“Do you think I'm testing you?”

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Duan Lei smiled.

“Don't worry, I won't shoot you in the back as you leave. Even though you are preparing to surrender, we have all worked hard for the construction of the stronghold, so if I say I'll let you leave, I won't use any other means.

However, once you reach the other side's camp, we will be enemies. You need to think about this clearly. Also, before you choose to leave, you should think about how the stronghold base has treated everyone? How has Qingluan treated you?

Now it is the end of days. There are no laws or morals to constrain anyone. The quality of a base basically depends on its leader. If you are sure that Lin Qiang will be a good leader, then you can go over there now!

This is a very important choice for you. There will be many choices in life. Different choices will lead you down different paths. Everyone must bear the consequences of their choices!

Now is the time for you to make your choice. Those who want to surrender, put down your weapons and go to the other side! There are still twelve minutes left until the deadline given by the other side. You can make a decision!”

After speaking, Duan Lei stopped talking and waited quietly. Qingluan looked at Duan Lei with a worried expression and asked in a low voice:

“How… how can you let them go? If you didn't say anything, they probably wouldn't dare to ask to leave, right?”

“It's useless. Their hearts are not with us, and they won't fight with all their strength. Instead, it will affect morale!”

Duan Lei shook his head and said:

“It's just right. Let's take this opportunity to have Lin Qiang help us screen people. Those who can stay are worth our efforts. As for those who leave, they can share wealth but not hardship. Even without this incident, they will leave us if the stronghold faces a crisis in the future. It's better for these people to leave sooner rather than later!

This is like the tide washing away sand. Those who can stay are those who can follow us to the end and will not leave us because the stronghold encounters a crisis! This is not a bad thing for us!”

“But… what if too many people leave…”

Qingluan was still worried.

“How many people are willing to stay depends on whether you, the leader of this base, have done a satisfactory job before!”

Duan Lei smiled and said:

“Don't worry, the result will be out soon!”

While Duan Lei and Qingluan were talking, the others were also discussing among themselves.

“What should we do? The other side is too strong. We are definitely not their opponents. Let's not resist and just go over there, shall we?”

“Yeah, look at their weapons. They have so many machine guns and mortars. The walls of the stronghold are useless! They will be blown flat in a few hits. My weapon is still a machete! How can we fight them?”

“But our base leader, Sister Qing, is very nice. Isn't it bad to betray her like this?”

“What are you talking about? How is this a betrayal? This is called ‘a wise bird chooses a tree to rest on!’ The other side is so powerful, but our leader is greedy for power and refuses to surrender. Then there's no problem if we go over there ourselves, right?”

“That's right, who doesn't want to live a better life?”

“It's right to want to live a better life, but you can't lose your conscience, right? Zhang, I remember that the leader took a team to rescue you from the horde of corpses in the city. If it had been a minute later, you would have become a zombie! Now you are the first to jump out and surrender. The leader shouldn't have saved you in the first place!”

“So what? She saved me, but I have also worked for her in the stronghold for so many days, and I have lived up to her! Think what you want, I'm going to the other side anyway!”

“You can go if you want! I'm staying. Even if I die, I will die in the stronghold!”

“That's right! My life was given to me by Sister Qing. I'll just give it back to her! Whoever wants to go can go! I'm not going!”

“People still need to have some principles. Usually, Sister Qing treats us so well. Everyone can eat their fill and have warm clothes. Now that someone is attacking our base, everyone immediately surrenders to the enemy. Are you even human?”

“The people on the other side don't look like good people at all. You should think clearly if you want to go. They said earlier that they were here to take over the stronghold, to protect us, and not to interfere with our stronghold's affairs.

Then they immediately said that they wanted us to surrender and only gave us fifteen minutes, otherwise, they would not care about life or death. You idiots actually believe what these people say? Hmph! Go ahead, go surrender, I'm sure you will regret it soon!!!”

“……”

Everyone was talking. Some wanted to surrender to the other side, some wanted to firmly stand on Qingluan's side, and some were hesitating, unable to make up their minds…

“Time is running out. Those who want to surrender, you should prepare to go out, otherwise, once the battle starts, I'm afraid the people on the other side may not care about you!”

Seeing that time was running out, Duan Lei reminded them.

At this moment, everyone woke up as if from a dream. A group of people immediately dropped their weapons, ran over to call their friends and bring their families to run out of the stronghold, running towards Lin Qiang's team, shouting as they ran:

“Captain! Don't shoot!!! We surrender!!!”

And those who decided to defend the stronghold to the death and coexist with the stronghold immediately gathered their weapons and silently prepared!

They knew in their hearts that the stronghold would definitely not be able to withstand the other side's attack, but they had all received help from this base to varying degrees, either the grace of saving their lives or the kindness of taking them in. They couldn't let go, so they decided to fight alongside them.

As for those who were hesitating, they were always indecisive. Looking at the people running out of the stronghold and the people preparing to fight, their eyes were full of confusion, not knowing where they should go!

“Hurry up and leave! Are you staying here to die? Can't you see there are cannons and machine guns over there? Can you block them?”

“That's right, hurry up and leave! They will take down the stronghold, and we will still live here. It's just changing a leader. What does it have to do with us? Why stay here and wait for death?”

“That's right! Hurry up and follow! Let's go to the other side!”

Seeing these hesitant people, some of the surrendered people did not forget to persuade them when they left, and their persuasion obviously worked!

These hesitant survivors looked at the people who stayed behind, and seeing that these people did not say anything to persuade them to stay, they finally gritted their teeth and ran towards the outside of the stronghold…

Watching so many people fleeing the stronghold, Qingluan took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with tears. She felt that she had always been very attentive and tried her best to ensure that everyone who entered the stronghold could be safe, have food, drink, and shelter, but she did not expect that so many people would choose to leave her!

“Actually, if I were you, I would feel very proud and honored!”

Looking at Qingluan, who was about to cry, Duan Lei suddenly smiled, he pointed to the other side and said…