Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors

And this time, even the stones that had been moved up to the top of the city wall were all thrown.

...

For Zhao Haiping, the process of the battle was nothing noteworthy, nothing particularly worth mentioning.

After all, the majority of Huang Xianzhi's army consisted of peasants who had lost their lands and had nowhere else to turn, or various kinds of bandits and thieves. They had no real tactics to speak of, nor did they have any sophisticated siege equipment. So, in every respect, aside from their numerical superiority, they could not be considered a formidable army.

So, during the siege, they merely kept moving siege ladders to the base of the walls, climbing up, then getting smashed down by rocks, and climbing again...

And so the cycle repeated, endlessly.

The so-called Divine Strategy Army that Zhao Haiping commanded were also nothing more than a rabble. Fortunately, they had the advantage of the higher ground, merely needing to stab at the rebels who climbed up with long spears or throw stones at those attempting to ascend the ladders, to resolve most of the issues.

This might sound a bit like chickens pecking at each other, and in fact... it truly was.

Otherwise, with just the men at his disposal, Zhao Haiping couldn't possibly have managed to hold Tong Pass for three full days and nights.

But now, Zhao Haiping had finally reached the end of the road.

Huang Xianzhi's forces amounted to six hundred thousand, after all. Even though Tong Pass was treacherous terrain, easy to defend but hard to attack, it was impossible for Huang Xianzhi to deploy all six hundred thousand troops. Still, at the very least, the rebel troops could take turns attacking, without needing rest.

Meanwhile, the defenders were nearly broken by exhaustion and hunger, not to mention they had already run out of stones to throw.

The fall of Tong Pass had become an inevitability.

For Zhao Haiping, the duration of the battle didn't seem particularly long. "Dark Sand" accelerates the passage of time for some of the less critical sequences, unbeknownst to the players. So, after continuous battles, although Zhao Haiping physically felt an exhaustion and weariness deep in his bones, his mind remained clear.

Yet, it was the mental unease, rather than the physical fatigue, that truly troubled him.

He began to doubt the meaning of his involvement in the fight.

Why should I sacrifice my life for that emperor who knows only pleasure and the psychopathic eunuch?

Clearly, the real Zhang Chengfan who defended Tong Pass must have had similar thoughts.

Previously, within Chang'an, the emperor, eunuchs, officials, and sons of wealthy families indulged in extravagance and acted recklessly, feasting on the fat of the land, bloated and satiated.

And the poor, such as the landless peasants, were probably seen as no better than ants in their eyes.

But now, as Huang Xianzhi's forces advanced, the emperor, eunuchs, officials, and sons of wealthy families were driving these poor to the battlefield, giving them but three days' worth of rations, yet expecting them to sell their lives to hold back Huang Xianzhi's mighty army.

So that they themselves could escape at leisure and continue to enjoy their glory and riches.

Why?

If the original Zhang Chengfan was an ancient with some notion of loyalty to the ruler and patriotism etched in his mind, naturally abhorring the rebel army of Huang Xianzhi, then, as for Zhao Haiping, in his heart, he was more inclined towards Huang Xianzhi's side.

What was this army of six hundred thousand?

Six hundred thousand people oppressed to the point of desperation.

Just like in every peasant uprising before, Huang Xianzhi had been defeated by the government forces countless times, yet he still managed to rise again and again.

Just take a stroll around, and instantly, he could pull together an army of tens of thousands once more.

Peasants grow like leeks, cut down and springs again; beheaded like chickens, they continue to cry out.

If the people are not afraid to die, how can they be frightened by death?

As someone educated in modern times, Zhao Haiping felt a natural sympathy and sorrow for these rebellious peasants. By comparison, it was obvious that Emperor Xizong of Liang and the great eunuch Tian Lingzi, who was on the run, were the ones who deserved to be eliminated.

Thinking this through, Zhao Haiping called over a few loyal and valiant fighters who were bathed in blood from combat.

"Tong Pass can no longer be held.

"Dress in civilians' clothes and fight your way out!"

...

Meanwhile, Chu Ge was also struggling in the Trial Illusion.

But unlike Zhao Haiping, he had already perished at lightning speed.

Part of the reason was that his military command skills weren't as good as Zhao Haiping's, but his quick death was actually a result of deliberate trial.

And the conclusion after this trial...

Indeed, taking on the role of Zhang Chengfan was not mandatory.

Chu Ge might have been a literary gamer, but he also had experience commanding troops. Although he was not as outstanding as Zhao Haiping, who had been under the tutelage of Deng Yuanjing and Han Fuyue, leading the army to hold Tong Pass for two or three days would not have been a problem for him.

He could use his righteousness to inspire the soldiers.

However, after analysis, Chu Ge felt that this might not necessarily be a step that needed to be overcome.

Because while playing as Zhang Chengfan, he had not seen the selection interface for the talent skill cards appear in his field of view.

Additionally, the role and mission of Zhang Chengfan were not suited for all players.

So Chu Ge allowed himself a quick death, deliberately neglecting to take military provisions from the stores as he led the Divine Strategy Army through Huazhou State, urging them forward to Tong Pass on empty stomachs.

Naturally, the result was that he was killed by his mutinous soldiers.

But this confirmed Chu Ge's guess.

After Zhang Chengfan's death, Huang Xianzhi's army broke through Tong Pass even faster.