Forge a path to success.

Chapter 368 Abundant Harvest (8)

After finishing her routine patrol, Lingfeng returned to the farm, feeling a sense of unease.

Three full days have passed. During this time, spies have been arrested every day because of Xiao Qiuyinghua. In order to lure the enemy out, the workload on the farm has been further increased, but the enemy has not made a single move. It is really unreasonable that such a troublesome person could be so calm.

Fife floated over and plopped down on the specially made extra-large sofa: "The military operation has been hampered... I heard that the terrorists from the Jinghua Festival have reappeared. It must be them causing trouble in the shadows. How despicable!"

"Is that so?" Lingfeng said calmly. "Those terrorists played a significant role in pushing the bill through."

Upon hearing this, Fifeld flew into a rage: "The passage of the bill is the result of the joint efforts of all the people of the city-state! Captain Lingfeng, as a member of the Divine Guard, how can you speak up for those criminals!"

"I just don't think it's that much of a coincidence. Do you really think that a few legendary point beings would go to such lengths to infiltrate a city-state just to kill our Third Captain?"

Phifide fell silent upon hearing this, clearly sensing something amiss. But it persisted, "This isn't the first or second time the heretics have used such methods to sow discord. Especially in times of crisis, we must trust our comrades. I believe in Speaker Parriman's love for the city-state."

“I believe it too. I believe that man absolutely loves the city-state, but…”

He doesn't seem to love the sacred tree at all.

Lingfeng hesitated, then sighed inwardly.

So what if there are speculations? So what if the Speaker has ulterior motives? We're all high-ranking members of the city-state; we all know there's no such thing as perfectly clear water in this world. Now that we've chosen sides, there's nothing more to say. Once it's all over, we'll naturally know who's right and who's wrong…

Just then, the alarm suddenly went off, and an armed farmer knocked on the door and reported: "Little Autumn Flower has detected a large number of anti-legislative elements! They are throwing large amounts of unknown plants onto the ground!"

"They've finally shown themselves." Fifeld perked up. "What's the total number?"

He swallowed hard, trying to deliver the message: "I...I don't know..."

Fife frowned: "What do you mean you don't know?"

"There are too many people! They're everywhere, they've all come out in droves, even the little cosmos flowers can't count them all!"

·
“The following is the operational plan for this operation. The enemy relies on the idea of ​​using the small cosmos flower for reconnaissance, but every system has its limits. The attack on the Brass Flower Festival has proven that if a large number of warning signals appear in a short period of time, even an efficient team like the Third Team cannot handle them in time.” Wilbert pointed to the map. “We will mobilize all our manpower at the start of the operation. Each team will proceed to the surface in batches from all passages, aiming to catch the enemy off guard.”

Ji Huaisu raised a question: "What about the punishment from the fake divine trees? Even if they reduce their output to the minimum, our little animals here are powerless to fight back."

“We have a plan for this,” Vilbert clapped her hands. “Please let Gardener Gulibo introduce the results.”

Gulibo hopped onto the conference table, dragging a large burlap sack, and proudly displayed the finished product to everyone. Inside the sack was a sea of ​​white, piled high with white lotus flowers.

"After obtaining Ji Huaisu's test data from last time, we improved the white lotus variety and successfully achieved mass production. Now the white lotus can be effective in a certain area and supports the pre-infusion of benevolent energy, and its petals have become as delicious as potato chips!"

The stone spirit beside him, barely breathing, said, "The price I paid was that I was almost completely drained..."

Ji Huaisu selectively ignored Shi Zhong's complaints, picked up the flower and took a bite: "Holy crap, it really is! It's delicious."

"I'll have a bite too." "It tastes really good..." "Do you have any other flavors?"

Gulibo jumped up and down in a panic: "We'll eat them after the battle! These are all important weapons!"

A middle-aged Gubo member whispered to his great-grandfather, "Great-grandfather, I still don't understand how we succeeded."

"Don't think... just feel it!" The great-grandfather was clearly more mature and composed. "Anyway, the method that Gulibo came up with works well, so just follow it."

Wilbert promptly stopped the participants from snacking: "We will release large quantities of white lotuses onto the surface and beneath the farm to create a barrier of goodwill to neutralize the influence of the mind controllers. After that, I will use my mental power to broadcast another fact that the farmers are unaware of."

"What is it?"

“This conclusion is based on the trade records of the Philfield Farm,” Wilbert smiled. “I believe this will be very helpful in winning votes.”

She announced the conclusion after a brief explanation, leaving all the locals in the room feeling a chill run down their spines.

"I'm practically going into battle with the mindset of going into action right now."

"If these idiots keep going... Jing Sha will be finished..." Great-grandfather almost had a heart attack. "Everyone, let's go! Let these idiots see the truth!"

·
"The enemy is throwing flowers! They're everywhere!"

"Enemy scattering flowers has appeared in the underground factory too!"

"Breaking news! These flowers taste quite delicious..."

Fifeld was furious: "No eating flowers! Is this any way to behave?! The Joint Divine Guard restricts their movements and brings the situation under control as soon as possible!"

The farmers said weakly, "Your Excellency, we...we can't control that stuff..."

"How could they be so fully armed—" Philfield gasped, "By the divine tree above!"

Its massive body was shrouded in an even more terrifying shadow, like a mountain rising from the horizon, the shadow enveloping everyone like the night. The true form of that mountain was a giant warrior made of withered wood, its head shaped like a warrior wearing a helmet, its eye sockets gleaming with a cherry blossom-colored divine light.

Level 5 War Plant, Hardwood Vanguard!

The hardwood vanguard scattered clusters of white blossoms like rain, causing small animals to scatter in alarm. Inside the cockpit on his chest, Gulibo shouted excitedly, "I did it! I've wanted to grow this since I was a kid!"

"It feels so good to run on the ground, hahaha!" Shi Zhong laughed heartily.

The cockpit is woven from the vines of the Stone Seed, because the core of this colossal war plant is actually a Stone Seed that has grown into a small tree...

Faced with scarce underground resources and insufficient space, Vilbette proposed a groundbreaking solution: planting her own sacred tree as the primary material inside a plant shell, instantly solving the energy supply problem. With the combined efforts of the Gubo tribe's innovative cultivation method and the stone seed, this earthen transplant actually succeeded. A combatant with a mass of 5 was thus born from the ground; even the most devout followers of the sacred tree might be driven to a stroke by this.

However, since the Divine Tree itself seems quite happy, it probably doesn't matter.

"If you have the ability, you have to go to the front line!" Shi Zhong said with high spirits. "Let's train him into a level 6 Rotten Wood Warrior in one go!" "That consumes too much energy, you can't handle it. You can only consider it after he becomes a level 4 Wind Spirit."

"Being a plant is really inconvenient..."

By this time, the armed peasants were nearly terrified. Some of the Divine Guards were still holding out, but their attacks were ineffective against the Hardwood Vanguard. White lotuses fluttered down, falling throughout the entire Fourth Lineage. Many citizens were startled upon contact with the flowers, scratching their heads in confusion.

"That's a bit strange..."

"Isn't he pushing himself too hard?"

"I don't even work this hard when I'm doing housework for my own family..."

The time was ripe. Gulibo stepped aside from the control panel, and Velbert inserted her cane, activating the Hardwood Vanguard as the main antenna. The mental signal was then transmitted to the minds of the citizens. Shi Zhong adjusted his tone and spoke in the gentle manner characteristic of an elder.

“I am an old acquaintance of the Thorn Tree, another sacred tree that protects the so-called ‘anti-bill elements.’ Citizens of the Fourth Order, please hear me out.”

The Divine Tree. It is the Senluo Divine Tree. Similar divine power. A kin of the gods. Similar fluctuations emanated from the chaotic spiritual signals. The words of the Stone Seed possessed a natural credibility, for the farmers, who were closest to nature, would never mistake the aura of the Divine Tree.

"We oppose the independence of the city-state, and we naturally have our reasons. After independence, the approximately ten billion lives on the surrounding Dust Island will be slaughtered by heretics while starving. You should all be more or less aware of this..."

Tens of billions?! That much?!

Isn't that alarmist? So many lives lost.

We're not that important! Ultimately, that's a matter for the other Dust Isles—

"After independence, the Thorn Tree will suffer a severe blow, and the Fourth Lineage will face an unprecedented depression. I wonder if everyone is aware of this?"

! ! ! ! !

Shi Zhong calmly said, "All prosperity is not without roots. The fertility of Jing Sha, which has remained unchanged for thousands of years, relies on the divine power of the divine tree for irrigation... But have you ever thought about where the divine power of Jing Sha comes from?"
The answer is 'unity'. The Thorn Tree is the god of 'unity'. Mutual help, unity, and support between individuals and groups are the key to the Thorn Tree's strength!
This unity, when applied to the battlefield, means we protect the front lines for all living beings. When applied to the fields and other rear areas, it means we mutually benefit all living beings by exchanging resources. The city-state of Thornsa has always been the granary and economic hub of the Allied world; we provide resources to tens of thousands of Dust Isles, while the Divine Tree gains power through trade. It is also a 'cycle' that is extremely beneficial to the Divine Tree.

After independence, with air routes cut off, where would you sell your food?

Vilbert then unfolded the charts, directly implanting the calculations and explanations into the minds of the farmers: "The answer is 'nothing'! Before the shipping routes were rebuilt, none of our grain could be sold. And after the routes were rebuilt, trade became meaningless because all our old customers died after we gained independence!"
The large-scale production of grain, unable to be sold, meant no profit for Jing Sha. This directly led to Jing Sha's physical body severely weakening due to a lack of divine power… Jing Sha's economic system collapsed after a series of chain reactions, plunging the entire Fourth Sequence into a Great Depression lasting more than 10 years!

The farmers listened blankly to the words of the sacred tree, the shocking numbers flashing before their eyes. The calculator coldly laid out the changes in each family's income, presenting the monthly poverty for the next 10 years in the most scathing terms. A few of the more astute among them were the first to grasp the situation; they nearly fainted on the spot, while the sacred tree continued to speak in a lukewarm tone:

"After that, there will be no more free trade. In order to maintain the survival of the city-state as a whole, populous areas such as the fields will implement a wartime planned distribution system for a long time. You will all have to endure the next 10 years in cold weakness..."

Then, if the Speaker's plan proceeds smoothly, the sacred tree may flourish again after independence. However, the sacred tree will no longer be united, and I cannot imagine what kind of life the citizens will lead then.

I am offering you all another option, simply as a friend. If we can gather your votes, the Independence Bill can still be put to a new vote. Please consider carefully what choice to make!

The broadcast ended, and Shi Zhong severed the mental connection. The entire harvest field fell silent for a full half minute due to the immense impact.

Then, a fearful sound rang out.

"I've never heard of such a thing..."

"Will billions of people die?!"

"What do you mean by a 10-year Great Depression?!"

"Even during previous rotations on the front lines, things have never been this bad!"

"My family farm will go bankrupt?"

Amidst the commotion, a neurotic farmer shouted, "Who will buy my fruit now? Who will buy my fruit?!"

Panic, shock, confusion, and anger erupted among the crowd. Under the combined influence of the White Lotus and the Divine Tree broadcast, the previously united citizens instantly descended into chaos. The independence faction accused the wavering faction of betrayal, while the wavering faction accused the independence faction of covering up the truth; conflict nearly broke out.

Phifid, as the leader of the independence movement, was the most criticized, and the angry farmers almost wanted to eat it. It cried out, "Calm down, everyone! The sacred tree itself said that the depression is temporary! If we just endure for a few more years, the sacred tree will flourish again after the Great Depression ends!"

An armed peasant slammed his rake on the ground: "If we go independent, we'll starve for ten years; if we don't go independent, we'll starve for ten years too! Then what's the point of my independence?!"

"Independence is good for the sacred tree!"

"Bullshit! The Divine Tree itself said it's weakening! You're all traitors to the tree for your own safety!"

"You quit just because you heard your own business was losing money? You're the real traitor!"

The situation deteriorated rapidly; the team collapsed from within, and the separatists were at a loss for how to take command. While the Divine Tree's sanctions were effective, how could they be used to issue sanction orders to hundreds of millions of people? And the speaker happened to be another Divine Tree, which made even the most steadfast separatists uneasy.

The Divine Tree itself has said so, so what is there to question?
Fife was frantic, practically flying: "Captain Lingfeng, where are you? Come quickly and maintain order!"

"—If you can't spare the time, figure it out yourself!"

"what?!"

·
In the fourth pulse sequence to the north, Lingfeng angrily cut off the communication. She floated in the azure sky, surrounded by open space, with nowhere she could not go.

But she couldn't go anywhere, because the woman in knight's armor was floating in front of her.

"Let ordinary people resolve their own disputes..."

Ji Huaisu fastened the dragon-head arm guard and sneered, "Let the cops settle their own scores!"

(End of this chapter)