In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

"Has everyone stated their position?"

The leader finally spoke.

The faces of both the pro-war and pro-peace factions were filled with stubbornness.

Instead of giving an immediate judgment, he shifted his gaze to the holographic sand table in the center.

The Great Xia Plate radiated a deep blue light, while the surrounding continents were entirely covered in a depressing crimson.

"Desheng and Liye, you want to recuperate and restore people's livelihood, and your starting point is good."

If the people's nerves are stretched too tight all at once, they will snap. This is an aspect that governance must consider in serving the people.

The leader spoke in a calm and impartial tone, "Zhang Xiao, Jianjun, and Xiao Su, you advocate taking precautions before problems arise."

From a military perspective, keeping enemies outside the country's borders is common sense in warfare.

At this point, the leader placed his hands on the armrests of his chair and slowly stood up.

The oversized old military coat slipped off, and the guard behind him stepped forward to catch it, but was stopped by the commander raising his hand.

"I just want to ask you all a question."

The leader walked around the chair and stood directly in front of the conference table.

"Do you all remember what I said at the last meeting?"

The entire audience fell silent.

The imposing authority of the superior completely enveloped the entire war room.

"Any form of moral fastidiousness is irresponsible towards civilization!"

The leader emphasized these words heavily.

"Civilization emphasizes propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame, but that was when everyone had food to eat and played the game within the same set of rules! What about now?"

He pointed at the scarlet sand table, his eyes wide with anger.

"The outside world is full of man-eating monsters! Do you think they have any morals?"

Will they refrain from biting our throats just because the Great Xia Dynasty upholds the bottom line of civilization?

"Won't!"

"Right now, the entire Great Xia, the entire civilization, faces only one primary problem—survival!"

Survival at all costs!

The sound waves echoed in the enclosed room.

"This is not a friction between countries, nor is it a local conflict over the seizure of a few pieces of territory."

This is a life-or-death struggle between two species!

There is no room for negotiation, and there is no possibility of compromise.

There can only be one winner in the end!

The loser doesn't even deserve to be a slave; they'll only become nourishment for the enemy!

His words, like a sharp sword, cleaved through all the fog and completely set the tone for the situation.

Zhang Xiao's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and a fervent fire burned in his eyes.

The military generals straightened their backs and exhaled a long breath.

Su Ran leaned back in her chair, her fingertips lightly tapping the table.

He looked at the commander with a firm gaze.

The massive state apparatus of Great Xia finally changed course completely amidst its wavering.

This is exactly the result he wanted.

The long-suppressed emotions of the pro-war generals were given strong support.

With the instructions of the supreme commander, the army had a backbone.

"I completely agree with Xiao Su's 'global resource plundering' plan."

The leader turned to look at Su Ran, giving her his complete trust.

"Go and bring back all the resources we need!"

"yes!"

Su Ran suddenly stood at attention and gave a standard military salute.

Just as the pro-war faction was getting excited, Lin Changqing, at the other end of the long table, gritted his teeth and stood up.

The cultural affairs director, feeling immense pressure, clenched his fists tightly.

"Commander!"

Lin Changqing's voice trembled, but he still did not back down.

"Directly plundering external resources like robbers will damage the foundation of our civilization!"

Once this door was opened, the troops that crossed the border tasted the sweetness of getting something for nothing and got used to plundering the wasteland.

How should we restrain them when they return to their home countries?

The law of the jungle will backfire on us, destroying the entire order we've established!

This is an extremely sharp, even somewhat harsh, question.

The leader looked directly at Lin Changqing.

He did not get angry, but stared silently at Lin Changqing.

"You value civilization more than your own life, that's true."

"But you've misunderstood a very fundamental principle."

The old man looked at him across the table and spoke slowly and deliberately.

Ultimately, it is humans who shape civilization. If there were no humans, would there still be civilization?

Lin Changqing's Adam's apple bobbed, and he remained speechless.

"Did dinosaurs have any bottom line? They ruled the blue planet for 100 million years, and now they're just fossils in museums."

The leader tapped his knuckles on the table at a rapid pace.

"We must survive first, and ensure that the 1.2 billion people of Daxia are not eaten by zombies."

On this basis, we can then discuss how to discipline the military and how to rebuild order.

He suddenly straightened his chest, his eyes blazing.

"Even if I bear the infamy of a thousand years, as long as the flame of the Great Xia continues, future generations will judge. I will shoulder this historical responsibility!"

Lin Changqing completely lost the strength to refute.

He slumped back into his chair, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"I reserve my opinion. But I will fully cooperate with the overall arrangements and do my job as the Cultural Affairs Bureau."

This was his last act of defiance as a scholar, and also his bottom line as an official of the Great Xia Dynasty.

He must carry out any order given.

He remained steadfast in his principles, but faced with the absolute greater good of the survival of his race, he chose obedience.

The resistance was forcefully swept away.

Seeing this, Sun Desheng knew that the overall situation was settled and the struggle over the line had come to a complete end.

But his brow remained furrowed; the real problems were right in front of him.

"Commander,"

Sun Desheng gritted his teeth and spoke, breaking the brief silence.

"I'm willing to send troops. The Ministry of the Interior will spare no effort to send every last grain of rice to the front lines."

But... how are we going to explain this to the public?

He spread his hands, his face full of anxiety and helplessness.

"The early battles were entirely about protecting our homes and country. Only when our survival was truly threatened could the people fight so bravely and without fear of death."

Those eighteen or nineteen-year-old reservists only dared to pick up guns and charge into battle to protect their parents!

But now the border has been held. In the eyes of ordinary people, the war is over, and it's time to go home and rebuild their houses.

Sun Desheng shook his head bitterly.

"At this time, how do we explain that we suddenly issued a mobilization order, asking them to step across the border to fight?"

Should we go and help other countries reclaim their lost territories? Or should we plunder other countries' resources?

The common people fought tooth and nail to build their homes, and now they're being asked to go abroad and risk their lives?

This is illegitimate, its words are not proper, and its cause lacks legitimacy!

Before the leader could speak, Zhang Xiao, who was standing to the side, couldn't sit still any longer.

"Why are you so stubborn! There's food outside even if we're out of rations!"

He pointed at Sun Desheng and started cursing, "Is there no threat to your survival now?"

Do we only consider it protecting our country when a monster holds a knife to our throat?

Keeping enemies at bay, taking the initiative to nip danger in the bud—that's what it means to defend our homeland!

Zhang Xiao's face trembled with menacing bulge, unleashing his full military aura.

"Who in the entire Great Xia doesn't understand the principle that 'if you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring breeze'?"

He then pulled up a holographic map, pointed to the dense red dots outside the border, and roared,

"Look at these time bombs! If you don't nip them in the bud, they'll evolve into high-level monsters and storm in sooner or later!"

If ordinary people don't understand, we need to explain it to them!

This isn't about fighting for foreigners; it's about preventing the flames of war from spreading to our own backyard!

Sun Desheng was sprayed with spittle all over his face, but he stubbornly refused to back down.

"That's the logic. But what do ordinary people think?"

You can't just send out a notice saying, "Let's go outside to kill monsters as a precaution," can you?

How should public opinion be guided? Will the people accept this reasoning?

The meeting room fell silent.

Mobilizing an exhausted nation for an expedition is indeed extremely risky.

The leader sighed softly.

There was no retreat in that sigh, only a deep longing and pride for this nation.

"Desheng, you've worked in this position for so many years, diligently and conscientiously."

He walked back to the main seat, looking at Sun Desheng with a gentle yet penetrating gaze.

"But you... still underestimate the people of Great Xia."