Chapter 1: Who says that if you're called Zhang Qian you must definitely go on a mission to the Western Regions?

The Lugou Bridge Incident opened the curtain on the nationwide War of Resistance against Japan.

The day after the July 7 Incident, a nationwide telegram was issued, calling for the nation's military and civilians to unite and jointly resist the Japanese aggressors. People of all ethnic groups and walks of life across the country responded enthusiastically, and the anti‑Japanese salvation movement reached an unprecedented high.

November 1939, Bright Sword World Eighth Route Army Logistics Department.

Zhang Qian woke up from his sleep, the unfamiliar surroundings making him extremely panicked. In his memory, he had just finished a board strategy game from a certain Swedish game company, but now he found himself in a broken cave dwelling.

"Please, host, quickly familiarize yourself with the system's basic operations and learn to master its core usage; the myriad compatriots of the Chinese land are still awaiting your rescue."

A sudden voice in his mind made Zhang Qian jump to his feet; while observing his surroundings, he shouted loudly: "Who's speaking? Come out!"

"Host, you needn't look for me; I am in your mind, the manifestation summoned by the myriad compatriots to awaken Brave Tiger. This is the Bright Sword World you know, and I will help you save the masses still struggling in the flames of war."

As the indignant and deep‑toned voice sounded, Zhang Qian also gradually began to assimilate some memories that were not his own. In this dangerous world, he is a native of the Dabie Mountains; in 1930 he entered the Chemistry Department of the College of Sciences at the renowned Yenching University, and upon graduating in 1934, on the recommendation of President Si Tu Lei Deng he went to France's Paris Institute of Technology, becoming in 1937 the university's first graduating class to hold the diploma of "Engineer Graduated from the Institute of Technology" and an outstanding graduate. Since the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, Zhang Qian has been active in France, raising funds for various equipment and weapons on behalf of overseas compatriots for the motherland. In 1939, invited by his fellow townsman Zhang Wanhe, he unreservedly came to the base area to devote himself to the great war of national defense.

Perhaps because Zhang Qian's voice had just been too loud, a hurried footsteps came from outside. When the door of the cave dwelling was opened, Zhang Qian saw that the visitor was none other than his fellow townsman Zhang Wanhe.

"You little brat, are you having nightmares again? This journey has really been hard on you; I truly thank you for giving up your superior environment to come to the base area. Although comrades sacrificed themselves to cover you on the way back, I believe you will not let them down." Zhang Wanhe said, sitting anxiously on the edge of the kang.

Seeing Zhang Qian silent, he placed the breakfast prepared by the mess hall on the table, adjusted his expression, and said formally: "On behalf of the Eighth Route Army Logistics Department, I welcome your enlistment. The senior officers will come in a few days and will bring your appointment documents along."

"What should I do now?"

"Ah, you've also seen the situation of our Eighth Route Army; it's already winter, and the clothing problem for the entire army and divisions remains unsolved. To be frank, I, as the Logistics Department Chief, am really ineffectual—many soldiers still wear single garments and straw sandals. You said on your first day back that you could obtain some cotton, cotton cloth, and yarn. The urgent task now is to solve the soldiers' clothing problem; we cannot let this delay training and affect combat effectiveness."

Having said that, Zhang Wanhe put on a bitter face, spread his hands toward Zhang Qian, and set the breakfast before him.

"Then I'll be going first; there's still too much work left undone in the Logistics Department—you need to get this done as soon as possible."

"Cotton, cotton cloth, yarn." Zhang Qian repeated these things, then suddenly thought of the system.

Zhang Qian focused his attention, and the system interface appeared in his mind.

Fortunately, most of the old friends are still there, but as a veteran Steel 4 player, Zhang Qian keenly noticed that many functions of this system are missing; compared to the original game, it's basically a castrated version. Besides, it makes sense—his current identity is merely a staff member of the Logistics Department, and he cannot decide those complicated matters. (Normally, state policy is mainly divided into politics, economics, and military, but this book only covers the economic type,

Infrastructure and military‑industrial workers, huh. There's too much you shouldn't touch—you all should understand; interested friends can go look it up themselves).

"System, I have a question: if I obtain some materials through the state policy system, how should I extract them? After all, the base area is now blockaded by the aggressors." Zhang Qian frowned and asked the most crucial question.

"Host, you needn't worry; all materials you obtain through the state policy tree can be drawn from the Logistics Department's warehouse. Besides you, others will think these materials came from your personal connections, and the transportation method is reasonable."

"And what about the research results obtained through the research slot? Even if I have some achievements in the research field, I'm not omnipotent—early stuff is fine, but later I can't possibly enrich uranium‑235 by hand, can I?" Zhang Qian continued to raise his doubts.

"Host, don't forget your identity; as the saying goes, 'birds of a feather flock together.' As someone who has achieved a little in academia, don't you have a few patriotic industry bigwigs as friends? When you unlock new research results via the research slot, the system will cause experts in that field to flock to you; host, go ahead and display your talents and realize your grand ambitions."

Having received the system's reply, Zhang Qian felt relieved and began to examine the system interface and the state policy system.

By selecting and completing various state policies, one can gain various benefits or negative effects. For example, the Eighth Route Army that Zhang Qian is currently in has a particularly troublesome negative effect!

"Long March Tragedy: construction speed –50%, factory output –15%"

During the Long March retreat to Shaanxi, our forces suffered huge losses; before the base area fully recovers its vitality, we may need time or even external assistance.

This negative effect is simply too deadly; the base area itself is in a blockaded state, and Zhang Qian can hardly imagine how, in history, those heavenly‑descended tough guys managed to rally the troops and drive out the aggressors.

Zhang Qian stared at the state policy system, lost in thought; the urgent priority is that the troops lack far too much materiel, and we need to use the system's worker factories to trade for what we need.

Currently, the system's military‑industrial workers are zero, so we first need a state policy to unlock some worker factories.

It's you:

"Seeker of Foreign Aid"