Chapter 61 Deterrence (Revised)
As a metal-type ability user, how could Xu Kaitai possibly surrender without a fight? The moment he saw Jiang Rong, he thought of the strategy of capturing the leader first. In terms of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint, his metal-type ability could perfectly counter Jiang Rong's wood-type ability. Once he controlled Jiang Rong, the rest would be much easier.
However, before Xu Kaitai could react, he suddenly felt a numbness in his body. A powerful electric current flowed through him, and every cell in his body experienced a terrifying electric shock.
Xu Kaitai couldn't even scream; his body stiffened and he fell forward. Before the excruciating pain subsided, Guan Shao stomped on his back. The stomp was incredibly heavy; Xu Kaitai felt as if his internal organs were about to be crushed out.
Guan Shao crouched down and grasped Xu Kaitai's left wrist, expressionless. "Are you wondering when you were exposed? Why do we know your entire plan?"
Xu Kaitai did indeed have this question. The plan was meticulously crafted; from its inception to its conclusion, everyone around him was a trusted confidant. Their camp was armed to the point of being impenetrable, and his own house, being a metal-type ability user, was under the complete control of his powers. When did Jiang Rong learn of his plan?
Guan Shao drew a sharp dagger from behind his knee and slashed deeply across Xu Kaitai's wrist. With a scream, Xu Kaitai's left hand drooped limply.
After severing the tendons in Xu Kaitai's left hand, Guan Shao grasped his other hand. Xu Kaitai's tongue was paralyzed, and he could only mumble "no." Guan Shao's eyes flashed coldly, "Once it's done, it will leave a mark."
To ensure the survival of the plants in the base, Jiang Rong's supernatural abilities permeated every corner of the base. If Jiang Rong wanted, all the plants and trees could become his eyes and ears. However, using these "eyes and ears" consumed his supernatural abilities, and Jiang Rong didn't want to become a camera closely monitoring others, so he rarely used this method.
Jiang Rong coldly watched Xu Kaitai try to struggle. Ironically, the reason he discovered Xu Kaitai's intention to betray him was because he thought Xu Kaitai's superpowers were very strong and wanted to test his character before recruiting him into the core superpower user team.
As soon as the investigation began, he discovered that Xu Kaitai and his subordinates were frequently gathering together to plot something. During this time, Li Bin and others revealed to him that some students and soldiers had grievances against him. From these fragmented words, Jiang Rong pieced together a story: some students had joined forces with Xu Kaitai and others to launch a rebellion.
Jiang Rong wasn't very skilled in military operations, nor did he understand troop deployment. Fortunately, he had Guan Shao and his brothers by his side, and with their help, he was able to stand here unharmed.
Guan Shao flicked his dagger, severing Xu Kaitai's other hand. Jiang Rong's eyes were cold. "Battalion Commander Xu, I want to ask you something. You knew I had already left the base, so why did you still send someone to my house?"
Xu Kaitai's tendons in both hands were severed. Whether he was delirious from the pain or had given up in despair, it was unclear. He actually retorted, "Don't you understand the principle of eliminating the root of the problem?"
Jiang Rong understood this theory, of course, but he found it laughable. "The old saying goes that sins should not be borne by one's parents, and misfortune should not befall one's family. I can understand if you want to kill me and seize power. After all, the struggle for power is cruel, and the winner takes all and the loser is determined by strength. But they are just ordinary people. How much of a threat can they pose to you? Xu Kaitai, I originally thought you were a decent man, but it seems I misjudged you."
Xu Kaitai's lips twitched: "You misjudged me? Jiang Tou'er, you're so high and mighty, how could you possibly notice me? Stop with the high-sounding words, kill me or do whatever you want."
Jiang Rong glanced at Xu Kaitai with a complex expression. If Xu Kaitai hadn't harbored rebellious intentions, they could have become trusted teammates in a small group. Unfortunately... there are no "ifs."
Jiang Rong raised her hand and said softly, "Take him away."
At Jiang Rong's command, thousands of soldiers emerged from the mountains and forests. They grabbed the rebels' hands and forced them onto military vehicles hidden on another road.
The escort team stretched for several hundred meters. Looking at the dejected rebels, Jiang Rong felt no pleasure whatsoever.
In his past life, he lived a miserable life in the Peace Base, and he knew firsthand how difficult life was for ordinary people. Therefore, even now, as a superhuman who has established his own base, he never mistreats its members. He hopes to create a base where everyone can live a peaceful and prosperous life.
The ideal is beautiful, but reality is cruel. The larger the base, the more complex the relationships within it become. From the day he decided to build the base, he knew that the path he was on would not be smooth, and that he would be forced to do things he didn't like.
But when the day actually came, he wasn't as relaxed as he had imagined.
Guan Shao's voice came through his ear: "Xu Kaitai has more than 2,100 men under his command. More than 200 have died, leaving more than 1,800, plus more than 300 students involved. What are you going to do with them?"
Jiang Rong looked at the long line with icy eyes: "Arrest them and interrogate them severely. Do not let any rebel go unpunished, nor kill any innocent person."
Among the more than two thousand people, there are those who are the masterminds, those who blindly follow the crowd, and those who are kept in the dark and unaware of the truth. We cannot make a blanket decision about these people.
*
As the weather gets hotter, the hearts of the people at the activity center grow colder: how long will they be locked up here? Will they ever see the sun rise again tomorrow?
Aunt Li's joints weren't very good, and after squatting for a while, she couldn't hold on any longer. She slumped against Uncle Li, who quickly caught her, asking, "Are you alright?"
Aunt Li trembled, "My legs are numb, old man, are we going to die here?" She had finally had a few good days under Xiao Rong's guidance, and she really didn't want to die here.
Uncle Li encouraged her, "No, Xiao Rong will definitely come back."
Uncle Li's words elicited a response from the other villagers: "Yes, Jiang Rong and his team of superhumans will definitely come back. They were there for us when the villagers were in trouble before."
Whether it was the wild boar attack at Jiangjiaqiao or the mutated rat rampage at Tangqiao, it was always Jiang Rong and his team of superhumans who arrived in time to save them from danger. This time, they will definitely arrive just in time!
The crowd was talking too loudly, which displeased the rebel leader. He raised his gun and pointed it at Old Li and his men: "Behave yourselves! Don't move!"
Suddenly, gunshots rang out from outside the wall, and the rebels in the activity center tensed up upon hearing them. The leader made a gesture, and the rebels, guns at the ready, moved towards the gate.
One of the rebels had just crouched down and stepped out of the courtyard when a sharp sound rang out, and a bullet pierced his head. His body fell to the ground, splattering blood and white fluid everywhere.
The leader was terrified: "Take cover! Take cover!" The well-trained rebels quickly retreated into the courtyard, hiding behind the wall.
To facilitate the transmission of messages, several loudspeakers were installed in the activity center. As the rebels took cover, a muffled static sound came from the loudspeakers. After the static subsided, Jiang Rong's voice resounded in every corner: "Listen up, Xu Kaitai's men: Your accomplices have been suppressed by us. You have three minutes to lay down your weapons and come out to surrender. Surrender and you will not be killed."
The people were overjoyed: "Jiang Rong and the others are back!" "I knew they would come to save us!"
The rebels began to get impatient. They fired a few shots into the air: "Crouch down! Everyone, crouch down!"
What happened? They had only just captured the activity center. How could their comrades have been eliminated so quickly? That shouldn't be the case; the Falcon and Jiaolong teams clearly had the other soldiers firmly under control. Could it be that the enemy was feigning surrender?
The voice coming from the loudspeaker was clearly Jiang Rong's; how could it be fake? The rebels looked at each other, some even lowering their guns: "Captain, shall we surrender?"
The team leader's face darkened: "Pick up your guns! The general hasn't sent word yet, how can we surrender first?!"
Jiang Rong was clearly not feigning surrender. After waiting for three minutes, a rustling sound came from the wall of the activity center. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw bloodthirsty vines hanging down from the wall.
Upon seeing the Bloodthirsty Vine, several rebels turned pale: "It's the Bloodthirsty Vine! The Bloodthirsty Vine!" As everyone knows, the Bloodthirsty Vine at the Starfire Base is only controlled by Jiang Rong. If the Bloodthirsty Vine moves, it can only prove that Jiang Rong is still alive.
Several rebels immediately dropped their guns and crouched down, but some were still unwilling to give up and tried to struggle. They grabbed nearby residents as hostages and shouted, "Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll kill you!"
Unfortunately, this trick didn't work on the Bloodthirsty Vine. Little Darling stormed through the crowd and swept towards the rebels.
This enraged the rebel leader, who was about to pull the trigger on an ordinary villager. Just as he pulled the trigger, the people in front of him were suddenly enveloped in a soft, orange-red light. The bullets, upon hitting this light, seemed to encounter an invisible, soft wall, unable to advance an inch further.
Upon closer inspection, the people in the activity center were all covered in a reddish-orange glow. The team leader was shocked: "What, what is this?"
The question had barely ended when the team leader was brutally bound and hung upside down by the little cutie. Sharp thorns pierced his skin, and excruciating pain shot through his entire body. The team leader screamed in agony, "Kill me!"
The little darling shook its vines, looking a bit aggrieved. It had only pricked the man and hadn't even started sucking his blood yet, so why was he making such a pitiful sound?
Seeing that their leader had been subdued, the other rebels dropped their guns, and the crowd swarmed forward, restraining the group and pushing them away.
Jiang Rong's voice came through the loudspeaker again: "This is Jiang Rong from Xinghuo Base. An hour ago, rebels appeared in the base. The rebels have now been captured. Please go home and rest."
*
When Jiang Rong's voice came through the loudspeaker, Dou Zhang hadn't left Fishery Village No. 3 yet. Hearing Jiang Rong's voice, his legs went weak, and he would have collapsed if his classmate hadn't been supporting him.
Xu Kaitai was defeated so quickly? Dou Zhang was filled with deep doubt: Did it take more than two hours from the time Xu Kaitai launched his rebellion to the end?
After his initial doubts, another question popped into his mind: Could he still stay at the Starfire Base?
The answer is, of course, no.
Xu Kaitai, despite having so many people under his control, failed to seize power. Even if Jiang Rong has superpowers, how can he possibly contend with him? Moreover, Jiang Rong has colluded with Xu Kaitai and written a proclamation of condemnation. This matter will inevitably reach Jiang Rong's ears sooner or later, and then he might not be able to escape.
Dou Zhang's classmate asked in a low voice, "Chairman, what do we do now?"
Dou Zhang stammered, "Go back, go back and pack your things. We'll leave in a bit, hurry up..." He was afraid that if he was even a step too slow, he would never see the sun rise again.
As soon as the electric scooter started, Dou Zhang immediately changed his mind and said, "No, we can't go back..." Lin Meng has people in the student dormitory area. He pointed a gun at Lin Meng today, and that woman will definitely not let it go.
"Leave the base, let's get going!"
Dou Zhang's henchman was dumbfounded: "Chairman, where can we go?" Their only equipment was a small electric scooter, the power of which wouldn't last long enough to leave the base. With this weather, no food, no water, and no sense of direction, where could they go?
Despite the weather being so nice, Dou Zhang's hands started to get cold. He said in a panic, "Anywhere is fine, just don't let Jiang Rong and the others catch us..."
Before he could finish speaking, Dou Zhang's wish was dashed. His electric scooter was pulled aside, and turning around, he saw Lin Meng and several students staring coldly at him: "Dou Zhang, you've done something wrong and you think you can just run away?!"
Dou Zhang nearly fell off the car when he swayed. When the crowd subdued him, his mind went blank, and he couldn't use any of his superpowers.
*
The betrayal came quickly and went just as fast. Within a day, all traces of the battle were erased by the superhumans, and even those who went looking for it couldn't find a trace.
In the following period, the people of Xinghuo Base worked and studied in an orderly manner, keeping themselves extremely busy every day. In their spare time, they would gossip about the rebellion, but no one knew the details of the rebellion, and no one could come to a clear conclusion.
One day at the end of September, Jiang Rong's voice rang out again over the loudspeaker: "Hello, residents of Xinghuo Base. This is Jiang Rong. Rebels appeared at the base in early September. After days of interrogation, the rebels have confessed to their crimes. We will be sentencing them at 5:00 PM today on the playground of Xinghe International Resort. Residents are welcome to attend."
Upon hearing the news, everyone at the base was in an uproar. No one had ever imagined that they would one day be able to witness the handling of the rebels. Everyone was determined to get a good look at this spectacle, and they would even stay up all night to secure a spot near the parade ground.
Galaxy International Resort is located southwest of Xinghuo Base. Before the crisis, many wealthy people would come here for holidays. The resort has complete basic facilities.
Here you'll find the largest library and stadium in the area, spanning fifteen miles. By four in the afternoon, the area around the stadium was already packed with people. Braving the heat, everyone was vying for the best viewing spots; an unsuspecting observer might have thought a grand sports meet was about to be held.
As the crowd waited anxiously, time ticked by. When the clock finally struck five, military vehicles slowly drove into the stadium entrance.
Hundreds of military vehicles occupied most of the parade ground, creating a spectacular sight. After the vehicles came to a stop, soldiers in camouflage escorted the rebels, whose hands were tied behind their backs, out of the vehicles.
Upon seeing the number of rebels, the audience below the stage wondered, "That's strange, how come there are only so few people?" Rumors circulated that there were several thousand rebels, but no matter how they counted, there were only two or three hundred rebels here.
Jiang Rong and his entourage strode onto the platform, their expressions serious, a far cry from their usual relaxed demeanor. Once the loudspeaker was set up, Jiang Rong's calm voice resounded throughout the playground: "Fellow villagers, students, comrades, residents of the Xinghuo Base, I am Jiang Rong."
"On September 3, a mutiny broke out at our base. This conflict resulted in the deaths of 183 of our compatriots. Please stand and observe a moment of silence for our compatriots who sacrificed their lives in the mutiny."
Funeral music lingered above the training ground as the residents of the Starfire Base stared blankly at the ground, heads bowed. Those who stood here had seen their fair share of death; since the Great Crisis began, those around them had been constantly leaving. A mere hundred-odd people, strangers to them, many of whom felt no genuine grief.
After three minutes of silence, Jiang Rong's voice rang out again.
"Since its inception, Xinghuo Base has sheltered a total of 33,228 people. In just a few months, we went from nothing to something, from struggling to survive to sticking together for warmth. Our Xinghuo Base has expanded from a fishing brigade into a small base covering an area of fifteen miles. This is all thanks to the hard work and sweat of everyone."
"I have always told everyone that no matter how difficult the outside world is, as long as we don't give up, there will always be a glimmer of hope. I have always believed that as long as we unite, we can overcome all difficulties and create a better life."
"We've put in our utmost effort to live a peaceful life. But in the eyes of some ambitious people, my efforts are worthless. They want to seize the fruits of our labor, to reap without sowing, and to rise above everyone else. I just want to ask everyone, can you tolerate such people?!"
"No! No! No!" Angry shouts came from the chests of everyone present.
The sadness I felt before might not have been real, but the anger I feel now is. Building the base to this point was no easy feat; everyone involved has poured their sweat and effort into it. What contribution has this Xu fellow made to the base? Why should he be able to steal what I worked so hard to create with just a flick of his finger?
Jiang Rong raised her hand and pressed it down: "We have brought the leader and accomplices of Xu Kaitai's gang. Today, we will give everyone an explanation."
A deafening shout echoed across the playground: "Kill them! Kill them!"
The voices of millions shook the very ground beneath their feet: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Jiang Rong turned and exchanged a glance with Chu Qiang, who stepped forward with a stack of documents in his hand: "Next, I will read out the evidence of the rebels' crimes. This evidence will be displayed at the base's activity center later."
Chu Qiang's booming voice echoed across the parade ground: "Xu Kaitai, male, 38, former battalion commander of the Xinghuo Base construction battalion..."
Jiang Rong coldly looked at Xu Kaitai, who was bound hand and foot in the playground. After such a long interrogation, Xu Kaitai had long lost the sharpness he had when he rebelled. He stood blankly in front of the rebels, and a layer of deathly aura emanated from him.
Chu Qiang read out Xu Kaitai's incriminating evidence over a five-minute period of time. "According to the provisions of the Spark Base Law, Xu Kaitai is sentenced to death and to be executed immediately."
Those brought to the playground were all the ringleaders, culprits, and accomplices of the rebellion; they deserved to die. After Xu Kaitai's crimes were read aloud, it was time for his accomplices to be brought before him.
Chu Qiang specially found several articulate college students to help him, and with their help, the charges against the 258 rebels present were quickly read out.
At this moment, 258 soldiers carrying guns marched into the parade ground in neat steps. They stood behind the bound rebels and skillfully cocked their guns.
Guan Shao stepped forward and took the microphone. "Attention, everyone! Listen to my command! Fire!"
At a command, more than two hundred gunshots rang out, and the tortured rebels collapsed forward, lifeless. A blinding red spread from their bodies, staining the ground before them crimson.
The moment the gunshot rang out, Jiang Rong's body involuntarily trembled. His hands were now stained with blood, but for the sake of the base's peace, he had no regrets.
The crowd's emotions were ignited, and they erupted in cheers: "He deserves to die! He deserves to die!"
Everyone here has committed heinous crimes. The base isn't keeping these people around to idly plot power. Why not use that time and energy for productive work?
The rebels' bodies were quickly dragged off the field by soldiers. Just when everyone thought it was over, the soldiers brought out more people from vehicles behind. The students from D University immediately recognized them: "Aren't those Dou Zhang's group? Why are they still here? I thought Jiang Tou'er had already sent them away."
Jiang Rong did want Dou Zhang and his group to leave, but the members of the superpower team thought about how these students had been eating and living in the base for so long for free, and they really didn't want to let these ungrateful wretches go so easily.
During this period, Dou Zhang and his men were forced to clear land. They weren't abused, but anyone who tried to slack off would be starved. In just over twenty days, they had lost a significant amount of weight. Now, let alone writing a manifesto or staging a protest, they would lie down immediately if given a bed.
The bad things that Dou Zhang and his men had done were not erased by their labor reform during this period. After dealing with the rebels, it was their turn.
Everyone present had heard of Dou Zhang and his absurd "Ten Deadly Sins" manifesto. Seeing them appear on the playground was not surprising to the crowd, and many people expressed their disgust.
Hearing the boos from the crowd, Dou Zhang looked up at Jiang Rong. He had fully realized how good the base had been to them before, and if given another chance, he was willing to work hard and never say a bad word about the base again!
Dou Zhang and the students around him who wanted to march regretted their decision. Some wept bitterly, while others uttered kind words. However, their voices were too weak and were drowned out by the loudspeaker's blare.
"There is fairness and freedom outside the base, and I will give you back your freedom. From today onwards, you are no longer residents of the Spark Base. Students, the journey is long and arduous, take care of yourselves."
Upon hearing Jiang Rong's words, Dou Zhang felt his blood run cold. It took him a while to come to his senses: Did the Starfire Base no longer want them? Were they going to expel them from the base?
Before Dou Zhang and his men could kowtow and beg for mercy, the strong soldiers lifted them up and headed towards the military vehicle. Jiang Rong said that these men would be taken to a location five kilometers outside the Peace Base so they could find a base that could truly shelter them.
After watching the students, who had been wailing and lamenting, leave, everyone turned to look at the direction of the podium. Their leader had guts; whether to kill or release them, they were completely convinced.
After dealing with the students, it was time to deal with the soldiers who had been dragged into the situation. Although they were Xu Kaitai's men, not all of them were ambitious. Most of them still had a conscience, and when Xu Kaitai ordered them to fire, they did not pull the trigger.
The Spark Base couldn't completely wipe out this group. Jiang Rong gave each of them a chance to redeem themselves. He assigned them to dangerous and arduous posts to test their resolve to reform.
As the last vehicle disappeared from sight, Jiang Rong felt a huge weight lifted from his heart. The first man-made threat since the Xinghuo Base was built had finally been eliminated, and he completely relaxed.
Looking at the bluish-red clouds in the sky, Jiang Rong said slowly, "I hope there will never be a next time." He wasn't a wise man, and he really didn't want to experience such a terrible thing again.
Author's Note:
Revising the section about the Ga rebels was more tiring than rewriting it.
Are you feeling better now?
If I ever write about man-made disasters again, I'll hang myself!
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