Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

"Whew..."

Seeing the expressions of Hou Yucheng and Hou Yuduan, Hou Yuxiao let out a deep breath, pulling their thoughts back, and said solemnly: "The losses are indeed significant, but our gains are not small either. Nanjiang's territory is eventually ours, have you figured out the situation in the five cities?"

Upon hearing the affiliation of Nanjiang, their expressions indeed improved a bit.

A slight excitement appeared on Hou Yuduan's face as he replied: "The most prosperous of the five cities is Qingmiao City, where we are currently situated, with a pre-war population of nearly six million. Although the siege was fierce, most of the deaths were soldiers, so the population now remains around 4.5 million; the populations of the other four Miao cities are all above four million. Combined, Nanjiang's population exceeds twenty million."

A bright light flashed across Hou Yuxiao's eyes; over twenty million people — Hexi currently controls two prefectures and nine counties, with a population only amounting to this. This means Hexi's controlled population has doubled.

In this chaotic world, population means everything!

Having a sufficient population equates to abundant wealth, and more directly, it means a significant increase in the number of martial artists, allowing the Hou Clan to expand its army. In the past four years, Hexi managed to raise an army of 1.3 million, thanks to the more than twenty million inhabitants within the Hexi Alliance's governance.

"Though Nanjiang has only five cities, its entire area is larger than Xiayuan, and including Hexi and Xingnan, the Hou Clan now controls territories approaching two regions, with a population of nearly fifty million......"

Being somewhat shocked, Hou Yuduan stopped as he spoke, looking up at Hou Yuxiao and Hou Yucheng, only to find their breaths had become similarly heavy, their pupils filled with excitement.

Two regions, fifty million population!

Looking across Shenzhou, the Hou Clan's controlled territory is not inferior to any top-tier force. In terms of governance, the Hou Clan's control is even more extensive.

Currently in Nanjiang, only the Hong Miao Tribe remains. With Hexi's army entering Nanjiang, the father and son of Hong Ju are definitely tied to the Hou Clan, considering the significant role Hexi's army played in the war, they are undoubtedly subordinate to the Hou Clan.

As for Xingnan Prefecture, it's even more decisive; the Shen Clan, Xiong Yun Gang, Pingtian Gate, have long been thoroughly infiltrated by the Hou Clan within the Hexi Alliance's framework. Even their armies have been merged into the Hou Clan's, the rest goes without saying.

"Based on previous population estimates of Hexi that supported the Hou Clan's army, incorporating Nanjiang into the Hexi Alliance could potentially maintain twice the number of soldiers, meaning that if the losses from this battle can be made up for, possibly, the Hou Clan's army could break through to three million, or even more!"

Hou Yucheng's approach was somewhat whimsical, as over forty thousand elites were lost in this battle, and just replenishing these forty-two thousand elites could take an undefined period, let alone expanding Hexi's army to three million.

Indeed, although Nanjiang was conquered, the losses of Nanjiang's martial artists exceeded those of the Hou Clan. The total number of soldiers among the Nanjiang Five Miao Tribes was around 2.7 million, with sixty percent of Hong Miao's fifty thousand troops lost and over seventy percent of the Four Miao's 2.2 million soldiers perished. Calculating based on this proportion, currently, Nanjiang has at most less than a hundred thousand usable soldiers.

Moreover, the remaining sixty thousand troops of the Four Miao are considered rebels, locked away, and capturing them quickly isn't easy.

"Old Fifth, what's your plan for governing Nanjiang?"

Hou Yuduan had evidently thought about this issue, so when Hou Yuxiao inquired, he didn't pause much, stepped forward and replied:

"The battle in Nanjiang was too intense; not only those captives but even ordinary civilians probably harbor ill feelings toward us. Direct management through Hexi is challenging, so I've figured out a plan to incorporate Nanjiang into Hexi Alliance but temporarily let the Hong Miao Tribe manage it on our behalf. Obviously, this assumes the father and son of Hong Ju remain loyal, and the new policies of Hexi, tested over time, only need cooperation from Hong Miao for implementation in Nanjiang.

Besides that, with the apparent dissolution of the Purple, White, Qing, and Black Miao, the previously practiced Five Miao rotational administration is now outdated. The Five Tribes, being the same people with no physiological differences, were separated primarily by Nanjiang's upper echelons to maintain their vested interests. I propose abolishing the division among the Five Miao, merging them into one, and gradually eroding the identity associated with Miao descendants.

Establish commercial and martial exchanges between the two regions, strengthening the bond between Nanjiang's citizens and Hexi as they integrate with Shenzhou.

Regarding captives, Hong Ju should handle them for now. A complete absorption is impossible quickly, but we can start by stabilizing them, and with time, infiltrate. Once Nanjiang and Hexi are entirely integrated, these problems will naturally resolve......"

Hou Yuduan shared extensive thoughts, and seeing Hou Yuxiao's bright eyes, it seemed Hou Yuxiao had ideas on governing Nanjiang too, yet Hou Yuduan's speech practically encompassed all he wanted and failed to consider.

"In summary, there are five points:

First, Hong Miao will temporarily manage Nanjiang's governance;

Second, Hong Miao handles the absorption of captives;

Third, implement Hexi's new policies in Nanjiang;

Fourth, dismantle the concept of Nanjiang Miao descendants, gradually let the concept and even the word Miao disappear in Nanjiang, accelerating the integration of the Five Miao people, allowing them to quickly adapt;

Fifth, enhance communication between Nanjiang and Hexi, including commerce and martial exchange, letting them swiftly integrate into Hexi, and even Shenzhou, replacing their previous identity as Miao descendants!"

Hou Yuduan is truly a treasury of the Hou Clan.

After expressing admiration, Hou Yuxiao realized he didn't need to add anything, simply nodded and said: "Let's proceed as Old Fifth suggested; you must accelerate these initiatives in due time. For now, I'll stay in Qingmiao City, if anything seems amiss, you may come to me, additionally, send someone back to Hexi with the news of Nanjiang's victory, to ease the worries of Third and Fourth in the clan."

"Understood, elder brother!"

Hou Yuduan and Hou Yucheng nodded and bowed before turning to leave. However, before reaching the door, Hou Yuxiao added:

"By the way, send someone to Hei Miao City to inform Clan Leader Hong Ju that I wish to meet him."

Hou Yuduan immediately understood and nodded.

"I'll take care of it at once!"

......

Watching them leave, Hou Yuxiao raised his head, looking at the area of the Temple in the center of Qingmiao City, and instantly disappeared from where he stood.

The temple's main hall was empty, Hou Yuxiao unceremoniously took the main seat.

If possible, he would definitely want to hurry back to Hexi, but since Nanjiang was just conquered, many unstable factors remain, not to mention external issues, there might be many experts within the Five Miao who haven't died yet. Leaving now could lead to trouble, if left to the Second Elder or Old Fifth here.

Thus, he must continue to oversee Nanjiang. Not until Nanjiang's situation fully stabilizes, he must ensure the father and son of Hong Ju aren't problematic before he can leave peacefully.

Fortunately, he's not without tasks.

Hou Yuxiao took out the five-colored spirit stone from his Sea of Consciousness, eyes ablaze with enthusiasm and excitement. Besides Nanjiang's territory, his greatest gain must be this five-colored spirit stone.

The Five Elements Heavenly Core, Ni Han's body from the three major demons.

Ni Han has fallen, yet his body remains, meaning the shattered Five Elements Heaven is still present. Hou Yuxiao clearly remembers the Primordial Blood within the Five Elements Heaven capable of enhancing talents.

Let me see this half of the Five Elements Heaven, what's truly inside!

Hou Yuxiao infused his aura into the five-colored spirit stone, a shimmering gray luminous door suddenly appeared before him. Looking through the door at the identical gray world as before, Hou Yuxiao's pupils slightly contracted as he slowly stood up and walked in.

Indeed, although Ni Han is dead, the Five Elements Heaven persists!