The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Yi Huawei's blueprint is magnificent and unprecedented. It is no longer a simple conquest and submission, but a near-ideal integration and rebirth.

For a moment, only heavy breathing and the restless crackling of the tallow lamp wick remained in the secret room, illuminating several faces whose expressions were changing drastically.

Jiao Luofeng's chest heaved gradually subsided. He had lived for decades, experienced the rise and fall of the Sui Dynasty, and witnessed the rise and fall of various powerful figures. He knew all too well how fragile promises were in the face of power.

Looking up at Yi Huawei, he slowly spoke:
"The Alliance Leader's breadth of mind, vision, and foresight are truly unparalleled in my life..."

He paused, tapping the iron staff lightly on the ground with a dull thud. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Yi Huawei: "However, what the Alliance Leader says is too beautiful, so beautiful... almost unreal. If I may be so bold as to ask, while the Alliance Leader's promises today are certainly sincere, what about the future? When the Alliance Leader has swept away all rivals, established his rule over the world, and wielded supreme power, how much of what we say today... these systems, will remain? In history, how many instances of 'the bow is put away after the birds are gone,' or 'the dog is cooked after the rabbit is dead' have been recorded?"

These words bring the most realistic and brutal issues to the forefront.

Feng Zhen's eyes sharpened, jolting him out of his brief reverie, and his lean face was once again filled with doubt.

Fan Zhuo nodded heavily, his thick brows furrowed: "Elder Jiao Luofeng is absolutely right! Alliance Leader, it's not that I don't believe you, but... but that people's hearts are fickle in this world, especially... after sitting in that chair."

Although he didn't say it explicitly, his meaning was self-evident.

Sina's slender, jade-like fingers unconsciously twirled a strand of her hair once more. Her beautiful eyes darted between Yi Huawei and Wanwan, finally settling on Yi Huawei's still calm and expressionless face. Her red lips parted slightly, her voice still carrying that unique softness, but the question was sharper and more direct than Jiao Luofeng's:

"Alliance Leader, please forgive my overthinking. You mentioned establishing a 'Council of Ethnic Affairs' and granting autonomy... These are certainly excellent. But ultimately, isn't the power to control the government, the purse strings, and the power to appoint and dismiss officials still in the hands of the central government, in... your hands?"

"Today you need the strength of our Ba Alliance and Sichuan Gang to stabilize Bashu, and even to potentially confront the Li Tang dynasty in the future. That's why you made such a solemn promise and treat us like honored guests. But once the world is at peace and Bashu is stable, won't we, these 'allies,' these 'autonomous forces' with our own armed forces and territories, become... a hidden danger right next to your bed? Or stumbling blocks that need to be eliminated?"

Sina tilted her head slightly, her tone carrying a bluntness that sent shivers down Fan Zhuo and the others' spines: "By then, you will surely have countless strategists and fierce generals under your command. They might advise you, 'Those who are not of our race will surely have different hearts,' 'They are too powerful to be controlled, so we should get rid of them as soon as possible'... But after countless battles and securing your rule, will you still remember the promises you made to us 'barbarians' in this dimly lit tower today? Will you still go against the majority, even... offend your core base of rule—those vast numbers of Han gentry and officials—in order to fulfill these promises that might hinder your 'eternal reign and unification of the country'?"

What Sina asked was not only Yi Huawei's personal integrity, but also the inevitable inertia of the power structure, and the projection of the fundamental contradictions that could never be truly reconciled between the central dynasties and local forces, and between the mainstream ethnic groups and ethnic minorities throughout history into the future!
Feng Zhen and the others broke out in a cold sweat. Sina's question had touched upon their deepest fears! Jiao Luofeng also nodded slowly. Clearly, Sina had voiced all their unspeakable worries on their behalf.

The atmosphere in the sealed room instantly became tense again. All eyes were focused on Yi Huawei, awaiting his answer. This was no longer a simple exchange of benefits, but a soul-searching question about trust, about whether a promise that transcends the laws of history could be fulfilled.

"Hahaha~~"

Faced with these sharp and pointed questions, Yi Huawei did not show the slightest displeasure or offense. Instead, he chuckled softly, his laughter carrying an indescribable meaning, seemingly admiration, yet also... a transcendent confidence.

"Good question."

Yi Huawei clapped his hands and sighed softly, his gaze sweeping over Jiao Luofeng, Sina, Feng Zhen and Fan Zhuo one by one: "The fact that you all can think of this shows that you are not just following the crowd, but are genuinely worried about the long-term future of your people. If you easily believe my 'empty talk,' I will have to doubt whether you are worthy of my serious treatment."

He slowly stood up, walked to the huge map, turned his back to the crowd, and looked up at the crisscrossing mountains and rivers on it.

"Elder Horn worries that I will break my promise once I have power. Chief Sina is concerned that I will be controlled by the power under my command and the inertia of history, and will eventually do the same thing as discarding a bow after the birds are gone. Your concerns are reasonable and based on thousands of years of historical experience."

Yi Huawei suddenly turned around, his gaze like lightning. His gentle temperament suddenly became incredibly majestic and profound. An indescribable, majestic aura spread out from him. It was not directed at anyone, but it made everyone present feel breathless, as if they were no longer facing a person, but a vast starry sky, an insurmountable mountain!
"But you've forgotten one thing. I am not any emperor as you know me!"

"The path I pursue is not the eternal life of a single family or clan, but the continuation of civilization, the symbiosis of the people, and breaking the cycle of order and chaos! If I were merely seeking to sit in that chair and enjoy supreme power, why would I go through all this trouble? With my strength, infiltrating Chang'an and taking Li Yuan's head would be as easy as taking candy from a baby; with the might of Heaven's Way, stirring up the world and slaughtering all the heroes would not be difficult either. But I did not do that. I chose to take a more difficult, but also more thorough, path."

Yi Huawei's gaze sharpened, as if it could pierce through people's hearts: "Because I know that force can conquer land, but it cannot conquer hearts; power can maintain a temporary foothold, but it cannot lay the foundation for eternity. What I want is a truly stable, vibrant, and constantly self-renewing Chinese civilization community! And if this community cannot embrace all its people, and cannot resolve internal divisions and estrangement, it will ultimately be nothing more than a fortress on the beach, unable to withstand any storm!"

"As for your concerns about whether I will be subject to the control of my subordinate forces in the future..."

Yi Huawei's lips curled into a smile that carried a hint of sarcasm and absolute confidence: "If I cannot even control the forces under my command, and cannot even maintain the systems I have established, how can I talk about sweeping across the world and creating the future?"

His gaze was piercing as he looked at Sina: "Chief Sina, you said that the hilt of the sword, the purse, and the official hat will ultimately be in my hands, and that's right! Precisely because they are in my hands, I have the ability and the obligation to promote the path that I believe is right! Anyone who tries to obstruct this process, whether they come from Han Chinese gentry or are a meritorious veteran, will be my enemy, not someone I need to compromise with!"

"My power does not come solely from the army and political maneuvering,"

Yi Huawei raised his hand, and an invisible current seemed to swirl around his fingertips, causing the air in the entire secret room to tremble slightly: "It also stems from my adherence to the 'Dao,' and... my absolute strength that is enough to suppress all who disagree!"

At this moment, Feng Zhen and the other three clearly felt that Yi Huawei was not bluffing. His unfathomable martial arts skills, Wanwan's terrifying strength, and the magnanimity that transcended worldly power and position revealed in his words all confirmed his words—he had the confidence and ability to break the old rules and establish a new order! "And the guarantee of the system is not empty talk."

Yi Huawei softened his tone: "'The Ethnic Affairs Institute' is not an advisory body; it will wield real power. Its resolutions cannot be easily overturned by the highest ruling body without sufficient justification. The scope of autonomy will be clearly stipulated in the form of the 'Charter of China,' proclaimed to the world and subject to the supervision of all people. Any act that violates the Charter or infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups undermines the foundation of the alliance, and I will absolutely not allow it!"

Yi Huawei returned to his seat, looking at the four men with an honest gaze: "Trust needs time to prove itself; empty words are meaningless. I cannot ask you all to believe me without reservation right now. But I can make you a promise: Sichuan will be my testing ground for practicing this doctrine. You can witness firsthand how I treat those who submit to me and how I promote my ideals. If I contradict what I say today, and you oppose me then, I will have no complaints."

"and,"

Yi Huawei paused, a meaningful smile appearing on his face: "Unlike the 'allies' that Li Tang has painted for you, cooperating with me will not leave you without any checks and balances. The terrain of Sichuan and Chongqing is treacherous, and your foundations are deep. As long as you are united, you will be a force to be reckoned with. Maintaining this strength while integrating into the larger framework I have outlined is the wisest choice for you. This is not charity, but... mutual benefit and win-win."

After speaking, Yi Huawei said nothing more and simply looked at them calmly.

Jiao Luofeng remained silent for a long time, then slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. The doubt in his eyes had not completely dissipated, but his deep vigilance had loosened considerably. He looked at Yi Huawei and said in a deep voice, "As for the Alliance Leader's words, this old man... needs time to digest them."

Feng Zhen took a deep breath and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I am grateful for Alliance Leader Yi's sincerity. This matter is of great importance and cannot be resolved in a short time."

Fan Zhuo nodded, his attitude noticeably softening.

Sina's beautiful eyes sparkled, finally transforming into a bright smile as she clapped her hands gently: "The Alliance Leader is truly...surprising. Since the Alliance Leader is willing to give us time to witness it firsthand, then Sina will...wait and see."

Clearly, Yi Huawei's response, which combined absolute strength, grand vision, institutional guarantees, and analysis of practical interests, while not completely dispelling their deep-seated doubts about "crossing the river and then destroying the bridge," has at least successfully opened a crack.

Yi Huawei took in the reactions of the group, knowing that empty promises and lofty ideals ultimately needed a solid foundation of reality to support them. Authority and reason alone were not enough; tangible favors were necessary to gradually dismantle the millennia-old barriers and distrust.

His stern expression slowly faded, replaced by a warm and gentle smile that seemed to soothe the soul: "I know that even if I were to speak eloquently, the huge rock of 'trust' in your hearts cannot be moved overnight. I understand the principle of 'not using those you doubt, and not doubting those you use,' but before you fully trust me, I am willing to take this step first, to express my sincerity with concrete actions, and to let you see that the Heavenly Alliance brings not only military might and systems, but also the power to make this land more prosperous and peaceful."

His gaze turned to Feng Zhen and Jiao Luofeng: "Chief Feng, Elder Jiao, the Qiang villages and Ba tribes mostly live in the mountains, with limited arable land, and livestock are an important source of wealth. If they encounter snow disasters or epidemics, they often suffer heavy losses. Is that so?"

Feng Zhen sighed and nodded, saying, "Alliance Leader, you are wise. The mountains are high and the soil is thin, so the harvest is not plentiful. Once the cattle and sheep are infected with disease, it will be a disaster for the village."

Jiao Luofeng nodded slightly; this was indeed a problem that had troubled them for generations.

Yi Huawei smiled slightly and said, "This matter may be alleviated."

After he finished speaking, he clapped his hands lightly twice, the sound crisp and clear.

The door to the secret chamber was silently pushed open again, and a servant dressed in ordinary blue robes, with an unremarkable face and a restrained aura, bowed as he entered, carrying a seemingly ordinary wooden box. Feng Zhen and the others had no idea when this person had arrived or how he had gotten past the possible guards outside, and a chill ran through them once more.

The attendant respectfully placed the wooden box on the table in front of Yi Huawei, then bowed and withdrew as if he had never been there.

Yi Huawei opened the wooden box. Inside were not gold and silver jewelry, but several small packages neatly wrapped in oil paper, and a few thin booklets.

Pick up one of the small packets, open it, and inside are some seeds that are either golden or milky white and have strange shapes.

“I call this thing ‘potato’, also known as ‘snow potato’.”

Yi Huawei then pointed to several other small packages: "This is 'corn,' and these are 'sweet potato' tubers. These three are all brand-new crops that I obtained from overseas."

Under the curious gazes of the four, Yi Huawei explained, "These potatoes and sweet potatoes are extremely tolerant of poor soil, especially suitable for planting on mountain slopes, and their yield far exceeds that of millet and wheat! They are also rich in nutrients, serving both as food and vegetables. This corn is also undemanding in terms of location, has strong drought resistance, its kernels are edible, and its stalks can be used as animal feed. If it can be promoted in the mountains of Sichuan and Chongqing, although I dare not say that it will immediately ensure that all ethnic groups have enough to eat and wear, at least it can greatly alleviate the worry of food shortages and allow more land to feed more people."

Feng Zhen and Jiao Luofeng's eyes widened instantly! They were people who truly worked the land and understood all too well what a high-yield crop that wasn't picky about soil meant! It was practically a lifesaver!
Feng Zhen couldn't help but stand up, move closer, and stare intently at those unremarkable seeds, his breathing becoming heavy.

Jiao Luofeng's hand, gripping the iron staff, trembled slightly, revealing his inner turmoil.

"...Alliance Leader, is this true?! These...these seeds can really be planted in our mountains? Is the yield really that high?" (End of Chapter)