Unintentional Roots in the Era

For the people of Jinling, such official documents no longer stirred excitement. They had fully accepted and felt that the taste of peace before the apocalypse had somehow returned. Jinling no longer felt like a city immersed in the pure atmosphere of the end times. After the initial thrill of seeing Mike step up during the early days of the disaster, the people of Jinling were now left with calmness and unwavering support.

They did what they had to do, followed the orders, supported the decisions, and trusted in the capabilities of the organization. There was no need to force any change; things were done a certain way before the apocalypse, and they would continue that way. Just like countless moments in Chinese history, the initial excitement during times of great calamity quickly faded. What remained was the steady work of disaster relief and the diligent rebuilding of homes.

But while the people of Jinling were unfazed by the document, the situation in Xinchang was different. Xinchang was in more chaos, and ordinary survivors faced even greater survival pressures. The announcement, made under Liu Wenbo's name, carried more weight. It not only intimidated the local armed factions but also showed the people of Xinchang Mike's resolve in disaster relief.

In times of peace, people were indifferent to official rhetoric, but in the wake of a disaster, such a document was like a refreshing downpour. Its appearance meant that everything it promised would come to pass. Countless people would follow this great belief, striving and sacrificing for it.

As soon as the document was issued, the previously quiet chat channels in Xinchang exploded. Just a few days ago, there had been unwritten rules that ordinary survivors couldn't speak freely in these spaces. But now, no one cared about that anymore. Survivors who had been invisible, those who had been barely scraping by, suddenly emerged. Some messages were filled with joy, others with tears of happiness. The disorganized praise spoke volumes about the emotional wave they were riding—a wave fueled by newfound hope for survival.

Among the flurry of messages, Chen Xun, representing the Brave Alliance, made his statement:"All members of the Brave Alliance will fully support the disaster relief efforts commanded by Jinling! The nation is in peril, and every citizen has a duty! We will contribute all resources, manpower, and armed forces, fully committing ourselves to the relief efforts! We will follow the orders of Jinling and fight the toughest battle against the disaster! We will be at the forefront of the rescue!"

Chen Xun's words were shrewd, with deep meaning. In the chaos, no one paid attention to the subtleties; other armed factions merely copied and pasted similar statements, as if to show their allegiance. Whether they truly meant it or not, the message had to be conveyed. With the King's forces arriving, it was better to comply than risk facing an uncertain fate.

For the people of Xinchang, the declarations of these armed faction leaders were deeply moving. It was unimaginable that these powerful, armed leaders would lower themselves in such a way. They spoke words of justice, their tones filled with humility, all because the commanders from Jinling had arrived, bringing a glimmer of righteousness to the post-apocalyptic world.

Xinchang, fueled by the document, had slipped into a near-religious fervor. Mike, experienced with such moments, didn't concern himself with the rising fervor in Xinchang. He was focused on his base in Jinling, knowing that he needed to gauge the people's attitudes there to decide on the next course of action.

The people of Jinling had reacted calmly to the document's release, offering their support. They sympathized with the survivors of Xinchang, supporting the disaster relief efforts, and continued to discuss rumors about Xinchang. In the end, they shared a deep, unspoken understanding of each other's suffering, a bond forged in the fire of the apocalypse.

Mike's primary concern, however, was manpower. With his forces spread thin between Jinling and the unstable situation in Xinchang, he couldn't rely solely on the military to manage both cities. He needed support from survivor groups to handle the smaller tasks.

It was clear: recruiting more survivors was now urgent. A suggestion by Jiang Xiaoci, who had previously recruited the first batch of volunteers, was now becoming pressing. This first group, numbering just over three thousand, was already en route to Xinchang with supplies. They were nowhere near enough.

Mike had already begun issuing recruitment notices for volunteers within Jinling. His first document sought to gauge the people's stance on the situation in Xinchang. It was clear from the response that they were deeply concerned about the city's turmoil. Based on this, Mike quickly issued a second notice:

"Notice on the Formation and Recruitment of the Jinling Volunteer Corps"

In this document, Mike outlined the formation of the "Jinling Volunteer Corps," a group tasked with maintaining stability, disaster relief, and rescue efforts within Jinling, as well as some external logistical support. He appealed to all healthy men and women aged 18 to 50, offering benefits and the opportunity to contribute to the national effort.

The announcement immediately captured the attention of the citizens. Many saw it as a sign that Jinling's leaders recognized the manpower shortage. But others, eager to be part of something greater, jumped to register. As the recruitment call spread, a mix of excitement, pride, and a desire for action filled the air.

"I'm signing up for the Volunteer Corps! I'm not in it for the benefits—I just want to contribute to the country!""Well said! The nation is in peril; we all have a responsibility!""I'm already filling out the registration form—enough talking!"

Yet, amidst the excitement, a few concerns about the dangers of the work began to surface. But these concerns were quickly drowned out by the fire of patriotism: "Danger? We're already living in a dangerous world. Who's not at risk?"

The response was overwhelming, and Mike soon realized that his initial estimate of recruiting a thousand volunteers was too low. As his official documents stirred the people of Jinling, the floodgates of enthusiasm had opened.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaoci, watching the unfolding events, chuckled softly. "The boss has made progress, but he may have miscalculated."

Standing beside her, Li Jie asked, "Should we tell the chief? You have better ideas; surely you could suggest a better way.""No need," Jiang Xiaoci replied, shaking her head. "This isn't a problem. Even if it doesn't work out, it will be valuable experience for him."

Her eyes narrowed with a knowing smile. "There's a deeper purpose to all this." She paused, tapping her fingers on the desk lightly. "The Volunteer Corps isn't just a community service group. It's independent, reporting directly to him. Over time, their allegiance will shift."

Li Jie, still confused, asked, "Isn't it all the same? The Volunteer Corps will be doing disaster relief work, right?"

Jiang Xiaoci's smile deepened as she explained, "The tasks may be the same, but their roles are different. You don't need to understand yet.""I..." Li Jie hesitated, a realization dawning on her. She lowered her head, silently contemplating.

Jiang Xiaoci's smile widened as she observed her. "He may not realize it now, but this era will push him forward."