在北方人眼里，动摇南方的根基并搅乱民意投票能够削弱任何公认新国家的合法性。

In northern minds, destabilising the south and mucking up the referendum would undermine the legitimacy of any putative new country.

youdao

北方也许还可以通过另一种方式来搅乱民意投票，那就是激怒南方的异己分子与叛军势力，来降低所谓“可靠的”民意投票的成功几率。

The other way in which the north might disrupt the referendum is by stoking dissent and rebellion in the south to reduce the chance of what it calls a "credible" referendum.

youdao