Chapter 171

Fang Ming's attitude was firm, and the butler couldn't stop him,

so he could only contact a fast flight first and then try to find a way to persuade him.

But he didn't expect that during the time he went to make contact,

Fang Ming had already directed the servants to pack up everything valuable in the house. When the butler returned, he saw Fang Ming carrying two suitcases.

He didn't want to wait even for a moment.

Seeing there was no other way, the butler could only arrange things at the residence.

He followed Fang Ming to the port.

It wasn't just Fang Ming who was like this; in other stream rooms,

players who wanted to go to the "Republic of China" would be blocked by the NPCs around them, but since it was a game centered on players, they basically couldn't stop the players.

They all used their own methods to head to the "Republic of China."

There were also many servant NPCs who were worried and chose to follow.

And seeing that this method was feasible,

many players followed suit. Thus, the Blue Star players who had started in various places on the European continent spent their first moments in the game selling off their family assets.

Ignoring the strange looks from others who saw them as spendthrifts,

they took all their wealth and headed to the "Republic of China."

However, the journey was too long. According to the transport capacity of the 1915 era, it would take a month to take a fast flight ship from the British Empire.

Although two or three days had passed, there were still no players or streamers who had arrived in the "Republic of China."

However, the streamers didn't go offline, skipping plots every day.

And after a few days of fermentation, Jixing Company clearly noticed this matter as well.

When the subordinates reported it to Zhao Ming,

Zhao Ming only replied, "Got it, don't worry about it."

Seeing this, the employees in the company no longer asked but used general scripts to reply to the players.

Jixing Company.

In the CEO's office.

Zhao Ming was sitting at the desk, leaning back in his boss chair. The virtual projection in front of him was divided into several different sections, marked with different names.

Shen Qinghan was standing next to Zhao Ming.

Perhaps feeling that the high heels on her feet were a bit tiring, she sat directly on the armrest of Zhao Ming's boss chair.

Zhao Ming just felt the chair tilt. He turned his head and was about to speak, but seeing Shen Qinghan with her arms crossed and looking fully focused, he decided against it.

Shen Qinghan looked at those projections and said:

"Are these the subsequent DLCs?"

Zhao Ming nodded and said:

"That's right."

There were a total of four virtual projection icons in front of him:

"World War I: Twilight of Empires"

"World War I: Age of Awakening" DLC

"World War II: Rise of Empires"

"World War II: National Liberation" DLC

"World War II: Cold War Clouds" DLC

Among them, the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC was completed in the last two days.

And 【National Liberation】 was only a temporary plan because the game had to follow the timeline.

Currently, the plot of 【WWI】 hadn't reached the start of WWII in 1939, so 【National Liberation】 wouldn't be online for the time being.

However, 【Age of Awakening】 would be online in these few days.

After all, Zhao Ming could also monitor the progress in the game in real time.

The fastest players would arrive at the port of the "Republic of China" in another two days.

Zhao Ming raised his hand and clicked on the "World War I: Age of Awakening" DLC icon.

A series of 【Republic】 timelines popped up below.

【Founding of the Revive China Society】, 【First Sino-Japanese War】... 【May Fourth Movement】, 【Northern Expedition】... 【July 7th Incident】, 【Battle of Shanghai】, etc., all the way to the end of 1939.

The timeline displayed various events from 1890 to the start of WWII in 1939.

These had all been perfected in the last two days.

Although playing normally would also trigger events, there wouldn't be CGs or prompts, as the main body was "World War I: Twilight of Empires."

It only worked if the DLC was updated.

Shen Qinghan looked at the timeline, nodded, and then said, "What are the card sets below?"

Shen Qinghan's gaze turned to the several card sets below the "World War I: Age of Awakening" DLC icon. Zhao Ming raised his hand and clicked to open them, and the cards spread out.

They were marked with various times, but they were all dark gray, clearly not activated.

Zhao Ming clicked on the card marked with the five characters 【Founding of the Revive China Society】; it only had the five characters of the title, not even a summary:

"These are plot cards."

"Once players come into contact with plot characters related to the timeline, they will obtain plot cards."

"When activated, the complete plot introduction will be displayed."

"As well as participating in experiencing the plot."

As he spoke, Zhao Ming clicked on 【Founding of the Revive China Society】, letting the photon supercomputing assistant show the appearance of it being activated.

As the plot card lit up, a complete introduction appeared, and in the center of the card appeared a middle-aged man wearing a stand-up collar, single-breasted five-button jacket, with deep eyes.

【Founding of the Revive China Society】

【This is an important turning point in the modern revolution of the 【Republic】, lighting the first fire to overthrow the corrupt Qing government.】

【In 1894, Sun Zhongshan founded the Revive China Society in Honolulu, proposing the revolutionary program of "Expel the Tartars, restore China, and establish a united government," with the first batch of members being only 20-plus people.】

【The founding of the Revive China Society moved revolutionary thought from secret societies to open struggle, laying the foundation for the later Revolutionary Alliance,】

【and ultimately facilitating the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution.】

【Note: Under the pursuit of Qing court spies, secretly contact patriots, develop members, raise funds, and successfully plan an anti-Qing uprising, surviving for more than 3 months.】

【Condition for completion: 0/3 (months)】

【Note: The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades must still work hard!】

【Enter the plot?】

【Yes】 【No】

Shen Qinghan nodded:

"So that's how it is..."

,

Then she looked at the icon next to it and said:

"What about the content of the 'World War II: National Liberation' DLC?"

Zhao Ming spread his hands and said:

"Haven't had time to make it yet."

"Just finished perfecting 【Age of Awakening】 these past two days."

However, although the 【National Liberation】 DLC hadn't started production, the "World War II: Cold War Clouds" DLC

chapters below had already been finished.

Zhao Ming raised his hand and clicked on it, saying:

"Originally, I was thinking of doing 【Cold War Clouds】 first."

"The chapters are all done."

"It's just that the response to the federation military exercise was too big, and these players are quite imaginative, actually running from WWI to the Republic, so I can only do the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC first."

"Let's launch the subsequent chapters of 【Cold War Clouds】 slowly."

Below the 【Cold War Clouds】 DLC icon in front of him, several chapter titles popped up: 【Great Power Game】

【War to Resist America and Aid...】

【War to Resist America and Aid Vietnam】

【Self-Defense Counterattack Against Vietnam...】

Looking at this series of titles, Shen Qinghan was a bit surprised:

"Hmm?"

"This War to Resist America and Aid Vietnam and the Self-Defense Counterattack Against Vietnam below... are they connected?"

"I know the one before; isn't that the exclusive plot dungeon previously given to the Daxia Federation?"

"What's the situation with the one below?"

Zhao Ming said:

"It's very obvious."

"After causing trouble in the north, the American Freedom Federation ran to the south."

"The 【Republic】 helped South Vietnam resist the United States for ten years."

"As a result, just as it ended, the Soviet Federation intervened, and South Vietnam gained confidence and wanted to attack the 【Republic】."

"Raising a wolf cub for twenty billion—that's probably what this refers to."

Shen Qinghan's eyes widened slightly, and she understood a bit:

"Good heavens, the Asian version of 【Italy】?"

Zhao Ming's expression was strange; can it be understood from this angle?

But thinking about it, it makes sense.

Isn't it just like Italy in WWII, taking the benefits and then turning around to backstab the big brother.

Shen Qinghan shook her head:

"But that's too clueless, isn't it."

"They couldn't even beat the American Freedom Federation, relied on the 【Republic】's support to hold on for ten years, and then turned around and wanted to attack the 【Republic】."

"Was the Soviet Federation's influence that big at the time?"

Just by standing up for South Vietnam.

South Vietnam dared to challenge the 【Republic】?

Don't the people over there look at maps?

Just the gap in land area alone, the 【Republic】 as an existence, is not something South Vietnam could provoke.

Little did they know...

If you go into the 【Huaxia】 series of games and specifically choose to start in the South Vietnam region.

After a long time, you will discover a new term: 【Anti-China Hero】...

Zhao Ming said:

"After all, they were the only two superpowers on 'Earth' at the time."

"Clearly, it's no joke."

Shen Qinghan shook her head, still unable to understand the brain circuits of the South Vietnamese people, then looked at the four icons and said:

"When do you plan to launch it?"

"The federation wants to ask if you have time to make some dungeons that can train commanders."

"Too many problems were exposed during the last joint military exercise."

"All major federations are currently rectifying."

"By the way, the Free Star Cluster wants the agency rights."

"The price is the same as the Golden Moon Federation; how should the dungeon permissions be opened?"

Regarding company operations and cooperation, Shen Qinghan had no problems.

But involving the game, she still had to listen to Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming said:

"Then give them the same permissions as the Golden Moon Federation; they can freely choose their identity to start, but only one slot, after all, the Golden Moon Federation only has the eldest prince."

"As for the dungeons... that's no problem."

"But what type do they want?"

"According to the classification in the 【Huaxia】 series."

"Command can be divided into the four schools of military strategy."

"Military Power, Military Form, Military Yin-Yang, Military Technique."

,

"The data for the representative figures is basically all in the 【Huaxia】 series database; I'll classify it later and send it to you."

Shen Qinghan had no objections, suddenly thought of something, and said:

"What about that person in the 【Liaoshen Campaign】?"

"Which school of military strategy does he belong to?"

Zhao Ming thought for a moment and said:

"He belongs to Military Form, and also Military Power."

"The core idea of Military Form is rapid decision-making and tactical maneuver based on the battlefield situation."

"It advocates 'moving like thunder and wind, arriving first by starting later,' focusing on flexible response and the creation of local advantages."

"That person's 'one point, two sides,' 'three fierce tactics' (fierce attack, fierce charge, fierce pursuit), and 'four fasts, one slow' are all keen grasps of the battlefield situation and rapid reactions."

"The core idea of Military Power is to focus on the overall strategic situation and strategy."

"It emphasizes 'using the orthodox to defend the country, using the unorthodox to employ troops,' comprehensively utilizing political and psychological warfare means."

"The 'leave the main road open, occupy the two sides' strategy during the 【Liaoshen Campaign】, as well as the 'long siege of Changchun,' all belong to a kind of psychological tactical deterrence."

"It's mainly to disintegrate the enemy's morale."

Shen Qinghan could understand at first, but she got a headache hearing the rest:

"I don't understand some of it; I really need to play this game more."

"I'll tell them later."

"You send over the data on... the four schools of military strategy."

"I'll send it to the federation."

Zhao Ming said:

"No problem."

He then opened the photon supercomputing assistant, found that part of the data in the classification folder, and sent it to Shen Qinghan.

Shen Qinghan also sent it to the federation and at the same time contacted the spokesperson for the Free Star Cluster Federation, preparing to discuss the details of the agency contract.

After Shen Qinghan left.

Zhao Ming looked at the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC, which was almost done, and wrote an announcement to send out.

At this time.

Tian Sha live streaming platform.

In Fang Ming's stream room, he was sitting on a boat looking at the sea, waiting for the plot skip button to pop up.

Having looked at the sea for several days, he was truly sick of it, but there was no other way, and the danmu in the stream room was still causing trouble:

【Streamer, give up; the progress next door is faster, they'll be there in two days.】

【One thing to say, this boat is slower than a turtle; how can they have the nerve to call it a fast flight.】

【Streamer, don't worry, at this speed, by the time you reach the new plot, the game will have shut down.】

【Brothers, I'm leaving first; kick me when the streamer gets ashore.】

【My grandma rows a boat faster than this; why not have her come stream instead?】

【Jixing official website released an announcement! Go look!】

Fang Ming looked at the danmu scrolling by and cursed inwardly—your grandma? Your grandma's a triangle...

"Hmm?"

Fang Ming noticed a danmu saying that the Jixing official website had released an announcement.

He immediately switched out of the game and entered the Jixing official website, and sure enough, he saw the announcement about the new DLC.

What caught their eyes was the photon supercomputer center in Donghai City, Daxia Federation.

【"World War I: Twilight of Empires" DLC upcoming launch announcement.】

【Regarding the 【Republic】 currently being hotly discussed by players...】

【Our company will launch the brand new DLC 【Age of Awakening】 for "World War I: Twilight of Empires" in two days.】

【This DLC mainly features plots occurring on the land of Huaxia during the period from 1890 to 1939...】

【1. The DLC contains numerous events, 【Founding of the Revive China Society】, 【First Sino-Japanese War】...】

【2. Plot cards: When contacting NPCs, there is a chance to obtain plot cards...】

【3. Brand new update mode, online DLC update...】

Fang Ming looked at the announcement and scratched his head:

"Ah, this..."

"A bit annoying!"

"I've been on this damn boat for four or five days, and you tell me you're updating the DLC?!"

"And I can directly start in the 'Republic of China'?!"

However, he was helpless in the atmosphere; after all, his speed wasn't considered fast, and there were faster ones arriving in two days. He didn't know how much they must have grinded, and they would probably be even angrier.

Fang Ming looked at himself on the boat; he couldn't jump into the sea, so he could only continue sitting:

"In that case, it'll be over in two days."

"No need to rush to skip the plot, so no need to grind."

"Brothers."

"Farewell!!!"

As he spoke, Fang Ming went offline at light speed.

Fang Ming, who had grinded for four or five days in the game, directly went to sleep right there in the virtual pod.

This whole operation left the haters in the stream room stunned.

They had originally wanted to mock him, but it turned out to be this kind of reaction.

Two days later.

In Fang Ming's stream room, he was still staying on the boat.

However, the stream room was hosting the fastest stream room currently, watching together with the friends:

"Brothers, let's see what the situation in the 'Republic of China' is first."

"Jixing only said update."

"Didn't say the time; don't know what they want to do."

At this time, it was only 10-plus minutes until streamer Li Rui, who was in this stream room, arrived at the port of the "Republic of China," and the port could already be clearly seen.

Unlike the butler on Fang Ming's side, the NPC beside Li Rui was an Englishman.

As they got closer and closer to the port.

Not just Li Rui, but all the Blue Star friends watching had their expressions change involuntarily.

Because such a scene was just as those NPCs had described.

The pier planks were rotten and black.

Coolies were stepping barefoot on sewage to move cargo, whip marks and coal ash mixed into murky patterns on their backs, and two women with bound feet were fighting over half a moldy steamed bun, their rag-like clothes revealing the shape of their ribs.

When the boat in the stream room slowly docked.

Li Rui still hadn't come to his senses; he looked at the scene before him and walked down directly, looking around.

The Englishman beside him was wearing a suit and frowned as he said:

"Hey, Li."

"I told you long ago, but you didn't believe me."

"See that."

"Everything here is so barbaric, backward."

"I really don't understand what you're doing coming to a place like this."

"Let's leave quickly."

However.

Li Rui looked around at everything:

"This is 【Huaxia】?!"

"How can this be 【Huaxia】?!"

And the streamers and friends watching the rebroadcast in various stream rooms were all silent.

Even though they had made some preparations, seeing such a scene still made their hearts sink.

Suddenly!

A commotion in the distance at the pier.

A chaotic crowd crowded over, seemingly hiding from something, and before Li Rui could react.

Bang!

Bang!

Two gunshots rang out, scaring the Englishman into hurriedly dragging Li Rui to hide.

And in the distance, they were shouting something about "capturing the rebels"!

Then came a few more gunshots; the commotion in the distance stopped, and many people turned back to look.

Li Rui got up and walked toward there; the Englishman beside him couldn't stop him and had to follow:

"Hey! Let's go back to the boat."

"I don't want to stay here for even a moment."

As he was speaking.

Li Rui in front had already squeezed into the crowd and saw the scene ahead.

Two men with short hair, called "rebels," were pressed to the ground by a group of soldiers, without any trial steps at all,

they were directly sentenced, and then the executioner stepped forward.

Pfft!

Pfft!

Fresh blood splashed onto the faces of Li Rui, who had just squeezed in, and the English NPC who followed closely behind. The English NPC just wanted to scream, but the surrounding crowd swarmed over.

Reaching out to grab the blood from the beheading.

The two women who had been fighting for the steamed bun earlier were now each holding a small piece of steamed bun, dipping it into the fresh blood spilled on the ground, and then running away as if they had found a treasure.

The English NPC's voice was drowned out in the crowd; Li Rui turned in place and looked around:

"Does a country like this... really have any hope?"

As the words fell, the Blue Star netizens in the stream room were thinking the same question.

The next second.

—!

The perspective of Li Rui's stream room suddenly zoomed up and turned into a CG, then retreated to the time before the boat had docked, the perspective slowly falling.

It fell onto Li Rui, who was full of smiles because he was about to land at the port, and the helpless English NPC beside him.

Seeing this scene.

All the streamers watching were stunned, having a vague guess.

Holy crap?!

No way? They put him into the CG?!!!

My god?!

Some streamers who didn't persist were now full of regret.

And it was indeed as these streamers thought; as the boat docked, the expression on Li Rui's face gradually solidified, and then he went ashore numbly to look around.

Capturing rebels, beheading, the common people swarming over to grab the fresh blood, and Li Rui standing on the edge turning to look around and saying that sentence:

"Does a country like this... really have any hope?"

These were all made into the opening CG. Many Blue Star netizens also reacted to what the 【Brand new update mode, online DLC update...】 meant.

It turns out it needed players to trigger it. This Li Rui really earned it, being added into the DLC's update CG.

Some players and streamers were thinking.

Swish!

The CG screen flashed.

What came into view was a school.

The morning light of early spring slanted into the window, and the private school was filled with the scent of ink.

The teacher in a blue cloth gown walked around once, then walked to the front and suddenly asked:

"Students, why do you study?"

The answers from below were either "to understand reason" or "to pass the exams." The teacher in the blue cloth gown nodded until it was the turn of the boy in the back to stand up. His childish voice hadn't faded, but every word sounded like gold and stone falling to the ground:

"To study for the rise of my Chinese nation!"

The teacher in front trembled, suddenly looked up at the boy in the back seat, his eyes full of surprise, his voice trembling involuntarily:

"What did you say? Say it again!"

The boy stood upright, his gaze as bright as the stars:

"To study for the rise of my Chinese nation!"

In an instant, heaven and earth were silent.

Only the old locust tree outside the window rustled, and the boy's childish voice rolled like thunder across the dust-covered Nine Provinces.

At this moment.

In the minds of the Blue Star netizens, they suddenly no longer questioned whether such a Huaxia land had any hope. With such a boy, how could there be no hope?

The teacher in the picture had a look of joy on his face, his eyes filled with tears.

It seemed he wanted to say something.

The screen switched abruptly.

Clatter—

Clatter—what came into view was a prisoner wearing shackles and chains, but the difference was that this prisoner walking slowly toward the execution ground was a woman.

Looking at the ignorant common people around, some even holding bowls and steamed buns, this female prisoner had no fear, her gaze firm as she walked toward the execution ground.

A woman's voice-over slowly sounded:

"I am going to my death this time for the sake of revolution."

"Chinese women have not yet shed blood for the revolution; let it begin with me, Qiu Jin."

"I am going to my death this time for the sake of revolution."

"Revolution is to build a home for all the people under heaven that is sheltered from wind and rain; my death is for all the children..."

Swish!

The screen flashed.

A student parade team composed entirely of seventeen or eighteen-year-old children held high flags and rushed toward the soldiers wearing black police uniforms:

"No matter who it is!"

"If they dare to destroy our country and exterminate our race!"

"We will fight them to the end!"

On a high building not far away, a middle-aged man wearing a long gown waved the leaflets in his hand and threw them downward, roaring hoarsely:

"Compatriots! Unite!!!"

The police sirens below were urgent, and soldiers carrying long guns rushed up to the high building.

There was no fear on the man's face; he used all his strength to wave the leaflets, wanting to make them drift further, wanting more people to see, to see that unyielding cry.

Swish!

The screen switched to a battlefield full of smoke and fire.

The smoke on the scorched earth had not yet dissipated, and the shell craters were like scars on the earth.

The broken military flag was slanted in the center of the position, and the commander, covered in blood, leaned on his sword and looked at the soldiers who had been promoted:

"Those souls baptized by the flames of war will be closely integrated with the destiny of the people!"

"From now on, the people will believe in us!"

"Will support us!"

"Knowing that we are struggling together to build a new country!"

"Everything we can do today!"

"Is supreme glory!!!"

These four words hit the minds of the Blue Star netizens like a heavy hammer.

The screen gradually darkened.

Dong!

【Age of Awakening】 slowly emerged.

Looking at the large characters that appeared at the end of the CG.

At this moment, the Blue Star netizens understood a bit why this DLC was called 【Age of Awakening】; it was so intuitive and clear...