Super Zoo

Huaxia is vast and rich in resources. It can sustain not just a few thousand, but even tens of millions more, without risk of starvation. With numerous ethnic groups—a bouquet of fifty-six flowers—adding the Lure People as the fifty-seventh would pose no issue.

From a perspective not easily voiced, far from being problematic, the addition of one more ethnicity could actually bolster our national prestige.

Despite the Huaxia Government frequently harping on 'non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries' and 'peaceful development', as if Huaxia has always been a non-aggressive nation.

In truth, that's all nonsense. Since ancient times, Huaxia has been a nation full of aggression. Otherwise, whence came the fifty-six ethnic groups? Millennia ago, Huaxia territory was limited to just the small region of the Yellow River basin. Had it not been for aggression, expansion, and conquest, how would we now possess a territory of 9.6 million square kilometers shaped like a rooster?

Throughout history, whenever Huaxia grew powerful, the first grand undertaking the sovereigns embarked on was to expand the realm!

During the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, Huaxia did not seize the territories of other countries. But there was a prerequisite: the tribute of myriad nations. The nations around, one after the other, were as obedient as grandchildren. Those who disobeyed were punished; even the obedient ones occasionally needed chastening to prevent future insubordination.
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Thus, after thousands of years, deep in the bones of the Huaxia people lurks the so-called 'great power mentality,' reminiscent of our ancestors' expansive past.

For the entire citizenry, the incorporation of another ethnicity into the Huaxia family would be like a shot of adrenaline. For the Ruling Party, it equally serves as proof of their governance capabilities, clearly a great and honorable achievement to be recorded in history.

In an era of peace, expanding territory and incorporating an ethnicity is as hard as ascending to heaven!

The positive impact is sufficient, but there are also potential risks.

It's clear that the Lure People are not coming for the Huaxia Government but for Suming's private military.

Once we incorporate them, we must respect their religious beliefs and living habits, right? And provide them living space? Under the world's watchful eye, you can't just exile them to some desolate borderland, can you?

Allowing thousands of Lure people, who only take orders from Suming, to live and prosper in the bustling heartlands of Huaxia, would seem unproblematic for a year or two. But in ten, decades, or even generations, it would become a very troublesome force.

Even with Suming's current style and the Huaxia Government's control capabilities, it's unlikely these Lure people will become uncontrollable wild horses that stir up serious trouble, but the government must consider this risk. Even if this group earnestly becomes law-abiding citizens, they are still troublesome to manage.

Civil officials, of course, understand this. On one hand, absorbing a new ethnicity on the Party's birthday, leaving a mark on history; on the other hand, the situation plants a seed of management trouble. Weighing both sides, his rank does not grant him the authority to decide.

"Su, wait a moment, I will immediately seek instructions from higher-level leaders!"

The civil official hurried off, and soon returned.

When he returned, he looked very relaxed and laughed, "Su, the capital's leaders are very pleased with the news. They have immediately instructed us to absorb the Lure People as members of Huaxia. On the Party's birthday, we will become a nation of fifty-seven ethnicities, and there couldn't be a better gift! However, they can't all come. Let's start by bringing two hundred people back with you to join Huaxian citizenship. If there's time, I hope you can bring some representatives of the Lure People to join the Party celebration."

Two hundred people, Suming chuckled. If that was the number settled on, so be it—even more and he wouldn't be able to support them anyway!

Initially, Suming didn't expect the government would approve over two hundred people; he simply hoped to bring back a few dozen Lure People. Having these dozens of loyal Lure People would make many things easier. For instance, establishing the Taoyuan security department, the veterans recruited by Dong were combat-capable but few in number. For many confidential matters, entrusting the Lure People would be more reassuring.

He didn't expect to get two hundred people. Given the vastness of the hinterland, those two hundred could live self-sufficiently, while also possibly developing livestock and horticultural industries.

The depths of the hinterland lead to the vast Qinling Mountains, filled with potential.

As for the remaining two thousand and more Lure People, Suming never intended to bring them back to the country.

While the motherland is precious, the world is vast. It is unwise to put all the eggs in one basket. As a time-tested party member, Suming is well aware that struggle has a harsh aspect, and arranging a contingency for oneself is certainly not a bad thing.

These two thousand and more people are his strategic backup plan.

...

Back at the hotel after a hectic night, at around ten past ten, the two rescued journalists resumed their old profession, cornering Suming in his room for an interview that lasted over an hour. He had barely fallen asleep when Ludmila called at two in the morning, inviting him to go swimming.

After thinking it over, Suming eventually decided against it, opting for a cold shower instead to clear his mind, and went back to sleep.

The night passed without event.

Early the next day, Suming, Zhao Yun, Nangong Huang, and the rescued Ivanov boarded a United Nations Peacekeeping Force helicopter, flying to the nearest Russian military airport to catch a military plane to Russia.

The helicopter piloted by a Huaxia Peacekeeping Force soldier, a young man who seemed to be two or three years older than Suming, yet Suming always felt that he appeared even younger and more vibrant.

"Could it be that I'm getting old…" Suming laughed helplessly to himself, thinking, this must be what they call the relentless pursuit of time once you're involved in the jianghu.

Compared to Suming's little civilian helicopter, the Peacekeeping Force's Apache gunship seemed like a gigantic monster, making him somewhat envious. He fancied flying one himself one day, but sadly, it seemed private ownership of such beasts wasn't allowed back home.

Along the way, the group engaged in small talk. Nangong was incessantly admiring the impressively cool military gear of the Peacekeeping Force, while Ivanov unceasingly praised Suming's commanding skills as sky-high. The Huaxia pilot, feeling somewhat guilty, lamented that as a soldier, he let a civilian like Suming take the forefront.

"Young man, your mother certainly wouldn't see it that way," Suming said in Huaxia, patting the pilot on the shoulder with a smile. His extraordinary abilities, if they could prevent the mothers of Huaxia from losing their sons and the daughters from losing their fathers, were worth the trade-off.

The pilot's expression was mixed.

"Bro, fire a shot!"

Nangong Huang had been eyeing the M-203E single-barrel chain gun mounted on the Apache, drooling over it the whole trip. As they were about to reach the Russian airport and he could no longer hold back, he blurted out his request.

The pilot hesitated, glancing back at Suming with a questioning look.

"Just fire a shot, and we'll say we encountered terrorists on the way," Suming said with a grin, always someone who enjoyed stirring up trouble.

With a steely resolve, the pilot announced, "Fine, if I'm breaking the rules, then so be it. To hell with it, if we're not using these munitions on IS, then it has no other use anyway, so let's fire a shot!"

"Dadadadada..."

Excited, Nangong trembled all over as he pressed the firing button himself. The gun, capable of firing 1000 rounds per minute, roared violently as bullets capable of penetrating light armor and the weak spots of tanks rained out furiously.

Half a minute later, a small hill, about as tall as a two or three-story building and fifty meters away, vanished into thin air, leaving only a cloud of dust.

"Oh my god…" Nangong's mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Young man, the firepower that Mr. Su faced in the mountain region was even more formidable than what you've just seen!" Ivanov said in Russian.

"That's why we must cherish peace and stay away from war," Suming said with a pretentious air.

A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination, boarded a Russian transport plane, and headed straight for Russia.

"The airplane has now reached the airspace above Pskov City, please prepare for landing."

President Vladimir did not receive Suming at the Kremlin, opting instead to change the meeting location to a suburban area of Pskov City.