Chen Yu spoke earnestly, his eyes filled with deep emotion, as if he wanted to kneel down on the spot, which made people feel both heartbroken and sigh.
This was clearly a tragic scene of a hero's twilight years, a stark contrast to Li Xiubai's boundless pride—it was like two different worlds. On one side was the fading glory of an empire on the verge of collapse, and on the other, the prologue to a new world full of hope.
As Chen Yu finished speaking, the scene fell into a deathly silence, with only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the snow.
Chen Yu looked on with deep anticipation, quietly waiting for everyone's reply.
After a long while, someone finally spoke up.
"Hey! Old Zhang, look at my memory, I still have some porridge cooking at home, I'll head back now."
"Sister Liu, I have to go home and collect the laundry."
"Something came up at my home."
"My wife injured her leg while working a few days ago."
"Changing the baby's diaper."
…………
People fled the scene for various reasons, and later on, they stopped making excuses altogether and just turned around and left.
"Everyone, the 'Tianyu Base' needs you, and I, Chen Yu, need you. Please stay! Let's fight together to overcome the natural disaster! Let's fight for the continuation of human civilization!" Chen Yu's words were full of deep emotion, like a lover who had been abandoned and was trying his best to keep his partner from leaving.
However, he was met only with hurried footsteps and receding figures, and an indescribable indifference and alienation filled the air.
"You ungrateful wretches, you're making me so angry! Go away, all of you, and don't come back!" Lin Lele said angrily.
"Secretary Lin, don't say that! Everyone has their difficulties, I understand." Chen Yu sighed, and at that moment, he seemed to have aged 10 years in an instant.
The crowd scattered like birds and beasts in the square. Soon, half the people in the vast area had left. Those who remained either lowered their heads in thought or looked at each other blankly, clearly going through intense inner struggles. Chen Yu's gaze lingered on those who had not left, a barely perceptible hint of gratitude and hope flashing in his eyes.
"Friends, I heard your hesitation, and I saw your perseverance." Chen Yu's voice rang out again, gentle yet powerful, piercing the silence of the square. "I know that everyone has the right to choose, but I also believe that true strength comes from our shared beliefs and unity. As long as we unite, no difficulty can defeat us! No matter how great the difficulty, it is no problem when divided by the hundreds of thousands of people in our base! Rest assured, as long as I, Chen Yu, have food to eat, I will not let you go hungry!"
After these words were spoken, nearly half of the people left.
Compared to the beginning, less than a third of the people remain.
Even the armed personnel maintaining order at the scene have left, with about one-fifth of them gone.
It's important to understand that these armed personnel are not the same as those involved in the riots. They are people who have always stood firmly on Chen Yu's side, and some of them are even militia members who returned early from their trip to Xidu.
"Commander, without you, my family and I would probably have starved to death long ago. No matter what, I support you!" someone shouted.
"Yes, we must not forget our gratitude and will always support the commander!"
"Support the General!"
"We swear to live and die with the 'Tianyu Base'!"
…………
A resounding and firm response erupted from the crowd. The voices of those who had not left coalesced into a formidable force, echoing across the square. Their eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve and loyalty, as if declaring to the world that no matter how difficult the future might be, they would fight alongside Chen Yu to protect this land and their home.
Chen Yu smiled with satisfaction upon seeing this.
The "Tianyu Base" needs to purge those with ulterior motives and drive away those opportunists; fence-sitters cannot be allowed to remain.
Only those who truly stay and share his hardships are qualified to share the future glory with "Tianyu Base".
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