August 4th, 2013, Beijing...
A veritable ocean of students congregated before Tiananmen, staging a "hunger strike sit-in" demanding clarification. Armed police encircled the entire area, hoping merely to maintain control. Yet, facing tens of thousands of demonstrators, it was merely symbolic containment. The crowds continued to swell; latecomers settled outside the cordon. Most alarmingly, their actions possessed a terrifying contagion; numerous citizens, infected by the sentiment, joined the assembly. The numbers reached unmanageable proportions. Half of the capital's transportation network was paralyzed. Conditions in other cities mirrored this state.
Amidst these throngs, were local gang members invariably active? Had they attained some form of enlightenment? Not so. They were merely Hei Long's "pawns." The dissemination of the entire message constituted their "assignment."
News helicopters circled overhead, representing networks from various nations; the world's focus shifted from Korea back to China.
The student council president of BD University stood beneath Tiananmen, observing the compatriots before him, impassioned for their nation, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Ascending the makeshift platform—not his own, but one intended to awaken the motherland—he aimed, through his oration, to compel the nation to recognize its errors in the hearts of the people.
"Esteemed individuals, perhaps you do not recognize me, nor I you. But this is inconsequential. It suffices to know our purpose for gathering here. I presume everyone has witnessed the Chairman's impassioned address? At that moment, my sole sentiment was pride in being Chinese. Truly, only then did I genuinely experience that feeling. It profoundly impressed upon me that our China possesses unparalleled magnificence, an indisputable, unchallengeable nation. 'Those who offend our celestial might shall be punished, however distant!' This is our mantra, chanted for decades, yet only after the Chairman's speech did it truly materialize. Our China has risen, standing at the world's apex. We possess an army that commands global respect, the most incorruptible government, the most formidable weaponry. Thus, we can assert with pride, 'Any who dare violate our celestial might, we shall extinguish their ambitions!' However..."
The president sighed profoundly, tears cascading as he spoke, "What has become of our nation? Was it all merely pretense? That nefarious nation, Japan, not only inflicted past injuries upon us but continues its wanton harm! Overseas Chinese in Japan, brutally massacred merely for resembling Koreans?! Damn it, why haven't they mistaken their own people for Koreans and eliminated them? That wicked nation, utterly incapable of acknowledging its insignificance, has again launched an invasion, one previously doomed to failure. Yet this time, we concede, they succeeded, completely occupying Korea. Is this reality insufficient to awaken us? Upon that diminutive landmass, every individual harbors boundless ambition. What significance does Korea hold in their eyes? Their ambition targets us, separated by a mere river, our ancient motherland spanning millennia. We possess abundant lands, the most diligent populace. They have persistently coveted us, attempting annexation since the Eight-Nation Alliance. Yet, they could not succeed, for we are Chinese, coursing with fervent blood. Any invader must pay the price! It was true before! It is true now! It shall remain true!"
The president abruptly turned, gazing upwards at the great gate, "With but a single word from the state, our one point four billion compatriots are willing to shed their last drop of blood, solely ensuring the crimson national flag remains vibrant, solely enabling our children, our descendants, to proudly proclaim 'We are Chinese!' Speak! Declare 'You shall annihilate Japan!' Chairman, speak! Fulfill your promise! It is not we who seek war, but war that necessitates us!"
A trembling hand pointed skyward, yearning for something, "Annihilate Japan!"
The immense voice reverberated through every corner of the Divine Land, piercing the heart of every citizen like a sharp sword.
Within the silent square, a single voice gradually amplified.
"Annihilate Japan! Annihilate Japan! Annihilate Japan!"
This was the most unified cry, even the defending armed police soldiers joined the chorus. Duty could not suppress the ardor within them. This was the most cathartic roar!
Within Zhongnanhai, in an absolutely sealed office, only two men were present—Zhao Xiang and Liu Tao.
No conversation transpired, merely silently observing the television broadcast, cycling through channels, each depicting identical situations across various locales.
Circling through the remote's channels yielded the same result.
"Boom!" Zhao Xiang furiously hurled the remote at the television. A plasma screen was thus destroyed.
"Who is it?" Zhao Xiang ground his teeth, "Who organized this activity? Exploiting the ignorance of the masses!"
Liu Tao's clenched fists trembled, "Even identifying him now serves little purpose. The current situation is beyond anyone's control. Due to prolonged suppression and profound resentment, war against Japan is fundamentally unavoidable."
"I am aware!" Zhao Xiang stated helplessly, "If feasible, I would have long since pacified that minuscule territory. But it is simply impossible! No antidote has been developed for Japan's toxic gas. And Adam reports Japan possesses gas munitions domestically. I have secretly ordered searches, yet yielded no intelligence thus far. Sacrificing ten thousand to kill eight thousand? What significance does such warfare hold?"
"Any developments from the Special Services?" Liu Tao inquired.
"Adam has made no move; I suspect he has already considered this scenario. He likely has a resolution strategy," Zhao Xiang's deduction was accurate.
"For now, we can only observe passively, witness how he resolves it. As Commander-in-Chief of the Special Services, he surely cannot permit the chaos to persist. A turbulent China serves his interests no better," Liu Tao analyzed calmly.
"If only it were so! One merely hopes his actions are swift," Zhao Xiang sighed powerlessly, "This is merely the inception. If it continues for another week, forget war; China itself will collapse first. If absolutely necessary, I have resolved to exchange the Chairman's position for Adam's intervention."
"Chairman!" Liu Tao exclaimed, agitated.
"No need for such tension," Zhao Xiang smiled faintly, "His tenure makes little difference anyway. Perhaps he awaits my withdrawal. The nation's welfare is paramount."
At this moment, Liu Tao felt profound admiration for the elder before him. Throughout Chinese history, which ruling figure could utter such words?
August 5th, 2013...
The riots persisted, reaching a frenzied state.
Anti-Japanese alliances abruptly formed nationwide, initiating purges of Japanese products in various regions. Individuals, wielding wooden clubs, took to the streets, smashing any Japanese vehicles encountered! They stormed shops large and small, destroying all visible Japanese electronics. Japanese music albums in audio-visual stores became targets, all incinerated. In Shanghai, even more terrifying events transpired; a supermarket specializing in Japanese goods was set ablaze by rioters. Fortunately, all customers had evacuated; the owner was restrained before the entrance, forced to witness his life's work reduced to ashes. Security departments were utterly incapable of managing the situation. Wuhan City's Public Security Bureau, unable to tolerate the spectacle, apprehended some local gang members leading the disturbances. Consequently, tens of thousands of citizens forcibly stormed the bureau, liberating the individuals. Those gang members were moved nearly to tears; imagine, when had criminals attained such elevated status?
This was merely the beginning; eventually, they began apprehending merchants engaged in business with Japan, along with joint venture proprietors, holding mass denunciation rallies. Former major taxpayers were now branded traitors, collaborators. In Tianjin, an elderly man, weathered by decades of struggle—having fought Japanese, Americans, reactionaries—actively engaged in production after the reforms. His factory expanded continuously, products exported globally, a veritable national contributor for generations. Yet, solely because Japan was among the export destinations, his entire family of nineteen was dragged onto the denunciation platform. Pitifully, at over one hundred years of age, facing the multitude's curses, he vomited blood and perished on the stage.
Throngs besieged the Japanese embassy even more intensely. Various objects rained down upon the administrative building like a meteor shower; even brand-new SONY computers, valued at tens of thousands each, were hurled inside. The guards at the entrance could only defend the main gate steadfastly, remaining within.
Were it not for the guards obstructing the entrance, likely not a single Japanese staff member would have survived.
The anti-Japanese alliance expanded with extreme rapidity. Initially a hypocritical organization established by gangs leveraging the situation, within three days, its national membership surpassed three million. Some were even nationally recognized master teachers; the youngest members were children not yet fifteen. What was initially perceived as a path to ruin provided these gangs unexpected benefits. Under the guise of anti-Japanese sentiment, various acts of robbery occurred ceaselessly; figures previously untouchable could be easily neutralized by labeling them Japanese collaborators.
Everything unfolded precisely as Hei Long envisioned. This fire of anti-Japanese sentiment, once ignited, consumed all of China, invisibly devastating the nation beloved by its people.