novelnext Chapter 40 Settlement!
Chapter 40 Settlement!
The journey was filled with wind and snow, and hardship.
When the Yalu River finally came into view that day, it was just dawn.
Mo Qin recalled that the Ming Dynasty's "Huangming Nine Border Examination" recorded that Liaodong Town stretched 1,460 li from the Yalu River in the east to Shanhaiguan in the west.
But damn it, it's talking about the straight-line distance!
Moreover, Liaodong is mountainous, and the actual distance is more than 1500 li, or at least 750 kilometers!
"The army arrived in just over ten days after setting off from Guangningwei, that's incredibly fast!" Thinking of this, Mo Qin couldn't help but give Li Rusong a silent thumbs up.
It was January of 1593, the coldest time of year in the north.
The Yalu River is covered with a thick layer of ice.
The opposite bank is partially obscured, with low hills and the treeline visible on the North Korean side.
Standing in the queue, Mochin was somewhat lost in thought.
He opened his mouth, "Proud and spirited..."
Liu Gao, who was standing next to him, turned his head to look at him.
"Brother Qin, what are you singing?"
Mo Qin closed his mouth and didn't continue singing.
He simply stared at the river and the opposite bank for a long while before saying:
"It's nothing."
"It just evoked some memories."
The night guards and auxiliary soldiers went onto the ice first.
Several veterans began to use iron picks to probe the ice, tapping it repeatedly.
Listen to the sound; is it deep and crisp? Does it have a hollow quality?
Some people also planted thin wooden stakes along the river to mark out walkable paths.
The ice looks thick, but when a large army crosses the river, what they fear most is not people.
It's a car!
Firearms cart, medicine cart, grain cart, artillery cart.
If you fall into either one, it will be fatal.
Before long, an ice bridge was laid out in front of them.
Of course, it wasn't the kind of pontoon bridge that floats on the water. The river was frozen over, and the actual bridge was built by laying ice on the surface of the river.
First, lay down bundles of grass and sand to weigh down the ice, then lay down thick logs horizontally, and finally nail thick boards on the logs.
In some places where the ice surface has many cracks, long ropes are used to connect the wooden stakes on both sides, and then wooden rafts and plank bridges are used to create a wide ridge.
Low stakes were planted on both sides of the bridge, and thick ropes were tied to them to prevent people and horses from slipping off.
The first to arrive were the night scouts and the charioteers, followed by a small number of infantry, and then the flag bearers.
The first flag was escorted by the flag bearer from the ice bridge to the other side.
When the flag bearer's boots touched the frozen ground of North Korea, he stumbled forward and nearly fell.
An old soldier standing nearby reached out and grabbed him.
The flagpole slammed to the ground.
The first Ming army flag was planted on the opposite bank of the Yalu River.
In that instant, the world before Mochin's eyes suddenly began to change!
The sound of the wind and the neighing of horses faded into the distance.
The axle, the blade, and Liu Gao's mutterings all seemed to be separated by a layer of water film.
Time seemed to stand still, or perhaps it slowed down considerably.
Lin Jun turned his head and glanced at Mo Qin.
In my field of vision, lines of text that appeared out of nowhere lit up one by one.
[Key geographic node detected: Yalu River.]
[The first Ming army flag has been detected arriving in Korea.]
[Major advancement in the historical timeline.]
[Wanli Aid Korea World. Phase One: Liaodong Preparations for War, Completed.]
The first phase of settlement is underway.
Settlement begins.
[Player: Mochin.]
[Channel Name: Central Nine-Headed Bird]
[Current World: History/War/Multiplayer Deployment. Korean War (Wanli)]
[Current faction affiliation: Ming army.]
[Key events in Phase One.]
[Event 1: At the Guangning Guard recruitment grounds, rioters stormed the camp gate. The player stabilized the situation and killed one of the players causing the chaos. Contribution rating: Lower B.]
[Event Two: During the changing of the guard at the central command, the player uncovers a fake messenger's assassination plot. The player shields the Ming commander-in-chief, Li Rusong, from a poisoned arrow. Contribution Rating: A-Level.]
[Event 3: At the front camp stables, the player was ambushed by four hostile players. Despite being at a disadvantage, the player fought back and broke through the enemy lines, severely damaging their forces. Contribution rating: A-level.]
[Event 4: On the night of the fire attack, the powder keg was discovered, preventing the arsenal from exploding and saving a large number of soldiers from the Shenji Battalion and the forward battalion. Old Soldier Ding assisted. Contribution rating: Top A.]
[Event Five: Cliff Rescue Battle. Players, along with Zhou Hu, Ding Laozu, and others, confronted an elite enemy ambush team, participating in the elimination of Iron Hand and Narrow Blade, and assisting in breaking through the enemy lines. Contribution Rating: Top Grade.]
[Event Six: The Rift Below the Cliff. The player ventures alone into an unknown area, encounters an unknown entity, rescues the key figure Shen Weijing, and ensures the integrity of subsequent intelligence lines against the Japanese. Contribution Rating: Top Grade.]
[Event Seven: Reception at the Post Road. Players rendezvous with the remaining guards of the Huaxia Alliance and complete the intelligence exchange. Contribution Rating: Upper C.]
[Event 8: Before the departure date, prevented runaway horses from colliding with the medicine carts, thus avoiding damage to firearms and supplies and delays in the march. Contribution rating: C (medium).]
[Key events recap complete.]
As he read the words, Mo Qin's breathing gradually became rapid.
To the park, these are just words, just numbers.
But for me, these were all unforgettable experiences!
[First phase reputation points calculation in progress.]
[Base Reputation Value: 1174.]
[Player detected as newcomer; currently in the first world.]
[Newcomer Evaluation Score: ×2.]
[Final stage reputation points: 2348.]
[First Stage Overall Evaluation: Above Grade A]
[Additional Note: This player, as a newcomer, played an irreplaceable role multiple times at key historical junctures in the initial world release. Their battlefield survivability, ability to protect key figures, and influence over the historical timeline all exceeded the average threshold for this batch.]
This review has been moved to a hidden file.
[The Ming Army Faction Reputation Ranking for the Liaodong War Zone is now open.]
[First Place: Central Nine-Headed Bird - 2348.]
Second place: ***—1961.
[Third place: ***—1844.]
[Current World Reputation Ranking.]
[First Place: Central Nine-Headed Bird - 2348.]
The moment the rankings appeared, the public chat exploded.
[Anonymous: Number one in the world?]
[Anonymous: Central China Nine-Headed Bird? Isn't that the newcomer from Liaodong?]
[Anonymous: Newcomer coefficient multiplied by two? Does the amusement park even have this kind of algorithm?]
[Anonymous: Why are the second and third lines both asterisks?]
[Anonymous: Why didn't he hide his name?]
[Anonymous: They're all newcomers, why is he so amazing?! There's definitely something fishy going on!]
Mo Qin's eyes twitched when he saw that it was number one.
I immediately asked a question.
[Central Taiwan Nine-Headed Bird: Paradise, why can the second and third names be hidden?]
The park responded quickly.
Players can set their profile permissions to public or hidden.
The initial permissions are set to public by default.
Mochin immediately launched into a tirade of profanities.
"Why the hell didn't you say so sooner?!"
Mo Qin gritted his teeth, staring at the five brightly lit characters: Central Nine-Headed Bird.
"People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat."
"That's good."
"I'm fucking famous and strong."
Lin Jun, however, had already noticed the activity on the public channel.
"Congratulations, you're number one in the world! You really deserve a gold medal."
Mo Qin's face darkened.
"Don't congratulate me."
"I'm like a piece of pork hanging on the city gate now, anyone can take a look."
Lin Jun said calmly:
"At least it's fresh."
"Thank you."
"Of course."
The system ignored his cursing.
The text will continue to be updated.
[Stage rewards are being settled.]
[Basic Reward: Reputation Points Exchange Permission Unlocked.]
[A hidden reward has been triggered because the player achieved the hidden rating of "Above the Top Rank".]
[Hidden Reward: General Title Vault Unlocked.]
[A special title can be obtained: Grand General of the Universe.]
Mochin's eyes widened.
"What the hell?"
He knew this "idiot" title very well!
Hou Jing, a Jie person who caused chaos in the Southern Liang Dynasty during the Northern and Southern Dynasties!
He first rebelled against the Eastern Wei, then against the Southern Liang, and was finally dismembered and eaten by the people of Jiankang.
This person also has a distinctive feature: legs of different lengths.
Did the park hang the number he used on its own head?
This is somewhat unlucky.
However, upon seeing the effect description, Mo Qin wisely shut his mouth.
Within a radius of five meters, friendly forces experienced a slight increase in strength.
In battle, the difference between having one more breath and one less breath is the difference between life and death.
Bad luck is bad luck, after all, I'm an honest person!
[Title Description: This title originates from a special series of general titles during the chaotic Northern and Southern Dynasties period.]
Current level: Level 1.
[Title Effect: War Aura. Allied units within a five-meter radius of the player will receive a slight boost to Regeneration, Strength, Constitution, and Agility. This effect increases with title level.]
It's just a name...
Does being called the Desolate Heavenly Emperor make one invincible?
Does being named Han Li mean you'll be surrounded by girls?
[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Selected.]
[The title "Cosmic General" has been bound.]
Current level: Level 1.
[Hidden titles can be selected to be made public or hidden.]
Mo Qin immediately said:
[Central Taiwan Nine-Headed Bird: Hide! Must hide! Anyone who reveals this is a fool!]
[Setup complete.]
Mo Qin breathed a sigh of relief.
If this name is revealed, he'll never be able to hang out in public chat again.
The system continued to prompt.
[Player's initial enhancement status detected: Incomplete enhancement.]
[You can use the reward privileges from this phase to complete the incomplete enhancement.]
Should we proceed?
Mo Qin was taken aback.
Full enhancement?
That sounds very tempting.
My physical fitness is naturally strong.
What would happen if it were completed?
I can't wait...
But before he could agree, another line of text appeared.
[Unknown energy detected within the player.]
[This energy shows an unknown tendency to merge with the player's current enhancement status.]
Players may choose to forgo this full enhancement and instead focus on identifying the source and nature of the unknown energy.
Mo Qin's heart skipped a beat.
Are you referring to air masses?
Old Ding said this thing is not simple.
But he never knew what it was or which direction it would lead him.
Looking at his chest, Mo Qin already had a plan.
[Central Taiwan Nine-Headed Bird: Identification.]
[Confirm abandonment of full enhancement?]
If the verification fails after confirmation, full enhanced permissions will not be returned.
Mochin first took a deep breath, then exhaled a long breath.
[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Confirmed.]
[Unknown energy identification in progress...]
[Identification failed.]
Mo Qin's face darkened.
"You banana-scarred bastard!!! I xxxxxxxxxxx"
This energy does not belong to any of the regular enhancement systems currently included in the park.
This energy possesses life-giving, absorbent, and growth-promoting properties.
[Identification failed.]
[Due to a reaction triggered during the identification process, the unknown entity has absorbed some of the amusement park's energy.]
As soon as those words finished lighting up, the air mass began to react violently!
It's like a layer of golden light slowly seeping out from inside.
The air mass began to rotate, and its color began to change.
The entire gas had condensed into tiny specks the size of a pinhead.
It contracted strongly, and after a dozen seconds, it sank deep into its chest and abdomen, where it remained motionless.
[The unknown energy has entered a dormant state.]
[Expected conditions for awakening: Unknown.]
Mo Qin paused for a moment.
Is this considered a loss?
Did you still make a profit?
he does not know.
But his intuition told him that it might not be a bad thing.
As if realizing it had messed things up, the system displayed a new notification.
[Compensation plan triggered due to identification failure.]
[Compensation Authority: Initial rewards not selected by new players will be reissued.]
[The player initially selected one of three options, but the option to enhance equipment was not displayed.]
Mo Qin's eyes lit up; he remembered.
When selected by the amusement park, the first two of the three options.
Storage space, even the science prodigy saw it himself.
And that third item that was withdrawn halfway through!
It turns out it was equipment enhancement!
Players can choose one piece of personal equipment to enhance and bind.
Mo Qin looked at the white wax spear, and his answer was without hesitation.
[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Can you upgrade the gun I'm holding?]
[In progress.]
[Target Equipment: White Wax Spear.]
[The equipment contains remnants of the will from historical battlefields; the materials are ordinary, but its compatibility with users is extremely high.]
[Can be enhanced.]
Should we proceed?
Mochin gripped the gun barrel tightly.
[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Execute.]
The next moment, an invisible heat surged from his palm into the gun barrel.
The ash wood did not change color, and the spearhead did not glow.
But Mo Qin could feel the gun actually twitch in his palm!
[Enhancement complete.]
[Equipment is already bound to player: Central Nine-Headed Bird.]
[Current effect: Sturdy.]
[Current effect: Slowly self-repairing.]
[Current effect: Can be stored/summoned on the person.]
Please set storage keywords.
[Note: Keywords for storage and recall can be silently recited to trigger the action.]
Mo Qin thought for a moment.
[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Guns out.]
[The keyword for organization has been set: guns.]
Please set your callout keyword.
Mo Qin murmured to himself.
[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Guns, come!]
[The keyword for triggering the chat has been set: "Gun, come!"]
[Binding complete.]
But before Mo Qin could examine the white wax spear closely, he did not.
New prompt overlay.
All stage rewards will be officially locked after the player chooses their final faction.
Please read the following information.
The first phase of settlement has been completed.
[Current total number of online players: 12058.]
[Faction confirmation is underway.]
Please choose one of the following two factions.
[Part 1: The Ming Army Camp.]
[Mission line: Aid Korea against the Japanese invaders.]
Victory Condition: Drive the Japanese army out of Korea.
[Historical bias: Chinese civilization sphere.]
[Part Two: The Japanese Army's Camp.]
[Mission Path: Invade Korea and Conquer Ming Dynasty.]
[Victory Condition: Defeat the main Ming army force within Korean territory.]
[Historical bias: Japan's expansion of power during the Sengoku period.]
[Faction selection cannot be changed.]
[After making a choice, the player's subsequent behavior will be evaluated based on the interests of their faction.]
Players can continue to disguise themselves, infiltrate, feign allegiance, sabotage, rescue, or assassinate, but these actions will be counted towards the final settlement based on the interests of their actual faction.
[Actively and seriously damaging the core interests of your faction will trigger reputation deduction, quest penalties, or a faction hostility rating.]
The people you kill, the people you save, the things you destroy, and the things you preserve will all be factored into the final settlement.
[Current faction/preference statistics.]
[Ming army faction: 1947 men.]
[Japanese faction affiliation: 10109 people.]
[Number of people not yet confirmed: 2.]
[Note: Faction affiliation is not the same as final confirmation. Stage rewards will only be locked after final confirmation.]
Upon seeing those numbers, Mo Qin's face turned even more ashen than if he had eaten shit.
One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven?
10,109!
This disparity is simply outrageous! The opposing side has more than five times the numbers of our side!!!
The public chat channel was already in complete chaos.
[Anonymous: One to five? What's the point of playing like this?]
[Anonymous: The rewards for the Japanese faction must be high, otherwise where would so many people come from?]
[Anonymous: So what if the Ming army has Li Rusong? The skill gap between the players is too big.]
[Anonymous: Is it too late to change it now?]
[Anonymous: Those who haven't chosen yet, think it through quickly, don't just follow along and get yourself killed.]
[Wolong is from Chengdu: You fools, think carefully before you speak.]
[Wolong is from Chengdu: You think choosing the Japanese guarantees a win?]
[Drinking Horse in Jiangnan: That sounds nice, but with the rewards right there, who cares about sentiment?]
[Anonymous: Less than two thousand players in the Ming army? Hilarious.]
[Anonymous: Isn't the Central Nine-Headed Bird the number one pick? Let's see which side he chooses.]
[Anonymous: He rescued Li Rusong and Shen Weijing; they must have been Ming soldiers, right?]
[Anonymous: That's not necessarily true. Choosing the wrong side could cost you your life!]
Looking at the public chat, Mo Qin's eyes grew cold.