Chapter 83: A Willful Speech

Su Tong stood at the podium, his speech manuscript placed on the table before him. He looked up to find the hall packed with people, their presence unexpectedly overwhelming. Wasn’t this just a speech, not a concert or a storytelling session? Why had so many come?

Previously, he had considered the school’s decision to change the venue for his sake unnecessary. Now, he realized the school had shown foresight.

Since this was a serious speech, Su Tong didn’t bother with greetings. He composed himself and began directly.

“Hello everyone. The title of my speech is ‘Why Should I Forgive You?’” His words were calm and measured.

Yet, some teachers and students were startled. They recalled that the manuscript Su Tong had submitted for review bore a different title.

“Recently, the island nation has proposed a ‘Qin-Island Friendship: Da Qin Should Abandon Its Past’ as a new mindset,” Su Tong continued in a neutral tone.

“Many of our compatriots are jubilant: ‘Qin-Island friendship, a new chapter!’ Some journalists have found a footnote in this new thinking, and certain professors have put the theory of amicable relations into practice.”

“Some cry out that there are fewer people in our country who understand the island nation than there are islanders who understand Da Qin. Others lament our lack of civility compared to them. Some even curse our people for being narrow-minded, nationalistic, and lacking the demeanor of a great nation…”

“It seems that the abnormal relations between Qin and the island nation over the past decades are all our fault. We are told to turn the page of history, face the future, and forge a new era of friendship.”

Su Tong described the phenomenon as if it were trivial, yet beneath his calm words, his classmates secretly clenched their fists. The speech’s quiet surface hid the righteous anger of those who remembered history and whose consciences had not been dulled.

Suddenly, Su Tong’s expression shifted, fierce anger and indignation blazing in his eyes.

“Why should I forgive you, despicable island nation!” he roared, abandoning his previous refinement, and slammed the table.

Teachers and students in the audience jumped in shock, but were quickly swept up by Su Tong’s emotion. The anger found an outlet, and they could not help but shout along.

“Why should I forgive you, despicable island nation!”

The crowd was incensed. Recent online battles had centered on this very topic; traitors had been whitewashing the island nation, leaving countless netizens frustrated and voiceless.

Su Tong’s furious cry was like a thunderclap, igniting the blood of his peers.

“During the recent anniversary memorial of the ‘Nanjing Massacre,’ did any high-ranking official from the island nation offer even a shred of apology to Qin? Did any islander express the slightest remorse?”

“When we advocate friendship with the island nation, do the Qin comfort women who seek justice from their government receive a single cent, a single apology, or even a hint of regret from them?”

“When we say we should turn the page of history, Qin laborers who demand justice and compensation from the island nation’s government and businesses are mocked by their judiciary, while those companies that once exploited them now reap profits in our land.”

“When we urge familiarity with their culture and learning from them, my hometown in the Northeast still harbors millions of abandoned chemical and biological weapons, yet the island nation shamelessly refuses to deal with them.”

“When we propose a ‘new mindset’ towards the island nation, their successive prime ministers campaign globally, urging the EU to uphold the arms embargo against Qin, while forming ever tighter military alliances with America to threaten us.”

“When we speak of the geographical closeness between Qin and the island nation, all sectors there, both openly and covertly, support, encourage, and incite the separation of Treasure Island from the mainland, clandestinely aiding separatists.”

“When we have already signed peaceful border agreements with our neighbors, the island nation continues to meddle with the occupied Fishing Islands, stretching their claws into the East China Sea to plunder our resources and blockade our waters.”

“When we are willing to set aside past grievances and coexist amicably, their authoritative statistics show that over sixty percent of their people look down on us, dislike us, distrust us, and scorn us.”

“When we announce to the world our peaceful rise and economic development, the island nation tightens its embrace of America, amends its constitution, expands its military, and actively surveils, controls, and encircles Qin.”

“When Israel spent decades after the war relentlessly hunting down Nazi war criminals, we, for paltry gains, not only gave up national compensation from the island nation, but never even considered pursuing those bloodstained war criminals who escaped justice.”

Su Tong’s relentless questions and statements, each laden with the blood and tears of Da Qin’s people, stirred greater anger and shame. Some accusations struck at those present, making them feel insufficiently patriotic, not resolute enough.

“That’s enough. The island nation remains the same.” Su Tong slammed the table again, the microphone amplifying the sound throughout the hall.

The audience simmered with rage.

“We have no reason or need to demand their kindness or friendship. But as Qin people, it is our own softness, confusion, and feigned ignorance among our compatriots that brings us the deepest pain,” Su Tong said mournfully.

“In those years, the invading island army numbered one million, but the puppet troops and ‘collaborationist’ forces who betrayed us and oppressed their own people numbered two million.”

“In fourteen years of invasion, they killed thirty million of our compatriots, yet there were over a million traitors, who wholeheartedly aided the invaders and became their accomplices,” Su Tong’s voice was anguished, and his classmates shared in his silent hatred.

“In those years, Germany paid substantial war reparations to the nations it had harmed, expressing sincere repentance and apology. Yet we, without ever receiving genuine remorse or apology from the island nation, generously absolved them of their responsibility.”

“Back then, Chancellor Brandt of Germany knelt before the Warsaw memorial for Israeli victims, expressing deep repentance and resolve never to wage war again. Yet we received nothing, and still sought their favor, proposing so-called ‘new thinking’ and ‘friendship.’”

“When we propagandize that most islanders are friendly to Qin, that prime minister who governed for five years, threatened us for five years, insulted us for five years, and salted our wounds for five years, is now their country’s most beloved idol.”

At this point, Su Tong’s eyes burned with fury. Those who whitewashed the island nation must have received generous payment; so many have forgotten history and deep hatred.

“In today’s world, power determines everything. Qin endured eight years of bloody resistance, with countless casualties, yet the defeated island nation never truly feared us. But to America, who dropped two devastating atomic bombs, they submitted as obedient vassals. As long as our economy is not stronger than theirs, our military budget is not greater, our navy is not more powerful, do not hope for sincere apologies. Do not believe in their crocodile tears.”

“Do not blindly admire so-called superior systems. As a democracy, without the island nation’s people, there would have been no past wars. Without the present, there would be no current government.”

“Do not idolize their so-called culture and civilization. The foundation of culture and civilization is humanity. In the last century, a nation capable of committing unspeakable crimes against humanity possesses only a false and ugly culture.”

“Do not expect them to suddenly repent in the future. A nation and people who take animal survival laws as their behavioral code will never have a future.”

“Do not compare the island nation to Germany—they will never become Germany. Nor compare Qin to America or its allies. From the postwar period to now, we have never enjoyed genuine victory, true authority, or the momentum of a triumphant nation.”

Su Tong spoke with passionate fervor, like a lion’s low growl.

The entire audience was absorbed in his speech, as if watching a riveting film, forgetting to applaud or cheer.

“If you say we hate the island nation, that would be giving them too much credit. For such a nation and people, we have long risen above hatred. What we feel is contempt and disdain.”

“We will never forgive the island nation. Why should we? If we pretend to be magnanimous, let go of past grievances, and wait for them to lay down their weapons and become saints, then why can’t we forgive those among us who, for various reasons, committed capital crimes but deeply repent? Why not give them a second chance, let them start anew?”

“If we cannot or will not do even that, then do not play the saint, bestowing forgiveness and compassion on devils.”

Reaching this point, Su Tong suddenly seized the manuscript from the podium, which he had not once consulted, and tore it in half.

A ripping sound echoed.

He flung the pieces aside.

Then, he bellowed: “Devils never need our forgiveness!”

“They need only one thing from us…” Su Tong raised his arm, gathering all his strength, and shouted, “Last year, I bought a watch!”

His voice thundered through the hall, detonating like a bomb.

Students stirred restlessly.

Damn, even their idol could curse so satisfyingly; it was cathartic.

“Last year, I bought a watch!”

Thousands roared back, venting their pent-up resentment.

“Tong the Orator, Tong the Orator…”

After this outpouring, the students called his name, finally remembering to applaud. Applause thundered, shaking the very heavens.

Tong was not just a speaker; he was a firebrand, inciting the nation against the island nation.

Su Tong smiled, bowed slightly. “That concludes my speech. Thank you all!”

This speech was not written by Su Tong himself, but adapted from something he found online in his previous life, with some minor edits, costing him fifty thousand points.

The judges were stunned. The speech was utterly brilliant, but the final line…

It was exhilarating, but also risky. What were they to do?

This Tong the Orator, how could he be so reckless? He had been favored to win first place, but that last line left the judges in despair.