mountain, waiting for their fates to be pronounced.

Shennong, meanwhile, witnessed all of this along the way. Every scene made his heart ache immensely; everything belonging to his own tribe was just gone like this, all becoming someone else's property. So, he tried his best not to look or think, so as to make himself feel a little better.

Those surrendered Slaves and Soldiers, upon seeing Shennong being brought back, actually smiled a little, which made them very happy. Shennong hadn't escaped—a good thing, a good thing indeed; he must not be allowed to run off.

Just like that, Shennong was escorted down the mountain and brought to the camp where Huaxia and the Xuanyuan Tribe were stationed. But as soon as he arrived, Shennong recognized an acquaintance.

"Ting'ao? You! Why are you here? Did you betray me?"

Seeing that it was Shennong who had arrived, Ting'ao could not help but stand up from his chair, showing a measure of respect.

Regarding Shennong's confusion, he did not shy away: "Shennong, you have fallen into this state today entirely because of yourself. Look at what you have turned a powerful Shennong Clan into. In such a situation, how could I still help you, and how could it even be possible to help you?"

Hearing Ting'ao's reply, Shennong's spirits suddenly withered. That was right; he was the one who had ruined a tribe, so how could he blame others? Such a large tribe, yet in the end, they couldn't even scrape together ten thousand Soldiers, and those few thousand Soldiers weren't even willing to fight for the Shennong Clan, only thinking of saving their own lives. In the end, didn't the Soldiers who escorted him also abandon him to flee for their own lives?

Only at this moment did Shennong realize how poor his own abilities were and what a great mistake he had committed against the entire tribe.

Xuanyuan did not give the two of them another chance to shift the blame; instead, he also had a chair brought for Shennong. Just like that, the four of them sat together, preparing to decide the future of the Shennong Clan.

As for Fenghou and Zhishou, who were originally part of the think tank, they were currently busy with the work of clearing the spoils of the Shennong Clan, so they did not appear at this conversation. Of course, their chairs had also been requisitioned; otherwise, how would a traveling team have so much transport capacity to help them carry so many non-essential large chairs at any time? There were only so many in total.

"Shennong, do you still recognize me?"

Shennong stared at Xuanyuan for a few seconds. Although he couldn't remember what Xuanyuan looked like when he was young—after all, he had only seen him once, perhaps—in his impression, he had only heard the name; he certainly couldn't remember the face.

"Xuanyuan, son of Shaodian. It is fine that the Shennong Clan has fallen into your hands; at least the sacrifices will not be cut off. Now, you are the new Shennong. What do you want to do now, and how do you want to deal with me?"

Xuanyuan had absolutely no feelings for this blood relative and elder, but he still had utility value, so he would not kill him. For now, he also had to give him a pleasant face.

"Shennong? I will not be the Shennong. I am only the Tribal Chief of the Xuanyuan Tribe—no, I should say King, because like my ally, the Huaxia State, I have also established a state. But I haven't thought of a name or anything yet; I will be the King of this state."

"There will no longer be a Shennong Clan, nor will there be a Xuanyuan Tribe. I will merge the two tribes together under one jurisdiction, and there will be no Tribal Chief."

"As for Shennong, I think you should continue to be it."

Shennong's heart suddenly jumped violently: "Me? I am to continue being Shennong? Why is this? Since you have already conquered the entire tribe, why do you still want me to be Shennong? What good does it do you? Aren't you afraid that I will take control of the Shennong Clan again and you will have to come and fight it all over again?"