Moreover, it can be basically concluded that none of these individuals are at the Imperial First Layer, as even a blind person at Imperial Realm First Layer wouldn't bother to be listed, everyone here is at least at the Second or even Third Layer.

Zhao Changhe held his head, feeling a severe headache.

He had just won a major battle and thought he could relax for a year or two, but as soon as he turned around, he found countless issues still unresolved.

The most troubling is that no matter how he calls for the blind one, they do not appear, leaving nowhere to seek answers.

Currently, everyone is far away in Hanhai, and they can't just skip the victory banquet, disregard the situation on the grassland, glance at the ranking, and head home, can they? Such behavior would spark a mutiny among the troops.

Forget it. Zhao Changhe decided not to involve himself, and directly led the Vulture Tribe prisoners back to Langjuxu Mountain.

During these days, the mountain had quickly reestablished a Divine Hall, and the slopes and foot of the mountain were densely packed with the encampments of various tribe leaders awaiting an audience. Clearly, more than seven days had passed, yet no one dared to even whisper a complaint. The numerous Vulture Tribe prisoners, along with the heads of Tie Muer and the Vulture Hunting Teeth, and tribe prisoners from afar in the king's court, seemed to serve as bloody evidence of the so-called "transgressors' tribe."

The word "tribe" might be unclear to many, but their clan leaders understood; it referred to clan extermination, though Zhao Changhe preferred not to spell out such blood-soaked words.

The Great Han army certainly wouldn't commit acts of clan extermination, as the chief is Zhao Changhe, not Vermilion Bird and certainly not Xue Canghai. Nonetheless, it's obvious that these resistant tribes will not have an easy future... Seeing that the Great Han army might establish governance and pacification here, potentially imposing numerous labor duties, these tribes may suffer the hardest labor, ultimately facing a fate not much different from clan extermination.

This is the fate of the conquered, known as deterrent example. To live a better life, absolute submission is required.

The current grassland can no longer pose any significant threat to the Great Han with a gathering of mighty tribes. Even Ba Tu's Battle Lion Tribe is now as scattered and ragged as a group of refugees, requiring at least two generations of recuperation to restore itself. Of course, if Ba Tu is determined, the Battle Lion Tribe still has a chance, but look at Ba Tu now...

"Godfather, godfather, you've returned." Ba Tu eagerly greeted from outside the mountain's base, bowing low almost to the ground: "Let me lead your horse, father."

Zhao Changhe almost fell off the horse: "When did I acknowledge this as my son?"

"Godmother acknowledged me." Ba Tu grinned, decisively kneeling beside the horse, indicating for Zhao Changhe to step onto his back to dismount: "Please dismount, godfather."

"No need." Zhao Changhe knew this might be usual practice for them, but he was unaccustomed to it, so he only gestured to Huangfu Qing to intervene with his gaze.

Huangfu Qing's voice was like the frost of December: "Which godmother, where did that godmother come from, does this old mother acknowledge?"

Ba Tu's face was drenched in sweat.

The main problem with this godfather is the absence of an official wife, making it unclear whom to flatter; favoring one might offend many.

Moreover, none are easy to deal with; if this one flares up, even the lazy godmother might not handle it, nor be willing to shield him for his sake.

Zhao Changhe took the opportunity to dismount from the other side, reaching for Ba Tu and pulling him forward: "Don't try these tricks with me. Even if you show these gestures, I won't believe you lack ambition, so these gestures are meaningless."

Ba Tu cried out, appealing to the heavens, "You must believe me... Honestly, many tribes now don't dare resent you, but they dare resent me. Without Great Han's support, I would be torn to pieces by the wolves, leaving not even bones."

"And once you secure the Khan throne and establish your power?"

"Old Zhao, no need for pretense. Currently, you possess the strength to slay deities, and no such formidable figures are left on the grassland to challenge you. Who knows how many years it would take to birth one, and even if, by a stroke of fate, it happened. If I have any disloyal thoughts, you could take my head anytime. Unless I'm a fool, I wouldn't entertain such baseless ideas. Doesn't it seem more appealing to be the Khan King under the protection of Great Han?"

"Calling me Old Zhao now, are you?"

"Hehe..."

"Actually, I do believe you wouldn't rise against me, but what about your descendants?" Zhao Changhe continued, "I doubt you dare guarantee things for the future."

Ba Tu paused in silence for a moment and then spoke frankly: "Old Zhao, even if your lifespan isn't eternal, it's not far off. Unless you seek your own demise, you have countless years ahead. Taking a step back, even if you clash with some Demon God and are killed, the chaos wouldn't fall to me. Going even further, if you and I pass, why worry about later turmoil; at most, I'll consider wealth and prosperity for my offspring, but several generations down the line? Am I sick?"

Implying, are you crazy... Thinking of ruling not just for your descendants but for millennia ahead?

"To be honest, if my descendants cause chaos after a century, it's your successors' incompetence, and no matter how much you plan ahead, they'll have their own problems. "Ba Tu glanced at Zhao Changhe with a sigh, "Old Zhao, if you're still worried, just outline a path, whatever you say, I'll comply — surely you won't expect something as crude as my head, even claiming it would be pointless."

"Nothing else." Zhao Changhe said, "In the Southern Desert, I know there are many places suitable for farming, perhaps you could try organizing cultivation."

"What does that mean?"

"A combination of semi-nomadic and farming lifestyle, with cultural assimilation into the Great Han. A gradual process."

Ba Tu's expression was quite impressive: "Does that mean building cities?"

"At least in the Southern Desert, yes, and roads could be built too. The location of the Yellow Sand Market is quite good, with a freshwater lake... In such places, we can appoint prefectural governors for governance, spreading Han culture and education. As for the Northern Desert, we'll initially station troops for indirect control."

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