After all, everyone knows that a draft only happens because something is about to happen.
What exactly, no one knows yet. But one thing is certain: it is going to be big!
"Are we going to war?"
"That doesn't make sense. Fifty million... forget about a military reunification of Zhen Island; that’s enough to conquer the Freedom Country, too! Who are we going to war with?"
"Stop guessing. Get into the channel quickly; the government is about to explain everything."
Within ten minutes, the number of viewers for this live broadcast reached a staggering 3.2 billion!
The whole world was watching!
This is the influence Daxia wields today! This is the sensation caused by the mobilization of fifty million troops.
Inside the High-Level Diplomatic Reception Center, it was a hive of activity. Staff were busy setting up the venue for this emergency press conference, while domestic and foreign media reporters had already set up their cameras, nervously adjusting their lenses in preparation for the live feed.
Diplomats from various countries, guided by staff through security, arrived at their assigned seats. They adjusted their earpieces to consult with their superiors back home, readying their questions.
Their faces no longer held the relaxed smiles of ordinary days. There was only gravity, and a hint of fear.
Elder Jin, who was about to take the stage, stood backstage. He looked out at the diplomats from various countries—who looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy—and a smile spread across the corner of his mouth.
"Are they all this afraid of us?"
"Heh." Elder Jin lit a cigarette and took a slow drag, his expression filled with an indescribable pride.
In the past, Daxia was bullied by the great powers. They smashed our gates with artillery, treated our borders like their own backyards, and like common thieves, snatched away batches of our national treasures!
In the past, Daxia was mocked. Once, when a Daxia citizen held our flag high at the Olympic Games to show our national prestige, the international athletes competing alongside him looked on with nothing but disdain.
But Daxia today is different.
A simple military draft has drawn inquiries from those so-called great powers. These diplomats sent by other countries might appear to be questioning Daxia's draft, but Elder Jin could see through it instantly: these people are afraid!
Daxia today commands fear! And only when you are feared can you receive true respect!
"Elder Jin," Lin Fan said, sitting to the side. He still maintained that strange posture with his hands held in front of him. He smiled faintly. "When you go up there, speak the truth. You don't need to save face for them."
"Of course, we people of Daxia have always been kind to others; you must tell them the news that the gods are coming. As for whether they listen or not, that doesn't matter."
Elder Jin nodded. "Understood."
He stubbed out his cigarette and, led by the staff, strode toward the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the press conference has begun," Elder Jin, dressed in his military uniform, stood at the podium and said bluntly. "You may ask your questions."
"Take this opportunity to let our own citizens understand what Daxia will be facing next."
For a moment, all the diplomats were slightly stunned, looking at Elder Jin on stage in disbelief.
"What is going on?"
"Shouldn't this press conference be handled by a diplomat?"
"That’s a soldier, isn't it? Look at the medals on his chest... none of those are lightweights!"
"Why is there a soldier at a press conference? Is there a mistake?"
"Wait, why does this soldier look so familiar... He seems to be Elder Jin, the Grand Commander of the Luzhou Military Region of Daxia!"
"What? A military commander? Why is he the one holding this press conference?"
Suddenly, all the diplomats felt immense pressure. They were used to dealing with other diplomats; throwing a soldier with such a powerful aura—who even had a gun strapped to his waist—into the mix was more than they could handle!
"Well? No questions? Wasn't it you who requested this conference? Why are you silent?" Elder Jin snorted with some displeasure, his hand instinctively moving toward his waist.
Seeing Elder Jin’s movement, those diplomats who had come with the intent to hold Daxia accountable now shrank into their seats like chicks under the gaze of the media cameras, too terrified to speak, just like grade-schoolers.
Elder Jin’s aura, forged through a lifetime of battle, was simply too formidable for these diplomats, who were usually accustomed to speaking with hidden barbs, to even meet his eyes.
***
The scene remained silent for three full minutes.
Three minutes of silence might be negligible in other contexts. But what was this occasion? It was an interrogation by the so-called "powers" and "great nations" regarding Daxia’s mobilization of fifty million troops! They had arrived aggressive and fully prepared, only to be scared into silence by a single look from General Jin!
In an instant, the people of Daxia watching on their TVs burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, why aren't they saying anything?"
"What a stupid question. They wanted to hold us accountable, but the one representing us is General Jin! The aura is completely different!"
"General Jin? The Grand Commander from the Luzhou Military Region? I heard he almost bombarded Kameda Country back in the day!"
"Who would dare to step on General Jin’s toes? Give these diplomats ten times the courage, and they still wouldn't dare! This is a real veteran who isn't afraid to draw his gun!"
"I thought it would be a serious debate. But this scene is hilariously funny; it reminds me of when my teacher would call on us in class..."
"Damn, that guy is shaking. Wait... did he pee his pants?"
The camera gave the Italian diplomat a close-up. The middle-aged man was trembling all over, and wet stains were beginning to spread across his trousers...
This spectacle completely stripped the remaining diplomats of any courage to speak. It must be said that Italy has a glorious tradition of always providing comic relief...
The overseas internet also exploded. Those foreigners were stunned by the sight!
"OMG, why are these guys so cowardly?"
"Seriously, they were ranting and raving about Daxia online earlier. How are they peeing their pants the moment they meet him?"
"Didn't they post that they were going to force Daxia to answer? How did they get so scared?"
On the podium, Elder Jin, his back straight, looked toward the distance. Beneath his calm exterior, his heart was surging. He knew that the reason he could be so tough wasn't because of how great he was, but because of the Daxia behind him!
These diplomats weren't afraid of him. They were afraid of Daxia! They were afraid of the 1.3 billion people of Daxia!
The disdain and cold laughter these powers once directed toward Daxia had all been transformed into fear!
The dragon had risen! That straight spine belonged not just to Elder Jin, but to all of Daxia standing tall!
Looking at the terrified, shaking diplomats, Elder Jin felt his eyes grow warm.
"Old Master, are you watching?"
"We have stood up!"
"They can never make us bow our heads again!"
"This prosperous era is as you wished! This Daxia is also as you wished!"
Elder Jin struggled to maintain his cold expression, but his heart was roiling. If not for the temperament he had honed over the years, he would have been unable to keep from weeping.
But just then, his phone buzzed.
"Beep-beep!"
Elder Jin took out his phone, looked at it, then turned around with a helpless expression and nodded to Lin Fan, who was sitting in a corner backstage.
A text message from Lin Fan: "The National Chairman just called me. He said you should tone it down and stop being so aggressive. Look, you’ve scared them into peeing their pants."
Elder Jin replied with a message, speechless: "I didn't do anything on purpose. I was just acting normally. Who knew these guys were so fragile? They came here with an accusatory attitude; I thought they’d be tougher."
"I only said one sentence, and they already peed themselves. Can you blame me?"
"You... you should really hold back a bit," Lin Fan also felt exasperated. "Daxia has always been kind to others; we try our best to avoid conflict. Our diplomats are usually very polite to them."
"That’s why they’ve been spoiled. They think we’re easy to bully."
"And then you go and roar at them like that... Sigh, I suppose we elders are to blame for spoiling them."
The truth was that Elder Jin’s aura—forged on the battlefield—was simply too fierce. It was an aura tempered by life and death! Even when he wasn't angry, he commanded respect. When Lin Fan spoke with him, even he felt nervous. And that’s saying something, considering Lin Fan was the supreme commander of the Asian Alliance returning from the apocalypse! If this old man were truly angry, he’d dare to point his guns at the gods themselves, let alone these diplomats who did nothing but bluster.
Elder Jin rubbed his face, his expression resigned, and finally softened his tone. "Ahem, don't be afraid. I didn't mean to scare you."
"I just wanted to say..."
"If you have questions, speak up. Daxia will answer you. What is there that can't be said directly?"
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere became even stranger. Elder Jin looked like a stern teacher trying to comfort students who had been scared into tears by him...
In an instant, the citizens watching the broadcast exploded!
"Well, he’s actually comforting them now!"
"I thought this would be a debate, but it turns out it’s a kindergarten teacher coaxing his kids!"
"I know the real main event is still coming, but the buildup is already this entertaining?"
"I can't take it! I know this isn't the right place, but I can't hold it in—hahahaha!"
"The best comedy act of the year!"
What made the audience even more speechless was that even after Elder Jin’s "comforting," those diplomats still didn't dare to be the first to ask a question.
Finally, "Baka!" came an angry rebuke from the earpiece of the Kameda Country diplomat, from their leader, Kameda. "Are you going to disgrace the great Kameda Country like this?"
"Did you forget what I told you?"
"Quick, question him, or just commit seppuku!"
Songquan, the diplomat from Kameda Country, took a deep breath, braced himself against Elder Jin's gaze, and finally stood up!
Before he could even speak:
"Clap, clap, clap, clap!"
A round of applause rang out.
Songquan looked up and was stunned to see Elder Jin looking at him with an encouraging expression, clapping his hands! For a moment, Songquan felt lost... Why did he feel so much like a child in kindergarten answering a teacher's question?
"Not bad, not bad," Elder Jin said happily. "Finally, someone has a question. The rest of you who don't dare to speak should learn from this gentleman!"
Songquan: "???"
It really had become a kindergarten! Did he think he was the principal? Was he actually praising him?
Songquan felt a deep sense of humiliation. He summoned his courage, gritted his teeth, and said, "General Jin, please answer my question."
"Is Daxia's mobilization of fifty million troops intended to incite international conflict?"
"Or, to put it bluntly, is Daxia's draft a preparation for war against us?"
This question was direct and to the point. Every ambassador looked at Elder Jin, waiting for his answer. Every domestic and international media reporter focused their cameras on him.
At this moment, countless viewers across the entire Blue Star were waiting for Elder Jin’s answer. Waiting for Daxia's answer!
***
But listening to Songquan's question, in this serious setting, the corner of Elder Jin's mouth suddenly twitched. His stoic face contorted for two seconds as if holding something back.
Finally, he couldn't help but laugh. His smile was full of disdain!
"Hahaha, deal with you?" Elder Jin looked at everyone present, smiling. "To deal with you, do we need to draft fifty million troops?"
"You think too highly of yourselves."
"And you underestimate Daxia too much!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of all the foreign diplomats changed. Songquan, who had spoken earlier, clenched his fists. "What do you mean? Are you insulting our Kameda Country?"
"Ahem," Elder Jin tried to steady his breathing, looking somewhat grave. "No, I am not insulting Kameda Country."
"I am saying..."
"None of you present is worth us drafting fifty million troops."
"Heh, drafting fifty million to deal with you... you really do think too highly of yourselves."
Arrogant! At this moment, a wild, fierce energy erupted from Elder Jin!
To deal with you, why would we need to draft fifty million troops? With Daxia's current military strength, do we need to draft fifty million more to deal with the likes of you?
Songquan wanted to argue back, but he had nothing to say. Although Kameda Country was considered a strong nation, its total population was only one hundred million! Just as Elder Jin said, to deal with them, why would Daxia need fifty million more soldiers?
At that moment, the diplomats felt a chill run down their spines.
Wasn't Daxia a country without a temper? In reality, Daxia had previously followed the ancestral teaching of kindness, mostly responding to provocations from other countries with mere protests. But these diplomats had mistaken that kindness for weakness.
Now, with the gods about to descend, Elder Jin couldn't be bothered to engage in pleasantries with these people and just let it all out!
For a moment, these diplomats realized with shock that Daxia wasn't without a temper!
*To deal with you, why would we need to draft fifty million troops?*
Only Daxia would dare to say that!
"The sleeping dragon has awakened!"
"Damn it, when did that dozing lion reveal its fangs!"
The diplomats from other countries looked at Elder Jin in terror, unable to believe what they were hearing.
At this moment, as Elder Jin’s words echoed, the domestic forums exploded!
"Damn, this... since when did our spokesperson become so hardcore?"
"To deal with you, why would we need to draft fifty million troops! He’s boosting our national prestige! Pure dominance!"
"Elder Jin is mighty! Daxia is mighty!"
"Exactly, do we need to draft troops to deal with these guys? Heh, a few peacekeepers would wipe out that little Kameda Country."
"Hahaha, they really do think too highly of themselves! Do they still think we’re the Qing Dynasty?"
However, the international friends on the foreign internet, hearing Elder Jin's statement, were suddenly indignant!
"Daxia is too arrogant!"
"Exactly, my Kameda Country refuses to accept this! Even with Daxia's current strength... uh, sorry, Daxia is awesome."
"Don't listen to Daxia's bragging. In my White Elephant Country, people drink cow urine and practice yoga every day. Our warriors could send a motorcycle over, and it would scare their soldiers to death!"
"Right, right, your White Elephant Country can fit three hundred people on one motorcycle. That stunt would scare anyone to death..."
For a moment, the scene at the press conference became awkward again. Songquan had finally summoned the courage to question Daxia, only for Elder Jin to reply with that. It left the ambassadors completely speechless.
The courage they had just mustered was gone again...
"Beep-beep..." Elder Jin’s phone rang again.
He took it out and looked down.
Lin Fan: "The National Chairman called me again. Elder Jin, you're my own grandfather, can you tone it down?! You didn't act like this when you told me you weren't confident about being a spokesperson before you went on stage! You call this a lack of confidence?"
"But I really don't know how to be a spokesperson, and didn't you tell me to be confident?" Elder Jin thought for a moment and replied.
"Just tone it down!" Lin Fan was deeply conflicted. "You're making Daxia look so bellicose. Look at how scared they are! They’re trembling!"
"Go comfort them!"
"Fine." Elder Jin sighed and put his phone away.
To be honest, Elder Jin didn't think he had gone too far. We are drafting our own soldiers; that’s an internal matter. What does it have to do with you? You ambassadors came running over, acting all accusatory... what business is it of yours? Isn't that blatant interference in our internal affairs? With Elder Jin’s temper, not swearing at them was already giving them face.
Elder Jin took a deep breath. "Ahem, what I said just now was a bit harsh. Actually, what I wanted to say was..."
"You are not qualified to adopt an accusatory attitude in front of Daxia."
These words, while polite, were more insulting than his previous arrogance!
*You are not qualified!*
This was Daxia's attitude toward these ambassadors who had come to hold them accountable. Daxia today is not something you are qualified to interrogate!
"You..." Songquan’s eyes widened, wanting to say something.
"Questioning the purpose of our draft? Heh, you aren't actually upholding justice, so stop putting on that righteous front." Elder Jin sneered. "You’re afraid!"
"You're afraid of Daxia!"
"You're afraid of the people of Daxia!"
"You're afraid that Daxia will go to war with you!"
"That is the only reason you are so scared of our mobilization of fifty million, the only reason you’d interfere in our internal affairs. Heh, we are drafting our own soldiers—what does that have to do with you?"
"If you weren't afraid, even if we drafted one hundred million, would you have run over here to ask?"
"Since you are afraid, stop putting on an accusatory attitude! If we really went to war, which one of you could hold out?"
Silence fell upon the ambassadors of other countries. They didn't want to admit it, but in truth, they were afraid!
"Apologize, recognize your place, and this matter will pass. Otherwise, you can head home now. That is Daxia’s position."
Elder Jin snorted coldly.
Songquan slowly lowered his head. "I am sorry. Please tell me, why is Daxia drafting troops?"
For a moment, the ambassadors who had been so arrogant before the press conference all lowered their heads.
"I am very sorry, but please..."
"I apologize..."
Apologies rang out across the venue! This was the world apologizing to Daxia!
"Very well."