RPAGF Chapter 2 The Great Eagle Empire Dominates the Forest
Chapter 2 The Great Eagle Empire Dominates the Forest
The giraffe's reminiscences after drinking spread throughout the Phoenix Kingdom banquet.
Everyone could understand that the glory days of the former maritime coachmen were long gone, and the former hegemon's honor had become nothing but a passing cloud.
The changing of the dominant species in the forest world never relies on nostalgia or sentimentality.
It is not enough to rely solely on strong ships and powerful cannons, solely on trade and national fortune, solely on who can seize the opportunities of the times and stand at the crest of the wave.
Shortly after the Phoenix Kingdom's Qingming Festival Ancestor Remembrance and Gratitude Conference, the heads of state of various countries in the Forest World gathered together for a summit meeting.
In the hall, the giant tortoise sat in the main seat, exuding a calm and composed aura;
Eagles, sunbirds, Berlin bears, and flocks of birds lined both sides, creating a solemn atmosphere.
When it was the host eagle's turn to give a report, it gazed at the various tribes below, its eyes distant.
Taking advantage of a drunken state, he suddenly uttered a heavy sigh, like that of a giraffe:
"Dear all, hello. As all the animals know, the forest world is now dominated by our big tortoise brother. But a few people may remember that my eagle clan was once the true global hegemon for a century, from 1815 to 1921."
The room fell silent upon hearing this. Everyone turned to look at their Big Turtle Brother.
The sunbird, filled with doubt, looked up and couldn't help but whisper to the big turtle for an answer:
"Brother Turtle, I truly don't understand. How has the Eagle Clan been able to maintain its global dominance for a century? Where does its true confidence come from?"
The giant tortoise smiled faintly, its gaze gentle, yet every word it uttered was firm and resolute:
"Outsiders only see the eagle's powerful ships and cannons, its numerous colonies, and its endless wealth, and assume that it relies on its navy, industry, and trade."
Little did they know, all of that was just superficial prosperity.
The eagle's ability to dominate the world is based on its core, fundamental, and irreplaceable foundation: the land grabbing movement.
Without this unconventional and ruthless approach, all subsequent conquests would have been castles in the air.
The sunbird was startled: "Through unconventional means? Does that mean the path to national strength is not a gentle and righteous one?"
The giant tortoise nodded slowly, its tone utterly sincere:
"Young man, you must remember this historical truth."
The early hegemons that were able to stand at the top of the world.
None of them rose to prominence through gentle, conventional, or harmless means.
To rise from an ordinary race to become the overlord of the world,
The first step, besides having a compassionate heart, is to have ruthless methods.
In the past, the Eagles' country was full of small farmers, tending to their few acres of meager land, living a stable but impoverished life.
Those who cling to the old ways will never become a powerful nation if they do not change the status quo.
The Eagles' leaders decided to break with the old and break with convention at all costs, and launch an enclosure movement.
All the scattered farmland was gathered together and transformed into large ranches and farms.
This saves labor, makes management easier, and can also increase crop income.
Thus, countless farmers were forced to leave the land they had cultivated for generations and flood into the cities.
To become the cheapest and most abundant workers in the factory.
It was these countless people who lost their land who supported the industrial foundation of Eagle.
With workers come factories; with factories come machines; with machines come wealth.
Increased wealth leads to a stronger military; a strong military is essential for hegemony.
The land grab was the first cornerstone of the eagle's dominance of the world.
The pain of one generation was exchanged for a century of prosperity for the entire ethnic group.
Once the foundation is solid, the eagles advance triumphantly, expanding their territory.
In 1815, it completely defeated its powerful enemy, and no opponent could rival it after that.
For the next century, its national strength steadily increased, reaching its peak in 1921, with its territory spanning the globe, and the sun forever shining over the eagle's domain.
The British Empire, on which the sun never sets, thus became famous throughout the forest world.
At this point, the giant tortoise solemnly quoted the famous saying of Queen Victoria, the leader of the eagles at the time:
"The strength of an empire lies not in the size of its territory, but in its courage to bring about change."
Upon hearing this, the sunbird suddenly understood, and all its doubts vanished.
As the meeting drew to a close, the giant tortoise gazed upon all living beings and offered a timeless and profound conclusion:
"Whether it's a giraffe or an eagle, those that can become dominant species all share one unchanging trait:"
Daring to break with convention, daring to face reality, daring to endure growing pains.
Daring to use ruthless methods to achieve extraordinary hegemony.
Those who cling to the old ways will inevitably weaken, while those who seek change will become strong. This is one of the reasons for the rise of hegemons throughout history.
Seeing the exaggeratedly pleased expressions on his underlings' faces, the big turtle slowly added:
However, it is also important to study past hegemons and learn about the commonalities they shared.
Upon hearing the last sentence, the sunbird slapped its forehead and sighed:
The overlord is indeed extraordinary; he loves learning and summarizing, especially learning from past powerhouses.
This may be one of the reasons why the old tortoise was able to become the new overlord.
Outside the window, the night was deep, symbolizing that the glory of the former king had faded away.
But the great changes in the forest world have only just begun.
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