Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, I became a legend in the entertainment industry by avo

Chapter 178 Using Public Opinion to Coerce Public Opinion

Half an hour later, Sun Yu arrived at Zhang Qilin's courtyard with a backpack.

He entered the room, where Zhang Qilin was sitting at his desk practicing his lines.

Upon seeing Sun Yu arrive, Zhang Qilin stopped what he was doing and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Yu Zi, sit down."

Sun Yu sat down and took out his laptop and card reader from his bag: "Brother Lin, where are the things?"

Zhang Qilin handed the memory card to Sun Yu.

Sun Yu inserted the memory card into the card reader and connected it to the laptop.

The video files are arranged by date, with the earliest dating back six months.

Sun Yu moved a stool and sat down next to Zhang Qilin, and the two watched the video together.

Besides the argument in the meeting room today, there are dozens of other video recordings of different scenes.

Under a cherry blossom tree, Xiang Dong, dressed in a kimono embroidered with his family crest, was holding a cup of sake and chatting and laughing with several middle-aged Japanese men in traditional clothing.

The backdrop of cherry blossoms and a Japanese garden clearly indicates a private banquet.

"This is the cherry blossom season in Ueno, Tokyo," Sun Yu pointed to a faintly visible logo in the corner of the screen. "He is attending the East Asian Historical and Cultural Exchange Conference, which is hosted by the Sakura Foundation, which has a right-wing background."

";

The next video is taken inside a luxuriously decorated Japanese restaurant.

The lighting was dim, and red lanterns and cherry blossom decorations hung in the air.

Xiang Dong, dressed in a dark kimono with a decorative fan at his waist, was exchanging toasts with several other Chinese people also dressed in kimonos.

Xiang Dong, his face flushed from drinking, was embracing a young woman in a brightly colored kimono, and they were dancing together on the tatami mat.

The third video.

The scene changed again, and it looked like a square in a European city.

The camera focused on several sculptures, one of which was a naked female figure.

Xiang Dong appeared in the frame, walked up to the sculpture with a grin, first pretended to examine it seriously, then put his hand on the sculpture's chest, turned around and made an exaggerated face at the camera.

There are seven similar videos, each with a sculpture in a public place in several European countries as the background.

After the two finished reading, Sun Yu frowned and looked at Zhang Qilin: "Brother Lin, if we post this directly online, it will probably be deleted immediately, and we might even be accused of malicious defamation."

""

"I know," Zhang Qilin said, taking a sip of tea. "It can't be sent out through normal channels."

Zhang Qilin knew this in his heart.

The online environment in 2010 was much more active than in previous years, and microblogs also emerged.

However, truly influential mainstream media and portal websites will not easily report on such revelations involving public intellectuals, overseas entities, and sensitive topics without a clear propaganda stance and instructions from higher authorities.

Moreover, people like Xiang Dong have foreign powers backing them up.

If he exposes this using his own account, Xiang Dong's accomplices will definitely jump out and say that he is damaging relations between the two countries and affecting the business environment.

It's laughable. The same incident happens in China, and they say it damages the business environment. But when it happens abroad against China, they say they respect other countries' choices.

They've mastered this double standard to an extreme degree.

"You mean—" Sun Yu asked curiously.

Zhang Qilin said with a smile, "They like to use public opinion to hold the public hostage to achieve their ulterior motives, so we can also use public opinion to force public opinion, and use traffic to generate traffic."

"But the independent media don't want to offend these public intellectuals," Sun Yu said.

Zhang Qilin shook his head: "No need to go to the media. Find a few unfamiliar marketing accounts, upload the video clips of him slandering the Xinhai Revolution, and tag the official Weibo account of the movie '1911 Revolution,' as well as all the actors, directors, and producers who have made their contact information public—"

Sun Yu's eyes lit up: "From a personal dispute to a challenge to the film's theme and historical conclusions, the film's investors and marketing team will definitely retaliate for the sake of box office and reputation."

Zhang Qilin smiled and said, "Don't place your hopes on others. We still need a large number of online trolls to generate buzz and let public opinion carry us along—"

""

Sun Yu nodded: "Then I'll go back and immediately contact marketing accounts and online trolls."

Nine o'clock the next morning.

Zhang Qilin, still dressed as he was yesterday, wandered around various universities with Dong Qiyu.

After yesterday's events, Zhang Qilin instructed Dong Qiyu to end the recruitment process.

In the current climate, their large-scale recruitment drive will only attract people with ulterior motives.

These people will do anything to obtain more funding from abroad.

Those who truly understand that period of history and are willing to act according to their ideas are people of integrity.

These people are unlikely to volunteer to participate in the recruitment process.

Therefore, after discussing it with Dong Qiyu, Zhang Qilin decided to go to various universities or public lectures on history.

Do those people, when giving lectures, try to cram some Western-style distortions of history into the audience?

They are now in a university auditorium, where a scholar is giving a lecture on modern Chinese history.

Zhang Qilin and Dong Qiyu sat in the last row.

The scholar's account was clear and logical, from the humiliation of the Opium War to the exploration of the Self-Strengthening Movement, and then to the innovation of the Hundred Days' Reform, everything was well-organized and orderly.

However, when the topic of the Xinhai Revolution came up, Zhang Qilin keenly sensed something was amiss.

Scholars have begun to emphasize the chaotic situation during the Xinhai Revolution, but have glossed over its significance in overthrowing feudal rule and promoting the democratic process.

Zhang Qilin and Dong Qiyu exchanged a glance.

The two left the auditorium, preparing to take a car to their next destination.

Just then, Zhang Qilin's phone rang.

He took it out and saw that it was a call from Director Zhang Li.

He deliberately pressed the speakerphone button to answer the call.

Zhang Li's somewhat serious voice came through the phone: "Qi Lin, what are you busy with?"

Zhang Qilin replied, "Hello Director Zhang, I'm attending a lecture at the university. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"It's good to attend the lecture. Just a heads up, don't post anything online today."

Zhang Qilin asked knowingly, "Director Zhang, I've been in class all day and haven't been online yet. What happened?"

After a moment of silence, Zhang Li on the other end of the phone said, "Someone has posted defamatory remarks about the Xinhai Revolution online. We are currently seeking instructions from higher authorities. Don't take any rash actions yet; wait for further instructions from above."

Dong Qiyu, who was sitting next to Zhang Qilin, was feeling a bit bored. When she heard Zhang Li say that, she immediately took out her phone and went online to browse the internet.

Zhang Qilin assured Zhang Li, "Director Zhang, please rest assured, I will follow all orders. Although I haven't watched it yet, I feel that if I don't stand up and oppose it clearly, I would be letting down those martyrs. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and I will still respect the production team's choice."

"Sigh~ This happened during a crucial period of filming. If this isn't handled properly, the whole movie will be canceled —"

"Okay, Director Zhang."

After hanging up the phone, Dong Qiyu asked, "What did he mean?"

"I suspect that Director Zhang wants to delete all relevant information before things fully escalate."

"What?!" Upon hearing this, Dong Qiyu stared wide-eyed at Zhang Qilin. "They've practically groveled in his face, and he still wants to cower like a coward?"

"Isn't that how everyone does it? It's better to avoid trouble."

Upon hearing Zhang Qilin's words, Dong Qiyu's face darkened, and she seemed lost in thought.

Zhang Qilin used his mobile phone to browse the internet for related news.

Around 10 o'clock, a post appeared almost simultaneously on major video websites and forums.

The title reads:

[A self-proclaimed historian openly insulted the martyrs of the Xinhai Revolution, claiming that the Qing Dynasty "voluntarily abdicated to save China"]

The video is only four and a half minutes long. The post is addressed to @the official Weibo account of the movie "1911 Revolution" and @director Zhang Li ——— as well as all the cast and crew members. During the filming of your movie, someone trampled on the heroes you are praising. Are you going to do anything about it?

The comment section was flooded within half an hour of the post being published.

Zhang Qilin looked at the comments and nodded in satisfaction. Sun Yu had hired a group of online trolls who were very skilled at creating fake comments.

Instead of a single group criticizing, they were divided into several groups.

The first group was shocked: "Is this even human language?"

"Did I hear that right? He was thanking the Qing government?"

"The Xinhai Revolution almost tore China apart? What kind of outrageous statement is that?"

The second team was responsible for popularizing knowledge: "Let me tell you that the average age of the 72 martyrs of Huanghuagang was less than 30, and the youngest was only 18."

When Lin Juemin wrote "A Letter to My Wife," his wife was already pregnant.

"These people risked their lives to earn the life we ​​have today, where we don't have to live on our knees—"

The third group was responsible for calling out names: "@Official Weibo account of the film 1911 Revolution, aren't you going to say anything?"

"@Director Zhang Li, someone is stepping on the shoulders of the heroes you played in your movies, and you're not saying anything?"

"@Brother Long, someone said that about Huang Xing. As the actor who played him, you should be concerned—"

"@Actor Zhao Wenxuan————"

"@Actor Sun Chun————"

"@Zhang Qilin of Beijing People's Art Theatre————"

The three teams took turns performing, and the pace was perfectly controlled.

In less than an hour, the post was featured on the front page of several major forums.

As Zhang Qilin was reading, he suddenly heard Dong Qiyu's voice: "I'm suddenly feeling a bit tired. Let's call it a day and go on the undercover investigation tomorrow."

Zhang Qilin knew what Dong Qiyu wanted to do; that girl was vindictive.

Yesterday, Xiang Dong and Zhou Mingxuan disrupted her job fair so much, and now that she has a chance to get revenge, she certainly won't miss it.

But when he spoke with Director Zhang Li earlier, he agreed to the arrangements. Dong Qiyu probably didn't want him to stop her, so she made an excuse to leave.

Zhang Qilin pretended not to know: "Oh, I see. Then go back and get some rest. We'll continue tomorrow. Contact me anytime if anything comes up."

Dong Qiyu nodded, turned around and left without looking back.

Watching Dong Qiyu's figure disappear quickly, Zhang Qilin revealed a meaningful smile.

Meanwhile, in a private room at a top-tier hospital in Kyoto.

Xiang Dong lay on the hospital bed with a gloomy expression.

A thick bandage was wrapped around his forehead.

The injuries he sustained during yesterday's conflict with those young men caused him excruciating pain with every movement.

The assistant beside him was carefully peeling an apple.

Xiang Dong asked in an unfriendly tone, "Haven't you found the camera yet?"

The assistant said with a look of panic, "We haven't found it yet. We've mobilized everyone to search the area, but we haven't found any trace of the camera."

Just then, Zhou Mingxuan pushed the door open and rushed in, looking flustered: "Teacher Xiang, something terrible has happened!"