Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 378 - 236: Four Starts_2

Chapter 378: Chapter 236: Four Starts_2

At that time, if there really had been an army with the will to fight, and someone like Zhao Binfu, who had commanded the Qi Army to victory over the Jin soldiers at Niu Zhu Pier, it was highly likely that the Jin soldiers could have been held back north of the Yellow River. In that case, the entire shameful script of Jingping might have undergone changes.

But such a wish was ultimately unattainable.

Continuing southward, Li Hongyun’s gaze swept past Cen Bridge Inn once more, and arrived at the capital city of the Qi Dynasty, Da Liang City.

Da Liang City was located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, surrounded by no large mountains or strategic passes, essentially defenseless in terms of natural barriers. However, it was the capital of several dynasties, and its city walls were also sufficiently robust.

In fact, not long after the establishment of the Qi Dynasty, there had been plans to relocate the capital, with Luoyang in Henan Prefecture to the west being one of the prime candidates considered.

But in the end, it did not succeed because Da Liang, as the capital, had a very important advantage, and that was its developed canal transportation.

This was an insoluble vicious circle.

Because there was no Yan Yun, in order to counter the strong enemies in the north and to absorb a large number of refugees and disaster victims into the army to maintain stability, a substantial military force had to be supported throughout the north;

And Da Liang City, as the capital, had to support a large number of imperial guards to maintain the city’s defenses;

Since there was a large number of troops, the supply of military rations became a major issue. The developed canal transportation in the capital city of Da Liang enabled the continuous transport of grain from the south, thus sustaining such a vast military force.

From a historical perspective, the actions of the Qi Dynasty only proved one point, and that was the quality not the quantity of soldiers is what mattered.

Sometimes, the more soldiers there were, the more they became a burden, causing one’s combat effectiveness to deteriorate from being vulnerable to a complete collapse without a fight.

In Da Liang City, there was also a palpable atmosphere of anxiety, but the vast majority of the population still went about their lives as usual.

Those nobles and high-ranking officials still lingered as usual in the pleasure houses, seeking pleasure in wanton joy.

Only a few important ministers in the court made a ruckus, arguing incessantly.

At this time, Emperor Qihui was watching his arguing ministers with a headache, his eyes shifting as he constantly thought about how he could flee.

As Li Hongyun’s gaze swept past Cen Bridge Inn and Da Liang City, he saw two points of light flicker and then gradually fade away.

"What do the points of light mean?

"Are they the spawn points for players?"

Li Hongyun guessed the possibility after seeing the two points appear respectively at Cen Bridge Inn and the imperial palace.

Immediately following, his speculation was confirmed when his view moved to the northwest, and he saw two other points of light.

The third point of light was above a small village northwest of Da Liang City, which had no special significance and was not a military stronghold. One could imagine that as the Jin soldiers’ iron hooves marched southward, it would be mercilessly trampled over like other small villages.

Perhaps before long, it would completely disappear from the map, turning from a village into ruins, then from ruins into relics, and finally reverting back to wilderness.

The fourth point of light was in a small city among a range of mountains.

This was the western exit of a pass through the mighty Taihang Mountains, a strategic point. To the west lay Taiyuan City, River East’s stronghold. To the east was Zhen Ding Prefecture, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with roads branching in all directions—clearly a place of great military contention.

It was a small military fortress planned during the early conquests of Taiyuan City in the opening days of the Qi Dynasty.

Li Hongyun didn’t need to exhaust his thoughts to identify the specific location, as he saw similar place name prompts in his field of vision like those for Cen Bridge Inn and Da Liang City: Pingding County City.

"Four points of light, most likely corresponding to four different initial identities?

"The one at the imperial palace in the capital must be for scholar players; as for the small city in the mountains that’s called a county city, it’s actually a military camp. Most likely, that’s for soldier players.

"It’s just unclear where the players on the assassin path will end up, Cen Bridge Inn or this nameless little village?"

After reviewing the areas associated with these identities, Li Hongyun’s view rapidly descended once more, returning to Cen Bridge Inn.

Then, he found himself regaining control over his own body.

This seemed to be a green forest outlaw lodged in the inn.

...

Meanwhile, Chuge officially began his path as a scholar.

He awoke in his own mansion.

His estate, although not among the very top in the capital, was definitely not mediocre.

The Qi Dynasty’s preferential treatment of scholars and officials was renowned in history, and one aspect of this treatment was financial support.

Officials of the Qi Dynasty, even without resorting to corruption or hoarding wealth, could live reasonably well on their salary alone. An upright official like Wang Wenchuan, clean as a whistle, could afford a sizeable mansion, sustain a few servants, and his wife could even save enough money to buy him a concubine.

As for those famous corrupt officials and treacherous scoundrels, the wealth they possessed was even more unimaginable.

Excitedly, Chuge got up and strolled through his mansion, quickly figuring out his official position.

Imperial Censor Minister!

After realizing this, Chuge was both shocked and delighted.

Glad because this rank wasn’t actually low, and moreover, it was a position that could wield a certain influence.

The Imperial Censor Minister of the Qi Dynasty was third-grade, the highest position in the Imperial Censorate. Previously, while role-playing as Wang Wenchuan, a player had crossed into the then Imperial Censor Minister, helping Chuge by impeaching those old-party officials causing trouble.

The duty of the Imperial Censor Minister was "to check for official malfeasance, purify discipline and norms, deliberate on significant matters in court, and report on minor issues."