Chapter 347: Order

Lin Dui?!

Gao Tian looked at Lin An in shock.

Their conversation showed no intention to hide anything.

When Lin An said that, everyone present was stunned.

The kneeling crowd could not understand, and a chill rose up their spines.

Military coup, political coup.

In this instance world, it's commonplace—nothing more than changing the object of loyalty.

Just like Troy.

Each time the leader changes, the original officers and nobles usually stay the same, at most a few are killed to warn the rest and some new people are inserted.

Therefore, many feel that being the boss is too dangerous; it's better to be a high-ranking member of the faction.

This is also why Bo La Ka is so timid, constantly fearing that one day he'll be replaced.

Ignoring the incredulous Gao Tian, Lin An simply grabbed Gao Tian and stepped forward.

Heavy, labored breathing filled the hall.

Lin An ignored everyone, merely bringing Gao Tian slowly up into midair to look down over the city inside and out.

Beneath his feet.

The palace at the core was magnificent and splendid, its architectural complex orderly and luxurious.

Nobles could be seen strolling leisurely from time to time, still unaware of what had happened.

The inner city teemed with crowds, noisy and bustling.

Merchants and laborers wearily shuffled through the streets and alleys, where dilapidated buildings were interspersed with newly built Western-style houses.

The outer city was crowded, with grayish-white and black as the dominant tones.

Chaos, fighting, scrambling for territory.

In his peripheral vision, Gao Tian saw many people on the outer city's streets selling slaves, while others begged for someone to take in their wives, children, and elderly.

As for outside the city.

That is hell.

The cold wind blew, and the wind in midair was considerably stronger than on the ground.

In the silence, Gao Tian couldn't help but turn his head and ask:

"Captain Lin, why kill them all?"

"I haven't forgotten what these people have done, but if we don't incorporate them, we won't be able to form combat strength in the short term."

"Weren't we planning to rely on various forces to counterattack the zombies?"

"Personal feelings should not affect correct judgment."

After saying that, he took a deep breath and stared at Lin An.

"This is what you, Captain Lin, taught me."

He truly felt this world was utterly corrupt.

If possible, he would love to personally send this bunch of scum to hell to let them taste the pain.

But time waits for no one.

Although he didn't know why Captain Lin would say that, as a team member he had the duty to dissuade Lin An.

After a moment.

Lin An shook his head slightly, pointed toward the outside of the city, and said:

"Your idea is not wrong."

"But you've overlooked a problem."

Under the Awakened Ones' excellent vision, several iron pots rose up in the distant slave camp that resembled a garbage dump.

The hungry crowd gathered together, staring fixedly at the hot soup in the pot.

"Who is fighting?"

"Is it the slave masters? Or the officers? Or perhaps the nobles?"

Gao Tian followed the direction of Lin An's finger with a glance, then replied in a heavy, low voice:

"It's the military, it's the civilians, it's..."

"Slaves."

After answering Lin An's question, he added:

"Captain Lin, you mean it's fine to slaughter all these nobles, right?"

"But we need someone to command these people—we have too few of us..."

Lin An shook his head slightly, stopping Gao Tian:

"Gao Tian, from a certain perspective, your idea isn't wrong. But it's too rigid."

He turned his head and countered:

"Why should we command the army? Why should we command these slaves?"

"Our enemy currently appears to be zombies; we need a large number of hands to help us advance."

"Regardless of whether the zombie tide can regenerate endlessly, we must at least try to see if we can gather this world's strength and charge all the way to the high tower."

"As you said, our numbers are too few."

"In your conception, whether military or civilians need layered command to maintain combat effectiveness."

"That point is actually mistaken."

Gao Tian startled at the sound, seemingly realizing something.

Lin An let out a light sigh, his gaze gloomy.

"Against zombies, there's no need for any tactics."

"Concentrate our strength; as long as one can shoot, that's enough."

"We only need to gather a large crowd and force our way in."

"Keep the nobles and slave owners; they will have their own considerations in battle."

"We don't have time to control them."

"Relying on their command will only reduce efficiency to the point of making one's hair stand on end."

"So."

"The best method is to hang these slave owners, eliminate all nobles, and seize all the supplies they have hoarded."

"Then distribute the weapons to everyone."

"Eliminating these scum will surely help us establish tremendous prestige among the slaves."

"Who doesn't hate them?"

"At that point, with just a little manipulation, these long-oppressed people will easily be incited."

"Compared to the nobles with many schemes, they will see us as saviors and, without hesitation, charge at the zombie tide."

"Gao Tian listened, then remained silent for a long time, his lips trembling, and he unconsciously looked down at the city beneath his feet."

"Lin Dui..."

"Are you intending to send every person onto the battlefield?"

"No matter how simple fighting zombies may be, it's not something untrained ordinary people can accomplish."

"That would get a lot of people killed!"

"Gao Tian had also vaguely considered Lin An's approach."

"Just like dividing the land when overthrowing the landlord."

"But in his view, professional matters should be handled by professionals."

"Indeed, hanging these slave owners will greatly stir the lower-class emotions, and the crowd will fall into a brief frenzy."

"However, most of the lower-class people are the old, weak, sick, and disabled, ordinary people struggling to survive."

"Should we let them pick up guns and go to their deaths?"

"Without command, without organization, without coordinated combat, he cannot imagine what disaster it would be when the incited crowd faces the zombie tide."

"Lin An, for a moment, did not answer Gao Tian's question or thought; he simply grabbed his shoulder and landed back on the ground."

"Not far away, an extended limousine carrying Mo Ling and others hurried over."

"The Minister of Military Affairs, Ke Si Man, sitting in the passenger seat, stared in shock at Lin An descending from the sky, unable to speak for a moment."

"I must be seeing things..."

"Like a dream, Ke Si Man suddenly recalled Mo Ling's words, and the last lingering doubt in his heart was completely erased."

"If Lin An isn't the big thigh, then there is no big thigh in this world."

"Returning to the palace, all was deathly silent."

"Many people lay on the ground, faces pallid, swallowing saliva."

"As if awaiting death."

"It's not that no one wanted to flee, but after witnessing Zhang Tie's methods, they could only wait in place to die."

"Unsure whether the student-like Gao Tian had convinced Lin An, the nobles and officials on the ground, holding onto a last hope, secretly glanced at Gao Tian's expression."

"Their expressions were blank and heavy."

"Before anyone could realize what was happening, Lin An's icy voice sounded again:"

"One, execute all nobles."

"Two, execute all slave owners."

"Three, all high-ranking military personnel shall mutually report each other; for each position, I will allow only one person to survive."

"Four, confiscate all supplies; no one may hide them privately."

"Five, open the granaries to distribute grain, and distribute weapons."

"Six, effective immediately, the entire city will be under martial law; violators will be executed without exception, and collective punishment will be enforced."

"Seven, the place of judgment and execution will be outside the city, for all the city to watch."

"These words were meant for the surrendering soldiers to hear, as well as for Zhang Tie and Gao Tian."

"He needs to leave no one behind."

"Outside the hall, Ke Si Man, who had originally been elated and rushed with Mo Ling to report, heard the voice and stood frozen in shock."

"It was like a bolt from the blue."