Immediately arrest all landlords led by Kanel, dead or alive!

The President's Office.

"...So, with their constant fanning of the flames, Kanel, blinded by rage, decided to take some extreme measures.

"For example, staging several terrorist attacks in Dugagu, causing heavy civilian casualties, then using public opinion to link these attacks to the Ministry of Agriculture's newly announced policies.

"Even splashing dirty water directly on you, then forcing you or the Ministry of Agriculture to withdraw the newly announced policies and compromise with them.

"After our National Security Committee discovered their plot, we decisively contacted the Ministry of Public Security and borrowed some of their personnel.

"In the end, together with the Ministry of Public Security, we successfully stopped and suppressed the criminal forces hired by the landlords just before they launched their attacks!"

Kroko stood before the desk, reporting to Sankara.

From the distinctly upturned corners of his mouth, it was clear.

He was very proud of successfully thwarting the landlords' plot this time, even a little smug.

The National Security Committee.

As its name suggested, it existed to safeguard national security.

It had been established for over a month.

They had done plenty, but ultimately, it had all been trivial chicken-feather-and-garlic-skin matters, or work carried out under Sankara's guidance.

Now,

they finally had an achievement of their own that they could show off.

But...

"I understand."

There was no joy on Sankara's face. Instead, he nodded very calmly.

"Gulp-"

The smug look on Kroko's face froze instantly, and he secretly swallowed.

Because he knew Sankara well, he understood perfectly.

This eerie calm was precisely the harbinger of an approaching storm!

Was the president angry?

But I don't think I did anything wrong, did I?

Just as Kroko was trembling with fear and puzzlement, Sankara continued:

"You discovered their plot in advance, but you didn't stop it in advance. Instead, you waited until the very last second before they carried it out, then appeared like saviors to stop them. Am I wrong?"

"Uh-"

Kroko seemed to understand why Sankara was angry and immediately explained:

"Mr. President, we did this to..."

"To set up the next step of the plan, right? Only by letting the people see with their own eyes that someone really was preparing to slash them with knives, shoot them with guns, and blow them up with bombs.

"Could you then turn public opinion to your advantage more effectively, using this incident to put pressure on the landlords, or even directly using it to violently eliminate some of the landlords involved.

"Then I, as president, could carry out agricultural reform more effectively."

"So you knew all along, Mr. President..."

Kroko was somewhat surprised.

But before he could finish, Sankara interrupted him again.

Sankara continued earnestly:

"But!"

As everyone knew.

No matter how much was said beforehand, what came after "but" was the important part.

Kroko understood this well too.

So he immediately straightened his back and pricked up his ears, ready to seriously accept Sankara's criticism and instruction.

"I've told you many times: the people are the foundation of a nation. Protecting their lives and safety must be our highest priority!

"Only when they feel that we truly are protecting them, rather than using them, will they support us wholeheartedly!

"I know many of you came from the old era. I don't expect you to truly put the people in your hearts wholeheartedly, but whatever else you do, couldn't you at least leave a little room for them?

"What if something unexpected had happened during these attacks, leaving you unable to stop them in time, or stop all of them, and causing severe casualties?

"So, the next time you draw up any plans, I hope you'll give a little more consideration to the people's lives and safety. Understood?"

Sankara was not actually all that angry, and he could understand why Kroko and the others had done this.

The former Sankara might not have cared much.

But the current Sankara, a little over a month ago, had essentially still been a somewhat idealistic university student who had just graduated.

He had not yet suffered society's brutal beatings.

So his first instinct was not to plant his backside on the wrong side and think from the position of the bourgeoisie or the ruling class.

His first instinct was to put himself in an ordinary person's shoes and consider the problem from there.

(PS: I also really hate saintly bitches, but I don't hate saints.

"Putting on another layer of armor here: I really do hate saintly bitches, but saints and saintly bitches are two different species.

"If some real danger occurred, you and I really wouldn't be the protagonists of a novel. We'd actually be passersby in the novel, not even supporting characters.

"So, if danger like that in a novel really occurred, I'd hope the protagonist would be a great person who could step forward to save ordinary people like you and me, rather than simply abandoning us.

"And precisely because of that, the protagonists in my books will tend somewhat in that direction too. Of course, I absolutely won't write the protagonist as a saintly bitch. Don't worry.)

Most importantly,

Sankara hoped that through this constant emphasis.

Through something like psychological suggestion and reinforcement.

Bureaucrats from the old era like Kroko could subconsciously keep the people more firmly in their hearts when doing things in the future.

Moreover, only when they devoted more thought to the people would the Republic of Burkina truly have a chance to become prosperous and strong.

To become a true industrial power!

To put it more selfishly, Sankara's rule would also become more secure!

After all, managing a group of gentlemen was far easier than controlling a pack of petty villains, without having to rack his brains every day only to fill them with plots and schemes.

"I understand, Mr. President!"

Kroko pondered for a moment, then nodded firmly as he answered.

But whether he truly understood was perhaps something only he knew, and only the way he handled things in the future would reveal it.

"Of course, your operation this time caused no serious casualties. Only four civilians suffered minor scrapes because they couldn't dodge in time.

"This shows that your plan was very thorough and deserves praise. You have also rendered a great service to the entire country!"

A blow from the stick, then a sweet date: Sankara still had to acknowledge their contributions, and praise them lavishly at that.

Because this plan of theirs.

Had indeed cleared many obstacles from Sankara's path toward agricultural reform!

It had brought forward by three to four months the preliminary completion of agricultural reform, which had originally been expected to take at least a year!

Besides, Sankara was not a precious sort.

Kroko's National Security Committee had already paved the road, so naturally, he would step onto it without hesitation.

Rather than standing beside it, complaining that the road was too dirty.

Then letting such a good opportunity go to waste!

"At the same time, immediately arrest all the landlords led by Kanel on charges of launching terrorist attacks and seriously endangering national public safety.

"Remember! I said all of them, regardless of whether these landlords took part in the attacks!"

Sankara gave the order.

"Yes, Mr. President!"

Kroko gave Sankara a military salute and answered loudly.

Just as Kroko was about to turn and leave, Sankara suddenly remembered something important and hurriedly added:

"Right, have the Ministry of National Defense send the 3rd Infantry Brigade and the 6th Infantry Brigade to assist you!

"These landlords all have private troops. Although they don't have many, they're still more than your Security Committee and the Ministry of Public Security can handle.

"Also, if they really dare to resist with force, there's no need to insist on taking them alive!"

"Yes, Mr. President!"