Chapter 172: [Republic in 1919] Fang Ming: I

As the CG ended, the screen returned to Li Rui's side.

Looking at Li Rui's stream now, one could see icons and prompts appearing. Li Rui followed the operations and clicked through them one by one. This book is first published on the Tian Tian Kan Novel Library, offering you an error-free and non-disordered reading experience.

He roughly caught the Blue Star viewers in the stream up on this newly loaded DLC.

Currently.

All players who had traveled to the "Republic" through various means.

Would automatically download and load the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC if online; those offline would start the download automatically upon logging in.

As for players who hadn't traveled to the "Republic."

Things remained unchanged, and they continued with the 【Europe】 main storyline.

Of course.

If they had the idea to head to the "Republic," they would have to actively download it.

In the settings, one could switch back to the original 【Europe】 version.

Or switch to the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC, placing the main storyline in 【Asia】.

One could enter Asia without loading the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC, but it wouldn't trigger events or plotlines.

One could only be a bystander; there were no restrictions on that.

However, after loading the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC, one could choose a time and identity, and upon encountering certain figures,

One would also obtain 【Plot Cards】.

【Plot Cards】 are triggered at specific times.

After being triggered.

As long as one was at the location of the plot, one could enter and participate.

And 【Plot Cards】 also had an exclusive collection library.

Li Rui clicked in, and everything was gray; clearly, he hadn't obtained a single one.

After exiting the collection library, Li Rui looked at the pop-up prompts and tried to select an identity, but since the time here was already fixed, he couldn't choose.

He could only select an identity to be automatically generated.

For example, Li Rui's current identity was an overseas Chinese whose parents had immigrated to the French Empire.

Now, selecting an identity.

Besides the inherent 【Overseas Chinese】.

One could also choose 【Merchant】, 【Revolutionary】, 【Student】, 【Professor】, 【Weapons Design Expert】, etc., and could even choose to enter the military.

Becoming a 【Company Commander】, 【Battalion Commander】, 【Regimental Commander】... 【Warlord Staff Officer】, etc.

The dense list of options covered all walks of life, with at least hundreds of categories, large and small.

It was dizzying to look at.

However, the options further down made one curious.

Could one even become a 【Regimental Commander】 directly? How could that be reasonable no matter how it was arranged?

Urged on by the viewers in his stream, Li Rui curiously clicked on 【Regimental Commander】.

However...

A prompt popped up before his eyes.

【Prompt: Insufficient assets; cannot arrange Regimental Commander identity.】

???

What the hell?

Insufficient assets?

Li Rui was full of question marks, as were the Blue Star viewers in the stream, but they quickly reacted:

【Laughing to death, is this a Warlord Simulator? You can become a Regimental Commander if you pay!】

【Streamer, hurry and check the price; maybe you can haggle!】

【Haggle? More like haggle for your head?! Hahahaha.】

【Hell, this is insane? It's too ridiculous that you can become one just by spending money.】

【By the way, why isn't there a Warlord option? The highest is just a Warlord Staff Officer?】

Li Rui looked at the barrage, his mouth twitching.

He clicked on 【Battalion Commander】, and this time it worked; a box popped up.

【Prompt: Do you wish to spend 5,000 silver dollars to acquire the Battalion Commander identity?】

Good heavens.

5,000 silver dollars?

How much did he bring out this time? No wonder it prompted insufficient assets.

It was just 5,000 silver dollars...

Li Rui was a newcomer and didn't know if this price was a rip-off.

Moreover, the Battalion Commander identity was limited and couldn't do much.

He gave up immediately.

However, he clicked on the 【Company Commander】 identity.

【500 silver dollars】

Hmm... no problem there.

Li Rui looked at the various identities and finally chose a merchant identity, specifically an arms merchant.

This way, he could come into contact with more things.

However, the NPC family he was playing as owned a winery in Falanxi.

That didn't match up either.

Just as Li Rui was wondering how to be an arms merchant.

A long list of contact information, arsenals, and introductions appeared before his eyes; the addresses were all black-market factories or arms dealers throughout Europe.

Li Rui and the Blue Star viewers in the stream widened their eyes.

That simple and crude?

But then again, an ordinary person without connections really couldn't become an arms merchant; after all, one couldn't exactly run from the "Republic" to the French Empire for a site visit.

Li Rui looked around, and there were a few not far from his family's winery.

Just in the neighboring city.

Now the arms merchant identity was secure.

All that remained was to find buyers.

At this moment.

Li Rui's British NPC friend, who had just been swallowed by the crowd, walked over in a state of collapse:

"Li! I want to go back! Go back!"

"This place is too barbaric!"

"I need a bath and to change into new clothes!"

"Oh!"

"I can't imagine how the people here live."

The British NPC looked disgusted, and his suit was covered in gray marks, even having two straw sandal footprints on it.

He didn't know if he had been stepped on when he fell.

Li Rui wanted to laugh, then shook his head:

"Then you go take a bath first."

"I'll look around."

Saying this, he ignored the strange look and calls from the British Federation NPC.

He walked toward the port, observing everything around him.

Li Rui, in a suit, looked out of place walking here, and was met with strange looks from all around.

Li Rui didn't care, but two guards followed him, and the viewers in the stream followed Li Rui's perspective, starting to look carefully at everything around them.

However.

When he walked out of the port, Li Rui realized.

He had overestimated the "Republic" at this time, or rather, the land of China; it was simply too backward.

Although the port was chaotic, it could at least be considered architecture.

But once out of the port.

The further he walked, the more desolate it felt.

Everywhere he looked was earthy yellow, with dilapidated mud houses, and not even a single tree; the whole world seemed to be earthy yellow, desolate to the point of being unbelievable.

And on the dirt road leading to the port.

There were people in tattered clothes carrying shoulder poles toward the port, while those in better conditions were driving donkey carts,

waving whips while scolding the people around them.

If the port was like this.

One could imagine what the situation of the Republic was like now.

Li Rui looked back at the port.

The "Republic" in 1915.

Compared to Europe... Li Rui didn't know what to say; he prepared to go to the capital, because many scenes in the CG took place there.

To see if he could come into contact with plot characters and obtain Plot Cards.

At the same time.

It wasn't just Li Rui who was loading the 【Age of Awakening】 DLC.

Other streamers had already finished downloading it.

And because they hadn't traveled to the "Republic" before, they could choose the time at the start.

In streamer Chang Jie's stream.

He had just chosen the identity of a university professor and had some assets; this fit the chosen identity's persona, and Chang Jie nodded with satisfaction.

Chang Jie chose the time point of 1918, and Chang Jie said:

"I see there are quite a few major events on the Republic timeline next year."

"【Paris Peace Conference】, 【May Fourth Movement】, etc.; with a professor's identity, it should be easy to integrate."

"I'll stream the major events when the time comes!"

Saying this, he clicked to start.

He appeared on a ship, and an introduction appeared before his eyes regarding Chang Jie's identity, mainly as a professor hired to teach foreign history.

This arrangement was acceptable.

After all, he had played 【WWI】 for so long, and with the player forum, teaching students shouldn't be a problem.

As for what he didn't know?

If he didn't know, couldn't he just search the player forum?

After Chang Jie landed at the port, the people arranged by the school had already come to greet him; compared to Li Rui's side, Chang Jie's side was much more convenient.

But Li Rui was made into a CG, that couldn't be compared!

On the other side.

In Fang Ming's stream.

He could have continued to the "Republic" like other streamers, since it was already loaded.

But because he still had to take a boat, Fang Ming simply gave up on this customized plot and started a new game.

And this time, options for time, identity, etc., popped up.

Looking at the time, Fang Ming said:

"The furthest I can go is 1931; this year is the 【Republic】 timeline's 【September 18th Incident】."

"Does it represent foreign invasion?"

"If I choose 1931, I could skip the plot and see when I can encounter 【Four Crossings of the Chishui River】."

"【Four Crossings of the Chishui River】 happened in 1935."

"What?"

"Someone has already started doing that?"

"Hmm."

"Then I'll leave that track to them; let me see... 1920 it is."

"This time period is all warlord infighting, it should be interesting."

Saying this, Fang Ming chose the time point of 1920.

As for identity.

Fang Ming also chose an arms merchant, and then the system gave him assets and his identity introduction; he was satisfied looking at the assets and introduction.

However, the viewers in the stream, seeing him looking so smug, couldn't help but mock:

【Good heavens, so much money, can the streamer handle it? Don't get scammed.】

【Getting scammed is unlikely, but the warlords of this period... I'm afraid if you show off your wealth, they'll just slaughter you.】

【The streamer's smile is like a treacherous merchant; he really didn't choose the wrong identity.】

【I suggest the streamer write his will first, hahahaha.】

Looking at the mockery from these haters, Fang Ming clicked to start.

The screen flashed.

Fang Ming appeared on a train in a suit, and as the train passed.

One could see two large characters printed on a building in the distance.

【Fengtian】

Fang Ming received the information and replied unceremoniously:

"Scam me?"

"I'm as sharp as a monkey, and they want to scam me?"

"Warlords?"

"With the current education situation in the 'Republic', let alone the common people, how many of those warlords can even read?"

"And they want to scam me?"

"I should be thankful if I don't scam them."

"If I really wanted to roll up the money and run, would they have any way to stop me?!"

Saying this.

Fang Ming slowly got off the train, and according to the series of warlord information given by the system, Fang Ming chose the warlord closest to him.

Just after walking out of the station, Fang Ming was a bit lost:

"How do I get to the Marshal's Mansion?"

Players were experiencing the plot in the "Republic".

And the six major federations had also gradually finished dealing with the aftermath of the "Federation Military Exercise" over these past few days, besides the major federations increasing their training.

The Free Star Cluster Federation, after cooperating, also knew that the federations they had previously acted as agents for were also training in this game.

The eldest prince of the Golden Moon Federation was a representative figure; just such a pit-hole of a person, after training in the game.

Was about the same as the command of the Yadong United Federation; one could imagine the effect this game brought.

Zhao Ming also customized several large battlefield dungeons according to requirements and threw them to the Free Star Cluster Federation for training.

And the Great Xia Federation had also finished discussing.

To train command ability, one still had to start from the beginning.

After all, if they were made to learn by following the "Army Coat" figure right away, they would probably look at it like it was a heavenly book.

And that "Army Coat" figure not only had their own command wisdom but also the war wisdom passed down through thousands of years of 【China】.

If the Great Xia Federation wanted to learn, they could only start from the beginning and gradually upgrade.

A few days later.

Great Xia Federation, Songor Icefield.

Seventh Special Operations Brigade.

As the Mobile Corps Commander, Shen Yan, and chief of staff Qu Guang obtained the first batch of entry slots.

As the two entered the virtual sensory pods.

They entered the exclusive key assigned by the Great Xia Federation in the game and chose to start.

There was no team option, but individual starts.

The screen flashed.

In a pitch-black world, the melodious sound of chime bells, as if coming from ancient times, rang out.

As the sound became clearer, Shen Yan's perspective suddenly lifted.

The perspective rushed out from the water surface.

On the shore, an old man in a straw raincoat held his fishing rod high, as if the perspective was the fish the old man had caught; as the old man swung hard, the perspective was thrown onto the land of 【China】.

Below, in the land of 【Muye】, two armies stood in confrontation, and the Dark Bird and Phoenix flags fluttered in the thunderstorm.

The screen flashed.

Ten thousand miles of territory appeared in Shen Yan's eyes; a man with a stern face dipped his brush in ink, and the ink spread out, turning into a huge battlefield.

A torrent of charging chariots rushed toward the royal city hanging the "Chu" flag.

The screen flashed again.

A bronze spear pierced the bloody setting sun, the originally flat land suddenly collapsed, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers were driven...

... The ring-pommel saber and gilded saddle flashed past, the Xiongnu crown shattered under the horse's hooves... The lens focused on that arrogant and wild young general.

The screen flashed through various dynasties of 【China】.

All the way to modern times.

Even the figure in the "Army Coat" appeared among them, but what shocked Shen Yan the most was the brief scene of 【Four Crossings of the Chishui River】.

But one could see at the end, those 30,000 soldiers had already broken free from the encirclement of the 400,000-strong army under command.

Just this point alone was enough to make one's imagination run wild.

Because just four scenes had flashed by; the first three were still in the heavy encirclement, but in the fourth scene, the red side had directly shaken off the blue side.

How exactly did they get out?!

Shen Yan was still confused, but the scene had already slowly ended.

Shen Yan had also entered the game.

At this moment, sitting opposite him was a general covered in black armor, with a stern face, looking awe-inspiring, with an ancient map spread on the table in front of him.

Shen Yan looked over.

It was a map of the land of China, and the stern general opposite.

Shen Yan recognized him.

It was exactly the stern general who appeared right after the white-haired old man fishing in the scene just now.

It seemed he held a very important status in 【China】's history.

As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart.

Just looking at this general's sternness, one could imagine his oppressive force and strength; Shen Yan couldn't help but sit up straight like a student.

Seeing this.

The stern general opposite nodded and said:

"I already know your intentions."

"The so-called art of war."

"Is the way of deception."

Shen Yan held his breath and focused, seriously remembering, the art of war is the way of deception... hmm?

He looked at the stern general and this sentence.

Shen Yan always felt something was a bit wrong.

However.

Before Shen Yan could think carefully, the screen flashed, and Shen Yan had already appeared on the battlefield, standing next to the stern general, and then watched the stern general command the battlefield.

His eyes gradually widened...

Half a month later.

On the Tian Sha streaming platform, in Chang Jie's stream.

The popularity had reached number one on the entire platform.

As for why?

Because someone had finally triggered a major event on the 【Republic】 timeline.

Chang Jie had chosen the professor identity, and the starting time was 1918, but because the location was the capital, he had met quite a few people.

He had also triggered quite a few Plot Cards, but none of them were unlocked.

Until one time while lecturing, he met an NPC, and after contact, he obtained the 【Paris Peace Conference】 Plot Card,

And as the date approached.

Chang Jie also chose to participate in the plot, being arranged into the team as a translator.

After all, translation was a bit difficult for local NPCs of the "Republic", but for Chang Jie, the player, it was just a matter of automatic translation.

He only needed to relay it.

However, the probability of triggering this plot also made many Blue Star players curse.

A game with millions of people online.

After half a month, only one person had triggered the plot.

That was a bit ridiculous!

But precisely because of this, every time someone triggered a plot, it would almost briefly make a streamer or player popular; as for whether they could retain the popularity afterward.

That depended on their own ability.

At this moment.

In the stream.

As they stepped into the port and entered the Palace of Versailles.

Chang Jie was fine, but the surrounding "Republic" representatives were slightly nervous; after all, this was the victory of the Chinese nation, and it would be a lie to say they weren't nervous.

Chang Jie also had a smile on his face, introducing things.

Following Chang Jie's introduction.

The surrounding representatives also gradually relaxed, and what shocked them even more was Chang Jie's understanding of Western culture; if the occasion hadn't been inappropriate.

Someone would have already wanted to pull Chang Jie for an all-night talk to explore how the West became strong.

It was just that the Blue Star viewers in the stream, looking at the smiles on the faces of the "Republic" representatives, couldn't help but sigh inwardly and remind them:

【Streamer, don't just introduce things, you'd better give them a heads-up.】

【That's right, what kind of things are Western countries, haven't you played WWII? If you haven't played WWII, haven't you seen the CG?】

【I feel like this "victorious nation" identity is also a trap.】

【By the way... is it possible that this conference is also just a formality, like the Yalta Conference?】

【Don't say it, you really shouldn't say it...】

【At the time of Yalta, all countries participated, but the US, Soviet Union, and Britain held a small meeting and directly partitioned the world.】

【This Paris Peace Conference probably won't be any better.】 ===== CHAPTER 173 =====