Chapter 187: 【The Crisis of the New Republic】 Crossing the Grasslands

Looking at the scene in the video, many Blue Star players gasped.

The environment of this grassland was far harsher than imagined.

Where the camera swept, the mud swamps on the grassland were glowing with an eerie dark green, with a layer of oil-like foam floating on the surface.

Bubbles occasionally emerged from the silt; just seeing this scene, one could imagine some of the smells.

Not to mention that this eerie dark green looked poisonous at first glance.

The player in the video introduced the aspects that needed attention when crossing the grasslands, which they had heard from local herdsmen:

"These silts are just one aspect."

"Local herdsmen say that these silts, which have been deposited for many years, are full of deadly germs."

As the voice fell, the player squatted down, and the camera's perspective also zoomed in, aiming at the mud pool.

Only then did the Blue Star players see clearly that it wasn't silt bubbling, but some wriggling insects rolling in the silt, the arched silt looking like bubbles.

"Once a wounded person's wound gets contaminated with silt, the consequences don't even need to be thought about."

"And look."

As the camera swept across the grass growing wantonly, many insects were flying in the grass:

"It's daytime now, and there are flying insects everywhere; at night, there are even more."

"Insects that grow up in such an environment, if they bite you."

"The herdsmen said, mild cases cause redness, swelling, and ulceration, while severe cases can be directly fatal."

"This place, even local herdsmen don't dare to go deep into."

"And there is no drinking water...:"

The player in the video introduced, their tone couldn't help but feel desperate, not to mention the Blue Star players who now had a clear concept of the grasslands.

This environment.

Was not much better than the big snow mountain.

The danmu on the video flew wildly:

【Holy crap! Is this a place where humans can walk?!】

【I thought climbing the snow mountain was already the limit, I didn't expect there to be crossing the grasslands... I kneel.】

【The snow mountain was at least clean, this is full of poison.】

【I dare not imagine the scene of being besieged by poisonous insects... too desperate.】

【It's hard to imagine what kind of willpower the Red Army relied on to come over.】

【A light sentence of "climbing the snow mountain" and "crossing the grasslands," behind it was actually so difficult.】

【On the Republic timeline, the fewer the words, the bigger the event, for example... the 【Long March】 which represents climbing the snow mountain and crossing the grasslands.】

As the video's popularity rose, Blue Star players and streamers began to prepare.

They all wanted to see how the Red Army conquered the grasslands.

They made full preparations, waited on the Red Army's necessary path, and prepared to join the team.

Having had the situation where some streamers didn't join at the foot of Mount Jiajin last time.

This time, the streamers and players basically chose the local people as their starting point, so there was no need to worry about identity issues.

Just one point...

At this time, starting in poverty, it was inevitable to be bullied by landlords.

Some Blue Star players refused to accept it and naturally resisted, but the result was being beaten to death by the landlord's men and restarting.

At this time.

In Fang Ming's livestream on the Tiansha platform.

Ever since he was blown up last time, he had also ushered in a wave of traffic, but they were all there to watch the fun.

And as he restarted, looking at the Red Army's Long March route, Fang Ming chose the identity of a local resident near the grasslands to start, which would be convenient for joining later.

Then it was a series of skips.

Although he was beaten quite a bit in the middle, fortunately, he was about to succeed.

The time here reached after the Red Army crossed the snow mountain, and next, he just needed to wait for the Red Army to come over.

Fang Ming was waiting in the livestream for the Red Army to come, while also watching other livestreams and game forums, in the same period.

The livestream Fang Ming was watching was a file room administrator for the Blue side.

At this time, they were revealing various secret files of the Blue side to the Blue Star netizens in the livestream.

Blue Star netizens watched excitedly, but the streamers were jealous, simply because the identity this guy had mixed into was too good.

File room administrator.

Revealing secrets like this, there was no need to worry about traffic.

This livestream had been firmly in the top ten for almost a month, just by revealing some information every day.

In the livestream.

This streamer took out a piece of newly delivered information, opened it carefully, ensuring the seal was not broken, and only then took out the document.

As long as the seal was not broken, relying on the various technologies provided by the photon supercomputer, it could basically be restored to its original state, and ordinary people couldn't tell.

In the livestream, streamer Gao Bo opened the document, looked at the title and content above, and said to the Blue Star netizens in the livestream:

"This is an Air Force file."

"Let's see what is written."

Saying that, Gao Bo looked at the document.

And the players in the livestream also saw the content on the document through Gao Bo's perspective, and for a time, the danmu surged:

【Holy crap! The Blue side's budget approval is too outrageous!】

【Good guy, throwing surrender leaflets into the grasslands actually required nearly 100,000 silver dollars? And it was actually approved?】

【The Red Army is crossing the grasslands now, and they only bought 50,000 catties of highland barley flour in total, and if divided among individuals, it's 5 catties per person. The Blue side's budget was actually 100,000 silver dollars; how many tens of thousands of catties of highland barley flour could that buy.】

【No wonder they can't win, the budget is all spent in this kind of place.】

【Indeed, all the Red Army's assets only bought 50,000 catties of highland barley flour to prepare for crossing the grasslands, while the Blue side spent 100,000 silver dollars printing surrender leaflets....】

【Suggest checking who approved the slip, there must be something fishy!】

Looking at the document, the Blue Star netizens called it outrageous.

However, streamer Gao Bo was used to it, and said with a smile:

"Normal."

"The procurement department's files.... are simply unwatchable."

"Let me show you another one."

Saying that.

Gao Bo flipped out another document.

This document hadn't been resealed after reading, so he simply took it out for everyone to see.

Taking out the document, Gao Bo introduced:

"This is a procurement department document for the purchase of American Freedom Federation bulletproof sedans."

"It is said that a big shot is visiting the US, so for safety, they must order a bulletproof sedan, and the value of one sedan reached 200,000+ US dollars..."

Looking at the 100,000 silver dollars and 200,000+ US dollar approval slips in the livestream.

Fang Ming was a bit confused, looked up at the sheep he was raising, is this the same world?

"Too outrageous."

"Holy crap?"

"A 200,000+ US dollar bulletproof sedan? Isn't that more expensive than his life?"

"Not necessarily...."

"Since they are using a 200,000+ US dollar bulletproof sedan, this guy's net worth must be more than 200,000+ US dollars."

"Doesn't Nanjing check?"

Fang Ming didn't know, but some netizens did.

【Check what? They are all their own people.】

【Laughing to death, the Minister of Procurement is his brother-in-law, okay.】

【What is this, the special plane approved last time was even more exaggerated.】

【There was a secret file before, the silk stockings transported by several special planes were enough to wear for 30 years, and the cost of airlifting perfume was enough to arm a regiment.】

【Blue side's traditional art: tight at the front, tightly eating at the back.】

【They call this a family business.】

【To be honest, this file livestream, some documents look more exciting than spy movies.】

Fang Ming looked at the danmu and couldn't help but have a toothache.

It really is fucking ridiculous....

Special planes transporting silk stockings.

Bought enough to wear for 30 years in one go?

Fang Ming shook his head, feeling a bit melancholy.

People's joys and sorrows are not the same.

The Red Army spent all their assets and only bought 50,000 catties of highland barley flour, distributing 5 catties per person.

The Blue side spent enough silver dollars just printing leaflets to buy 50,000 catties of highland barley flour, and there was still plenty left over.

And the imagination of the people in this plot is also outrageous.

md....

Bought silk stockings that can be worn for 30 years.

Can they even wear them all?

He, a modern Blue Star person, felt inferior to the imagination of the NPCs in this game.

Then he exited this secret-revealing livestream.

Fang Ming went to look at other game categories.

At this time.

In the 【WWI】 category.

The fastest livestreams had a time progress similar to the 【Awakening Era】 DLC.

At this time, it was also around 1935.

Fang Ming looked at Europe in the same period, and there were already some preludes to 【WWII】.

In the Empire region's livestream.

The Empire's leader had already begun to expand armaments on a large scale, while the Soviet Union began to be vigilant and signed an agreement with the French Federation.

It seemed they wanted to curb the Empire's development, but judging from the later plot.

It was obviously useless...

The Falanxi that surrendered in 42 days was no longer the hard bone of WWI.

Fang Ming looked around and switched to the 【WWII】 partition.

At this time.

In the 【WWII】 partition, the popularity had dropped quite a bit.

However, the 【Cold War Clouds】 DLC version still had many people, and Yu Feng was ranked first.

The most popular one.

Watching Yu Feng who was livestreaming, Fang Ming directly connected to him.

In Yu Feng's livestream.

Seeing the communication from Fang Ming, Yu Feng picked it up:

"What's the situation."

"How did you think of connecting to me."

Fang Ming smiled:

"Leader inspecting, is that not okay."

"You are doing well."

"The livestream popularity has reached number one."

Hearing Fang Ming's words, Yu Feng also understood, this guy was watching his livestream, and said with a smile:

"That has to thank the Soviet Union."

"They have been releasing big news recently."

Fang Ming was curious:

"What big news?"

"Where have you progressed to?"

Yu Feng said:

"Currently WWII is over, the latest progress here is that the 【Republic】 has just been established."

"But it is already about to be dragged into the quagmire of war."

Fang Ming said:

"Good guy, fighting a war as soon as the country is founded?"

Yu Feng said:

"There is no other way."

"Currently the 【Republic】 has just been established."

"But the Soviet Union and the American Freedom Federation, these two superpowers, are not happy about the establishment of the 【Republic】."

"The American Freedom Federation is very hostile because the Blue side they supported failed."

"The Soviet Union is because the sudden unification of the 【Republic】 disrupted the Soviet layout, which does not conform to their interests, so they are trying to drag the 【Republic】 into the water."

"Not long ago."

"The regional situation suddenly deteriorated."

"The situation with the neighbor that the Soviet Union and the 【Republic】 share a border with suddenly deteriorated."

"The neighbor has already attacked the south."

"Before this happened, the 【Republic】 didn't know about it either."

"The most extreme thing is."

"This matter itself was carried out under the hint of the Soviet Union, but as soon as the war started, the Soviet Union withdrew all military advisors from the neighbor."

"It became as if it were a conflict of their own."

"And now that the Soviet Union has withdrawn, looking like it has nothing to do with them, the problem is thrown to the 【Republic】 and the neighbor."

"The neighbor has to face the potential United Nations forces."

"And the 【Republic】 has to face the fact that once this neighbor fails, where will the American Freedom Federation troops be stationed, directly threatening the country's security."

"Behind the 【Republic】 is the entire Soviet Union."

"If it becomes a garrison area for the American Freedom Federation right by the pillow, then the 【Republic】 will be very uncomfortable."

"Threatened by two superpowers."

"And at that distance, a supersonic fighter jet can reach the 【Republic】 capital in twenty or thirty minutes."

"It's only early 1950 now; if the American Freedom Federation really occupies the neighbor's territory, then the 【Republic】's development will become a problem."

"The 【Republic】 of this era has no fighter jets or anti-aircraft missiles."

"If the American Freedom Federation takes off from the neighbor's house, at the current level of technology, even a slow fighter jet will arrive in forty or fifty minutes."

"If they set up a few air force bases in the neighbor's house..."

Hiss—hearing Yu Feng's words, Fang Ming also understood.

This is all calculation; it's too ruthless.

Just thinking about that scene is enough to make one's head hurt.

Once the American Freedom Federation sets up a few military bases in the neighbor's house, then there is no need to think about the future.

The conflict between the 【Republic】 and the American Freedom Federation will likely continue forever.

And the Soviet Union jumps out to watch the fun.

This move is too ruthless.

Once successful.

It's not just dragging the 【Republic】 into the quagmire of war; it's dragging the American Freedom Federation in as well, letting the 【Republic】 and the American Freedom Federation fight each other.

This way, the Soviet Union not only has time to stabilize the European region.

After stabilizing Europe, they might turn around and find a way to deal with the 【Republic】 and the American Freedom Federation.

As for the 【Republic】 and the American Freedom Federation reconciling?

That doesn't exist.

Just thinking about that situation, it's impossible.

The neighbor's territory is only 800 or 900 kilometers away from the 【Republic】 capital.

Who would be at ease with a superpower like the American Freedom Federation having a military base so close to their core?

And once the American Freedom Federation occupies the neighbor's territory, it's impossible for them to sit idly by and watch the 【Republic】 rise; they will definitely keep making trouble to disrupt the 【Republic】's rise process.

Just thinking about it makes one's scalp tingle.

Are these politicians monsters?

Fang Ming couldn't help but click his tongue, then said to Yu Feng:

"Too ruthless."

"This conspiracy... is too terrifying."

"When does your side start fighting? I'm almost 【crossing the grasslands】; remember to call me when it really starts."

In Fang Ming's livestream, danmu prompts from netizens drifted by, preparing to switch back to his own game.

Yu Feng nodded and said:

"Okay, but I guess you'll know even without me notifying you."

"After all, if the 【Republic】 and the American Freedom Federation fight, it will definitely top the game forum headlines."

Fang Ming thought so too, then chatted simply for a few sentences and returned to his side.

He wandered around the 【WWI】 partition, the great power game in the 【WWII】 partition.

And looked at other partitions of the 【Awakening Era】 DLC, especially the luxurious life in Nanjing, compared to the Red Army's 50,000 catties of highland barley flour, which was all their assets.

Fang Ming always had an absurd feeling.

That the Red side, which is currently worried about even 50,000 catties of highland barley flour.

10 years later, it will contend with the Blue side.

14 years later, it will unify the whole country.

And 15 years later, it will already be able to fight the American Freedom Federation.

In a trance.

Fang Ming understood a little why the popularity of the 【Awakening Era】 DLC remained high.

It's because many netizens want to know.

How exactly did the Red side create miracles, and how did it come all this way.

To become that 【Republic】 later.

How exactly did the Red side create miracles, and how did they walk this path?

【Long March】

Two light words, yet they carry the most incredible counterattack in the history of "Earth."

Fang Ming looked at the 【Awakening Era】 partition.

On one side, the Red Army soldiers in tattered clothes, hungry and cold, in the livestream screen.

On the other side, the decadent dignitaries in Nanjing city, suddenly feeling extremely ironic.

Thinking of the later 【Republic】.

It was such a group of people who walked out a path of life in a desperate situation.

How did they do it?

Relying on faith? Relying on willpower?

No one knows the answer to this question, but the discussion about this question in the game forum has never stopped.

Some say it's the accident of history, some say it's the wisdom of the leader, and some say it's the choice of the people.

But perhaps only those who truly enter the game and walk the Long March will understand...:

Miracles never fall from the sky.

But are achieved step by step, with blood and life...:

Many insights.

Fang Ming took a deep breath and returned to the game.

It's just that the thoughts in his mind, after entering the game and looking at those cattle and sheep, suddenly felt a bit like a hero with no place to use his skills.

Intermittent rise and struggle.

But fortunately, the red flag he had been waiting for finally appeared in Fang Ming's livestream.

The team in the distance was like a winding red line, slowly moving forward on the vast grassland, the red flag fluttering in the wind, although a bit faded, it was still flying high.

That is.... the Red Army has arrived. ===== CHAPTER 188 =====

In the distance, the column looked like a winding red thread, moving slowly across the desolate grassland; the red flag snapped in the wind, and though it was somewhat faded, it still flew with its head held high.

That is... the Red Army has arrived.