Chapter 375: The Slumbering Lion_1

Rediaz's request took the PDC by surprise.

In the eyes of PDC and Fleet International citizens, both Jiang Yu and Rediaz were renegades.

Jiang Yu, blinded by the desire for power, used the resources of the Wallfacer Project to establish his own nation.

Rediaz even threatened the Trisolarans with the entire humanity and the whole Solar System as a bet.

How could these two men make such a demand?

Upon receiving the news, Cheng Ping immediately made a choice, allowing former Chinese and Venezuelans to decide for themselves.

In fact, Cheng Ping was also Chinese, and at that moment he suddenly felt a telepathic connection with Jiang Yu, who was returning from the Oort Cloud.

This empathy stemmed from the depths of their shared Yan and Huang lineage, from that great nation that had fought against heaven and earth and even dared to confer gods.

Cheng Ping could no longer see the shadow of that nation on today's Earth.

It was only then that he suddenly realized that Jiang Yu had already taken the soul of that nation, leapt into space, and became the master of the Solar System!

The PDC's strategy in dealing with Rediaz filled Oceania with curses.

Many denounced Cheng Ping for being ready to betray PDC citizens in order to reach some vile agreement with the Solar System State.

Some had even started marching, demanding Cheng Ping's resignation.

These people were generally neither Chinese nor Venezuelan.

Another group was desperately figuring out ways to obtain citizenship of these two countries.

For example, marrying someone with citizenship from these two countries, or taking someone with such citizenship as a spouse.

A few days ago they bitingly criticized the Solar System State, but now the chance to become citizens of it changed the story.

The Solar System State, now daring to fight the Trisolarans, suggested that its citizenship now meant overwhelming security.

Especially since the PDC's appeasement policy towards the Trisolarans had brought hardships to the people, the often-criticized "bellicose" nature of the Solar System State seemed very reliable.

However, once the Solar System State reached a preliminary agreement with the PDC, some published details crushed these people's efforts.

Firstly, the Solar System State would accept new immigrants based on the household registration before the big migration, including children born to citizens of the two countries during this period, but not people beyond the original household registration.

Secondly, after entering the Solar System State, there would be no formal citizenship for twenty years.

The first condition excluded those trying to acquire citizenship through marriage, and the second was an implicit statement that for the first twenty years in the Solar System State, one was obliged to work for it.

Sixty years ago, Jiang Yu had designed a ruse to deceive nearly two hundred million people from the PDC and Fleet International, where obligatory labor only lasted seven to eight years before they were granted formal citizenship.

This time, the reconstruction period had lengthened two to three times.

Despite this, no one wanted to stay in Oceania anymore, all longing to return to their homeland as soon as possible.

Watching shiploads of people leave, those hopefully waiting at the port for a chance to stow away, only to fail, finally cried out, "Why? Why only let people from these two countries leave? This isn't fair!"

A PDC journalist once asked Rediaz a similar question.

Rediaz replied, "The Solar System State's governors realized long ago that the universe has never been fair to living beings, and for this reason, it is the fairest nation in the Solar System.

"Using citizenship to help the PDC solve its population issue in the same way is fairest: regardless of height, weight, strength, or weakness; sick or disabled—if you have citizenship, we will take you."

At the same time, the cooperation between the Solar System State and the PDC began, with the Solar System State first donating a batch of food to the PDC, then selling them a batch of high-powered generators.

Of course, the PDC's currency had heavily devalued by then; even with money in Oceania, nothing could be purchased, so they could only buy on credit to be repaid with goods later on.

Cheng Ping had already organized a team and immediately started the power restoration work.

Then, Jiang Yu allowed the PDC to lease territories in Africa and South America south of the Equator for twenty years.

Other forms of cooperation also started one by one.

After the negotiations, Rediaz, due to ill health, prepared to resign from his position as Governor of the Solar System State.

Jiang Yu had just arrived at the Kuiper Belt when he asked Rediaz, "Are you thinking of retiring?"

Then Jiang Yu went to inquire with Rediaz's secretary about whether there was something wrong with Rediaz's health.

Rediaz replied, "Before the 'Second Battle' victory, it seemed like I had endless energy. After we achieved victory and defended the Solar System, I just felt sluggish all over. It's time to enjoy life a bit."

Following that, Rediaz's secretary replied, "He just had a check-up last week and nothing was found. However, the Governor has indeed been more sleepy lately, and he prefers to sunbathe and entertain himself more now."

Seeing these two responses, Jiang Yu smiled at Number Three and said, "It seems that our lion has grown tired."

Number Three also smiled, "For half a century, Rediaz has been busy. Now that we've won, he indeed deserves some rest."

Jiang Yu nodded, immediately approved Rediaz's retirement request, and asked the Supreme Council to elect a new Governor.

Eventually, Bernice Lancester, the Director of the Wallfacer Office, was elected and took office as the tenth Governor of the Solar System State, witnessing the Wallfacer Jiang Yu's return to Jupiter Orbit.

Then word came from Earth that Rediaz's condition had suddenly worsened, and he was confined to bed.

Jiang Yu hurried to Earth. As soon as he stepped off the shuttle, he asked the officials who came to meet him, "What happened? How did it get worse so suddenly? It's only been two or three months, and he can't get out of bed?"

An official said nervously, "The chief physician said that former Governor Rediaz had been overexerting himself in the struggle against the Trisolarans.

"Now that we've won, the former Governor's conviction, which sustained him, has vanished in the wake of his gratification, causing his body to deteriorate rapidly."

Jiang Yu, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and wiped the corner of his eye, "How much time does he have left?"

The official replied, "The chief physician said, said it could be any moment now."

Jiang Yu quickened his pace and finally, after more than forty minutes, saw Rediaz lying in the intensive care unit.

Next to the sickbed were various monitoring and treatment machines. Rediaz looked listless, his lips dry. His wife, whom he had married after waking up on Jupiter, was sobbing softly with their only daughter by the side of the bed.

From afar, Rediaz saw Jiang Yu. He weakly lifted his arm, waving towards Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu hurried forward, sat down in front of the bed, and grabbed Rediaz's hand, "We won."

As he spoke, his tears flowed freely.

Jiang Yu could feel that these were tears of joy.

He believed that only those like him and Rediaz, who had come from the early years of the crisis, could understand how precious this victory was.

And today, after the victory, Jiang Yu realized that his comrade, who had fought alongside him for half a century, had aged so much, had become so frail.

"Yes, we've won," Rediaz also cried, "At the beginning, I never imagined that humanity could defeat the Trisolarans on the front lines.

"When I heard the news of victory, I was so excited that I jumped up from my chair!

"This was my lifelong wish!"

He paused and then said, "I want to thank you for allowing me to see the dawn of victory, and for exerting my modest efforts in this victory."

Rediaz had been waiting for Jiang Yu. After he finished speaking, his eyes started to drift.

He murmured, "It scares me to think, I almost ended my life during that darkest era."

Jiang Yu gestured to Number Three, signaling him to quickly call a doctor.

Rediaz suddenly gripped Jiang Yu's hand with the last of his strength, his gaze becoming sharp again, he looked straight at Jiang Yu:

"Humanity is, is in your hands now. I, I believe you can give humanity a bright future."

Jiang Yu nodded again and again.

Rediaz took a couple of deep breaths and continued, "We are Wallfacers, we dedicate our lives to humanity.

"If no one, no one thanks you, it doesn't matter. Logic and I both understand you, both appreciate you..."

The lion let out a long breath and slowly closed his eyes, as if sinking into a deep sleep.