latelenovela Chapter 512 Burn, Burn
Chapter 512 Burn, Burn
The so-called joint responsibility means sharing the responsibility.
Although Li Kuanyue did not get all the power he wanted, he at least achieved most of his goals.
He snapped to attention and said in a loud voice, "Yes, Chief. I promise to complete the task."
Director Harun and others looked pale, as if they had lost their parents.
They knew that the education sector in Johor, and even the entire cultural field, was about to face a huge wave and bloody storm caused by this young man named Li Kuanyue.
After the meeting, Li Kuanyue and his secretary walked in the corridor.
The secretary asked quietly, "Director, were those books really confiscated from the school?"
Li Kuanyue sneered: "How is that possible? The Japanese were just driven away not long ago. There must be some Japanese textbooks left in the school, but various Malay history books are hard to find..."
The secretary's eyes widened as he looked at his director: "What about you?"
Li Kuanyue waved his hand and said nothing more.
-----
Twenty-two-year-old Li Kuanyue is full of energy and moves very quickly.
The day after the order was issued, a sign for the "Textbook and Publications Ideological Inspection Team" was hung next to the "No-Responsibility Office" office.
Li Kuanyue personally selected the personnel, all of whom were young Chinese with strong execution ability.
They wear uniform dark blue uniforms and although they are unarmed, they can contact the local police department for armed support.
The ban spread like a plague to all schools, printing houses and bookstores in Johor.
Panic began to spread among the people involved.
The inspection team's actions were even more swift and decisive. Like hungry wolves pouncing on a flock of sheep, they stormed into schools and printing houses one after another, armed with search warrants stamped with the bright red seals of the Education Bureau and the "No Responsibility Office," and with the support of the security forces now under the reorganized and controlled system of Zhang Chi.
The main targets were naturally the printing houses, newspapers and schools owned by the natives.
"This book, 'A Collection of Malay Heroic Legends,' portrays the native chieftains who resisted the Ming dynasty as national heroes. It was confiscated."
"This book, 'Records of Ancient Nanyang Countries,' deliberately downplays the pioneering contributions of Chinese merchants and immigrants. It has been confiscated."
"Also, these picture books have problematic illustrations, with hints of glorifying indigenous people and vilifying Chinese people. All of them will be confiscated."
The principal of the Turen Primary School was so upset that he could not even cry when he saw the books being thrown roughly into the sacks.
Inside a local printing factory in Johor.
The inspection team rushed directly into the plate-making workshop and warehouse.
"Stop, everything! By order of the Education Bureau, seize all equipment and materials suspected of printing reactionary publications."
"All the printed copies of the Malay Annals were confiscated."
"And these engravings, which contain illustrations that distort history, must be confiscated."
The printing factory owner slumped on the ground, watching the machines he depended on for his livelihood being sealed and the printed books being dragged away in bundles, his heart ached.
He cried out, "Sir, we are just printing books. We print them when customers pay us... We don't know what the content is."
Li Kuanyue, the team leader, coldly kicked away his hand that was hugging his leg: "Don't know? You mean, if the Japanese come, you'll print whatever you're told, right?"
The printing factory owner was shocked by the accusation, as it was a charge that could get him shot at.
He kowtowed like crazy, thought for a while, and then shook his head frantically.
Li Kuanyue patted the man's shoulder and said, "Why didn't you report this to the 'No Matter What's Going On' department for review before printing? Printing this kind of anti-government book is aiding the enemy. Do you understand what we should do next?"
"I understand, I understand!" The printing factory owner was so scared that he burst into tears and immediately began to express his loyalty.
Walking out of the printing factory, Li Kuanyue basked in the warm sunlight and sighed.
He knew very well that his methods were indeed extreme and cruel, but the country was just beginning, and this was no playing house or entertaining guests, and there was no room for gentleness, courtesy, frugality and modesty.
If the Chinese in Malaysia want to survive long-term and stably and maintain the Nanyang system, someone must make sacrifices.
Under the sunshine, Li Kuanyue felt full of strength again. He waved his hand and led the team forward.
-----
The confiscated books were piled up into a small hill in the center of the square in front of the Bang Jingxing Temple in Johor.
There are many kinds of books, including ancient thread-bound books, modern printed textbooks, popular reading materials, children's picture books...
On a gloomy afternoon, Li Kuanyue came to the square in person.
He stood in front of the tall pile of books, facing the representatives of teachers and students from various schools, cultural figures and onlookers who were forcibly summoned, and his expression did not waver in the slightest.
"My fellow Johorans," Li Kuanyue's voice boomed through the square, clear and powerful. "What you see before you is the spiritual opium that is poisoning the minds of our next generation, attempting to subvert the leadership of His Excellency Zhang Chi, and undermine the unity of Nanyang. They weave history with lies, elevate the local king with fiction, and divide the nation with innuendo. They are the cultural enemies hidden within us."
"The contents of these books are the greatest insult to the wisdom and courage of our ancestors. The implication is..."
"His Excellency Zhang Chi led the Nanyang National Defense Force in bloody battles, drove out the colonists, and is defeating the brutal Japanese pirates. He brought us hope for peace and dignity. He is the savior of us Nanyang Chinese and all other ethnic groups that yearn for a stable life."
Li Kuanyue's voice suddenly rose: "And yet there is a small group of people, these cultural parasites hiding in dark corners, who want to use these vicious lies to discredit our roots, deny our savior, and divide our homeland. Can we agree to this?!"
"No!" The inspection team members he brought with him and some radical teachers and students who were incited roared in unison in the audience.
"That's right, we can't," Li Kuanyue said sternly. "Towards these poisonous weeds, towards these enemies who attempt to undermine our ideology, we have only one attitude—to completely eliminate them!"
He slammed the book in his hand into the pile of books, then took a burning torch from a team member.
"Today, I, Li Kuanyue, in compliance with the will of His Excellency Zhang Chi and the order of the Johor State Education Department, hereby declare that all seized reactionary books and publications shall be burned as a warning to others.
From now on, in Johor and even in the entire Nanyang region, only one voice will be allowed to exist—the voice that promotes Chinese civilization and safeguards the unity of Nanyang."
As soon as he finished speaking, he threw the torch at the huge pile of books soaked in oil without hesitation.
"boom--!"
Flames shot up into the sky.
The greedy flames instantly devoured the paper, making crackling sounds and sending thick smoke billowing into the sky.
The firelight illuminated Li Kuanyue's young face, as well as countless faces in the audience, some of which were shocked, some frightened, some fanatical, and some numb.