Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 120 - 115: Two Testimonies

Chapter 120: Chapter 115: Two Testimonies

Li Hongyun had once again assumed the identity of Lin Xiangmin and tried the first and third solutions.

However, he still failed in all attempts!

The game offered no explanation, merely resetting him to the beginning after each decision was made.

This completely baffled Li Hongyun.

"What does this mean...

"Aren’t there only three solutions to this problem? Either send Magistrate Ning to the capital to be dealt with by the Emperor, or behead Magistrate Ning, take his confession, openly defect, and find a way to eliminate the Yan faction, or fabricate a fake confession and continue to stand with the Yan faction...

"But why have all three methods been tried and still all failed?

"Could there be a fourth method?

"And what exactly is this damn Emperor thinking?"

Li Hongyun was exasperated, feeling as though he was caught in an intractable deadlock.

Having no other choice, he had to go back and pursue the soldier’s path.

Partly because he had used up all his accrued identity points, and partly because he simply couldn’t push forward with the clerk and Lin Xiangmin’s storyline — unable to conceive of a fourth solution — he wanted to see whether there might be a breakthrough on the soldier’s path.

If only he could unlock the qualifications to impersonate General Deng.

After experiencing it, Li Hongyun discovered that the soldier’s path had indeed been updated with some new content but still underwent no fundamental change.

On the soldier’s path, after several rounds of attacks, there would no longer be a dead set on attacking Puning Port, but instead, engage in battles against bandits elsewhere, akin to the initial combat phase of the soldier’s path.

Moreover, a small incident would occur during this time — undertaking a mission with General Deng to capture Magistrate Ning and to plug the breach in the dike.

These newly added battles were not too difficult to handle; after fighting a few times, success came smoothly.

But none of these efforts pushed Lin Xiangmin’s storyline forward at all.

Clearly, the soldier’s path and the clerk’s path influenced each other, one through civil means and the other through military, but the key to breaking through still hinged on the clerk’s path.

After several aimless trials, Li Hongyun’s vision was once again obscured by white fog, and the sensation of waking up swept over him.

"Am I waking up already? So soon..."

Li Hongyun was still reluctant to leave but had no choice but to wake up from reality.

...

"Chuge! What stage did you reach?"

As soon as he woke up, Li Hongyun couldn’t wait to ask.

Chuge responded with a calm and detached air, "Just finished meeting with the Emperor."

Li Hongyun was stunned, "Huh? You can meet the Emperor? That’s not right. I got stuck directly while playing as Lin Xiangmin! After Magistrate Ning sabotaged the dike, what exactly should be done?"

Chuge gave a slight smile, "Isn’t the answer obvious?"

Li Hongyun was lost for words, feeling thoroughly outclassed intellectually.

Damn it! The Euroking halo doesn’t work here!

Li Hongyun was genuinely curious and wanted to know how Lin Xiangmin’s predicament was resolved, eager to copy Chuge’s answer, but the dignity of a history student made him hesitate, wanting to unravel the puzzle on his own.

After a fierce internal struggle, Li Hongyun said with great resolve, "Alright, I won’t copy your answer. I will complete this assignment on my own!"

But then he added in a lower voice, "Could you give me some hints, though..."

Chuge laughed heartily, "Didn’t you want to complete the assignment by yourself?

"Alright, then I’ll give you some simple hints.

"First, you need to think from the Emperor’s perspective since he is both the player and the sole judge.

"Second, the decision you eventually make must come at a great personal cost and sacrifice for Lin Xiangmin. Only by doing so will he be able to succeed in the anti-bandit campaign.

"It’s impossible to get things done in the court while trying to stay clear of any danger."

Li Hongyun was somewhat puzzled, "I can understand the first point, but what does the second mean?

"Isn’t submitting Magistrate Ning’s confession and defecting already a choice of great cost and sacrifice?"

Chuge shook his head, "Of course not!

"This move could at worst result in dismissal from office. After the downfall of the Yan faction, Governor Lin could seek a more lenient punishment through this separation of ties."

Li Hongyun was even more puzzled, "Isn’t being dismissed from office considered a great cost and sacrifice?"

Dark Sand was adamant, "No."

Seeing Li Hongyun lost in confusion, Dark Sand smiled, "Actually, it’s not that complicated. It’s just that most people wouldn’t think in that direction. It came to me in a sudden burst of inspiration.

"In history, Governor Lin met his end unjustly in prison.

"Think along these lines, and perhaps you’ll find a way."

Li Hongyun frowned and fell into silent contemplation.

...

At 10 p.m., Li Hongyun couldn’t wait to enter the game world of "Dark Sand" again.

During the day, he had pondered hard following Dark Sand’s clue and had also been looking through discussions by other players on the forum.

Up to now, Dark Sand’s progress with the aide-de-camp storyline was the fastest, although he hadn’t shared all the solutions with the public, leaving much suspense.

Because the time wasn’t right yet, it’d be better to avoid too many spoilers and let the players try to figure things out themselves.

As for the other players, many were still grinding away on the soldier storyline.

No kidding, several exceptionally talented players achieved notable success, like Zhao Haiping who managed to breach Puning Port with General Deng several times, although in the end, they were never able to take it.

In any case, Li Hongyun was eager to unravel this mystery.

...

Prefect Ning kowtowed deeply, "I am willing to bear all the blame, but... but I have caused Lord Governor to be unable to account to Elder Yan, for which I deserve to die a thousand times!"

Li Hongyun, who had seen Prefect Ning kowtow many times, was no longer surprised and sighed lightly, "It’s no use talking about it now.

"The matter of the dike’s destruction is of great importance. I can’t save your life."

Prefect Ning remained kneeling on the ground, "I am prepared to die for Lord Governor."

Li Hongyun nodded, "Good. Since you are loyal to me and willing to die for me, then before you die, do as I say.

"I want you to sign and affix your seal to two confessions."

Prefect Ning was initially taken aback and after a moment’s pause, he asked, "Two confessions?"

Li Hongyun nodded, "Yes.

"The first confession is your testimony that you acted under orders from Elder Yan to destroy the dikes, flood the fields, and collude with merchants to forcibly buy land; the second confession is that you neglected to properly supervise the river channels, leading to a rapid rise in the water level during the Dragon Boat Festival floods and the collapse of the embankment."

Confusion was written all over Prefect Ning’s face.

Li Hongyun didn’t give him the chance to ask questions, "Just do as I’ve said."

Prefect Ning kowtowed again, "Yes, Lord Governor. Whatever Lord Governor intends to do, I have only to trust you.

"Consider this the last thing I do for Lord Governor!"

Li Hongyun’s vision was once again shrouded in mist, and as the mist cleared, he found two confessions on his desk.

Both were signed and sealed by Prefect Ning, each telling a very different story.

Just then, someone outside asked to see him.

"Lord Governor, Sun Canjun requests an audience."

This was a situation Li Hongyun had not encountered before, though he was not surprised, and simply nodded, "Let him in."

A military advisor like Sun Canjun actually had no authority in local administrative matters and was far inferior in status compared to a governor like Lin Xiangmin.

Had Li Hongyun not done his homework and made preparations in advance, he might well have dismissed him as some inconsequential individual.

But, in the time leading up to this, Li Hongyun had been studying the historical records of this period every day in an effort to clear this instance, and he certainly could not overlook this person.

In fact, it would have been impossible for him to ignore Sun Fanghua, recorded in history not as some nameless individual. After the fall of the Yan faction, Gu Qingzhang became the Grand Secretary, and Sun Fanghua’s rank rocketed, continually being promoted and even entering the Cabinet as an important minister.

Li Hongyun had taken note of this future dignitary’s presence under Lin Xiangmin as an advisor while researching historical records and had guessed that this person was sure to be involved in the game’s storyline.

However, Sun Fanghua had never come to visit before, so Li Hongyun’s preparations remained unused.

But now, after preparing two different confessions and having Prefect Ning executed, Li Hongyun had created a new possibility for solving this instance.

Thus, this key figure who had never shown himself before finally took the initiative to visit.

Li Hongyun was very aware Sun Fanghua was Mr. Gu’s man.

And one of the prepared confessions and memorials was specifically intended for him to see.