Chapter 195: Qin Hao

Another commander put forward his own view.

"Our Federal is still in its infancy, with many things to rebuild. Our territory has expanded, but the population is severely lacking. Although robots can replace labor, they still cost, so those low‑level repetitive jobs might as well be done by them."

"I think we should keep things as they are and replace the Mo Yun Empire, becoming their new masters."

"Let them continue as slaves, shining and sweating for the Federal's construction. That solves the labor problem and keeps them firmly under our control—a win‑win."

The proposal sounds pragmatic, yet equally cold.

The debate in the conference room went on without cease.

It mainly split into three factions.

The "Purge Faction" led by General Zhou advocated eradicating all future threats, killing everyone.

The "Saint Mother Faction" headed by Minister Wang championed humanitarianism, unconditional emancipation.

And a pragmatic "Enslavement Faction" argued for waste‑utilization, keeping them as slaves.

Each side held its own view; none could persuade the other.

Because behind this lay three completely different civilizational development philosophies.

Is the iron‑blood path of security above all the choice?

Or the righteous road that upholds moral bottom lines?

Or the domineering road that puts interests first?

This is a civilization that has just stepped onto the interstellar stage, inevitably facing a hard choice.

This decision will profoundly affect the future direction and development path of human civilization.

The debate in the conference room grew increasingly fierce.

The Purge Faction accused the Saint Mother Faction of naïve stupidity that would lead civilization into danger.

The Saint Mother Faction angrily rebuked the Purge Faction for barbaric bloodlust, abandoning human conscience.

The Enslavement Faction looked down on both sides, deeming one false compassion and the other too extreme, and considered its own plan more practical.

Old Luo listened quietly, not interrupting anyone's speech.

He knew such debate was necessary.

A civilization cannot have only one voice.

Only through continual clash of ideas can the most suitable path be found.

The virtual projection of Old Luo glanced at Qin Hao beside him and saw that he had remained silent the whole time, merely pondering quietly.

"Xiao Qin, what's your view?"

His voice quieted the entire conference room.

All eyes brushed together and focused on Qin Hao.

General Zhou of the Purge Faction had a hint of expectation in his eyes.

In his view, Qin Hao was the Federal's strongest combat power, a symbol of decisive action, and should back his iron‑blood plan.

Minister Wang of the Saint Mother Faction was somewhat nervous.

He feared Qin Hao might be swayed by the military's hawkish mindset and make a cold decision.

And Zhang Xianzhong and others who knew Qin Hao simply watched him quietly, awaiting his answer.

Under everyone's gaze, Qin Hao scanned the virtual projections present and calmly said:

"I do not agree with the purge."

The moment those words left his mouth, General Zhou's eyes instantly dimmed.

Minister Wang visibly exhaled a breath of relief.

"We humans are not like the Mo Yun Empire, that bottom‑less barbaric civilization."

Qin Hao's voice echoed through the conference room.

"The reason we can defeat it is not only that our weapons are more advanced, but also that we still retain humanity and our own bottom line."

"If today, for the sake of so‑called security, we raise the slaughtering blade against those billions of unarmed lives, then what difference is there between us and the demons we personally eradicated?"

"One day, we will become the very thing we once despised most."

Those words made Minister Wang and the others nod repeatedly, feeling deep agreement.

But before they could rejoice, Qin Hao's tone shifted.

"However, I also do not agree to unconditionally liberate them."

Minister Wang's smile froze on his face.

"I likewise do not support letting them continue as slaves."

Qin Hao looked at those pragmatic officials and shook his head.

"Enslavement is the least efficient and most unstable form of rule. It only continuously accumulates hatred, eventually detonating a larger bomb."

"We do not need slaves; what we need is order."

Now everyone was bewildered.

Neither kill, nor release, nor enslave.

So what exactly should be done?

Qin Hao did not beat around the bush and stated his idea outright.

"My proposal is to give them a choice."

"A chance to exchange labor for survival and future opportunities."

"First, we will remove the controllers behind their brains, restoring their basic autonomous consciousness. At the same time, we will retain absolute restrictions on their genetics and technological development."

"We will provide them with the most basic survival guarantees, such as safe habitats, ample food and water."

"But none of this is free."

"They need to pay a price, and that price is labor."

"The future territorial expansion of our Federal, the mining of resource planets, the construction of large-scale projects…… these dangerous, arduous, repetitive menial jobs can all be left to them to do."

"They use their own labor to exchange for survival resources, to exchange for the qualification to continue their civilization."

"Those who perform well can obtain better living conditions, and even under our supervision, to a limited extent restore their own civilization and culture."

"And those who are unwilling to accept it, or who are negative and shirk work in labor, even those who attempt rebellion……"

"Qin Hao's gaze turned cold directly."

"Then we will directly deprive them of everything, exile their entire civilization to a barren, resource-less star, letting them live or die on their own."

"We will not be butchers, but we will certainly not be saints."

"We give them a path to survive, but this path requires them to strive for it with their own sweat and labor."

"This is my view: it upholds our bottom line, guarantees the Federal's interests and security, and gives them a visible, albeit humble but real hope."

"……"

"After Qin Hao finished speaking, the entire conference room fell silent again."

"But this time, it was not the dead silence before the argument."

"but rather a kind of…… contemplation."

"Everyone was stunned by Qin Hao's plan."

"This plan is too thorough."

"It skillfully avoids the brutality of 'eradication,' the naivety of 'liberation,' and the hidden dangers of 'enslavement.'"

"It precisely found a balance point."

"A path between the kingly way and the hegemonic way, belonging uniquely to the Human Federal itself."

"General Zhou furrowed his brows; although he still felt it wasn't thorough enough, he couldn't find any major flaw."

"This plan indeed maximally controls risk."

"Minister Wang opened his mouth, wanting to say that for those slave civilizations, it is still too harsh."

"But he also understood that this is already the best result attainable now."

"And those pragmatists, their eyes lit up even more."

"Isn't this just a more advanced, stable, and efficient form of 'enslavement'?"

"Using survival and hope as shackles is far more clever than using whips and controllers!"

"I agree with Qin Hao's plan!"

"Zhang Xianzhong was the first to stand up and break the silence."

"I second that!"

"I second that too!"

"……"

"Soon, the vast majority of attendees expressed their support."

"Old Luo looked at all this, his eyes showing a relieved expression."

"He nodded, then finally hammered the decision."

"Alright, since everyone has no objections, for now we'll decide this way."

"But this matter concerns the fate of billions of lives, and also concerns our Federal's future fundamental national policy; its impact is too far-reaching to be decided by just these few dozen of us."

"I propose to submit Qin Hao's plan as a motion for a federal-wide referendum."

"We need to let every Federal citizen participate in this decision. This is both their right and their responsibility."