It is not that there are no other stars in the vicinity of this open cluster. Although this place is already close to the edge of the Milky Way, the density of stars is not too low.
There are stars that are not part of this open cluster just over ten light-years away, and there are many more beyond that. However, such a distance can be crossed even with the strength of the human civilization fleet at this moment, let alone the true third-level civilization that has a high probability of existing in this open star cluster.
But some third-level civilizations still choose to stay here.
Facing Zhao Changxing's question, people fell into silence for a moment. Afterwards, a chill rose from people's hearts.
Everyone here has the most advanced wisdom in civilization. The problem we are facing at this moment does not require too complicated thinking or too many logical transformations.
So the next moment, people thought about this matter clearly.
Based on the premise that "the super civilization intends to deliver many low-level civilizations here", it can be inferred that staying in this open star cluster is the will of the super civilization that has not yet really appeared.
However, it is impossible for super civilizations not to know that for low-level civilizations, being too close means war.
This is not only due to threats to their own security, but also due to resource constraints.
War is inevitable.
Then, a very reasonable conjecture can be drawn: the super civilization hopes that many low-level civilizations here will have a war.
This reminds people subconsciously of something that once existed in the history of human civilization.
Colosseum.
People deliberately confine many ferocious beasts to a fixed area, and make use of the beast's nature to make them fight each other for fun.
The two scenarios are so similar that it's hard not to think this way.
After inferring this, it is very easy to speculate why the numerous second- and third-level civilizations here do not leave this open star cluster, but must stay here to fight to the death and start a war.
They dare not.
A civilization is a "ferocious beast". A super civilization hopes to have fun through fighting between ferocious beasts. How could it allow the "ferocious beast" to leave?
Perhaps, the civilization that is still staying here at this moment has witnessed the destruction of civilizations that have tried to leave here many times, so they gave up the plan of escaping. Or, other civilizations also speculated on this matter, so they voluntarily gave up their plans to leave.
Zhao Changxing prefers the latter. Because no matter which civilization, there will be no shortage of individuals with sufficient intelligence.
Back to the present, regarding the question "whether human civilization should continue to move forward and enter this open star cluster", the answer is simple and clear.
As a "beast" that was recently released here, but refused to enter the fighting arena, but chose to turn around and leave, then...
In the history of human civilization, "beasts" who do such things usually encounter more cruel abuse to stimulate their ferocity. If you really refuse to cooperate, you will be executed.
"We don't have a choice. We can only move forward."
Zhao Changxing whispered.
"Perhaps, after entering this open star cluster, we might be able to see the Moyun Litar civilization."
A civilized leader said slightly self-deprecatingly.
Or maybe, this is not self-deprecating or necessarily. Because the original Moyun Litar civilization also "disappeared". Who can guarantee that they have not suffered the same fate as human civilization?
Zhao Changxing gently raised his head and looked at the panoramic view of the Milky Way on the big screen.
He seemed to see countless pairs of eyes hidden deep in the river system, and heard the shouts and roars of the "audience".
Perhaps, at this moment, there are already wealth chips that far exceed human imagination, and they are bet on human civilization, just like people in the Colosseum bet on which beast can win in the end.
At this moment, Zhao Changxing thought a lot.
"So, the only thing we can do now is to move on and join this beast-fighting carnival organized by a super civilization. Our only way to survive is to kill all the remaining beasts and win the final victory. Only in this way can we let That super civilization hidden behind the scenes gives us a glimmer of hope for survival... right?"
Zhao Changxing stood up and looked at everyone present, at the civilization leaders, war committee members, scientific advisors, great scientists and others.
Everyone looked heavy. The expressions on his face range from unwillingness to anger to sadness, etc. But no one dared to open their mouth and say the word "no".
Precisely because he has enough wisdom, and precisely because he can clearly see and understand the hidden meaning behind everything he has encountered, the word "no" is even more difficult to say.
Zhao Changxing unexpectedly shook his head.
At this moment, he had figured out a lot of things and overturned his previous thoughts.
"Wrong, all wrong, all wrong. Secretary, issue an order to all combat spacecraft to return to the space carrier immediately. Order all Yuanhang spacecraft and space carrier spacecraft to immediately change course and go to...here."
Zhao Changxing took a step forward and pointed at another star that deviated from the open cluster in front of him.
That star is still about 23.6 light-years away from the human fleet at this moment. It is not the star closest to the human fleet except this open star cluster, but if the human fleet does not want to pass through this open star cluster or enter this open star cluster, this star is the closest.
"leader!"
At this moment, everyone looked up in shock and looked at Zhao Changxing, who still looked calm.
"We have enough fuel and energy." Zhao Changxing's tone was equally calm: "Don't forget, when we left the Lakai 9352 galaxy, we not only added redundancy, but also built on the redundancy. , directly doubling the energy and materials. Even if the distance is 23.6 light-years, we have the ability to cross it."
But... is now the time to explore whether the human fleet is capable of traveling 23.6 light years?
Dare to go against the arrangements of the super civilization hidden behind it. Is the consequence really something that human civilization can bear?
Zhao Changxing smiled softly: "I don't deny that our speculations and conjectures are indeed reasonable. In fact, they are the most likely and closest to the truth at this stage. But...do we have to do this? ?”
How else can we do this? Should civilization be allowed to take such huge risks?
Facing everyone's doubtful, horrified, and anxious eyes, Zhao Changxing said: "I want to ask you a question. How high is the possibility of our speculation? 90%? 95%? 99%?"
No matter how possible this conjecture seems, it is ultimately just a conjecture without any empirical evidence.
People weigh it in their minds and feel that it cannot reach 100% credibility anyway. 95% is considered the highest.
After all, one cannot ignore the possibility that assumptions may be wrong because some information is not available.
But based on comprehensive evaluation, 95% is enough to support the next strategic arrangement, and it can even be said to be more than enough.
Faced with people's answers after repeatedly weighing them in their minds, Zhao Changxing sighed: "But have you ever thought that once we participate in this 'beast fight', the probability of the demise of our human civilization is 100%, and the probability of survival is 100%. Of zero. And, I believe everyone knows the answer to the choice between 0% hope and 5% hope.”
"How can the probability of extinction be 100%? This is wrong!" At this moment, someone finally couldn't help but refuted Zhao Changxing: "Our civilization has reached the pinnacle of the second-level civilization, and has mastered certain key technologies of the third-level civilization. As long as we have After a period of development, it is not impossible to become a third-level civilization. And at least until now, we have not noticed any existence with a technological level higher than that of a third-level civilization in this open star cluster!"
Zhao Changxing shook his head: "We have no way to squeeze the war potential of civilization to the limit."
The civilized leader subconsciously wanted to refute, but as if he suddenly thought of something, his expression immediately turned pale.
He figured out the logic.
In the melee of many civilizations, if human civilization wants to survive and win the final victory, it must squeeze the war potential of civilization to the maximum. And this means the sacrifice of almost all the middle and lower class people.
The occurrence of this kind of thing is inevitable and does not depend on anyone's will.
However, once faced with that situation, the human government will have to mass-produce a new generation of humans and continue to engage in war, and the entire civilization will transform into a war machine. At the same time, the division between "human and sub-human" must in fact be completed and become the same as other civilizations.
By that time, real human civilization will be completely dead on a spiritual level. Even if it survives in the end, what survives is just an alien civilization wearing human skin.
This is not to say that the war potential of human civilizations that implement the "everyone is equal" policy is inferior to other civilizations. In fact, Zhao Changxing firmly believes that the war potential of human civilization is even more outstanding. But the key problem is that human civilization has too few people at the moment.
But once one joins the "fighting beasts", human civilization loses the opportunity to grow slowly and practice righteous techniques, and has to turn to evil ways in order to achieve quick results. Because if you don’t do this, you will perish immediately.
Even if you know it is poisonous wine, you still have to drink it.
However, at least at this moment, Zhao Changxing and a group of civilization leaders still represent the interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in the civilization. Therefore, neither Zhao Changxing nor anyone else can make a decision that is 100% sure to sacrifice all the middle and lower class people.
In this case, we can only gamble on the 5% hope.
"Indeed, there is only one way we can go..."
