Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 206 - 185 Chaos and Compassion (8000-word long - , seeking monthly passes)_5

Chapter 206: Chapter 185 Chaos and Compassion (8000-word long Chapter, seeking monthly passes)_5

"What’s bothering you?" Lu Heng asked.

Chu Ge was startled and turned to look at Lu Heng, who appeared beside him in a "Spiritual Body" state. He almost thought he had encountered a ghost.

"How did you get here?" Chu Ge was surprised.

Lu Heng chuckled, "I’ve cleared the game! According to the game mechanics, after clearing it, one can observe the progress of other identities."

Chu Ge was obviously surprised and said, "Awesome."

Clearly, he hadn’t expected Lu Heng, who was playing the role of a beggar, to be the first to clear the game.

"I’m a bit indecisive about how to handle this matter."

Chu Ge briefly shared the problem he was facing.

For him, the endgame of the "emperor" role was drawing near, and after handling this case, his mission would be almost complete.

Ensuring the Great Sheng Dynasty’s reign exceeded 230 years would mean clearing the game as the "emperor."

"So, do you need me to help you make a decision?" Lu Heng asked.

Chu Ge: "Hmm? You tell me."

After pondering for a moment, Lu Heng said, "If it were up to me, I would kill them all, leaving only the son."

Chu Ge looked at him, his expression seeming to say, it’s just like you to make such a ruthless decision so easily.

Actually, rationally speaking, Chu Ge also preferred this approach, but his modern values made it difficult for him to make up his mind.

"So, can you tell me how you arrived at that decision?" Chu Ge asked.

Lu Heng was somewhat puzzled, "What’s so difficult about it? Isn’t this the standard answer given by Emperor Taizu of Sheng? I’d like to ask, what’s your reason for not copying the standard answer?"

Chu Ge was silent for a moment, "Rationally, I understand the importance of ’eradicating the roots’; but emotionally, I find it too cruel."

Lu Heng laughed indifferently, "Cruel?

"Then, have you seen the years of great disaster, where nine out of ten homes were empty?

"Have you seen scenes of peasants selling their children, entire families either dying of plague or eating Goddess Earth and swelling to death?

"Have you seen the beheaded bodies of rioters hung from city gates after being annihilated by imperial troops?

"Killing several dozen people is cruel, but is it not also cruel to watch the world in chaos, with millions of peasants repeating these scenes countless times?"

Chu Ge was somewhat surprised, "But these weren’t caused by Sima Yan and his family. On the contrary, Sima Yan played a crucial role in ending this chaos."

Lu Heng nodded, "Right, you’re not wrong.

"But Sima Yan isn’t just one person; he’s part of a large network that connects the entire bureaucratic system.

"The lower-level officials, who make the lives of the common folk unbearable, are part of this. Some suddenly changed from officials of the Northern Barbarians to officials of the Great Sheng; others climbed up through the ranks, and at the top of this hierarchy are Sima Yan and his Lianghuai Faction. Even if Sima Yan died, his descendants could potentially reconnect this system.

"Ancient times placed great importance on lineage; every uprising needed a royal family member from the previous dynasty. A person’s birth itself is an extremely valuable resource.

"So, the frequent exterminations of families were indeed brutal, but they matched the social reality of the time. History is replete with examples where sparing someone led to them seeking revenge.

"Moreover, what does wrongful execution matter?

"Killing a few dozen or a few hundred people won’t shake the reign of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Will the outcome be any different?"

Chu Ge was silent for a moment, "From an absolutely rational perspective, indeed, you’re right, but...

"It seems a bit too heartless."

Lu Heng countered, "So what then? What kind of person do you think Emperor Taizu of Sheng was?

"I never thought Emperor Taizu was a kind-hearted person. He was indeed heartless, even cruel sometimes, and the wrongfully executed were probably countless.

"But those virtues of modern people aren’t much help in this chaotic world.

"There’s a saying, ’Only with ample food and clothing can one know honor and shame.’ Another goes, ’The material base determines the superstructure.’ In an era where the material base wasn’t met, modern moral standards had no ground to stand on.

"So why be sentimental?

"Just kill them and move on."

Chu Ge smiled helplessly, but gradually, his smile held a hint of relief.

Yeah, what was he thinking?

It was unnecessary.

Chu Ge knew clearly why Lu Heng could make such a firm and natural decision.

Because Lu Heng had played the role of a "beggar" and had seen too much death and suffering, death for him was no longer a matter to be overly cautious about.

People born in peacetime value life more than Mount Tai.

Those born in turbulent times regard life as lighter than a feather.

But for some born in turbulent times, regarding life lightly isn’t a disregard for life, but a result of weighing benefits and losses with a cold rationality.

Chu Ge couldn’t help but wonder if the real historical Emperor Taizu of Sheng also went through such internal struggles before deciding to kill Sima Yan.

The rational side told him that this man was a brother who had fought alongside him in seizing the world, a major contributor who should not be killed. Even if he must kill, he should not extend it to the family.

But then, the young man who had once been a beggar came before him.

He recalled the times of great chaos, the fields littered with starving corpses, and the chaos in which humans were less than dogs during peacetime.

He recalled the fields were white with bones, and for thousands of miles, no chickens crowed.

Thus, the last trace of mercy in his heart finally completely disappeared.

A warrior on horseback, a ruthless emperor, needed none of that.

Then... that’s settled.

Thinking this, Chu Ge sighed softly and gave his final answer with one word.

"Kill!"

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