127: Most of the time, people are just a mob

Huang Yanbing stood on top of the armored vehicle, holding a large loudspeaker.

The ten thousand Alice Springs residents looked up at him blankly.

"I'm not very good at speaking, so I'll just briefly explain our current situation."

"Although the one thousand bandit troops who impersonated the Anti-War Army have been routed, Alice Springs is still surrounded, and in a broader sense, it is surrounded by over 100,000 U.S. Military forces."

What?!

The residents were instantly dumbfounded.

Huang Yanbing then roughly explained how the U.S. Military had surrounded the MacDonnell Ranges, stating, "In any case, the U.S. Military, who wants to harm you, won't release you immediately, and you can't count on your own country's troops."

"It's not out of the question that the U.S. Military or your government might kill you later to frame the Anti-War Army, just like they did not long ago… They won't allow you to tell the world the truth about Alice Springs being occupied."

Suddenly, someone boldly questioned, "What if… I mean, what if even you are deceiving us? For instance, the Anti-War Army first sent people to occupy Alice Springs, then sent you to rescue us, making you our saviors."

"After all, you only seem to have thirty-odd people. How did you defeat those one thousand?"

Uh, this—

Many people reacted, grasping the biggest flaw in Huang Yanbing's group, and cast questioning gazes.

Huang Yanbing had a headache; he had no way to debate with people.

As a last resort, he resorted to brute force!

"Someone big, come and give the residents a demonstration."

At Huang Yanbing's command, a large man came before a military vehicle, grabbed the bottom edge of the vehicle with both hands, and with a heave, lifted more than half of one side of the military vehicle before steadily lowering it.

Although the military vehicle was empty, it appeared to weigh several tons.

This scene left the residents stunned.

Huang Yanbing: "So, this is the truth of how we defeated the bandit troops… We possess invincible warriors."

"Although not many, only eight in total, they are enough to take on a hundred each."

Facts speak louder than words.

The residents temporarily put aside their doubts about Huang Yanbing and his group. Old John, the town councilor from before, asked, "Officer, what do you want us to do?"

He's on the right track.

Huang Yanbing: "The weapons and equipment left by the bandit troops in this town are enough to arm our town with a regiment-sized army. Although it's not that well-equipped and the ammunition reserves are limited, it can still handle a medium-to-small-scale war."

What?!

The residents instantly looked terrified.

"That's impossible, how could we take up guns and cannons to fight against a regular army?"

"Yes, yes, if we arm ourselves, the U.S. Military outside the town will definitely treat us as the American military. Didn't you say they have 100,000 people?"

"I don't think the situation is that bad. Since the bandit troops were defeated, the U.S. Military and our government can't really silence us, can they? If we communicate well, maybe they'll let us go."

Even Old John said, "Officer, the method you mentioned would probably throw the residents of Alice Springs into a fiery pit… We are all ordinary people, and I'm afraid the more we show resistance, the more we will be suppressed."

Huang Yanbing: "Of course, I'm not asking you to take risks for nothing; I just want you to have the ability to protect yourselves in this war."

"You must have followed the Darwin City defense battle. In that battle, my Anti-War Army specifically designated a non-military zone, allowing the city residents to live and survive within it. Until the war ended, they were basically not directly affected by the fighting."

"This MacDonnell Ranges battle has no direct connection to you; you originally have the right to demand not to be drawn into the war."

"As long as you show a sufficiently tough attitude, I think even the U.S. Military won't be able to forcefully enter the town without your consent."

The residents discussed amongst themselves; some agreed with Huang Yanbing, but more were worried about provoking a confrontation with the U.S. Military.

Huang Yanbing, looking down from his vantage point, realized that this argument would not yield results anytime soon.

He sighed.

It seems that to save these people, he can only rely on the brilliant plan given by the commander.