292: Some itching in the philtrum

What do I want?

Qin Yang said in his heart.

Ultimately, this conflict was a setup by him.

His goal was to win absolute prestige through a War.

Now, this goal has basically been achieved.

Then he must go a step further and win more benefits.

The benefits a victorious nation can gain from a defeated nation are nothing more than resources, territory, and reparations.

These three things, for Qin Yang, are naturally indispensable.

But besides that, he also needs one more thing, and that is time.

He wants to use this War to buy himself time to unify Kyushu.

The unification of Kyushu is an urgent matter.

This was Qin Yang's biggest realization after orchestrating the entire War.

When Kyushu faced a crisis, those aristocratic families only offered verbal support.

Even before the War began, no one took any practical action.

Despite having private armed forces and vast wealth, they tightened their pockets at the critical moment, unwilling to be the first to act.

Perhaps only when it is a matter of survival, when their wealth and status are threatened, will these aristocratic families step forward and rally the people.

But by then, it would likely be another chaotic War among warlords.

Civil Wars over territory would outnumber the resistance against foreign invaders.

If Qin Yang wanted to achieve his goal of the Human Race's rise, he must first free his hands to deal with these aristocratic families.

Therefore, Qin Yang needed this War to continue.

Only when external enemies are eyeing them covetously will those aristocratic families feel the crisis of being interdependent and not dare to act recklessly.

But there is a prerequisite... the War must continue, and it must also be controllable.

The national strength of the Free Federation is indeed much stronger than Kyushu.

Although they suffered heavy losses in this War, their Foundation was not damaged.

If they truly activate this War machine, Kyushu will also face immense pressure.

Qin Yang had already thought of a strategy for this.

He could use the guise of a 'War period' to consolidate and deal with the aristocratic families.

The President of the Free Federation could also use this as an excuse to clean house.

As long as everyone has something to do,

this War will not truly break out.

Thinking of this, he looked at the President in the light screen and said, word by word: "I want you to surrender unconditionally."

"Surrender?"

Inside the light screen, the President frowned.

The scale of this War, while seemingly large, was actually controllable in its impact.

If managed properly, calling it a local conflict would not be an exaggeration.

Since it was a local conflict, once both sides agreed on terms, it would be over.

In fact, such conflicts happen every day.

It was just that this time, the Free Federation suffered greater losses and was willing to swallow the bitter pill.

But to speak of surrender, wasn't that a bit exaggerated?

If they surrendered unconditionally, wouldn't they become a defeated nation?

The fate of a defeated nation can be seen by looking at the island nation.

Politics, economy, culture, and military were completely controlled.

Even a Five-Star General could act as their overlord.

The President did not believe that the loss of two sky carriers and two Emperors would cause the Free Federation to fall to that extent.

The President took a deep breath and said to Qin Yang: "Qin Yang, with all due respect, your appetite is too great. The Free Federation will not give up on itself because of a defeat in a conflict. In fact... our War machine has not yet been activated."

"Then let me see your War machine."

Qin Yang did not back down, saying: "A nation controlled by merchants can only fight when things are going well. I want to see if you can still do business when facing life and death."

Hearing these words, the President did not show anger, but rather sighed with a complicated expression.

Qin Yang was not wrong.

In the Free Federation, War was a business.

Bullying the weak was acceptable.

But to fight a War of equal strength,

those Childs would be the first to object.

Just like this time.

If Zhang Lingxiao hadn't died and Lin Xuan hadn't been injured, leaving Kyushu in a weakened state,

the deep government controlled by the Childs would never have allowed him to start a War.

They would not engage in a business that was likely to result in a loss.

The Free Federation's so-called hegemony, to put it plainly, was an economic monopoly based on military power.

From Five-Star Generals down to peace officers, the Professionals of the Free Federation all worked for these masters.

Thinking of this, the President's gaze couldn't help but turn sinister.

He felt an itch in his philtrum, as if something was about to grow there.

He now truly wanted a great purge, to eliminate all the maggots parasitic on the Free Federation.

The Childs aides standing behind the President could not see his gaze, but it did not escape Qin Yang's eyes, which further convinced him that his next strategic step was sound.

He paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said coldly:

"If you do not accept surrender, then this conflict is the beginning of War."

"We will attack your homeland and retaliate with an equivalent response to nuclear strikes."

"We will fight until you surrender, even if the result is mutual destruction, with both sides returning to 500 years ago."

After saying this, Qin Yang did not wait for a reply, but waved his hand slightly, cutting off the communication.

At the same time, he thought to himself: "Imperial Guards, time to work."

..."Has Kyushu gone mad? They actually want to declare War on us!"

"I said long ago that this War should not have been fought!"

"What do we do now? Kyushu truly has the ability to attack our homeland!"

"Returning to five hundred years ago... wasn't that the era of disaster with monster invasions?"

The aides chattered, their faces full of panic.

Compared to them, the President felt even more distraught.

A full-scale War between Kyushu and the Free Federation would inevitably result in mutual destruction.

He could already foresee it... the Professionals of the Free Federation fighting desperately on the front lines.

The Childs hoarding Materials, potions, and equipment in the rear, making a fortune from national calamity.

The scene of a bottle of Elementary potion costing 500,000 Crystal Coin was likely to be replayed.

And after draining the last drop of blood from the Free Federation, they would completely abandon this nation and find a new one to parasitize.

It could be said that as long as these people were around,

the Free Federation could not win any full-scale War.

Unless he could eliminate these parasites before the War broke out!

Thinking of this, the President's gaze once again sank.

Just then, Yu Maochun, the "Kyushu Problem Research Expert" beside him, whispered: "President, why not take this opportunity to do what you've always wanted to do?"

"Do what I've always wanted to do?"

The President was slightly startled, seeming to realize something.

Yu Maochun pushed up his glasses and whispered: "During a War period, you are the absolute commander of the Free Federation, with all three armies under your control."

The President's eyes lit up as he looked at Yu Maochun and said: "Continue."

Yu Maochun smiled and said:

"War always serves politics."

"Qin Yang's purpose in launching a full-scale War is to forcibly integrate the aristocratic families of Kyushu."

"And you, my President, will surely do something similar, won't you?"

The President listened, and after a three-second pause, he showed a look of sudden realization.

"So that's how it is..."

The President took a deep breath and said: "Qin Yang must know I would do this, and is willing for me to do this, which is why he dared to declare War so aggressively. In fact... he has controlled the War at the critical point of outbreak!"

"We finally got rid of Zhang Lingxiao, and now there's another Qin Yang!"

The President was somewhat distraught and looked at Yu Maochun, asking:

"God! Are all you Kyushu people so cunning?"

"I now feel that this conflict is a setup, and we are being led by the nose!"

Yu Maochun pushed up his glasses and said: "Be confident, remove the 'feel', and besides... Zhang Lingxiao hasn't left either."