Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After the Demon Alliance meeting dispersed, everyone left one after the other until there were only several important members of the Greater Rat Kingdom left in the conference room.
“Hehe, with this, all the outstanding demons in this world have fallen into the Elder Ancestor’s hands,” Bai Shixin complimented.
Since he realized that the Elder Ancestor intended to ease their relations, he naturally took advantage of the situation. That was what the wise would do.
His true intentions would be better off being hidden deep in his heart.
“Haha, well said. Shixin, you have the greatest public conscience. In the future, we Greater Rats will be responsible for the logistics of the demon race. The resources collected by the demons will have to be handed in for storage. The cultivation resources will be allocated according to the qualification of the demon in the database. I’ve thought about it and decided that the post of Chief Logistics Officer should be handed over to you. I don’t think anyone would have any objections to that.” Elder Ancestor Bai smiled lightly.
Bai Shixin’s face immediately revealed deep gratitude, “How would I dare not to do my best when so valued by Elder Ancestor? I don’t seek to please others, but I only wish to live up to the expectations of Elder Ancestors all the other Greater Rats.”
“Good, good,” Elder Ancestor Bai smiled. Then, his short body stood up, and he left with his hands folded behind him.
“We respectfully see you out, Elder Ancestor,” The officials in the conference room all rose and bowed.
After Elder Ancestor Bai left, several Greater Rat demons swarmed around Bai Shixin.
“Congratulations! Congratulations, Brother Shixin. You gained such an important task.” Bai Shifu was the first to sincerely congratulate him.
“Hehe, my brother, don’t be so courteous.” Bai Shixin politely waved his hand.
“Congratulations, Brother Shixin. It’s a shame that not that many of our brothers came down. They missed this scene,” another Greater Rat demon congratulated while sighing.
Bai Shixin only inwardly shook his head at those words, ‘As mere chess pieces, you don’t know the truth at all. You’re just like the newborn local demons in the audience just now.
‘Why don’t you consider seriously? What does the historical hatred between men and those ignorant beasts have to do with you?
‘If humans want to destroy the demons, they naturally have to fight to the death.’
However, China would never harm those who abide by the law and discipline, and allowed them to live freely, regardless if they were humans or demons.
Although the management was becoming stricter, they still upheld the same approach. Was it not enough that they were treated that way?
Bai Shixin thanked everyone for their felicitations and talked with them for a long time and made various promises. In a nutshell, they all sounded like ‘As long as you work hard, you won’t lose any benefits from your Brother.’.
It took more than an hour before he was able to leave the conference room and head home.
Along the way, the news seemed to have spread even though only an hour had passed. From time to time, various local demons came forward to congratulate him and even presented him with gifts.
It was a sharp contrast to the scenes in which everyone avoided him.
He lost all of his abilities and was unable to use magic, so it took him a long time to get out of the crowd’s flattery and compliments.
As soon as he got home, Jing Er’s face lit up and she came forward to welcome him.
“Congratulations, husband. You obtained the Elder Ancestor’s recognition again,” she smiled, “I’ve just seen from the internal forum that the Elder Ancestor wants you to be the Chief Logistics Officer and coordinate the allocation of cultivation resources. Everyone talked about it and agreed that this position could only be given to someone the Elder Ancestor absolutely trusted.”
“Hehe, you’re absolutely right. I guess every cloud does have a silver lining after all…” Bai Shixin revealed a smile, but only felt bitterness in his heart.
“In that case, I’ll make some dishes for you to celebrate,” Jing Er did not see his real thoughts and said excitedly.
“Alright, thank you. I’ll go to the study first to sort out the information and look at the reports to make preparations,” Bai Shixin patted his wife on her shoulder.
The two separated. Bai Shixin turned and walked into the study and locked the door immediately. Then, he released a long sigh of relief.
“Hehe, Nie Yuan betrayed you because Cang Congzi appeared, and now that old demon wants to use you again. You won’t change your mind because of this, will you?”
The voice of a middle-aged man sounded from his body.
“Hehe, the others don’t understand that old man’s intentions, but how would I not understand either? After all, a wise man not only reads Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’, he must also be familiar with ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’…” Bai Shixin sneered.
“What do you mean?”
“Master Bai, you should have heard the story of Cao Cao borrowing the head of the grain warehouse officer?” (TN: Cao Cao was a war general in the novel ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’. When Cao Cao was fighting against Yuan Shu, the Cao army found themselves rapidly depleting their food supplies because of how large the army was. The two sides were locked in a stalemate for a month, until one day, the grain warehouse officer Wang Hou approached Cao Cao and reported that there was not much grain left. Cao Cao instructed Wang Hou to lessen the distribution for each soldier to stall for time, and told him not to care if the soldiers complained. That night, Cao Cao secretly sent people to various camps and found out that the soldiers were grumbling and saying that Cao Cao was deceiving them. Cao Cao then summoned Wang Hou to his tent and asked to borrow his head to soothe the soldiers’ anger. Although Wang Hou pleaded his innocence, Cao Cao assured that his family would be well taken care of, and beheaded Wang Hou and hung his decapitated head on a high pole with a notice saying ‘Wang Hou deliberately lessened the distribution of grain and stole the remaining grain for himself. Thus, he was beheaded in accordance with military law’. Wang Hou’s execution managed to appease the soldiers’ anger and stabilize the army.)
“Oh, of course I know about that, but have you suffered from persecution mania? That old demon has only just appointed you as Chief Logistics Officer, and you’ve already thought so far?”
“Hehe, those who do not study for the overall situation will not understand one aspect; those who have no long-term considerations will not be able to seize the present.” Bai Shixin muttered.
“In other words, that old demon has actually long made up his mind to remove you?”‘Master Bai’ pondered.
“That’s right. I’m the only one who clearly knows the history of his founding. He wants to become a god, but what is a god? Sacred, glorious, majestic, and flawless. That’s why he definitely can’t tolerate me, not because he is narrow-minded and fatuous. Just like humans, if there was a tiny little thorn that has pricked the skin, although the thorn will not influence anything, any normal person would be unable to endure it for eternity. They would only think of ways to remove it.”
“I understand now. You’re that thorn by the old demon’s side.” Master Bai was immediately relieved.
“That’s right, so you don’t have to worry about anything. I took the Heavenly Oath because I’ve long since seen the irreconcilable differences between that old man and me. All the means he used in the past was just to remove me and pave the way for himself,” Bai Shixin shook his head while sighing.
“You’re pretty sensible,” Master Bai seemed relieved and asked, “Do you think this so-called Demon Alliance will succeed?”
“Hehe, Master Bai, you’re still thinking of your fellows while in this state. It’s truly admirable. When it comes to serving the public wholeheartedly, you’re not inferior to me at all. In fact, you might even be superior to me. Unfortunately, wholeheartedly devoting oneself to the public may not always end up well for the person.” Bai Shixin sneered again.
“Not everything will go perfectly, but I just don’t want any regrets in my heart.” Master Bai said firmly.
“Well said,” Bai Shixin nodded and sat at the desk. He pulled out a book with five words written on the cover —’The Rise of the Great Powers’.
“Whether the Demon Alliance succeeds or not would have to depend on the newborn demons’ morale. That’ll be the sign of the rise of a race.” He spoke while flipping through the book.
“How do we crack it then?” Master Bai asked hurriedly.
“It’s very simple. We fight fire with fire. Tell those newborn demons that a country shouldn’t care about race. Humans or demons, the country as a whole should only be concerned about the concept of a ‘citizen’.”
“Citizens form a country. They pay their obligations in the form of contracts an enjoy basic rights. Tell them that demons born in the land of China naturally have the qualifications of being a citizen of China. It’s not meaningful for them to dedicate their lives to the Demon Alliance. It’ll be more meaningful for China and them if they join China, the land that gave birth to them.”
“As long as China comes up with the right countermeasures to draw in the talents of the demons, the Demon Alliance will not become a real threat. At best, it’ll be a talent supply base.”
Bai Shixin spoke with fervor, relentlessly selling out the Demon Alliance.
To him, his position in the Greater Rat Clan has long established the policy of ‘bringing the clan into China’. This way, he hoped that China would introduce more friendly measures to demons.
He had a very clear view of the general situation. China had a great advantage. As long as he did not pick a fight, his boat would not capsize. In contrast, there were too many unknown variables for him to board the Demon Alliance’s new boat.
The Elder Ancestor was someone who could become a god with his flesh, and was already very close to the realm of the gods. Naturally, the more believers he had, the better. The god of the Rat Clan would naturally not be as powerful as the Demon God. That was the simple truth.
He also asked himself and had a clear estimation of his limitations. He did not have that large an ambition. As long as he could be the Rat Clan clan leader, live a long life, and ascend after death, it would have lead a complete life.
“You’re right,” Master Bai agreed, “It’s a shame those newborn demons were bewitched by those who have ulterior motives, and are unable to make accurate judgments about what benefits them the most like how you do. What a pity.”
“That’s why they’re childish. They’re as small as individuals, but as large as a group. A country will always have this childishness early on. They won’t be able to find a position or even stand firm in their position. They won’t be able to see what benefits them the most, and will be easily swayed by another’s empty words. After all, not everyone is a wise person.” Bai Shixin said disdainfully.
Just then, two knocks sounded on the study door.
The conversation instantly stopped. Bai Shixin put down the book, got up to open the door, and walked out.
Before long, in the restaurant, there were the sounds of laughter, just like they were coming from an ordinary happy family.
