105. The Road to Adventure (Part III)

Although I know what you mean, could you please not say it so plainly?” After leaving that group of ox-headed people, Udos Naping complained to Mo Fei.
“I’m the kind of person who speaks my mind and doesn’t hide anything in my heart. If I dislike you, it would show on my face—you know that, don’t you?”
“I think I can see it now.” Udos Naping smiled bitterly. “I know you truly dislike those old fellows, and I dislike them too. They don’t understand the law of the weak being devoured by the strong, yet they keep shouting that those who devour others are too despicable. As if, when we first approached them, we didn’t say we’d come tomorrow to attack and that they should get ready!”
“That’s not funny, Udos Naping! There’s no such thing as people like that!” Ailin laughed brightly at Udos Naping’s words.
“It’s not that I’m being funny—it’s those old fellows who are laughable.” Udos Naping corrected Ailin.
“They refuse to face yesterday’s mistakes, so they keep making excuses. In fact, they understand the reason they ended up here better than anyone else.” Mo Fei spoke indifferently. “I hope you don’t interpret our so-called alliance as a sign of reconciliation. Having a powerful enemy nearby is good for you, not bad. Do you understand?”
“I know. I also know you only want to help the ox-headed clan get over that hurdle, not truly to strike at us. Although you also hope they can unite, which would also act as a check on us bears, I understand all of that.” Udos Naping let out a heartfelt laugh. “I think you must feel very lonely on that continent, right?”
“Of course.” Mo Fei smiled too. Talking to smart people is simple. “Otherwise, why would I personally come over without first understanding your strength?”
After they finished speaking, they both burst into laughter at the same time.
“Can you tell me how many troops the Bear tribe can truly mobilize for a full-scale battle?” Mo Fei’s question was a bit abrupt.
“If I say we can mobilize three million troops, do you believe it or not?” Udos Naping said half-seriously.
“Based on the army you brought last time, I believe they are all top-tier warriors selected from hundreds, so it’s not surprising that you can mobilize three million. But your elite force, I suspect, is just this one you’ve brought.”
“This force was chosen from warriors who have fought a hundred battles. You’ve also seen its size. Although your warriors are fiercer, I dare say that if you dare to come out of the city, you won’t be able to return.”
“Not bad.” Mo Fei smiled. With such a strong enemy, the Death Empire would not fade so easily in the future. In a sense, the Bear tribe and the Death Empire both need each other.
“You can exchange ten of your warriors—or more—for one of ours. Normally, one against ten, I believe your warriors aren’t a match for our Death Knights. But on the battlefield, one against ten becomes a problem. I won’t be foolish enough to let my brothers fall into such a trap. If we fight, I’ll engage you in motion, using our cavalry’s rapid advantage, rather than playing a head-on game with you. Our warriors crave honor and value face, but I absolutely will not sacrifice their lives for that. War is complicated, but actually very simple. As long as you remain standing at the end, you are the victor and hero. Who cares how the opponent was chopped down in the middle?”
“Having you as an enemy is most troublesome. You don’t act according to ordinary logic but use the method you believe is most beneficial to you to obtain what you want. I’d rather be friends with you for a lifetime than an opponent. I still say the same thing: as long as I remain in this position, wherever the Death Empire stands, the Bear tribe will never be the first to provoke conflict.”
“You’re not bad either.” Mo Fei laughed. “With time, you will undoubtedly become a master who controls the situation. What you lack now is merely experience. You may become my friend, but you will always be my strongest opponent.”
“Being both friend and opponent is interesting!” Udos Naping laughed heartily. “No matter what, I hope we can become friends. As for being opponents, that doesn’t matter.”
“There are many meanings to being opponents.” Mo Fei also smiled. “One is an enemy, one is between enemy and semi-enemy, and another is one that promotes one’s own development.”
“Enemy and semi-enemy? I understand the other two meanings you mentioned, but this… this…”
“We are actually quite like this now. Do you not understand or are you unwilling to face it?” Mo Fei said. “The two of us truly intend to reconcile. There will be no problem on my side, but what about your Bear tribe? Have you truly controlled the entire clan? Are you sure you can oppose them under unanimous agreement? As for whether we can develop to the third type in the future, that depends on your control over your clan members.”
“Can you make your empire listen to only your voice?”
“No?” Mo Fei said directly. “But I can veto all their proposals. As long as I think something is inappropriate, no matter how many of them speak, it will not affect my decision.”
“My brother and Elder Ofu and Brother Kane work very seamlessly and cooperate well. From when the three of them first joined together until now, they have never had any disagreement.” Ailin said from the side, of course, except when the two of them united to oppose Mo Fei brother for taking them wandering around everywhere.
“How envious you are.” Udos Naping sighed from the bottom of his heart. “Honestly, I don’t know what I’ll become tomorrow. I don’t know if those generals who support me today will treat me like I treated those five elders by chopping them down.”
“I don’t have such thoughts.” Mo Fei laughed heartily. Of course, anyone who displeased him would not even be emperor, what a way to threaten people. It seems not only this continent, but all continents are probably unique.
Udos Naping did not know Mo Fei’s thoughts and truly believed Mo Fei could firmly grasp the Death Empire in his hands.
“If you want your clan members to unite and listen to you, you have to see what differences there are in what you do and say. For commanders leading troops, they hope for a commander who can take responsibility and lead them to undefeated victories; for ordinary clan members, they care more whether their days are better than before. Do you understand?”
“I understand. As long as I do it, the Bear tribe will always be the strongest clan. I think what I should do is not first think how to control them but how to lead them to a better life.”
“Actually, you’ve already taken the first step. Ceasefire and reconciliation with the ox-headed clan will make ordinary clan members feel safer. As long as you pay more attention to their lives, they will absolutely support you.”
“Can you tell me how you did it?” Udos Naping had an expectant look on his face.
“How did I do it?” Mo Fei smiled bitterly this time. “We established our own empire after occupying an empire that was plotting to assassinate us. At that time, the emperor of that empire had made the imperial citizens’ lives very difficult by using the army, so when this empire disappeared, these former imperial citizens were all looking at what kind of life this new emperor Mo Fei could bring them.”
“How did you do it then?”
“I first issued an imperial decree to exempt all the lowest citizens who live by farming from all taxes and fees indefinitely, then exempted the empire’s merchants from at least five years of taxes, letting them focus on developing their businesses. Then, we vigorously built the capital city, relocated all town residents who were having some difficulties into the city, giving them generous rewards. So, when the city was built, they also had money in hand. At that time, we provided them with convenience for doing business or other things. Their future lives would no longer be a problem.”
“How did you come up with so many gold coins to do this?” Udos Naping also knew the Death Empire developed from a local force and was curious about how Mo Fei obtained this sum of money.
“Borrowed, and part of it was given by the original empire.” This borrowing had its story. At that time, the Golden Stone Empire mostly feared that Mo Fei would go crazy and attack them, so during Mo Fei’s building of the city, they gave a large sum, so Mo Fei wouldn’t find it embarrassing to go trouble them. And the original Longyan Empire’s emperor was also very friendly to Mo Fei, constantly sending money. Later facts showed that the Longyan Empire benefited too much from this move.
First, on that continent, the Longyan Empire no longer had to fear which empire would annex them, having Mo Fei as a strong backing was the best guarantee. The Golden Stone Empire paid the most, but in fact, after promising alliance with the Death Empire, they focused on their specialties, and these years have benefited greatly. Now with Mo Fei splitting the profits of all the Storm City on this continent with them, they earn even more. On this continent, no empire is closer than the Golden Stone Empire and the Death Empire. Elf Kingdom? They are family with the Death Empire, so how to calculate? Longyan Empire? Their gold coins are not as many as ours? Flying Dragon Empire? It seems just ordinary friendship, right? Others? Others, don’t I need to clean them up? They would be laughing in their sleep if not.