Li Daoxuan sat beside the diorama, watching the newly arrived little people bustling about Refugee Valley. Arriving somewhere new involved endless tasks—though housing existed, nothing else did.
They first needed to address food preparation—find stones, dig earth to build clay stoves, gather firewood, and procure various pots, bowls, and utensils.
(Traditional Ming stoves weren't just cooking devices—they were family centers. The "earth stove" or 土灶 required specific clay mixtures that wouldn't crack under heat, a skill passed through generations. Refugee Valley's settlers were essentially rebuilding civilization from scratch.)
Too many necessities to prepare, yet these commoners arrived utterly destitute. Acquiring household items proved no simple matter.
They urgently needed work positions—preferably "daily wage" jobs—so they could quickly earn income, convert earnings into daily necessities, and normalize their lives.
Li Daoxuan shifted perspective back to Gao Village, seeing San Shi'er, Bai Yuan, Gao Yiye, and Tan Liwen chatting on the watchtower's third-floor balcony.
Bai Yuan: "With matters here settled, I shall return to Bai Family Fort."
San Shi'er cupped his hands toward him: "Master Bai has worked hard."
Bai Yuan smiled: "Serving the Tianzun is my honor. What hardship is there?"
After bidding farewell to all, he departed Gao Village for Bai Family Fort.
The remaining group continued conversing.
Tan Liwen: "Patron, this Qingjian group numbers over three thousand—truly excessive. We must provide work swiftly, otherwise trouble may arise. But I genuinely don't know what to assign them short-term."
San Shi'er frowned: "They're outsiders. I'm somewhat..."
Li Daoxuan spoke: "Don't view them as outsiders. Have you forgotten? To Gao Village, you were also an outsider."
Gao Yiye heard his voice, immediately perking up to relay.
San Shi'er listened, face slightly reddening. Right! How did I start viewing newcomers as outsiders? Actually, aside from Gao Village's earliest forty-two villagers, everyone here could be considered an outsider.
I've truly become somewhat narrow-minded.
He hastily bowed toward the sky: "Tianzun, I didn't mean that. Only worried their numbers are large, freshly arrived with limited contact—dare not lower vigilance carelessly. Fear hastily accepting outsiders might lead to some... cough..."
He didn't voice it, but Li Daoxuan understood: fear they'll commit misdeeds.
This concern wasn't strange.
Not just in the late Ming era—even in later eras with liberated thought and relatively complete legal systems, people still harbored wariness and discrimination toward "outsiders," always fearing newcomers might disrupt local harmony.
Large-scale manifestations: developed nations rejecting immigrants from poorer countries. Mid-scale: developed cities discriminating against small-town migrant workers. Small-scale: even within neighborhoods, original residents excluding renting tenants...
This mentality, no one in this era yet possessed the ability to completely smooth over.
Because "outsiders increasing crime rates" remained a reality requiring serious consideration—there would always be bad apples spoiling the batch, lowering "outsider" reputations.
Li Daoxuan could only guide as best he could, using his golden touch to dissolve "original residents'" apprehensions and wariness toward newcomers.
"Rest assured." Li Daoxuan smiled. "You thousand-plus people facing three thousand newcomers feeling fear and worry—that's understandable. But don't forget I watch constantly from above. Even if newcomers numbered thirty million, what would there be to fear?"
Hearing this, San Shi'er's spirits lifted: "Right! We have the Tianzun's protection. However many newcomers arrive, we needn't feel uneasy."
Tan Liwen also felt inspired: Right! Here we have deity above watching. Three thousand people—what's to fear? Really now.
Li Daoxuan: "Tomorrow, recruit workers from Refugee Valley. Various trades needed. Blacksmiths require more—our firearms bureau has begun producing gunpowder. We need to start producing muskets, needing more blacksmiths. More muskets require more gunpowder, so the firearms bureau also needs more apprentice recruits. Population growth requires more pots, bowls, utensils—pottery craftsmen, carpenters also need increased numbers..."
San Shi'er immediately grasped: "All trades should recruit from Refugee Valley. Let their people and ours mingle living and working. Soon they'll become Gao Village people."
Yes! Integration, absorption, assimilation. Li Daoxuan silently praised: The Chinese nation's most remarkable ability is immense assimilative power. However formidable outsiders entering our land eventually integrate with us, becoming part of Chinese civilization, one of our fifty-six ethnic groups.
(Li's internal monologue references real historical patterns. The Ming dynasty itself was a product of assimilation—Han Chinese absorbing Mongol, Jurchen, and other ethnic influences. His "fifty-six ethnic groups" is an anachronistic modern concept, showing how his contemporary knowledge colors his godly perspective.)
The Mongol Empire invaded, became the Mongolian ethnicity. The Manchu Qing invaded, became the Manchu ethnicity.
Former enemies become friends and family, ultimately jointly building a new homeland.
This ability Gao Village should possess!
Assimilating wild little people into our own little people—wouldn't that work?
The key to assimilation: "culture." Gao Village needed its own unique charms, letting newcomers feel the different atmosphere here, experience the unique happiness here, and they'd actively transform into Gao Village people.
Actually, present-day Gao Village indeed offered more happiness, more fulfillment than outside. Every newcomer here couldn't help but be won over by life here, wanting to integrate into it.
This was Gao Village's greatest confidence now.
"Don't fear. Boldly scatter and integrate them among yourselves."
Li Daoxuan delivered this final statement, then fell silent—even closing the lid, preventing Gao Yiye from seeing him.
San Shi'er watched the low clouds gradually disperse, knowing the Tianzun had departed. Toward the last dissipating wisps, he offered a deep bow, earnestly stating: "This humble one will not disgrace the command."
Gao Yiye blinked, then chuckled: "The Tianzun left—probably visiting other immortals."
I haven't left!
Li Daoxuan laughed: I'm still watching through the glass, can still hear your voice. That lid isn't soundproof.
Gao Yiye giggled again: "Third Steward, I have something I'd like your printing house to produce for sale to villagers."
San Shi'er discerned from her expression: "Not the Tianzun's instruction?"
"No!" Gao Yiye grinned mischievously, her small face playful. "I drew it myself—just finished. A very impressive picture-story book. I've been hiding from the Tianzun while drawing—worked so hard."
(Picture-story books, or 小人书, were the Ming equivalent of comics—cheap woodblock-printed booklets with images and simple text. They were immensely popular among semi-literate populations. Yiye creating one represents both cultural production and her growing independence as the Saintess.)
Hearing "hiding from the Tianzun," San Shi'er's expression turned stern: "Saintess, don't make mischief now."
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[Historical Context: The Assimilation]
Li Daoxuan's observation about Chinese assimilation isn't just nationalist pride—it's documented historical process. During the Ming, ethnic boundaries were surprisingly fluid. Many "Mongol" commanders served in Ming armies; "Jurchen" tribes adopted Han agricultural practices while maintaining distinct identities.
What made Chinese civilization absorptive was its cultural rather than ethnic core. One became "Chinese" by adopting Confucian rituals, written characters, and agricultural settlement—not by bloodline. This allowed conquered peoples to become ruling dynasties (Yuan, Qing) while the civilization continued.
Gao Village is replicating this on micro-scale: refugees adopt Tianzun worship, train in militia discipline, use "celestial technology"—transforming from starving bandits into productive villagers through cultural adoption rather than force.