vncnus Chapter 194 Tribute
Chapter 194 Tribute
The first stop of the tour was the Demon Slayer World, which was the first place to be conquered. The huge starship landed in the former Tokyo area. After completing the unification and integration of this world, Japan became part of the East Asian administrative region and was under the unified management of the central government.
Looking down, the city is in good order. According to the time clues, it is only the early 20th century here, and many countries are still in the backward agricultural society stage. However, with the support of the technology of the sovereign country, the current scene is not much different from the space age civilization in the early 21st century, and it is even more advanced. The infrastructure such as railways and airports are complete, and there is a special site for starships to take off and land outside the city. The Bri Fleet is moored at the port and is loading supplies. On the streets or in the air, you can see the universal angels who maintain law and order, as well as the staff and security personnel who are carrying out their tasks.
“I can hardly recognize this place…”
Kanae and the accompanying Demon Slayer team rubbed their eyes and sighed. In just a few years, their hometown has undergone earth-shaking changes. The shogunate and the demons are gone, and it has become a vassal state under the rule of the Xinghai Empire.
As the starship roared, the citizens looked up at the huge spaceship that blocked out the sky - the Ten Thousand Faces Wind and Snow, their eyes filled with yearning and admiration for power and glory.
"Wow, look at the expressions of those natives, it's like the ancient people saw the Yellow Emperor parading."
Gudako couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sense of superiority. As a member of the suzerain state, she was naturally superior to others. Here, she enjoyed the worship of the vassal states.
Richelieu laughed and teased her: "You are just pretending to be powerful. Do you know who they are afraid of?"
The starship landed, and the long-awaited reception team, local officials, and ship girls lined up in a grand procession. The red carpet was laid out to the starship cabin door, and on both sides were hundreds of universal angels holding swords and shields. They half-spread their wings, looked serious and solemn, and exuded a sacred and inviolable majesty. There were a large number of people watching around, shouting slogans loudly, and many of them were holding flowers. It was unknown whether they came spontaneously or participated as extras. Gudako guessed that most of these people were arranged actors.
As soon as they got off the spaceship, the crowd burst into cheers like a tsunami, almost making Kanae and others lose their footing.
"Hiss - Commander, this is quite a big scene..."
Kanae poked Lu Chen quietly. For her, this was the first time she had experienced such a grand welcome ceremony.
"As the leader of the suzerain country, this is the proper scene. Appropriate pomp helps maintain your authority." Zhenhai explained softly.
Later, Lu Chen and his party walked off the spaceship under Lu Chen's leadership. The ship girls stationed here took the initiative to greet them, including Hood, the Duke of York, and some other royal ship girls who were in charge of the Demon Slayer World. They were dressed in uniform black and red uniforms, looking majestic and solemn.
Behind them were some ordinary people wearing formal clothes and looking nervous. They were the heads of various administrative districts. Although they were older than Lu Chen, they couldn't help but feel a little afraid when they saw this young leader. After all, a few years ago, they had already witnessed the absolute power of Lu Chen leading the fleet to sweep across countries and unify the countryside.
"Um……"
Lu Chen glanced at them and caught a variety of complex emotions in their eyes: respect, awe, curiosity, and a hint of cautious fear.
After the welcome ceremony, the ship girls learned that the commander had no intention of chatting with the natives, so they did not arrange a banquet and went straight into the patrol work report session.
"Commander, this is our recent work report." In the administrative building, Hood reported to Lu Chen on the governance of Demon Slayer World and handed him detailed statistical data. The work of the ship girls was rigorous and meticulous, and all kinds of statistical data were clear at a glance.
Lu Chen reviewed it and found that after the unification of the world, the output of resources such as minerals, timber, fisheries, and agricultural products had achieved a leap-forward growth driven by advanced technology, and fully reflected the concept of sustainable development. Correspondingly, the tribute he received from them was also increasing.
"Is there any resistance here? For example, someone demanding independence?" Gudako asked curiously.
"There are occasional minor disturbances, but the rebellion you speak of has never happened." Hood responded with a smile.
"The commander once said that the basic logic of governing a vassal state is to maintain social stability at the grassroots level. We brought them hospitals, schools, railways, and modern medicine, so in the hearts of the common people, the commander is a savior from outer space. As for those dignitaries... Oh, there is no need for nobles here, and there should be no big landowners or big capitalists. A vassal state is purely a resource-producing area, and there is no need to keep those parasites who do not engage in productive labor."
Economists point out that in modern society, 20% of the population often owns more than 80% of the wealth. Under the new order led by Lu Chen, he uses violence to break the old order and redistribute wealth and power. Therefore, it is reasonable for those in high positions to resist, and this is resolved one by one by the almighty angels on standby. As long as the ordinary people who make up the majority of the population live a stable life, the entire dependent country can remain stable.
"Hmm...it looks like this world will be able to mine space resources soon."
Lu Chen nodded with satisfaction. The significance of having a subordinate world is far more than just accepting a few tributary states. With the improvement of scientific and technological levels, they can also be guided to explore local space resources and obtain more precious resources from the universe.
The stronger the vassal state is, the more resources you will get from it, but the key is to strike a good balance between the two. Just like in the game, if the vassal state is too weak, you will not be able to extract more benefits; if the vassal state is too strong, it may cause frequent unrest, and the ambitious may also breed unrealistic ideas.
"We have demilitarized the entire world, with all the land, sea and air forces of all nations.
During his short stay in the Demon Slayer World, Lu Chen traveled around the countries and regions for inspections after a few days. Thanks to the powerful intervention of Bri and the Universal Angel, the development of various parts of the earth has reached an unprecedented state of balance. Whether it is the previous African tribes or the developed European countries, the development level is now almost the same. Everyone here is a subordinate, working in accordance with the rules, and no one should look down on anyone else.
The way the ship girls govern this place is impeccable, and the world is now a hundred times more prosperous than the previous chaotic era.
"Oh, I almost don't know the way home anymore." The three Butterfly sisters walked along the street and couldn't help but sigh. They hadn't been back to their hometown for nearly three years. The buildings on both sides of the street had changed from the style of the Taisho period to the modern style, and the familiar scenery in the past had long been transformed.
In order to facilitate management, Bri even demolished and rebuilt the entire city. Today, high-rise buildings are lined up everywhere, which is completely different from the 20th century. This is the power of advanced civilization in the space age.
"When the commander conquered the world at the beginning, I was actually a little scared." Shinobu Kocho looked up at Lu Chen, "I thought you would treat us as slaves and send us to mine in the caves or something like that."
"At that time, many people would rather die than surrender, so they formed a guerrilla force and planned to go to the mountains to fight guerrilla warfare." Lu Chen smiled slightly when he heard Shinobu Kocho mention the past.
When he first entered the Demon Slayer world and dealt with Muzan, he conquered the world with thunderous means, which naturally caused a violent backlash. At that time, the only way to facilitate future management was to quickly establish his authority and let the rulers of various countries recognize their position.
"What happened next?" Lu Chen touched Shinobu Kocho's head and asked about what happened next.
The girl thought for a moment and replied, "Buri brought a lot of advanced technology and materials. They built hospitals, laid railways, and even distributed food and medicine to the poor. As a result, everyone began to thank the commander for his gift and called you a savior. Of course, except for the shogunate, most ordinary people were very happy."
One day, Sister Kanae wanted to thank the commander in person, so they boarded the Ninghai ship to the capital. "That experience was really 'really good'." Lu Chen and Gudako laughed after hearing this.
When you present penicillin, bread, electricity and other items to the common people and tell them that these are gifts from the suzerain state, do you think they will be more inclined to support the suzerain state or the corrupt shogunate?
In the following days, they strolled around the streets. The Fu family members all wore uniform military uniforms, and when pedestrians saw the emblem of the Xinghai Empire on their clothes, they consciously gave way and stood on the side of the road to bow their heads in salute. After Lu Chen and his party left, the crowd of onlookers would boldly watch them from a distance.
After several years of operation, through public opinion guidance and actual actions, the supreme prestige of the suzerain state has been deeply established in everyone's heart. It is necessary to improve the material living standards and technological level of this world, and to make people feel awe. Using both kindness and force is the best way to manage the subordinate world.
"In the past, the shogun didn't get this kind of treatment when he traveled. We feel like we are emperors now." The Butterfly Sisters have not yet fully adapted to the change in their status. They were just ordinary human girls in the base, but after returning to their hometown, they have become the top people in society. Not to mention ordinary people, even high-ranking officials that the Demon Slayer Corps rarely saw in the past have to give way to them.
"So awesome..." Kanao and Shinobu Kocho looked at Lu Chen with almost fanatical respect. All these achievements were attributed to the commander - the man who controlled the overall situation. Just because they were the commander's companions, they enjoyed a little privilege and had an extremely high status here.
No one could reach his height, and all the men they had ever met seemed as humble as ants in front of him.
"I also want to marry the commander like my sister." Shinobu Kocho muttered softly.
Kanao nodded in agreement.
Zhen Hai, who was accompanying Lu Chen, heard the two whispering and smiled: "Well, I am not qualified to judge them. The sisters in the port area are also eager to try."
"Hmm? What are you talking about?" Gudako, who was immersed in the sense of superiority brought by her position as the sect leader, looked confused.
As soon as she stood in front of a store on the street, the owner recognized the logo on her clothes at a glance. He was stunned at first, and then immediately asked all the customers in the store to leave. He followed Gudako with a shopping bag, and took whatever she pointed at, without even asking for a penny. When she left, he asked her if she needed more, and if not, she could come back next time.
The free shopping made her feel instantly happy, and the unhappiness she felt a few days ago when she was left aside by the commander because of her stupidity also disappeared.
"Eh?" Lu Chen looked at the bag that Gudako was holding. It was filled with handicrafts such as sculptures and crystal balls, and snacks such as jelly, candy, and biscuits. The quality was several levels lower than what Bri provided.
"Commander, you don't understand. Free gifts taste especially delicious."
"This is tribute from a vassal state."
Gudako peeled a jelly and put it in her mouth, while distributing candies to the Butterfly Sisters and the KanColles.
"Do you want to bring some more people along to collect the 'tribute'?"
"Are you imitating the devils entering the village?!"
Lu Chen gave her a slap in the face. Food, drink and clothing were all free in the capital, and this girl was just looking for something new and enjoying the sense of superiority that came with her status.
Following the advice of the Demon Slayers, the group arrived at a familiar place - the Swordsmith Village. This was once the logistics department of the Demon Slayer Corps. Ordinary people had to go through cumbersome procedures to enter, and it was even difficult for ordinary people to find the way here.
Nowadays, the area around the knife forging village has been well developed. A wide road leads directly to the destination, and there are mines and quarries on both sides of the road, with the sound of hammering and knocking constantly heard.
“The Sun Blade was made here.