We promised to develop a game called Candy Crush, what the hell is the Third Reich?

Chapter 194 [The Flower Country] (5.3k words, two chapters combined)

Watching the orders and actions of the Red Team in the 'Third Counter-Encirclement and Suppression' campaign in Liu Xu's live broadcast room.

The players on Blue Star didn't know what to say.

How many times has the Red team used the "luring the enemy in" tactic?

If the blue team continues to be defeated by the tactic of 'luring the enemy in deep'.

This might be a bit watery.

With so many famous generals and big shots at the Whampoa Military Academy, shouldn't the principal be even more capable?

For a while.

All the players on Blue Star were focused on Liu Xu's live stream.

I want to see the specifics of this 'third counter-encirclement campaign'.

After all, this is the third time.

The red team is still luring the enemy deeper into their territory, but it remains to be seen whether the blue team will actually be lured in.

Liu Xu's live stream gradually became popular.

At this point, the blue team had already begun to deploy its troops, but the red team seemed to be in no hurry.

Liu Xu, a soldier, had just been transferred to a new post.

Even after arriving at the new post, they were still helping the local villagers with their work, showing no signs of the tension that precedes a major battle.

Liu Xu is a player after all, so it's normal for him not to be nervous.

But looking at the soldiers and villagers around Liu Xu, none of them seemed nervous.

There was absolutely no sense of impending doom before a major battle, which truly made the players on Earth feel something was amiss.

The storyline of the 'Third Encirclement/Counter-Encirclement' is on this side.

Although the red team now has a 'counter-encirclement' perspective, the blue team still lacks a 'encirclement' perspective from the streamer.

Therefore, the Blue Star players are still unaware of the specific situation of the Blue Team.

But soon.

Someone then uploaded a video.

It is also related to this 'third encirclement/counter-encirclement'.

In the video.

The player takes on the role of a battalion commander whose troops are assigned to patrol the Nanchang area.

However, during the patrol...

It was discovered that officers from the American Free Federation, the Empire, and even Japan were constantly entering and leaving the "Commander-in-Chief's Nanchang Headquarters".

I only found out after asking around.

It turns out that these were all high-level military advisors invited from various countries by the "Principal of Whampoa Military Academy" in preparation for the upcoming "Third Encirclement and Suppression Campaign".

See this.

The players on Earth also stared wide-eyed.

Good guy.

The United States, the Empire, Japan, plus the "Whampoa Military Academy Principal" and his confidants.

So many people have joined the think tank.

With the addition of 30 troops, no one doubted the determination of the Blue Team's Principal Huangpu Military Academy.

Comments floated across the screen above the video.

Holy crap! This lineup is amazing!

[Hilarious! Is the principal calling for backup because he can't win a game?]

[The red team is going to take on 1v5 this time! Their buffs must be maxed out!]

[Suggestion: Rename the live stream to: "Regarding the incident where the principal of Huangpu Military Academy brought in three outside reinforcements, but still got brutally beaten."]

[Pah! You troll upstairs, how do you know Principal Huangpu lost before the fight even started?!]

Why don't we open the market?

This is a lesson in 'imperialism is a paper tiger'.

[Hehe, stop arguing, watch my micro-management.]

[6666, you're not even going to act anymore, huh? So you're the principal of Whampoa Military Academy, aren't you?!]

Looking at this lineup.

Compared to the Red team's force of over 30,000 men.

Netizens on Earth can't figure out how they could lose.

Make sense.

If the blue team still loses, it's either because the blue team made a mistake, or because the blue team has some kind of strategy involved.

For example, a buff that makes you weaker the more troops you have?

This doesn't make any sense at all.

The video continues.

The scene shifted, indicating that a day or several days had passed.

The player's perspective in the video is no longer that of a patrol.

Instead, they were put on guard duty.

The player in the video explained that he had exchanged money for the job of standing guard outside the conference room.

Although I cannot attend the meeting in person.

However, the faint sounds of discussion and loud arguments inside were deliberately edited out and played by this player.

Through discussions in the meeting room.

The players on Earth have also discovered something.

First of all, this military advisory group composed of the Empire, the American Free Federation, and Japan is indeed quite capable.

Because you can hear their three plans in the video.

With a 'long drive straight in' and an overwhelming numerical advantage of 30 against 3, the Red side's living space was quickly compressed, forcing them into a decisive battle.

Then Copper Drum Europe 'Fortress Blockade' along the road, building fortifications and encroaching on the Red team's territory.

Finally, there is the 'divide and conquer' tactic, which involves instigating internal conflicts within the Red side or imposing economic blockades to achieve the goal of dividing the Red side's military and civilians.

The methods all sound good, and even seem quite feasible.

However, before the tactic of 'divide and conquer' could even be implemented, the blue team itself used it.

This is also the reason for the several arguments that broke out.

The principal of Whampoa Military Academy gave the advisory group too much authority, even allowing them to directly command or bypass ranks to command many generals, which caused many military generals on the blue side to disapprove.

Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to order us around?
Adding to the internal factional turmoil within the blue team, a military meeting was held.

The advisory group and several factions were locked in a power struggle.

It would be a miracle if they came up with a proper plan from this.

Ultimately, the decision-making power rested with the principal of Whampoa Military Academy.

then.

The micro-management master has struck again.

The video ends here, leaving a link to a live stream at the end.

When the Blue Star players went to investigate, they discovered that this was a new streamer who had obviously registered the account after triggering the storyline.

Looking at the endless stream of viewers joining.

The smile on Jiang Yu's face never faded in the live stream room:
"Thanks to the third-ranked member for the 'starship'!"

"Jump again! Jump again!"

"In about two more days, the plot should catch up with the live stream next door."

"I've already discussed it with Liu Xu. Once we catch up with the schedule, we'll start a live stream on the same screen."

Jiang Yu thanked them for the gift while explaining.

His timeline is too early.

Liu Xu's side has already begun the 'third counter-encirclement and suppression' campaign.

When he triggered the storyline from the previous video, there was still more than a month before it began.

We just left Nanchang.

Once you arrive at your destination, the story will begin. If there are no battle scenes during this time, you can catch up with Liu Xu's timeline in about two or three days.

Meanwhile, Liu Xu was also waiting for Jiang Yu.

Instead of skipping the storyline, players help their fellow villagers with chores or build fortifications within the game.

Since there are no battle scenes, they are usually skipped.

So, in order to wait for Jiang Yu, Liu Xu simply experienced a day in the life of a Red Army soldier.

at this time.

Inside Liu Xu's live stream room.

noon
Liu Xu was building defensive fortifications, but he wasn't quite able to use his pickaxe properly, and when he tried to dig into the ground, he kept hitting rocks.

Before long, my palms were numb from the shock.

Liu Xu could only sigh and shake his aching wrist before stopping.

Even though I had adjusted all the tactile and sensory aspects to 50%, I still didn't expect it to be this difficult.

As modern humans on Earth.

Liu Xu had never done this kind of work before, and he was full of confidence at first.

But after half a day
Liu Xu looked up at the scorching sun overhead; half of his clothes were already soaked with sweat.

However, only a small part of the fortification has been dug.

Liu Xu caught his breath and just picked up his hoe to continue digging the ground.

Sudden.

A youthful yet somewhat mature voice sounded from behind:
"Brother Liu, your posture is wrong."

Liu Xu turned his head to look.

It's Little Stone, the grandson of an old stonemason in the village at the foot of the mountain. He's only 13 years old this year.

However, due to malnutrition, he was as thin as an 8-year-old.

After moving here a few days ago.

His team also helped the villagers in the village at the foot of the mountain with a lot of work. Liu Xu helped the old stonemason's family, and after a few days, Xiao Shitou also became familiar with him.

Liu Xu was a little embarrassed:
"Little Stone."

"Have you finished the chores around the house?"

A smile appeared on Little Stone's face:
"It's done."

"Grandpa asked me to bring you some food."

talking.

He took out a cornbread and handed it to Liu Xu.

Liu Xu quickly waved his hand:

"No, I can't accept it."

Before he could finish speaking, Little Stone shoved the cornbread into his hand, saying:

"This doesn't belong to me."

"It was your cooks who borrowed our pot to steam these; they're all your cornbread."

"I brought it here for you."

"If you don't believe me, look over there."

As he spoke, Little Stone pointed into the distance and then waved.

Upon seeing this, the squad leader in the distance also waved.

See this.

Liu Xu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But then it dawned on me that I had started following this rule since when.

Suddenly.

Liu Xu found himself seemingly infected by this team without realizing it, even though it was just a game.

But just a moment after Little Stone handed over the steamed bun...

His thought was to refuse; he absolutely could not take a single needle or thread from his fellow villager.
hiss!
Liu Xu quickly shook his head, coming back to his senses.

Just as I was about to eat the cornbread in my hand, I saw Little Stone's throat moving slightly.

Liu Xu immediately broke the cornbread in his hand in half, handed it to Xiao Shitou, and said with a smile:

"Eat it." Little Stone's eyes widened, and he swallowed hard, wanting to eat but then remembering something and wanting to refuse:
"No, Grandpa said..."

Before Xiao Shitou could finish speaking, Liu Xu shoved the cornbread into Xiao Shitou's hand:

"It's not just about letting you eat."

"Consider this half of a cornbread as a way of teaching me how to use a hoe."

"You can't run away after you finish eating."

Hear the words.

A smile appeared on Little Stone's face, and he nodded emphatically.
"Ok!"

Holding the cornbread, he began to take big bites and chew, his cheeks bulging as if he were eating some unparalleled delicacy.

It's obvious they haven't had a proper meal in a while; they're extremely hungry.

Looking at the steamed bun in his hand, Liu Xu took a bite. Although he had his sense of taste and touch adjusted to 50%, Liu Xu, who was used to eating all kinds of delicacies on the modern planet Earth, was still very comfortable with it.

Even if the cornbread in my mouth has no taste, the rough texture still scratches my throat.

He never quite understood why these NPCs in the game would treat such things like treasures.

They didn't want to waste even a single scrap.

He had seen many NPC warriors who, after finishing their cornbread, would carefully pick up any crumbs that accidentally fell, afraid of wasting even a little bit.

Liu Xu took another big bite of the cornbread in his hand.

He chewed it vigorously, then forced it down.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

I still can't get used to the food.

Liu Xu sighed inwardly; it was too harsh on his throat.

Little Stone, with his cheeks puffed out and not yet fully swallowed, picked up the hoe and mumbled indistinctly:

"Brother Liu, look at me."

As he spoke, he raised the hoe, striking a pose. The hoe, almost as tall as Xiao Shitou himself, was lifted high, then fell in a perfect arc:

"Keep your back straight."

"Press down with all your might, not just with your arms."

He then demonstrated it several more times.

The child, who looked about the same height as a hoe, wielded it with such skill and power that the viewers in the live stream were amazed.

After watching it several times, Liu Xu stopped Xiao Shitou and took it to try it himself.

Finding that it actually worked, I couldn't help but ask out of curiosity:
"How long have you been practicing?"

"So skilled."

Little Stone thought for a moment, then shook his head:
"Can not remember."

"Anyway, I've been working with my grandfather since I was a child. I can dig half an acre of land by myself every day."

Little Stone's words caused Liu Xu and the viewers in the live stream to gasp in surprise.

Especially Liu Xu.

They also knew that Xiao Shitou was only 13 years old, still a child, and there was no such thing as "from a young age." He had obviously been working since he could remember.

At the age of 13, he was as thin as an 8-year-old child.

I can't imagine how he managed to dig half an acre of land in a single day.

For a while.

Liu Xu didn't know how to respond.

Little Stone suddenly asked:

"Brother Liu, you're a scholar, aren't you?"

Liu Xu was taken aback, then nodded, and said hesitantly:

"I guess so."

Everyone on Earth has compulsory education, so they've all received some schooling.
A smile appeared on Little Stone's face:
"I knew it."

"Just by looking at how you work, you don't seem like an ordinary person."

"Who doesn't even know how to use a hoe?"

"Only scholars think like this."

Hear the words.

A helpless expression appeared on Liu Xu's face:

"This"

Don't even mention him not knowing how; at least half of the viewers in the live stream don't know either.

Little Stone asked curiously:

"Brother Liu, what's it like outside?"

"Could you tell me about it?"

Liu Xu brandished his hoe and dug at the ground for a moment, then thought for a moment and said:
"Outside."

"It's so big outside, I don't know where to begin."

"Is there anything you want to know?"

Little Stone thought for a moment, and his eyes lit up:
"Any good food outside, something even better than red rice?"

Liu Xu was somewhat puzzled:

"Redmi?"

He'd never actually eaten this before, though he'd eaten quite a lot of rice.

Little Stone nodded:

"Yes, Redmi."

"It's the red rice that's used to pay taxes to government officials."

“When Grandpa delivered the grain before, he secretly kept a small handful, which was delicious when cooked into rice porridge.”

"It's just too little; it was gone in just a few bites."

Liu Xu asked:

"Then why not leave more?"

Little Stone shook his head:
"No, this is not enough."

"Erwa's family was arrested simply because they underpaid by 3 jin of red rice."

Liu Xu frowned deeply:
"So fierce?"

Little Stone nodded emphatically:

"She's really fierce."

"But you are different."

"I've never seen any soldiers help us with chores, like cleaning the yard or chopping wood."

Liu Xu was somewhat dazed, subconsciously recalling the phrase the NPC class monitor often repeated:
"Because...we are the team of the poor."

Then Liu Xu looked at Little Stone and asked:
"How many soldiers have you seen at such a young age?"

Little Stone scratched his head, thought for a moment, and counted on his fingers:

“The government used to collect ‘land tax’ every year, then they collected it all at once for 10 years, and then they stopped the following year.”

"But then a man surnamed Lai appeared, wearing a gray woolen cloak, who led his troops to collect 'pre-requisitioned grain' for three years."

"Later, a group of soldiers wearing yellow leggings came and collected some kind of 'tobacco seedling donation,' even counting the apricot trees on the mountain as tobacco seedlings."

"Then, the year before last, a man named Li Zongren passed through here and collected a tax called 'air defense tax'."

talking.

Little Stone suddenly ripped open his clothes, revealing a scar the size of a bowl. Liu Xu's pupils contracted.
"This is.?"

These are clearly scars caused by being burned with a branding iron.

Little Stone said:

“This is Zhang Huizan’s Central Army. They said that there were no ‘extermination slogans’ on my family’s Kitchen God statue, so they used a branding iron to burn them on. My grandfather also had them on his body.”

"Many people in the village were burned by branding irons, but those who had grain at home could avoid being burned as long as they paid the required amount."

"And then there are Commander Feng's soldiers, wearing red armbands, collecting 'border protection grain,' and the white dogs from the county town, who come to collect it all the time."

Little Stone was still counting with his head down, but Liu Xu was already finding it hard to calm down.

The same applies to the viewers in the live stream.

What does it mean to say "the army passes by like a comb, the soldiers pass by like a fine brush"? Just listening to Little Stone recount the warlords and those absurd taxes.

They all have a suffocating, stinging sensation.

As he counted, Little Stone suddenly raised his head, a smile spreading across his face, his eyes filled with anticipation:

"Later you came and said we didn't need to pay these fees, and you even helped us with the work."

"Grandpa said there's hope for the future."

"Brother Liu, you must defeat those white dogs!"

Liu Xu's throat tightened, and he opened his mouth.

The live stream room was completely silent.

Then the comments section exploded:

[Wow! Polaris always manages to create something truly moving even in the most mundane storylines; I couldn't stop crying!]

Little Stone still can't believe there are soldiers in the world who don't hog food!

Those exorbitant taxes and levies would be equivalent to paying 38,000 yuan in taxes on a monthly salary of 5,000 yuan today!

[Who criticized the propaganda slogans for being empty and grandiose? Come out and take your punishment!]

Liu Xu's mind also flashed through the various propaganda slogans he had seen on the road during this period.

Oppose exorbitant taxes!

Down with the local tyrants and evil gentry!

'The Red Army was an army of the poor.'

Like most netizens on Blue Star, Liu Xu used to think it was just a publicity stunt, but now, listening to Xiao Shitou's story and reflecting on what he had done during this period, he realized that Xiao Shitou was now making a point.

At this moment, Liu Xu finally understood the difference between the Red Army and the warlord forces.

Because they are a force truly created for the people.

The People's Army and the warlords are two completely different entities.

The warlords of the Republic of China can be counted starting from 1912.

There are probably several hundred.

But the People's Army.

In the five thousand years of Chinese history, only one such nation has emerged.

Liu Xu took a deep breath and nodded heavily:

"Okay, Brother Liu, I promise you."

"We must drive those white devils away."

Little Stone couldn't stop smiling and happily enjoyed himself.

"After we drive them away, we should be able to eat red rice every day!"

Liu Xu, wielding a hoe and digging defensive works, said with a smile:

"more than."

"There's plenty of rice and wheat flour, and we can also eat cured meat and stewed chicken. We even get candy during holidays."

These were things the old squad leader often mentioned, and Liu Xu immediately started talking about them to Xiao Shitou as well.

Little Stone's eyes widened as well:

"candy?!"

"Is it one wrapped in fancy paper?!"

Liu Xu nodded.

Looking into the distance, it was as if he had traversed time and space to see the "Republic" decades later. Thinking of the "Republic" in the CG, Liu Xu said with certainty.

"Yes, we have orange flavor, apple flavor, whatever flavor you want."

"Once we win, schools will be built there."

"Even a kid like you can go to school and learn to read, for free."

"Really? Brother Liu! I can go to school too?!"

"Of course, in the future everyone will have access to education and food to eat, and our country will become the most powerful country in the world."

And far away.

A well-trained army of 30 is descending like a dark cloud.
(End of this chapter)