Chapter 760: Chapter 79 Whirlwind and Waves
"Japan has gone mad, openly defying the United Nations ban and using nuclear weapons to destroy two major Federation military bases. This is a blatant provocation against the Federation, and the Federation will resolutely launch a devastating strike and retaliate,"
"The race that disrupts world peace should have vanished from this world long ago. We strongly condemn the actions that incite global conflict."
"As recorded in the history of the Divine Continent, the Japanese are a despicable, greedy, perverted race..."
News outlets around the world were reporting on Japan’s launch of nuclear strikes.
In response to Japan’s mad actions, the voices of the world’s media were almost unanimous, full of denunciation, condemnation, and cursing.
Of course, some media expressed a different view, believing that the real reason behind Japan’s mad actions lies with the Federation.
For decades, the Federation’s military presence has greatly provoked Japan and numerous other countries.
These small nations have been harassed by the stationed troops all along, their people oppressed by the soldiers, and over the long term, this has caused a deep-seated fury within these nations’ populace, even giving rise to a genetic hatred and resentment towards the troops. Their current frenzy of counterattacks is retribution for decades of oppression, which is understandable.
Not to mention, this view found recognition and support among many people all over the world.
Of course, the mainstream media still opposes the Japanese using nuclear weapons to disrupt the Earth’s balance.
Within the Divine Continent Country, Qin Yanyang once again issued a public announcement.
"The ambition of the Japanese has existed since ancient times. Now that they have launched nuclear weapons and broken the encirclement of the troops, they are like a bloodthirsty wolf with red eyes, ready to tear at the Great Divine Continent with its gaping maw.
At this critical moment, the Great Divine Continent should unite as one and collectively face outward. The land of the Divine Continent must not allow any foreign powers to step in like a century ago."
Accompanying the announcement issued by Qin Yanyang’s side, domestic public opinion was highly unified.
All major media platforms were of one mind, all calling for unity in the Divine Continent to face outward together.
The public even organized demonstrations spontaneously, calling for unity, asserting that the north and south are one family, and condemning the Chu Family—the chief culprit behind the division of the Divine Continent.
For a time, the Chu Family became the target of public criticism.
Of course, at such a crucial moment, the northern media were not idle either. They also supported Qin Yanyang’s view of facing outward together, but they retorted against the public opinion attacks guided by the southern media, explaining that the biggest reason for the division was not them, but Qin Yanyang and the power of the Qin Family behind her.
A verbal battle in public opinion was inevitable.
However, comparatively speaking, the voices calling for unity and a collective external stance overwhelmingly dominated.
In just one morning, public opinion had exploded to unprecedented levels.
After midday, because the southern population was larger and the Qin Family had initially guided public opinion to criticize the Chu Family, they had a certain advantage. Moreover, after Japan’s incident, Qin Yanyang personally made a public statement calling for a joint external approach, gaining her even more support from the ordinary grassroots public.
The most important thing was that the last time the Chu Family took the high-ranking elite and their families into hiding, it left those in the lower and middle classes behind, which bred resentment. Furthermore, over these days, Qin Yanyang, through the intelligence department’s infiltration of these lower and middle classes, gradually led many of the citizens within the Chu Family’s jurisdiction to express dissatisfaction with their rulers.
A dike collapses because of an anthill, a towering building falls due to its foundation.
The general public is the true basis.
When the Chu Family, fearing beheading, took their high-level officials and their families into hiding, those untransferable supporters in the lower and middle classes had already sown the seeds of complaint in their hearts.
If you abandon us at a critical moment, then what reason do we have to support you?
"The Chu Family are rebels of the Divine Continent."
"For their own selfish interests, they caused the Divine Continent to crumble, heinous criminals of the nation!"
"The Chu Family must immediately cease resistance, admit their crimes, and surrender, to avoid the division of the Divine Continent. It is not too late to mend the fence after a sheep is lost."
"Chu Shiguang is unvirtuous, hand over the military authority of the Central Battle Zone immediately."
...
In the northeast, within the military fortress of the battle zone.
Chu Shiguang, along with others from the Chu family, watched these public opinions unfold through their mobile phones and the military base’s television.
Seeing public sentiment growing increasingly uncontrollable and developing in an unfavorable direction, members of the Chu Family panicked.
Many smart people in the Chu family realized there was a problem right away.
Something’s not right!
Why mention only the Chu Family?
You could say it’s an alliance led by the Chu Family, but you can’t just mention the Chu Family alone.
Clearly, the Duanmu Family, the Sun Family, and the Ning Family were also involved.
Many of the Chu Family’s high-ranking officials are still hiding in the camps controlled by the Ning Family.
Why only talk about the Chu Family without mentioning the Ning Family?
A sense of immense fear surfaced in Chu Shiguang’s heart.
He knew if this continued, the Chu Family would truly be doomed.
Although he had considered the term "victors are kings, losers are outlaws" from the beginning, and the bleak future the Chu Family might face should they fail,
he never imagined things would turn out like this.
How did it become a matter involving only my Chu Family?
If we continue to let the Qin Family guide public opinion, the Chu Family would become the sole scapegoat without even needing to be defeated by the Qin Family, and would be sent to the public judgement stand by the other three major families.
Chu Shiguang and many of the high-ranking members of the Chu Family understood that this was Qin Yanyang’s overt plot.
This formidable woman was creating internal conflicts within their ranks by such means, and causing the other three families to be under the illusion that by pushing the Chu Family out to confess, then bringing the Divine Continent back under unified rule, they would be off the hook.
Such a vicious move!
The high-ranking members of the Chu Family, including Chu Shiguang, felt a chill down their spines.
Chu Shiguang, trying to steady his nerves, immediately called Ning Shucheng, Ning Zhongze, Sun Youning, and Duanmu Ci, requesting an emergency meeting.
The rest of the families’ high-ranking officials understood exactly why Chu Shiguang was so eager to call an internal emergency meeting.
However, as everyone was united in this cause, to maintain morale, none of them refused.
Soon, everyone gathered together.
Aside from those from the four major families, Zhang Wenfeng was also present.
Within the four major families, it wasn’t just a single representative each.
For instance, with the Ning Family, it was usually Ning Zhongze attending such meetings, but today Ning Shucheng was also present.
In the case of the Sun Family, besides Sun Youning, there was an elder named Sun Chuanguo, whose status in the Sun Family was extraordinary. Although he had retired, his influence remained immense.
In addition to Duanmu Ci, the mighty Innate Realm powerhouse and true Family Head of the Duanmu Family, Duanmu Han, made a personal appearance as well.
Clearly, like the Chu Family, these other families took the current situation very seriously and felt it was necessary to sit down together and discuss it properly.
After the meeting room doors closed, Chu Shiguang stood up, bowed to Zhang Wenfeng, Duanmu Han, and Sun Chuanguo, showing the utmost respect, and then took the lead, saying, "Everyone, the current situation is greatly unfavorable to us. We must make changes, do something. Otherwise, the longer we delay, the more support that girl from the Qin Family will gain, and it will greatly hinder our actions in the future."
Sun Chuanguo lightly tapped his finger on the table, producing a ’tut-tut’ sound, and looked at Chu Shiguang, saying, "Shiguang, speak up if you have any good suggestions."
Everyone nodded in agreement and turned their eyes to Chu Shiguang.