Ming Dynasty: Summoning game players at the beginning

Chapter 365 Master, what do you do for a living?
They were forced to abandon their land, shops, and workshops, fleeing south across the river with only gold and silver jewelry.

However, fleeing in chaotic times also requires overcoming numerous obstacles. Some people were captured by bandits along the way, while others encountered boatmen with malicious intentions and had their entire families fed to the fish on the spot.

Some people arrived in a foreign land with their gold and silver valuables, only to be quickly deceived by scheming individuals, losing almost all of their wealth. The accumulation of several generations was reduced to nothing overnight, like that of a self-sufficient farmer.

Whether they were unlucky or lucky enough to settle in the south, their wealth eventually flowed into Luoyang, Kaifeng, and other places, enabling many towns to quickly recover their former prosperity and even show no signs of having suffered years of war.

It's unclear whether it was due to the bandit army's effective management or the Black Flag Battalion's strict discipline.

"The country is currently facing difficulties, and the various armies sent to quell the bandits have suffered successive defeats, making the bandit forces in various regions increasingly arrogant."

Only the Loyal Marquis of the Central Plains, deeply surrounded by bandits from the north and south, cleverly used military tactics to break through the encirclement.

First, they launched a day-and-night raid to capture Xiangyang and Nanyang, inflicting a major defeat on the bandits. Then, in the decisive battle in the Central Plains, they defeated 100,000 bandits! In just a few months, they successively captured important towns such as Kaifeng and Luoyang, almost recovering the entire province of Henan!
All the rebel armies were defeated, and the Changsheng rebels who had been entrenched in Chu Province were also completely subdued by Lord Li, with tens of thousands of rebel soldiers surrendering.

Apart from the bandits in Jiujiang, there are almost no bandits south of the Yellow River!
"Loyal and Righteous Marquis is truly a general who will restore our Great Ming Dynasty, just like the founding generals of our dynasty, Duke Cao and Zhu Wenzhong. He is young and promising!"

In the chaotic and noisy tavern, a middle-aged scholar raised his wine cup and praised loudly. He then picked up the "Central Plains Daily" and repeatedly savored the victory report. He felt as if he had become the Grand Commander of the three armies and felt the awe-inspiring momentum of 100,000 troops shouting to kill the traitors.

"Back then, the Duke of Cao was also from the same clan as the Li family, and Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, was also from the Li clan... It seems that our Li family members are born with the talent to fight and win battles!"

"Ha, who is Lord Li? A great hero who drove out the Tartars and recovered Liaodong! Has he ever suffered a defeat since he fought for the country? How do you compare yourself to him? Don't try to flatter yourself!"

"Although Lord Li has won one battle after another, the rebel army is crossing the river northwards, and the capital region is likely to be unstable," another person said, pointing to the newspaper. "Look—"

One column of the newspaper featured a rough map of the Ming Dynasty's territory, showing numerous bandit armies entrenched north of the Yellow River. The newspaper editors, without authorization, assigned "national titles" to the territories of these bandit groups.
The "Red Turban Army" that occupied northern Shandong was the "State of Qi".

The recently emerging "Kun Army" in southern Shandong is the "State of Lu".

The "Wild Wolf Army," which had established a foothold in eastern Henan and northern Huaihe River Basin, was known as the "Liang Kingdom."

The "Begging Army" that crossed the Yellow River and headed north was from the State of Zhao.

The "Tiger Warriors" who invaded Guanzhong and changed their banners became known as the "Qin State".

The "Eight-Character Army" that had just entered the southern border of Shanxi was the "State of Jin".

The "Beiwei Army," which was still conquering cities and seizing territory in western Liaoning, was the "Yan State."

Although many rebel armies only occupied two or three prefectures or counties, or even just entered a province, they were still given the title of "state." At first glance, the north seemed to have become like the Warring States period.

"You're overthinking it. Back then, the bandit leader Gao Yingxiang joined forces with thirty-six bandit groups, and their campaigns in the south and north involved more than two hundred thousand government troops. They even invaded the capital region for several months. Now, only two remnants remain. One is plotting to take Sichuan in Longyou, and the other is entrenched in Jiujiang. They are no longer as powerful as they once were."

A year ago, the Beggars were also a formidable force, spanning several provinces and defeating more than 100,000 government troops. But now, Lord Li has almost completely razed them to the ground, and Henan and Huguang have been recovered.

With Lord Li here in our Great Ming Dynasty, let alone seven traitors, even if there were twenty-seven, Lord Li could wipe them out one by one!

"That's right! The mere seven thieves are nothing but chickens and dogs in front of Lord Li. In less than three years, the world will be at peace! Then you and I can enjoy peace and tranquility. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Yes, yes, the newspapers also said that Lord Li is reorganizing the surrendered soldiers and raising funds in Luoyang. At most, he can send out an army of 100,000 to launch a northern expedition within a year!"

"A year is too long! The capital is the heart of the Ming Dynasty. If it falls and the emperor is captured, the whole country will be shaken. Have you not heard of the Battle of Tumu? How can we talk about reviving the Ming Dynasty then?"

"The seven northern bandits are not under each other's command and will surely fight each other. Your Majesty is not a puppet. Summoning the border troops to escort you on your southern hunt will allow you to escape this dangerous place. Emperor Xian of Han was able to escape from the chaos with only a few guards. Why can't Your Majesty do the same? Even if you can't escape, you can still hold the capital, right?"

"Your Majesty is of inestimable worth; how can you risk your life? We should send Lord Li on a northern expedition to defend the emperor as soon as possible."

"Soldiers also get tired. If a province is recovered in less than six months, even a donkey should rest."

"When the emperor is in peril, how can a subject stand idly by? Lord Li has recovered no fewer than 100,000 rebels this year, and has selected another 20,000 to 30,000 strong men to join his army. His troops are growing stronger and stronger. If he harbors disloyal intentions and watches the capital fall..."

"Ha, what kind of talk is this? You try your best to make amends for loyal ministers who lost cities and territories. But you accuse those who quelled bandits and defeated enemies of harboring ulterior motives and are full of suspicion. Do you think wicked people should enjoy wealth and honor, while good and capable people should be exhausted to death?"

"It's not that I'm judging a gentleman by my own petty standards—Lord Li's army is a mixed bag, with countless bandits, traitors, and fierce generals. Even if Lord Li is upright and loyal, there's no guarantee that there won't be any wicked villains who are unwilling to accept their positions and incite their soldiers to put on the imperial robes for Lord Li."

If Lord Li resolutely refuses, he will be secretly harmed by treacherous villains. The original rebels and bandits will inevitably fight each other, and the Central Plains will be in great chaos. Will we still have a peaceful day?
But if Lord Li were to rebel against the Ming and establish his own dynasty, who could punish him?

"As the ancients said, the emperor is the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses. Now, Lord Li has both troops and virtue. Even if he seizes the throne from the Zhu Ming dynasty, what harm is there?"

"We have been blessed by the Ming Dynasty for generations, how can we utter such treasonous words!" The loyal minister angrily punched the air. "Although Lord Li has recovered the lost territory, he forbids the gentry and common people from reclaiming the property that was distributed to the wicked, and he forbids them from upholding justice and punishing the wicked. Anyone who punishes the people without authorization will be beheaded. What is the meaning of this? Can't you see it?"

"The newspapers had already stated that the number of people who had their land divided was no less than one million, and the impact was far-reaching. In order to quell the people's anxieties, the 'sins' were pardoned to prevent Henan from being recovered and then lost again. Every day, people pursued and killed the wicked people, and there was a lot of killing and vendettas, which caused widespread panic."

Only when the region is stable can the people cultivate the land with peace of mind, thus ensuring sufficient funds and provisions for the army to quell the rebellion.

"How to deal with the treacherous people is up to His Majesty's decision. Li Mu is merely His Majesty's subject; how dare he overstep his bounds? You keep referring to Lord Li as Lord Li; could you be one of his cronies? You're constantly praising him and bewitching people; can you accept a reward of five coins?"

"Hahaha... The corrupt officials are the loyal ministers, while the ones who fight for the country with all their heart and soul are the treacherous ministers. Am I blind, or are you too black-hearted to distinguish between loyalty and treachery, right and wrong?"
Take Henan as an example. When the government was in power, corrupt officials and incompetent bureaucrats ran rampant, and local bandits and brigands frequently appeared. Not to mention ordinary people, even we were not immune to being harassed.

But when the bandits arrived, they not only wiped out the corrupt officials, but also nearly expelled all the long-standing bandits. When Lord Li arrived, he did not commit any offenses against the people, and even if a few unruly soldiers caused trouble, Lord Li beheaded them and displayed their heads to the public.

The land of Henan is unusually peaceful. Was this ever the case when the Ming Dynasty government was in power?

Only by scraping the bone to remove the poison can the wound be healed and new granulation tissue be generated!
The nation has fallen into this state; it is due to both corrupt officials and the incompetent and reckless ruler. A foolish emperor has ruined his own country; what can we do? We can only hope that the old order collapses and a new order is established!

"What you've said is just the mouthpiece of the bandits' newspapers. Who knows if Li Mu is colluding with the bandits to whitewash the situation? When the bandits were abusing the gentry, did they utter a single word about it in the newspapers? Now they're even disregarding the dignity of the gentry and trying to 'please' the wicked commoners!"

"Ha, if it were a few years ago, I would have joined you in denouncing the bandits who have wreaked havoc on the country. But now, after reading so many newspapers, I realize that we have long since abandoned our original aspirations of studying to serve our country. Back then, which of us didn't want to save the world and provide relief to the people? But now, which family isn't reaping the rewards of thousands or even tens of thousands of acres of land, enjoying wealth and glory, without paying a single extra grain to the court for training troops and suppressing bandits? Who still remembers their aspirations from back then?"
Soldiers without money become bandits, and people without food become outlaws. The world is teeming with bandits. Isn't this a terrible consequence of you and me, and the royal family, only pursuing their own selfish interests?
Even with all their land scattered, they still possess considerable wealth, a level of riches unmatched by countless others. Furthermore, with sufficient funds collected from the government troops, they will have ample resources to suppress bandits and quell rebellions, allowing us to enjoy peace and tranquility. Don't you understand such a simple truth?

"Nonsense! Nonsense! It hasn't even been a year, and you're already spouting nonsense like a bandit. I think you've been driven mad by evil! I'll get rid of you, this traitor who betrayed the scholars, for the sake of the country!" As soon as the loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty finished speaking, he threw a punch, which landed squarely on his drinking companion's face.

"Stubborn and unyielding, if you continue to indulge the scholars, the world will descend into chaos once again!"

The person who was beaten was not to be outdone and immediately adjusted his stance to fight back.

Both sides quickly gained their respective supporters. Some were forced to abandon their families and businesses, eagerly awaiting the Northern Expedition for revenge. Others had experienced a year or two of peaceful life, were accustomed to "light taxes and levies" and "equal taxation," and did not want to disrupt the status quo.

Dozens of people instantly started fighting, with tables, chairs, cups, and bowls flying everywhere, making the restaurant noisy and chaotic.

At this moment, a customer who was hiding his identity and eating at the restaurant suddenly slumped onto the table, as if he were drunk.

He regained consciousness a moment later, a playful look on his lips. Watching the lively fight, he had no intention of stopping it, and even clapped and cheered from time to time, "Mr. Zhang, quickly use a left hook on him!"

The "information" delivered by this person was transmitted to a distant place through "special channels." It was then filtered and analyzed by multiple information processing personnel and, along with other complex information, was compiled into a monthly report, which was then presented to Li Mu, the commander-in-chief in Luoyang.

Li Mu picked up the monthly report and glanced through it, a smile playing on his lips. Wherever players ventured, there were newspapers and brochures, both overt and covert, being created.

His success in "suppressing thieves" often spread throughout the country within three days.

Almost half of China was talking about Li Mu's name. Some people cursed him, while others praised and admired him.

This regular check of public "support rates" helps him control the current public opinion environment and prompts him to make corresponding arrangements: seize power opportunistically, brutally usurp the throne, or remain "loyal to the end"...

Such "verbal battles" occur frequently throughout the province, and sometimes even lead to physical fights.

The land that had been distributed remained unchanged, which appeased the hearts of the common people.

The newspapers' long-term propaganda, coupled with the prestige brought by Li Mu's continuous "victories," subtly divided the gentry class, causing them to split apart.

Even many scholars were not opposed to Li Mu seizing power.

The "propaganda bombardment" suggested by some players did indeed produce remarkable results; the influence of public opinion culture is subtle and gradual.

A rebellious act, or a serious matter, is placed before people for debate and discussion day and night, becoming entertainment and routine.

When it comes true one day, people will just laugh it off, thinking, "Oh, this really happened."

Good news also kept coming from other areas—

Thanks to the Qihuo Army, the railway section north of the Huai River was quickly connected to Runing and Xuzhou. The southern section, with the help of the Changsheng Army, reached Hankou.

Given another year or two, the railway will connect the Yellow River and Yangtze River crossings from north to south, effectively connecting most of China by both land and water.

By then, money, grain, cloth, soldiers, and ammunition could be transported across most of China to the southeast, northwest, and other regions, greatly reducing logistics costs—and the people who were previously forced into transportation could be completely freed.

Sitting in Luoyang and looking around, Li Mu was surprised to find that he possessed the strongest army in the Ming Dynasty, and the total number of players had exceeded 45,000, with most of them joining various legions.

The Black Flag Camp expanded from four garrisons to six, totaling 75,000 troops, not even counting the Ming troops under his command.

Rounding up or down, Li Mu's controllable army has already exceeded 100,000.

Dozens of airships with upgraded propulsion systems are also poised to launch in the mountains.

Carbon-based missiles, paratroopers trained day and night, and after sacrificing thousands of lives, they also accumulated a wealth of air force experience.

However, Li Mu currently has a large army and many generals, but he is not in a position of absolute authority.

The surrendered soldiers recruited from various places were a mixed bag, spanning four or five player legions.

Players' opinions are easy to resolve; once a round of rewards is distributed, these idiots can instantly defend the game designers.

However, these mid-to-high-level generals who were promoted and trained by the players, as well as the lower-level soldiers who could not see Li Mu, even if they surrendered to Li Mu along with the players, would find it difficult to change their mindset of loyalty in a short time and would still need some time to adjust.

After all, they were talents nurtured by the players through their teachings and experiences. Li Mu was reluctant to use force against them easily, as these talents would need to "shine" across the country in the future.

Once the troops, money, and supplies have been allocated, it will be time for Li Mu to truly demonstrate his abilities.

Just as Li Mu was conceiving his future plans, a reward notification from the system rang in his mind.

It turned out that the Beiwei Army had heard that the Red Turban Army had won a great victory in Shandong, so they also successively dispatched 100,000 civilians to fill the Guangning Guards in northwestern Liaoning. When the time was right, they decisively attacked and captured Jinzhou.

Capturing a city is nothing special, but the Destiny Points reward from that small city allowed Li Mu to achieve a significant breakthrough in his prestige.

Your fame is known to everyone from the southern grasslands to Hainan Island, and you are just one step away from the position that heroes throughout history have longed for.

Dukes, marquises, generals, and ministers will all become your subordinates; you are the chosen one. You are only waiting for the right opportunity to make a name for yourself and astound the world!

Game Player Summoning System - Level 4 → Level 5

(End of this chapter)