Chapter 78: Accepting the Grand Gift |
Seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators.
A valley with an excellent location, extremely concealed, and uniquely blessed by nature.
Two coal mines and iron mines ready for immediate exploitation.
Not to mention, once Rogge Camp is taken over, Great Xia will naturally become the strongest camp nearby.
From now on, the eastern outer perimeter of Redwood Ridge will basically be under Great Xia’s control.
This seemed like a proposal that didn’t require much deliberation, as long as it could proceed.
However, nothing should be taken too lightly. If it were really that easy, Luo Ming wouldn’t be kneeling here, begging me to take over Rogge Camp.
First of all, integrating over a hundred people is no simple matter, especially when among them are seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators. Great Xia currently only has nine Lumberjack Realm cultivators. When two groups merge, conflicts may arise. If conflicts do occur, Xia Hong could suppress them with strength, but that would only make integration harder.
The over a hundred people Shi Qing brought were different. Boulder Camp was completely destroyed, and all Lumberjack Realm cultivators were wiped out. Without Great Xia’s shelter, they simply couldn’t survive. Out of gratitude, they trust Xia Hong unconditionally and, knowing they are newcomers, they actively strive to integrate.
According to Luo Ming, giving up the valley base means Xia Hong would have to move all three hundred people over. Naturally, there would be resistance in their hearts. Moreover, the number of Lumberjack Realm cultivators in Rogge Camp is nearly double that of Great Xia. When the two sides meet, conflicts are highly likely.
After pondering for a moment, Xia Hong asked,
“Leader Luo, forgive me for speaking plainly, but since there are seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators left, why not select one among them to lead and continue guiding the rest to survive?”
Hearing this question, a look of admiration immediately appeared on Luo Ming’s face. At the same time, he confirmed that he had not misjudged Xia Hong and became even more convinced of his thoughts.
“Brother Xia Hong, I did consider this a few days ago, but among the seventeen left in the camp, I truly cannot find anyone more suitable than you.
First, none of them are as strong as you. Secondly, they indeed lack the qualities to be a leader.
Only two days have passed since the great disaster, and many of them are still immersed in the sorrow of losing their loved ones. When I suggested leading them out, they became even more despondent.
Don’t mention leading the camp; I’m afraid that if I leave, these people might be the first to fall, which would doom the remaining hundred or so people in the camp. I really had no choice but to come to ask you, Brother Xia Hong.”
After listening, Xia Hong was initially a bit confused but quickly understood when recalling the previous tragic situation of Rogge Camp.
Over thirteen hundred people, and only a hundred or so survived. Even Luo Ming himself was disheartened, let alone those Lumberjack Realm cultivators under him.
Moreover, Luo Ming wanted to take people away, and it seemed he intended to bring Shang Ping, Li Baihe, and Xu Kang—three Digging Realm cultivators—along with their children.
This would leave the rest even more hopeless.
Under these circumstances, it was indeed impossible to let them lead the camp.
Wait, wait, maybe these people are deliberately acting this way to prevent Luo Ming from leaving. If I agree to Luo Ming, wouldn’t that indirectly enable him and the others to leave? That might only cause more resentment.
Xia Hong’s expression suddenly became strange.
Coincidentally, Luo Ming noticed this and gave a bitter smile:
“Brother Xia Hong, you’re clever, seeing right through it. Yes, they do want to use this as leverage to stop me from taking people away. But now, I only have my youngest son as a concern. I really don’t want to stay in Redwood Ridge any longer. First, I fear memories will keep haunting me. Second, I worry that if danger comes again, I won’t be able to protect my son.
So leaving is an absolute must.”
At this, Luo Ming shifted his tone to one of absolute certainty: “Brother Xia Hong, rest assured, as long as you agree to accept them and promise equal treatment, I will do my utmost to persuade them before I leave. If anyone truly cannot be convinced, then I will have no objections to you dealing with them as you see fit.”
After saying this, Luo Ming bowed deeply to Xia Hong.
Although he didn’t look at Xia Hong’s expression, Luo Ming was already about 80% sure—actually, even before coming here, he was 60% sure—that Xia Hong would agree to take over those hundred-plus people from Rogge Camp.
Though he had only briefly interacted with Xia Hong during the fight against the Wood Puppet Abomination, Luo Ming had been a leader for many years. At his age, he had some skill in judging people.
When Xia Hong learned that the Wood Puppet Abomination had infiltrated Rogge Camp and immediately risked himself to notify others, then willingly returned with them to help fight it, it proved his good character.
During the battle against the Wood Puppet Abomination, he led the group with clear tactics, showing both courage and wisdom, qualities Luo Ming admired. The phrase “outstanding ability” was a perfect fit.
This was why Luo Ming trusted him to lead the hundred-plus people of the camp.
When Luo Ming just mentioned that only seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators remained in the camp, everyone else immediately smiled broadly and grew excited. Only Xia Hong remained calm, quickly considering the difficulties of merging two groups—a level of thoughtfulness beyond compare.
Most importantly, Luo Ming saw that Xia Hong had ambition.
Especially after hearing Xia Hong’s rules for distributing resources, Luo Ming became even more certain he had not misjudged him.
An ambitious leader would never cling stubbornly to Great Xia’s current numbers. Any leader with ambition knows resources are important, but population is the greatest foundation.
Without a large population, any ambition is just empty talk.
A leader with good character, outstanding ability, meticulous thinking, and ambition, facing over a hundred people offered for free along with Rogge Camp’s existing resources and with Luo Ming adopting such a humble attitude,
Xia Hong could not refuse, nor had any reason to refuse.
“Leader Luo, Great Xia will take those hundred-plus people!”
Although Xia Hong had already been confident, hearing himself say it aloud, Luo Ming finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
“Brother Xia Hong, thank you!”
Xia Hong smiled and stepped forward, finally helping Luo Ming to his feet smoothly.
Although he didn’t know why Luo Ming insisted on leaving,
with so many good things offered so generously, Xia Hong had no reason to refuse.
Rogge Camp’s concealed valley, the ready coal and iron mines, such a large territory on the outer edge of Redwood Ridge, and over a hundred people, including seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators with combat power—
each of these was extremely tempting to Xia Hong.
Although he knew these benefits came with troubles,
troubles are meant to be solved!
Supporting five hundred people would simply mean obtaining more Crystal Fruit.
If any of the seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators caused trouble, first try to persuade them; if that fails, suppress them with strength.
The supply of Frost Beast meat would suddenly increase significantly, which only meant hunting a few more Frost Beasts in Redwood Ridge.
Once these troubles were fully resolved and Great Xia’s strength rose to completely replace Rogge Camp,
the eastern side of Redwood Ridge would be entirely under Great Xia’s rule.
Such a tempting prospect meant no matter the trouble, Xia Hong had to accept it.
After discussing specific details, Luo Ming left satisfied.
After sending Luo Ming off, Xia Hong returned to the cave and saw everyone watching him excitedly. His heart couldn’t help but swell with excitement.
“Pack up your things. Tomorrow night, we start moving!”
“We’re moving, hahaha!”
“That valley at Rogge Camp is a great place.”
“Not just the valley, their entire territory will be ours.”
“Hahaha, with over a hundred people joining Great Xia, our population will surpass five hundred. That means we’ll be a medium-sized camp!”
………………
For a moment, the camp erupted with voices. Everyone cheered wildly.