Shadow Empire

Chapter 919: Damn Federals
There were so many things Pedro asked to be demolished that it seemed that the entire camp would be torn apart if his demands were met.

For example, he asked that all the tents be taken down, as these large pieces of cloth were good materials for storing wheat.

And all the door panels and the round things that could be used as pulleys or wheels.

These are the main materials for the camp and tents. If these things are taken away, there will naturally be nothing left in the camp.

Pedro asked them to do this for only one purpose - to take away more food.

You can use the cloth or something else of the tent to hold more food, and then use wooden boards to support it. With the help of logs or wheels, it can be transported more easily in the jungle.

Many people gathered around. Although this camp had only been around for a short time, it had given these people something profound.

Family.

Home is not just a place where people can relax, but also an important emotional sustenance.

In this terrible environment and context, home may be more important than food to some people.

This word is easy to spell, but the emotion it implies is not so easy to obtain!

The time we spent together here was short, but deep, so deep that the mere thought of dismantling the camp made people feel uncomfortable.

It was like Pedro suddenly demanding that their home be demolished; they had no way of doing that, at least not until they were convinced.

Pedro looked at the people who had gathered around him and knew that he had to say something.

After more than ten seconds, he raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, "This batch of food is actually a trap."

The people around him immediately stared at him with their eyes wide open, as if they couldn't believe what he said!
Only a few people showed expressions of understanding or enlightenment.

These people are either teachers or parents of students. They have been exposed to more advanced social forms, so they have understood something.

Pedro looked at those people who didn't know what was going on. He spoke quietly so that people around him could hear him clearly.

"This batch of food comes from the Czech Republic. It is part of the 500,000 tons of food that the Czech Republic provided to Rapa."

"The federals destroyed the railroads, derailed the trains, and we were essentially stealing the food aid."

"There is no doubt that these are Diego's food!"

When he said Diego's name, the crowd, which had been a little agitated, suddenly quieted down.

The "Zhuolan Massacre" happened not long ago, and perhaps the smell of blood near Zhuolan still remains.

The psychological trauma caused by that bloody massacre is difficult to resolve easily, and the remaining manifestation is fear!

Deep fear!
They actually stole Diego's wealth?

Some people were trembling and holding on to things around them, and some could not stand steadily.

Their faces were filled with expressions of astonishment, shock, anxiety, and fear.

Some people even said, "How about... we send the food back!"

Some people looked at the person who was speaking. He was an old man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties. He was hunched over, skinny and looked like he would collapse at any time.

Pedro shook his head. "Even if you send the food back, Diego will still kill you if he finds you!"

"I believe each of you knows his cruelty. Do you think he will let you go just because you sent the food back or didn't find the food in our camp?"

"No!"

"He will not!"

"He will ask you why you didn't stop those people, are you in cahoots with them?"

"And then I'll kill you!"

His voice was very loud, and this time, everyone could hear it. He looked at the dark crowd around him. In fact, he didn't know how many people gathered around him, but he just felt that there were a lot of people.

So many that he felt that as long as they united, they could overcome the difficulties!
This reminded him of what Lance had said to them during those seven days: "Unity is strength"!

Yes, as long as they unite, they have the power to break the class system!
"Besides, can you continue to endure hunger?"

"Can you bear it? Can your family, children, parents, partners bear it?"

"The damage caused by hunger will stay with you for the rest of your life. Even if you can survive today, what about tomorrow?"

"What about the day after tomorrow?"

"I can't keep putting up with this!"

"Some people say that everything will be fine when autumn comes..."

"But how many of the more than a thousand brothers and sisters here, including those old and young, can wait for autumn?"

“What if the situation doesn’t improve by fall?”

A series of rhetorical questions made everyone shut up. The current situation was indeed not good, and no one dared to say that they could survive until the autumn harvest.

They also heard some news that in some places the seeds intended for seed preservation were eaten!
It's like they dig potatoes out of the ground, as long as they are not too green, they can be eaten if they are lucky enough to be boiled.

Compared to death, hunger is obviously more tormenting!

No one spoke, it was very quiet, but Pedro knew that this was an opportunity, an opportunity to consolidate his position!
"Now, the choice is in your hands!"

"I chose not to anger Diego and his army, and chose to continue to endure hunger, not knowing when I would return to God's arms due to organ failure."

"Or choose to live, survive and have a future. Come with us and take the food away. Let Diego and his army go to hell!"

"The choice is in your hands!"

"If you want to leave, you can leave now. I will definitely not stop you."

"But for those who stay, I don't want you to talk about these topics anymore, topics that make us give up, or make us submit!"

"If you want to obey, if you want to give up, you can leave here anytime and anywhere."

"I won't try to keep you here, but I also hope you won't say anything discouraging or create panic before you leave."

"Otherwise!" He looked around, "I will punish you!"

After he said this, he looked at the people in the team he trusted and said, "Go cook the wheat. Cook all the wheat. We'll have a full meal before we go over!"

His colleagues were a little confused by his sudden decision, "But won't this waste our time?"

"It takes at least thirty to forty minutes to cook now..."

Pedro shook his head. "Thirty or forty minutes is not enough for us to make another round trip, and I have no intention of staying here."

He spoke loudly, without any hesitation to the people around him, and he directly expressed his intention to leave.

This place is too close to the scene, and they might be discovered during the military search, which would bring disaster.

Rather than staying here and praying that Diego's men wouldn't find traces of them near the railroad and track them here.

It would be better to leave as soon as possible. At least if they leave now, their danger will be greatly reduced.

After thinking for a moment, his colleague did not continue to oppose his opinion, but chose to support it.

During this process, some people were indeed unwilling to bear these terrible consequences and left on their own initiative.

Pedro respects these people's choices. It is impossible for any group to always have only one person's voice.

Some people come and some people go, this is the norm.

Those who come and never leave are simply unrealistic!

The part that left is only a small part.

The whole camp was silent until the cooked wheat was carried to the center.

Big pots of wheat porridge attract people's attention.

It’s not enough to fill you up, but it’s enough for people to eat something before leaving.

There is no messy food, just the simplest boiled wheat kernels.

But the simplest things, at this moment, exude the most deadly attraction!

The cooked wheat does not have anything else added to it, but the rich aroma of the food itself is enough to make many people unable to sit still.

They took something to hold the food and started to line up spontaneously.

The spoon stirred the pot a few times, and the wheat kernels mixed with some water began to roll.

The wheat kernels were boiled until they bloomed, and many of them had cracked. They kept rolling around, and the fragrance kept spreading, and it became wheat kernel porridge.

The thick and rich fragrance makes everyone unable to take their eyes away.

They haven't had such "formal" food since last November.

Most foods are added with other foods to increase satiety, improve hunger resistance and reduce food loss.

How long has it been since people here, or even most people in Lapa, have had a proper lunch or dinner?
Pedro ordered a bowl for himself and savored it carefully.

The simple fragrance of wheat kernels gives people an unimaginable and irresistible power at this moment!

Everyone ate in silence. It was the best meal they had had in days.

It was all wheat kernels, no stones, no sand, no weeds, no broken wood fibers, no...

Just a simple portion of boiled wheat kernels is enough to make a decision on this issue.

Someone asked, "Will we always have wheat to eat in the future?"

Pedro pumped his fist vigorously. "Not just wheat, but vegetables and meat too!"

The emotions of the people around him became noticeably higher after he said this, and they began to eat faster!
It seems like a beautiful tomorrow is just around the corner?

Seeing everyone eating so seriously, Pedro shook his head slightly and began to enjoy his own portion.

In fact, he can feel people's confusion, and he is also very confused now.

It took an hour to finish lunch, and then people started to move. The entire camp was dismantled. Pedro said that after getting the food, they would never come back, and this place was abandoned.

Standing outside the camp, Pedro took a last look at the dilapidated camp and left without looking back.

Diego thought of this during dinner. While enjoying the grilled veal steak, he asked the butler, "I remember that Jed said that the food aid they provided was delivered today, right?"

The butler bowed slightly, "Yes, sir."

The butler's confirmation made Diego put down his knife and fork in confusion. He looked up at the clock, then turned sideways to look at the butler, "But it's already seven o'clock, and no one told me that the train had arrived!"

This sentence was not asking the butler to tell him what happened, but he was telling the butler that he should go and find out for him what happened.

The housekeeper immediately replied, "I'll go find out."

Diego nodded in satisfaction, "Okay, as soon as possible, I don't like the feeling of being out of control."

After saying that, he picked up the knife and fork again and started cutting the veal steaks that had just been fried.

Being a president is tiring. There are always some things that don't happen, develop, or end as he wishes.

For example, the sudden appearance of the Federals!
Their appearance made Diego more and more disgusted, especially Lance and his group. They actually dared to threaten him!
But unfortunately, he had no way out, which made him feel very depressed!

Only food, only food is best for him. Not only will it not cause him any trouble, but it will also satisfy his appetite.

The steak was very tender and was easily cut with the knife and fork. Diego's hands were very nimble, which was one of the few things he could do very well.

A piece of beef was inserted with the fork, coated with the sauce on the plate and put into the mouth. The wonderful feeling made Diego smile faintly.

At this moment, all worries disappear!

No one becomes fat because of hunger, they all become fat because of food, and Diego is no exception.

For others, one portion of steak may be enough, but he needs a "large portion", at least one pound or more, and possibly more.

Combined with other foods, it is easy for him to consume too much food in his "not-so-big" lunch or dinner. He doesn't think he has eaten a lot, but he does eat a lot.

But I have to say, the meal was a joy.

After about ten minutes, the butler returned to the dining table with a serious expression. He walked to Diego, bent over, lowered his head, and remained silent.

Diego noticed the butler's actions and he was already prepared in his mind.

After he swallowed the juice in his mouth, he asked without turning his head, "How is it?"

"Where is my food?"

The butler was silent for two seconds and then said, "They set out from the supply station in the border area this morning. According to the speed of the train, they should arrive at the transfer station in the afternoon and reach Zhuolan before dawn tomorrow morning."

Diego put down the juice in his hand, "Should?"

The butler bent down, his head bowed, "Now they are gone."

"So far, no train has passed by the transfer station. Maybe it had an accident on the way!"

Diego's expression became obviously dissatisfied, "Then send someone to find it!"

Soon the army began to move. Although they had not yet discovered the train or its current situation, Diego had a hunch.

His food was stolen!
Always like this, always like this!

Nothing has gone well for him since those damn Federals came to Lapa!

He slammed the table hard, and the empty plates "jumped" one after another.

Damn the Federals!

(End of this chapter)