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墨書 Inktalez
However, both Zhou Tong and Han Huang were merely making suggestions; the final decision still rested with Lian Yun.
To be honest, Lian Yun was somewhat displeased with Li Renba's use of millions of Innocent Civilians as pawns, only to discard them once they were no longer useful.
Yet, keeping Li Renba around seemed to offer more benefits than drawbacks, so in the end, Lian Yun accepted Han Huang's proposal.
An unconventional alliance was formed with Li Renba.
The general outcome was that Li Renba would have a chance for a comeback, and if in the future the Li Family found themselves without a place to belong or unable to grow stronger, they could still survive within Cloud Nation.
This essentially provided the Li Family with a way out.
Zhou Tong, Jiang Ao, and Han Huang had no objections to Lian Yun's decision; in fact, Han Huang even remarked to Lian Yun, "Your Lordship is wise."
It should be noted that while Lian Yun's decision seemed to give the Li Family an escape route, the reality was that if the Li Family ventured out to develop, it would cause significant trouble for distant nations. This would indirectly slow down the development of other countries for Cloud Nation. Eventually, when Cloud Nation grew strong enough that Li Renba could no longer harbor thoughts of resistance, the Li Family's departure for development would mean they had grown stronger but inadvertently benefited Cloud Nation.
It was truly a case of leading the wolf into the fold.
At this point, Li Renba could only smile wryly before leaving directly.
Though he had long been aware of Cloud Nation and even Lian Yun's establishment, it was only at this moment that he truly understood what kind of people made up Cloud Nation's foundation.
Zhou Tong and Jiang Ao might lack some broader perspective, but their intelligence was remarkable. Han Huang's wisdom surpassed his own, not to mention that legendary figure known as Master Pang.
In truth, he felt he was even inferior to Lian Yun's subordinates; how could he possibly compete with Lian Yun?
Lian Yun was the true sovereign, while he, Li Renba, despite his great ambitions, was destined to remain a subject.
However, nobility does not come without struggle; Li Renba still wanted to fight for one last chance. If that failed, he would have no choice but to seek a place where he could live in peace.
Yet when he secretly returned to Tang Nation, he realized that his previous plans were indeed seamless; however, it turned out he had underestimated the situation.
Cloud Nation had countered Tang Nation effectively, and the Three Kingdoms were not fools either.
Although they lacked Cloud Nation's foresight, it did not mean they were incapable of dealing with Tang Nation's threats.
To understand a nation's Realm Power essentially represents its foundation, and now the Tang Nation was being asked to reveal its roots, which would not be an easy task.
Overall, the Three Kingdoms agreed to the Tang Nation's request, but after extensive discussions, the amount was reduced by one-third, and the payment would be made in several installments, possibly over ten payments.
In essence, it was a strategy of delay.
Moreover, the source of their Realm Power payments primarily came from the Fierce Commoners of the Tang Nation's past. Thus, not only did the Tang Nation expel them, but they also forced them to seek refuge elsewhere while collecting their Realm Power. Consequently, those Fierce Commoners, while loyal to their current nation, harbored deep resentment towards both the Tang Nation and the Li Family.
As a result, the Three Kingdoms dispatched these Fierce Commoners back to the Tang Nation. This meant that before the Tang Nation fully obtained what it needed, its status within its own territory was already precarious.
This situation left the Li Family in a position where, less than a year after establishing their nation, they had not yet fully extracted what they sought from the Three Kingdoms and were fleeing like a defeated dog from their own Tang Nation.
However, the Lin Family did not abandon Lake City.
Many non-combatants from the Li Family chose to become Innocent Civilians. During the famine period, they deceived those within Lake City into leaving, thereby gaining complete control over it.
Now, Lake City was sparsely populated, yet control remained in the hands of the Li Family.
The Li Family had no intention of occupying it indefinitely; their demand was for all four nations to provide sufficient food for the Innocent Civilians of the Tang Nation before they would relinquish Lake City.
This could be seen as an attempt to restore some reputation and avoid disgrace. For this reason, the Li Family boldly implicated Cloud Nation as well.
However, Cloud Nation quickly divided Tang Nation's territory with the other three kingdoms and thus took in its populace. Naturally, Cloud Nation had to provide food and means of livelihood for these people and did not mind the Li Family's scheme.
Moreover, Cloud Nation had already received some returns from Tang Nation in advance.
For instance, while the distribution of personnel within Tang Nation appeared relatively even—comprising elderly individuals, adults, and children—there were many scientists or skilled craftsmen hidden among the youth and elderly in areas close to Cloud Nation. Most children were healthy individuals aside from being offspring of these adults.
The four nations had developed a tacit understanding to divide Tang Nation into four parts centered around Lake City, with territories bordering two nations each.
Lake City was tentatively established as a trade center for all four nations. Each nation sent some Innocent Civilians to reside there for joint management so that no single nation could monopolize it. Thus, it became a trade hub among them. However, due to a lack of substantial trading resources at present, large-scale trade was nonexistent.
Then, through mutual visits among envoys from all four nations, an alliance formed for mutual support. Given their proximity to one another, any conflict between two nations would benefit the remaining two. If two nations attacked one nation simultaneously, it would easily lead to a scenario where all four nations were at war together.
After all, if one nation were eliminated, another would struggle against an alliance of two nations and would naturally join forces with the attacked nation.
In today's world, where the nations are still underdeveloped, no one is willing to easily go to war.
Moreover, the four nations are located at the very center of Huaxia. Beyond this center, the southern and northern countries had formed alliances long ago. If they were to attack the borders of the four nations, and a conflict broke out among them, it would easily lead to a situation of being attacked from both sides.
Thus, the four nations prioritize peaceful coexistence for now.
There is an unspoken understanding among them that they will eventually settle their differences.
As the year-long period leading up to the Earth Formation approached, the power dynamics within Huaxia became clearer.
Aside from the Tang Nation, several other countries either disbanded, were swallowed up or occupied, or were completely destroyed within that year. This left behind the Sixteen Kingdoms, with the four nations forming a major alliance, resulting in a total of four significant coalitions.
Among these are the Cloudbeam and Liu Chu nations in the central plains, the Song, Zhao, Yuan, and Huang nations to the south, the Xu, Gao, Wei, and Zhou nations in the west, and finally, in the north, the Summer Alliance comprising Wei and Qing.
The Cloudbeam and Liu Chu nations find themselves completely surrounded by the other three major alliances and twelve nations.
With such a structure established, Huaxia remains in a state of development. The emergence of these four major alliances means that if war breaks out, it could trigger widespread chaos throughout Huaxia.
(End of Chapter)
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