allonlinenovel Chapter 1170 The applause was thin and perfunctory.
Chapter 1170 The applause was thin and perfunctory.
On each table lay a small five-colored flag, the "national flag" stolen by the puppet government. The flags were wrinkled, worn at the edges, and dark in color, swaying weakly in the faint air current, as if mourning for this false celebration.
The platform, originally the site of the opera stage, has been transformed into a semi-circular platform with semi-circular steps around it for people to go up and down, covered with a red carpet.
Above the rostrum hung a huge apricot-yellow banner. The fabric was rough and thick, with uneven edges. The banner read "The Establishment Ceremony of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China" in black Song typeface. The characters were bloated and distorted, as if they had been haphazardly painted on with a brush, which was out of place with the exquisite carved beams and painted rafters around it.
Several strings of red lanterns hung on either side of the banner. The lantern paper was yellowed and brittle, and the candlelight inside was dim, making the red color appear dark. In an attempt to create a festive atmosphere, the lanterns only looked more ridiculous and glaring.
In the very center of the platform was a long table covered with a white tablecloth, on which were a microphone and several documents. On either side of the table were dozens of chairs with yellowish-brown covers, similar in color to the Japanese military uniforms, clearly intended for Japanese generals and core members of the puppet regime.
Zhou Zhengqing was seated in the very center of the stage, the most prominent position in the entire venue, with an even larger five-colored flag behind him.
After he sat down, he leaned back slightly, placed his hands on the armrests, and adopted a composed yet arrogant posture.
Terauchi Hisaichi was to his left, while the other Japanese generals sat on either side of the platform in order of rank. They were either whispering to each other or resting with their eyes closed, each with a different expression, but all exuding an arrogance of being in control of everything.
The members of the puppet regime could only sit in the front row below the rostrum, each one sitting upright with their backs ramrod straight, yet they could not hide the tension and obsequiousness in their expressions. Their eyes would occasionally dart towards the Japanese generals on the rostrum, as if afraid of doing something wrong.
At 10:00 a.m. sharp, a burst of urgent military music suddenly rang out, breaking the silence in the field.
This military music is not a traditional Chinese piece, but rather the Japanese song "Kimigayo," with a harsh and jarring melody, like a dull knife cutting through the air.
Upon hearing this, the people present slowly lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling slightly. Some clenched their fists tightly, their nails digging deep into their palms, tears of humiliation welling up in their eyes, but they stubbornly held them back.
As the military music faded, its lingering notes still echoed within the palace, a host dressed as a puppet government official strode quickly onto the stage.
He was small and thin, and when he walked onto the stage, he kept bowing and scraping to Zhou Zhengqing and the Japanese officers, which looked somewhat comical.
He cleared his throat, picked up the microphone, and announced in a deliberately loud but still somewhat weak voice: "The ceremony for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China shall now begin!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a sparse round of applause broke out in the room.
The applause was thin and perfunctory, like scraps of paper cut by the cold wind, drifting intermittently in the air and quickly dissipating.
Most of those clapping were members of the puppet regime and Japanese soldiers. The members of the puppet regime were afraid that they wouldn't clap hard enough, so they clapped until their hands were red and forced a stiff smile on their faces, while their eyes nervously observed the movements on the platform.
The Japanese soldiers merely patted the ground a few times, lightly touching it with their palms before putting it down, their expressions remaining arrogant and indifferent.
Not a single person in the crowd applauded. They stood there expressionless, their eyes vacant, as if everything before them was irrelevant. Only the occasional flash of anger deep in their eyes, like a faint spark, betrayed their true emotions.
The host gestured for everyone to be quiet, pressed his hands down, and then said in a respectful tone: "Now, please welcome Mr. Wang Kemin, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Puppet Government, to the stage to deliver his inaugural address!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Kemin, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit, deliberately straightened his back, trying to adopt a dignified posture, but his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed his nervousness.
Walking up to the microphone, he first bowed deeply to Zhou Zhengqing and Terauchi Hisaichi in the center of the stage, bending very low and holding the bow for a full three seconds before straightening up. Then he turned around to face the crowd below the stage.
"Fellow compatriots and colleagues, today, the Provisional Government of the Republic of China is officially established. This is a new beginning for the people of North China and the start of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere!"
Wang Kemin's voice was hoarse, yet deliberately raised, carrying a nauseating obsequiousness. He paused after each sentence, his eyes nervously glancing at the Japanese generals in the center of the platform, only daring to continue after confirming their expressions.
"Since the start of the war, North China has suffered greatly from the ravages of war. People have been displaced and starving. The establishment of the puppet government today is precisely to save the people of North China and to achieve Sino-Japanese friendship, coexistence and common prosperity!"
As he spoke, he kept nodding and bowing towards the podium. Seeing that the Japanese generals had no objections, he became even bolder in promoting the fallacy of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".
"The Japanese Empire is our ally, it came to help us get out of our predicament, it is our savior!"
After its establishment, the government will resolutely obey the leadership of the Japanese Empire, actively promote various policies, and work hand in hand with the Japanese Empire to build a prosperous and stable North China.
We must set aside past grievances and work together with our friendly nations to create a better future!
Wang Kemin's speech was lengthy and empty, repeating the same old clichés of betraying the country for personal gain, offering nothing new.
His voice grew increasingly hoarse, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, yet he still forced himself to continue speaking.
Although the members of the puppet regime in the audience listened attentively on the surface, nodding and agreeing from time to time, their eyes betrayed their exhaustion and impatience.
Most of the Japanese generals closed their eyes to rest, some even yawning slightly, completely ignoring his words.
The reactions in the press area were even more distinct. The Japanese reporters remained enthusiastic, with some even standing up, raising their cameras to take pictures of Wang Kemin, and muttering under their breath, "An important declaration of East Asian co-prosperity."
The reporters paused, their knuckles turning white. One young reporter pressed his lips into a straight line, his eyes slightly red, but he forced himself to suppress his emotions and continued recording, though his handwriting was even more illegible than before.
The Western journalists frowned slightly, some stopped taking notes, leaned back in their chairs and listened quietly, their eyes filled with obvious disdain, as if watching a poor performance.
The crowd below the stage was already drowsy. Some people quietly raised their heads and showed disdain towards the direction of the podium before quickly lowering their heads again, afraid of being discovered by the patrolling soldiers.