Beneath the Red Dragon

"The Empire will establish the Mutual Supervision Bureau here as the authority overseeing the trade in this area. However, the grasslands are too vast, and the Empire lacks sufficient personnel. The staff allocated here is likely just a few dozen teams,"

Blue Dragon Akzhi looked at the calm expression of the Frost Giant King, coughed lightly, and then said, "So if the Empire’s personnel suffer any losses and there are outcries within the Empire, even I would find it hard to defend you."

The Frost Giant King, expressionless, nodded and said, "Rest assured, Lord Akzhi, the Frost Giants will not let others influence our relationship with the Empire."

"However," the Frost Giant King frowned, "the Frost Giants have no surplus money, and even in bartering, we don’t know what items would be suitable for trade. Even some precious mineral resources are difficult to extract on the icy Frost Plain."

"You needn’t worry about that," Blue Dragon Akzhi glanced at White Dragon Sloraka and then echoed, "The Empire will send scholars to compile a list of resources based on the Empire’s needs as trading items."

"I understand the difficulties of the Frost Giants as well, for, hmm." Blue Dragon Akzhi thought for a moment and then said, "For the harmonious cooperation between the Empire and the Frost Giants, the Empire will provide some tools and equipment for mining in advance,"

"Of course, there’s no need to charge much interest for these, as we aim to maintain a long-term friendly relationship between our two sides."

The frown on the Frost Giant King’s brow did not ease. He said softly, "Thank the Empire for its generosity. However, by doing this, wouldn’t the Frost Giants essentially become the Empire’s miners and slaves? Although there are no physical shackles, it means endless toil for those resources."

"How will the Frost Giant Tribe develop under such conditions?"

Blue Dragon Akzhi bared his fangs and smiled faintly, "That’s your problem. The path for the Frost Giants lies under your own feet."

"However, considering the difficult circumstances of the Frost Giant Tribe, the Empire will also grant you some preferential policies,"

"Although the Frost Giants may not hunt freely on the grasslands, nor may they plant crops there, they can graze in the pastures designated by the Empire. The Empire also allows Frost Giants to enter the Empire to learn the knowledge and culture within it. What you learn and how you use it will be up to you,"

White Dragon Sloraka quickly added, "But all of this will have a cost!"

The other dragons, gnawing on the Frost Plain elephant legs, simultaneously raised their heads and nodded repeatedly.

The Frost Giant King sighed and said, "It seems the Frost Giants indeed receive some preferential policies. Please thank His Majesty the Emperor on my behalf for his tolerance and generous heart!"

"Of course," Blue Dragon Akzhi smiled, "but there is also a requirement that must be fulfilled. If this requirement is not met, all of the above naturally doesn’t stand."

The face of Frost Giant King Ragnar Heg became serious, "Please speak, Lord Akzhi."

"The Imperial ’Dragon’s Code,’ I wonder if Lord Ragnar has ever heard of it?" Blue Dragon’s eyes suddenly became bright.

The Frost Giant King was silent, then nodded, "The ’Dragon’s Code,’ I indeed have heard of it. Perhaps everyone initially thought it was just a joke. Yet, no one expected the Frost Giants to be the first target for the Empire to sharpen its blade."

Blue Dragon Akzhi clapped his claws and said, "You Frost Giants are only the first; there will be more to follow. Any Frost Giant that has ever killed a Giant Dragon must be handed over to the Empire. Those who have consumed dragon blood and flesh must also be handed over to the Empire to serve as a warning."

The Frost Giant King turned to look at the leaders of the Frost Giants, whose cold faces showed expressions of anger and tension. He suddenly asked, "What will be the fate of these Frost Giants?"

"The Empire understands the principle of making full use of resources, so even though these Frost Giants have committed grave wrongs, they will not be executed. After all, the past events were unforeseen by anyone."

"But they will be reduced to slavery, and forevermore, they will be slaves of the Empire."

The Ancestral Red Dragon never abolished the system of slavery. While he could be considered a benefactor, in the mind of Ancestral Red Dragon, the existence of the slave system did not imply incivility.

A civilization without slavery does not necessarily imply civilization. Many without the system of slavery have merely changed the name under which they operate.

Abruptly abolishing slavery is a foolish action. Ignoring suitability and circumstances and blindly copying systems from past civilizations is unwise. The so-called emancipators of slaves, and those who claim to save them, have fundamentally misunderstood the essence of the development of productive forces. Ignoring reality, they are merely idealists or adoptionists living in fantasies.

In the Golden Empire’s system, slavery has become another form of legal punitive measure. With the Empire’s system of slave advancement, it has opened the doors of freedom and equality to those unfortunate slaves.

But these Frost Giants will never have the opportunity to step into this world of freedom and personal equality.

The Frost Giant King remained silent for a long time, then stood up and sighed, "Tomorrow, I will give you my answer."

...

"When the Dragon Emperor of the Golden Empire descended upon the plains of the Green Algae River, everyone realized the true meaning of the term ’mighty power of the natural disaster,’"

"Of course, using such a vulgar word as a natural disaster to describe His power is almost a tiresome blasphemy. But from that point on, whether it be the Giant Dragons, the Frost Giants, or the civilizations and forces of other races, they all had to acknowledge,"

"The Emperor of the Golden Empire, the Dragon Emperor, this title had become His crown,"

"Perhaps when Frost Giant King Ragnar Heg sighed at the majesty of a dominant empire so incredible, and personally bound the leaders within the Frost Giant Tribe to send them into the Empire, it was already clear that the skies of the Northern Lands were being covered by the shadow of the Red Dragon."

-- "Chronicles of the Northern Lands - Green Algae River Alliance"