Chapter 161 Where Lies the Path Ahead

Outside the core area of the base stood the Crimson Tide Academy.

Rod sat within the courtyard, holding a textbook specifically prepared for them by Xuanlv, his eyes unable to tear themselves away from the pages even for a moment.

"The relations of production determine the superstructure. Alongside the progression of humanity, the past, present, and foreseeable future encompass five major social structures: primitive society, slave society, feudal society, capitalist society, and communist society..."

"Cuxian is a textbook example of a slave society."

"Class structure and class struggle in a slave society: residents are divided into two parts—the free and the slaves. Within the free populace, they are generally further divided into slave-owning masters and self-reliant laborers who do not own slaves; the slave population is likewise divided into various strata..."

Just then, a shadow fell over him. Lifting his gaze, he caught a flash of red. A beautiful woman dressed in a resplendent, vibrant gown and wearing delicate makeup stood before him, a noble and elegant smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Mr. Rod, your study time has come to an end. According to intelligence I have gathered from Xuanlv and other channels, Dasyundum suffered heavy blows from the Sovereign King and will be unable to return to his peak condition for at least two years."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and perhaps our only one."

A trace of scarlet flickered in Rod’s deep eyes as he said in a low voice, "I am not yet ready. There is still so much, so very much, that I need to learn."

Initially, upon hearing that a strange faction had emerged here—one that propagated the rebellious consciousness of the masses and shouted slogans such as "Are kings and nobles, generals and ministers, made of a different mold?"—combined with the commission from Jinnis, he had come seeking a method to save his own people.

Now, he had found the method to deliver his compatriots from suffering, yet that method was far too vast, far too difficult. Less than a year of study was simply not enough to truly master it.

"Our enemies will not grant us time to prepare, and reality certainly will not," Jinnis said, gently shaking her head. "You should understand that success in what we are about to do does not come from simply waiting until we feel 'ready enough.'"

"How much have you prepared?" Rod asked.

"Sixty thousand Hanyang-style rifles, five hundred thousand rounds of ammunition, fifty thousand grenades, and one hundred fireworks. Along with five thousand trained individuals proficient in the use of firearms," Jinnis replied, her voice refined and clear, her eyes carrying a hint of madness.

"This is what I bought with all my savings, and it is the key to our success in the days ahead."

This batch of equipment consisted of decommissioned older-model rifles from Xuanlv, which should have been sealed away in storage, but had now been shipped to the New World to be sold as commodities. Jinnis was the very first purchaser of these military arms, and Xuanlv charged her practically bare cost, throwing in the fireworks and fuel-air explosive shells as complimentary gifts.

In return, Jinnis had given a reciprocal gift, bestowing all her merchant caravans within the Kingdom of Dawn, along with their corresponding personnel and shops, upon Xuanlv.

"Ms. Jinnis, allow me to ask once more: why are you helping us?"

"I wish to possess a country."

"What kind of country?"

"A country where even a commoner like me can hold a high position and become the leader of a nation," Jinnis said, her voice clear and elegant, her striking face making no attempt to conceal her ambition.

She extended a porcelain-white right hand, her ambitious smile on full display.

"Mr. Rod, this world is in need of a transformation."

Rod extended a calloused, broad palm, and their hands clasped together.

"Ms. Jinnis, I have a premonition that we will fail. Just as I said, everything is not ready. We are not ready, and neither are our compatriots. The vast majority of people are not prepared to shed their status as slaves; the very people we seek to liberate are very likely to become our enemies," Rod said.

In the past, he had naively believed that as long as they overthrew Dasyundum and the royal family, and established a new nation, they could save their suffering compatriots. His teachers and predecessors had thought the same way, which was why they had thrown themselves forward wave after wave, inciting rebellions time and time again.

Yet they had all been wrong—profoundly wrong from the very beginning. They had thought only of how to shatter the shackles, but never of how to prevent new ones from being fastened upon them. They had simply incited uprisings, purely venting their dissatisfaction through violence, never once considering throughout it all how to build a nation free from suffering.

They were nothing more than a mob!

Rod had sought counsel from every single teacher here—teachers devoid of any supernatural abilities, yet seemingly possessing boundless wisdom.

For such individuals, his respect came straight from the heart.

These erudite teachers had all given remarkably similar answers regarding the endeavor he was about to undertake: he would fail, and the reason for that failure would be the people, the slaves.

Trying to rouse a mass of slaves to rise in rebellion was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Jinnis frowned slightly and said, "Since you know that relying solely on slaves to overthrow the Tumeng royal family is clearly impossible, you ought to alter your strategy. For instance, unite with surrounding regions and certain nobles within Cuxian to push together."

Right from the start, she had prepared a much safer and more feasible plan for these people, but unfortunately, these zealots refused to listen.

"No," Rod shook his head. "We must rely on them, because only they can save themselves."

"A single spark can start a prairie fire. Let us be the ones to ignite this flame. We may fail, but we will not be the last. Jinnis, it is still not too late for you to withdraw now. What we seek is far greater than you imagine."

"Hmph," Jinnis let out a cold laugh. "My ambition is also greater than you imagine. Either we succeed, or we die."

The academy's first batch of students—totaling fifty-four individuals—departed the base.

Where they were going, and what they intended to do, no one knew.

Where the path lay, they themselves did not know.

Their predecessors had not known, and they themselves did not know either. Yet they were luckier than those who had perished; at least they had been given a direction.

A direction bestowed upon them by Xuanlv.