Several scene cards appeared on the light screen in front of Li Shi’an. 

He glanced at them briefly. 【Peaceful Country Life】 was naturally a very safe scenario, with stable resources and extremely low risk.

【Prosperous Trade Routes】, relying on trade routes, makes it easy to amass wealth and unlock trade-related event chains. However… he wouldn’t hesitate—if he settled down and lived a peaceful life here, how could he ever achieve greatness?

He turned his gaze to 【Troubled Times of War and Chaos】, whose description consisted of just one short sentence: “Order has collapsed; opportunities and crises coexist; efficiency in earning military merits and expanding influence is greatly enhanced.”

Whispers filled the exam hall, and many candidates stared at 【Troubled Times of War and Chaos】 with fervent eyes. After all, not long ago, Li Shi’an had truly shone in “Huaiyou Smoldering Conflicts.”

Whether it was Zhu Yuanzhang’s rise from beggar to military commander, Zhang Niujiao’s unexpected awakening, or the formation of the Huaixi Old Camp, none of these could have succeeded without the backdrop of a time of chaos.

Even candidates who chose the Yuan court’s faction were able to quickly accumulate merit through tasks such as suppressing rebellions and procuring grain. Although they ultimately failed, their scores were surprisingly high.

“Let’s choose ‘Turbulent Times.’ As we analyzed earlier, in a time of chaos, no matter which side you’re on, as long as you’re bold and tenacious, you can quickly earn merit.”

“I’m also choosing 【Troubled Times of War and Chaos】. In a stable scenario, you’ll only advance one rank at most, but in a time of turmoil, you might unlock high-level events right away.”

“Look at He Wei over there—he chose Haozhou. He’s definitely going for the chaotic times too, since Zhu Yuanzhang has the home-field advantage over Li Shi’an.”

Amid the chatter, beams of light lit up one after another, with eighty percent of the candidates choosing to lock in 【Troubled Times of War and Chaos】.

He Bieshan looked at the selection results on the screen, visibly excited: “Shi’an! Look! Everyone chose ‘Turbulent Times’! That means our previous experience will come in handy.”

Hao Yun nodded in agreement. “My healing spells can earn trust the fastest in a time of chaos, and Bieshan’s blacksmithing can quickly solve the displaced people’s tool needs.”

Without hesitation, Li Shi’an selected the 【Troubled Times of War and Chaos】 scenario card.

【Candidate Li Shi’an, selected scenario card: Troubled Times of War and Chaos (Exclusive Evolution for Jiangdong – Huiji Commandery)】

【Scenario rules loading… Initial environment generated: desolate countryside, displaced people scattered about, no unified government, order in shambles…】

【Core card “Red Turban Commander – Zhu Yuanzhang” being adapted… Adaptation complete (Adaptation rate: 65%; Non-home-field penalty: Card energy cost increased by 10%)】

【“At Hand” slot activated: You may play support cards to trigger synergy effects】 Jiangdong’s Kuaiji Commandery came into focus.

Endless rows of barren fields, collapsed village huts, and, of course, the displaced people so essential to any time of turmoil.

This is the common backdrop of all times of turmoil—not yet defined by any faction, but purely the embodiment of “chaos.” Li Shi’an sat at the control console and thought for a moment.

Then he had He Bieshan and Hao Yun insert 【Battlefield Forging – Basic】 and 【Primary Light Heal】 into the slots.

【Support Card ‘Battlefield Forging – Basic’ successfully inserted! Triggers the synergy effect ‘A Craftsman Must Prepare His Tools’: Consumes a small amount of card energy to quickly forge basic forging tools (iron axe, hoe, simple spear), slightly increasing their appeal to refugees】

【The support card “Primary Light Heal” has been successfully deployed! Triggers the synergy effect “Healer’s Compassion”: Consumes a small amount of card energy to cast a weak, area-of-effect healing aura that alleviates the refugees’ injuries and significantly increases trust.】

He Bieshan: “Shi’an, I can sense the hoes the refugees are holding. With just four units of card energy, I can repair them into usable farming tools.”

Hao Yun quickly added, “My healing aura covers a ten-zhang radius, though it can only treat minor injuries.”

This was exactly what Li Shi’an had anticipated. Since this wasn’t Zhu Yuanzhang’s home turf, relying solely on brute force wasn’t realistic.

He Bieshan’s forging skills could address the need for “survival tools,” while Hao Yun’s healing could address “injuries and illnesses.” These two needs were precisely the most urgent demands of displaced people in times of chaos—and they were practically the best slogans for recruiting troops and enlisting followers in such turbulent times.

Only then did Li Shi’an slot 【Red Turban Commander – Zhu Yuanzhang】 into his card slot.

【Core Card Activated! ‘Red Turban Commander – Zhu Yuanzhang’ has arrived in Jiangdong – Huiji Commandery!】

【Triggers the passive skill “Convergence of Public Sentiment” (weakened when not on home turf): Increases the recruitment success rate for refugees by 15%, and unlocks the “Protect the Realm and Secure the People” temporary mission.】

In the light screen, Zhu Yuanzhang’s figure took on a solid form.

He walked up to a displaced person huddled by the roadside, crouched down, and Hao Yun immediately cast a healing spell—the wound on the displaced person’s leg began to scab over at a visible speed.

“My friend,” Zhu Yuanzhang said, “the crops in the fields have withered, the houses have collapsed, and marauding bandits are still plundering… But as long as we have hoes to till the land, spears to defend ourselves, and medicinal decoctions to treat illnesses—we can survive.”

He raised his hand, and He Bieshan’s forging card quickly materialized into an iron axe, which he handed to the displaced person. 

“Those who want to survive, follow me. Together, we’ll clear the wasteland, forge weapons, and defend this land. As long as I’m here, I won’t let them bully people!”

Clutching the iron axe, the displaced man stood up unsteadily and bowed deeply to Zhu Yuanzhang.

“If you can truly keep us alive, we’ll all follow you!”

As if a fuse had been lit, the displaced people all around began to gather around him.

【Triggered the temporary quest “Protect the Realm and Pacify the People – Initial Gathering”: Recruit 10 displaced people to form a basic team】

【Displaced person “Wang Laoshuan” (Lower-tier White Card) has voluntarily joined! Obtained temporary unit “Farming Displaced Person”】

【Displaced person “Li Xiao’er” (Lower-tier White Card) has voluntarily joined! Obtained temporary unit “Hunter Displaced Person”】

【……】

In less than half an incense stick’s time, the number of displaced people on the light screen had surpassed 10 and was still rising.

He Bieshan manipulated the Forging Card, continuously conjuring iron axes, hoes, and simple spears, piling them behind Zhu Yuanzhang like a small armory; Hao Yun maintained the Healing Aura, occasionally casting a healing spell on severely wounded refugees.

“We did it! Shi’an! The ‘Immediate’ mission is complete!” He Bieshan’s voice was full of excitement. “I can also craft some simple wooden shields to boost our defense a bit.”

“There’s an old hunter among the refugees who says he can lead people into the mountains to hunt, which will solve our food problem!” Hao Yun added. Li Shi’an looked at the group gradually taking shape, a faint smile curving his lips.

Even outside Zhu Yuanzhang’s home turf, the core logic of “recruiting troops and gathering followers” still held true. In times of turmoil, it offered people “hope for survival.”

He Bieshan’s blacksmithing addressed the “tools,” Hao Yun’s healing addressed “health,” and by using Zhu Yuanzhang’s “Gathering the People’s Hearts” trait to paint a rosy picture, the combination of these three elements naturally made recruiting people highly efficient.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the exam hall, He Wei sat at the control console, but his gaze kept drifting toward Li Shi’an’s direction.

On the light screen, the chaotic scene in Haozhou had already been fully simulated. His “Red Turban Soldier – Zhu Yuanzhang” stood at the foot of Haozhou City’s city wall, surrounded by a crowd of remnants from the rebel army who had voluntarily pledged their allegiance.

The advantages of the Red Talent were becoming apparent; his initial recruitment efficiency was slightly higher than Li Shi’an’s. Yet he found it difficult to keep his gaze from drifting toward the Jiangdong region.

“Hah, what a childish act of revenge,” He Wei sneered. He knew full well what Li Shi’an was up to.

Abandoning Haozhou in favor of Jiangdong was nothing more than an attempt to avoid him and, at the same time, play a trick using the Xiang Yu card—a card he wasn’t skilled at handling.

But he was deeply dismissive of the idea: as a Tier 1 Cardmaster with only one main card slot—and at most a green card in the auxiliary slot—how could he possibly hope to summon an Emperor-class card like Xiang Yu in Jiangdong?

The chances were practically zero.

Not to mention, Jiangdong is also in a state of chaos right now. Even if Li Shi’an has gathered a few people, what kind of waves could he possibly make?

At best, he’d just be scraping by in these chaotic times—and the rating he’d earn would certainly be lower than what he’d achieve by making a name for himself in Haozhou.

“Focus on your own strategy.” He Wei looked away and forced his attention back to Haozhou.

His Zhu Yuanzhang character had already led his troops to surround the bandits’ stronghold; once he captured it, he would secure his first batch of spoils and unlock the “Merit in Suppressing Bandits” event chain.

This was the rhythm one should maintain in turbulent times—fight quickly, accumulate resources quickly—rather than leisurely “farming” like Li Shi’an. 

Yet for some reason, he couldn’t help but let his gaze drift back there again.

In Jiangdong, Li Shi’an’s group had grown to over a hundred people. The wooden shields and spears crafted by He Bieshan had been distributed to everyone, Hao Yun’s healing aura enveloped the entire refugee camp, and some refugees had even begun digging makeshift trenches around the camp’s perimeter.  

The aroma of porridge wafted through the camp as the displaced people held their bowls, sipping the warm porridge in small sips.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood in the center of the camp and suddenly spoke up, “My fellow villagers, we’ve gathered here—we have porridge to eat, tools to use, and a place to rest for now. But can any of you tell me—how did these once-fertile fields become barren? How did your once-prosperous homes vanish?”

The crowd fell silent instantly.

After a moment, a wrinkled old farmer set down his bowl.

“Sir, it’s not that we’re lazy—it’s that the authorities have driven us to the brink of survival. The prefect of Kuaiji Commandery is a living devil. Last summer, when the floods submerged most of our fields, not only did he refuse to provide relief grain, but he actually forced us to pay a ‘flood control tax.’ Those who couldn’t pay had to hand over their oxen and farming tools as payment.”

“That’s right, Your Honor!” A young man jumped to his feet, his eyes blazing with anger. “My father had his legs broken by the county officials’ henchmen because he couldn’t pay his taxes, and he died not long after. I fled with my mother, and along the way we encountered starving people and bandits plundering us. This is no way for people to live!”

“And he even lets his men loot grain!” another displaced person chimed in.

【Triggered Hidden Event Chain: Tyranny Drives Rebellion – Wrath of Huiji!】