The morning sun rose above the horizon.
The entire city bathed in a bright, refreshing glow.
However, the expressions on the faces of the citizens were varied.
The dogs had barked all night, and the world had changed drastically by morning!
For many who trusted Ye Lu Qin, it felt like the sky had fallen.
But for the vast majority who supported the Su Xiong Alliance, this was the best day in years!
At the street corner newsstand, the cries of the newspaper boy, even the heated discussions on the streets.
Everyone's attention was on the same thing.
“Extra! Extra! Ye Lu Qin was killed in the coup attempt to assassinate President Gorbachev!”
“The Alliance stood strong! Konev is a hero!”
People gathered in the streets, discussing the news.
The heavy atmosphere of the past few days was shattered by this news.
Ye Lu Qin had returned to Moscow under the cover of night, attempting a coup, which resulted in the serious injury of President Gorbachev.
Even more infuriating news was spreading among the masses.
Ye Lu Qin had colluded with Western powers, betraying national interests, selling off Su Xiong assets to their capitalists.
A middle-aged man clenched his fists in anger, his eyes burning with rage.
He said in a hoarse voice, “This is all a Western conspiracy! They let our own people seize national wealth, only to hand it over to them secretly!”
“Damn it! I never thought Ye Lu Qin was like this! He betrayed us!”
A middle-aged man who had previously trusted Ye Lu Qin stood beside him, expressionless, his hands clasped around his knees, clearly still processing the shocking news.
He stared at the crowd, his eyes blank, repeating, “How could this be, he was such a good person! He said he would lead us all to prosperity!”
Soon, the Su Xiong Alliance's official media began broadcasting the same information.
Among the crowd on the streets, Ye Lu Qin's loyal supporters couldn't accept the reality of the situation, they shouted angrily:
“We demand an explanation from Konev! What happened last night? How could Ye Lu Qin become a traitor?!”
The people began to get excited, gathering more and more in the streets, chanting slogans.
They wanted to hear from interim President Konev, they wanted to know how they should navigate this changing situation.
The news also reached Konev's ears.
Konev knew that to lead the entire Su Xiong Alliance, simply getting the upper echelons on his side was far from enough.
Only with the support of the people would he have a solid foundation.
And Ye Lu Qin's earlier persona had been so well-crafted, so convincing, it had fooled many people.
As the people grew restless, the doors of the Su Xiong Alliance Parliament building opened.
Konev walked out.
As soon as he reached the center of the Parliament courtyard, the crowd began to shout:
“Konev, we need the truth!”
“What happened last night?!”
“President Ye Lu Qin is still alive, right? Will you honor the promises President Ye Lu Qin made to us?!”
“Everyone, please calm down!”
Konev's voice cut through the noise of the crowd, firm and unwavering, his eyes were strong and confident.
The noise gradually subsided, everyone turning their attention to the interim president who was about to speak.
As they waited, Konev took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, trying to maintain his composure.
“I know you all have questions. President Ye Lu Qin dedicated himself to the country, but in the past year, he has been seduced by the West, obsessed with money, beauty, and power, he wanted to develop in the West.”
“Many of our domestic assets have been sold off cheaply by him. It's hard to believe, but these are the facts, the contracts are in black and white!”
As soon as the words left his lips, a murmur spread through the crowd. Some still doubted, believing this crisis was a Western plot, others supported Konev's firm stance.
“From now on, we will thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of all officials and military officers, we will never allow national interests to be compromised again.”
Konev continued, looking directly into the eyes of each listener, as if challenging those voices of dissent.
The determination and ability he exuded in his words calmed some, but there were still some in the crowd who grumbled: “He's just a son of Gorbachev, what can he save us from?”
“I heard all the dissidents were killed!”
“Is this a tyrant?!”
As they discussed, Konev's voice rose again, raising his fist, as if calling upon a glimmer of hope in their hearts.
“The people of Su Xiong are at our most critical moment!”
“We need to unite as one, work together to defeat those traitors who want to destroy our homeland!”
“During the investigation this past year, I was constantly shocked. There are so many enemies hidden among us.”
“Last night, in Moscow alone, we arrested 3,000 hidden spies and informants responsible for gathering intelligence within Su Xiong Alliance territory.”
“Once these worms that have been harming us from the shadows are cleared out, our lives will definitely get better!”
“Comrades, I swear on my life, those who have oppressed our people, plundered our rich lives, and looted our wealth will all face the consequences they deserve!”
“Now, I have reclaimed the mines and factories that were sold off at a low price, the fruits of the people's hard work will not be sold off cheaply!
“Our advanced heavy industrial equipment and excellent state-owned enterprises have all been taken back. Everyone's wages will be doubled, they will all be raised back!”
“In the future, I will help the Su Xiong Alliance obtain more resources, so that every Su Xiong citizen will have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear.”
“Whatever the robbers have stolen from the Su Xiong Alliance, I will lead Su Xiong to defeat them, and we will reclaim what was lost, and then some!”
“I believe that without the persecution and misdirection of those traitors, we will be on the right path!”
“The unwavering people of Su Xiong, together with the Su Xiong Alliance, will surely rise again!”
“We will make those who have wronged us pay a heavy price!”
These passionate words resonated with the people of Su Xiong Alliance.
Every Su Xiong citizen still remembered the glory of those days.
But during Gorbachev's years in power, they had gradually forgotten those majestic achievements.
But now.
Konev's voice, as if penetrating their bodies, echoed directly in the minds of the crowd around them.
The surging blood in their hearts caused the crowd to erupt in earth-shattering cheers:
“Long live the Su Xiong Alliance! Long live the Su Xiong Alliance!”
“Long live the Su Xiong Alliance!!”
Konev's passionate speech and the people's raised arms were all captured by the news reporters.
Within a few short hours, the people of the entire Su Xiong Alliance felt the same way.
A familiar yet strange red power was awakening in their bodies!
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