Chapter 706: One must have a sense of responsibility toward the nation as a federal citizen

Anyone wishing to see the senators must certainly pass the security check.

What Lans did last night was not mysterious, and he had no intention of hiding or concealing it. Many people already knew that "Senator Cleveland's young friend has a somewhat explosive temper," so today, when he entered the estate, he specifically went through this process.

It was to prevent him from carrying weapons and to prevent him from having a sudden outburst of temper.

The security personnel standing before him wore a slightly apologetic smile. "Mr. Lans, routine procedure."

The corners of Lans's mouth lifted slightly, and then he held his hands out level. The security guard said, "Thank you for your cooperation," and quickly checked Lans's person. He did not find any weapons, so the small tray naturally did not come into use.

"Please come in, Mr. Lans!" The two security guards cleared the path into the house. Lans nodded and stepped inside.

In the short time it took to be searched, Senator Cleveland had already gone to the living room to chat with his colleagues, leaving only Tang Mu here to wait for Lans.

Seeing Lans walk over, Tang Mu patted his arm. "Don't take it to heart; strangers all have to go through this process."

To a certain extent, being searched while others were not did indeed imply a bit of targeting.

But Lans did not feel that he couldn't take it. Instead, he laughed and said, "This shows that last night's warning was meaningful."

Tang Mu was stunned for a moment before he realized what Lans was talking about. He shook his head and walked inside. "You always give me perspectives I can't imagine."

Who would have thought he could interpret the matter this way? But this interpretation was indeed valid.

He did not think this was Lans comforting himself; this was his most genuine attitude.

"You don't need to be too nervous. They all have good relationships with the senator; just follow your own rhythm."

"If they ask you any questions, you just need to answer them seriously; you don't need to consider anything else."

"There is such a huge market behind this matter that they will certainly agree."

Lans glanced at Tang Mu and nodded. "I know."

Everyone, every politician, treats politics as a business.

They are always talking about guarding against the erosion of capital, but they themselves are capital.

Political capitalists.

In a more luxurious room, those gentlemen sat around laughing and chatting. Here, there were only individual armchairs; there was no such thing as several people squeezing together.

Gentlemen always maintain a certain distance; no one likes to squeeze together with others.

The sofas were placed sporadically, and there was a separate sofa left for Lans.

Actually, one could see they could have added more sofas to the room, but there was no need now.

Beside the seat where he sat was a small low table, and on the low table were already a cup of black tea and some pastries.

Seeing Lans enter, Senator Cleveland pointed to that seat. "Sit down and talk."

Lans walked to the side of the sofa very calmly and sat down with a smile on his face.

Being handsome has this advantage: even though people know he is a gang leader, at this very moment, they are not that "stereotypical" toward him.

It is as if there is a feeling of "you don't look like a bad person," and they can still talk and laugh.

"This plan was mentioned to me by Lans before. I think it is very meaningful and will help our soldiers stabilize their emotions as soon as possible on the front lines and commit to the war."

He glanced at Lans. "Tell the senators your thoughts."

Lans nodded slightly. On the way here, Senator Cleveland had already talked to him: do not talk about the issue of money.

Or rather, the issue of money should not be discussed by Lans, but by him and these senators behind closed doors in the end.

After all, as the rulers of the Federation, even if they were so covetous of that wealth that they couldn't sleep, they could not show it directly.

They are the ruling class; they must have their own style. They couldn't be like the capitalists they always criticize, unable to move when they see money, right?

Lans had also organized his own narrative when he came, so he didn't need to wait or think about how to say it; he just blurted it out.

"Gentlemen, good morning."

"It is an honor to be able to bring my thoughts to everyone. If you have any questions, you can ask me at any time."

He paused, but not for too long—about two or three seconds—and then immediately began to speak.

"This is the first time the Federation has participated in a world war of this scale. I used the term 'world war'; it is pushing the friction between several countries on the Tanfite Continent toward a huge event that will influence the world landscape in the end."

"The Federation is a very important party in this important event that will change the future landscape of the world. Our participation will determine the direction of the world's future development and changes!"

Lans started off with this epic narrative, and the senators quickly entered the state as well.

Some people looked at Lans with eyes that were even a bit strange. They looked at Lans, then at Senator Cleveland, always feeling that these things Lans said... didn't sound like something a gang leader could say.

This obviously required a very broad vision and height. A homeless person on the side of the road could also say a few words about this war, but those few words couldn't be said to have no value; they could only be said to be all nonsense and garbage.

But Lans's words sounded like nothing special, yet he raised several key points.

The first was "world war"; currently, people did not have this concept yet.

Secondly, he mentioned that this war would determine the future world landscape, as well as the status and role the Federation needed to assume in this huge change!

This completely fit some of the core issues the Congress had been discussing. They also had this cognition and idea, but they used terms like "extra-large war" and language that was not so concise.

Lans's words were too concise, yet they lacked none of the necessary factors, so they had reason to suspect that this might not be Lans's own idea, but Senator Cleveland borrowing his mouth to say it.

Could this young man be Senator Cleveland's illegitimate son?

This old man wasn't this handsome when he was young, was he?

Facing these eyes that carried a bit of inquiry, Lans acted as if he hadn't noticed.

"The situation on the Tanfite Continent should be quite different from our situation here, whether it is the climate or other conditions. Plus our unfamiliarity with this kind of large-scale war, the soldiers will be very nervous."

"I have checked some materials, and I noticed that we will distribute some cigarettes to the soldiers. Tobacco is indeed a good thing; nicotine can make the soldiers calm down a little."

"But just these are not enough!"

He took out a pack of cigarettes that had been checked. "Gentlemen, do you mind if I have one?"

The senators shook their heads one after another; everyone was an old smoker. Lans lit one himself.

In the Federation, there is no habit of actively giving cigarettes to others; most of the time, everyone smokes their own because of taste, habits, and certain psychological reasons.

The moment the smoke from Lans's cigarette drifted up, the senators couldn't help it either; they all took out cigarettes one after another.

A staff member or someone who should be the owner of the house walked to the window and opened a small gap in the window to allow the air to exchange.

Lans took a deep drag of the cigarette and then exhaled downward.

Exhaling smoke abnormally was to avoid being considered by some as intentionally offending them; after all, exhaling smoke toward others has the meaning of offense and provocation.

"War is very cruel. Soldiers on the battlefield have to face huge mental pressure every day!"

"They will find that the comrades who joined the army with them returned to God's embrace just because they raised their heads to take a look. Those shells that don't know when they will fall on their heads scream as they fly over the battlefield."

"The enemy launches attacks regardless of time, and they even have to face heroic charges in almost certain-death situations!"

"Every moment, everyone is under huge mental pressure. If you don't loosen the strings for them, they will snap one day!"

Other senators nodded with solemn faces because Lans did indeed mention some key issues. Apart from the civil war, the Federation had not conducted large-scale foreign wars until now.

What is an internal war?

Slaughtering natives, slaughtering slaves, and wars between federal citizens willing to slaughter slaves and those unwilling to slaughter slaves.

They always participated in the competition as champions before the competition started, so it was very easy and they were not nervous.

But this time it is different. Whether the young men can withstand the huge pressure on the battlefield is indeed a problem.

Once deserters appear, it may trigger a wider range of desertion events, which is a heavy blow to the Federation's image internationally and the morale on the battlefield!

A senator looked at Lans. Although he guessed that these were all Senator Cleveland's original words, he still wanted to ask a question.

"So how do you plan to solve this matter?"

"Several methods!"

"First, we let some local... ladies with internationalist spirit provide ways for our soldiers to relax in the rear."

"Second, add more military chaplains to let the chaplains tell them that this is a just and sacred war. If they accidentally have an accident on the battlefield, they will definitely enter the Kingdom of Heaven to enjoy joy and peace."

"Third, we provide some things that can help them relieve their emotions on the battlefield, such as alcoholic beverages, sedatives or painkillers that do not affect their reason and behavioral abilities at a certain dosage, and so on."

!

The surrounding senators fell into thought. Everyone knows very well that alcohol can relax people. Whether it is after work or when there is something happy or sad, having a drink makes people very relaxed.

But drinking on the battlefield... is it appropriate?

The senator who asked the question asked again, "If they get drunk on the battlefield, wouldn't it make the situation worse?"

"I think the first two methods are very appropriate and can be operated. It just so happens that the Slard ambassador is coming to talk about things in these two days."

Others also nodded one after another. The first one is a matter of course. Federal soldiers leave their hometowns that are not affected by the flames of war and go to foreign lands to fight for them. What's wrong with needing to solve some small problems?

Letting chaplains accompany the army is also not a problem. Local patriarchs will definitely like this proposal. This is a good opportunity for them to continue to expand their influence. Regardless of whether the chaplains on the ground are willing or not, God must be willing anyway.

As for drinking, they were still a bit worried.

Lans shook his head. "We don't provide them with a whole bottle at once. We can provide it once every three days, two ounces each time."

"Two ounces, gentlemen, it will not affect the soldiers' combat situation at all, nor will it make them so hungover that they can't get up."

"But even if it's just two ounces, it can effectively relieve the soldiers' bad mental state."

Lans looked at the guy who opened the window just now. "Sir, can you pour me a two-ounce whiskey?"

"No ice, thank you!"

One of the senators nodded slightly, and soon that someone poured a two-ounce whiskey into a square cup with a measuring cup in front of all the gentlemen.

Looking at that shallow layer of whiskey, the senators' faces all showed relaxed smiles.

One of them even laughed and said, "I can drink ten cups of this kind of wine!"

He is bragging!

Lans immediately made a judgment. Two ounces is about equal to fifty-five milliliters. It really doesn't look like much, but ten cups is more than a catty. Even if the alcohol content is not high, unless it is someone who can drink very well, ordinary people will also get drunk.

But two ounces is really not much.

"If the soldiers just have a sip every day, then there will be even less of a problem!"

"In addition, we can propose the management of alcoholic soldiers in the supervisory team, not give them the opportunity to get drunk, and not allow soldiers to give their wine to others at will."

Lans raised some constructive significance, and the senators all felt that these ideas were very good.

A young man with eloquence, knowledge, and good looks will always make people feel a bit curious.

Soon their topic shifted from this matter to other issues.

"Lans, where do you think the future of this war will go?"

A senator asked such a question. This question actually cannot be counted as a real question; he just said it casually.

This question is just like those kind-hearted men who are willing to help girls in need. After aiding some protein, they ask casually while pulling up their pants, "How did you think of doing this?"!

He doesn't really hope to get some answers about this question and the follow-up from the girls who have just accepted the protein and been helped; he is just bored and said a sentence.

It has the same status as that cigarette.

But this question depends on who is asking. Lans might not mention his thoughts to ordinary people, but here, all around, are big shots!

He knows the importance of opportunity very well.

If you can't give them a slap to make them remember you, then the best way is to say some words that make them need to ponder deeply and keep in mind.

Then when one day they need someone like you, they will think of you!

Lans answered with a smile, "The Federation will become the center of the world."

Several senators showed smiles and laughed out loud. One of them even laughed and said, "You are even more exaggerated than the President!"

"He only thinks that we will become an important part of the world's composition, and you, yet you say we are the center of the world?"

This is essentially the second question.

Lans nodded. "Yes, because we have huge advantages."

By this time, whether it was the kind-hearted person pulling up his pants or these senators asking casually, they all began to become serious.

"Tell me about it!"

Lans pursed his lips. "The Federation has the world's developed industry and scientific technology, and our industrial potential is more powerful than theirs."

"Besides that, we are not on the same continent as them. In other words, war will only make our industry stronger and more mature, but it will not destroy our industrial foundation."

"But they are different."

"We can appropriately... control the direction of the war, destroy their industrial cities, and make the time for them to rebuild after the war ends become long."

"Then we can use our mature and developed industrial superiority to dump our goods into their countries."

"Make their governments and businessmen rely more on us in industrial development!"

"When we are running, others are still trying to relearn how to walk. We will inevitably become the leaders of the world!"

The senators were all considering these possibilities that Lans mentioned. The more they thought, the more they felt that they could continue along this idea. Fighting in someone else's home, no matter how intense the fight is, the one who suffers losses is not oneself.

As for people?

The Federation is a damn immigrant mixed-residence country. There is no such thing as ethnicity here, only race. Whoever comes here is a federal citizen!

This is also an advantage of an immigrant country. As long as the rulers make certain concessions, new immigrants can quickly integrate into the mixed ethnicities and cultures.

It is indeed a pity that some young children died, but this does not mean that the Federation will lack young and strong people. They only need to open the door to immigration, and countless immigrants are waiting to become glorious federal citizens!

This question is not a question with a standard answer; it is a casual question. At this time, they also realized that perhaps the previous questions and answers were not authorized by Senator Cleveland.

They finally had a bit of interest in Lans. A senator asked, "Will doing this cause some problems, for example, they plan to unite to deal with us?"

Lans shook his head. "It's unlikely, and even if they can really put down the hatred of genocide for thousands of years and can really unite, they won't be our opponents."

"The East Ocean is our best line of defense. As long as the navy is developed well, they won't even be able to get on the Federation's beach before they sink into the East Ocean!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 707 =====