Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors

The sixty thousand-strong army marched grandly toward Chang'an.

Chu Ge was once more looking down upon what was to follow from a god's perspective.

The mighty army marched in grandeur, advancing into Chang'an.

This noble city was more than undefended—it practically welcomed them with open gates.

Tang Xizong and Tian Lingzi had already fled in haste with their personal guards, much like Emperor Yingzong of Qi had tried to escape from the capital in years past.

But now, there was not one official in the imperial court capable of detaining the emperor and organizing the capital's defense like Li Boxi once did.

And so, Tang Xizong, just like Emperor Yingzong of Qi, slipped away quietly, informing none of the officials or royal relatives.

Thus, while many were still bewildered and lost, Huang Xianzhi's forces had already arrived outside the city walls of Chang'an.

The people hurried to the streets to watch, as if greeting a victorious army.

Chu Ge silently sighed.

Clearly, the ridiculous actions of Tang Xizong and Tian Lingzi within the capital had inflamed both heaven and the people's wrath. Within a few years, all popular support had been lost.

For these commoners, perhaps it was time for a change of dynasty.

Many of them harbored a fantasy: that Huang Xianzhi, however flawed, was after all a hero risen from the masses, surely much stronger than that young emperor who knew nothing but indulgence in pleasures?

And, true to form, Huang Xianzhi did not disappoint the expectations of the people.

As his army entered the city, officers continued to reassure the public.

"Huang Xianzhi has taken up arms to protect the borders and ensure the people's peace! He will never commit atrocities against the citizens like the Liang Dynasty emperor did! You can all go about your lives in peace, Huang Xianzhi's forces will commit no harm, so do not fear!"

The watching crowds showed expressions of joy on their faces.

Although still somewhat skeptical, such proclamations did much to soothe their fears.

If Huang Xianzhi's army, reputed to be bandits, could indeed maintain regional peace and ensure the safety of the common people, wouldn't that be far better than the official forces?

Consequently, these civilians returned to their homes to spread the word.

In Chu Ge's field of vision, time rapidly transformed.

In the initial days, Huang Xianzhi's forces truly did as promised, harming no one.

Inside the city of Chang'an, everyone was living peacefully, the eastern and western markets thrived immensely, and everything seemed orderly.

Even the soldiers of Huang Xianzhi would often generously donate wealth to the poor.

This further surprised the people, and they became more convinced that the imperial court's depictions of Huang Xianzhi's forces as bandits were demonizing lies, completely untrustworthy!

However, it seemed that they had all overlooked one question.

Where did the soldiers' wealth, used for charity, come from?

If Huang Xianzhi's men were this charitable and non-violent everywhere they went, and since the army itself did not produce anything, then let alone wealth, even the issue of military rations would be impossible to solve.

If one were to suggest robbing the rich to aid the poor...

Then, in the city of Chang'an, would the vast majority be categorized as "rich" or "poor" by them?

Moreover, once the innate brutality and killing intent in their hearts were unleashed, could the soldiers truly remain rational in discerning who should be killed and who should not?

As expected, one day, a great fire suddenly ignited in the eastern and western markets.

The merchants there, once again, faced complete ruin.

Only this time, unlike when Tang Xizong and Tian Lingzi simply had the Mayor of Jingzhao confiscate their wealth to fill the state treasury, Huang Xianzhi's soldiers took their lives along with their possessions.

After the first fire started, Huang Xianzhi's forces, as if hit by a contagion, almost simultaneously cast off their kind, respectful, and charitable masks, grabbed weapons and torches, and eagerly spilled into the streets.

They started close by, plundering from those around them.

This chaos was not prearranged, yet it was more in sync than prearranged plans.

They had endured for several days, but finally, they could no longer restrain themselves.

The prosperous and wealthy city of Chang'an was just too tempting; no one could hold back.

Once one branch of the military made the initial move, that desire flared up like wildfire, uncontrollable.

Almost in an instant, the opulent capital of the Liang Dynasty became a city of death.

The soldiers under Huang Xianzhi stormed into every house, every alley, slaying any male who resisted, violating beautiful women, pillaging all the gold, silver, and jewels, even fighting each other over the loot.

Nearly every corner was shrouded in an atmosphere of despair and terror.

The people of Chang'an watched in stunned silence. They couldn't understand why the soldiers, who had coexisted peacefully with them just a few days prior, had suddenly changed beyond recognition, seeming possessed by demons.

Many people, in their despair, turned their gazes towards the palace.

That was where Huang Xianzhi was located.

They still harbored unrealistic hopes.

Hadn't the Yellow King said, when he entered the city, that he raised his army for the people and would not act recklessly or harm the citizens...?

These atrocities must be the actions of the King's soldiers acting against his orders; surely the Yellow King would stop them, right?

However, they didn't know that Huang Xianzhi could only watch in shock at everything unfolding before him.

He issued orders repeatedly to halt the brutality, wanting his soldiers to stop, but to no avail.

Not until he summoned several of the highest-ranking generals to the palace.

Huang Xianzhi, finally seated on the throne, looked grim.

Suppressing his rage, he asked, "Why not help me be a good emperor?"

Huang Xianzhi didn't understand, but his words to the people of Chang'an before he entered weren't empty promises. He hoped to control these generals, to prevent any harm to the people, to preserve the prosperity of Chang'an, to smoothly win the people's hearts, to take over from the Liang Dynasty, to become the founding emperor, to earn an everlasting reputation for goodness.

However, after looking at each other, the generals answered coldly, "The imperial power is yours; the authority of conquest is ours. No need for further discussion."

Huang Xianzhi's hand tightened instantly on the throne's armrest.

Yet, he was powerless against such a response from his generals.

It was clearly the unanimous opinion of all the generals.

...

Witnessing this scene, Chu Ge was also left speechlessly contemplating.

What did Huang Xianzhi's generals mean by that statement?

The throne is yours; we are willing to support you as the emperor, but looting and pillaging are our business; let's have no more talk about this.

From Huang Xianzhi's perspective, didn't he realize that refraining from injuring even a hair on anyone's head would win over the people's hearts more effectively?

Of course, he knew.

But knowing and doing are two entirely different things.

Just who were the 600,000-strong army under Huang Xianzhi?

Right, they were farmers who had lost their land, homeless refugees, and perhaps opportunistic thugs and ruffians who had mixed in...

But the moment they took up arms, they became men with nothing left to lose.

They knew that they could die at any moment, and since they had already resolved to risk their lives, there were no laws or orders left to bind them.

They wanted only to rob, kill, and do as they pleased.

With such a prosperous and wealthy capital right before their eyes, something within easy reach, how could they possibly restrain themselves?

And Huang Xianzhi... couldn't control them.