Chapter 173: [May Fourth Movement] Firelight and Firewood in the Abyss (5.6k Combined)

Looking at the reminder barrage drifting by.

Chang Jie hesitated for a moment and also began to give everyone a heads-up, talking about the character of the current Western powers, implicitly saying that the result might not be very good.

Among the accompanying personnel.

Except for the leading envoys like Wellington Koo, the rest were incredulous.

"How is that possible?"

"We are a victorious nation; would they dare to do this in front of the whole world?" This book is first published on Tian Tian Kan -> 𝓉𝓉𝓀𝓈. 𝓉𝓌, offering you an error-free and non-disordered reading experience.

"People can't be without a bottom line to this extent."

"That's right, this is a conference watched by the whole world; they wouldn't dare."

Listening to the words of the other accompanying personnel, Chang Jie also had a helpless expression, thinking to himself.

Wouldn't dare?

They would dare too much.

WWI was a conference that only started partitioning world interests after winning.

What about WWII decades later?

Before they even fought their way in, those leading ones held a meeting to partition the interests in advance, and even held a small meeting,

with nothing for other countries to do.

One could imagine that the Western powers had no bottom line from the very beginning.

It was even getting lower and lower.

They used to pretend a little, but later they were too lazy to even pretend.

Talking about bottom lines and face with such people, one would probably be looked at like a fool.

However, looking at the other accompanying members still immersed in the joy of being a victorious nation, Chang Jie knew that no matter what he said, it was useless; they wouldn't believe it until they saw it with their own eyes.

Chang Jie didn't know what kind of operations those guys would come up with.

But everything from "WWII" was still fresh in his memory.

Only if the country itself was strong would it work, but the "Republic" clearly didn't have that condition now.

How could a country that was good to you appear out of thin air?

In 【WWII】, those European countries that thought they were saved after the Empire was finished off, didn't they end up as 【pawns】 and 【satellite states】 in the hands of the "saviors" they believed in...

The Blue Star viewers in the stream, looking at the naive faces of those accompanying personnel, couldn't help but sigh.

They were all so old, why were they still so naive?

In reality.

It wasn't that they were naive.

In the environment of the "Republic", with warlord infighting, how could these envoys selected by various factions be fools?

In the end, it was just that they didn't want to believe it.

This conference was their only hope... This hope made them afraid to think about the scene Chang Jie spoke of.

Although Chang Jie's words made everyone unwilling to believe, the others also fell silent, because Chang Jie's various hints were truly possible.

It was just that they had to see it with their own eyes to give up.

A few days later.

Walking into the Palace of Versailles again, the envoys participating in the conference were led into the golden and magnificent conference hall.

However.

As soon as they entered the hall, the hearts of the envoys turned cold, because as a victorious nation, the "Republic" didn't even have a seat in a core position.

They were only arranged at the edge of the conference hall.

Everyone had experienced big scenes and had held various large and small meetings in the "Republic"; this kind of seating arrangement was just like being a mascot.

What it represented went without saying.

Chang Jie followed everyone to the outside of the conference room and was stopped.

After all, as a translator, he had no qualifications to go in.

He could only wait outside with the other accompanying personnel, but before entering the conference hall, Chang Jie's last glance still saw the envoys being led to the edge.

As for what followed... clearly, there was no need to think about it.

The conference was long and couldn't be finished in one day.

Everyone waiting outside was on pins and needles.

The previously confident expressions had disappeared, and the longer they waited, the more anxious and tormented they became.

As the day's conference ended.

The tightly closed conference room door opened, and the accompanying personnel also looked nervously toward the conference hall where people were constantly walking out, however... when they saw the livid expressions on the faces of the envoys and others walking out.

Everyone already understood, and there was silence all the way.

Until they returned to their residence.

Bang!

A voice of grief and indignation sounded through gritted teeth:

"A weak nation has no diplomacy."

Not to mention that the "Republic" as a victorious nation had its seats relegated to the edge, it basically had no right to speak, and everything was being spoken by those few great powers at the core.

There was simply nothing for other countries to do.

And listening to the envoys who attended the meeting recount, Chang Jie and the Blue Star viewers in the stream also shook their heads endlessly.

It was clearly the same character as the Yalta Conference in WWII later on.

But there was no way.

As the conference progressed, everyone's mood became heavier and heavier.

And the Blue Star players outside the game.

At this moment, looking at this conference up close, the so-called "justice" and "fairness" were just fig leaves for power, and in essence, it was still like the most primitive law of the jungle.

Until the last day of the conference.

Even though the envoys of the "Republic" expressed their demands during this period, wanting to seek justice.

Everyone in the Versailles hall chose to ignore them,

Even if the envoys of the "Republic" expressed their narrative in the most concise language, the more than 1,000 people from all over the world in the conference hall.

Actually all chose to play deaf and dumb.

As if the envoys of the "Republic" hadn't spoken at all.

Forming a quite absurd scene.

Even Chang Jie, who was waiting outside, listening to the description of the "Republic" envoys at night, and the netizens in the stream couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity and panic.

For no other reason.

It was just that they didn't dare to think about how desperate it would be if they were to substitute themselves into that scene.

In a conference hall composed of thousands of people.

You stand on the stage and argue with reason.

And the thousands of people in the entire conference hall all look at you indifferently, with even mocking expressions on their faces.

Clearly, your demands are so clear and concise.

Already expressed in the most concise words, and even in their language.

But...

These thousands of people seemed unable to understand their language.

After you finished speaking.

They lightly told you to go down, as if they hadn't heard what you had just said.

And you scanned the people around you, without a single look of support.

Instead, most were expressions of mockery.

What kind of powerful mentality must one have to endure this?

Even knowing this was a game and everyone around was an NPC, but being treated like this... Chang Jie got goosebumps just thinking about it, and a chill surged through his whole body.

He had originally thought these envoys of the "Republic" wouldn't turn back until they hit the south wall.

But at this moment.

Chang Jie and the Blue Star netizens finally felt shocked and respectful.

How strong was their psychological quality to be able to remain calm in such a scene and argue for their country.

After all, that scene.

Just thinking about it was desperate.

Another night of silence.

It was just that many people in the delegation couldn't sleep.

The conference was still ongoing.

Which also let the Blue Star netizens see an even more absurd scene.

Because as the conference continued, the victorious nations of WWI gradually began to tear off their disguises for their own interests, staging a scene of dogs biting dogs.

And this scene lasted for several months.

First was Falanxi, because it was adjacent to the Empire.

For its own interests, it demanded severe weakening of the Empire, partitioning a large amount of territory and reparations, to ensure its status in Europe.

And Britain hoped to maintain balance on the European continent, opposing excessive weakening of the Empire, making Britain and Falanxi, originally a pair of good allies, almost fight several times at the conference.

And the American Free Federation, although not in Europe, proposed the "Fourteen Points," advocating national self-determination and the League of Nations, but this seriously harmed the interests of both Britain and Falanxi.

Later, there were even scenes of the American Federation President threatening to withdraw, the French Prime Minister slamming the door and leaving, etc.

The conference once fell into a stalemate due to uneven partitioning of interests.

Absurd and reasonable.

Absurd because they didn't even pretend anymore, directly robbing openly, tearing off all disguises.

Reasonable because this also fit the image of Western countries in the hearts of Blue Star players.

This absurd conference lasted for several months.

Until because the negotiation time was too long, the domestic public and interest groups of various countries couldn't stand it, and under the pressure of protests,

All parties gradually made concessions.

It was just because Japan had long signed a secret agreement with the British Empire.

So at the last moment.

Western countries still transferred the land of the "Republic" to Japan.

The land of a victorious nation, without its own consent, was partitioned by Western powers to other countries.

At this moment.

Even the Blue Star netizens watching this plot could only feel a deep sense of powerlessness.

This was completely open robbery.

On the last day of the conference, Chang Jie and other accompanying personnel waited outside the Palace of Versailles.

Everyone had no hope left, their faces were ashen, and some even wanted to commit suicide on the spot because they couldn't face their 400 million compatriots, fortunately, they were stopped in time.

Chang Jie had been in the game during this time.

Although game time had passed for several months, the middle part was skipped because the Big Three were biting each other, so Blue Star reality had only been less than a month.

But the time spent together and the conversations also made Chang Jie empathize.

After all, what kind of pressure were they facing.

External pressure, internal pressure, the expectations of 400 million compatriots at home, now...

Chang Jie's stream was silent.

Blue Star players also didn't know what to say, but the plot was just like this, and no one could change it.

Suddenly.

Chang Jie's perspective suddenly switched.

Triggered a CG?

This was the thought that flashed through the minds of the Blue Star netizens in the stream and Chang Jie.

As the screen moved.

What came into view was the conference hall of the Paris Peace Conference, the light of the crystal chandelier overhead rotating and refracting on the faces of the representatives of various countries.

Their faces were either arrogant or indifferent, but more were filled with joy, because this negotiation that had lasted for several months had finally come to an end.

One representative after another signed the "Treaty of Versailles".

Only in front of the seat of the "Republic" representative, that copy of the "Treaty of Versailles" lay quietly.

Wellington Koo slowly stood up, picked up the document, walked to the stage, and looked around.

His hand gently lifted the document, then slammed it onto the podium beside him; this sudden scene made everyone in the entire hall surprised.

At this moment, Wellington Koo's gaze was like a torch, sweeping across the representatives of various countries in the hall.

He was no longer the "Republic" representative who had constantly begged various countries for justice and fairness over the past few months, but Wellington Koo who had decided to shout for the entire nation.

"We refuse to sign."

The voice was not high-pitched, but it exploded like a thunderclap.

The French Foreign Minister in the hall changed his expression, the British representative frowned, and the Japanese delegation's eyes suddenly turned cold.

Whispers surged like a tide.

Some were shocked, some were mocking, but more were incredulous that a poor and weak country would dare to say "no" under the coercion of the powers?

However.

Wellington Koo scanned everyone and said word by word:

"You can take away Shandong, but you cannot take away the dignity of 400 million 'Chinese' people!"

After saying this.

He threw the pen in his hand onto the table without hesitation.

Wellington Koo turned and left his seat, his back straight as a pine, and that unsigned treaty was like a silent slap, fiercely hitting the faces of the powerful.

At this moment.

Not only were the representatives of various countries on "Earth" shocked.

Similarly.

The Blue Star netizens watching the CG were also shocked; facing the oppression of power.

China did not bow its head.

The screen in Chang Jie's perspective slowly darkened, and then a few large characters appeared.

【Paris Peace Conference】

With this, the entire event ended.

And on the 【Republic】 timeline of the Polar Star official website, the event about the 【Paris Peace Conference】 also lit up because players had triggered and completed the plot, and an introduction and CG appeared.

【Paris Peace Conference】

【The Paris Peace Conference was a major setback in the modern diplomatic history of the 【Republic】.】

【As a victorious nation of WWI, China put forward legitimate demands such as recovering sovereignty over Shandong and abolishing unequal treaties, but was ignored by powers such as Britain,】

【Falanxi, and the US, and finally, Germany's rights and interests in Shandong were transferred to Japan.】

【This result completely exposed the reality that "a weak nation has no diplomacy," incited the May Fourth Movement, and promoted the comprehensive awakening of Chinese society.】

【The delegation refused to sign the "Treaty of Versailles," becoming a landmark event of modern China saying "no" to the powers for the first time.】

【CG unlocked: Click to watch.】

【Note: We refuse to sign — Wellington Koo】

No one knew how much change this Paris Peace Conference could bring to the 【Republic】.

Not only could the people of the "Republic" not imagine it.

The Blue Star netizens standing from the perspective of bystanders couldn't imagine it either.

At this time, the Tian Sha streaming platform.

Many netizens were looking for streamers who had started their game in the capital in 1919.

Because with the triggering and progress of the Paris Peace Conference plot.

Blue Star players also knew about the triggering of the 【May Fourth Movement】 event, although Chang Jie's timeline was already July 1919.

But there were still quite a few players whose timelines were ahead of Chang Jie's.

A few days later.

Tian Sha streaming platform.

Feng Lei, who also wanted to participate in the plot, also chose the 1919 timeline; with the plot constantly skipping, finally, after entering May.

He obtained a 【Plot Card】.

And the 【Plot Card】 obtained was obtained from a student.

At this moment.

Feng Lei was smiling, displaying the dark gray 【Plot Card】 that hadn't been triggered in the stream:

"Brothers, look, what is this?!"

"May Fourth Movement plot!"

"Next, as long as I stay here in the capital, I can trigger it."

The Blue Star viewers in the stream were spamming 6666.

However.

Before Feng Lei could be happy for a while, a 【May Fourth Movement】 Plot Card also jumped out from the waiter serving the food, suddenly confusing Feng Lei and the Blue Star viewers in the stream.

Bug?

However, it wasn't just these.

As Feng Lei finished eating and walked onto the street.

People passing by or coming into contact with him, one after another, popped out 【May Fourth Movement】 Plot Cards.

Among them were those that jumped out from merchants, those from workers, those from students, and they were becoming more and more numerous.

Feng Lei stood on the street, watching the 【May Fourth Movement】 Plot Cards constantly popping out from the people around him and flying over, couldn't help but be shocked:

"What exactly is the situation?"

"Could it be that these people all participated in this movement?"

Feng Lei didn't know what to do, he could only wait.

And the situation in other streams also gradually became like this as the timeline reached May.

For a time.

The Polar Star player forum was full of voices discussing this matter.

And as time passed bit by bit.

In reality.

Two days after Blue Star, the plots in the various streamers' games had also reached May 4th.

Because they didn't know where the event was triggered.

So the streamers on Blue Star were guarding various places in the capital, all choosing places with dense crowds, while Feng Lei chose to be near the university.

But after guarding for a whole morning, he didn't find any movement.

Feng Lei thought the location was wrong and went to check other streams, and none of them had triggered the plot either.

At this moment.

The bell in the university in the distance rang urgently.

Everyone on the street forgot to look over.

Universities were sacred places in the hearts of the people, and at this moment, such an urgent bell rang, and many people on the street were discussing what had happened.

Before long.

A group of students rushed out of the school gate; they tied white cloth strips to bamboo poles, with "Return Qingdao to us" and "Return our sovereignty" written in black ink, and rushed out.

Like a broken levee, they rushed toward the distance, and Feng Lei hurriedly followed.

And it wasn't just Feng Lei's stream; student protests also began to break out in various places in other streams.

For a time.

The popular streams on the Tian Sha streaming platform were almost all student protests in real-time, some scattering leaflets, some standing on high platforms and scolding.

More were students united as one, charging at the mansions of the "traitors".

The streams on Blue Star were broadcasting the 【May Fourth Movement】 from various angles and directions, and some streamers participating in it felt the shock brought by being united as one.

Even walking with the team, under the agitation of their mood, they followed and shouted angrily.

However.

These student-led protests were soon blocked by military police in black leather.

Feng Lei was also mixed in the student group, shouting, when he felt the team stop; the front seemed to be blocked by something.

Feng Lei wanted to squeeze forward to take a look.

When he heard a faint roar from the front:

"... say... today... reform, bloodshed... starts from our generation!!!"

"Students! Charge over!!!"

As that roar fell, the protest team moved again, charging at the "traitor" mansion in front.

Feng Lei was also among them.

However...

They were students after all, without weapons.

As the protests spread, those high-ranking officials also reacted and sent out large numbers of police in black uniforms to search for and arrest the students everywhere.

Because Feng Lei wasn't a student but was mixed in, he was arrested together as a conspirator.

Soon.

The prison was full of students.

Because they couldn't arrest them all, they directly locked the students outside the prison, and there were special personnel intimidating them.

Watching this scene.

Feng Lei inexplicably felt a sense of sorrow; had it already rotted to this point?

Regarding this scene.

The Blue Star netizens in the stream also sighed; they could already foresee the situation that would follow.

It was nothing more than arresting the voices of resistance until they disappeared, and then the warlords would maintain superficial peaceful rule, while these students who were for the country.

Would be labeled with various crimes, and as time passed, the truth would probably become false.

The 【Republic】 at this time.

Seemed like an endless abyss, devouring everything.

And these students seemed like sparks lighting up the abyss, wanting to bring light to the 【Republic】 and walk out of the abyss.

But countless black hands reached out from the abyss, grabbing at the weak sparks, attempting to extinguish them, letting the 【Republic】 sink into the abyss forever.

As more and more students were arrested, the Blue Star netizens watching the plot unfold were also desperate.

Because in the streams of those streamers who hadn't been arrested yet, the voices of protest on the street had already become much less, and even if there were any, they would soon be arrested.

That spark that had just risen in the endless abyss seemed about to be extinguished.

However.

What no one expected was.

Outside the prison.

The spark that should have been extinguished, with the workers' strike, began to expand and burn rapidly, until the entire pitch-black abyss was illuminated by firelight.

Those black hands also didn't dare to approach because the flames were raging.

This firelight ignited by the students, in the end, turned into a prairie fire under the support of the workers, illuminating the 【Land of China】 that had been sinking in the abyss for hundreds of years.

And the students in the prison also gradually heard the sound from outside.

Soon.

The prison guards silently took out their keys and released the students; looking at the puzzled students, the young prison guard suddenly smiled:

"The workers outside are on strike, and the higher-ups can't withstand the pressure."

"You can go now."

(Asking for the 15th guaranteed monthly ticket, kneeling and begging!) ===== CHAPTER 174 =====

(Begging for the guaranteed monthly tickets on the 15th, kneeling and begging!)