Chapter 113: Blueprint for a Class-B Command Headquarters

In early April 1900, the Boxers in Qilu grew rapidly, infiltrating the capital and Tianjin. They harbored extreme hatred for all things foreign, destroying anything associated with Western influence. Like a swarm of locusts, they tore down nearly all the railways and telegraph lines along their path.

Nie Shicheng, then serving as the Zhili Provincial Commander-in-Chief and commander of the Wuwei Forward Army, was stationed in Lutai and Yutai, tasked with protecting the infrastructure between the capital and Tianjin. Driven by duty, Nie Shicheng was forced to suppress the Boxers in the Langfang area, earning him the enmity of both the Boxers and powerful figures in the imperial court.

The "War" game system generated a large-scale regional quest: players siding with the government could report to Nie Shicheng to protect the railways, while those siding with the Boxers were tasked with their destruction. While many NPC Boxers were killed under Nie Shicheng’s suppression, the Boxer-aligned players held the upper hand, as they controlled the initiative to sabotage the lines, leaving the government-aligned players in a passive defensive role.

After hearing about this quest from Xia Weiwei, Chen Hao became interested. Such large-scale regional quests offered substantial experience points, potentially helping him reach level 20 quickly.

Chen Hao was currently level 17, his team members were only level 16, and the four members who had been killed—led by Liu Zixuan—were merely level 15. To be capable of executing the Northeast Plan, they needed to reach at least level 20. With time tight before May, the two-way regional quest was a prime opportunity.

Chen Hao spent 100 silver dollars to create a virtual reception room on the "War" forum, pulling all ten of his team members, including Bai Hu Hu Yao Nie, into it to coordinate a rendezvous in Langfang. This expenditure was well-justified; to ensure his real-life identity remained secure, he avoided using standard communication tools like QQ, which could leave traces. Only the "War" platform, controlled by the super-intelligent computer "Genesis," was absolutely safe.

Chen Hao didn't fully trust anyone. Currently, only three people knew his in-game identity: Wang Ying, Ban Qianqian, and Zhao Qiang, the owner of the Super Space Internet Cafe. He trusted Wang Ying and Ban Qianqian implicitly. He had revealed his identity to Zhao Qiang early on when he was less cautious, answering casually when asked.

Zhao Qiang was busy with business and had jokingly asked Chen Hao to power-level him, but he hadn't been seen since the internet cafe’s operations stabilized. A businessman as busy as Zhao likely forgot the name after so much time.

After notifying his team, Chen Hao called Xia Weiwei, also asking her to meet in Langfang. He didn't disclose his real identity to her—not out of a lack of trust, but because she was less composed than Wang Ying and might accidentally let it slip.

Traveling by carriage to Jibei, Chen Hao located a nearby Red Lantern Society stronghold and learned that Lin Hei’er and Cui Yunniang were in Tianjin. Since his route to Langfang passed through Tianjin, he hired another carriage and found Lin Hei’er at the local headquarters.

Lin Hei’er, still dressed in her signature crimson, was busy issuing quests to players. Once the others had left, she smiled at him. "Junior Disciple Baxian, you have done well. I have already learned of the task that scoundrel Liu Ziyuan entrusted to you. As a reward, I shall grant you this blueprint!"

"Player Chen Baxian, congratulations on completing the quest 'Assassinate Liu Ziyuan' issued by NPC Lin Hei’er. You have received the Headquarters Construction Blueprint as a reward."

Item Name: Headquarters Construction Blueprint
Item Type: Blueprint
Item Tier: B-Rank
Item Description: A blueprint drafted by the renowned Italian architect Silva. It allows for the construction of a B-Rank headquarters, which includes a command room equipped with regional maps and a sand table.

Blueprints were tiered into A, B, and C grades, each offering different effects. C-Rank headquarters only featured a command room and basic maps, lacking detailed regional maps or sand tables. A-Rank headquarters included not only a command room but also staff offices, communication rooms, interrogation rooms, and a radio set.

This was the first headquarters blueprint in the China region. Chen Hao had expected a C-Rank, so seeing it was B-Rank was a pleasant surprise. He tucked the blueprint away and bowed to Lin Hei’er. "Thank you, Junior Martial Aunt!"

"It is what you deserve, no need for formalities," Lin Hei’er waved him off. "Junior Disciple Baxian, you are the most capable 'outlander' I have encountered. I have a mission to sabotage the railways; would you be interested?"

"Given our martial lineage, I would naturally look after you. I guarantee that if you complete this task well, your rewards will be greater than those of other players."

Facing Lin Hei’er’s tempting offer, Chen Hao refused without hesitation. "Thank you for your kindness, Junior Martial Aunt, but I have other matters to attend to. My apologies."

Chen Hao would refuse any benefit from this quest. The regional conflict would turn Nie Shicheng and the Boxers into mortal enemies, and siding with the Boxers would spell disaster once the Eight-Nation Alliance plotline concluded. While Nie Shicheng would fall in battle against the Alliance, a top-tier NPC deeply admired him, and Chen Hao could not afford to offend such a person if he intended to advance his goals.

Nie Shicheng was killed on July 9th; after his death, the Boxers attempted to desecrate his corpse, only stopped by the arrival of Allied forces. Due to his friction with powerful court officials, his posthumous honors were blocked by Zai Yi and Gang Yi. It was not until February 1902, when Yuan Shikai—then Governor-General of Zhili—joined forces with Zhou Fu and Zhang Lianfen to petition the court, that Nie was finally posthumously granted the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and the honorific "Zhongjie."

Yuan Shikai had also suppressed the Boxers. If Chen Hao aligned himself with them against Nie Shicheng, he would likely be purged by Yuan once the latter consolidated his power, even if he managed to secure a government position through his plans in the Northeast.

Lin Hei’er was displeased by his refusal but could not force him, so she waved him away. On his way to Langfang, Chen Hao listed the construction blueprint on the game’s trading platform for auction, setting a starting price of 20 million RMB.

The platform allowed for payments in either game currency or real-world currency. Though Chen Hao needed silver dollars, he opted for RMB. Because the supply of silver dollars in the game was limited, wealthy players were hoarding them, which would keep the price of the blueprint artificially low.

Auctioning it for RMB was different. There were many wealthy individuals in the real world, and someone would surely pay a premium to be the first to build a headquarters. Once the large-scale quest began, the value of silver dollars would likely drop, making it more cost-effective for Chen Hao to convert his RMB back into game currency later.