Chapter 300: The Opportunity to Choose

The Military Department, which was very important to the Baifeng Tribe, was dissolved just like that by a single lighthearted sentence from Baifeng. All the former Soldiers slunk home in disgrace; regardless of whether the events of the past few days had anything to do with them personally, they were now too ashamed to step outside. Furthermore, since the Household Registration Department had not coordinated with other departments to arrange work for them, they could only hide at home and live off their remaining food stores. It was also because Baifeng was soft-hearted; otherwise, they would have had to face punishment as well.

The group of people who were sentenced to become Slaves were taken away that very day, and their homes were raided; all their property was confiscated, and their houses would later be allocated to others to live in.

However, Baifeng kept those responsible for patrolling. Of course, it was only temporary. They were originally divided into teams that worked in shifts, and they were not included when Baifeng called for an emergency assembly and training. Until a formal army was re-selected and trained, they still had to be responsible for security matters.

Finally, the several Leaders of the Military Department were each fined different amounts of food and Cloth. Of course, Baifeng would not impose physical punishment on them; economic penalties would suffice, and Baifeng also had to maintain a good relationship with them.

Sui and Chinv already knew what their husband had done over the past few days, and although they were very worried, they also expressed their full support.

Then, amidst this chaotic situation, the founding charter of the Baifeng Tribe was finalized, and everything that needed to be prepared was ready, including two large chairs that Baifeng had arranged, intended for sitting on during the enthronement.

Regarding all the regulations after the founding of the nation, the people of the Administration Department had already publicized them to everyone. The most excited were the Free Persons; they had been waiting for an opportunity, working hard and struggling, just to obtain a formal status. And now, without them having to exert any effort, the Baifeng Tribe would present them all with a dream status. However, most people did not know the difference between a Citizen and a member of the Baifeng Tribe; they only knew that from now on, they would have the tribe backing them up.

Before this, Baifeng had first sought out the people of the Zisheng Tribe. The Zisheng Tribe was one of the few tribes Baifeng wanted to win over; their aquatic skills were exactly what Baifeng needed most. At the time, he had said that as long as there was an opportunity, he could give them the status of Baifeng Tribe members, but this contradicted his future charter, as the Baifeng Tribe would no longer absorb outsiders in the future.

After thinking about it, Baifeng decided to find the Zisheng Tribe to explain things clearly and settle the issue of their status in advance. Only in this way could he demonstrate his sincerity and allow them to be wholeheartedly loyal to Baifeng and to his tribe.

Before coming to the Baifeng Tribe, the Zisheng Tribe had only believed in Baifeng's promise. It was only after arriving at the Baifeng Tribe that they truly understood how powerful and wealthy the Baifeng Tribe was.

Baifeng gave them special treatment, granting them the privilege of living together as a whole tribe in more spacious houses. Although many people were still squeezed into one room, it was still much better than the shacks they had lived in on the small island in the middle of the lake.

They were not required to go to work either; Baifeng did not have the Household Registration Department arrange any specific work for them, as Baifeng intended to train them into professional Sailors to pilot ships and set sail for the Baifeng Tribe.

The former Fishing Team, who still actually controlled the Boats, were very dissatisfied with these newcomers—savages who did not even have status—snatching their jobs. However, they dared not vent their anger to their faces because this was the Tribal Chief's arrangement, and they had no way to deal with it. But whenever the people of the Zisheng Tribe boarded the ships, they never gave them a pleasant look.

The people of the Zisheng Tribe were not fools, and they naturally sensed the dissatisfaction the Baifeng Tribe Soldiers felt toward them. But they had no other choice, and after witnessing the power of the Baifeng Tribe and the treatment they were given, they made up their minds never to leave the Baifeng Tribe, even if they were treated as Slaves; one had to know that the Slaves of the Baifeng Tribe lived more comfortably than they had before.

Baifeng had no time to mediate their conflict. In any case, one side would definitely have to concede. Since they were not convinced, then they should see who had the better skills in the water—crossing the Dahe, catching fish with bare hands in the river—these were the right things to compete with.

After hearing Baifeng's arrangement, the people of the Zisheng Tribe rolled up their sleeves; this was their forte. They indeed did not know how to operate these large wooden Boats, nor did they know how to use things like fishing nets, but their aquatic skills were not for show.

After one competition, the people of the Fishing Team admitted defeat. Their aquatic skills were indeed good, but they really could not compare to the Zisheng Tribe. It seemed there was a reason the Tribal Chief valued them.

Baifeng first told the people of the Fishing Team to teach the people of the Zisheng Tribe, insisting that they must train a few qualified Captains and Sailors. The people of the Zisheng Tribe had lived in the water since birth; they were natural Sailors.

As for where the Fishing Team would go, Baifeng asked them in return: did they think the Baifeng Tribe would forever only have these few pathetic Boats, and only survive by occupying this one Dahe? There were plenty of water areas on this land that needed countless Large Ships to fill.

Baifeng's speech made the people of the Fishing Team realize their mistake, and they expressed that they would definitely teach the Zisheng Tribe earnestly. So much time had passed, and in Baifeng's eyes, the people of the Zisheng Tribe were now considered qualified Sailors.

The standards of the era were different. Currently, the only tribe that knew how to build ships—to build Large Ships—was Baifeng. Perhaps Xuanyuan would soon produce enough ships for normal use to face Baifeng, but the Baifeng Tribe was already using sails, leading the era by who knew how many years. Therefore, the Sailors Baifeng needed were not fearless warriors who could fight against giant waves of several meters; he only needed them to be able to understand commands and complete a series of ship operations.

The success of the Zisheng Tribe could be considered an opportunity for Baifeng's recruitment. Baifeng found Zisheng, sat down with him, and had someone bring over all the Tea Sets from the ship. Baifeng then began to brew tea while coaxing Zisheng.

The people of the Zisheng Tribe were still not used to drinking tea, but they often saw others drinking it, so they also understood that Tea Leaves were not a bad thing.

Regardless of whether Zisheng drank it or not, Baifeng poured him a cup of tea; this was out of courtesy.

After a bit of polite small talk, Baifeng got straight to the point and clearly told Zisheng the difference between tribe members and Citizens after the founding of the nation. Zisheng, of course, agreed without hesitation. After a lecture by the Administration Department, he already understood the difference between the two. He had originally thought the Tribal Chief would only give them the status of Citizens, and they would have been very happy with that; he had not expected the Tribal Chief to care about them so much as to specifically give them a chance to choose.