Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors

Therefore, upon comprehensive analysis, impassioned eloquence proved more useful.

Because the reason Zheng Tian was able to defeat Huang Xianzhi wasn't so much due to his own combat prowess, but rather because he successfully persuaded his subordinates and military governors across different regions, prompting them to send troops to besiege Huang Xianzhi.

Relying solely on the people under the Fengxiang Commander's command, victory would've been impossible.

...

Having chosen his innate talent, the scenery around him rapidly changed.

Chu Song found that he had become Zheng Tian and had returned to the residence of the Fengxiang Commander.

All the military leaders in the garrison had been summoned.

Next was the time to display the true art of verbal sparring.

Chu Song was quite confident. After all, he had the talents of impassioned eloquence and morale boosting, plus the innate integrity of a scholar.

How could he lose with three such talents?

Chu Song was convinced that although his oratory skills might not match those of the real historical figure Zheng Tian, with the boost from the three talents, he was bound to surpass him.

"Honorable officers and soldiers!

"The traitor Huang Xianzhi has already invaded the capital. The foundation laid by our Liang Dynasty over more than two hundred years now teeters on the brink of collapse!

"This villain started by dealing in private salt sales, shunning honest cultivation and weaving in favor of living off robbery and violence, forging alliances with criminal bands, causing disturbances in the countryside.

"Pillaging our military towns, decimating our capital, humiliating our scholars, slaughtering our citizens. He treats human life as if it were mere chaff, claims seizing the imperial regalia is as easy as playing a game of chess. Now he dares to occupy our palaces, assuming titles without right. Offering rotten sheep heads in exchange for lordship, continuing a dog's tail with official appointments. Boasting of his security like sparrows in a nest, while playing games as fish in a cauldron!

"Huang Xianzhi's actions are perverse and rebellious, capriciously abducting and plundering; he has long since lost the hearts of the people. We, as loyal and honest officers, have plans to support the state; we should raise a million-strong army, converge within the passes, and sweep away the enemy, washing away our bloodied humiliation with their own!"

Chu Song's impassioned speech lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour.

Naturally, his remarks were directed at both the Liang Dynasty and Huang Xianzhi; some of the details were excerpted from historical documents known as Zheng Tian's "edicts to suppress the rebels".

The historical documents not only listed Huang Xianzhi's crimes but also lavished praise on the Liang Dynasty's virtues, calling Emperor Xizong of Liang "deeply caring, encompassing great principles," and saying the Liang Dynasty's governance was "broadly lenient, avoiding wrongful punishments, tirelessly diligent in the ways of kingship, earnestly compassionate towards all living things, deserving to pass down its imperial mandate indefinitely, reigning over a timeless legacy," and so on.

However, Chu Song did not speak of these things, because in his view, the Liang Dynasty itself was just as rotten, perhaps just a little bit better than Huang Xianzhi, but only marginally so.

He could not bring himself to grudgingly sing the praises of Emperor Xizong of Liang.

Although the "Mandate of Heaven" was very marketable in ancient times, putting aside these notions, Chu Song still had plenty to say.

Such as the atrocities committed by Huang Xianzhi in the capital.

Allowing his troops to burn, kill, and loot in the city, actively hunting down scholars who could compose poetry, and eradicating nearly every member of the Liang imperial family and officialdom still in Chang'an.

The litany of brutal acts had offended almost every social stratum.

It should be known that the capital was the center of the world; many local officials typically had family and old friends in the capital.

Their kinfolk being butchered, they naturally bore a bone-deep hatred towards Huang Xianzhi.

Even if they had no family or old friends in the capital, scholars everywhere, seeing how Huang Xianzhi treated the scholars of the capital, would inevitably feel sorrow as though mourning their own kind.

Therefore, Chu Song hoped to awaken a spirit of united vengeance through this point.

Under the enhancement of the triple talents, Chu Song's rhetoric truly was fervent and impassioned, deeply moving many officers.

However, when his speech concluded, what he faced was not the rallying cries for battle that he had expected.

Utter silence reigned in the command garrison.

After an extended silence, a general finally spoke.

"Mr. Zheng, this subordinate believes that with the enemy's overwhelming force, we should wait for the king-loyal forces from all quarters to assemble before making any plans."

"I agree with this view. To deploy now would be akin to striking a stone with an egg."

"Mr. Zheng, the overall situation under heaven is likely beyond the might of mortals..."

"I have heard that Huang Xianzhi has already sent envoys with letters to the various military governors, Mr. Zheng. Perhaps we should see what Huang Xianzhi says before making any plans. There's no hurry..."

Their extremely rational attitude immediately made Chu Song realize that passing this challenge would not be as simple as mere lip service.

Did Huang Xianzhi's actions in Chang'an lead to a loss of public support?

Yes.

But so what?

Talking about fate and public sentiment, no matter how much one discussed, one couldn't avoid two words: strength.

At this point, it was clear to both Zheng Tian's subordinates and the military governors everywhere that the Liang Dynasty... was finished.

The reason Gao Pian, the Military Governor of Huainan, had stayed his hand and allowed Huang Xianzhi to plunder was that he had seen the downfall of the Liang Dynasty and thus had his own ambitions.

Most military governors basically controlled local finances and military power, and in a situation where the Liang court was powerless to restrain them, once the Liang Dynasty fell, they would become independent powers in their own right.

In such a situation, why would they dispatch troops to help the Liang Dynasty eliminate Huang Xianzhi?

It's said that the virtuous shall possess the world, but clearly they all knew that the so-called "virtuous" ultimately needed to be supported by strength.

So, the Zheng Tian that Chu Song was portraying could not mobilize these officers.

It wasn't that these officers were craven or fearfully clinging to life; the key was that they all deemed the action pointless.

These officers were waiting for the military governors from all regions to collectively deploy, only then would there be a chance of defeating Huang Xianzhi's six hundred thousand-strong army.

However, the military governors were also waiting for one jurisdiction to take the lead in deploying troops.

Each harboring their own ulterior motives, no one wanted to be the first to stick their neck out.

Some even harbored thoughts of surrendering to Huang Xianzhi, be they officers under Zheng Tian or other military governors.

After all, only those who understood the times were considered outstanding talents.

As cruel as Huang Xianzhi was, it was against the commoners, against those who defied him. But for those who surrendered, he did not engage in mass slaughter.

For each military governor, the best choice at this moment was to hold their forces in check, ostensibly surrender to Huang Xianzhi, and watch for changes.

Chu Song wanted to say more, yet suddenly felt a rush of intense agitation; his vision darkened, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.