Chapter 1648
Chapter 1648 - 1644: Fishing
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"You’re really terrible, you clearly know that Sakura Island is not the main target of this offensive, and the chances of reclaiming our homeland are practically zero, yet you still suggest such a policy..."
"Heh, not as terrible as you. Wasn’t it you who reminded me? Without your hint, I wouldn’t have thought to exploit these native ambition factions and get them to start a movement sending all the unstable elements to the battlefield."
"Actually, we’re pretty average... Look at the letter from the Eastern Country Officials, ’The system of allocating land for battle merit is about to be implemented as a long-term policy’... We’re just the advisers, the Eastern Country plans to use a long-term policy to bleed these guys dry."
Hearing this, Lu Ping’an shook his head.
Big Cat is very wise and a troublemaker, with achievements in both life sciences and war, but there are some things he genuinely lacks a long-term vision for.
"No, the most important thing is not to let these people die, but to keep their focus perpetually overseas, to prevent them from causing trouble at home, especially trying to create another New Tokyo, New Paris or something..."
Lu Ping’an’s political insight is more profound; these refugees must not be left without hope... Desperate people are capable of anything, and it’s better to point them towards a seemingly achievable path than to let them find their own extreme measures.
Even if there are still extremists, as long as there is another hope, their ranks will surely be divided.
Lu Ping’an simply put forth a draft proposal, to consider inciting the Sakura Islanders to leverage these unstable elements from the north, and now it seems that those professional strategists are truly ruthless.
Incidentally, not only does New Paris exist, but it has also become the core of Europa... Yes, another country swiftly capitulated, although its long coastline played a part, it indeed was the first world power to yield.
More ironically, New Paris is in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and I heard that in another timeline in Deutsch, things have become quite terrible there, with refugees and racial tensions spiraling out of control daily.
But Lu Ping’an was still somewhat surprised; not because his suggestion had had an impact so rapidly, even vaguely becoming state policy... Today’s Lu Ping’an has completely tied himself to the Eastern Country, becoming one of its core strategic resources.
Lu Ping’an’s "loyalty" has been tested; he’s not blindly obedient or totemic in his beliefs, but chose a highly rational "loyalty" based on racial interests, homeland sentiments, and the long-term development of himself and his loved ones.
His commitment to Order, equality, and trade is extremely rare among high-ranking professionals; for these beings, power is the manifestation of will, and strength itself is the externalization of individual will... Fear goes that the psychological profile of his character has already established that even in the worst environments, he would prioritize the continuity of his race, thus binding him tightly to the core interests of the Eastern Country.
For politicians, this kind of loyalty based on interests and logic is the most trustworthy.
Driven by practical interests, merely as the "Holy Land" which continues to produce professionals, Lu Ping’an’s status in the Eastern Country is extraordinary... As long as he is not foolish enough to get into or dabble in politics, no matter who is in power, they would grant this vital national asset the highest level of preferential treatment.
And when the "Loyalist" made a suggestion, the now incredibly efficient decision-making department instantly set the national policy... Lu Ping’an’s suggestion might have been a seemingly insignificant chip, but it turned into the last straw that broke the camel’s back, helping the winning side in the policy debate to prevail.
After all, such major policies are not formulated in the short term; they are just the real-time activation of mature contingency plans.
"....From the results, it seems quite good."
In the past couple of days, even just walking on the streets, Lu could feel the tension and changes in the atmosphere.
A flood of Extraordinary individuals appeared from nowhere, many young faces who should have been middle-schoolers or high-schoolers just a few years ago, began purchasing weapons and undergoing real combat Cultivation.
Special trains were running within the City, and Lu Ping’an did not note where they were being sent to endure hardships and battle, but the visibly increasing number of injured on the streets, and the dispatching of medical resources including emergency relief stations on TV,
Warriors need to shed blood to grow, and Extraordinaries need slaughter to evolve....
"Is it true? Does the Eastern Country really intend this policy?"
"Is it possible for us to reclaim our homeland?"
In the past two days, the "investigation group," which was once considered a harbinger of doom, has become the belle of the ball in the city, being repeatedly invited to various banquets, symposiums, luncheons... The elite from all sides needed him to confirm the authenticity of this message, and of course, it was crucial to get the real stance of the Eastern Country from Lu Ping’an, the "Eastern Country Elite."
Are they unaware that this is a carrot dangled on a stick, only visible but hard to reach? No, they have performed countless calculations, and are probably clearer about the difficulties than the Eastern Country, but humans are like this; as long as there is hope, as long as there is a possibility, they are willing to strive and even shed their last drop of blood.
"Ah, human nature is truly wonderful; they must be already eager to embrace their deaths,"
Big Cat pontificated, which drew rolling eyes from those around... but as soon as they were met with Big Cat’s glare, recognizing the notorious Balance Disaster Beast, they would immediately force out a fawning smile.
This sister was truly capable of killing someone in the street without batting an eyelash... and she really had done so a few days ago.
A force to be reckoned with, astonishing in combat power, unfettered by moral or legal constraints, and not even needing to care about the chain of interests, it’s almost impossible to control such a being. After all, you can’t just ask a Quasi-God from Sakura Island to take the field over a few Mortals... and it’s not even certain they could win, given there are already two of them here.
And where there’s someone playing the bad cop, there’s naturally someone playing the good cop. After Chris exerted extreme pressure, it was time for Lu Ping’an to step in to mediate and propose "perhaps we can discuss terms that both sides can accept"... Even though everyone felt they were in cahoots, Lu Ping’an’s "friendliness" still assured everyone.
Dispatching this power couple was indicative of Eastern Country’s intention to both chastise and unite.
You may disrupt, but don’t go overboard; we give you a flag and a framework. Afterwards, you can cause a commotion under the banner of "reclaiming ancestral lands." It has now also been clarified that "military merit can be traded for land", and if you want to reclaim ancestral lands or even reestablish a nation, you can do so—in exchange for human lives.
"I’ve heard that there will be a new favorable military policy introduced soon, one element of which is that if the individual dies, the equivalent benefits that their military merits would have earned can be inherited by their relatives..."
Lu Ping’an casually dropped another bombshell as if suggesting they would come to a halt.
This was akin to saying "Go ahead and lay down your lives; your deeds will be recorded and bless your descendants, and at the same time, they will become a part of the effort to reclaim your lost lands"... considering Sakura Country’s already distorted values, the effect should be quite significant.
Lu Ping’an observed the reactions of the local Big Shots around him, some contemplating, some visibly overjoyed, and some showing anger... Clearly, there were rational thinkers among them.
"Right, even though I’m relatively young, it’s time for me to think about the future... I’m going to take on a number of students, direct disciples, not restricted by race, but with a preference for humans,"
At this moment, Lu Ping’an threw out another lure.
What had seemed like suppressive candy and poison was now something overtly malicious dangled on a carrot stick... but never treat everyone like fools; within even the worst of races, there are always those who are enlightened and aware.
If an incident were truly to happen, it would be bad for everyone.
"I... I have a nephew!"
"My daughter is studying abroad in Huaqi; I could have her come back!"
Instantly, the surrounding Big Shots expressed their elation outright... God knows how those who sent their children abroad to Europa for refuge managed to entice them to return, it might take Top Combat Power going personally to ensure their safety.
What Lu Ping’an was doing was not merely taking disciples; it was clearly opening a channel to the Eastern Country Elite.
After all, you top powers and high-level politicians prioritize yourselves, don’t you? You’re more concerned that you’re still riding a sinking ship, never fully accepted by Eastern Country... Indeed, they cared about the future of their country and race, but more about whether they and their clans still had access to privilege and favoritism.
Now, I’m offering such an opportunity— and not only me, other Eastern Country Top Combat Powers are willing to do so as well.
With this channel, they can reinvent themselves, and within a few decades, they will have become Easterners with unfamiliar surnames, capable of engaging in various commerce and development within Eastern Country... In some ways, similar to some of the overseas Chinese who returned during the reform period of Eastern Country, they did receive certain preferences, yet in a few decades, they seamlessly integrated and migrated inwardly.
Perhaps the numbers are few... but tickets of this kind are all the more cherished and costly.
A combination of pressure and incentive, carrot and stick—though an old strategy, it certainly works.
But from another perspective, whether it’s Lu Ping’an or Eastern Country, they can siphon off the elite of Sakura Islanders, those genius Elites and ancient Extraordinary Technology, destined to become a treasure for Easterners.
"After three generations, a hundred years, who will still remember Sakura Island..."
— End of Chapter 1648 —