Put up with it? Not a chance

But that was only Su Chen's conjecture.

Whether it could actually work was still uncertain, and Li Shuhua clearly couldn't take any more shocks.

So after considering it, he decided to keep it to himself for now.

"Su..."

Zhu Yuanzheng swallowed.

"When are you planning to activate these people's bloodlines?"

Li Shuhua also pushed himself up from the sofa and said through gritted teeth.

"Haidong Country used its hundred thousand-plus Awakened to bully us mercilessly!"

"Now it's finally our turn to hold our heads high!"

"Never mind those overseas. Within our borders alone, we'll have three hundred million Awakened!"

"We'll definitely teach them a lesson this time!"

Su Chen raised his slender fingers and slowly tapped the armrest a few times.

"There's no rush."

"Before awakening their bloodlines, there are some things we need to think through."

Zhu Yuanzheng nodded repeatedly.

"You're right. We can't rush this."

"Three hundred million people is no small number. We have to be cautious."

"Choose the right people, and they'll become Huaxia's sword."

"Choose the wrong ones, and they'll become a ticking time bomb."

The human heart had always been the hardest thing in the world to fathom.

Even Dayu's descendants couldn't all be good people.

If the wrong people had their bloodlines activated, even if Su Chen could take back their Awakening Power afterward...

The damage they caused would still be irreparable.

At that thought, Zhu Yuanzheng felt a headache coming on.

If there were tens of thousands, or even a hundred thousand or so, it would be manageable.

But there were three hundred million people!

Thoroughly screening that many people...

How could that possibly be easy?

If they actually went through with it, they probably wouldn't have any results for at least six months to a year.

Su Chen pondered for a moment, then said slowly.

"General Zhu, that actually isn't what worries me."

Hearing that, Zhu Yuanzheng and Li Shuhua both froze.

"Not that? Then what?"

Su Chen thought for a moment, then asked quietly.

"When you first heard that Dayu had three hundred million descendants, what was your immediate reaction?"

Zhu Yuanzheng and Li Shuhua exchanged a glance and answered without hesitation.

"Shock, of course!"

After saying that, Li Shuhua thought it over and added.

"Besides shock, there was also some apprehension and unease."

When something went far beyond what a person had imagined...

Even if it was good news, their first reaction wouldn't be delight. Instead, all sorts of negative emotions would arise.

It had nothing to do with their thinking. It was an instinctive human reaction to things beyond their control.

Su Chen nodded.

"Exactly. Even the two of you felt uneasy when you heard that number."

"What if other countries learned about this?"

"What do you think... their reaction would be?"

At those words, Zhu Yuanzheng's expression instantly changed.

"They'd band together to oppose Huaxia!"

Su Chen nodded.

"Exactly!"

"When a particularly powerful wolf appears in a pack, the others submit and recognize it as their leader."

"But what if a lion appears among those wolves instead?"

"Three hundred million people in Huaxia awakening their bloodlines would be like a lion suddenly appearing in a wolf pack. Every country would feel threatened."

"If we took the initiative to attack Haidong Country at that point, that fear would grow exponentially."

"If the surrounding countries banded together for self-preservation and joined forces to boycott Huaxia, wouldn't the losses outweigh the gains?"

"You two should know better than I do that while strength is the foundation of a country's prosperity, its economy is also absolutely crucial."

"Eagle Sauce has been so dominant for so many years not only because of its powerful military, but also because of its world-leading economic strength."

"Although Huaxia's economy ranks second, it accounts for only a little over ten percent of the global economy, and a large part of that still depends on import and export trade."

"Wouldn't putting Huaxia at a disadvantage just to vent our anger be a little unwise?"

After hearing Su Chen's words, Zhu Yuanzheng and Li Shuhua both fell silent.

With their breadth of understanding, they naturally knew that what Su Chen said made sense.

Every country had different numbers of Awakened, whose strength also varied.

But even where there were differences, the gap wasn't insurmountable.

Huaxia, however, would undoubtedly upset that balance.

The tallest tree in the forest was the first to be battered by the wind.

Everyone understood that principle.

But surely Huaxia couldn't let that alone...

Stop it from awakening the bloodlines of Dayu's descendants?

Li Shuhua frowned deeply. After thinking for a long time, he said dejectedly.

"You're right, Mr. Su. I was being impulsive."

"But for decades, Huaxia has suffered endless bullying over its history."

"One day, Haidong claims we've been its vassal territory since ancient times."

"The next, Sakura claims the people of Huaxia are descendants of its ancestors, and that even its past atrocities were merely acts of reclaiming land that belonged to it all along!"

"As director of the Huaxia Historical Institute, I have a voice yet cannot refute them. All I can do is watch them spout their outrageous claims."

"That feeling is truly worse than death!"

"I understand that relations between nations have never been about emotional disputes."

"They spew that bullshit not just to score a few verbal points, but to undermine our people's confidence and then divide us."

"But even knowing their sinister intentions, there's still nothing I can do!"

"I... I'm furious!"

"Before, we didn't know Huaxia had so much lost history."

"Nor did we have enough strength to fight back."

"But things are different now!"

"You've revealed the historical truth, Mr. Su!"

"And so many of Dayu's descendants have survived!"

"Huaxia's rise is now inevitable! That's why I wanted to vent this pent-up anger!"

At that point, Li Shuhua let out a long sigh and shook his head.

"But you're right, Mr. Su. Putting Huaxia at a disadvantage just to vent our anger truly isn't worth it."

"Although those Awakened from Haidong Country openly attacked us earlier, Haidong has already declared that they acted as individuals and that their actions had nothing to do with the country."

"If Huaxia retaliates now, we won't have a legitimate justification."

"Sakura, Kangaroo, and White Elephant will definitely seize on that and rally the neighboring countries to boycott Huaxia."

"Creating so many unnecessary obstacles on Huaxia's path to ascendance just to vent our anger really isn't worth it."

"Besides, we've endured it for decades. We're already used to it."

"Enduring a few more years won't hurt."

After saying that, Li Shuhua let out another long sigh.

Despite his words, everyone could see how unwilling he was to accept it.

Scholars had their pride and passion too.

Although he had urged Zhu Yuanzheng not to act rashly earlier, deep down, he also longed to vent that pent-up anger.

But personal emotions could never dictate national interests.

Once Li Shuhua's emotions settled, he naturally understood that.

Zhu Yuanzheng stood, patted Li Shuhua on the shoulder, then looked at Su Chen.

"Su, I understand what you mean."

"Screening these three hundred million people won't be something we can finish in ten days or a couple of weeks anyway."

"Let's wait until the screening is complete before awakening their bloodlines."

"As for Haidong Country, we'll put up with it this time and settle the whole score with them later!"

Su Chen stared at the two men, his eyes widening.

"Put up with it?"

"When did I ever say we should put up with it?"