Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 12 Three...One Year Agreement!
One is stubborn, the other one slides to his knees.

Which one to choose?
Zhou Liang's mouth twitched:
“I feel like none of them are very reliable…”

If you are an ordinary person without a system, then choosing to fight head-on is actually a good idea. After all, the other party is clearly trying to kill you this time. Since you will die anyway, you might as well die heroically.

As the saying goes, even if a person is pretending, if he can pretend for a lifetime, it will come true!
Although he wasn't a loyal Ming dog at all, his image as a loyal dog had already been established. If he really died in the struggle against the remnants of the rebels, the Ming court would definitely erect a monument for him. Not only would he be mentioned prominently in history books, but his family would also receive financial and political support. He might even be given a deity and enshrined in the City God Temple...

It can be said that this is the optimal solution in the conventional sense. Sacrifice yourself and gain both fame and fortune. It's a win!

But he wasn't an ordinary person. He was a time traveler imbued with a simulation system. If he died in the simulation, he died. He could just start over. Why bother worrying about fame and fortune after his death?
The important thing is to fight against the Ming Dynasty! The important thing is to find the possibility of victory in the fight against the Ming Dynasty through different simulation routes!
So normally, one should live as long as possible, only then will one be valuable...

"But the second option is unlikely to allow me to survive in the simulation..."

Zhou Liang scratched his head:
Although it was possible to survive by kneeling down and surrendering under normal circumstances, this "Li Laiheng", whose true or false identity was unknown, had already threatened to kill him. He wanted to sacrifice the life of this little witness to the Emperor Yongchang's spirit in heaven...

To be honest, this sliding kneel is useless!
Zhou Liang was not optimistic about this option.

But the simulation had to continue, so after hesitating for a long time, Zhou Liang gritted his teeth:

"Never mind! Let's try it first!"

"Choose B!"

You chose option B, your knees buckling, you slumped to your knees! You cried to Master Chuang that you were forced into this, that that rubbish article wasn't yours at all, but... it was a finished article your masters, Deputy Academic Director Ding and Academic Director Xue, gave you ahead of time, so you could use it to deceive the world and steal the credit... Anyway, I was forced into this. How could I, at my young age, possibly write such a flattering article? Master Chuang, you must believe me!]

You slid to your knees on the spot, crying non-stop as the old men looked at each other in bewilderment!

You cried while "exploding" your own false propaganda: "Chuang thief...Chuang Ye is very perceptive! I didn't write that rubbish article at all. How could I, a young and ignorant person, write such a flattering article?"

[These are all Sun Xiaochuan... Ugh! They were all written by Master Ding Shuang and Xue Zheng Xue Bao. They're trying to use this to market the child star and defraud the prefect of his reward!]

"And my scholar title is fake! I never passed the exam, it was the magistrate who helped me cheat... They're the real culprits, all corrupt officials!"

[Me? I'm weak, pitiful, and helpless, just a tool, so please treat me like a piece of shit. I won't dare to do that again...]

[Everyone:...]

As you cried without any trace of a scholar, Li Laiheng was stunned at first, then his expression changed, and his eyes seemed to be filled with endless anger...

Spicy balls!

Zhou Liang stroked his forehead:

For a murderer who is determined to kill someone, sliding on his knees and begging for mercy is not only useless, but will only anger the other party!
After all, the "Zhou Liang" in the simulation is just a newbie, not an old veteran like himself who has been in the Ming Dynasty for more than 50 years. When facing the life-and-death crisis, he is still too naive.

Just like last time he insisted on making a meaningless report out of passion, although it is understandable, it is indeed not conducive to the advancement of the plot.

If it was the original Zhou Liang who faced Li Laiheng's murderous intention, he would inevitably be killed by the angry Li Laiheng as a tribute to Li Zicheng, but he would at least control his strength when shirking responsibility, so as not to be too weak and be overly despised by Li Laiheng... At least his death would be more beautiful.

But the simulated "Zhou Liang" didn't understand these things. He slid down on his knees as soon as he was told to, with tears and snot streaming down his face. His backbone and dignity were all gone... I'm afraid he will die a very ugly death.

However, things always develop unexpectedly...

You saw Lee Rae Hyung's distorted expression, and your heart skipped a beat. Then you realized, belatedly, that you might have overexerted yourself.

[Too hard? No! Just the right amount!]

Just as you were about to react, the old man across from you suddenly lifted you up from the ground! You were startled, both by his actions and his strength!

[Although you're only four years old, you're actually quite heavy, thanks to your ample nutrition from meat and the tyrannical divine power that fuels your growth. Even your father, who's in his prime, can't lift you up with one hand, and yet this unassuming old man can actually do it! And it doesn't even look like he's using his full strength yet...]

Even in his old age, he still has plenty of strength. Just imagine how powerful he was when he was young! Could it be... that he is really the "Grandson of the Li family," Li Laiheng?

[You gradually start to murmur in your heart...]

The old man, who was suspected to be Li Laiheng, changed his previous anger and distortion, and his tone became strangely gentle.

"Kid, you've been wronged."

[His rough hand stroked the top of your head and he sighed deeply, as if all the anger and indignation in his heart were melted into this powerless sigh...]

You stare at him blankly, wondering why the fierce old man who was shouting and yelling about violence just now has suddenly turned into a kind old man?

Li Laiheng sighed, "That's what I said. How could a four-year-old kid win the title of Scholar? He must have been a scapegoat made by those bastards to make money! And that crappy article that ruined the reputation of King Chuang..."

[“Hey kid, you’ve been wronged.”] [You: …]

[He…he believed it?! He believed it!]

Zhou Liang:?
"What the hell?!"

Zhou Liang was also dumbfounded. He had never expected this to unfold... No, how could he believe it? Such a ridiculous shirking of responsibility, no one in their right mind should believe it!
But Zhou Liang thought about it carefully again, and it seemed...it made sense:
"I... I think I was overthinking it. I was so focused on my integrity and dignity that I overlooked the fact that children don't need to think about these things..."

Zhou Liang's previous thinking was completely based on his own Lao Deng's perspective, so he would attach great importance to the character of literati and want to die with dignity.

But...does a four-year-old kid really need to think about this?
Obviously not! Because age is his best weapon!

If a four-year-old is facing a group of vicious criminals, the more scared you are, the more normal it is. On the contrary, if you act like a four-year-old and act as stable as a sophisticated adult, and still pursue some kind of integrity, that would be very strange...

Moreover, a four-year-old prodigy passed the imperial examination and ranked first. This is truly incredible!

Instead of making people believe that he really passed the exam, it would be better to say that he cheated and took the back door, which would be more credible!
And that old scholar-like flattering article, it doesn't look like it was written by a four-year-old...

"So, the other me actually got something out of the blue. The more I tried to shirk responsibility, the more Li Laiheng believed me..."

Zhou Liang was speechless:

After hunting geese all day, I finally got blinded by a goose. I am too old-fashioned and not as useful as the newbie's casual tricks...

"However, the reason why this method is effective is actually inseparable from Li Laiheng himself!"

Li Laiheng was born in a humble family. Since he was a child, he followed Li Zicheng and Li Guo and was beaten by the Ming army and ran around everywhere. In a sense, he grew up with the Chuang army.

As a peasant uprising army with certain discipline and ideals, the Chuang Army was not without any black spots, but it treated the people much better than the Ming and Qing armies, two feudal nobles. It can be said that the relationship between the army and the people was like that of fish and water.

So if this person is really Li Laiheng, then it is not difficult to understand why he has pity and sympathy for ordinary children like Zhou Liang who have become tools for corrupt officials to make profits...

"So, am I taking advantage of other people's sympathy?"

Zhou Liang shook his head:
Don't worry about it, just survive first...

[Lee Laiheng's change of attitude left you a bit confused, not quite understanding what was going on.]

[But the opportunity is too good to pass up, so you can't help but shed tears, as if you are really some unfortunate person who has suffered injustice and oppression...]

Seeing this, Li Laiheng sighed again: "Kid, I know this isn't your fault, but... the reputation of the King of Rebellion cannot be dishonored! No matter what, you must pay the price!"

[You were crying and begging for sympathy, but suddenly froze...]

"Besides, you already know of our existence. For the safety of the remaining Dashun troops, I can't just let you go!"

【send! 】

[Hearing this, you can't help but sigh inwardly: It seems death is inevitable...]

[“But you are just a child after all, I don’t want to kill you…”]

He said seriously, "So I'm giving you a way out that's not really a way out!"

"That is, you must find a way to pass the provincial examination next year, and then, while the Shaanxi Provincial Governor is personally hosting a banquet for you, assassinate him on the spot!"

"If you carry out the assassination, whether it succeeds or not, I will consider you have fulfilled my request... Although I cannot save your life, I can save the lives of your parents and relatives, so you don't have to worry."

"But if you don't want to..."

【…】

[Ding! Faced with Li Laiheng's unyielding "one-year agreement", what do you choose: (?)]

A: I agree. I've been wandering for half my life, and I only regret not having met a wise master. If you don't abandon me, I'm willing to serve you wholeheartedly!

[B: I refuse. Da... I was born between heaven and earth. How can I be depressed and live under someone else's control for long?!]

……

(End of this chapter)