bookrandom Chapter 1171 You'll have to bear the consequences then.
Chapter 1171 You'll have to bear the consequences then.
Zhou Zhengqing, however, remained clear-headed. He did not focus on Wang Kemin's speech, which he found meaningless due to its empty rhetoric.
His gaze swept across every corner of the audience once more, carefully observing their reactions.
Some people are numb and indifferent, staring blankly ahead.
Some people suppressed their anger, their lips pressed into a straight line, their hands clenched tightly.
Some people lowered their heads quietly, their shoulders trembling slightly, as if they were sobbing softly.
He took all these reactions to heart, trying to discern the public's true attitude towards the puppet government.
Wang Kemin's speech finally ended a full hour later.
His voice was so hoarse that he could barely speak, and his face was full of exhaustion, but he still forced himself to bow deeply to the podium, and then slowly walked down the stage, his steps even more unsteady than when he went up.
Another round of perfunctory applause rang out, even sparser than before, like a fleeting breeze.
Immediately afterwards, Terauchi Hisaichi walked onto the stage surrounded by the crowd.
He was far more arrogant than Wang Kemin. He didn't even look at the crowd below the stage. He simply walked straight to the microphone, turned slightly to the side, nodded to Takasaki Takuto in the center of the stage, and then said in broken Chinese: "The Japanese Empire extends its warmest congratulations on the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Japanese soldiers below the stage immediately clapped in unison. The applause was loud and uniform, a stark contrast to their previous perfunctory manner, and it was so loud that it hurt people's eardrums.
Terauchi Hisaichi nodded in satisfaction, raised his hand to signal the soldiers to stop clapping, and continued, "The Japanese Empire will fully support the work of the puppet government and provide assistance for the stability and prosperity of North China."
However, I also want to warn those restless anti-Japanese elements not to attempt to undermine the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, and not to challenge the authority of the Japanese Empire!
At this point, his tone suddenly turned stern, his voice rose, becoming shrill and piercing, his eyes filled with threat and intimidation: "Anyone who dares to resist the empire and disrupt the operation of the puppet government will be severely suppressed!"
The imperial army is omnipresent and well-equipped; any resistance is futile! Destruction awaits you!
Terauchi Hisaichi's words were like a cold knife, piercing the crowd below. The already oppressive atmosphere became even heavier, like a boulder pressing down on everyone, making it hard to breathe.
Some people couldn't help but tremble slightly, their bodies curled up into a ball, their eyes filled with fear.
Some people clenched their fists so tightly that their nails dug deep into their palms, until they tasted a hint of blood, yet they still dared not make a move.
Some people quietly held the child in their arms, blocking the child's view with their bodies, for fear that the child would be frightened.
In the press area, Japanese reporters wore smug smiles as they quickly jotted down Terauchi Hisaichi's threatening words. Some even bowed slightly in Terauchi's direction to show their agreement.
The Chinese journalists tensed up in unison. One of the middle-aged journalists quietly pulled his notebook closer to his chest, his eyes filled with anger and worry, fearing that these threatening words would become an excuse for the Japanese army to suppress the people in the future.
The Western journalists immediately sat up straight, their pens flying across the paper as they meticulously recorded every threat from Terauchi Hisaichi, even noting his tone and expression, clearly aware of the violence behind his words.
Terauchi Hisaichi watched this scene with a smug smile, his mouth widening to reveal a mouthful of yellow teeth. This was exactly the kind of intimidating effect he wanted, to make these people fear the empire's majesty from the bottom of their hearts.
After Terauchi Hisaichi finished speaking, Zhou Zhengqing slowly stood up.
His movements were unhurried yet carried an undeniable air of authority, immediately silencing everyone present and drawing all eyes to him.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked step by step onto the platform, each step steady and powerful, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the silent palace.
Without any further pleasantries, he picked up the microphone directly.
"The work of the Military Police Command in maintaining order and security in North China is of paramount importance." Zhou Zhengqing's gaze swept over the members of the puppet regime below the stage, his eyes sharp as knives: "After the establishment of the puppet government, it must establish a sound administrative system as soon as possible and fully cooperate with the work of the Empire."
Resource plunder must be efficient and free of any waste.
Social control must be tight, without any loopholes, and every sign of resistance must be nipped in the bud.
He paused, his tone growing even colder: "Let me make this clear from the outset: the puppet government must meet all the Empire's demands and cooperate with all the work of the Military Police Command!"
If you fail to do so, or attempt to feign compliance while secretly trying to outsmart the regime, then the Empire will reconsider its support for the puppet government.
You will bear the consequences then.
Although Zhou Zhengqing's speech was brief, it was full of oppression. The members of the puppet regime below the stage were so frightened that their faces turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads. They all stood up, bowed deeply, their waists almost touching the ground, and said repeatedly.
"Yes! Yes! We will certainly follow Lord Takasaki's instructions and fully cooperate with the Empire's work! We will not dare to slack off in the slightest! Please rest assured, Your Excellency!"
Zhou Zhengqing nodded in satisfaction, put down the microphone, turned around and walked off the stage back to his seat.
The host returned to the stage and announced loudly: "The ceremony for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China has come to a successful conclusion!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the pre-arranged members of the puppet regime and Japanese soldiers burst into a "enthusiastic" cheer, their voices false and exaggerated, like the squeals of ducks being choked.
They waved their five-colored flags, which were askew, and shouted slogans such as "Sino-Japanese Friendship" and "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere." The slogans were shouted in a disorderly manner, like a clumsy farce.
In the press area, Japanese reporters were the first to stand up and cheer, frantically taking pictures of the cheering crowd and the stage, trying to capture this "jubilant" scene.
The Chinese reporters silently closed their notebooks, lowered their heads, and quickly packed their things, eager to leave this suffocating place as soon as possible. One of the reporters accidentally bumped into a Japanese reporter next to him as he turned around. Before he could apologize, the Japanese reporter shoved him hard, and the reporter could only swallow his anger and quicken his pace.
The Western journalists calmly packed up their notebooks and cameras, exchanged their observations, discussed the essence of the ceremony in a composed tone, and then walked orderly toward the exit.
The surrounding crowd remained silent, their faces expressionless. They simply turned and slowly left the venue, driven away by the fake police.
The fake police waved their batons and shouted at the crowd, "Hurry up! Don't dawdle!" The crowd walked heavily, their backs filled with exhaustion and humiliation, like a herd of cattle and sheep being driven away.