Chapter 417: Disunion

59%.

The final referendum results were released. More than half of the people chose not to punish Wu Zhixian. Only his position as a representative was stripped. The proportion of people who choose the death penalty was less than 10%.

Facing the polling result, Mu Yunhua’s body was shaking slightly. Even though she expected that many would choose to compromise and yield, she never thought that these frail minds would make up the vast majority. She herself had conducted this strange trial and had handed such an important decision over to the general public. Did this not reflect the fear and weakness that was concealed deep down within her heart?

They were fearful of the aliens’ power, and bore little hope for the future.

In a situation where the odds were low for the survival and continuation of civilization, compromise could, perhaps, be a way out.

The last pretense of cordiality must not be shed if they were to avoid enraging the enemy.

Hadn’t these thoughts once bred in her heart?

If even she felt that way, surely ordinary people, who just want to live a stable life, would.

As for the hot-blooded people who were yelling “Kill the traitors!” and “We will never be slaves”, most of them were soldiers who maintained security. They only made up an extremely small number.

At the scene, only Wu Zhixian’s haughty voice was left:

“Hahaha, hahahaha…

“A wise choice! Most of you have made a wise decision. Good, very good. This is a display of your intelligence and rationality. The aliens will be pleased with your sanity.

“I am overjoyed to have gathered so many allies today. If all of you declare that I am not guilty, then it means that I am not guilty. It means that I’m helping everyone, and that I’m leading all of you down a path of brilliance. Your actions have shown me that you are my supporters, and that you support me to be your new leader.

“So, Mu Yunhua, please step down from your place. Hand everything over to me. I will handle everything that is about to come, and lead everyone towards a joyful and stable life.”

When he said these words, everyone was taken aback.

Upon receiving a punishment that was almost equivalent to an exemption, Wu Zhixian had baldly unleashed a signal to seize power from Mu Yunhua.

Provocation.

Blatant provocation.

His tone was colored by an urge to retaliate, seemingly wanting to unravel a new farce to cover up the tension and fear he had just had. After all, he would not have dared to vouch previously that the death penalty was a hundred percent certain not to fall on his head. Since he was sure that nothing was going to happen to him now, it was time for him to mount a counter strike.

“Enough, Wu Zhixian. You are already dismissed. From tomorrow onwards, you will be assigned to basic labor. You have lost your qualification as a representative.”

Mu Yunhua’s face was enwrapped in frost. She did not expect this person to be so flagrant. He was actually still not satisfied after being exempted from all punishment.

“No, no, no…” Wu Zhixian shook his finger. “My public opinion support rate is 59%. Most people are on my side, so you had better give up the wheel now. It will save me the effort of making some unnecessary directives. To maximize efficiency, doing it right here, right now, will be just fine.

“What is more, I’m the noble aliens’ most recognized agent. One of the prerequisites for them to honor their promises is for me to replace Mu Yunhua and become your new leader. If all of you are reluctant to follow my orders, they may doubt and question our sincerity.

“So, Mu Yunhua, could you please surrender your authority, and walk into the cell made exclusively for you?”

There was not even a hint of fear on his face.

His smug expression made the soldiers around him think: a qualified dog.

“Arrest that man with a mouth full of gibberish!”

Mu Yunhua regretted that she had not disposed of the matter herself and sentenced all of those traitors to capital punishment. A brief show of weakness had given rise to ever-swelling arrogance and vanity for her opponents. The seed of disunion had also been planted.

It was from this day that the harmonious immigration base became divided into two factions.

The “Capitulationists,” headed by Wu Zhixian, advocated surrender, and became a vassal to the mysterious alien forces.

The “Old School” that stayed at the side of Mu Yunhua did not raise any uproar, nor were they daring to shout out slogans such as “Defend our freedom, say no to slavery!” and so on. They only wished to maintain a stable order. They could also be called the “Ostriches,” since they intended to muddle along until the end of their lives.

Wu Zhixian’s character and disposition were genuinely loathsome. No matter how disruptive his propaganda might be in terms of morality and self-respect, not many were willing to wallow in the mire with him. Mu Yunhua’s prestige could not be threatened.

For a whole three years, Wu Zhixian couldn’t seem to set off any tides of change.

However, no matter how incompetent he was, as long as he was loyal enough as a dog to the aliens, they would still open some doors for him.

Hence, via the mysterious monitoring device, the aliens conveyed a few messages:

If Wu Zhixian is unable to become the new leader within two years, half of the population will be slaughtered upon our arrival.

Halt scientific research and military expansion. If such efforts are still ongoing after three months, 20% of the population will be slaughtered upon our arrival.

Make a list of the disobedient. If their rebellious flames are not extinguished and they remain stubborn about revolting, everyone on the list will be slaughtered upon our arrival.

Their message could be summarized with one word: menacing.

It gave Wu Zhixian a shot in his arm to make him even more fearless.

After the alien’s threatening message had spread, the immigration base descended into chaos and immense terror.

“If we don’t do what the aliens say, they’ll go on a rampage as soon as they get here.”

“If we choose to revolt, we will probably die.”

“Wu Zhixian is an idiot and he boasts a lot, but for our own survival, electing him is the only option left for us. Sigh… Our dignity and freedom… I am afraid that all will be trampled and shattered into dust.”

“The aliens are bold enough to do this before they even arrive. Our days will become much worse when they actually get here. So, why not we fight back with our lives! Better to die with our dignity intact than to live as cowards!”

“…”

All kinds of voices arose. But when it came to survival itself, not many held the fort of their hot-bloodedness.

…

Mu Yunhua was also confronted with a crucial decision.

“Those aliens are really cunning. With only a few terrorizing statements, not even using any guns or bullets, they threw us into confusion and split us apart… they are real veterans at conspiracy. Their level in stirring up sh*t must be maxed out,” Bai Shengqi analyzed.

“Captain, we should just take the fight back to them!” another hot-blooded officer said. “We should use war to demonstrate the dignity and courage of our civilization! Given what the aliens are, they will definitely kill off every single surviving human; their only goal has been to eradicate us from the very beginning! Surrendering will do us no help. We should forsake all our delusions about this dark and wicked universe.”

“Yeah, we shouldn’t have had any kind of delusions, even from the beginning. There’s no survival without war.”

Mu Yunhua shook her head. “Execute ‘Plan A.’ Let’s put an end to this farce.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

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