CHAPTER 217: CHAPTER 214: PRACTICE_1

"A Protectorate... this is actually a sensible solution!" Qin Wudao contemplated for a moment, feeling that the proposal was feasible. An institution for managing alien tribes had to be led primarily by the human tribes, with the alien tribes as a supplementary force. Wang Yangming’s proposal exactly met this criterion!

"Your Majesty, establishing the Protectorate entails its advantages and disadvantages. One issue that requires extra caution is the appeal of the human tribes to the alien tribes. After all, in the eyes of the aliens, we humans are akin to walking natural treasures!"

"Attempting to achieve coexistence between the two tribes is extremely difficult!"

"Besides, considering the inherent nature of the alien tribes—willful and untamed, refusing to submit to humans—unless we station a formidable military force in the Protectorate, there will only be temporary peace!"

Jia Xu also stepped forward, offering a suggestion.

His words dramatically changed the expressions of everyone present. The alien tribes’ desire to eradicate humans remained undying. Throughout countless years, great battles had repeatedly broken out between humans and alien tribes, each grappling for continental supremacy.

Up until this point, no human power had yet allowed the existence of alien tribes!

"We can’t just kill them all, can we?" Zhuge Liang, his conscience pricked, uttered these words. We are talking about billions of creatures! Exterminating them all, wouldn’t that be too brutal?

Jia Xu did not respond; he had no definitive answer to this question.

The hall fell into silence!

Wang Yangming, the one who proposed the establishment of the Protectorate, also went quiet!

"I didn’t realize the alien tribe issue was so challenging to handle!" Qin Wudao massaged his temples, also discerning the deep-seated issue. Between human and alien tribes, there existed inherent contradictions, forming an insurmountable chasm. What the Divine Court of the Qin Dynasty currently needed to do was to build a bridge across this chasm!

"DING. Congratulations, Host, for conquering the Heavenly Wolf Domain! Sign-in reward: General Zhou Cang. Summon now?"

"DING. Congratulations, Host, for taming the special constitution ’Greedy Moon Wolf Body’! Sign-in reward: General Ding Feng. Summon now?"

Zhou Cang! Ding Feng! Information about these two people appeared in Qin Wudao’s mind. After reviewing all their details, he felt both pleased and disappointed.

Zhou Cang was originally a soldier under Zhang Bao. He later became Guan Yu’s personal bodyguard when Guan Yu made a solitary ride of a thousand miles, during which he once captured the Wei army’s Righteous General Pang De alive. When Guan Yu was decapitated by Sun Quan, Zhou Cang wept loudly in Maicheng and ended his own life with his sword.

As a result, Zhou Cang was hailed as the most loyal man under the heavens!

Ding Feng was a well-known general and minister of the Wu State during the Three Kingdoms period, ranking among the Three Excellencies! He spent his life leading troops, mostly waging war against the northern regimes. He fought from the era of Cao Cao to the era of Sima Yan, serving under four monarchs of the Wu State and witnessing the rise and fall of the Three Kingdoms.

"System, check the strength of the two!" Qin Wudao muttered to himself.

Name: Zhou Cang!

Cultivation: First Stage of Saint King Realm!

Cultivation Technique: ’Blazing Heart Sutra’!

Potential: Average!

Introduction: Captured Pang De; the man acclaimed as the most loyal under the heavens!

...

Name: Ding Feng!

Cultivation: First Stage of Saint King Realm!

Cultivation Technique: ’Abundant Water Sutra’!

Potential: Average!

Introduction: The Battle of Dongxing—fought in the snow with short weapons and crushed the Wei army; executed Sun Chen!

"Why is there an additional column for potential?" Qin Wudao swept a glance, feeling slightly puzzled because the characters he had summoned previously didn’t have this.

"DING. The characters previously summoned by the Host have infinite potential, while Zhou Cang and Ding Feng have limited potential and will find it difficult to break into the Emperor Realm!"

Perhaps sensing Qin Wudao’s puzzlement, the system explained aloud.

"I see!" Qin Wudao came to understand. Compared with Zhao Yun, Lü Bu, and Yue Fei, Zhou Cang and Ding Feng indeed seemed ordinary. This was especially true for Zhou Cang, who was merely Guan Yu’s bodyguard. Although Ding Feng held a high office, ranking among the Three Excellencies, it was suspected he had risen significantly through seniority.

’Compares unfavorably with the best but is better than the worst.’ This perfectly described the two men!

"These two have arrived just in time!" A glint of keen light sparkled in Qin Wudao’s eyes, and he said to the pondering Zhuge Liang and the others, "The policy we formulate for the alien tribes this time will determine the Qin Dynasty’s future approach towards them. I believe we shouldn’t make a hasty decision. It’s best to test it out first!"

"Your Majesty, establishing a Protectorate requires powerful experts to oversee it. The court has no spare Saint King Realm experts available!" Wang Yangming said with a bitter smile. He had just reconsidered and concluded that a strong military force was a prerequisite for establishing a Protectorate. Without it, the effort would be futile, like drawing water with a bamboo basket.

"Leave that to me!" Qin Wudao spoke with full confidence. "My loyal officials, I plan to use the Xuan Snake Tribe and the Heavenly Wolf Tribe as trial sites to attempt to resolve the tribal conflicts. If it proves feasible, we shall keep this system in place!"

"If it is not feasible, it will mean that humans and aliens cannot coexist, and I will issue an order to exterminate all alien tribes!"

Towards the end, Qin Wudao’s eyes revealed a chilling Evil Qi.

As a member of the human tribe!

He will always stand on the side of the human tribe!

Establishing the Protectorate was just his way to maintain the ruling order of the Qin Dynasty!

"We, your ministers, agree!"

Zhuge Liang and the other three exchanged a glance, then stood up and bowed simultaneously.

This was probably the best method at present.

If successful, it would show that the alien tribes were not fated for extinction within the territory of the Divine Court of the Qin Dynasty.

If unsuccessful, then it would prove that the alien tribes deserved extinction!

The opportunity has been given. Whether the alien tribes can become a part of the Qin Dynasty depends on them!

Qin Wudao slowly rose to his feet, making the final decision. "Issue the decree: Establish the Xuan Snake Protectorate and the Heavenly Wolf Protectorate. They will be the Qin Dynasty’s regional government offices responsible for alien tribe affairs!"

"Issue the decree: Appoint Zhou Cang as the Grand Protector of the Xuan Snake Protectorate. He is to establish the official administration, recruit an army, and maintain stability in the Xuan Snake Domain!"

"Issue the decree: Appoint Ding Feng as the Grand Protector of the Heavenly Wolf Protectorate. He is to establish the official administration, recruit an army, and maintain stability in the Heavenly Wolf Domain!"

Three consecutive decrees were issued from Qin Wudao’s mouth.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The four ministers paid their respects. As competent officials, they would offer counsel and discuss the best solutions before Qin Wudao made a decision. Once Qin Wudao issued decrees, however, they would support him unreservedly.

In the lands of the Qin Dynasty, there was only one voice—that of Qin Wudao!

Two more unfamiliar colleagues! His Majesty’s methods are becoming increasingly mysterious and unfathomable! Upon hearing the names Zhou Cang and Ding Feng, Zhuge Liang was secretly astonished. However, he was mostly delighted, his eyes crinkling with cheerfulness. The more hidden resources Qin Wudao possessed, the happier he became.

As a monarch, one needed unfathomable methods to ensure the stability of the state!

If Qin Wudao were a clueless fool, Zhuge Liang would instead be disappointed!

At the imperial court assembly the next day, Qin Wudao announced before all civil and military officials the establishment of the two Protectorates, appointing Zhou Cang and Ding Feng as Grand Protectors.

Initially, the court officials objected, arguing that the Qin Dynasty lacked the surplus military strength to establish Protectorates. However, once Zhou Cang and Ding Feng demonstrated their Saint King Realm powers, all the officials fell silent.

After the great battle, the Xuan Snake Tribe was devoid of elites and lacked a Saint King Realm powerhouse to preside over them. Similarly, the Heavenly Wolf Tribe was left with only one Saint King Realm expert to maintain order. Dispatching two Saint King Realm powerhouses was sufficient to suppress the alien tribes.

Next, it would be a matter of time and practical application!

「Meanwhile」

Xiang Yu, having received the imperial decree, set out for the Xuan Snake Tribe. He supported a snake person who had attained Reaching the Holy Realm to become the new Clan Leader and oversaw the signing of a surrender agreement.

By the time Zhou Cang arrived in the Xuan Snake Domain, everything was already in order!