Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 392 - 239: Military Camp Life_4

Chapter 392: Chapter 239: Military Camp Life_4

So, it’s better not to add to the other party’s troubles.

In the darkness, Wang Fang let out a sigh and lamented, "These past few years, the fumbling officials at court have constantly been making foolish decisions, and I truly don’t know what they are thinking.

"First, they thought of redeeming Yan Yun by spending a huge sum of money to buy back an empty city, then they mobilized manpower and resources from all quarters to fortify it, only for the result to be, with the Jin soldiers’ invasion from the south, all of that ultimately fell into the hands of Jin.

"Even heard that the court plans to accept the exiled Emperor Tianzuo to show ’magnanimity’ to a former ally and to have an extra bargaining chip in negotiations with Jin; they even first welcomed then murdered the rebel leader of Jin, Zhang Jue...

"Showing weakness and courting death, it’s like a naive child determined to play with fire, utterly unaware, with getting burned just a matter of time.

"Sure enough, Jin simply found an excuse to send their troops south, and the entire court was devoid of strategies against the enemy; the number one general of the time, Tong Dao Fu, actually fled from Taiyuan at the first sign of Jin’s advance, returned to the capital, and then followed the royal family in their flight southward, alas!"

Zhao Haiping chuckled, "Relying on the suppression of revolts and the redemption of Yan Jing, the so-called number one general..."

Wang Fang reflected, "Indeed.

"But there are still many in the military who say that since Tong Dao Fu, as a eunuch, could be ennobled and has demonstrated his merit in the northwestern battles, he must possess significant military talent.

"As for why he fled Taiyuan this time, he must have seen many things that we cannot see..."

Zhao Haiping could not help but laugh wryly, shaking his head, "That’s not necessarily the case. Sometimes, the common folk don’t need to hold the officials at court in such high regard. Many among them have reached their positions due to luck or other reasons. With the entanglement of various interests, their making muddled decisions doesn’t always signify ulterior motives; sometimes, it’s just because they have the option.

"Take Tong Dao Fu’s abandonment of Taiyuan for example, perhaps it was simply because Tong Dao Fu was unrestrained and had no desire to share Taiyuan’s fate. He knew that even if he fled back to the capital, he would have sufficient righteous excuses, and neither the royalty nor any political adversaries at court could touch him.

"If that’s the case, why risk one’s life? A lot of times, it’s this simple logic, cowardice, and fear of death."

Wang Fang nodded, "Brother Zhao speaks the truth. So, Brother Zhao, where do you think the Peace Army should head next?"

After a moment of silence, Zhao Haiping spoke softly, "Struggle to survive, that’s all."

After spending this period of time there, Zhao Haiping had already roughly guessed the objective of this mission.

Looking at the current state of the war, if no particularly significant unexpected developments occurred, it seemed almost certain that the Peace Army would eventually be engulfed in warfare, with total annihilation merely a question of time.

Therefore, as a player, Zhao Haiping’s mission objective was likely to find a way to survive or, before dying in battle, to assassinate a key figure.

After all, this was only the first phase of the challenge, so it wouldn’t be too difficult, but the freedom wouldn’t be high either.

However, Zhao Haiping was somewhat puzzled; didn’t the previous announcement state that one could summon any heroes they had previously collaborated with in any historical segment?

Yet up to this point, Zhao Haiping had not seen this option.

Could it be that he had to wait until a certain stage of progress in the Trial Illusion was reached before this function could be unlocked?

Zhao Haiping was also somewhat confused, but at this moment, he could only play it by ear.

...

Meanwhile, at Cen Bridge Inn.

Li Hongyun had painstakingly selected and purchased a crossbow along with dozens of arrows for himself.

If possible, he would have also liked to find a way to acquire a Divine Arm Bow or other more advanced weaponry, but in a place like this, it was basically impossible.

In a short period of time, the situation at Cen Bridge Inn had also changed.

The gates of the small city were all closed, and those who had not fully resolved to escape ultimately had no choice but to stay within the city, committed to sharing the fate of this small city.

To the north, more and more refugees began to appear, dressed in ragged clothes and panicked expressions, seemingly having run from distant prefectures and counties.

Upon seeing that the gates of Cen Bridge Inn were closed, some of them, due to not giving up hope or simply because they couldn’t walk any further, settled down just outside the city, hoping to find a way inside; others continued directly past Cen Bridge Inn towards the capital, Yan Jing.

However, the possibility of them entering Yan Jing was also exceedingly slim.

Additionally, Li Hongyun also learned of something.

It was that many outlaws within Cen Bridge Inn had already banded together with plans to — reportedly — assassinate the supreme commander of the Jin’s Eastern Army, Wanyan Sheng!