Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

One o'clock in the afternoon, Cabinet Press Conference Hall.

Watanabe Motoyasu, wearing a neat field marshal's uniform with medals shining on his chest, stood in front of the podium, his eyes sweeping over the densely packed reporters and representatives from all walks of life below the stage.

"Everyone," he said in a steady and powerful voice, "I am holding this press conference today to explain to all citizens the tragedy that happened yesterday."

The flash kept flashing.

"After a thorough investigation, it was found that this incident was caused entirely by the unauthorized actions of a few individuals at Pu Yu." Watanabe Motoyasu's voice was filled with anger. "Asanogawa and Nijiyasu Akira, these two scums who disregarded military discipline, actually ordered the shooting of unarmed workers without authorization!"

"Their behavior not only violates the purpose of Uncut Jade, but is also a serious betrayal of the empire!"

The reporters in the audience were writing furiously.

"For this reason, I have ordered the execution of the two culprits. At the same time, all Pu Yu personnel who participated in the suppression will be severely punished."

Naoko and Kawamura, who were sitting in the front row, exchanged glances.

"More importantly," Watanabe Motoyasu's tone became serious, "this incident exposed serious problems in the unpolished jade system. Privileges lead to corruption, and lack of supervision leads to tyranny."

“So I decided to overhaul the rough diamond.”

The whole place was in an uproar.

“First, abolish the privileged status of unpolished jade and incorporate it into the regular military and police system.”

“Second, establish a strict supervision mechanism so that any action must be approved by the headquarters.”

“Third, conduct a comprehensive internal investigation of Pu Yu and eliminate corrupt elements.”

Watanabe Motoyasu said: "The purpose of the unpolished jade is to protect the empire, not to oppress the people! Anyone who violates this purpose will be severely punished!"

The reporters' pens were rustling.

“At the same time,” he said, his tone slowing down, “the government will provide maximum compensation to the families of the victims. Two thousand yuan in pensions per household, three months of food rations, and employment and education assistance.”

"This is not a problem that can be solved with money, but we will use practical actions to make up for this mistake."

A reporter raised his hand: "Mr. Watanabe, when will the reform plan of Pu Yu be implemented?"

"Implement it immediately." Watanabe Motoyasu said firmly, "I have signed the relevant order. From today on, Pu Yu will enter a comprehensive reform phase."

Another reporter asked: "So, who will be responsible for this reform?"

"I will personally supervise it," Watanabe said. "I assure all citizens that this reform is not just empty talk."

The audience burst into applause. Watanabe Motoyasu's performance was impeccable. He successfully put all the blame on the dead and at the same time calmed the people with the promise of reform.

As for the truth, who issued that bloody order, I'm afraid no one will ever know.

Because the dead cannot speak.

"Master Watanabe!" Naizi suddenly stood up and said firmly, "I have a question."

All eyes were on this young student leader.

"Why did the army attack the Fujita family? Why is Mr. Fujita Taka wanted?" Naizi's voice was filled with anger. "He risked his life to reveal the truth. He is our hero! He doesn't deserve to be treated like this!"

"right!"

“Mr. Fujita is a hero!”

"Let the Fujita family go!"

The students stood up and shouted one after another, and the scene was in chaos.

Watanabe Motoyasu raised his hand to signal for everyone to be quiet. A sympathetic smile appeared on his face: "Young people, you have all been deceived."

The whole place fell silent.

"Fujita Ying is not a hero at all." Watanabe Motoyasu's voice suddenly became stern, "He is a traitor! He is a traitor who cooperated with Chinese spies to cause riots! Now this traitor is still on the run, but I assure you that he will be caught soon!"

"Someone, come here!" Watanabe Motoyasu waved his hand, "Bring up the evidence."

Two officers immediately brought up a document box. Watanabe Motoyasu took out a stack of documents and began to read aloud:

"This is the secret correspondence between Fujita Ying and the Chinese spies..."

"This is the bank record of him receiving funds from China..."

"This was his detailed plan for the riot..."

"This is a photo of his secret meeting with Chinese spies..."

Pieces of "evidence" were projected onto the big screen. Each document was extremely delicate, and each photo was flawless. These were carefully forged "ironclad evidence".

At this moment, in a remote warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Fujita Ying's body was lying quietly. There was a bullet hole in his chest, and the blood had already coagulated. Next to him, Yamamoto Satoshi was wiping a pistol.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Fujita,” Yamamoto said softly. “Your value has been exhausted.”

Back to the press conference.

"That's why we have to take action against the Fujita family." Watanabe Motoyasu said, "Because the entire Fujita family has been bought by China! They are the termites of the empire and must be eradicated!"

There was dead silence.

Those students who once admired Fujita Taka were now deeply confused. Their "hero" turned out to be a traitor?

Watanabe Motoyasu watched this scene with satisfaction. He believed that as long as Fujita Ying was caught, the turmoil would be completely settled.

But he didn't know that the person he was looking for had already died quietly in the dark. In this carefully designed chess game, Fujita Ying's mission had been completed, and now he was just a cold corpse.

"This... this is impossible..." Naizi's legs went weak and he staggered back a few steps, almost falling down.

Kawamura quickly supported him, but his own hands were shaking. They stared at the densely packed documents on the screen, each of which was like a heavy hammer, shattering the faith in their hearts.

"Mr. Fujita..." Naizi's voice was choked, "No... This is not true..."

Watanabe Motoyasu continued to show the "evidence": "This is a photo of Fujita Ying and the head of the Chinese spy, taken last month..."

"That's enough!" Kawamura suddenly yelled, his voice filled with tears, "Stop talking!"

The students around them looked ashen. Some slumped in their chairs, some covered their faces and cried silently, and some tore their hair in anger.

They recalled how Fujita Toru passionately revealed the truth to them on that rainy night.

Remember how they regarded this "hero" as a belief.

Remembering how they stood up for him, even at the cost of confronting the military and police.

It turns out that all this was a lie.

It turns out that all their passion and sincerity were nothing but an elaborate scam.

"We..." Nai Zi's tears finally burst out, "What have we been doing these days..."

Kawamura punched the wall, his knuckles bleeding: "Asshole! Fujita Ying, you bastard!"

The students were completely emotionally broken. Some laughed hysterically, some cried bitterly, and some stared blankly at the ceiling. At this moment, their ideals, beliefs, enthusiasm and passion all turned into an absurd joke.

Watanabe Motoyasu watched this scene with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. Once the faith of young people collapses, it can never be rebuilt. These former "rebels" will become docile and docile from now on.

"I understand how you feel," his voice suddenly became gentle, "It's good for young people to be passionate, but they must also keep their eyes open and not be taken advantage of by bad people..."

Naizi couldn't listen anymore. He squatted on the ground, holding his head in his hands, shaking all over. The "hero" he once swore to follow, now in his heart, has become the most shameful traitor.

"I'm sorry..." he murmured, "I'm sorry, father... I... I almost became an enemy of the Empire..."

Kawamura leaned against the wall, his eyes empty. Their passion and enthusiasm these days seemed so ridiculous and absurd at this moment.

The press conference continued, but for these students, the world seemed to have lost its color. Their faith collapsed, and their souls were shattered.

They would never know that their "hero" was lying in a dark corner, the bullet hole in his chest no longer bleeding. This elaborate scam finally came to a perfect end.