Imperial Elite

Chapter 98 Assassination of Joe Harrison
Just as the volunteers on Emerald Isle couldn't understand Joe, the outcasts among the Emerald Isle residents who were loyal to Buntania also couldn't understand what Joe wanted to do.

Although the Parliamentarian Party, which had controlled Emerald Isle for the past two centuries and sought autonomy through a parliamentary route, suffered a crushing defeat in the general election due to the governor's brutal suppression of the 1916 uprising and the postponement of the autonomy plan due to the war.

This party, which once held more than eighty seats in parliament, suffered a crushing defeat in the general election, leaving it with only six seats and becoming a vanished giant.

However, the connections and influence that the Parliamentary Party has built up in the past will not simply vanish.

Meanwhile, although the pro-independence forces constituted the vast majority in the twenty-six southern counties, the Unity Party, which favored remaining within the Bonitania Empire, still held the majority in the six northern counties.

Just like the party's name suggests, its members do not believe that Emerald Isle should strive for autonomy or even independence. Instead, they believe it should further integrate and become a complete part of the empire, just as has been the case throughout history.

The large landowners who were unwilling to join the United Agricultural Corporation came precisely from these regions. These landowners felt that they had served the empire for generations and were the empire's most loyal subjects, and that the empire should protect its loyal subjects.

So after Joe announced his intention to withdraw troops from the areas where these large landowners owned land.

Local councilors immediately came to see Joe, trying to persuade him to rescind his order and continue to provide protection for the empire's loyal subjects.

Some incredibly powerful individuals even managed to get the Prime Minister to call Joe's office and ask him what he was planning to do.

In light of this situation, Joe is also preparing to align the level of detail with the local councilors, since everything Joe has done is an open strategy and there is nothing to hide.

At the same time, as Joe dealt with the media more often, he also came to understand the importance of public opinion.

If he hadn't been lucky enough to be chosen by Britannia for a propaganda hero, it would have been questionable whether he, as an engineer, could have survived the war.

After all, the soldiers who trained with him back then, even those who learned slowly, should have learned to walk by now.

Now that the framework of the United Agriculture Company is being set up, it's time to promote its policies.

As for the possibility that announcing the withdrawal so quickly and then suspending the withdrawal plan would damage his prestige, Joe wasn't particularly concerned.

Anyway, he was a military officer by training, and his prestige was entirely based on military victories. For minor matters like this, he only needed one military victory to make up for it.

Whether in the East or on Emerald Isle, Joe had no shortage of opportunities to achieve military victory.

Upon arriving at Emerald Island and beginning his interactions with the volunteer forces there, Joe realized that traditional military tactics were completely inapplicable on Emerald Island.

These are people who usually pretend to be ordinary citizens, or who really are ordinary citizens, but who do things that normal ordinary citizens wouldn't do when needed.

Using large numbers of troops is generally unlikely to be effective.

Because when troops are being moved, these armed personnel will receive the news and either relocate or hide their weapons and revert to civilian life.

Under these circumstances, it would be virtually impossible to catch these guys.

To deal with these guys, it's impossible to announce that civilians were accidentally injured. In fact, if civilians are accidentally injured, it will only exacerbate the already dangerous ethnic conflict.

After confirming this situation, Joe began to assemble a special assault force. This force did not need to be large, but the personnel had to be extremely elite, like the Teutonic Stormtroopers during the war, the kind of force where one person could take on several others.

However, these people do not need to break through trenches on the battlefield; instead, their urban warfare capabilities are strengthened and reinforced.

Their training covers everything from rope rappelling assaults, which no one has used before, to CQB tactics in indoor warfare, and even hand-to-hand combat, explosive ordnance making and dismantling, vehicle driving and basic maintenance—all situations that might be encountered in urban combat environments.

Joe had only one requirement for this unit: after the intelligence unit located the leaders of the Green Island Volunteer Army, they should be able to travel in plainclothes and capture those leaders without alerting anyone, and without deploying any troops, quickly and fatally eliminate the Green Island Volunteer Army's guerrilla forces.

However, since this unit was drawn from the Guards by Joe, and those selected were at least sergeants, although Joe had high hopes for this commando unit, it was a temporary organization without a formal establishment.

Even in Joe's records, the unit's name was simply "Assault Team".

Just then, Joe's laboratory in York also achieved some preliminary results, with radio broadcasts being able to cover both the mainland and Emerald Isle during testing.

And although it was bulky, the laboratory managed to produce quite a few radio prototypes during the testing process.

Even though these prototypes were ugly and their sound systems were not high-end, at best they could only make a sound.

However, even by today's standards, it can be considered an absolute high-tech product, an absolute high-end gadget. Even public address systems are still considered a science fiction concept.

So Joe had the lab staff select a few of the better-quality units and give them to people like His Majesty George, the Prime Minister, and cabinet members.

Joe had them send a few technicians to Emerald Isle with the remaining radios, and they installed them in the three universities that were the only ones on Emerald Isle.

These rare items naturally aroused the curiosity of many people. At this time, the pro-unification and pro-independence factions were having fierce exchanges in the university, and sometimes they even used the weapon of criticism.

However, both teachers and students were extremely curious about these rare items that came from their homeland.

In particular, to allow more people to hear Joe's speech, the lab staff equipped these radios with huge sound units.

The students guessed that the huge loudspeaker was some kind of broadcasting equipment, but why it was placed there led to various speculations.

Some say it's a test of a giant phonograph, others say it's a radio broadcast currently being tested domestically, and some even have wildly imaginative ideas suggesting it's some kind of sonic weapon. They claim that Joe can no longer tolerate our praise of him and is preparing to physically eliminate us opponents.

Despite various speculations, the laboratory staff successfully completed the installation of these primitive large radios.

Also, considering that in this day and age, people often have to go to the cinema to watch news programs to see the news, Joe prepared two more cameras at the press conference.

After the radios were installed, Joe held a press conference. At that time, press conferences were still a novelty, first appearing in a train accident in the United States in 1906, and then being used by the then-President of the United States as a means of communicating with the public in 1913.

Coupled with the Emerald Isle riots and Joe's inherent ability to generate buzz, after Joe announced that he would be holding a press conference, reporters from all walks of life immediately rushed to the Governor's Mansion like a cavalry charge.

Of course, besides the reporters, the volunteers on Emerald Island also felt this was an excellent opportunity.

Although we don't know what Joe is up to, as long as we can get rid of Joe, he won't have the chance to do anything bad anymore.

So a group of very spirited Emerald Isle people tried to infiltrate the reporters' group to enter Emerald Isle and assassinate Joe.

However, these spirited Emerald Isle people clearly did not realize just how much Joe valued security.

After NATO learned that someone wanted to assassinate him, Joe greatly increased his security standards. In addition to having guards accompanying him wherever he went, Joe not only carried a gun with him, but also had more than one car. In Joe's convoy, he had several cars. Only at the last minute did Joe personally choose a car from the convoy to prevent anyone from trying to make him fly up to the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun.

After arriving at Emerald Island, where the Chinese People's Volunteer Army was carrying out bombings and assassinations everywhere, Joe became even more concerned about his safety.

Let alone taking a convertible for a stroll, Joe usually travels in armored vehicles, and he never goes near any window in the Governor's Mansion that doesn't have its curtains drawn, prioritizing stability.

Therefore, most of the assassins who tried to sneak in were identified and apprehended on the spot. After all, even these reporters had never seen such a thing before, and a press conference required a body search of the reporters entering the venue.

However, not all assassins were stopped. Two assassins, relying on their exceptional talents, successfully infiltrated the governor's mansion with pistols.

According to the plan of these two assassins, they should have been able to use their exceptional talents to successfully infiltrate the front ranks, and then, when Joe came out, they would pull out their pistols and give Joe a little Emerald Isle shock.

However, these two assassins clearly underestimated the dedication of these professional journalists. You're just a little bit more talented, and you expect me to give up the best spot I managed to get and the chance to make a big news story?
dream!

Meanwhile, because Joe planned to turn this press conference into his first speech delivered via radio, technicians set up a lot of broadcasting equipment at the press conference venue.

These devices left the two assassins somewhat confused; they didn't know what these things were, nor what Joe intended to do.

He could only blend into the crowd and wait for Joe to arrive.

They didn't have to wait long; Joe soon appeared at the venue.

As Joe, dressed in the uniform of a major general of the Brittany and wearing a NATO general's hat, appeared on the scene, the reporters, who were like hunters waiting for their prey, rushed forward and frantically pressed the shutter button, trying to get a better photo.

The two assassins also mingled in the surging crowd and pushed their way towards Joe.

Although they were closer to Joe, just as the two assassins were about to draw their guns, they discovered another problem.

That's because everyone is huddled together, and they can't pull out their pistols right now.

Just as the two assassins were trying to draw their pistols in the crowded throng, Joe stood behind the podium with the microphone and began to speak.

"Hello to all the journalists here and listeners listening on the radio."

Just as Joe began to speak, his voice came from the radios installed in the university, and this unprecedented technological contraption immediately attracted the attention of those around him.

Soon these people realized that this was not a recording, but a live broadcast, and soon a crowd gathered in front of the radios.

Some people want to see what this radio is all about; they've never seen one before, it's amazing, I have to study it.

Some people wanted to hear what Joe was going to say.

After all, neither the independence faction nor the unification faction has figured out what Joe is trying to do.

So now that there's an opportunity to hear Joe himself say what he wants to do, these people naturally won't miss it.

Then, as they listened, both the unification and independence factions were stunned. Although Joe had mentioned the United Agricultural Corporation in the newspapers before, many people thought it was impossible, absolutely impossible. Joe came to Emerald Isle not to suppress the independence movement or carry out a purge, but instead to set up an agricultural corporation. Wasn't this a joke?

However, when Joe explained his idea on the radio—to distribute land to farmers and let them manage it directly—although the farmers did not own the land, the profits from the land, apart from the normal taxes and a portion of the dividends given to the landlords, would all belong to them.

If we round it up, what's the difference between this and directly distributing the land to the farmers?
Upon hearing this news, the university's independent faction felt there must be a conspiracy. Why would Joe be so kind as to distribute land to the farmers? He must want something else in return!
Meanwhile, the unification faction thinks you're a bunch of fools. Don't talk about what Joe wants, just tell me what you can offer Joe.
Others are legitimate tycoons and big capitalists. They make a lot of money just from selling cars. Not to mention that Joe is the king of the North Sea who owns the Wagner Group. You guys are just a pittance. How could old Joe possibly be interested in you?
So, the university students quickly started arguing in front of the radio.

However, halfway through the argument, the students stopped arguing because they were surprised to hear Old Joe apologize.

That's Old Joe, an absolute big shot. It's difficult for someone like him to even admit he made a mistake, let alone apologize in person.

But now, this very person has actually apologized, which has surprised everyone.

As the debate subsided, the students heard Joe apologize to everyone for his plan to withdraw troops from parts of the North, admitting that his actions were inappropriate and that he had made the decision in a fit of rage.

Because Emerald Island is currently facing serious problems with its land and agriculture.

Subsequently, Joe publicly admitted that the land model on Emerald Island had serious problems and had to be changed. He also pointed out that the past method of the government paying to buy back land not only cost the government a lot of money, but also only benefited a small number of farmers. Furthermore, after losing their land, the farmers would ask for very high prices because they would lose their long-term income.

Now, with the cooperative farming company model, not only can the vast majority of people who are willing to work in the agricultural industry and are recognized as good people by the community join the cooperative farming company and obtain their own land to cultivate, but also...

At the same time, although the landlords' income decreased, they were still able to earn enough to survive, so everyone could get a good result. However, some people refused to allow those people to obtain the right to cultivate the land that should have been theirs, so Joe made this decision in a fit of anger.

This has greatly alarmed those who are most supportive of the Imperial government. Joe offers his sincerest apologies to those who were frightened and promises that the Imperial military and police will continue to safeguard peace and security in these areas.

After Joe finished speaking, even the most die-hard separatists began to change their opinion of him, although this was not enough to make them give up their idea of ​​independence.

But Joe's willingness to admit his mistakes and his attempts to make changes made these people feel that Joe might be different from the governors of the past.

Meanwhile, the separatists were cursing and hurling insults at the families of landowners who refused to join the United Agricultural Company.

Damn it, I meant the Empire would never abandon its loyal subjects. So it was you guys causing trouble here. You guys are really something to get Old Joe this angry.

Amidst this chaotic atmosphere, Joe, having finished explaining and apologizing to United Agriculture, moved the press conference to the Q&A session.

Because this event not only involved Joe publicly explaining how United Agriculture operates and its purpose, but also included his first public broadcast and his first public apology, it generated immense buzz.

The reporters' eyes were almost brimming with the emotion of finally getting big news, after listening to the first half of the press conference.

So when Joe said that the reporters present could start asking questions.

The reporters immediately went on a tirade, bombarding questions with everything from the prospects and security of United Agriculture to what public broadcasting technology was, when it would be rolled out, and what Joe planned to do next on Emerald Island.

As questions were asked, the reporters no longer crowded together trying to take pictures as before, but spread out a little to make it easier for them to take notes on other people's questions and Joe's replies.

At that very moment, Joe, who was selecting people to ask questions on stage, saw a woman with extraordinary talent squeeze to the front, because this woman was simply too talented.

So Qiao spotted the woman in the audience immediately. Since he had already seen her, Qiao didn't mind listening to what the woman wanted to ask, so he pointed at her.

"What's wrong, red-haired lady?"

The woman seemed surprised that Joe would choose to ask the question himself, so after a moment of hesitation, this gifted woman placed her hand on her chest and asked Joe, "What do you think of the Emerald Isle independence movement?"

Upon hearing this question, Joe suppressed the urge to frown and calmly stated, "Before the tragedy of 1916, Emerald Isle autonomy was already on the agenda. The continued peaceful life of Emerald Isle under Imperial rule is beneficial to everyone..."

Before Qiao could finish speaking, she saw the woman suddenly slip her hand inside her chest, a move that startled her.

The next second, the woman pulled out a pistol and shouted, "Long live the Emerald Isle Republic!" pointing the gun at Joe.

At the same time, another female voice rang out from the crowd: "Our day will come!"

Then several gunshots rang out over the loudspeaker.

As the two battle cries of the volunteers from Emerald Island rang out on the radio along with the sound of gunfire, the students listening to the broadcast immediately erupted in a commotion.

Some fervent separatists believed that Joe was now dead, and that without Joe, the legendary commander, their hopes of achieving independence were even slimmer.

Some less fervent separatists, however, believed that the matter was over. Joe, who had been willing to compromise, was dead, and given his reputation, things were unlikely to end well.

Those who advocated unification and autonomy felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave after the gunfire began. Although the situation on Emerald Isle was rather turbulent, these people who identified themselves as Buntanians admired Joe as a war hero just like the islanders did.

Now that Joe has been assassinated, and may even be dead, these people have turned their anger towards the fervent separatists who are cheering, and some have even impulsively punched those who are shouting "The tyrant is dead!"

Meanwhile, in the governor's mansion, Joe peeked out from behind the podium and looked at the two women in the crowd who were still struggling and shouting "Victory is with us!" He breathed a slight sigh of relief.

As a tank commander, Joe had seen far too many situations where someone would pull out a gun and try to kill him.

Joe had already shrunk back under the podium when he saw the woman pull out a gun.

Although there wasn't a bunch of bulletproof glass placed in front of the podium, which would have made Joe seem cowardly, the podium in front of Joe was made of genuine bulletproof material in case of an accident.

After a burst of gunfire, Joe peeked out from behind the podium, looked at the broken microphone in front of him, and the two women who had been subdued and carried away like pigs being slaughtered. Joe waved to the side, signaling the technician to quickly replace his microphone with a new one.

While Joe calmly had the technicians replace the microphone, the reporters were frantically taking pictures.

Looking at the podium riddled with bullet holes, after changing the microphone, he calmly said into the microphone that it was just a minor accident, and that some extremists with only hatred in their hearts could not stop them from continuing to do the right thing, just as they could not stop themselves. Now the press conference continues.

The press conference was met with enthusiastic applause.

The fact that Qiao was unharmed and able to continue her speech relieved many students who were still listening to the broadcast.

The press conference lasted for another half hour after the assassination attempt, and it only ended after almost all the reporters present had asked a question.

The next day, a photo of Joe standing behind the podium continuing the press conference unsurprisingly became the front page headline of almost every newspaper in Bonitania and the Old World.

Looking at Joe standing behind the wrecked podium, regardless of their opinions about him, everyone on the Old World had to admit that Joe was indeed the bravest man in Britannia. After being assassinated, he was able to calmly complete the press conference instead of simply leaving. This guy's courage was probably greater than the sky.

However, what Joe didn't expect was that his assassination attempt would cause some minor setbacks.

First, that very evening, His Majesty the King, the Prime Minister, and members of the Cabinet, upon learning of his assassination attempt, all called to offer their condolences.

After the news broke the next day that he was able to hold a press conference after his assassination attempt, Joe received even more phone calls. From the manager of Rolls-Royce to Baron Edmund, an angel investor with whom he had always had a good working relationship, they all called to inquire about his safety and remind him to be careful.

Someone called to remind Joe to be careful, while others wondered what Joe's guards were good for. Those Lucias always brag and brag, but when things get tough, they're all tears! To truly ensure Joe's safety, we're the ones who need to step in!

So, without Joe's knowledge, Brigitte, as the NATO president, along with two other presidents, began preparing NATO guards to protect Joe's safety.

Most unexpectedly, the strongest reaction came from within the Chinese People's Volunteer Army on Emerald Island.

Just as Chochai had predicted, the governor’s violent suppression of the Emerald Isle protests in 1916 ignited democratic sentiment, leading to the Parliamentarian Party’s crushing defeat in the general election.

However, there is no consensus within Sinn Féin, the opposition party. Everyone wants independence, but there are still many disagreements within Sinn Féin on what kind of independence they want.

Gaining independent political status within the Bonitania Empire is one form of independence, as is becoming a fully independent sovereign state.

Although both are called independent, the difference between the two can be described as worlds apart.

So after the assassination failed, those who wanted political independence felt that the operation had gone too far. Joe was a negotiator and willing to push for autonomy, and his United Agricultural Corporation was a good thing for Emerald Isle.

This would allow all farmers to own their own land; there has never been a land reform policy like this in the world.

We've driven Joe away, are we going to send someone tougher from Buntania instead?

Stop now, my friend. Brittany still holds a certain position in the world. Didn't you notice that the people we sent to the Versailles Conference couldn't even get through the main gate?

The only people in the world who support us are those immigrants from Citibank, and we're already doing well to have achieved the conditions we have now.

However, for those who advocate complete independence, so-called incomplete independence means complete non-independence.

Even with war heroes like Joe sent by the Buntania, they dared not take military action against us. Instead, they tried to bribe us with the United Agricultural Company. If we put in a little more effort, could we gain independence?

It's like playing blackjack now. We already have a seven and an eight in our hand, so of course we should continue bidding.

At the same time, the two factions within Sinn Féin were debating what to do next.

Joe has sent troops south to oversee the people on the lands owned by the large landowners who have joined the United Agricultural Corporation, and to begin elections for positions within the corporation.

Everything seemed perfectly calm, but beneath this orderly calm lay a volcanic rage in Joe's heart, completely enraged by the assassination attempt.

Damn it! They dared to assassinate me! This is no ordinary traitor! We must strike hard!
(End of this chapter)