Great time travel

Chapter 35. Thinking about the future
Anyone who has read the original work of "Overlord King of the Undead" will find something a little strange.That is Ainz, the Lich King who is the protagonist, or Suzuki Satoru, a Japanese office worker in 2138. After arriving in another world, although he worked hard to collect information to find out whether any companions came to this world, but From the beginning to the end, I didn't think much about how to return to the original world.

Because, in his future world in 2138, the living environment of ordinary people is really sad.

——In that world, when the wheel of history rolls to 2138, the surface environment of the whole world has been completely polluted, the sky is always shrouded in black haze, and the time to see the sun is very little.Because the fog contains highly toxic substances, ordinary people need a gas mask when going out for a walk.The plants that were supposed to purify the air also withered in large numbers due to insufficient sunlight, thus further increasing the speed of air pollution.The number of birds and insects that feed on plants and fruits has also plummeted, and the entire ecosystem has collapsed.

Then, in addition to air pollution, water pollution is also quite serious. All the rivers in Japan have become dirty, and pure drinking water has become a necessity of life at a high price.All traditional farming methods that rely on sunlight and rain cannot continue. Usable crops must be cultivated indoors without soil, and the price has become extremely high. Fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and aquatic products have become the monopoly of the rich.Ordinary people can only barely survive by eating unpalatable synthetic food, or even more tragically, eating those polluted crops in the wild, and then contract various strange diseases and die.

In such a world, it is a luxury for the poor to take a look at the beautiful natural scenery and breathe a breath of pure fresh air.No wonder the protagonist is so excited when he sees the pure starry sky in another world and feels the evening wind on the grassland.

However, compared with the pollution and destruction of the natural environment, the darkness and depression within human society are even more heart-wrenching.

——When Marx was alive, he once predicted that the barriers of countries, nations, races, religions and languages ​​would be broken, and that "workers of the world should unite", and in the world revolution of the next century, this slogan was also adopted Repeatedly mentioned.But in the future world of Ainz, the Lich King, the barriers of countries, nations, races, religions, and languages ​​are indeed broken, but the result is not "workers of the world unite" to eliminate exploitation and develop productive forces.It is "the bourgeoisie of the world unite", unite closely and cooperate to squeeze the proletariat of the world together.

In that world, the big consortium broke free from the shackles of the government in an unimaginable way, that is, through international cooperation, they jointly eliminated all governments and patriots in the world. It's over, the governments of various countries still exist in theory, but they have no soldiers and no wealth. In fact, they have become a group of watchdogs raised by the global chaebol group, and even decorations.The multinational consortium alliance has successfully mastered the three major powers of justice, legislation, and administration in all countries, and has become the real ruler of the entire world.

The various welfare systems that were originally guaranteed by the modern state system also collapsed. Pensions, medical insurance, labor insurance, compulsory education, and minimum wages all disappeared. The living standards of the working people fell directly to the nightmare of the early industrial revolution. Era.

Of course, wherever there is oppression, there will be resistance, and this law is also true in the future world.But in the face of the possible resistance of the people at the bottom, the chaebol group that rules the world also has a desperate plan, which is to severely restrict education and keep the poor in a state of ignorance. They can only survive without thinking about how to resist, let alone think of resisting The best way: In the nineteenth century, a riot by a group of illiterate workers or peasants who resisted taxes could do a lot of damage.But in the era of unmanned war machines, capitalists who are not bound by any legal and moral concepts can easily use armed drones to massacre strikers and protesters, and then recruit a new batch of them from the slums Cheap labor comes in.

In fact, due to the popularization of automated production and artificial intelligence, the capitalists of that era did not need too much labor force at all, wishing that the poor would die more.Anyway, robots can replace their posts, and they will work hard without complaint, and will never raise conditions or rebel.

Even in the twentieth century, the people of the vast colonies of Asia, Africa and Latin America won the opportunity for independence and freedom because of the Europeans killing each other and excessive internal friction during the two world wars.If what they were facing was a completely unified European, American and Atlantic United Empire, without division and internal friction, and without the ebb and flow caused by the world war, then how hopeless would be the prospects for the independence and freedom movements of various other nations!
Then, in order to prevent the poor from acquiring knowledge and having no books to read, the fewer schools the better, not only the abolition of compulsory education, but also the extremely high tuition fees for primary education.As for various private schools and training courses, they are severely cracked down on and banned. Stealing knowledge in private is a felony that can lead to prison, and scholarships and student loans are even more impossible.Since everything only depends on money and family status, test scores have become meaningless, and being a college student receiving higher education has become something similar to aristocratic privilege.The level of popularization of education in Japan has regressed back to the Edo period, and is further degrading to the Heian period.It is not easy for ordinary people to go to elementary school, and more people are simply illiterate.

The Lich King Ainz, who only has a primary school education, or the office worker Suzuki Satoru, the reason why he doesn't look stupid, and his knowledge is not bad, is because he has experienced in the society for so many years, and there is another good person in the game guild. Most of the players are university professors, so they have learned something.

In short, the future earth in 2138 described in "Overlord" is a sad era in which the natural environment is severely damaged and social classes are completely solidified.The rich and powerful live and die in dreams, and the common people at the bottom have no way to rise, and it is even difficult to obtain knowledge.

Because knowledge is monopolized in the hands of a very few people, further research and development and innovation of science and technology are impossible to talk about. As a result, the development of science and technology has basically stagnated, or even retreated instead of advancing. among.

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Such a cruel future world scene of "dystopia" naturally shocked everyone and made it difficult for everyone to accept.In Professor Guo's eyes, this future world of "consortium overhead government", "national nihilization" and "world bourgeoisie united" is even more exciting than the "radiation wasteland" after the nuclear war. He is terrified!

Because, although the probability of realization is not very high, such a future world ruled by chaebols may indeed appear!

In the era of imperialism in the late nineteenth century, until the Cold War period, human society was indeed hierarchical and money was the most important thing, but relying on cruel competition among countries, it was always possible to continuously achieve institutional and technological progress.For example, when Britain realized the Industrial Revolution, the ruling classes of other European powers had to follow suit as soon as possible, otherwise Britain would be defeated and destroyed.Germany implements compulsory education for all, and other countries must follow suit, because an illiterate army cannot defeat a new-style national army with knowledge.The Soviet Union sent satellites and astronauts into space, and the United States would have to take part in the space race, otherwise it would risk losing world hegemony... However, if the whole world is unified by a certain bourgeois group, then there will be an international competition?Will there still be pressure to promote social and technological progress?

In fact, when the world's multinational conglomerates achieve unified cooperation, the next priority is definitely not to develop social productivity, but to imprison thoughts forever and consolidate their dominance.In this way, there is no need for such things as "country" and "nation".The regular national army that can threaten the survival of the consortium will naturally be banned and replaced by the consortium's thugs and mercenaries.The government can no longer collect any taxes, and instead relies on the rewards of the consortium to survive, so that the head of the government can fully recognize the sad status of being just a dog.

Since the law is set by big companies, there is no such thing as labor insurance and benefits. There is no need to use the pretense of equality for everyone. It directly stipulates that individuals have illegal privileges based on the amount of personal property, and there is no need to sign labor contracts. Big companies It depends on the mood whether to pay employees or not.There is no need to use the fig leaf of freedom and democracy anymore, because the competition between countries no longer exists, and the government only needs to do a good job for the plutocrats without thinking about human rights and welfare.In order to prevent social changes, there is no need to advance science and technology. Even the existing science and technology must be made into the form of cheat books, which are only allowed to be mastered by some selected confidants. It is a crime for ordinary people to steal it!

Due to the retrogression of technology and environmental pollution, energy is not enough, and the land cannot support more people. The countermeasure of the chaebols is not how to develop productivity, but to let some people die.As long as they can't find work and can't eat, starvation and disease will soon break out and wipe out the surplus population.If you really don't want to die, you can also steal, rob, burn and kill, but you are only allowed to kill other prostitutes and don't offend the wealthy city where old men live.If someone really started a revolutionary riot, then it doesn't matter. The advancement of science and technology makes it more difficult for the poor to resist. As long as a small number of mercenaries, armed drones and combat robots are dispatched to have a bloody massacre, everything will be fine. solved.

In short, in that dystopian future, the barriers of countries, nations, races, languages, and religions are indeed eliminated, but in a form that Marxists least want to see—it turns out that civilization can not only evolve, It can also degenerate.The entire human society is left with only the contradiction between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, while the bourgeoisie relies on hereditary monopoly of knowledge and education, and is always above the slave-like ignorant masses.

In this way, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie were completely divided into two groups of people not only in wealth, but also in blood.The bourgeoisie are born noble.The son of a rich man will always be a rich man, and the son of a white-collar worker will always be a white-collar worker, but the son of a worker may not necessarily be a worker, but may become a beggar.Only the descendants of the rich and powerful can receive a formal education, and then arrogantly look down on the stupid pariah, and try to block knowledge so that they will be forever stupid.

"...In the science fiction works I have read, there are countless tragic and cruel futures, such as nuclear wasteland, zombie apocalypse, alien invasion, robot riots, everything. But I just regard them as attractive The background of the eyeballs is gone after a moment of amazement. However, the future world in 2138 described in "Overlord King of the Undead" made me feel horrified!"

Commissar Guo, a veteran Marxist, smoked a cigarette and sighed melancholy, "... because our world is indeed developing in that direction. For example, the TPP agreement led by the United States is an attempt to International agreements override sovereign states, deprive the country of judicial and legislative power, and establish a supranational system that overwhelms the government. However, the anti-intellectualism trends in the United States and the United Kingdom in recent years, as well as the sheep-herding public education, have created A bunch of middle school students and college students who can't even calculate multiplication seem to have intentions to keep the people stupid. But we are still being fooled into learning these bad experiences from the West, talking all day to reduce the burden on students, I really don't know what will happen in the end What is the reduction...

Alas, the face of the ruling class in capitalist countries has not changed since ancient times.If possible, of course I hope to implement a policy of ignoring the people, so that the people can remain stupid so that they can be slaughtered.The popularization of education in modern times before was just a forced and helpless move under the life-and-death competition among imperialist powers.When the Cold War is over and the external pressure eases a bit, they will immediately revert to their old ways. Without pressure, there will be no motivation!All kinds of anti-intellectualism and happy education have come, as long as private schools still maintain duck-feeding education.

In this way, there is a world of difference between the children of rich families and the children of poor families at the starting line of education... Today's public education in the United States just makes those students unable to write a fluent article , can't do slightly complicated arithmetic problems.If the trend of anti-intellectual degeneration continues all the way, by 2138, the global capitalist society will really make the common people illiterate, primary school students become high-level intellectuals, and universities become the monopoly of the rich and powerful, I am afraid it is not surprising. ..."

"...I think...things should not have developed to this point, right?" Wang Qiu said after thinking for a while, "...I remember you said in class before that regardless of the system and culture, an industrialized society is determined. Ultimately, the future is people, or the industrialized population. Whether in Europe, the United States, the Soviet Union, or China and Japan, or any industrial society, the number of industrial population not only directly determines the scale of the industrial economy, but also depends on the size of the industrial system. The degree of complexity, or the degree of advancement is closely related. The development trend of modern industry is that the division of labor is becoming more and more detailed, the products are becoming more and more complex, and there are more and more basic accessories. Even the birth of automated assembly lines that replace manual labor will only accelerate this process. One development trend.

The modern industry entering the 21st century is a very large system, which cannot be supported without an industrial population of hundreds of millions.Even a country with a population of tens of millions can only focus on the development of one or two industrial sectors. Even if artificial intelligence and robot automation assembly lines can be used to replace labor, then the production of various robots and the writing of various programs also require Huge number of skilled workers and programmers.

If the bourgeois elite in the future are really so insane and deliberately degenerate the vast majority of the population into illiteracy, how can their industrial system be maintained?Are they willing to bid farewell to luxury cars and yachts and live in medieval feudal castles again? "

"...Hehe, so you still remember my class! That's right, in the middle of the twentieth century, a complete industrial system already needed to be composed of tens of millions of basic industrial parts, and Britain and France with insufficient population It has been difficult to maintain a complete industrial system, so the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan with a larger population have caught up. Next, China, with a larger population, has successfully become the world's factory after popularizing education. And those small countries can only use' Made in China'... However, there is an implicit premise in my statement, that is, it is a living and constantly upgrading industrial system adapted to modern competition. But on the other hand, if it is a dead What about an industrial system that has been inherited from generation to generation and does not require any evolution? Or something like the 'Mechanicus'?" Commissar Guo chuckled, then changed the subject.

"...in such a world, a limited number of monopoly plutocrats rule all industries and even the government. What they seek is no longer wealth, but eternal supremacy. There is no pressure to compete , there is no need for scientific and technological progress. The emergence of new technology will shake their hegemonic system. Even environmental pressure can be solved by famine, plague and massacres, and the regular elimination of a group of people.

In this way, without any innovation and improvement, future capitalists can use very few engineers and skilled workers to maintain the operation of an industrial system.The same style of machine tool can be used for 100 or even 1000 years without a hair change.The same goes for the goods produced, which never change from generation to generation.Front-line operators only need to know how to start the production line according to the instructions, and they are not required or allowed to learn more knowledge.Even engineers who are responsible for repairing and maintaining equipment only need to follow the manual and know what is happening without knowing why. There is no need for any improvement, no need to understand how the machine works, and no need to understand the real scientific principles.

As for the core materials involving scientific principles, the ruling class can lock them in the safe as a unique secret book that only their children and grandchildren are allowed to read, so that they can sit and enjoy the monopoly dividend forever, and limit the knowledge in the minds of workers At the lowest level - anyway, science and technology have stopped updating, and technical materials will not be eliminated even if they are buried in the cellar for 100 years.

In this way, under the circumstances of global unity and no international competition, since the development and progress of science and technology do not need to be considered at all, the slow degradation of technology can even be tolerated-as long as it does not degrade too fast and make the powerful feel unbearable, then The ruling class in capitalist society can completely extinguish the light of civilization in human society little by little, and establish a solid caste system like India... Of course, if the future society really falls into such a dark and hopeless state, I am afraid it will be impossible not easy.But for us, this is indeed a potential danger..."

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Hearing the worry and exclamation of Political Commissar Guo, Wang Qiu couldn't help shaking his head with a wry smile on his face.

As a former infinite space reincarnation who has struggled on the edge of life and death many times, he is really not used to thinking about this kind of big topic involving the future destiny of all mankind, and he never thinks that he is a sage and philosopher who needs to think about this kind of problem .

In Wang Qiu's view, as the saying goes, if you are not in the position, you will not plan for the government.What do I have to do with such heavy topics as the future destiny of human civilization and the future prospects of the country and society?It is not easy for him to keep his life in the thrilling adventures.

Wang Qiu is very clear that in terms of personality, he has never been a selfless and charismatic natural leader, but just a very mediocre layman: selfish, selfish, unwilling to contribute, always looking for various excuses to be lazy and not to participate in the collective Activity.

In campus life, although reluctantly wandering around the fringes of various small groups and trying hard to make friends, in fact there are few close friends who can make friends.On the surface, a good student and good boy who seems cautious and cautious can win the love of adults, but when he secretly rebels, he always thinks all kinds of dark and even perverted dirty thoughts in his heart, but he doesn't have the courage to put them into action.

In short, he is such a mediocre person who occasionally takes risks when he is pushed, but generally lacks fighting spirit and dreams.I have always lacked long-term plans, unwilling to think about things that are too far away, let alone firm beliefs and indomitable will.

——If it is not counted as having survived the cruel tests of the infinite space, it can be called a rock-solid survival instinct.

Therefore, Wang Qiu immediately felt uncomfortable about the above-mentioned heavy topics mentioned by Political Commissar Guo.Although it's not that I don't understand the meaning, but I always feel that under the current tense situation, it seems that I don't have the heart to think about such a distant thing at all.

So, after a few random words, he quickly changed the subject:
"...Professor Guo, at present, [The Destruction of the Fortress City Ye Lantil], which is an easy dungeon for earning points, is basically over. If you want to earn a lot of points next, you should gnaw hard bones—— Just now, we have found traces of the target of the attack, and we are about to launch an operation. But the elite online game masters that the central government promised to prepare for us, why haven’t they come yet?”

"...Oh, that group of people has been assembled a long time ago. They are all top online game masters who have been selected from colleges and universities across the country and have participated in competitions and won awards. At present, they have all completed seven days and seven nights of intensive cooperative training. Resting next door now...I'll let them in right now..."

Then, in another world, in the fortress city.In the wilderness to the north of Lantil, the Lich King Ainz, who watched the undead creatures in the city and ordered his subordinates to take in and take care of the surviving refugees, received a piece of information that surprised him.

"...What? On the outskirts in the south of E. Rantel, another group of armed men with the flag of the Slan religion was discovered? Damn it! This group of lingering fellows! Are they related? Then, you plan to kill them directly? Isn't this too reckless?"

"...I don't think this is reckless, Mr. Ainz. After the last battle in Karn Village, we have already become enemies with the Slan Theocracy. Of course, these guys do have some of themselves, we Even for full-level players, it is still difficult to defeat them empty-handed."

Wang Qiu, who came online in the form of a tabby mage, smiled and replied, "... So, can you help us with a few magic props?"

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PS: Due to the poor response from readers, the progress of this volume is expected to be greatly accelerated. The next volume is planned to write about the Marvel world. Dealing with Iron Man, Thor, S.H.I.E.L.D. After being depressed, I experienced the helplessness of being crushed.