Chapter 941: Baoxi's Thoughts

"That is to say, you don't believe at all that our Suiren Clan can defeat the Xuanyuan Tribe; no matter how powerful we develop, we will still be defeated by Xuanyuan. You are willing to help our Suiren Clan only so that we can hold out for a little longer, right?"

Baifeng had already said this many times, so he nodded without any concealment: "Yes, that is exactly what I think. Because I know you are unwilling to join the Xuanyuan Tribe, and it is impossible for you to abandon your territory to flee elsewhere to survive, so I simply decided to help you. It is beneficial for both sides, isn't it?"

"There is no need to care about what my thoughts are; even if I am using your Suiren Clan, would you be unwilling to accept my help?"

Baoxi looked up, pondered for a long while, and then said: "Then Baifeng, what if I am willing to join your Huaxia?"

Baifeng's eyes widened immediately, because he had never thought about this matter and also believed it was unlikely that Baoxi would do so.

"No, I don't think you would do that. And if you did, my relationship with the Xuanyuan Tribe would immediately become quite difficult. For the time being, I still need to maintain a good relationship with the Xuanyuan Tribe, because there are many products I need in their territory."

But after hearing these words from Baifeng, Baoxi became even more determined: "Have you really never thought about incorporating our Suiren Clan? Our Suiren Clan has a population and territory no less than your Huaxia. As long as you let our Suiren Clan join your Huaxia, then Huaxia's strength would immediately be greater than the Xuanyuan Tribe's. Why do you need to worry about this problem?"

Baifeng was still hesitant: "No, no, I don't think this is a good idea, at least not now. Because we are currently attacking the Shennong Clan together, once I incorporate your tribe now, Xuanyuan will certainly have thoughts about our two tribes uniting. At that time, I wouldn't be able to get any of the benefits from the Shennong Clan."

"Furthermore, a rupture in the relationship with the Xuanyuan Tribe is not good news for our Huaxia at present. We need many things from the Xuanyuan Tribe. Once the Xuanyuan Tribe no longer trusts us, then trade will basically be impossible to continue. And we have many collaborations with the Xuanyuan Tribe; it is not only beneficial to the Xuanyuan Tribe, but also extremely important for our Huaxia."

"In the long run, it might be more important than your Suiren Clan joining us and increasing our population by that much. Besides, I cannot manage your Suiren Clan's territory; it extends too far, and without the protection of large cities like ours, it is extremely easy to be breached."

"We cannot manage the territory, and if the population were to move directly to our Huaxia, we would have no way to support a population of several hundred thousand of you."

"By the way, how many people does your Suiren Clan have now?"

Baoxi shook his head: "I don't know, we haven't counted clearly. Our tribe lives very scattered; only in this way can we feed everyone on such a large territory. However, I guess at least 250,000 or 260,000."

Baifeng gave a wry smile and said: "You see, even if your Suiren Clan is not wealthy and has declined a lot compared to before, your population is still larger than our Huaxia. Our Huaxia currently has no problem at all supporting our own people, and we have a large surplus, enough to hire people from the Xuanyuan Tribe,"

"or even support thousands of wild people who suddenly come to join our Huaxia. But supporting over 200,000 people all at once is simply impossible."

"Our tribesmen currently don't starve to death; how could they starve to death just by coming to your Huaxia? They also know how to work and labor."

Baifeng was still hesitating, still thinking: "Baoxi, tell me the truth, is it because our Huaxia is so wealthy that you feel people should live like this, should live in such houses, and be able to eat their fill every day?"

"Can live like this, get treated when sick, and live under the protection of tall city walls?"

Baoxi sighed: "I also never thought that people could live like this. I always thought that behind this high wall were also the shacks built of wood like ours, at most just earth houses that were taller and larger than what we have now."

"I just didn't expect, and couldn't have imagined, that it would actually be like this. I even feel that a place like this should be where the gods of Heaven live."

"Baifeng, what shocks me the most is that you would actually waste manpower planting flowers and Grass in the courtyard just for the sake of looking good. You keep saying there are no people, that you are short of people, yet you let people do such things. Baifeng, this is something I never thought of."

"The reason why I thought about joining Huaxia is actually because you said we cannot resist the Xuanyuan Tribe. Even if you are willing to help us, we still cannot resist. Since the end result is the destruction of the clan anyway, it is better to take all my tribesmen and give them a better chance of survival."

"If they could really join Huaxia, they could also live this kind of life, right?"

Baifeng sighed, feeling very helpless: "Baoxi, this city of ours started from scratch and took too much time to build into what it is now. I also only dared to let the houses be built better and let flowers and Grass be planted in the courtyards for people to admire after I ensured all my tribesmen could eat their fill."

"If you really want to join Huaxia, then I can only tell you that for at least five years, your tribesmen will not be able to possess these things, because everything here was built bit by bit by the people of our Huaxia."

"You must know that they have labored in Huaxia for a lifetime and still cannot live in the houses here because they are too precious; they can only live in places further away."

"Your tribesmen cannot come and immediately receive the same treatment as our people from before. If they want something, they must build it with their own hands."

"However, at least there is hope to be seen. It won't work within five years, but after five years, it should be about right. Over 200,000 people can be divided up to learn, farm, engage in various industries, and then build city walls and houses. Five years is enough to build a rough shape."

"What I can guarantee is that in five years, everyone can be fed, not a single person will starve to death anymore, more children can live to adulthood, and everyone can have the same opportunities as the people of our Huaxia—to learn, to come here for medical treatment, to take exams to become officials, and to do the things they want to do and are capable of doing."

"Compared to hunting and gathering in the Suiren Clan for a lifetime until they die, their lives will be much more meaningful."