The Pri Minister was at his wit's end, repeatedly convening security etings, though the atmosphere was oppressive. The proposed plans were nothing more than enhancing protection, in-depth investigations, and seeking more international intelligence cooperation, all of which were passive defenses. The arrogance of "Sun Never Sets" and the impulse for proactive action had been completely worn down by successive blows and the fear of the unknown.
They didn't even dare to openly accuse xico, due to a lack of "ironclad evidence," and also out of fear of provoking the other side, which might lead to more intense, possibly more direct retaliation.
In the hidden battlefield, the United Kingdom had temporarily fallen into a passive position, while xico continued to apply pressure in silence.
...
On August 4, 1996, xico's official website, national news agency, and all official dia platforms simultaneously released a series of important personnel appointnts and administrative region changes announcents:
[Appointnt Announcent]
Following a study by the xican Federal Governnt and with the President's approval, Mr. Bramo is appointed as a Counselor Advisor of the Presidential Palace of the United xican States, concurrently serving as the Deputy Mayor of xico City, effective imdiately. Mr. Bramo will mainly be responsible for urban developnt planning, exchanges with international sister cities, and coordination of specific economic projects.
[Administrative District Announcent]
Effective today, the area of the forr United States of Arica Illinois is officially renad as Illinois of the United xican States, as a formal part of the xican Federation, with its capital set in Chicago.
Ludwig Becker is appointed as the first Governor of the xican Illinois State, concurrently serving as the military officer, responsible for the administrative managent, maintaining public order, and defense security of the entire Illinois territory.
This concise yet information-packed announcent was like a boulder thrown into the relatively calm waters of international public opinion.
Bramo's appointnt, for those in the know, was seen as Victor further consolidating internal power and placing trustworthy relatives into the managent of core cities, with the title of "Counselor Advisor" being very aningful, implying he can provide direct advice to the President, holding a special status.
This was interpreted as Victor's move to strengthen the loyalty and reliability of his inner circle following the assassination turmoil.
The renaming of "Illinois" and the appointnt of Ludwig Becker hold even greater significance.
This was no longer just an occupied zone or military control area, but a formal declaration to incorporate it into xico's system. Ludwig Becker holding the dual role of Governor and military officer implies that the region will continue to maintain a "military-political unity" strong control model to ensure absolute grasp over this important industrial and agricultural region and transportation hub.
Adding the already effectively controlled Texas, California, and the regions indirectly influenced through Belize, xico's territorial control on the North Arican Continent reached five states.
This was no longer a matter that could be downplayed as a "temporary occupation" or "conflict result"; it clearly outlined xico's ambition to reshape the North Arican map and the substantial progress already achieved.
xicans were no longer content with just absorbing existing benefits; they were systematically and institutionally expanding and consolidating.
The renaming of Illinois and the appointnt of officials signaled strongly: who is next? Ohio? Or directly aiming at the core of the East Coast?
Panic triggered a new wave of capital fleeing and talent outflow, mostly towards Canada or Europe, but it also exacerbated those who stayed to madly exploit existing resources; as the future looked bleak in the long run, it was better to seize the last opportunity while control was still possible.
...
On August 7, 1996, in Kansas, one of the many "states" nominally under the jurisdiction of the "Free North Arican Temporary Administrative Committee," but actually controlled by local oligarchs and capital groups with European backgrounds.
The state governnt issued a series of urgent fiscal tightening and "economic revitalization" decrees:
Imdiately cancel all state-level subsidies and low-interest loan programs for small and dium-sized farms and agricultural cooperatives.
All agricultural operators within the state, including farm owners and individual farrs, are required to purchase designated models of seeds, fertilizers, and harvesting machinery from the "diterranean Agricultural Technology Company" before the planting season of this year. Existing agricultural machinery must undergo "inspection certification" by this designated company, with the majority being deed "non-compliant with new planting standards and safety requirents," to be bought back at a depreciated value and forcibly replaced.
This was a shell company registered in Italy three days earlier, with a complicated background.
Three days ago…
To facilitate "agricultural modernization upgrade," the state governnt, together with several banks related to European capital, launched "revitalization loans."
But the loan conditions were harsh, interest rates were high, and required land or future yields as collateral.
The decree caused an uproar in the vast agricultural regions of Kansas.
Canceling subsidies equated to directly cutting off the lifeline of many struggling small farms. Forced purchase of expensive Italian seeds and machinery was blatant plunder and monopoly; many farrs' well-maintained machineries handed down from their ancestors were devalued, while new machinery prices were exorbitant, making the so-called "revitalization loans" no different from indentured contracts.
"They're trying to kill us!"
An old farm owner waved a copy of the decree at a local cooperative eting, fervently shouting, "My grandfather's harvester can still be used for twenty years! How dare they say no? We've never even seen those Italian things; what if they don't suit our land?!"
"Seeds too! We've always used locally bred seeds adapted to this climate! Their designated seeds are so expensive, and forcibly bought; if there's poor harvest, how to repay the loan? With what?!" Another middle-aged farr paled with rage.
"This is daylight robbery! Robbing the land!" the crowd angrily echoed.
Soon, protests began.
Initially, they were peaceful gatherings, with farrs holding signs and gathering outside the state capital Topeka's governnt building, demanding the repeal of the decree and dialogue with the governor.
But the state governnt held firm, dispatching state police to disperse the crowd and arresting a few "ringleaders," accusing them of "disrupting social order" and "inciting illegal assembly."
The crackdown didn't quell the anger; instead, it sparked broader dissatisfaction. On August 9, the state governnt issued a supplentary decree, under the guise of "fiscal restructuring, optimizing resource allocation":
Cancel all state-level disability living allowances and employnt support funds.
Significantly cut and plan to gradually eliminate child nutrition subsidies for large low-inco families.
Cease maintenance subsidies and tax exemptions for several minority religious group eting places within the state.
These decrees extended the impact from farrs to more vulnerable groups and minority communities.
Protests in various parts of Kansas began to escalate, growing in scale, and resonating with similar dissatisfaction in other states.
The state governnt then intensified repression, deploying more police on the streets; clashes occurred from ti to ti, with tensions on a hair trigger.
anwhile, in xico City, related intelligence reached the desks of Casare and Victor.
"Kansas… A state under the Free North Arican Temporary Administrative Committee." Casare looked at the report. "These guys seem to think their days are numbered, comncing to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs."
Victor glanced over the contents about the forced purchases of Italian agricultural machinery and seeds. "The more they act like this, the faster people's hearts will disperse. Not bad for us."
"Should we intervene? Offer so covert support to those protesting farrs?" Casare asked.
"Not yet,"
Victor shook his head. "Let them continue on their own. The bigger the chaos, the more it will exhaust the 'Committee' and their European backers. We need to keep a close watch on Illinois and the areas we've already controlled, advancing steadily. As for Kansas… Once they're utterly rotten, those 'craving order' will naturally co to us."
He paused, adding, "However, send a reminder to Ludwig Becker to keep an eye on developnts towards Kansas, guard against desperate moves, or a refugee surge toward the state border. If necessary, we can provide limited border managent assistance 'on humanitarian grounds,' but make sure to gauge the limits, not actively intervene."
"Understood." Casare noted it down.
…
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