I, the Villain, Become Invincible the More Descendants I Have

Chapter 87 Rebirth on the Ice PlainsAfter resolving the remnants of Bing Lingtian, the reforms in the Northern Territory officially began.

Emperor Cao Xukun took agricultural officials, craftsmen, and teachers from the Central Plains and traveled throughout the ten barbarian tribes.

However, just a few days after implementing the new policies, they encountered significant resistance.

It turned out that for hundreds of years, the barbarian tribes had maintained the bad habits of human sacrifice and tribal feuds.

Every winter, each tribe would capture prisoners or orphans from their own tribe to sacrifice to the Ice God, praying for favorable weather in the coming year.

Furthermore, to compete for pastures and water sources, the tribes would frequently engage in mass brawls, resulting in countless casualties.

One day, while Emperor Cao Xukun was leading craftsmen in the Heishui Tribe to teach the people how to build brick houses, he saw thick smoke billowing from the direction of the altar in the distance, accompanied by shrill cries.

”What is going on?” Emperor Cao Xukun frowned.

”Oh no!” Empress Bing Yao’s expression changed. ”It’s Tribe Leader Heimu conducting a human sacrifice! I just told him yesterday to abolish sacrifices, and he actually defied the order while pretending to comply!”

They immediately rushed to the altar, where they saw Tribe Leader Heimu dressed in animal skins, holding a bone staff, standing on the altar and chanting.

In the center of the altar, a seven or eight-year-old girl was tied to a pillar, trembling with fear and crying heart-wrenchingly.

Hundreds of tribespeople surrounded them, each with a numb expression, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at the little girl.

Upon seeing Emperor Cao Xukun and Empress Bing Yao, Tribe Leader Heimu did not stop. Instead, he roared even louder, putting on an arrogant display: ”The Ice God is enraged! It is because you outsiders intruded into the Northern Territory and abolished our traditions that the Ice God is punishing us! Today, I must sacrifice a young girl to the Ice God to appease the divine wrath! Otherwise, the entire Northern Territory will be covered by ice and snow once again!”

Several conservative elders chimed in: ”Tribe Leader Heimu is right! Human sacrifice is a rule passed down by our ancestors and cannot be changed!”

”If we offend the Ice God, we will all die!”

”Bullshit!” Li Tieniu was so angry that he picked up his giant axe and prepared to charge forward. ”Using a child to sacrifice to some bullshit Ice God, are you even human?”

”Stop!” Tribe Leader Heimu shouted sternly. ”Whoever dares to stop the sacrifice is an enemy of the entire barbarian race! The Ice God will cast a curse and make you suffer a terrible death!”

He pointed at Emperor Cao Xukun with a look of disdain: ”Emperor Cao Xukun! You are the emperor of the Central Plains; why are you meddling in the affairs of our barbarian tribes? It is not your place to dictate our rules! If you dare to disrupt the sacrifice, I will lead the Heishui Tribe to secede from Great Xuan and fight you to the death!”

”Fight me? You think you’re worthy?”

Emperor Cao Xukun slowly stepped forward, and the pressure of the He-ti Early Stage erupted.

The entire altar instantly fell silent; everyone was rendered breathless by this terrifying pressure, unable to even lift their heads.

Tribe Leader Heimu’s face turned deathly pale, and he staggered back a few steps, nearly falling to the ground.

”I am telling you today that I have decided to change this rule.” Emperor Cao Xukun’s voice was cold and resonant. ”The so-called human sacrifice is nothing but a trick for you conservatives to fool the common people and consolidate your power! You keep saying that the Ice God will be enraged, but if the Ice God were truly divine, how could it watch you send innocent children to their deaths?”

”For the past few hundred years, you have conducted human sacrifices every year, yet the Northern Territory remains frozen, the people are still starving, and the tribes are still fighting every day! What has the Ice God blessed you with? Does it bless you with hunger, or does it bless you to slaughter each other?”

He waved his hand, and the ropes binding the little girl snapped instantly.

Emperor Cao Xukun gently picked up the trembling little girl and handed her to the palace maid beside him, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: ”From today on, human sacrifice is permanently abolished within the borders of Great Xuan! Anyone who dares to conduct sacrifices again, no matter who they are, will be beheaded and displayed for all to see!”

”And tribal feuds!” Emperor Cao Xukun continued. ”For hundreds of years, you have slaughtered each other over mere pastures and water sources. How many people have died? How many children have become orphans? How many women have become widows? If you keep fighting like this, the barbarian tribes will eventually be wiped out!”

”Now, the ice plains have melted, and the land can grow crops. I have brought you seeds and plow oxen, craftsmen and teachers. As long as you farm diligently and work hard, you will be well-fed and warmly clothed. You will no longer need to rely on hunting and raiding to survive, and you will no longer need to slaughter each other!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Cao Xukun waved his hand.

In the fields in the distance, vast stretches of wheat seedlings swayed in the wind, a vibrant green, full of vitality.

Several agricultural officials were in the fields, teaching the barbarian people how to weed and fertilize, their faces full of smiles.

”Look.” Emperor Cao Xukun pointed to the wheat field. ”This wheat was planted half a month ago and will be ready for harvest in three months. The grain harvested from one mu of land is enough to feed a family for a year. Compared to risking your lives hunting or fighting, which one is more reliable?”

The barbarian people present looked at the lush green wheat fields, then at the trembling little girl on the altar, and their eyes gradually wavered.

”Emperor Xuan is right... My son died in last year’s sacrifice, yet I still almost starved to death this winter...”

”Yeah, my brother died in a tribal feud, leaving behind his wife and three children. It’s too pitiful...”

”Can we really get full by growing wheat? If it’s true, who would want to fight?”

Seeing that the situation was not in his favor, Tribe Leader Heimu still wanted to be stubborn: ”Don’t be fooled by him! This is all temporary! The Ice God will eventually be enraged! By then, you will all die!”

”The Ice God is enraged?” Emperor Cao Xukun sneered and pointed a finger at the sky. In an instant, the dark clouds dispersed, and sunlight shone down on the earth, warm and bright.

”I am the heaven of the Northern Territory. If I say there will be no ice and snow, there will be none. If I say you will be well-fed, you will be well-fed.”

”As for you.” Emperor Cao Xukun looked at Tribe Leader Heimu, his gaze cold. ”You ignored my order and insisted on conducting human sacrifices, treating human life like grass. Guards, drag him away and behead him for all to see!”

”No! I was wrong! Emperor Xuan, please spare me!” Tribe Leader Heimu was terrified out of his wits and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.

But the soldiers ignored him completely and dragged him away.

With the sound of a blade, this stubborn conservative finally lost his head.

Seeing the fate of Tribe Leader Heimu, the remaining conservatives dared not utter a sound and knelt on the ground one after another: ”We are willing to obey Emperor Xuan’s orders! We will abolish human sacrifice and stop tribal feuds!”

”If you had done this earlier, it would have been better.” Emperor Cao Xukun waved his hand, his tone softening considerably. ”As long as you work diligently with Great Xuan, I guarantee that within three years, every family will be able to live in brick houses, eat white rice, children will be able to read and write, and the elderly will be able to enjoy their later years.”

The common people cheered one after another, their voices resounding throughout the entire valley.

In the following days, the reforms proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

Emperor Cao Xukun abolished all private punishments and feud systems in the tribes and unified the laws.

Agricultural officials traveled to every tribe, teaching the people how to reclaim wasteland and plant crops and vegetables.

Craftsmen taught the people how to forge farm tools, weave cloth, and fire bricks.

Teachers established schools to teach the children how to read and write.

Li Tieniu completely transformed into the ”Northern Territory Infrastructure Maniac,” leading soldiers and the common people to build roads, bridges, and houses together.

He got up before dawn every day and didn’t rest until dark, getting tanned like charcoal, yet he was tireless.

”Emperor Xuan, look how smooth this road is!” Li Tieniu pointed to the newly built dirt road, his face full of pride. ”In two months, it will be passable for horse-drawn carriages! Then goods from the Central Plains can be transported directly, and furs and medicinal herbs from the Northern Territory can be sold out. The people’s lives will definitely get better and better!”

”Well done.” Emperor Cao Xukun nodded with a smile. ”Once the Northern Territory Province is established, I will appoint you as the Governor of Construction, specifically in charge of infrastructure.”

”Really? That’s great!” Li Tieniu jumped up with excitement.

Empress Bing Yao, cradling her slightly protruding belly, looked at the vibrant scene before her, her face full of happy smiles.

She walked to Emperor Cao Xukun’s side and said softly: ”Your Majesty, thank you. It is you who allowed the barbarian tribes to escape ignorance and war, and allowed our people to live a good life.”

”No need to thank me.” Emperor Cao Xukun hugged her. ”This is what you earned for yourselves. As long as you are willing to work hard, life will always get better and better.”