College Entrance Examination Failure Travels to 1931 and Strike Dongjing

Qiu Jier sat in the dim and depressing office, his brow furrowed, his heart filled with resentment and struggle. He was absolutely unwilling to surrender easily in this war. In his mind, surrender would mean nailing himself to history's pillar of shame and becoming a sinner for all eternity.

"We should hold our troops in place for now and closely observe the German Alliance's strength," Qiu Jier said slowly, a voice tinged with fatigue and resignation. "Once we are truly unable to resist, it won't be too late to surrender to the Great Qin Empire." He paused, then continued, "The most urgent task is to use this time to fully expand our military strength and increase our armaments by any means possible. Also, immediately arrange for someone to contact the Great Qin Empire to see if we can purchase some advanced equipment from them."

Looking back not long ago, China's military equipment was in an extremely bad state. The entire army was filled with outdated weapons and equipment. It was difficult to even form a well-equipped force that could fight tough battles, not to mention powerful naval equipment.

Thinking of this, Qiu Jier couldn't help but sigh. Now, he could only bow to the Great Qin Empire helplessly, hoping to buy the much-needed equipment to solve the urgent problem.

The other generals exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Given the current predicament, this was indeed the best solution they had come up with.

As soon as the meeting ended, more than a dozen carefully selected representatives rushed to the airport, boarded the plane, and flew towards the Qin Empire. The fuselage cut through the sky, carrying their earnest expectations for a turnaround.

A day later, the plane landed smoothly at the Great Qin Empire's international airport. The Yingguo delegation filed out, dressed in sharp suits, their expressions revealing a nervousness and apprehension. Ye Daofu had already arranged for the representatives to wait at the airport, and they were ushered into the meeting room.

Upon entering the meeting room, Representative Yingguo immediately spotted Ye Daofu, seated at the head table. His demeanor instantly dropped to a low profile, a flattering smile plastered across his face. He practically trotted forward, quickly extending his hand, intending to shake hands with Ye Daofu. He acted as if all his problems would be solved if he could get a response from Ye Daofu.

However, Ye Daofu merely glanced at him indifferently, not reaching out in response. This caused the Yingguo representative's hand to freeze in mid-air, his smile instantly froze, and a flush of embarrassment crept across his cheeks. But he quickly recovered his composure and spoke with forced composure, "Your Majesty, we have come across thousands of miles to visit the Great Qin Empire, bearing Yingguo's full goodwill. We have long admired your nation's splendid civilization and hold it in deep reverence."

"After setting foot on your country's soil and witnessing such a different world with my own eyes, I deeply realized how big the gap between our countries is. To be honest, when I came here, I felt like an uncivilized savage from the countryside." Representative Yingguo bowed slightly with a humble expression on his face. He spoke quickly and his words were full of self-deprecation.

As he spoke, he quietly raised his eyes to observe the male protagonist's expression, not missing any reaction.

After these almost humble words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent for a moment, the only sound being his slightly heavy breathing. He knew that his behavior might have been a bit inappropriate, but at the moment, he couldn't care less. He only hoped that the male protagonist would relent and sell him some equipment to take back.

In his view, these equipments are the last hope to save Britain from the threat of the German Alliance. As long as he can achieve his goal, he is willing to make even the most humble gesture.

"Stop the flattery and just state your purpose." Ye Daofu leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression cold and his tone imbued with undeniable authority. He stared directly at the Yingguo representative. He had heard so many such flatteries that he had become completely immune to them. He simply didn't have the patience to beat around the bush or play along.

My thoughts quietly drifted back to the previous life, and those dusty memories suddenly became clear.

Ying Guo was so arrogant and domineering at that time that even after the liberation, he still unscrupulously drove his ships into the Yangtze River Basin in an attempt to show off his power. His arrogant attitude still makes Ye Daofu feel uneasy.

But in this life, the situation was completely different. Things had changed, and Yingguo's humble attitude now stirred a complex feeling within Ye Daofu. Since fate had brought them together again, he would not let this opportunity to "teach" Yingguo a lesson. He had to make it clear to them that things were different now, and they could no longer act with such reckless abandon.

Seeing Ye Daofu's cold attitude, the Yingguo representative's heart skipped a beat, his nerves pounding, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He licked his dry lips and spoke cautiously, "Your Majesty, you know the situation is very chaotic right now. The German Alliance is ambitious, attempting to annex all of Europe and stirring up trouble everywhere. We Yingguo have always been a peace-loving nation, and we have no desire for war. But now that a powerful enemy has reached our doorstep, we have nowhere to retreat and can only resist." He spread his hands helplessly, his face filled with helplessness and grievance.

After a pause, he leaned forward slightly, his face filled with ingratiating expressions, and continued, "It's just that the gap in equipment between us and the German Alliance is too great. It's really too difficult for our soldiers to fight with outdated weapons.

Therefore, we sincerely hope that Your Majesty will sell us some equipment. As for the price, please feel free to ask, everything is negotiable. As long as you can help us overcome this difficult time, we will definitely remember the kindness of the Great Qin Empire.

Ye Daofu leaned back in his chair and listened quietly to the British representative's words, his expression calm and unsurprised. After all, he had been closely following the situation in Europe. It was no secret that the relationship between Britain and the German Alliance was tense and at its peak, with war imminent.

"You should be aware of my relationship with the German Alliance. If I sell you equipment at this time, wouldn't I be suspected of betraying my business partners?" Ye Daofu narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze like a torch, staring closely at the Yingguo representative. His voice was low but carried an unquestionable sense of oppression.

The smile on Yingguo's face froze for a moment, but he soon smiled again with a thick face. He secretly wiped the cold sweat from his palms and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, your words are too polite. Business is business. Whoever you do business with is not business.

Besides, the German Alliance doesn't stipulate that you can only trade with them. Selling equipment to us will not only bring in extra income, but also help us resist the threat of the German Alliance and maintain peace and stability in Europe. This is a good thing for everyone, don't you think?

After saying this, he was afraid that Ye Daofu would still not agree, so he turned around and winked at his companion behind him, and kept waving. His companion understood, stepped forward quickly, and carefully opened an exquisite box. Inside was an antique lying quietly.

"Your Majesty, look! This is a Chinese cultural relic lost in our country. It's called the Golden Jade Dragon, a rare treasure. We brought it here specially to present this national treasure to you as a gift. This is more than just a gift; it's a symbol of our Yingguo's sincerity. We hope you'll consider this gift and give us a chance to cooperate and save our Yingguo."

Yingguo's representative had an earnest look on his face, his hands trembling slightly as he handed the box forward, his eyes full of anticipation.

Ye Daofu just glanced at the golden jade dragon indifferently, without any emotion in his eyes.

In his eyes, although this kind of cultural relic is extremely precious, he now sits on the throne of the Qin Empire and has seen countless rare treasures. This kind of object has long failed to arouse his interest.

Even if it was priceless, to him, it was nothing more than a passing cloud, of no practical use. He sat upright in the main seat, his expression still stern, unmoved by this so-called generous gift.

Ye Daofu gave the guard next to him a subtle look, and the guard understood what he meant and stepped forward to take the golden jade dragon steadily.

"I can accept the gift," Ye Daofu said slowly, his voice low but full of unquestionable authority, "but if you want to make a deal with me, you must pay a sufficient price."

Representative Yingguo's heart, which had been hanging in the balance, instantly dropped halfway. A burst of joy suddenly filled his face, thinking that things had finally turned around. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please tell us. As long as we can do it, we will do our best to achieve it."

"First, return to us all the cultural relics you've looted from China over the past hundred years." Ye Daofu stared intently at the Yingguo representative, his gaze sharp as a torch, each word ringing loudly. "This is your due explanation for your past acts of aggression, and the first step in expressing your apology to China."

The smile on Yingguo's face froze instantly, and his face turned slightly pale, as if he had not expected Ye Daofu to make such a request. But before he could recover, Ye Daofu's next words hit him hard.

"Also, return the Yongle Encyclopedia you collected." Ye Daofu narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of coldness in his gaze. "Also, publicly admit that your so-called Renaissance was nothing more than the product of stealing knowledge from the Yongle Encyclopedia. This is the historical truth and cannot be concealed."

The Yingguo representative was stunned, his head buzzing. If this were admitted, the glorious image that Western civilization had painstakingly constructed over hundreds of years would instantly collapse. It would be tantamount to declaring to the world that Western civilization was pseudo-history, a derivative built on Chinese civilization, and that Chinese civilization would be respected from now on.

Thinking of this, his face turned pale and red, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"This..." Representative Yingguo hesitated, his lips trembling. He wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. His heart was filled with great fear and entanglement.

On the one hand, the country was in imminent danger and urgently needed equipment; on the other hand, he had to admit the possible devastating consequences of this matter. For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma.

Seeing this, Ye Daofu's eyes became stern, and he exuded an imposing aura. He said coldly, "Do you have room for negotiation? Do you really have to let me send a warship to your doorstep before you agree?"

His words were filled with unquestionable firmness, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting the heart of Yingguo representative.

The Yingguo representative was horrified, his figure trembling slightly. The German alliance alone had already terrified them, their army was being defeated, and the people at home were in a state of panic. If the Qin Empire's warships were to sail in full force, their coastal defenses would be completely vulnerable, leaving them without even the slightest resistance.

"Your Majesty, I agree on this matter on behalf of our country." The Yingguo representative gritted his teeth, as if he had made a great decision, his face full of helplessness and reluctance. "But you must sell us enough equipment to enable us to compete with the German Alliance."

He raised his head slightly, a flicker of determination in his eyes, "And, I implore Your Majesty to promise not to attack our country within five years!"

After saying this, he stared at Ye Daofu nervously, not daring to breathe, for fear that this request would anger the emperor who held their fate in his hands.

Ye Daofu's expression was stern, his eyes revealing unquestionable majesty. He spoke coldly, "This matter is not your place to bargain with me. You only have two options before you. Either accept my previous conditions, return what you owe, and admit what you owe; or I will immediately send warships to attack. When that happens, you will face more than just the predicament of insufficient armaments."

Representative Yingguo felt a surge of rage rising up, yet he had to suppress it. His face flushed crimson, and his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. His breathing quickened with frustration. He opened his mouth, but Ye Daofu's powerful aura suppressed him, and for a moment he was speechless.

He knew in his heart that he had no power to resist in the face of absolute strength. This was really too bullying, but he had no other choice but to swallow his anger.

"Your Majesty, I agree to all your terms." Yingguo's representative had a bitter expression, his eyes filled with helplessness. However, for the sake of the country's survival from the threat of the German Alliance, he had no choice but to bow his head. "I hope you can fulfill your promise. I am willing to pay enough money to purchase your equipment now."

"Hmm." Ye Daofu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a satisfied smile, as if everything was under his control. "Also, I have a small suggestion." He looked at the Yingguo representative calmly and said slowly, "Your country must legalize smoking. The Great Qin Empire grows a large amount of tobacco leaves in the Triangle Region, and these will be sold to your country in the future. You must accept it unconditionally."

Upon hearing this, Representative Yingguo's mouth twitched slightly. He knew that once smoking was legalized, a massive influx of tobacco would inevitably harm the health of the people.

But at this moment, facing Ye Daofu's request, he had no room to refuse. After a moment of silence, he could only bite the bullet and agree, "Okay...Okay, Your Majesty, we will do it."

His voice trembled slightly, as if he had used up all his strength to say every word.