Chapter Bonanza (3/10)

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Seven hundred young men from Huaixi stood solemnly.

Legion Cards differ fundamentally from ordinary Summoning Cards.

Ordinary Summoning Cards—whether Zhang Qingyue’s “Bean Soldier Warriors” or Alex’s “Tax Collector Guards”—mostly rely on the card’s energy to maintain their existence. Essentially, they are temporary manifestations of energy; like Tian Gen and Tian Ping, they lack a true “soul.”

Whether they are powerful or not depends almost entirely on the card’s inherent grade and the energy infused by the cardmaster.

Legion cards, however—especially special ones like the 【Huaixi Old Camp】 that embody specific historical contexts and regional ties—

They are created when a Cardmaster uses their own energy as a conduit to communicate with the river of history or specific regional concepts, temporarily summoning a “collective power” that once existed or might have existed—and may even… have the opportunity to truly solidify it, making it a part of their own power system.

This Legion possesses a shared vitality pool, a unified morale system, and scalable combat coordination experience; it can even give rise to officer units with independent potential from within its ranks.

At this moment, the 【Huaixi Old Camp】 Legion Card lies quietly in Li Shi’an’s card slot, resonating with the core card 【Red Turban Commander · Zhu Yuanzhang】. Threads of golden-red destiny flow between the two cards, forming a stable cycle.

“Huaixi Old Camp… Form up!”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and pointed his battle sword forward.

No further words were needed; the seven hundred Huaixi soldiers moved as if commanded by a single will, instantly rearranging their formation. The vanguard, center, and rearguard stood in orderly ranks, shielding their core commander like a surging torrent as they rolled toward Haozhou City.

Banners fluttered in the wind, footsteps rang out with a resounding clang, and the earth trembled!

At that moment, the silence in the spectator stands lasted a full half-minute.

Golden-red auras swirled around the seven hundred men; though they were clearly only mid-tier Green Cards, the entire audience instinctively held their breath.

“Ladies and gentlemen…” The commentator was the first to break the silence. He adjusted his headset, took a deep breath to steady his nerves, and said, “We… we may be witnessing the birth of a legendary Legion Card.”

He pointed at the Legion Card on the screen: “Although the 【Huaixi Old Camp】 is a mid-tier Green Card, please note that its suffix is marked as ‘Growable’. Within the Legion Card system, this is an extremely rare trait.”

“Ordinary Legion Cards—whether it’s the White Card ‘Band of Refugees’ or the Green Card ‘Rural Militia’—have a fixed rank. To upgrade them, one must either devour other Legion Cards or expend massive amounts of resources to reorganize them, with a success rate of less than 20 percent.

So what does ‘Growable’ mean? It means this unit can evolve in tandem with the growth of its core figure, Zhu Yuanzhang. There’s a clear path for it to advance from a green card to a blue card, and even aim for purple and orange cards in the future!”

Chen Miao, standing next to me, immediately added: “Even more crucial are its four major passive traits! ‘Fight to the Death’ ensures morale never collapses—a trump card for turning the tide in desperate situations during chaotic battles; ‘Bonds of Hometown’ enhances coordinated combat capabilities, allowing a 700-man unit to perform with the synergy of a 1,000-man force; ‘Sharing Experience’ accelerates the unit’s overall advancement, preventing a gap where ‘the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker’; finally, ‘Commander and Troops as One’ is bound to Zhu Yuanzhang, providing an additional 10% boost to attack and defense. This is no longer just a simple ‘unit’—it’s a ‘Battle Spirit’ deeply symbiotic with the Emperor Card.”

He Bin took the floor, his tone growing increasingly excited: “And then there’s the most unique ‘Foundation of the Two Yu and Four Generals of Huaixi’ bond! This is a veritable ‘incubator for famous generals.’ Generals like Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, who have just pledged their allegiance, will accelerate their growth because of this unit’s existence—and may even surpass their inherent potential limits. Historically, the core legions of top-tier Emperor Cards—such as the ‘Yellow Turban Elite’ of the ‘Yellow Heaven Army’ and the ‘Black Armor Corps’ of the ‘Northern Frontier Military Headquarters’—all had similar bonds in their earliest forms. This can be described as the ‘backbone’ of a dynasty’s rise.”

The spectator area instantly erupted, with a constant buzz of discussion.

“A ‘scalable’ legion card?! Did I hear that right? There’s actually something like this among green cards?” A recruitment counselor jumped to his feet. “Even that ‘Light Cavalry Camp’ blue card in our academy’s collection doesn’t have the ‘scalable’ trait—we can only level it up by pouring in resources!” 

“And then there’s that synergy—the cradle that nurtures legendary generals.” Another teacher’s voice trembled, “Xu Da and Chang Yuchun are currently just white and green cards. Once this unit matures, they might even rise all the way to purple cards alongside it. This isn’t just recruiting a unit—it’s securing the core of future generals.”

Teacher Chen’s lips trembled, and he couldn’t form a complete sentence: “It’s… totally worth it!”

Teacher Zhang wiped away a tear, his voice still trembling with relief: “Chen, if he’d chosen ‘Automatic Evolution’ back then, he’d have gotten a few more general cards at most—but how could he have possibly obtained such a resilient and formidable legion? These are seven hundred young men from Huaixi with impeccable backgrounds—they’re Zhu Yuanzhang’s ‘own people’!”

In the VIP section, Sui Yang’s eyes sparkled with unprecedented excitement.

“‘Fellow Townsmen’s Bond’ and ‘Commander and Troops as One’—these traits may seem ordinary, but they actually align perfectly with the historical narrative of ‘Huaiyou: Land of the Rising Dragon.’ Zhu Yuanzhang’s silent rise in Haozhou likely relied on the unwavering loyalty of this group of fellow Huaixi natives. Is this Legion Card the embodiment of the ‘historical trajectory’?” 

At the same time, the newly consolidated army triggered the rules governing the entire “Huaiyou: Land of the Dragon’s Ascent” scenario.

【A major boost to combat strength has been detected in the Red Turban Army faction: The ‘Huaixi Old Camp’ (a mid-tier legion from the Green Card set) has been formed and deployed to the battlefield!】

【The overall morale of the Red Turban Army faction has risen significantly! Defense rating has increased!】

【The Yuan Court faction’s “Siege” strategy has been significantly weakened! The “Supply Line Severed” debuff has intensified!】

【Scenario balance mechanisms are being adjusted… Simulating based on the current situation…】

Almost simultaneously, at the Yuan army’s main camp on the other side—where the Yuan court faction, under Yue Kuochar’s command, was attempting to regroup and had gained a brief respite thanks to Alex’s “Three-Tier Council” domain—suddenly suffered a devastating blow from the scenario’s rules.

【Warning! The Yuan Court faction’s core strategy, “Long-Term Siege,” has completely failed due to Jia Lu’s death and the Red Turban Rebellion receiving powerful reinforcements!】

【Chain Event Triggered: Food and Supplies Depleted · Morale Collapses!】

【Event Background Simulation: The Yuan army’s three-hundred-thousand-strong force had besieged the city for nearly half a year; the logistics supply lines had long been stretched to the breaking point, barely held together by Jia Lu’s personal prestige and his ability to coordinate central operations. With Jia Lu’s sudden death, central coordination ceased, and the local supply system collapsed instantly. The Red Turban Army received powerful reinforcements, causing the frequency and intensity of their attacks to surge sharply, further depleting the Yuan army’s already exhausted stockpiles. Though Yue Kuochar was brave, even he could not turn the tide of fate!】

【Effects:】

1. All Yuan Army units gain the “Starvation” debuff: All attributes decrease by 15%, and morale continues to plummet (-2 points per minute)! 
2. The Yuan Army gains the “Chaos” debuff: Command efficiency decreases by 30%, coordination between units breaks down, and the probability of rout increases!
3. Yuan forces gain the “Despair” debuff: Damage dealt to Red Turban units is reduced by 10%, and damage taken is increased by 10%!

4.【Yue Kuochar】 gains the “One Man Cannot Bear the Burden” debuff: Command authority drops significantly, and the probability of his troops disobeying orders increases! 

When Alex saw this barrage of blood-red debuffs flooding his screen, he felt a sweet taste in his throat and nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhang Hongyuan and Zhang Qingyue, standing beside him, were even more ashen-faced; the faint glimmer of hope that had just risen after they’d latched onto the Grand Marshal’s coattails was instantly shattered by this barrage of devastating news.

Zhang Hongyuan had previously fantasized about seizing a share of the Yuan Court’s waning fortune, but now he realized that this leaky, sinking ship wasn’t just taking on water—it was dragging them all into the abyss.

Through Louis XVI’s card, Alex could sense the palpable panic, hunger, and despair permeating the entire Yuan army camp.

The radiance of his “Hall of Mirrors at Versailles” flickered in this quagmire; far from boosting morale, the stark contrast between its “order” and reality only drew even more rejection from the celestial forces.

“No! This can’t be!” Alex roared inwardly. “I must leave! I must go to Europe! That is where Louis XVI’s card truly belongs. There is a complete aristocratic system, a mature fiscal and tax system, and the Palace of Versailles. Only there can I unleash my true power and draw upon the purest energy of ‘Order’ and ‘Covenant.’” 

He frantically communicated with the scene’s rules, attempting to submit a request to “travel to Europe.”

But the only response he received was a cold prompt:

【Request Denied: Lack of reasonable plot setup and logical justification. The current card character ‘Louis XVI’ is bound to the Yue Kuochar faction and has no legitimate reason to leave the battlefield. Forcibly leaving will be deemed ‘desertion in the heat of battle,’ triggering extreme hostility from the Yue Kuochar faction and potentially causing the Yuan Court’s destiny to backfire!】

【Note: To perform a long-distance scene transition, you must meet one of the following conditions: 1. Complete your current faction’s core quest chain to obtain official permission or a transfer order; 2. Possess a special teleportation card or item; 3. Trigger an extremely rare hidden event.】

Alex looked at these conditions, and his heart sank to the bottom of his stomach.

Complete Yue Kuochar’s quest chain? The Yuan army was on the brink of starvation right now, and Yue Kuochar himself was swamped with problems—what kind of decent quest could there possibly be?

A special teleportation card? He didn’t have one at all!

A hidden event? Even more unlikely!

He felt as if he were trapped in a sinking iron cage, watching the water rise around him helplessly, yet unable to find the key.

At that moment, Yue Kuochar—seated in the central command tent, his face so dark it seemed it might rain—suddenly slammed his fist on the table and sprang to his feet.

He surveyed the panicked generals inside the tent and sensed the growing atmosphere of dread outside the camp, finally making his decision.

【Triggered Scene Event: The Grand Marshal’s Decision · Retreat to Escort the Coffin!】

【Yue Kuochar weighed the pros and cons, fully aware that the siege could only be sustained for so long, and fearing that the entire army might be annihilated here. To preserve his forces and escort Jia Lu’s coffin back to the capital to report (or perhaps to accept punishment), he decided to order a retreat!】

【The order has been issued: All units are to take turns providing cover while retreating northeast! Objective: Return to the Yuan capital!】

Woo—woo—woo—!

The desolate sound of the retreating bugles, like death knells, echoed over the Yuan army’s camp.

The Yuan soldiers, already demoralized and starving, heard the bugles and saw their last shred of fighting spirit completely collapse.

“We’re retreating! The Grand Marshal has ordered a retreat!”

“Run! The Red Turban rebels are coming!”

“Food! Who still has food?”

Total chaos ensued.

“Retreat… retreat?!” Alex couldn’t believe his ears. “How dare he?!”

The words “retreat” exploded in Alex’s mind, leaving him completely blank; his thoughts nearly ground to a halt.

Retreat? Back to the Yuan Court?

What would become of him then?

He’d finally managed to establish a connection with Yue Kuochar—was he really supposed to tag along with this demoralized, starving, and poorly supplied band of defeated soldiers, enduring a grueling, nomadic retreat all the way back to the north?

How many rebel ambushes and attacks would they face along the way?

Even if he were to miraculously make it back to the court, what future could a “foreign sorcerer”—defeated in battle and now worthless—possibly have?

It was even possible that the round would end before he even made it back.

Since they were currently only at Tier 1, each evolution spanned only one round.

An intense sense of resentment gripped him like a giant hand, choking him tightly.

He instinctively glanced around.

The other candidates who had chosen the Yuan Court faction were now ashen-faced, living in constant fear.

Most of them lacked Alex’s background, connections, or card potential. They had originally hoped to tag along with the Yuan Court’s main force to earn some merit and resources, but now their dreams had been completely shattered, leaving only the bitter regret of failing the assessment. 

Many had hoped to advance a rank during this competition; whether one was at the first or second tier in the college entrance exam significantly affected one’s scores.

Some had even collapsed onto the ground, their eyes vacant.

“No… we can’t retreat! We absolutely cannot retreat!” Alex screamed frantically in his mind, even forcing himself to suppress his initial panic.

Ironically, his thinking became exceptionally clear in the face of this desperate situation.

He had to stop the retreat—at the very least, to secure a dignified and meaningful way out for himself, rather than fleeing like a stray dog swept up in the retreating troops.

Or perhaps he could find a way to take advantage of Yue Kuochar and those two idiots around him?

His gaze suddenly locked onto the second skill in his card skill bar: 【Fiscal Reform】.

This skill carried enormous risks; the 【Intense Dissatisfaction】 and 【Indecisiveness】 debuffs were like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

But right now, he couldn’t afford to worry about that!

“What’s Yue Kuochar’s biggest headache? A shortage of food, demoralized troops, and a collapsed logistics system.” A flicker of madness crossed Alex’s eyes. “My 【Fiscal Reform】 can boost resource acquisition in the short term—even if it’s just on paper, even if it’s merely a stopgap measure. But if it can temporarily alleviate Yue Kuochar’s most pressing crisis and give him a glimmer of hope that he might ‘regain his footing,’ he might just change his mind.”

It’s a gamble!

Just as Yue Kuochar’s order to withdraw had been issued, and the Yuan army’s various units were plunged into even greater chaos—

Alex held the 【Sun King·King Louis XVI】 card in his hand, exhausting all his card energy to push it to its absolute limit.

“Wait, General!” he said, manipulating the card to offer advice. “This subordinate has a plan that may temporarily resolve the shortage of provisions and pay, and stabilize the troops’ morale in an instant!”

【Skill Activated: Fiscal Reform!】

Louis XVI’s card erupted with an unprecedented golden glow.

Illusory ledgers, tax bills, and bond documents—filled with complex numbers and clauses—appeared out of thin air, whirling frantically around Louis XVI before suddenly spreading out and merging into the surrounding Yuan army formation.

【Effect being determined…】

【Based on the current background of the Yuan court—extreme chaos, scarcity of resources, and a desperate need for order…】

【Based on the skill’s core characteristics of “increasing revenue and reducing expenditure,” “transparent accounting,” and “short-term boost”…】

【Skill effect exceeds expectations! (Temporary)】

【Effect:】

1. 【False Prosperity】: Forcibly consolidates the chaotic accounts and supplies of the remaining Yuan Army units in the area, creating the illusion of “ample provisions” and “payments in full” for a short period (3 turns). (Actual supplies increase daily, but the books show a 50% rise in resources.) . All Yuan Army units temporarily receive the psychological suggestion that “provisions and pay are sufficient,” reducing the effects of the 【Hunger】 debuff by 50% and significantly slowing the rate of morale decline. 4
2. 【Efficient Expropriation】: While this skill is active, the efficiency of resource plundering in surrounding areas (whether under friendly control or in the “Heavenly People” zone) increases by 100% (a small amount of actual supplies can be obtained, but this will exacerbate local civil discontent and may trigger small-scale civil unrest). 
3. 【Card Energy Conversion】: You may consume additional self-generated card energy to temporarily convert it into a small amount of “Emergency Rations” or “Reward Silver” (green-card-level consumables), which can be used to motivate specific units or complete specific missions.

As the golden light passed, a miraculous scene unfolded.

Those Yuan soldiers, who had previously been staggering from hunger and despair—and had even begun to snatch their comrades’ rations—suddenly froze in their tracks.

They blankly felt their own ration bags, then looked around at the camp, which seemed to have become “orderly.” The panic in their eyes actually subsided considerably, as if they truly believed their superiors had resolved the supply issue.

“Is there food now?”

“It seems… yes. Just now, the messenger said that Grand Commander had come up with a new method…”

“Will we be able to eat our fill?”

The chaotic situation actually eased for a moment.

Although this was merely a fleeting calm built on false accounts and psychological suggestions, for the overwhelmed Yue Kuochar, it was nothing short of a godsend in the midst of a long drought!

The retreat order he had been about to issue got stuck in his throat.

He stared in astonishment at the sudden signs of “stability” within the camp; morale had, for the time being, been stabilized, and the momentum toward collapse had been forcibly halted.

Yue Kuochar whipped his head around, his gaze shooting like lightning toward Louis XVI.

“Foreign lad! This magic of yours… is it actually effective?!” Yue Kuochar’s voice carried a hint of urgency.

Alex struggled to suppress the waves of weakness and backlash caused by overloading his skill, maintaining a calm exterior.

“Your Excellency, this is the ‘Sacred Art of Financial Management,’ a secret technique passed down in the courts of Europe. It allows one to reorganize accounts in desperate situations, consolidate scattered resources, and boost morale. Though it cannot conjure grain out of thin air, it can maximize existing potential and unite the troops. If Your Excellency trusts me and grants me the authority, we may well hold out a few more days—or even… find an opportunity to counterattack.”

His words—part truth, part fiction—greatly exaggerated the effectiveness of his skill and pinned all hope on the future.

Yue Kuochar stared intently at him, then swept his gaze over the temporarily “stabilized” camp, rapidly weighing his options in his mind.

Retreat was a last resort—an admission of defeat—and the journey back would be fraught with immense danger.

If they could hold their ground—even for just a few more days—they might wait for a turn of events from the rear, or secure a more dignified retreat, or even… What if a miracle really did happen?

This foreign youth might have a strange background, but his methods were indeed devious and effective!

He’ll take the gamble.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Yue Kuochar’s eyes as he suddenly waved his hand. “Very well! This Grand Marshal will trust you just this once!”

【Triggered Event: Drinking Poison to Quench Thirst · The General’s Gamble!】

【Yue Kuochar was persuaded by the short-term effects of “Fiscal Reform” and decided to postpone the retreat to try and stabilize the front lines!】

【Withdrawal order canceled! The Yuan army camp gains the temporary status: “False Morale” (based on the effects of “Fiscal Reform”)!】

【Alex Bourbon gains further recognition and trust from Yue Kuochar!】

【Granted temporary position: “Quartermaster” (responsible for procuring military supplies and managing accounts)!】

【Temporary authority granted: May mobilize a portion of the remaining Yuan troops (up to 200 soldiers) to carry out supply looting missions; may review portions of the military accounts (incomplete); receives a fixed “salary” each month (in-game time) (a small compensation in Card Energy Crystals).】

【Gained Temporary Status: “Entrusted by the Grand Marshal”】

Effect: Within Yue Kuochar’s sphere of influence, influence is slightly increased, and cooperation from mid-level Yuan military officers is slightly improved (minimal). However, he must regularly report the results of his “financial management” to Yue Kuochar; if the “Heavenly Law” is maintained or the effect wanes, he will face Yue Kuochar’s wrath.

He’s secured the authority that comes with the position; at the very least, in the final judgment of this round, his rewards will certainly be substantial.

Although it’s only a temporary post, it means he’s safe for now—and he has room to maneuver!

Overjoyed, Alex hurriedly bowed: “This subordinate will not fail the Grand Marshal’s trust!” 

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Meanwhile, Li Shi’an’s team—which was leading the 【Huaixi Veteran Camp】 in its advance toward Haozhou City—naturally learned of this sudden change in the Yuan army’s camp through the in-game information.

“Huh? The Yuan army didn’t retreat? They’ve actually stabilized?” He Bieshan stared at the information panel in utter bewilderment. “What skill did that Alex use? ‘Fiscal Reform’? It sounds like a support skill—but is it really that powerful? Can it even temporarily rally an army on the verge of collapse?”

Hao Yun carefully sensed the energy fluctuations from the Yuan army’s camp in the distance and frowned. “It feels strange… Their morale seems to have stabilized, but that ‘hungry’ and ‘chaotic’ essence hasn’t changed. It’s as if… as if they’ve been forcibly injected with a stimulant—a brief calm bought at the cost of overdrawing on something.”

She turned to Li Shi’an: “Shi’an, this ability can’t last long, can it? If it were really that effective—and came at no cost—he would have used it long ago.”

Upon hearing this, Li Shi’an’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.

“Fiscal reform… King Louis XVI…”

He briefly recalled the relevant historical events in his mind.

King Louis XVI’s fiscal reforms may have been intended to resolve France’s fiscal crisis—the country was on the brink of bankruptcy—but its measures, such as attempts to tax the privileged classes and issue new government bonds, inevitably clashed with the interests of the deeply entrenched feudal privileged class. Ultimately, not only did it fail to save the treasury, but it also intensified conflicts, becoming the final straw that broke the back of the Bourbon dynasty and sent him to the guillotine.

This is a classic example of a reform where the motives and outcomes ran counter to one another—a historical case steeped in irony.

So, in this world of cards, what hidden costs lie beneath the glittering short-term effects of the 【Fiscal Reform】 skill cast by “the Sun King” Louis XVI?

“It certainly won’t last long,” Li Shi’an stated with certainty. “And the cost will be high. Take a close look at the details in the skill description: ‘creating illusions,’ ‘psychological suggestion,’ ‘exacerbating public discontent’… This isn’t actually solving the problem; it’s covering it up—and even creating new, more intense conflicts.”

He paused, a hint of amusement in his voice: “It’s like a terminally ill patient who, instead of receiving gentle, restorative treatment, is force-fed potent, harsh medicine. They may seem more alert for a while, but in reality, they’re depleting their last reserves of vitality—and may even trigger more severe complications.”

He Bieshan suddenly understood: “Drinking poison to quench one’s thirst!”

“Exactly, it’s like drinking poison to quench one’s thirst,” Li Shi’an nodded. “Alex is gambling right now—betting that before the effects of this ‘harsh remedy’ wear off, he can keep Yue Kuochar in the dark and use the time he’s bought to consolidate power, secure sufficient benefits for himself, or find a way to escape.”

Hao Yun asked anxiously, “Then… will Yue Kuochar keep being fooled? What if he really thinks the situation has improved and decides not to withdraw his troops—or even turns around and attacks us? What then?”

Li Shi’an smiled.

“Yue Kuochar isn’t a fool. He’s a military commander, a mid-tier Purple Card practitioner—his perception isn’t that dull. His decision to believe us right now is more a matter of desperate hope, like ‘desperate times call for desperate measures.’”

“However… I don’t think this has much to do with us because what Alex is planning is likely something else entirely.”