Chapter 17

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Chapter 17: We Do Not Export Revolution, We Are Only the Sowers of Revolution

For the liberation work of the Nico people, the staff and the social research department gave these cat girls two choices. One is the quick version, with the strong firepower support and violent strikes of the human fleet swiftly cleaning up the areas occupied by the Imperial Army on the planet, directly lowering the game difficulty to the lowest. However, the drawback is that in this process, these resistance army fighters will not undergo any tempering, their organizational purity will be very pitiful, and the risk of corruption may accelerate due to victory coming too easily.

The second type is calm mode. Humans only give them basic theory guidance, like how to organize people and recruit soldiers, it’s up to them to decide. Apart from providing basic weapons, ammunition, and production equipment, they won’t get much more help. They need to grow slowly during the struggle, facing repeated attacks from the empire and increasingly larger forces. The human fleet can only ensure they leave behind a spark, to prevent complete destruction.

After thinking for a long time, even though the temptation of quick success was strong, Cui still made the decision to choose the second path. She didn’t understand many big ideas, but she wondered if relying too much on outside powers to gain "freedom" was really freedom or just a gentler form of slavery. So, when she left the Suqin-class Replenishment Ship on a small escort ship, besides some weapons, ammunition, a lot of theory materials, and a communicator, she had nothing else. The fleet didn’t send any ground troops to follow her.

It will be quite some time before the transformed resistance army on the planet Nico Star stirs up any conflict. Right now, for the fleet, the first step is to send a shuttle to contact the homeland and report on the results of the first phase of operations. Then, they will reach out to the Americans to see how they are faring in the empire’s provinces.

Imperial Province of Reikland

Known as the poorest region in the empire, the Imperial Province of Reikland is a typical tale of poverty breeding trouble. Remnants from the previous dynasty, pirate gangs, and exiled nobles entangled in political struggles fill this barren land mainly composed of desert planets. A simple trip to buy some smokes could lead to witnessing three gunfights, two robberies, and a noble’s duel.

For the American fleet, this place was like second nature, fitting right in. After thrashing two bands of clueless pirates, the bigwigs who came to pay respect to the local bosses reached some sort of agreement with these very ugly humanoid creatures. Soon after, the security situation in this area deteriorated rapidly within a few days.

Firstly, their general was attacked and killed by pirates while traveling. Then, several pirate groups launched disgusting harassments against the colonies under imperial rule. With the destruction of the colony’s environment, more civilians were forced to join the pirates or get entangled with the rebels from the previous dynasty. The transport lines were disrupted by unknown enemies, causing even the timid thieves to become bold and attack imperial military stations.

To prevent this chaos from spreading to the core regions, the empire kept pouring in more troops. Both sides engaged in consecutive major battles in this star sector. The weapons in the hands of pirates and thieves kept upgrading, leaving the imperial army clueless about who was supporting these rebel organizations and dissenters behind the scenes. The empire had no choice but to increase its military spending and face heavy service pressures, causing dissatisfaction in neighboring provinces.

At the same time, a group of mysterious visitors visited the emperor’s uncle, a grand duke nominally detained in the Imperial Province of Reikland. Despite having a matching territory size, the barrenness, level of chaos, and the presence of a large number of imperial legions stationed there were not enough to give him room to cause trouble. In fact, when the chaos suddenly erupted in Reikland Province, this grand duke was prepared to be targeted by the emperor and possibly killed.

At this time, a group of unknown thieves burst into the grand duke’s mansion and caused chaos by attacking everything. The grand duke "accidentally" lost his life in the chaos. This was good, was it? The old-fashioned nobles also lost a symbolic spiritual leader. For the emperor, there was no need to worry about when those nobles would overthrow him and put this fool in power.

No one knew what the two sides were plotting, but soon the grand duke’s attitude towards the imperial government and military became ambiguous. His contacts with the old-fashioned nobles intensified, and the local garrison acted as if they saw nothing. This was influenced by the grand duke and the old-fashioned nobles, as well as the mysterious deaths of the emperor’s most trusted officers appointed to supervise him.

"Hmm, their banking industry is too primitive. It’s a pity we don’t have international trade and financial exchanges with them, otherwise…" Despite accomplishing many things and following most of the steps in the American empire’s coup manual, they didn’t have the opportunity to use tactics like color revolutions or financial plundering. It was a somewhat imperfect situation.

However, given the level of communication and understanding between the two sides, achieving all this was already at the limit. Tactics such as cultural invasion, color revolutions, supporting opposition parties, provoking public opinion, etc., required close enough communication from both sides to play out. Unlike those rabbits, who could quickly raise a revolutionary force whenever there was oppression and resistance, without caring about other aspects like culture or political systems.

Even in a feudal society, they could raise a peasant uprising and turn them into a revolutionary force through violence. However, this violent revolution required greater investment and, after success, both sides needed to maintain good relations by providing significant support, opposite to the American strategy of grabbing and leaving.

Since the Chinese chose to support the Nico people, the Americans temporarily had no intention to confront the Chinese over the Nicos. After all, it was still an expansion period, so wasting calories on fighting with them was not as beneficial as working together to tear down and devour the empire first. Whether they would starve later without new prey, or whether they would tear a piece of meat from the opponent when needed, was another matter.

At least for now, the two sides were getting along as if they were good brothers, well, good brothers on the surface.

"Those Americans are diverting half of the empire’s attention. We are safe for the time being, and the empire may even withdraw forces from here, even returning some power to the Nico people."

For the empire, even if the Nico people reclaimed their territory, it would only be like regurgitating the eaten meat, which could be eaten again. But if there were issues with the grand duke, it would directly threaten the emperor’s throne and rule. So, the imperial bureaucrats understood clearly which was more important.

"But for us, this is not a good thing. If the Empire really does this, the resistance of the locals will immediately weaken by more than half, which is not in our interest, and does not align with our goal of transforming the Nico people from a feudal city-state society into a modern society. The old society can only be broken through struggle with blood and fire. If they return to the small city-state life of ‘live and let live’, it would be terrible for China, like waking up to a stock market where everything is crashing."

"So, we need to do something to redirect a part of the Empire’s attention back, but not too much."

If we go too far, unless your Chinese dad personally intervenes, those girls will be defeated in no time. But the problem is, if the Chinese dad intervenes directly, it’s better to inform the domestic front and bring the newly commissioned warships in a swarm, then call on the other four tough guys to surprise the Empire – China on top, the US as mid-laner, France as support in the bottom lane, Russia in the middle, England in the jungle – rush in and crush them in moments. At least within a month, the fighting would end, leading to ongoing bloodshed and losses, and even after the security battle is over, there will be post-war reconstruction in places where not even a drop of oil can be squeezed out of crushed bones, and where the commoners are pacified and educated to become a modern workforce under their rule. Doing this is absolutely foolish!

Not to mention what we’ll do to the Empire, at least within a month, all battles could end, leading to sustained bleeding and losses in the security battle. Even after the security battle ends, we will have to rebuild in places where not even a drop of oil can be squeezed out of crushed bones, pacify those who are now under our rule, promote education, and turn them into a usable modern population – somewhat similar to the intensity of the Soviet Union’s assistance to China, but still with a net loss – it’s absolutely stupid!

"The landlords’ households have no surplus, and playing with a Nico Star ball is already our limit. Just think about the Empire’s colonial territories… We can’t afford to invest everything we have, so let’s focus on what we can handle. Let’s prepare this patch of land before getting involved elsewhere."

"In fact, our support over here is also approaching its limit. We need to find a project that can bring returns immediately, and it would be best if you could distract some forces over there. The Americans also mentioned feeling a bit pressured, with the return cycles getting longer. At this rate, the Congress might send an investigative team."

So, how do we make the Empire angry beyond measure? How do we ensure a stable level of hatred? In this regard, the Chinese and the Russians who arrived a few days ago in a fleet had a whispered conversation by the stern, and a plan that would make the Empire go to any lengths was devised.

If the unrest in the Reikland Province eventually leads to toppling the Emperor from his throne, shaking his rule to its core, the actions of the experienced China and Russian in the Nico province are essentially undermining the Emperor’s seat. Regardless of whether it’s the grand duke or Claude in power, it would be an internal power transition within the Yaboge dynasty. Some nobles fall, others rise, but the Emperor, nobles, and top officials still rule the country. Whether this dynasty or that, these factory owners who control the means of production and the noble lineage will remain the elite.

However, the Chinese and the Russian joined forces to directly target this bloodline rule, feudal system, and early capitalist system. Compared to the Nico Star ball, which is used as a plantation and agricultural supply area by the Empire, the industrial planets in the Nico province are more suitable for the chinese’s actions. They recruited a few articulate young men from the Nico resistance army, urgently brought Lieutenant Ruier and others from Earth for training, and the drama began on one of the Empire’s industrial planets.

First, a normal textile factory and a coal factory were built in the imperial colony called "Kregi". Just like other factories, there was nothing special about them, except that the textile machines inside were more advanced and efficient. Textile and mining industries are known for needing a lot of workers, so the local government didn’t pay much attention to the large number of workers they were hiring.

However, the situation inside was very different from other factories. While most factories required employees to work 16 to 18 hours to keep prices and profits high, these two factories surprisingly had a generous 12-hour work system, and workers were paid fairly. With advanced equipment hidden underground in the factories, it seemed like they were making good profits.

This behavior, which seemed to openly break industry rules, naturally upset other factory owners. Machines were destroyed, and workers were attacked frequently. Even after receiving bribes (a mysterious disappearance of an imperial bank transport ship), the local governor could only strengthen daytime defenses in the surrounding areas, and then did nothing more, as if waiting for a continuous clash between the two sides.

"Friends, if this continues, the factory won’t last long. Where else can we find a job that pays well and allows us to sleep for eight hours a day?" Nico yelled hoarsely while standing on a wooden crate. Below, the orange cat and a couple of dogs murmured noisily.

"What should we do? Black Claw is the boss of this district. How can we possibly stand up to them?"

"We have so many people. If we unite, even Black Claw wouldn’t dare to do anything, right?"

"That’s right. Don’t we have leftover iron pipes for repairing the textile machines in the factory? I checked last time, they are top-grade steel."

"Hey, I used to work in the logistics department of the imperial army. With this good steel, we can definitely make some good weapons. At least enough to beat those thugs."

Someone hidden in the crowd kept feeding rebellious thoughts to the workers. With a little guidance, a patrol team formed by the workers emerged as a basic framework spontaneously. Even though its purpose was only to protect workers’ families from thugs and maintain security around the factory.

However, as the worker self-inspection team and the night schools providing literacy training were established one by one, the spark has been ignited. It was left to time to ferment, and soon it will erupt with a brilliance that will shake the entire empire.

Though faint, when they shout "We do not rely on the godlike emperor" and bring down religion and imperial power together, the empire will have to use all its might to extinguish the flames that could burn the entire empire to ashes. Both Nico people and the former empire people will undergo enough trials in this storm to grow step by step.

The only regret is that due to reproductive isolation, only Nico people can truly join the ranks of the Chinese side, while these empire people may succeed. However, in the end, they will only form a new political power with a similar ideology that is not very significant, and will have to forge their own path. Humans will not provide them with further support. Whether it is better for them to strive on their own, like Nico people who have been pampered in a pot, can only be felt by the locals themselves.

It is easy to understand that the treatment of a daughter-in-law raised by the wife is different from that of a beggar who receives charity, isn’t it?

[PS]

If we do not consider things like national consciousness, the feelings of the Nico people are definitely more comfortable. For the ultimate integration, the former theatre will also make great efforts. Even if they eventually unite, they will undoubtedly be happier enjoying the treatment as Chinese citizens than striving independently after independence. However, this means they will become part of China, no longer an independent civilization or country, but just another component of a powerful nation, becoming one of its cornerstones.

For these empire people, they may suffer, feel lost, encounter obstacles on their way, and might be cruelly killed halfway. However, every step they take is their own, leading to the establishment of their own great achievement. Their road may be more glorious and bloody, requiring immense perseverance and sacrifice, facing numerous difficulties. Perhaps the country they eventually establish will only be a third-rate nation and may not have a perfect ending.

Therefore, which path is more suitable is something a third party cannot judge. However, relatively speaking, Nico people who lack awakened national consciousness (at the level of city-state nations) are more suited to take the first path, while empire people who already possess a mindset of unification and national consciousness obviously are not. Moreover, for humans… accepting beast-eared girls, especially those with good looks, is very different from accepting a group of upright walking beasts as kin.

The former is a welcome scenario for China, with 60 million bachelors increasing at a rate of 2% each year. Having too many single men is not just a simple social issue or a matter solely for the citizens themselves, but a highly unstable factor for the country. On the other hand, the Nico people of the city-state era have lost a large number of males in past wars and resistance against being slaughtered by the empire. They, on the contrary, have to address the issue of millions of unmarried females, making compatibility relatively high between them.

The following content is: Call your human dad to come and hammer you… you all wait to die!