178: Zhang Wenxing

"Human Civilization is about to fall into the darkest abyss."

Lei Wen's very first sentence caused a commotion in the audience.

The crowd, which had been quiet out of curiosity, instantly fell into chaos. Whispers buzzed like a swarm of bees. The representatives of the financial groups sitting in the front rows changed expression, looking at each other with eyes full of dissatisfaction and vigilance.

Lei Wen ignored the reaction below the stage. He raised his hand, activating his personal terminal in his palm, and a faint blue light beam projected onto the giant screen behind him.

The images that originally displayed grand Star Maps and brilliant achievements vanished, replaced by a report titled "Investigation into Mars Human Rights Conditions and Monopoly Capital."

High-definition photos and short videos began to scroll across the screen.

There were overcrowded underground living pods filled with the smell of mold and grease; young workers whose bones were deformed due to long-term heavy physical labor; children swallowing their saliva while looking at the expensive drinking water in vending machines; and labor contracts that looked like "Deeds of Sale," enough to suffocate any conscientious legal expert.

"Look at these." Lei Wen's voice was cold and restrained as he pointed at the pairs of numb eyes on the screen. "This is the other side of our so-called Golden Age."

"Ladies and gentlemen, while we sit in spacious and bright offices, swing our clubs on zero-gravity golf courses, and point at the world through holographic images on the Babel Tower observation deck, discussing which galaxy to conquer and which mining area to divide..."

"Has anyone ever wondered what kind of life those who built the foundation of this Tower of Babel for us, brick by brick, are living?"

Lei Wen's gaze was as sharp as a knife, sweeping across the well-dressed elites below the stage.

"What was the original intention of establishing the Human Federation? It was to let all of humanity step out of the Cradle, to liberate productivity, to allow our species to survive with more dignity in this cruel universe, and to let everyone lead a better life."

"Yes, we have indeed stepped out of the Cradle. Our footprints have covered the Solar System and even extended several light-years away. Our productivity has advanced by leaps and bounds—antimatter technology, Warp Engines, nanomaterials... We possess power that we once had to look up to."

"But!" Lei Wen's voice suddenly rose, carrying long-suppressed anger. "Who has this power benefited? And who has it enslaved?"

"We have mastered infinite energy, yet we let Mars workers overdraw their lives for a few kilowatt-hours of electricity. We have the technology to synthesize matter, yet we let the people at the bottom carry heavy debts just to drink a mouthful of clean water."

"Is this reasonable? Is this fair?"

A line of giant text appeared on the screen, an excerpt from Article 1, Chapter 1 of the Human Federation Charter: [All human beings are born equal and enjoy the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.]

"'Equality.'" Lei Wen recited the word, his tone full of irony. "What a sacred word, once carved onto our flags with the blood of countless pioneers."

"But what about reality?"

He pointed toward the representatives of the Nikola Group; the CEO was currently staring at him with a livid face.

"In the lawless lands controlled by certain super-financial groups, equality is a joke! In those colonies completely monopolized by capital, people are no longer people, but consumables, data, and livestock that can talk!"

"They are deprived of the right to look up at the stars, the right to migrate freely, and even the right to fall ill."

"This is the worst mockery of the glorious prosperity of the Human Federation! This is a blatant trampling of our civilization's bottom line!"

A dead silence fell over the hall, with only Lei Wen's voice echoing. Many representatives from small and medium-sized countries and those with a conscience lowered their heads in shame, while those with vested interests showed murderous looks. If looks could kill, Lei Wen would have been sliced into a thousand pieces.

"If we allow this greed to expand without limit, if we allow this deformed distribution system to continue to exist..."

Lei Wen took a deep breath.

"Then our future will not be the sea of stars, but a cyberpunk hell. We will split into two species—gods living in the clouds and ants struggling in the mud."

"To stop all this, so that Human Civilization does not rot in its glory..."

"I hereby formally submit two bills to the assembly in my capacity as the Director of the Interstellar Affairs General Bureau."

The screen image changed, and the titles of two thick documents came into view.

The interstellar anti-monopoly law and the Human Federation Basic Subsistence Guarantee and Resource Common Ownership Act.

"The interstellar anti-monopoly law roughly stipulates: no single enterprise or interest group may own more than 30% of the market share in key areas such as energy, transportation, and life-support systems. For giant enterprises that have already formed de facto monopolies, the Federation has the right to forcibly split them and conduct strict, transparent supervision of their overseas (extraterrestrial) assets."

"The Resource Common Ownership Act roughly stipulates: basic natural resources (water, air, basic minerals) in the Solar System and all future colonial star systems belong to all of humanity and shall not be privatized. The Federation will establish a unified resource distribution system, using the dividends of automated production to provide every Federation citizen with free basic material guarantees sufficient to maintain a decent life (including food, water, housing, medical care, and basic education)."

This was equivalent to directly flipping the table of those giants and wanting to distribute the meat in their bowls to everyone.

"We want to break up those behemoths that have touched the bottom line and are too big to fail! We want to limit the capital forces that attempt to override the law and humanity!"

"We want every human being, whether born in a mansion on Earth or a mine on Mars, to be eligible to enjoy the fruits of civilization's progress equally!"

As soon as Lei Wen finished speaking, an even greater commotion broke out in the hall.

"Absurd! This is blatant robbery!" The representative of the Nikola Group was the first to jump up, shouting without any regard for etiquette, "This is an infringement on private property! This is turning back the clock of history!"

"Lei Wen! Who do you think you are? Do you want to be a dictator?"

"Oppose! Resolutely oppose! This will destroy the vitality of the economy! This will cause the market to collapse!"

"We want to impeach him! He's crazy!"

Those capitalists and financial group spokespersons, who usually acted with dignity, finally tore off their disguises and let out voices of deep-seated opposition. They waved their fists, their faces flushed red, as if Lei Wen were digging up their ancestral graves.

And in the center of this noisy vortex, the politicians of various countries fell into a strange silence.

They looked at the steadfast young man on the stage and then at the angry financiers around them. Some of them might have agreed with Lei Wen's views deep down, and some might have seen the future crisis.

However, their positions determined their minds. Their campaign funds and political resources mostly came from the support of these financial groups. In this web of intertwined interests, few dared to offend their current providers for a "distant ideal."

Even those with foresight could only choose to protect themselves or sigh helplessly at this moment.

"Silence! Silence!" The assembly host pounded the gavel desperately, trying to maintain order.

Finally, amidst the chaos, the assembly entered the voting procedure.

Lei Wen stood quietly on the stage, watching the numbers jumping on the big screen.

The red bar chart for opposing votes climbed rapidly with an overwhelming advantage, while the green bar chart for votes in favor appeared so pitiful and weak.

The result was not in doubt.

"According to the voting results..." The host's voice sounded a bit dry, "the interstellar anti-monopoly law and the Resource Common Ownership Act are suspended. They will be submitted to the relevant committees for further... indefinite postponement."

Lei Wen looked at the result, and his face did not show much disappointment.

Or rather, this was already within his expectations.

He just shook his head regretfully, his gaze sweeping over the smug winners one last time.

"You won today," he said softly, his voice not carrying through the microphone, audible only to himself, "but you lost the future."

After speaking, he did not participate in any of the following agenda items, nor did he pay attention to the reporters who wanted to crowd around for interviews. He straightened his collar, turned, and strode down the podium, disappearing into the shadows of the hall's side door... Outside the venue, the night was already deep.

The autumn wind in New York carried a hint of coolness, blowing away the heat and clamor from indoors.

Lei Wen walked out the door and did not head toward his Director's car hovering in the air.

In a corner of the parking lot, a black vintage Hongqi Sedan was parked quietly, with an old man standing beside it.

He held a cigarette that was about to burn out in his hand, the crimson fire point flickering in the night.

It was Zhang Wenxing.

(...), just like an ordinary old man, waiting quietly.

Lei Wen stopped in his tracks, somewhat surprised, but then quickly walked over.

"..."

"..." Zhang Wenxing threw away the cigarette butt, crushed it with his toe, and a kind smile appeared on his face. "In another two months, I'll just be a retired old man playing chess in the park."

(...), and it was also the last year of China's term as the rotating member of the Earth Council. According to the Earth Council Charter, (...).

That was a typical Western elite politician, closely related to major financial groups.

"The speech just now was very exciting." Zhang Wenxing looked at Lei Wen, his eyes full of admiration. "Although you lost the vote, you won the hearts of the people, at least the hearts of the ordinary people who could see the live broadcast."

"What's the use of people's hearts?" Lei Wen smiled bitterly, leaning against the car door and rubbing his temples with some fatigue. "In this hall, people's hearts are no match for a check."

"Don't be so pessimistic, brother." Zhang Wenxing patted Lei Wen's shoulder. Although that hand was old, it was exceptionally powerful.

"I've been in this circle for sixty or seventy years, and I've seen more filth and deals than you've had meals. I know how this system works. It's designed to maintain vested interests. Trying to defeat it within its rules is almost impossible."

Zhang Wenxing turned around, looking at the brightly lit Earth Council building in the distance.

"But I also know that there is no eternal feast in this world. When greed exceeds the bottom line and exploitation exceeds endurance, order will collapse."

"I understand you, Lei Wen. Your vision is further than any of ours. You see the cliff and want to pull the reins, but the people on the carriage only want to revel."

"Actually, I specifically waited here for you today just to tell you a few words."

Zhang Wenxing turned his head, and those eyes shone with a kind of clarity and determination after seeing through the world.

"I'm retiring next year. There are many things I don't want to manage, and I can't manage them anymore, but..."

"I know what kind of power you hold. I know Paradox Technology is not just a company, and I also know about your relationship with that alien civilization."

"You have more power than I do, more means than I do, and you are even more qualified than I am to decide the direction of this civilization."

The old man's voice lowered a bit, carrying a sense of entrustment.

"So, go ahead and do it."

Lei Wen was stunned. He looked at the old man before him, a warm current surging in his heart.

"Whether you want to break up those financial groups, overthrow certain rules, or even... use some unconventional means."

Zhang Wenxing's gaze was incredibly firm.

"Whether now or in the future, whether it's my administration or my successors, the Chinese government will fully support your actions."

"Although we may not be able to stand by you publicly in the voting because we have to consider the big picture and follow the rules of the game, privately, we will be your strongest backing."

"Because we know you are right."

"Those financial groups only care about their stock prices, but we care about whether this civilization with tens of thousands of years of history can continue, and whether these billions of people can live like human beings."

"That is our bottom line."

After Zhang Wenxing finished speaking, he let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

He patted Lei Wen's shoulder again, then opened the car door and sat inside.

"I'm leaving. No need to see me off. The road ahead is long, so be careful."

The black sedan started silently and merged into the New York traffic.

Lei Wen stood where he was, staring for a long time at the direction where the taillights disappeared.

"Those who think for interest are politicians; those who think for civilization are statesmen."

He silently recited this sentence in his heart.

In his life, he had seen countless politicians—shrewd, smooth, and profit-driven.

But those who could be called statesmen were very few.

And Zhang Wenxing was undoubtedly a truly excellent statesman.

He might not be able to personally break this old world, but he was willing to hand the torch to the person who could break it.

Lei Wen took a deep breath of the cool night air, the fatigue in his eyes swept away.

Since the legal route doesn't work...

If soft tactics don't work, then don't blame me for flipping the table.