Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 126 - 121 Playing Wang Jianjun (Monthly Ticket Additional Release)

Chapter 126: Chapter 121 Playing Wang Jianjun (Monthly Ticket Additional Release)

General Liu spoke and then led everyone outside.

Li Hongyun was infuriated beyond words, but as a mere civil official, he too had no choice but to follow the crowd and leave the government office.

By this time, Nanhe City was in complete chaos.

News of the impending bandit attack had spread, and many civilians were frantically fleeing, while quite a few of the three thousand weak and disabled soldiers were stealthily making their escape.

Although there were some who were trying to rally the remaining troops, their efforts were proving largely fruitless.

The reason was simple, the soldiers here weren’t elite to begin with; they had mediocre combat ability, extremely low morale, and without anyone in command, running away was the norm—not running would be abnormal.

If General Deng had been here, a call to arms would have had an immediate response, and the troops could have been quickly gathered.

But General Deng wasn’t present, and General Liu’s prestige was far too inadequate.

Even General Liu himself felt that they couldn’t win and was preparing to flee.

Seeing how rapidly the situation was deteriorating to the point of collapse, Li Hongyun panicked.

Others may still have harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking that a temporary retreat wouldn’t make much difference, but Li Hongyun knew full well that if the city couldn’t be held, the instance was doomed to fail.

With this in mind, he stepped in front of everyone and shouted angrily, "No retreat!

"Deserters in the face of the enemy will be executed! I bear the responsibility of the Lord Governor, and today I must stand or fall with this city!"

Although Li Hongyun was not a literati and didn’t have the aura of unyielding integrity, the talent skill he possessed to boost troop morale made his words resound powerfully, halting everyone in their tracks.

General Liu was taken aback, then replied somewhat helplessly, "Lord Governor!

"I understand you have the responsibility of overseeing the army, and you can impeach me in a report later on, but the immediate handling of the battle falls within my rights!"

With that, General Liu led his men past Li Hongyun and left directly.

Clad in his official robe, Li Hongyun stood there, completely ignored.

Indeed, a few Deputy Generals hesitated, but seeing the situation was irretrievable, they still followed General Liu in retreat.

"Help!"

"The bandits are in the city!"

Soon after, cries and screams from the civilians outside the city walls rose, and Li Hongyun was overwhelmed by the bandit army.

Damn it!

...

Back to the beginning again.

[Special Identity Unlocked: Liu Ji!]

Gazing at the newly appeared prompt in his field of vision, Li Hongyun sank into contemplation.

"Unlocked the identity of General Liu?

"It seems the next script might be quite straightforward.

"If I impersonate General Liu and together with Wang Zongchang gather the remaining troops and secure the city, I should be able to clear the instance.

"But wait, isn’t that too obvious? Something feels wrong.

"It doesn’t quite fit the style of this game.

"Yet, there are only two key characters here, one is Wang Zongchang and the other is General Liu. I’ve already played as Wang Zongchang, completely following the Lord Governor’s methods, without any indication that the character I altered has been reset?"

Li Hongyun fell into confusion.

As he analyzed it, General Liu seemed like the person who had been tampered with.

Yet, deep down, Li Hongyun had an intuition that it didn’t seem like General Liu.

Following the game’s design, demons are full of tricks, and the alterations should be more deceptive, like the previous instance where Yang Xinyan had been altered.

Of course, this was just a game, so the actual demon was really the game’s designer.

Judging from the game designer’s penchant for tormenting players, even if the focus of each instance differed and some instances’ puzzle elements were simplified, there should still be at least one trap.

Feeling roughly how much time he had left, Li Hongyun realized his "joy" was about to end soon, and he probably only had time for two or three more attempts.

Eventually, Li Hongyun made up his mind.

"No, I refuse to believe this is it; I’ll play as Wang Zongchang once more!"

...

The Trial Illusion began to operate once again.

Li Hongyun reappeared in the government office, and a subordinate reported the invasion of bandits.

"I know!"

Li Hongyun acknowledged, but he didn’t leave right away; instead, he approached the soldier.

The soldier was startled, confused about what Mr. Wang was intending to do.

The next second, he felt a lightness around his waist.

On closer inspection, Mr. Wang had very smoothly taken his waist sword!

"Mr. Wang? Mr. Wang!" The soldier chased after him, bewildered, but Mr. Wang had already hastened towards the hall where General Liu was discussing matters.

"The enemy’s force is massive, not only numbering over ten thousand but all of them elite troops!"

"At this moment, Nanhe City only has less than three thousand old, weak, and disabled soldiers, simply incapable of resistance..."

Before General Liu could finish speaking, he felt the atmosphere undergo a strange change.

He looked up and saw that all the military officers beside him were frozen, like petrified chickens.

Following the officers’ gazes, he saw Lord Governor Wang Zongchang, with a waist knife in hand, walking towards them.

"Anyone who dares speak of retreat, execute without mercy!"

Li Hongyun stood before them, waist knife in hand.

General Liu was somewhat stunned, but quickly came to his senses and said with disdain, "Mr. Wang, you indeed have the responsibility of overseeing the troops, but the battle situation changes in an instant..."

However, before he could finish, Li Hongyun had already stepped forward rapidly, the waist knife placed against his neck.

"Do you think I wouldn’t dare to kill you?"

Li Hongyun stared at General Liu, not concealing his murderous intent.

Where did this murderous intent come from?

Simple, Li Hongyun had died countless times on the battlefield already. Even a mere motion of swinging a knife was filled with deterrence.

Moreover, Li Hongyun had a natural psychological advantage; he knew this was a game, an instance, and that even if he failed, he could simply start over without being held accountable as in real life.

So, what psychological burden could there be?

Li Hongyun was fully prepared to kill.

In any case, keeping around generals who only knew how to run was useless; better to kill one to establish authority.

General Liu had been quite unconcerned, but when the blade edge grazed his neck, he stiffened.

Wang Zongchang was close at hand, and he saw that look in his eyes.

It was definitely not bluster or a joke!

Mad, this man is mad!

That was the only thought in General Liu’s mind.

Li Hongyun surveyed the crowd, "Either we all stay and survive or perish with this city; or, I’ll kill you all first and then go defend it. Make your choice.

"If you’re willing to stand with me in defense of the city, then tie him up and bring him to the battlements!

"If not, then I will start the killing with him!"

The people all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

After a moment, a Deputy General stepped forward and said, "I wish to defend the city with Lord Governor, to live or die with it!"

The other Deputy Generals looked at each other and also said, "We wish to live or die with the city!"

Two Deputy Generals stepped forward, binding General Liu without discussion.

Li Hongyun couldn’t help but take a deep breath, thinking that it was indeed so!

Wang Zongchang was often at General Deng’s side and clearly held in high regard. Such a person couldn’t possibly lack prestige in the army.

Even if all the other Deputy Generals had to follow General Liu’s orders, he, the Lord Governor, actually had a say too.

Then why did his words seem futile the first time?

The reason was simple; he hadn’t been determined enough!

Just moving the lips, who could be tricked by that? On the battlefield, shouting might sometimes boost morale, but oftentimes, it was just empty talk.

But this time, Li Hongyun showed firmness, the knife at General Liu’s neck, and moreover, the rational and measured argument naturally gave him the upper hand in terms of momentum.

This way, the supporting Deputy Generals could align with him to regain control of the situation.

Of course, even so, Li Hongyun did not at all believe he could succeed.

Because he had barely maintained control of the situation, the defense of the city was still fraught with difficulties, the chances of success were very low. Not to mention, he hadn’t found out who the altered individual was.

But no matter what, he thought to please himself first!

Soon, the crowd ascended the city wall.

Along the way, many soldiers and civilians gathered around to spectate.

"Isn’t that General Liu?"

"What happened?"

"Mr. Wang’s face is full of murderous intent, what is he going to do?"

"They’re heading towards the tower!"

These people were actually also observing the movements of Liu Ji and Wang Zongchang. If Liu Ji and these Deputy Generals all fled, undeniably, the other soldiers and civilians would also run.

But now, none of the Deputy Generals had fled, instead continuously gathering soldiers, so the civilians stopped as well.

The reason was simple, running might not even be possible!

If a retreat occurred, the bandits would just catch up for a one-sided massacre, but if everyone unified to defend the city, there might still be a sliver of a chance.

People have a herd mentality; soon, more and more gathered behind Li Hongyun.

And in the distance, the enemy troops were also closing in!