Li Tianran and Lu Chi apparently held differing views on this matter. Lu Chi was the kind of stern leader who was strict to the extreme, even bordering on harsh, but Li Tianran had already passed that stage. The way he handled matters now could not be "simple and brutal, black and white."

Because human nature wasn't straightforward; it had many hidden and twisted aspects that required careful consideration.

Take this matter, for example. Li Tianran could certainly expel the deserter's wife and children from Kuangxi Island, leaving them to perish in the sea. No one would say anything, and it would serve as a powerful warning to the other pioneer warriors.

But was that really the best course of action?

No!

Because it would only increase the pressure and fear on those pioneer warriors, things that Lu Chi had already instilled in them.

Li Tianran wasn't a military general. He didn't need to demonstrate that he was as brutal and fierce as Lu Chi; their roles were never the same to begin with!

On the contrary, he needed to show his benevolence and magnanimity, allowing those pioneer warriors to see that his attitude toward them was different from Lu Chi's.

To let them see that Li Tianran was definitely not a ruthless and tyrannical lord, and that even when dealing with those who made mistakes, he would never implicate their families and would even leave their families with the best possible dignity.

This was a gentle but powerful force that could subtly change the hearts of those pioneer warriors, so that they wouldn't be loyal to Li Tianran because of "survival and orders," but because of an intense feeling in their hearts: "Treat me like a hero, and I will repay you like a hero!"

This kind of feeling could make people willing to sacrifice their lives.

This was the kind of vision that the person at the very top of a power structure should have.

After hearing Li Tianran's words, Lu Chi, although disagreeing with him, would not disobey Li Tianran's orders, and the other pioneer warriors were strictly forbidden from speaking about it.

Li Tianran was sure that they could keep the secret, because anyone could experience such a thing. If one day in the future, this kind of thing happened to them in a different way, they would also hope to be treated the same way.

The eighty-nine pioneer warriors remained silent, and at this moment, Lu Chi keenly noticed that the way these warriors looked at Li Tianran was no longer the simple fear and nervousness of the past, but with respect, ardent respect.

Lu Chi only pondered for a moment before understanding the reasoning behind it. He stood there, watching the departing Li Tianran, and muttered to himself,

"He's really... becoming more and more like a king."

...

Mofila.

Sonan, reeking of alcohol, was flipping through the documents in front of him with an angry expression. On his expensive desk were exquisite caviar and roast steak, as well as a bottle of 1987 Chateau Lafite.

Since successfully taking office, Sonan had been busy enjoying the pleasures that power brought him, indulging himself in a sea of wine and women.

Although Sonan held a high position, he had the shortcomings that most black people had: arrogance, conceit, violence, and a lack of political acumen.

This wasn't a form of racial discrimination, but a fact.

Throughout the thousands of years of human history on Blue Star, black people have been strong, powerful, and occupied a considerable amount of fertile land, but from ancient times to the present, black people have never established a powerful empire.

Even some biologists, after research, have determined that black people and other colored races have some slight differences in brain structure. Generally speaking, all their skill points are added to physical strength, resulting in low intelligence points and a very uneven development.

Even the number of scientists and mathematicians among black people is much lower than that of other races!

Although Sonan's predecessor was also black, he came from a political background. Although his ability to handle political affairs was not as good as that of outstanding politicians, he could barely drive the economic development of Mofila before the Cataclysm.

But Sonan was completely different.

He came from the military camp and was naturally violent and impatient. After taking office, he chose to give up in the face of this chaotic world situation.

He selectively ignored the letters for help and government reports submitted from all over the country.

He delegated most of his power, only holding onto the military.

He transferred all the troops to the vicinity of the capital city to protect his own safety, while most of the cities were basically without troops. Marauders, robbers, and mutated beasts ravaged these cities. The total population of Mofila, which once had nearly 30 million people, had now been reduced to less than two million!

But even so, Sonan still felt that this number was a bit too high. He even felt that it would be better to keep only the 120,000 troops in the military region of the entire Mofila and wipe out all the other civilians!

But Sonan obviously didn't think of one thing: the 120,000 troops in his military region themselves came from the civilians. Among these civilians were the family members and friends of the soldiers, and those cities he abandoned might also be the hometowns of these soldiers!

We're here fighting to the death to protect you, and you're throwing away our parents' hometown?

Under this kind of emotion, large-scale desertions occurred in the six military regions ruled by Sonan. Many soldiers took advantage of the night to seize military vehicles and escape from the military regions and protected areas. They either fled to their hometowns to find their relatives, or directly became marauders, starting a frenzy of smashing, looting, and burning.

This situation became more and more serious. Later, even a regimental combat unit escaped completely under the leadership of its commander...

"Bastards! Useless! A bunch of useless people!" Sonan stared at the reports submitted by the commanders of the six major military regions, angrily pounding the table. Today, more than 400 soldiers had deserted. "If any military region has any more defections, the junior officers below the company level to which the deserter belongs will all be executed!"

Sonan's secretary stood by the window and began sending orders to the commanders of the six major military regions.

"Useless, a bunch of brainless trash... At this rate, our army will collapse on its own in less than three months!" Sonan stood up, thought for a moment, and said, "Pass on my order, draw a batch of supplies from the national treasury, and build a completely enclosed military camp outside the capital city to firmly surround the capital city!"

The secretary began to make phone calls, and after a few exchanges, he turned to look at Sonan and said helplessly, "Mr. President, I'm sorry! Minister of Resources, Kamedin, told me that your order cannot be completed! Because there are not enough resources left in the national treasury!"

"During this period, General Bai Jingyan has made a total of seventeen extractions of resources stored in the national treasury under the pretext of establishing an Evolutionary Research Institute. Now the total storage volume of the entire national treasury is only 17% of what it used to be!"

Sonan's eyes widened instantly. He did trust Bai Jingyan very much, but he regarded the national treasury as his own private purse, and he even planned that if Mofila really couldn't survive in the future, he would use the resources stored in the national treasury to exchange for a new protection identity with a powerful country!

But now, Bai Jingyan was secretly reaching into his pocket behind his back!

Even if Sonan's own father did this, he would probably be killed by Sonan, let alone Bai Jingyan?

"Why didn't he report to me?" Sonan said angrily.

"Because you once said that the Evolutionary Research Project is a national policy... No matter what General Bai needs, all requests must be unconditionally approved..." The secretary was a little scared and stuttered.

"But I haven't seen an Evolutionary Research Base spring up, and I haven't received any reports from Bai Jingyan about establishing a new research institute!" Sonan's eyes widened, and he was as angry as an enraged gorilla. "Tell Bai Jingyan to get over here to see me immediately! If he doesn't give me a reasonable explanation, I guarantee he won't live to see tomorrow!"