Capítulo 1458: Chapter 690: I’m Only Doing This for Your Own Good

Next, the reporter found a store owner running a small gas station and grocery store, a shrewd-looking middle-aged man.

“Boss, is it true that under the new management, your business has benefited quite a bit?”

The store owner rubbed his hands, his face full of smiles, obviously happy to cooperate: “Absolutely, absolutely! Before? Before, just paying protection fees to various gangs nearly bankrupted me! State taxes, federal taxes, and expensive insurance; fuel prices changed three times a day, it was impossible to make any money.”

At this point, he even expertly pulled out two folders in front of the camera, spreading them out on the counter.

One was old, with a Star-Spangled Banner sticker on it, the other new, with a Mexican eagle emblem on it.

“Look, this is the bill from the same period last year.” He pointed to the documents in the old folder,

“Electricity fees, taxes, fuel supply costs, my God, it was a complete mess, the profits were negligible, and now look!”

His finger pointed at the new documents, his voice rising by eight octaves, “Tax cuts! Fuel subsidies, much more stable prices, and electricity supply is more stable because the military protects the power plants, no one dares to sabotage them. To be honest, for small business owners like me, whoever can make my life livable, make sure my children can go to school safely, that’s who I will support. Now I can see tangible benefits.”

“Some people think I’m not American.”

“But all I want to say is, to hell with it, if I can make money, it doesn’t matter if I’m Indian, long live Mexico!”

Finally, the reporter “randomly” interviewed an old man who came with his son to collect new backpacks and stationery.

The old man was even more excited:

“The United States? What has the United States given us? Besides endless division, quarrels, expensive bills, and drugs and gunfights on the streets, what else? They only issue empty checks, look at us now! My grandson can safely go to a newly painted school, we can eat affordable food, there are Mexican soldiers patrolling the streets, we can sleep peacefully at night, this is what a government should do! We’ve made the right choice!”

These carefully edited interview clips, along with black-and-white high-definition images of ruins in places like San Antonio, bodies of resistors being dragged away, and survivors being driven onto army trucks, were broadcast 24/7 across Texas and even throughout Mexico via Harris and Brelock’s controlled radio stations, television stations, and newspapers.

Strong visual and emotional impacts washed over every Texan’s nerves again and again.

The images kept switching, forming a stark, undeniable contrast:

On one hand, stubborn resistance leading to broken homes and scorched earth.

On the other, compliant cooperation resulting in a carefree life and prosperity.

Victor’s intent couldn’t be clearer.

In the most straightforward way, he laid out two paths for all Texans: survival or destruction.

The effect was immediate and divisive.

Fear and tangible benefits began to outweigh the impulses brought by culture and tradition.

Most importantly…

The U.S. Government really doesn’t care about people…

If anyone knows the life rules of the grassroots American population, they know that place needs a revolution!

It needs reform!

It needs to satisfy the interests of the majority, not the lavishness of a small elite.

In some remote but not die-hard resistant villages, splits appeared.

Old-school white farm owners still cursed and hid their guns deeper, but their sons or workers might secretly call a tip-off hotline at night, for a fortune that could change their fate, or simply to exchange for family safety.

Severe distrust emerged within the White Leftist organizations.

They couldn’t tell if the newcomers were like-minded or Mexican spies, supplies became difficult, hideouts could be betrayed at any time, attacks still happened, but the frequency and effectiveness began to decline.

Suicide attack?

White Leftists and blacks or drug cartels don’t have such beliefs.

In such life-threatening battles, they lack the courage.

They are even worse than post-war bandits…

Cole Brelock and Justin Harris spared no effort in executing Victor’s orders.

The media under their control became the main force of the propaganda war. They even personally appeared in recently “surrendered” areas to host events, distribute gifts, promise investments, and portray themselves as the new generation of leaders bringing peace and prosperity to Texas.

Despite countless disdainful glances and whispers of “traitor” behind their backs, under the dual pressure of guns and money, this performance actually worked.

By mid-August, although sporadic attacks never completely stopped, especially those organizations linked with drug cartels or driven by extremist ideologies still operated, large-scale, organized community resistance waves were forcibly suppressed under Victor’s combination of “stick and carrot” coupled with relentless psychological warfare.

The Mexican Army gradually regained control over external areas, although at a high cost.

One night in August, Victor was at the National Palace listening to Casare’s final report.

“Resistance intensity decreased by seventy percent, large-scale confiscation operations are basically completed.”

Casare’s report was concise and forceful, but his tone was somewhat fluctuating, “As of now, the total number of confiscated firearms reached 2,986,000, nearly enough to arm the entire military of another country, the ammunition…”

He said, flipping a page.

“The ammunition amounts to 150 million rounds, enough for our soldiers to fight a high-intensity war for years without resupply.”