71: Chapter 71 Public Opinion Boiling Point

The next day, at 10:00 AM.

Studio 1 of Great Xia National Television.

This place is usually only activated during major national events.

But today, all regular programs were completely suspended, and all channels broadcasted simultaneously.

At the bottom of the screen, bright red urgent subtitles scrolled:

[Press Conference for the Ministry of State Security's Major Special Operation].

Across the entire country.

Whether it was office workers eating breakfast, elderly people exercising in the park, or even college students still in bed, everyone was awakened by the frantically popping up news notifications on their mobile phones.

"The Great Xia Ministry of State Security strikes heavily!"

"A thunderous sweep was made in the early hours of last night!"

At 10:00 sharp, the camera cut in.

Zhang Zhen, spokesperson for the Ministry of State Security, dressed in a crisp uniform, strode onto the podium.

His expression was unprecedentedly solemn; he held no manuscripts in his hand, only a thick folder with the national emblem printed on the cover.

Facing the bristling microphones and cameras of hundreds of domestic and foreign media outlets, he skipped any polite pleasantries and directly opened the folder.

"Dear media friends, dear Great Xia citizens."

Zhang Zhen's voice was calm and powerful, spreading across the 9.6 million square kilometers of land through radio waves:

"In the early hours of yesterday, in accordance with the Counter-Espionage Law of Great Xia and the National Security Law, our department organized and launched a special counter-espionage operation code-named 'Rat-Catching' nationwide."

"During the operation, a total of criminal suspects suspected of endangering national security, stealing state secrets, and acting as 'path-finding parties' for foreign forces were arrested..."

Zhang Zhen paused, his gaze sweeping across the camera, as if looking at everyone harboring ulterior motives:

"A total of eight thousand four hundred and thirty-two people."

Boom——!!

As soon as this number came out, not only was there an uproar among the reporters at the scene, but even the hundreds of millions of viewers watching the screen felt their scalps tingle.

Over eight thousand people!

This was not an ordinary espionage case; this was equivalent to arresting an entire reorganized division of spies!

Zhang Zhen ignored the commotion off stage and continued to read:

"Among them, there are forty-three cadres at the department level or above in government organs."

"Nine hundred and fifty-six Advanced researchers from key research institutes."

"One thousand one hundred and forty senior executives and core technical personnel of large enterprises."

"And more than five thousand various intelligence brokers lurking on the periphery of the defense industry."

As one shocking number after another was thrown out, the big screen began to scroll and play edited footage of last night's arrest operation.

Although the footage was pixelated, one could still clearly see the usually well-dressed "elites" in their pathetic state of being handcuffed and pinned to the ground.

There were professors stealing data in laboratories.

There were officials slipping notes at banquet tables.

There were wealthy businessmen reporting work via satellite phones in luxury mansions.

Zhang Zhen closed the folder, his voice suddenly rising sharply:

"These so-called 'elites' eat Great Xia's food and smash Great Xia's pots!"

"For a few green cards, for tens of thousands, or even a few thousand US dollars, they are capable of betraying national interests and the future of the nation!"

"In the past, we emphasized 'convincing people with virtue' and 'taking the overall situation into account'. But some people mistook our tolerance for weakness and our forbearance for incompetence!"

Zhang Zhen suddenly raised his head, his gaze like a knife, and said the sentence facing the camera that would surely go down in history:

"Starting from today."

"No matter how deep you hide, no matter how strong your backing is, no matter which country supports you."

"As long as you dare to reach out, we dare to chop off your hands!"

"This land of Great Xia cannot tolerate a single 'rat'!"

...

The public opinion field instantly exploded.

Before the press conference even ended, internet communities across Great Xia had already boiled over.

Weibo, Douyin, Zhihu... All top ten trending search lists were monopolized by "Operation Rat-Catching".

[Trending Search No. 1: #Eight Thousand Spies Captured# Exploded!]

[Trending Search No. 2: #Ministry of State Security's Hardcore Call-Out# Boiling!]

[Trending Search No. 3: #Severely Punish Traitors of Xia# Boiling!]

In the comment section, there was the towering anger of hundreds of millions of netizens, as well as that long-suppressed sense of gratification finally released.

"Kill!! Must be severely punished!!"

"I know Professor Liu Wenhua! Usually he looks so sanctimonious, but I didn't expect him to be a traitor! This kind of person has read books into a dog's belly!"

"Over eight thousand people... This has been infiltrated into a sieve! If it weren't for this thunderous operation, the consequences would simply be unimaginable!"

"So satisfying! In the past, I always felt aggrieved, and it was one thing to be choked by others, but there were also internal ghosts at home. This time, we finally vented a bad breath fiercely!"

"Chop off their hands! Well said! We should have done this long ago! Traitors must be dealt with severely!"

"I suggest a direct public trial! Let the people of the whole country see the faces of these 'running dogs'!"

Public sentiment can be utilized.

Public morale is like a rainbow.

At this moment, the cohesion of the Great Xia nation reached an unprecedented peak amidst vigilance against external enemies and hatred against internal traitors.

...

However.

On the other side of the ocean, the atmosphere was completely different.

USA, White House.

"FUCK!!!"

President Jack could no longer maintain even a shred of gentlemanly demeanor; he frantically pounded the table, and that expensive mahogany desk was beaten until it echoed loudly.

"Eight thousand people?! How dare they!!"

"That is our layout in Great Xia for a full fifty years! It is an underground intelligence network we spent hundreds of billions of US dollars to cultivate!"

"Overnight... all gone?!"

Jack's heart was bleeding.

Among those arrested, weren't there quite a few "trump cards" he personally inquired about?

And even some pieces that could influence the direction of Great Xia's policies at critical moments?

Now, not even a single hair is left, over 8,000 spies were wiped out in one pot.

"Mr. President..."

CIA Director Smith was already ashen-faced at this moment, holding a note just sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Great Xia in his hand: "The Great Xia side has rejected our request for consular visit."

"They said that this belongs to the special category of 'the crime of endangering national security' and ordinary diplomatic immunity does not apply."

"Bullshit!" Jack roared: "This is illegal detention! This is a trampling on human rights!"

He suddenly grabbed the phone and directly dialed the Secretary of State's dedicated line:

"Send an ultimatum to Great Xia immediately!"

"Tell them we sternly condemn this human rights-violating behavior!"

"Demand that they release people within 24 hours! Especially those executives and professors with dual nationality!"

"If they don't release people, we will..."

"If they don't release people, we will... break off diplomatic relations with them!!"

Jack spouted saliva, like a mad dog that had lost its mind:

"Initiate the primary sanction bill! Cut off all trade routes! Freeze all funds!"

"Since they want to play hardball, then we will completely decouple! I don't believe that without our technology and market, that group of shirt-makers can survive!!"

"I want to make them kneel and beg me to restore diplomatic relations!!"

As his voice fell, there was a deathly silence in the office.

CIA Director Smith, standing aside, turned as pale as paper in that instant, even more terrified than when he heard about the 8,000 people being arrested.

Cut off all economic ties?

Fully decouple?