Population! Exactly! (@人生若只如初见道-Great God certified)
"Do not be disrespectful to the gods!"
Nora, the Boss the Pingyun Civilization, dressed in a pristine white robe, stood up, her tone sharp.
"Okay, Ms. Nora. What are your thoughts on the bilateral development plan we just discussed?" Mu Ri's tone was calm, but there was a hint of urgency in his heart.
This plan is crucial for the future development of the Suguang Civilization.
The Suguang Civilization has incorporated almost all the surrounding primitive tribes, but now it only has a little over 100,000 people.
This small population is simply not enough to support any large-scale construction or planning. It can't even form a decent fleet.
Japan has Mu Ri issued some rather harsh policies to encourage childbirth, requiring each family to have at least five children.
However, reproduction and growth are natural laws that the current Suguang Civilization cannot violate. No matter how harsh the policies are, they must wait for the child to be born and raised to adulthood.
At this point, the Pingyun Civilization, which shares the same continent and has a population of 70,000, becomes crucial.
If the civilization of the Suguang Civilization had already reached the late Iron Age and even possessed many technologies that were ahead of its time, the only thing missing before the next era was population—a large population.
Therefore, the Pingyun Civilization was merely at the peak of the early Iron Age, halfway through the middle Iron Age.
They have iron ore, but their smelting technology is primitive, resulting in low yields. They have farmland, but their farming tools are still primitive, so their output is low. They have an army, but their weapons are of varying quality, and a large portion of the army still uses bronze tools.
This is the opportunity.
They exchange their Tracing Light technology products for raw materials for Bottle Fortune.
Ironware was traded for iron ore, silk for leather, and tools for labor.
In this way, Tracing Light can free up the labor force that was originally mining raw materials to do other more important things.
It can also help you accumulate wealth.
The current Suguang Civilization, due to its "Human Absolutism," has consumed a great deal of manpower and resources to kill surrounding wild animals and alter the environment.
Clear forests, fill swamps, drive away wolves, hunt wild beasts—we must make every inch of land a "safe place for humans."
I'm desperate for money and urgently need to make a deal.
Thinking of this, Mu Ri's gaze towards Nora became somewhat subtle.
If it weren't for the vast distance between the two civilizations, preventing them from having the capability for long-distance expeditions, you would have already changed your name to Tracing Light!
Nora suddenly felt a chill, but composed herself and said, "Regarding your question, I need to consult my god... but my god has not yet given instructions, please wait a moment."
The people behind Mu Ri exchanged glances. Some frowned, while others pursed their lips.
The Mu Ri frowned slightly.
"Alright, Ms. Nora. We can wait. But how long will it take?"
"I don't know." Nora placed her hands on her chest, closed her eyes, and said, "It could take half a day, or three days at most."
Mu Ri paused for two seconds, glanced at the drafted [Two-Country Trade Agreement] on the table, and then at Nora's devout face.
Mu Ri sighed helplessly, "Alright, we'll stay here for another three days... I've heard there's a Mirror Civilization to the west, and two more civilizations in the mountains further west. Could you tell me about them?"
Nora opened her eyes and nodded.
"Thank you very much for your understanding," she said, then turned and instructed the person behind her, "Go and fetch the map."
A moment later, a map drawn on a piece of paper was laid out on the stone table. Nora moved her finger across the map, pointing to several locations.
"This is the Mirror Civilization, about fifteen days' journey from us. Their Boss calls himself 'Qing,' and is said to possess very peculiar abilities..."
I listened attentively and silently took Mu Ri.
Fifteen minutes later, he pressed his hand on the [Two-Country Trade Agreement] on the table, as if confirming that it would be temporarily shelved, and then left the council chamber with his men.
In the Pure White Space, Su Luo's consciousness returned, and she immediately looked at Han Song beside her:
"These are the soldiers you've brought?"
"Uh, hehe, uh... I don't know why she's like this either." Han Song somewhat awkwardly.
"You've been in contact with the Child of Civilization too frequently, which has made her completely indecisive. Even in situations like this, she doesn't hesitate to ask you questions on the spot, without even trying to stall for time."
Han Song opened his mouth, as if to argue, but in the end he kept it closed.
He knew Su Luo was right.
He couldn't adapt to the 5,400-fold time flow on Origin Star —his mental Attribute wasn't even 20, and each time he projected his consciousness, it felt like crossing a viscous swamp.
It's intermittent; I often get stuck halfway through a sentence, and by the time I come to my senses, most of the day has already passed.
So Nora developed a habit: whenever something was even slightly important, she would kneel down and pray, waiting for instructions from "the Gods ".
"You're right, you're right... So how should I give instructions next? Should I just agree?"
Han Song gave an awkward reply.
"Of course we should agree, but not to this [Two-Country Trade Agreement] offered by Mu Ri."
Su Luo conjured a book in her hand and threw it directly into Han Song's mind.
"This... is there no problem?"
Han Song skimmed through the agreement and felt it was almost too good to be true. The proportion of goods and raw materials to be exchanged each year was clearly advantageous to the Pingyun Civilization. Tracing Light could exchange some ironware and silk for raw materials such as wood, ore, and leather.
"I demand that your Child of Civilization increase the proportion of raw materials," Su Luo said. "Increase the proportion of raw materials corresponding to each unit of commodity. The commodity absolutely cannot be cheap—in other words, your compensation must decrease."
"Since you want to follow me, you have to accept the initial Lifesteal."
"Okay, no problem at all." Han Song immediately prepared to go down and give instructions.
"Also, reduce the amount of traded annually in trade agreements; we don't need to trade so many raw materials and commodities." Su Luo hadn't finished speaking.
"Why... is this?" Han Song opened his eyes, genuinely puzzled this time.
"With a large influx of high-quality goods into the country, what will happen to the people and industries that originally manufactured these low-end products?"
Han Song was taken aback.
"They'll lose the market, they'll go bankrupt, they'll lose their jobs," Su Luo said. "Ultimately, the entire country will lose the ability to manufacture these goods. It's better to buy than to make; and if you keep buying, you won't be able to make them anymore."
Su Luo paused.
"You need to preserve your country's manufacturing capabilities and potential for progress. Retain some businesses, some production capacity, and some technological heritage. That way, even if trade is disrupted one day, you can still manufacture on your own."
After saying that, Su Luo waved her hand, telling Han Song to get lost.