Late Ming Dynasty: Summoning players from Liaodong to support the Ming Dynasty

Night fell, enveloping Guangning City.

The commotion gradually subsided atop the west gate wall. The players, having cleaned up the battlefield, stripped the captured weapons and armor, even the patched clothes of the Han army soldiers, of everything they had acquired, and then returned to their respective camps, satisfied, to exchange their merits at "Master Su's Records" the next day.

Su Qingying led a group of Guangning City residents, carefully carrying baskets of spoils in sacks. Her usually clear eyes shone with excitement. Those cold numbers felt more precious to her than any gold or silver. She wanted to register every item and make the most of it.

Li Xunyi, accompanied by several clerks, stood before the terrified, dumbfounded surrendered soldiers. His thin figure appeared solemn in the torchlight. He held a ruler in his hand, not rushing to question them, but instead staring at the soldiers' worn armor, his expression complex. The general wanted him to "educate" these men, to rebuild their hearts—a task a hundred times, a thousand times more difficult than interrogating a Tartar spy. He gently stroked the ruler, his heart filled with mixed emotions: indignation at Hu Yongqiang's actions, and awe at the general's method of "rebuilding their spirits." This was not a simple punishment, but a complete shattering of their past, followed by the infusion of new faith. For him, wasn't this also a difficult "learning" process?

Chu Ze didn't participate in these trivial matters. He stood in the study of the garrison commander's mansion, the night view of Guangning City gradually quieting down outside the window. His consciousness was immersed in the vast world of the Mountain and River Map.

Preparations for the second phase of internal testing are nearing completion.

He wasn't just recruiting a hundred new players to make up the numbers. Guangning City was in dire need of rebuilding; it lacked not only soldiers capable of fighting, but also people capable of building civilization. What he needed were the "sparks" that could bring innovation and hope to this broken border city.

Chu Ze flipped his hand, and golden light flowed across the Mountain and River Map, the enormous virtual screen unfolding before him once more. He directly clicked on the [Promotional Video Editing] module.

All the battle scenes from the "Battle of Ximen" were now clearly presented to him in the scroll, categorized by type. From Hu Yongqiang's arrogant demeanor when he led his elite troops into Ximen, to the brutal massacre in the cement maze, the players' outrageous tactic of splashing feces with golden juice, Shi Dali's reckless bravery in hand-to-hand combat, Qian Lele's various "antics" during his live stream, Xiao Ran and Qin Jue's calm command and precise kills... everything was faithfully recorded in the scroll, showing every detail.

Of course, there's also the scene of his own appearance. The silver spear that instantly blocked Hu Yongqiang's fatal blow, the series of interrogations like a trial, and the final, swift and decisive "Breaking the Formation Reincarnation" that crippled Hu Yongqiang's legs.

Chu Ze lightly tapped his fingertips on the light screen, quickly piecing together the combat footage like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. He didn't need flashy special effects; he wanted realism, impact, and a power that struck straight to the heart.

The video begins.

In the scene, Hu Yongqiang, dressed in the armor of a Later Jin general, triumphantly passes through the West Gate, surrounded by a group of elite Han Banner troops. The background sound is a somber drumbeat, foreshadowing an impending conspiracy.

The scene then shifts. The heavy gate of the barbican slams down, trapping Hu Yongqiang and his group in a desperate situation. One by one, firing ports on the concrete walls open, and countless oil flaming pots are thrown down, exploding repeatedly and sending flames soaring into the sky. Screams of agony mingle with the players' excited shouts.

A fleeting image flashes by: Shi Dali, shirtless, holding a Jurchen soldier, laughing heartily even as he's pierced by a spear. A humorous interlude also appears: Qian Lele, sporting pink cat ears, stands on the city wall, watching the Jurchens below drenched in molten gold, accompanied by a comical narration, briefly easing the oppressive atmosphere.

But soon, the tone shifted to somber and desolate.

Clad in crimson armor, Xiao Ran pointed his spear and calmly gave the order. Qin Jue moved like a ghost through the dark maze alleys; a flash of cold light, and enemies fell to the ground. The players navigated the concrete maze with ease, dividing and surrounding their enemies, displaying an almost indestructible nature that gave viewers a sense of absolute despair and utter crushing defeat.

Chu Ze's editing during the climax was particularly meticulous.

In despair, Hu Yongqiang fearlessly lunged at Wang Han and delivered a fatal blow.

In a flash, a silver glint appeared!

Chu Ze appeared out of thin air, his spear effortlessly blocking Hu Yongqiang's hateful attack, sparks flying everywhere.

"Your opponent is me." Chu Ze's calm, emotionless tone echoed in the video.

Immediately following was a fierce duel between Chu Ze and Hu Yongqiang, their swords and spears clashing. Every word Chu Ze uttered was accompanied by a heavy gunshot, pushing Hu Yongqiang into a desperate situation.

"To survive? Look at them, aren't they all struggling to survive in dire circumstances?"

"Your so-called wealth and glory are achieved by climbing over the corpses of these compatriots who were trying to survive?"

"We are short of food, we are short of pay, we have no reinforcements from outside, and we are beset by traitors from within! But we have not knelt down!"

Every question pierced Hu Yongqiang's heart like a knife. The footage vividly captures Hu Yongqiang's emotional changes, from his initial ferocity to his struggle, collapse, and finally madness.

Finally, there was Chu Ze's stunning [Breaking the Formation Reincarnation]!

The spear transformed into a spinning silver moon, deflecting the sword in Hu Yongqiang's hand. A glint of cold light vanished, and the spear tip pierced precisely through Hu Yongqiang's collarbone. Then, the spear shaft swept horizontally, shattering the kneecaps of both of Hu Yongqiang's legs.

"Pfft!" "Snap!"

Two sharp, teeth-grinding sounds rang clearly in everyone's ears. Hu Yongqiang collapsed to his knees, his sword falling to the ground with a mournful thud.

Then, there is the image of Hu Yongqiang, in despair, stabbing his loyal bodyguard to death without hesitation in order to escape, and then fleeing in panic over the corpses of his comrades.

The video ends abruptly here.

On the screen, a line of shocking, blood-red characters slowly appeared, filling everyone's field of vision.

"Do you wish to serve your country in its time of crisis, or to become an accomplice to tyranny?"

Chu Ze watched the promotional video with satisfaction.

This is more than just a game trailer. It's a probing film about war, humanity, and choices. It's not simply about attracting players to kill time; it's about getting these "chosen ones" of Earth to truly participate and experience the reality and cruelty of this world.

"Confirmed release."

Chu Ze issued the order.

Blue Star, China Region.

Major social media platforms, video websites, and even mainstream news media have been closely monitoring the developments of "Iron-Blooded Jiangshan" since Qian Lele's live stream sparked a media frenzy.

When the promotional video edited by Chu Ze was released to Earth by Shanhe Shejitu in the form of an official announcement, it happened almost without warning. Like a virus, it swept across the entire China region's network in just one hour.

The video's title was a striking one: "Iron-Blooded Empire 2.0: This is War!"

"Holy crap! The official trailer for 'Iron-Blooded Jiangshan' has been released!"

"My God! The special effects! The realism! It's even more exciting than Hollywood blockbusters!"

"That traitor Hu Yongqiang! He even killed his own men! He's worse than an animal!"

"I've listened to the general's line eight times, and every time it gets my blood pumping! 'We didn't kneel!' That's what true Chinese men are!"

"That [Breaking the Formation Reincarnation]! Someone please show me the slow-motion version! What kind of divine spear technique is that! It's so cool!"

The video's views skyrocketed at an unprecedented rate. Within an hour, it surpassed 100 million! Countless netizens spontaneously shared the video on WeChat Moments, Weibo, Douyin, and even overseas platforms.

"The best game trailer ever!" This assessment quickly became a consensus online.

When the video reached its end, and the large, blood-red characters appeared—"Do you wish to face the national crisis, or become an accomplice to the tyrant?"—the emotions across the entire internet reached their peak.

This isn't asking whether gamers play games or not. It's asking you, as a Chinese person, how would you act in the face of national crisis and a historical choice?

Countless players were startled and felt a chill run down their spines when they were asked this question.

Some clenched their fists, while others had tears in their eyes. They recalled the years of hardship described in their textbooks, and the ancestors who fought and bled for the survival of their nation.

They wanted to go in. They wanted to go to Guangning.

They wanted to stand behind Chu Ze and contribute their strength to this indomitable general and to this nation that was about to rise from the ashes!

At the very end of the video, a line of small text appeared.

[The second closed beta test of "Iron-Blooded Jiangshan" is officially launched! Limited recruitment of 100 "Chosen Ones"!]

One stone caused a thousand waves!

"Second closed beta test! The second closed beta test is finally here!"

"Charge, brothers! We have to get those beta test codes this time, no matter what!"

"Stop talking, I've already submitted my resume! I'm a PhD in Civil Engineering, I can build the Great Wall for the General!"

"I'm a retired special forces soldier! I'm top-tier in both PvP and PvE! I can serve as a general's personal guard!"

"Me! I'm a professor at an agricultural university! I can cultivate the land for the general and increase grain production!"

The server hosting the registration link crashed within seconds due to the massive traffic. Various online forums were flooded with posts asking for beta test codes.

"100,000! I'll offer 100,000! I need a spot in the second closed beta test!"

"Does any big shot have extra beta test codes? I'm willing to give up my property deed! Just let me in, I'll be your slave!"

The wealthy waved their checks, tech gurus showcased their expertise, and veterans shared their combat experiences. Even some astute research institutions tried to uncover the secrets of this "game" through various unofficial channels, hoping to secure one or two spots.

Chu Ze looked at the spiritual energy on the Mountain and River Map, which had seen a surge in "cross-border attention" due to this publicity campaign, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

However, his selection criteria are far more stringent than outsiders imagine.

Chu Ze tapped the scroll with his fingertip, inputting a series of filter criteria. [Prioritize players with backgrounds in engineering, chemical engineering, medicine, agriculture, and machinery.] [Secondly, consider players with experience in military command, logistics management, and strategic analysis.] [Exclude those with malicious intentions, impure motives, or who excessively pursue personal gain at the expense of the collective interest.]

He doesn't want mere "thugs"; he wants "builders" who can contribute to civilization. These professionals will become the cornerstone of his era of reform on this fertile land of Liaodong.

A massive amount of registration information flowed rapidly across the map of mountains and rivers. In the end, one hundred IDs that met the criteria were precisely locked onto the map.

Cheng Huaxue: A top talent in the chemical industry, with a strong interest in ancient techniques such as gunpowder, metallurgy, and medicine.

[Anji: A surgeon who has participated in numerous international rescue operations and possesses extensive experience in field medical care.]

[Tian Qianhe: PhD in Agricultural Science, specializing in hybridization breeding, with a fervent dedication to increasing crop yields.]

[Gongshu Ban: Mechanical engineer, skilled in machine design and manufacturing, dreams of creating a "steam-powered mech".]

These key talents were all marked with special labels by Chu Ze. Besides them, there were all sorts of unusual professionals: there were designers researching ancient architectural structures, university professors proficient in hydraulic engineering, veterinarians specializing in animal husbandry, and even a few folk craftsmen researching the forging of ancient cold weapons…

One hundred IDs, one hundred talents, one hundred unique souls.

They may possess extraordinary skills, have mysterious backgrounds, or harbor unknown motives. But at this moment, they all share a common identity—the second-phase "Chosen Ones" of "Iron-Blooded Jiangshan".

"Confirmed arrival."

Chu Ze gave the final instructions.

[Spiritual Essence - 50000 points.]

The arrival of the "Chosen Ones" has begun...

Outside Guangning City.

In the distance, towards the direction of the Later Jin camp, several flames shot into the sky, accompanied by faint shouts of battle and the sound of horses' hooves.

Amin's roar seemed to reach Chu Ze's ears, even though it was several miles away.

Chu Ze walked to the window, pushed it open, and the night wind, carrying a hint of blood, rushed in.

He watched as the hundred points of light representing new power on the map of mountains and rivers converged toward Guangning at an astonishing speed.

A meaningful smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

The defeat of the Later Jin vanguard and Hu Yongqiang's escape will inevitably ignite a huge storm within Amin's ranks. But this is only the prelude.

The real challenge is about to begin.