Chapter 453: The Beginning of Civil Unrest (Part 1)
Marches, clashes, confrontations.
Most people in the Empire had never imagined that this kind of scenery that often appeared in some parts of the New Federation would one day be staged within the Empire.
The cause of this incident is already very complicated. It is caused by the continuous influence of public opinion, the intensification of public sentiment, and the promotion of relevant organizations behind the scenes...
When a dreadnought representing the pinnacle of humanity's standing armed forces in the Milky Way arrived at Sakaar, the White Ghost's territory, and aimed its main gun at the White Ghost, the emotions of the people of the Empire were completely ignited.
In such a vast empire, nearly one-fifth of the administrative stars experienced riots of varying degrees in just three galactic hours.
The Yaha Star was the first to erupt in support of the White Ghost March demonstration.
Three galactic hours later, millions of people had gathered in more than a dozen major cities on the planet Yaha. They chanted "Ghosts are innocent", held high up slogan boards saying "White Ghosts are messengers of justice", and walked from one iconic building to another.
Among them, at least tens of thousands of people started various forms of live broadcasts.
The demonstrations here were relatively restrained. The people did not smash, burn or loot. They just walked on the streets, occupied some public transportation seats, and called on more people to join the ranks to support the White Ghosts.
Most of the areas in the empire where demonstrations broke out were relatively peaceful scenes.
Sherman's Empire had no tradition of mass demonstrations, but this time, people took to the streets, and under the impetus and guidance of some force, used their spontaneous actions to speak out for the white ghost.
What is even more interesting is the 'self-learning and evolution' of these parade teams.
No one knew who came up with the idea, but a group of demonstrators entered the spaceport of their planet and blocked all passages of the spaceport with a human wall, successfully putting tremendous pressure on the local government.
This way of blocking space traffic can affect the order and operation of local areas, and force local governments to come forward to express their opinions and appease the people.
Seeing that this method was effective, more and more marching teams began to follow suit, and the crowds of people gathered towards the spaceports of their planets, causing 5% of the empire's passenger routes to be paralyzed. As time went on, this number continued to increase.
This kind of news is extremely difficult to suppress no matter who does it or what means are used.
What's more, at this stage, the empire cannot take the initiative in the unified network world it has built.
The sixth galactic hour after the Yaha Star Parade began.
The demonstrations within the empire have spread to half of the administrative stars within the empire. Logically, this should be the most stable imperial star circle in the empire, but at this moment it is the "hardest hit area" with the largest number of demonstrators.
Some of the marginal planets located on the border of the empire should have been the areas with the most intense conflicts, but in fact, a considerable number of planets with a population of over 300 million were unable to muster a parade of more than 100,000 people.
After getting the relevant data, Boss Yang didn't understand it at first, but he soon figured out the key issue.
——On the prosperous planet within the Imperial Star Circle, class oppression is most obvious. There are more nobles and capitalists. The youth and student groups gathered from various regions of the empire maintain a high level of thinking vitality.
The New Federation, the Free United States, the Guel Alliance, and the younger brothers behind the Three Rogues were naturally delighted by the unrest in the Empire.
A sharp news commentary began to spread wildly within and outside the empire.
This is an article written by a New Federation interstellar reporter, and the title of the article is very eye-catching.
The Empire on the Brink of Civil War.
The subtitle is more pragmatic:
"The White Ghost's resistance to the empire is essentially the resistance of the imperial people to the imperial power."
This article pointed out sharply that the core power group of the Empire wanted to assimilate the White Ghost, but became angry and humiliated after being rejected by the White Ghost, which led to the absurd scene of the dreadnought's guns pointing at Sakaar.
The article also gives a series of examples, telling how the imperial aristocracy maintains its own privileges and the necessity and urgency of their assimilation of the White Ghosts.
By the way, this article also clearly explains the causes and consequences of the Domingos Massacre, as well as the miserable slave life of the Domingos people in the empire today, and lists more than a dozen similar tragedies committed by the empire in the past thousand years.
If one reads this article alone, one can probably draw a conclusion—a bottom-up revolution is about to break out in this empire.
Foreign media have already started celebrating in advance.
And the hundreds of billions of people in the empire...
Most people just pay attention to this matter and their lives are not affected too much.
According to the law, the empire is generally stable at this stage, and there are no conditions for a large-scale uprising. If one wants to create conflicts within the empire in a short period of time, one can only approach it from multiple angles and aspects at the same time.
The most direct way to meet the most basic conditions for an uprising is to inject a large number of unemployed young and middle-aged people into society .
Just like now, people will be indignant about the experience of the White Ghost, complain about it on the Internet, and curse in front of their friends, saying that the imperial aristocracy will die a miserable death; but to really let the majority of people stand up against the empire and face starships and ion cannons with their flesh and blood, that is nothing but wishful thinking.
Boss Yang is not in a hurry.
This is just the beginning.
…
In a meeting room in Skywrath Keep.
Grace sat in front of a projection screen with a sad face, holding a communicator and shouting:
"We must make it clear to the members of the support groups in various places that demonstrations must not develop into violent conflicts, and there must be no looting, smashing, burning, or robbing! There must be no crime! That would smear the white ghost!"
"Revolt? What a bullshit revolt! Do you think this is a primitive civilization? This is the interstellar age. Do you have a fleet? Even if the Empire went too far this time, we can still live a normal life. We just need to support White Ghost. Do you understand?"
"Oh my god, why did I accept this task?"
Captain Gris wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned his head to look at his teammates, and shouted unhappily:
"Hurry up! You are all official staff members of the White Ghost Fan Club now! Make sure this message reaches the ears of the majority of White Ghost fans! Let the fans of White Ghost maintain order instead of becoming radical elements!"
"Captain, is this really the mission assigned by White Ghost?"
"Ah, his assistant ordered it," Captain Gris grinned. "Don't worry, this is a political game, both sides are manipulating each other. How could the White Ghost really cause civil unrest in the empire?"
A group of transformed warriors nodded, not quite understanding.
"Hurry up and work! Our current work is of great significance. We must control the extent of the riots!"
"Captain, is this considered a private job?"
"Not really! I received two orders, one from the president of the support group, who is White Ghost's assistant, and one from the military. Both orders have the same content, which is to avoid bloodshed as much as possible."
Grace sighed and said with emotion:
"That's right, let's just have some fun and vent our emotions."
"But Captain, some planets have already suffered casualties, and some people have begun to surround the nobles' manors."
"Captain, there's just been news of some minor nobles being attacked by civilians."
Gris frowned tightly.
The demonstrations in support of White Ghost are more about people expressing their support for White Ghost.
But if the demonstrations gradually turn into violent clashes against the aristocracy, and if vicious incidents really occur where aristocrats are beaten to death by the people, then the problem will be serious.
Grace cursed: "What on earth is the Imperial Army thinking? Why are they suddenly forcing White Ghost? Damn! If these bastards really cause big trouble, we, the unlucky ones, will be the ones to suffer in the end!"
"Captain! There's something new on the live broadcast screen of White Ghost's official website!"
"What?"
"Well, the Empire has sent another fleet, about two hundred capital ships, to escort the dreadnought. The dreadnought's main gun has been fully charged."
"The Imperial Military will hold a press conference in fifteen minutes!"
Grace: ...
"Did these old guys get their brains kicked by bugs?"
Grace swore a few words, and none of the young transformed warriors in the meeting room dared to respond.
…
Saka Star, outside the Lord's Mansion.
A large number of people arrived here several galactic hours ago. They did not make any noise or hold any flags. They just stood quietly on the street outside the lord's mansion with their backs to the mansion, holding hands and forming several human walls.
When Sakaar was facing the crisis of extinction, the White Ghost never gave up on them.
When the dreadnought targeted the White Ghost, they were unwilling to give up on it.
Behind the window of the lord's bedroom, Yang Ming looked at this scene, feeling infinite emotion in his heart.
Although these were all part of his plan to challenge the imperial hegemony, he was indeed inspired and felt that he was on the right path.
The voice of Lu's report rang in my ears from time to time.
Most of the news Yang Ming heard were good news.
So far, the best news is that 'the Sherman family's attempt to activate the Empire's national defense system was denied access'. The scientific researchers responsible for maintaining the core black box are now sweating profusely.
Yang Ming raised his head and looked towards the next room.
Daphne was there, attending the Sherman family's round table meeting using a special encrypted communications device.
Yang Ming now really wants to know what other tricks these people can come up with.
As long as the Sherman family did not go crazy, they would not dare to bombard Sakaar directly, otherwise the division of the empire would be irreversible;
The Sherman family might feel that the tens of millions of people on Sakaar would be a burden to his White Ghost, but in fact, it is quite the opposite. This place actually provides "political protection" for Yang Ming.
Next room.
Daphne was sitting in a gray projection space, her facial expression a little tense, and she clenched her fists from time to time.
Apparently, she had heard some arguments that struck her as ridiculous.
There were indeed many elderly people from the Sherman , and they were a little emotional.
“…You want to crush us with demonstrations?”
"This is the Empire, not the New Federation!"
"These despicable pariahs have no idea why they can survive safely in the Milky Way!"
"What practical significance does it have to say these angry words now? We must be vigilant at this moment about the possibility of foreign forces carrying out a peaceful evolution against us! Especially the two camps of freedom and democracy, they will definitely take advantage of the current problems within the empire to further divide us!"
"What should we do? If the Dreadnought can't scare the White Ghost, should we just surrender?"
"Of course not. We don't need to give in. The disastrous consequences of giving in are far greater than the threats from foreign forces."
"The Imperial Family cannot fail."
The virtual conference room gradually grew quiet.
Director Ino said calmly: "Are you all at a loss now?"
"Ino, you were the one who transferred the Dreadnought, what are you going to do next?"
"I admit that I did underestimate what Hanton did in preparing for this matter," Director Ino's eyes sparkled. "He should have anticipated what methods we would use and prepared a strategy in advance, which is why we are in a very passive position now."
"Give us a solution," Chief Ino's grandfather said in a deep voice.
Director Ino nodded: "The solution is very simple. Summon the White Ghost directly and take him away from Sakaar on the pretext of letting the traitor of the Empire go."
Someone immediately raised an objection: "Wouldn't this prove that the Empire is persecuting the White Ghost?"
Director Ino asked back: "What's the practical meaning of caring about this name and reputation now? Isn't it a fact that the people have already accepted and recognized that the top brass of the Imperial Army is trying to persecute White Ghost?"
Some people seemed to be thinking about it.
Director Ino said seriously:
"We absolutely cannot make any concessions. We have now reached a critical stage in the game with Hutton. Let the people curse as much as they want. Their living environment is in our hands and we will not cause any major chaos.
“The real threat now is Hanton itself.
“He can be resurrected infinitely, which means that he can use this characteristic to launch thousands of attacks on us. As long as one or two of them succeed, we will face disaster.
"He is a hundred times more dangerous than the Valkyrie.
"Don't be scared by the people's demonstrations. The people have no ships or cannons. Without our permission, they can't even leave the planet where they were born... What are you all so anxious about? The Sherman family has controlled this empire for tens of thousands of years. Can't they even handle this little disturbance?
"I suggest that we adjourn the meeting for now and not discuss what to do so early. Let's finish our combo first."
An old man asked: "Ino, what's behind this combination of punches?"
"Locking the dreadnought is the first step. Secretly hyping up the White Ghost's plan to control the great Emperor's mind is the second step... Next, we will send a signal of goodwill and ask Grand Duke Ghost to go to the Imperial Star to explain to His Majesty why he let Catherine go and see how he responds.
"He is on Sakaar, and we absolutely cannot open fire, unless you want the empire to be plunged into a wave of struggle caused by hundreds of billions of people out of panic. But as long as he enters a ship, we will take the initiative.
"Then, we need to come up with two conditions. The first is his home planet, and the second is the video footage of us defeating a real ancient god, to put pressure on him.
"There is no way to plan for what's to come. We have to formulate a strategy based on his reaction. Our goal is to make him leave the people of the empire and break away from the popular base. The rest is a matter for the future."
The group of old men nodded slowly.
It was from this moment that Director Ino gained more say in the family.
Ino looked to the corner: "Daphne, what is Hanton doing now?"
"Reading a book, an interstellar adventure novel."
Daphne said softly.
