Chapter Bonanza (2/10)
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The Power of the Laws, centered on Louis XVI, forcibly intervened, distorting the rules of the scene!
In the blink of an eye, in the area between Haozhou City and the Yuan army’s camp, light and shadow twisted as three distinct factions of ethereal figures—each with different attire and vastly different auras—were forcibly materialized.
On the left were the “First Class: Clerics,” clad in lavish clerical robes, clutching crosses and scriptures, their expressions solemn yet haughty; in the center were the “Second Class: Nobles,” wearing wigs and embroidered ceremonial gowns, holding rapiers, their posture elegant yet unable to conceal their arrogance; on the right were the “Third Class: Commoners,” dressed simply—even in rags—their faces etched with anguish or urgency, and holding ledgers or tools.
No sooner had these three illusory factions appeared than they plunged into endless, heated arguments and bickering!
The clergy accused the nobility of extravagance; the nobility looked down on the commoners for their coarseness; the commoners denounced the privileges and exploitation of both the clergy and the nobility… The intangible waves of argument materialized into tangible sound waves, spreading as rapidly as a plague and engulfing the entire area!
【Law Skill·Convene the Estates General has taken effect!】
【Effect: All units within the area not recognized by the caster (including allies!) have their movement efficiency reduced by 30%, command execution delay increased by 25%, and morale continuously declines slightly (-1 point per minute). The lower a unit’s tier, the more severely it is affected!】
【Special Effect: The “Field of Controversy” created by this skill will strongly disrupt the natural convergence and flow of “Fortune”!】
The debuff struck with extreme suddenness and ferocity!
Li Shi’an’s team bore the brunt of it!
Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was preparing to rally his troops and absorb Destiny, the golden-red radiance surrounding him suddenly faltered, as if bound by invisible shackles, its flow visibly slowing.
His personal guards all froze in unison; a momentary look of bewilderment and hesitation flashed in their eyes, and their formation began to break slightly.
Even the generals who had just pledged their allegiance—such as Xu Da and Chang Yuchun—saw the battle fervor rising within them doused as if by a bucket of cold water, their momentum instantly dampened.
The smooth connection He Bieshan had just established with Zhou Dexing instantly became choppy, as if the signal were being severely jammed. He let out a muffled groan, his face turning pale.
Hao Yun felt as though his brain had been flooded with countless chaotic, incoherent murmurs. A wave of dizziness swept over him, and even the energy output required to maintain the Holy Light Purification became unstable.
“Damn it!” He Bieshan couldn’t help but curse under his breath. Feeling the energy within him flow as sluggishly as if stuck in quicksand, a look of shock spread across his face. “Is this foreigner’s Emperor Card really this bizarre?! Such a wide range? Such a powerful effect? It can even interfere with one’s destiny?!”
This effect was nothing short of large-scale, strategic-level crowd control! Emperor Cards—they’re certainly no simple matter!
Li Shi’an stood on the arena platform, his gaze fixed on the three illusory factions still arguing fiercely, his brow slightly furrowed.
Louis XVI’s card… actually possesses a skill of this caliber?
That was somewhat unexpected.
But immediately, a flash of understanding crossed his eyes, though it was accompanied by an… indescribable sense of strangeness.
Because in his understanding, shaped by his origins from another world, Louis XVI’s convening of the Estates-General wasn’t meant to reestablish order or reshape the legal code—it was, in fact, the spark that ignited the collapse of the Ancien Régime and the outbreak of the Great Revolution!
The assembly itself marked the beginning of massive chaos and fragmentation.
The skill Alex had created—while appearing orderly on the surface—was in fact rife with internal contradictions and a self-destructive tendency, perfectly replicating both the absurdity and inevitability of that historical period.
That’s why this skill’s effect was so overwhelming, yet so… consistent with history.
He Bieshan looked at Li Shi’an with concern: “Shi’an, we’re in trouble now. Our people seem to have become sluggish—the range of this debuff is huge.”
Hao Yun, fighting back a sense of unease, analyzed: “The skill’s effect is very powerful, but sustaining a law-level interference on this scale must be incredibly draining. Plus, judging by the intense conflict within those three illusory factions, this skill must come with a significant cost or hidden risk.”
Outside the platform, the spectator stands.
Sui Yang, however, shared the same perspective as Li Shi’an and the others.
“A very peculiar skill—forcibly simulating key moments in history and transforming them into a domain-based control effect. As expected, the skills of the Emperor-class Cards are all extraordinary.”
Chen Jue, the man with glasses, nodded in agreement: “That’s right, Captain. It has a wide range, powerful effects, and can even interfere with destiny. For Alex to have been hiding this move—it seems to be his ultimate trump card.”
Sui Yang, however, shook his head: “A trump card is a trump card, but look at that domain—beneath its splendor, its foundation is shaky. With three factions constantly quarreling and rife with internal conflicts, it’s more like a forcibly induced, extremely unstable, and malformed creation. Maintaining it will likely require the caster to continuously expend mental energy and card energy to balance the internal conflicts. Once the balance is lost, the consequences are unpredictable.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Alex’s slightly pale face, before continuing, “Moreover, this skill is wildly incompatible with this region, ‘Huaiyou: Land of the Rising Dragon.’ The ‘Order’ law it relies on and the social structure it simulates clash completely with the historical context and cultural atmosphere of this Eastern land.”
Chen Jue looked pensive. “You mean… regional limitations?”
“Exactly,” Sui Yang affirmed. “Louis XVI was the monarch of Europa; the source of his power and the laws he embodied are far better suited to that land and its history. Here, he’s like a tree without roots. Forcing a domain of this scale to manifest consumes twice as much energy, yet the effect may be significantly diminished—or even provoke a subconscious rejection from this land. If he were on his home turf—say, at the Palace of Versailles or in a setting related to Paris—the power and stability of this skill would likely increase by several orders of magnitude.”
At this point, Sui Yang and Chen Jue both fell silent for a moment, exchanged a glance, and saw a glimmer of understanding in each other’s eyes.
Return to his home turf to unleash its full power?
Given his background at the Imperial Academy, Alex likely hadn’t failed to consider this.
Just as Sui Yang had anticipated, maintaining this “Order” domain—which was so at odds with his native environment—was far more draining than Alex had ever imagined.
His face turned pale as the energy within him gushed out like a floodgate opening; he also had to divert his attention to balance the three factions within the domain that were constantly quarreling and on the verge of internal strife, placing an enormous mental strain on him.
“I must end this quickly!” Alex gritted his teeth.
With Jia Lu’s sudden death, the Yuan Court’s massive war machine had ground to a halt, but its underlying strength remained.
Those high-ranking officials and veteran generals of the Yuan Court who had followed Jia Lu—though now leaderless and acting independently—still constituted a force to be reckoned with, and more than that… a potential spark of “Order”!
His goal was crystal clear: before the “Three-Tier Conference” spiraled out of control and backfired, he had to find and latch onto a new, sufficiently powerful “patron” to secure the capital needed to safely extricate himself from this chaos and continue his quest for destiny.
Plundering Li Shi’an’s destiny was a long-term goal; for now, the key was to survive and seize the most valuable remnants of the Yuan Court’s collapse!
He hesitated no longer and prepared to activate his second skill, 【Fiscal Reform】, in an attempt to rapidly extract the remaining Yuan Dynasty resources within the region and stockpile energy for his next moves.
However, as luck would have it, before he could activate his second skill…
【Hidden Event Triggered: Codex of the Exotic Realm · The Grand Marshal’s Favor!】
【Key figure ‘King of the Sun · Louis XVI’ detected. Amidst the extreme chaos and leadership vacuum within the Yuan Court faction, he has demonstrated unique ‘Order Reconstruction’ capabilities (convening a Third-Level Assembly) and potential for ‘Fiscal Expertise’ (attempting to launch fiscal reforms)!】
【This trait has drawn the keen attention of “Grand Captain” Yue Kuochar—one of the Yuan Court’s highest-ranking commanders, Minister of the Secretariat, concurrently serving as Head of the Privy Council, and overall commander of the expeditionary force against the Red Turban Rebellion!】
【Yue Kuochar’s (Purple Card, Mid-Tier) traits—“Shadow of Chaghan Temür,” “Arrogant and Bloodthirsty,” and “Pragmatic Leader”—have been triggered!】
【Yue Kuochar concludes: Although this individual is from a foreign land, his magical arts appear to aid in restoring military discipline and securing provisions; he may prove useful in the current turmoil. He may temporarily serve as a staff officer to assess his effectiveness.】
【Event Effect: Alex Bourbon has gained Yue Kuochar’s preliminary favor and the protection of the “Temporary Eye”!】
【Yuan Court Faction Reputation Locked: Reverence (temporarily unaffected by the reputation plunge caused by Jia Lu’s death)!】
【Gained “Under the Watchful Eye” Permission: May freely enter and exit the outer perimeter of Yue Kuochar’s main camp; may mobilize a small number of surviving Yuan troops (requires consuming resources or completing tasks assigned by Yue Kuochar); may access partial lists of Yuan military logistics supplies (incomplete).】
【Gained Temporary Status: “Commander’s Attention”】
Effect: While within Yue Kuochar’s sphere of influence, you receive slight protection (slightly reducing the probability of being attacked by straggling troops); however, you are also under Yue Kuochar’s surveillance. Should your behavior become inappropriate or you lose your value, you will be dealt with immediately.
【Tip: Yue Kuochar is arrogant and fierce, with a volatile temper, and values practicality above all. To gain his further trust, you must demonstrate tangible “value” (such as reorganizing routed troops, efficiently procuring provisions, or providing effective military intelligence).】
“Hey, you foreign upstart! You’ve got quite the unique talent—my camp is exactly in need of someone who can handle the books and clean up messes. Get over here and put yourself to work. If you can get this bunch of killers to pick up their swords again, you’ll surely be rewarded! But if you’re incompetent… hmph!”
Alex was startled at first, then overjoyed!
It worked—he’d actually caught the attention of a high-ranking figure in the Yuan court.
And it was a Purple Card.
Although the card’s description indicated that this Captain was known for his arrogance, ferocity, and bloodthirstiness—and that the protection he offered was limited and fraught with risk—this was undoubtedly a lifeline and a tremendous opportunity.
Yue Kuochar was a mid-tier Purple Card featuring a commander-type character. The Yuan Court’s fortune and authority he embodied were likely… far surpassing those of a civil official like Jia Lu?
As long as he can gain his trust—even if only for a moment—the resources he can mobilize and the benefits he can obtain will far exceed those of Jia Lu.
More importantly, this “connection” has been established.
This means he might be able to gain access to deeper secrets within the Yuan Court faction through Yue Kuochar—or even… trigger an exclusive quest chain related to Yue Kuochar, thereby earning unimaginable rewards.
“Yes! I’ll follow the Commander’s orders to the letter!” Alex suppressed his excitement and immediately responded respectfully through the card.
He turned to the stunned Zhang Hongyuan and Zhang Qingyue and said quickly, “There’s been a change of plans. I’ve caught Yue Kuochar’s attention. This is our chance. Withdraw your power immediately and follow me to the Grand Captain’s camp! Our chance to turn the tide hinges on this very moment!”
Upon hearing this, the Zhang siblings felt a mix of shock and joy; a sense of being saved from the brink of despair welled up within them, and they immediately obeyed, withdrawing their talismans and bean-soldiers.
This scene was also clearly witnessed by the spectators outside the arena.
“Yue Kuochar? What rank is the Grand Captain?”
“He’s a mid-tier Purple Card big shot—I can’t believe Alex actually managed to connect with him!”
“Oh my god! What a dramatic turnaround! That kid from Imperial Academy must have some incredible luck, right?”
“It’s not about luck. His card’s traits just happened to match Yue Kuochar’s current needs—order in the midst of chaos, reorganization in the face of defeat. He precisely hit the nail on the head!”
Commentator He Bin’s voice was equally filled with awe: “Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Player Alex has demonstrated astonishing adaptability in the face of dire straits. He actually used the ‘Order’ traits of the Louis XVI card to successfully catch the attention of Yuan Court Commander Yue Kuochar, buying himself a moment to catch his breath—and possibly even opening up an entirely new path to promotion.”
Chen Miao added excitedly, “That’s right! If Alex can seize this opportunity, he might even use it to take the Louis XVI card to new heights! The depth of Imperial Academy’s heritage and the caliber of its students are on full display at this very moment!”
The TV ratings skyrocketed instantly!
What viewers love most is this kind of dramatic comeback and plot twist.
One Imperial Card soars to new heights, while another faces crisis—yet finds a new opportunity in the midst of danger. The confrontation between the two sides has suddenly taken on new variables, becoming even more unpredictable and captivating.
“I knew the geniuses from Imperial Academy weren’t as simple as they seemed!”
“So Louis XVI’s card can actually be used like that? I’ve learned something new!”
“This is getting interesting. Just as Li Shi’an was taking off, Alex had already latched onto a new patron.”
In the VIP section, admissions representatives from various academies were also buzzing with discussion.
“Yue Kuochar… judging by the card’s description, this is a risky path to take. He’s arrogant and fierce—serving him is like walking with a tiger,” remarked one teacher. “But it’s high risk, high reward. If we can gain his trust—or even secure on-the-spot command of his elite troops—the value would be immense.”
“Alex played a risky move, but a brilliant one. He made excellent use of his card’s characteristics to navigate the chaotic situation,” another teacher remarked appreciatively. “The Imperial Academy truly has a knack for cultivating students’ ability to adapt on the fly and unlock the deeper potential of their cards.”
Sui Yang, however, put himself in the situation for a moment.
“Yue Kuochar,… The Yuan Court faction really does have a trump card up its sleeve. A mid-tier Purple Card commander—the ‘Order’ framework and ‘Conquest’ fortune it provides could indeed resonate with Louis XVI’s card in new ways.” He whispered to Chen Jue, “Alex is trying to make the most of the Yuan Court’s waning influence to accumulate and upgrade his own cards. He might even… be trying to use this opportunity to trigger a special event—such as a ‘transnational pact’ or ‘expedition to foreign lands’—to add new traits to the Louis XVI card.”
Chen Jue frowned: “Captain, what about Li Shi’an’s side…”
Sui Yang smiled faintly: “It’s of no consequence. Though Yue Kuochar is powerful, the Yuan Court’s ascendancy is inevitable—this is the underlying logic of how historical scenarios unfold, and it cannot be reversed by the efforts of a single individual. Alex’s move is more like plucking chestnuts from the fire—seizing the greatest benefits from the gap between events to pave the way for his future development. Moreover…”
He changed the subject, his gaze once again turning toward Li Shi’an: “Do you really think a Pioneering-tier Emperor would stand idly by while others easily seize destiny on his own ‘Dragon Ascension’ territory? The show has only just begun.”
…
With Jia Lu’s sudden death, the Yuan Court faction’s destiny plummeted. Alex launched a desperate counterattack by connecting with Captain Yue Kuochar, causing the scene energy of the entire “Huaiyou · Land of Dragon Ascension” to fluctuate violently, as if it had reached a tipping point.
【Scene Evolution Node: ‘Jia Lu’s Death’ has been triggered!】
【The Yuan Court faction has suffered a massive loss of destiny, while the Red Turban Army faction has seen a significant increase in destiny!】
【Detected that the faction choices of the majority of core candidates have solidified, and energy accumulation has reached the threshold!】
【Should the scene be immediately advanced to the next stage of evolution?】
【Select “Yes,” and the scene will automatically progress to the next historical stage based on the current distribution of destiny, the balance of power, and the potential of core cards, after which rewards for this stage will be settled.】
【Select “No,” and the current pace of the scene will be maintained, allowing candidates to explore possible outcomes on their own.】
As soon as the prompt appeared, nearly all candidates who had chosen the Yuan Court faction—without even a moment’s hesitation—immediately shouted in their hearts: “Yes! Evolve immediately!”
They couldn’t wait to skip this damn chaotic phase.
Jia Lu was dead, the army was on the verge of collapse, their own cards were backfiring, and although Alex had found a new patron, Yue Kuochar clearly wasn’t someone to be trifled with—serving the emperor was like walking on thin ice.
If they could jump to the next phase quickly, perhaps the Yuan Court could stabilize its position, or they could use the rewards from the new phase to recover or even boost their strength.
Zhang Hongyuan and his sister Zhang Qingyue were especially eager to choose “Yes”; they desperately needed new resources to make up for their losses.
After a moment’s hesitation, Alex also chose “Yes.”
He reasoned that the connection with Yue Kuochar had just been established and needed time to develop; automatic evolution could accelerate the relationship and might even yield immediate, tangible benefits—such as being formally incorporated into his ranks.
Although there were risks, the opportunities were even greater.
On Li Shi’an’s team, He Bieshan and Hao Yun also instinctively turned to look at Li Shi’an, their eyes seeking his guidance.
The current situation was extremely favorable to them: Zhu Yuanzhang had just been promoted to Commander, a renowned general was about to defect, and with good fortune on their side, automatic evolution seemed capable of consolidating their gains and expanding their advantage even faster.
“Shi’an, shouldn’t we also…” He Bieshan hadn’t finished speaking when he saw Li Shi’an raise his hand, signaling him to be patient.
Li Shi’an’s gaze fell on his card slot.
Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Ma Xiuying…
This was the “reward” the scenario had bestowed upon him for his performance in the previous stage—a manifestation of his favored destiny, and… the bountiful spoils of war available via “one-click claim.”
But wait—something wasn’t right!
Something wasn’t right!
Historically, after lifting the siege of Haozhou, Zhu Yuanzhang did something of crucial importance: Citing “insufficient troops and the need to return home to recruit soldiers,” he sought permission from Guo Zixing to leave Haozhou City and return to his hometown of Zhongli.
There, capitalizing on his growing reputation and his image as a rare “success story” in those turbulent times, he successfully recruited over seven hundred fellow villagers to join his ranks!
These 700 men became his earliest and most core military cadre—the backbone of what history refers to as the “Twenty-Four Generals of Huaixi.” Notable figures such as Xu Da and Zhou Dexing were prominently among them, all having rallied to his banner during this recruitment drive.
This was an extremely pivotal moment in history!
It marked the starting point where Zhu Yuanzhang truly possessed his own independent armed forces!
It was the turning point from his dependence on Guo Zixing to his path toward independence!
And now… the scenario has directly “rewarded” him with character cards for Xu Da, Zhou Dexing, and a few others, yet it seems to have… skipped over the “Returning Home to Recruit Troops” event itself?
This means he may have directly reaped the “fruit,” but missed out on the “cause” that nurtured that “fruit”—as well as the deeper benefits that this “cause” could have brought, benefits far exceeding those of a few individual character cards.
That’s a full seven hundred soldiers from Huaixi, all of pure lineage and extremely loyal! It’s a complete, entry-level legion framework with limitless potential.
And what about the special bonds—such as “hometown ties” and “clan bonds”—inherent in the act of “Returning Home to Recruit Troops” itself, and the Fortune they might have brought?
Never mind, that’s too far-fetched, though it’s not necessarily impossible that such a bonus existed.
This is absolutely not something a few individual cards could ever replace!
“That was close… that was close!” Li Shi’an broke out in a cold sweat in an instant.
The historical gaps in this world are severe, and as a result, the evolution of the card system seems to place greater emphasis on presenting “results” and “powerful individuals,” while overlooking the details and processes of key historical turning points.
If not for his other set of memories, he would have been almost completely dazzled by these generous “rewards” and missed out on the real feast.
Those who can train their cards to high tiers or even upgrade their grades likely don’t just rely on talent and resources—rather, by relying on intuition or luck, they’ve managed to touch upon and seize these hidden key “causes” amidst countless possibilities, ultimately achieving legend, don’t they?
“Choose ‘No’!” Li Shi’an responded to the scene prompt without hesitation.
“Shi’an?” He Bieshan and Hao Yun were both stunned, completely at a loss to understand.
With Auto-Evolution on the verge of solidifying its advantage, why refuse?
Li Shi’an didn’t bother with a detailed explanation on the spot; his sharp gaze swept across the battlefield map as his mind raced.
Return home to recruit troops… Zhongli… hometown… He needed a reason to leave Hao Zhou—a logical one that Guo Zixing would accept…
After a few seconds of thought, Li Shi’an decided to go straight to the point: historical reasons were already there for the taking.
His gaze locked onto a specific point on the map.
Zhongli’s objective was described as “an area with weak Yuan military control” and “a gathering place for large numbers of displaced people.”
Li Shi’an took a deep breath, communicated with the scenario rules, and issued a request:
“Requesting scenario permissions: As the Red Turban Commander Zhu Yuanzhang, given the shortage of provisions and manpower within the city, and the chaos following the Yuan army’s recent defeat, I wish to lead my personal guard to the Zhongli area to recruit troops and secure provisions, in order to strengthen the city’s defenses!”
As soon as this request was made, He Bieshan and Hao Yun’s eyes widened even further.
“Shi’an! Is… is this even possible? Will Guo Zixing agree? Isn’t it extremely dangerous to go out right now?” He Bieshan exclaimed anxiously.
Hao Yun’s face was also filled with concern: “Although the Yuan army is in disarray, there are still quite a few stragglers out there, and the situation in the Zhongli area remains unclear…”
However, a shocking scene unfolded.
The rules of the scene seemed to pause for just an instant, as if calculating the validity of this abrupt request.
Immediately afterward—perhaps because Zhu Yuanzhang was currently in a state of “divine favor,” or perhaps because the core logic of the “Huaiyou: Land of the Rising Dragon” scenario itself was designed to align with Zhu Yuanzhang’s path to power, or perhaps because the reason for “recruiting troops and gathering provisions” in Li Shi’an’s request happened to strike a nerve with Guo Zixing’s current predicament…
【Request received… assessing validity…】
【Evaluation Criteria: Core character ‘Zhu Yuanzhang’s’ reputation (Commander), charisma (implicit boost), current situation (chaos among the Yuan forces), target location (Zhongli, his hometown), and behavioral logic (recruiting troops and procuring grain, which aligns with the Red Turban Army’s interests)……】
【Approval Granted!】
【Guo Zixing has approved your request!】
【Red Turban Pacifier Zhu Yuanzhang is authorized to lead his personal guard to the Zhongli area to attempt to recruit troops and procure provisions, with a deadline of ten days to return to camp!】
“Let’s go!” Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Shi’an immediately took control of Zhu Yuanzhang’s card, mustered twenty Red Turban Guards—led by Chang Yuchun and assisted by Xu Da—and set off rapidly toward Zhongli.
Although He Bieshan and his deputy Hao Yun were filled with doubts, their absolute trust in Li Shi’an prompted them to follow immediately. Hao Yun even gritted his teeth and withdrew most of the card energy needed to maintain the soup kitchen to devote all his resources to supporting the march.
This scene once again sent the spectator area into an uproar!
“What is he doing?!!”
“He’s turning down automatic evolution, yet he’s actively requesting to lead troops out of the city? And into enemy-occupied territory, no less?”
“Has he lost his mind? Going out now is a death wish! No matter how chaotic the Yuan army is, it’d be a piece of cake for them to wipe out his little squad!”
“And Guo Zixing actually agreed to it? The scene algorithm must have glitched!”
Teacher Chen nearly fainted on the spot: “Good heavens! My goodness! What on earth are you up to?!”
Teacher Zhang was also completely baffled: “At a time when he should be consolidating his advantage, he’s taking such a risk? This… this is a huge leap in logic!”
In the VIP section, Sui Yang actually had a different take on things—mainly because… it seemed Li Shi’an had made the right choice with every move on this card.
“Rejected auto-evolution… proactively chose to leave the city… target: Zhongli…” he muttered to himself, his mind racing.
Alex and the others also noticed the unusual movements of Li Shi’an’s team. At first they were taken aback, but then they broke into scornful smiles.
“They’re courting their own doom,” Alex sneered. “Fine by me—it’ll save me the trouble.”
Zhang Hongyuan also shook his head: “Looks like they’ve been swept off their feet by this sudden victory.”
However, what unfolded next completely overturned everyone’s expectations.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s squad moved with extreme speed. With the fierce general Chang Yuchun clearing the way and Xu Da providing support, ordinary Yuan stragglers were no match for them.
They soon reached the borders of Zhongli.
【Triggered Hidden Core Historical Event: The Dragon Returns Home · Local Allies Rally!】
【Detected core figure ‘Zhu Yuanzhang’ returning to his hometown (Zhongli) to recruit troops after a significant rise in reputation (Red Turban Commander)!】
【Detected that he already commands several early core generals (Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Zhou Dexing, etc.)!】
【Detected that his actions closely align with the core hidden rules of “Huaiyou · Land of the Dragon’s Rise”—“Pact of the Homeland” and “Commoner-Turned-General”!】
【Event Effects:】
- The “Red Turban Commander · Zhu Yuanzhang”’s Charisma attribute is doubled in the Zhongli region, maximizing his appeal to fellow townsfolk.
- Zhu Yuanzhang gains the special “Temporary Status”: “Local Leader” (Effect: Recruitment efficiency for troops in the Zhongli region is increased by 100%; recruited troops have their initial loyalty locked at “Unwavering Loyalty” and gain the “Fellow Villagers’ Cooperation” bond (slightly increases the squad’s attack and defense during combat)).
- Triggers a violent resonance in the river of history… Concepts of “Huaixi Natives” and “Meritorious Nobles Who Followed the Dragon” detected on the same frequency…
- 【The list of recruitable special units (Zhongli) has been unlocked! Please complete recruitment within 72 in-game hours!】
A vast, ethereal list appeared before Li Shi’an, listing not individual character cards, but organized, named special units with distinct traits.
【Zhongli’s Father Yong (Spear and Shield)】: Peak-tier White Card; excels at forming defensive formations and maintains high morale.
【Haozhou Hunters (Bow and Arrow)】: Low-grade Green Card; possesses excellent eyesight and excels at mountain and forest combat and reconnaissance.
【Huaixi Light Cavalry (Scouts)】: Low-grade green card; highly mobile; skilled in lightning raids and harassment.
At the very bottom of the list, a line of large characters shimmered with dazzling golden light:
【Core Unit: Huaixi Veteran Camp (Mixed Infantry and Cavalry)】: Mid-tier Green Card (upgradable), composed of the Huaixi soldiers who first followed Zhu Yuanzhang. Possesses multiple powerful traits such as “Fight to the Death,” “Fellow Townsmen’s Bond,” and “Sharing of Experience,” serving as the core backbone of Zhu Yuanzhang’s army.
Current recruitment cap: 700
A 700-strong, mid-tier Green Card, upgradeable core unit!
Li Shi’an’s heart began to pound violently.
This was it!
Without a moment’s hesitation, he immediately invested all his accumulated Card Energy and selected to recruit the 【Huaixi Veteran Camp】!
In the next instant, across the entire Zhongli region, countless beams of light converged from all directions, and the ethereal forms of men—each with a resolute expression, fiery eyes, and a thick Huaixi accent—rapidly solidified.
Among them were farmers, hunters, and miners, yet at that moment, they were all uniformly clad in red military tunics, wielding standard-issue weapons, and spontaneously gathering under Zhu Yuanzhang’s banner.
Their silhouettes intertwined, ultimately coalescing into an incredibly substantial Legion Card exuding an aura of iron and blood.
【Legion Card: Huaixi Old Camp (Mixed Infantry and Cavalry)】
【Affiliation】: Red Turban Commander · Zhu Yuanzhang
【Rarity】: Green Card (Mid-Tier · Upgradeable)
【Unit Count】: 700
【Traits】:
Fight to the Death (Passive): Morale is locked; they will never collapse. They will fight until the very last soldier, never retreating.
Bond of Hometown (Passive): Units coordinate seamlessly, slightly increasing their ability to fight in concert.
Sharing Experience (Passive): Battle experience is gained more efficiently, accelerating the entire army’s rank advancement.
Commander and Troops as One (Passive) (Bound to Zhu Yuanzhang): When Zhu Yuanzhang personally commands the army, the entire army’s attack and defense receive an additional 10% boost.
【Bonds】: “The Cradle of the Twenty-Four Generals of Huaixi” — This legion is the cradle that nurtured historic generals. While the legion exists, it slightly increases the growth speed and breakthrough probability of Huaixi-born commanders such as Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Tang Xiang.
【Current Status】: Full Strength (700/700), High Morale (100%).
Seven hundred battle-hardened elite troops with green-tier intermediate cards.
This is no rabble, but a true army with a soul and a backbone!
At the same time, the original individual cards—such as those of Xu Da and Zhou Dexing—resonated powerfully with this legion card, radiating a brilliant glow as their experience points visibly surged. Clearly, they had reaped immense benefits from this “Homecoming Recruitment” event.
Li Shi’an exhaled deeply, feeling as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart.
He had nearly missed this most critical step in laying the foundation for the dynasty simply because he wanted to take the easy way out.
The viewing stand had fallen completely silent.
Everyone stared blankly at the 700-strong legion arrayed solemnly before Zhu Yuanzhang, its aura of menace piercing the air; at the legion card that had coalesced; and at the surging radiance emanating from generals like Xu Da…
They now fully understood why Li Shi’an had refused automatic evolution and risked leaving the city—after all, they all had eyes of their own.
“Returning home… recruiting troops… so this is… the true historical turning point?!” Sui Yang’s voice was hoarse with emotion. “Automatic evolution would have only given him a few generals, but by personally triggering this event, he gained an entire… army! A cradle for future military leaders!”
“Is this the true path of growth for a Pioneering-tier Emperor Card? Not waiting for the system to distribute rewards, but actively seeking out and aligning with that sweeping, magnificent historical trajectory!” Chen Jue murmured.
Teacher Chen and Teacher Zhang were already embracing each other, tears streaming down their faces as they struggled to speak.
The sneer on Alex’s face froze completely, turning into a look of utter pallor.
Li Shi’an’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he inserted this Legion Card into the long-vacant green card slot.
“Rally the troops!”
“Destination: Haozhou!”
“We’re coming back!”
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