Protect Our Clan Leader
Chapter 1188 - 97: Pacify the Southern Frontier! Shou Zhe Advances to the Purple Abode (Seeking Monthly Votes) _3

Meanwhile,

The rest of the Gu Elders also sprang into action, each controlling various Gu bugs and joining the intercepting forces.

Among them, Wabak, who had eagerly submitted to Emperor Zi'an early on, was especially zealous. He single-handedly controlled two Level Seven Gu bugs and one Level Eight Gu bug, effortlessly blocking a Purple Abode Realm Commandery Prince from South Qin.

At the same time, he shouted loudly, "Elder Ga, deal with the other Purple Abode Commandery Prince. The other Gu Elders, assist Saintess Dai in taking down that Divine Skills Prince. The opportunity to distinguish yourselves is right before your eyes; don't miss it!"

Elder Ga looked utterly miserable.

Damn you, shameless Wabak! It's clear you're just trying to show off in front of your new master.

But at this point, Elder Ga also knew that the overall situation was beyond saving and reluctantly threw himself into the battle, giving it his all. Otherwise, once Emperor Zi'an and the new Saintess settled accounts afterward, he'd be in deep trouble.

The battle, despite its seeming chaos and spectacle, was actually without suspense. The Barbarian Gu Clan's stronger forces overwhelmed the few from South Qin, and smoothly annihilated a Prince and two Commandery Princes from South Qin.

Throughout the process, not a single Gu Elder's hands remained "unstained".

After recording everything with the Sky Mechanism Recording Disk, Emperor Zi'an couldn't help but say to Wang Shouzhe, "Shouzhe, by forcing the Barbarian Gu Clan to make a stand like this, people might not say it out loud, but they'll probably hold grudges against you in their hearts. Why would you, dislikable as you are, show yourself in this?"

"That kid's got a big head now and just wants to show off," Emperor Longchang complained. "Actually, it would have been best if I'd made them take the stand. After all, they don't have much affection for me anyway."

"Later, Luo Jing will be the Saintess among the Barbarian Gu Clan," Wang Shouzhe said calmly. "I hope every Elder of the Barbarian Gu Clan remembers one thing, Saintess Jing isn't some baseless loner. Before thinking of bullying her, they better remember, she has a brother with a ruthless mind."

"You…"

Emperor Longchang was utterly speechless.

So, those seemingly casual actions of Wang Shouzhe were not simply moving pieces without a plan?

Alright then~

I must admit, the mentoring I've given to Wang Shouzhe in strategy has started to bear fruit.

...

After the dust had settled,

Everything naturally fell into place.

Under the dual pressures of the imposing army and declarations of submission, not a single person in the entire Sacred Gu Clan opposed Quasi Sacred Maiden Jing's succession as the Saintess.

And Saintess Dai truly undid the life-binding contract of the Sacred Gu Silkworm and conferred the Sacred Gu True Method and the Sacred Gu Silkworm to Wang Luo Jing.

The inheritance of the Sacred Gu Clan was divided into two parts: one was the inheritance of the Sacred Gu, and the other was the inheritance of the True Method. Once Wang Luo Jing truly took over the Sacred Gu Clan, she could enter the inheritance Sacred Land with the help of the Sacred Gu Silkworm to receive the other half of the True Method inheritance.

The whole process was likewise uneventful, as if it were following a rehearsed script.

Subsequently, under the witness and signatures of Emperor Longchang and former Saintess Dai, Emperor Zi'an and Saintess Jing signed the treaty of the Sacred Gu Clan's submission to the Da Qian Empire.

This treaty, from drafting to finalization, took a full decade or more. Many of its clauses had undergone repeated negotiations and revisions.

The main contents of the clauses included the following points.

First, the Sacred Gu Clan of the Southern Frontier officially announced, both domestically and to the outside world, its submission to the Da Qian Empire effective immediately. The current territory would be established as the South Border Semi-Autonomous County, with Da Qian dispatching officials such as Prefectural Governors to preside over the Southern Frontier, governing the political affairs of the South Border Semi-Autonomous County, and setting up the Sacred Gu Clan Elder Council to participate in governance.

This point contained innumerable fine clauses, including the scope of political jurisdiction and solutions for when the law conflicted with local customs. Basically, any conceivable issue had been thoroughly considered.

Second, the Southern Frontier County, effective immediately, would begin taxation in accordance with the other counties of Da Qian, giving twenty-five percent of taxes to the state and keeping the remaining seventy-five percent for various local taxes.

Regarding taxation and the subsequent laws, Emperor Zi'an and Wang Shouzhe initially had some disagreements. According to Emperor Zi'an, since the Southern Frontier County was newly established, part of its taxes should be exempted, implementing full taxation only after a hundred years. Also, the law should give some preferential treatment to the people of the Southern Frontier, so as to quickly win their loyalty.

But Wang Shouzhe disagreed, as the conditions in the Southern Frontier were much better than they were decades ago. Paying taxes according to Daqian Law would not impoverish them.

If the common people were resistant, more education and propaganda would suffice.

If they were not accustomed to paying taxes from the start, they might grow used to the idea of non-taxation over time, thinking it their natural right. Introducing taxation later might meet with their displeasure.

In a nutshell, there could only be one set of laws throughout Da Qian. No matter the race, all should be treated equally.

Although the Southern Frontier County was semi-autonomous, this did not mean the Sacred Gu Clan could evade Daqian Law.

Every resident of the Southern Frontier County had to obey conscription when called, pay taxes when due, and receive protection when entitled, all in accordance with Daqian Law.

Of course, the Prominent Family system also implemented by Da Qian would equally apply in the Southern Frontier County.

If members of the Sacred Gu Clan wished to expand and colonize territories for Da Qian, they could also apply locally for Expansion Orders, following the standard protocol for Prominent Family colonization.

In short, to treat all equally.

It was precisely this insistence by Wang Shouzhe that once slowed down the negotiations significantly.