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

As night fell, undercurrents were already stirring in Guangning City. The stench of battle outside the West Gate had not yet completely dissipated, but in the dilapidated temporary barracks in the backyard of the garrison commander's mansion, a new "storm" was silently brewing.

boom!

With a deafening roar, the wooden door of the barracks shattered, turning into a shower of wood chips. Immediately afterward, a blinding white light burst forth from inside the barracks, startling the guards on guard. They gripped their weapons tightly, as if facing a formidable enemy.

But the white light was neither the glint of swords nor the manifestation of sorcery. The light flashed and disappeared in an instant, and then cries of alarm, curses, and all sorts of strange accents rose and fell from the barracks.

"Holy crap! There are so many people! Is this the second closed beta test? I've been queuing for three days and three nights!" a voice exclaimed excitedly.

"Are you kidding me? Why am I not a mature, elegant woman? This random character creation is way too haphazard!"

"Damn, is my hair a mess because I haven't washed it? Does anyone have a mirror they can lend me?"

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way! I need to use the restroom! I can't hold it anymore!"

One hundred "chosen ones" from Earth regained consciousness amidst intense dizziness, like dumplings being dropped into a pot. Some landed in bizarre ways, rolling around in a heap; others, jostled and shoved by those around them, were cursing and shoving; still others, upon opening their eyes, immediately demanded to find a latrine, completely disregarding the rudimentary and somber atmosphere of a wartime barracks.

The barracks were not large to begin with, and with a hundred players plus dozens of "veteran soldiers," the room was packed so tightly that it was difficult to even turn around.

The first group of players stared wide-eyed at the newcomers. They were used to all sorts of ridiculous antics, but they had never seen anything like this where the barracks doors were blown up right from the start.

"Quiet the hell out of here!" Wang Han yelled, trying to maintain order, but his usually rousing voice was completely drowned out by the noise.

Xiao Ran stood in the corner, holding her spear, a rare look of helplessness on her face. These newcomers... were even more noisy than she had imagined.

Shi Dali, on the other hand, was excited. He patted a player who had just landed on the shoulder with such force that it almost knocked the person over: "Hahaha! A newbie's here! Anyone want to charge in with Brother Meat? I'll teach you everything!"

The players were in complete chaos, but Chu Ze, from the GM's perspective, had a complete view of it all.

He wasn't surprised at all. These "chosen ones" from Earth were a group of "two-legged beasts" who couldn't be fathomed by common sense, sometimes silly and sometimes bursting with astonishing energy.

Chu Ze's gaze precisely locked onto the crowd.

He saw a woman with long, flaxen, curly hair tied back with a wooden hairpin, dressed in a tight-fitting short outfit. Several ceramic jars hung from her waist. She was frowning as she picked up a broken piece of clay from the ground, sniffed it, and looked on with an intense thirst for knowledge. This was Cheng Huaxue, a genius in the field of chemical engineering.

He saw a young man dressed in a white cloth shirt stained with starch and a leather apron with bloodstains and medicine stains. He wore a homemade monocle and was quickly assessing the "physical condition" of the people around him, muttering to himself: "Hmm, a few dislocated joints, one on his butt, and two others... seem to have some internal bleeding, need to be dealt with immediately." This was Anji, the battlefield medic, the King of Hell.

He saw a girl with wheat-colored skin, braided hair, and wearing a coarse cloth shirt and trousers. As soon as she landed, she squatted down, curiously picked up some soil with her fingers, examined it carefully in her palm, and showed a look of fascination on her face: "The soil composition here... seems very suitable for growing dry rice!" This was Tian Qianhe, a PhD in agricultural science.

He also saw a tall, slightly hunched man wearing a vest stained with oil and iron filings. As soon as he landed, he went straight to the corner of the barracks, carefully observing the wooden structure and connection method, muttering, "The wood used is wrong, and the mortise and tenon structure is also problematic... If it could be reinforced with steel and combined with gear transmission..." This was Gongshu Ban, a mechanical engineer, a future siege engineer.

These were the "sparks" that Chu Ze truly desired. They were not merely warriors; they were builders of civilization who could bring innovation and hope to this era. A barely perceptible smile appeared on Chu Ze's lips.

Outside the barracks, Wang Erniu, a seasoned veteran who followed the old military rules, felt his blood pressure soaring again.

"Deputy General Wang! It seems a bit messy inside..." a guard reported cautiously.

Wang Erniu's beard twitched. General Chu Ze's order was "No violence, use gentleness as the main approach." But these "heavenly soldiers" were damn hard to deal with, even more difficult than the Tartars!

As soon as he stepped into the barracks, he saw a player with messy hair trying to pull at his faded old armor, muttering, "The riveting work on these armor plates is a bit rough; the puncture resistance isn't good. It needs improvement!"

"You son of a bitch!" Wang Erniu was so angry that he grabbed the broadsword at his waist, almost cursing. This old armor of his had crawled out of piles of corpses with him, and to be despised by this group of "demons" was an utter disgrace! But when he thought of General Chu Ze's order to "prioritize gentleness," he could only suppress his anger, his face turning red, and forcefully shove the sword back into its sheath.

He took a deep breath and tried to force out what he considered a "gentle" expression, but on his bearded face, it looked worse than crying.

"Quiet down, all of you!" Wang Erniu shouted with all his might, but it had little effect and the noise continued.

Just as Wang Erniu felt he was about to explode, a tall figure walked slowly towards the barracks, illuminated by torches.

Wearing black armor and a dark cloak, he exuded an imposing aura without being angry.

Chu Ze.

Wang Han and Su Qingying followed behind him. As soon as they stepped into the barracks, the noisy environment seemed to be silenced. All the players, whether newcomers or veterans who had witnessed Chu Ze's "godlike skills" before, subconsciously stopped making a fuss.

The air inside the barracks instantly became heavy and oppressive.

Chu Ze ignored Wang Erniu's frustrated expression, which was on the verge of tears, and also ignored the other players who were still in shock. He walked straight to the center of the barracks, and his powerful aura instantly suppressed the entire area.

"Welcome, the second batch of Chosen Ones." Chu Ze's voice was calm, yet it contained an undeniable power that clearly reached everyone's ears. "Your arrival will determine the fate of Guangning City."

Without a word, he simply raised his hand and waved it. Golden light swirled, and the ancient and vast phantom of the Mountain and River Map unfolded before him once more, illuminating the entire barracks in a magnificent golden glow.

Immediately, a huge, semi-transparent virtual light screen appeared, suspended in mid-air, clearly displayed in front of all players.

On the screen, a brand-new task list radiates an alluring glow.

[Life Task Chain: Economic Construction and Technological Development of Guangning City]

Task 1: Improve Crop Cultivation Techniques

[Mission Description: The farmland inside and outside Guangning City is barren, and grain production is insufficient to support the military and civilians. Introducing high-yield crops or improving planting methods would greatly alleviate the food crisis.]

[Mission Objective: Successfully cultivate a high-yield crop, or increase the yield of existing crops by more than 10%.]

[Mission Rewards: Merit Points (based on contribution), Agricultural Technology Points (unlock/activate corresponding nodes in the 'Technology Tree').]

[Task issuer: Chu Ze, the garrison commander of Guangning.]

Task Two: Establish a Simplified Medical System

[Mission Description: Frequent warfare has resulted in numerous wounded and sick soldiers. Medical care in Guangning City is inadequate, and medicinal resources are scarce. Establishing an efficient medical system can save countless lives and boost the morale of both the military and civilians.]

[Mission Objective: Establish a makeshift medical camp for the wounded and sick, train qualified medical personnel, or develop effective treatments for external injuries and epidemics.]

[Mission Rewards: Merit Points (based on contribution), Medical Technology Points (unlock/activate corresponding nodes in the 'Technology Tree').]

[Task issuer: Chu Ze, the garrison commander of Guangning.]

Task 3: Research New Types of Firearms

[Mission Description: The Later Jin Eight Banners cavalry are swift and agile. Although the Ming army possesses firearms, their power is insufficient and their range is limited. Developing more powerful and convenient firearms would be key to turning the tide of the war.]

[Mission Objective: Improve existing firearms and cannons, increasing their power, range, or reloading speed, or develop entirely new firearms.]

[Mission Rewards: Merit Points (based on contribution), Military Technology Points (unlock/activate corresponding nodes in the 'Technology Tree').]

[Task issuer: Chu Ze, the garrison commander of Guangning.]

Task Four: Construct Urban Infrastructure

[Mission Description: Guangning's city walls are dilapidated, roads within the city are in disrepair, irrigation is inconvenient, and production facilities are outdated. Improving infrastructure is the cornerstone for enhancing the living standards of the military and civilians and strengthening defense capabilities.]

[Mission Objective: Participate in the construction of city walls, road paving, and water conservancy projects, or build new workshops, mines, farmland, and other production facilities.]

[Mission Rewards: Merit Points (based on contribution), Engineering Technology Points (unlock/activate corresponding nodes in the 'Technology Tree').]

[Task issuer: Chu Ze, the garrison commander of Guangning.]

When these task lists clearly appeared in mid-air, the eyes of the previously confused new players instantly lit up.

"Holy crap! This...this is a life skill quest!"

"Agriculture! I have a PhD in agronomy! I'll do it! Improving crops, that's my specialty!"

"Medicine! I'm a surgeon! I can get this simplified medical system up and running!"

"Firearms! Military technology points! Isn't that my specialty as a mechanical engineer? I'm going to build armored men!"

"Infrastructure! City walls! Roads! Water conservancy! The spring of my life as a civil engineering student has arrived! I'm going to build Guangning City into a cyberpunk city!"

The players were excitedly cheering, this was simply tailor-made for them, the "lifestyle players"! Compared to the first batch of players who immediately started killing Tartars, this batch of players clearly focused more on construction and development.

Chu Ze watched the players' enthusiasm with satisfaction. This was exactly the kind of vibrant scene he wanted. Guangning City needed more than just killing; it needed development.

He turned his head, his gaze falling on Su Qingying, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable power.

"Master Su," Chu Ze instructed in a low voice, "you will be in charge of assigning these new 'Chosen Ones' for the time being. Record their respective areas of expertise to prepare for future plans."

Su Qingying's body trembled. She hadn't expected Chu Ze to entrust her with such a crucial task. Assigning these hundred "Chosen Ones" from another world was far more complicated than simply inventorying supplies. Feeling the heavy responsibility on her shoulders, her trust in Chu Ze deepened even further.

"Yes...yes, General!" Su Qingying replied softly, her clear eyes filled with determination and drive. She knew this was the general's trust in her, and she had to do her best.

Chu Ze nodded, his gaze sweeping over all the players again.

"Guangning City is in grave danger, but it is also a place of hope." His voice was deep and powerful. "You are all entrusted with a destiny; you must join me in facing this national crisis and rebuilding our land!"

"Go! Use your talents to create a brand new future for this city and this land!"

As he finished speaking, Chu Ze's figure appeared tall and mysterious in the golden light.

The players were ecstatic.

"Charge! Fight for the General!"

"Fight for Guangning!"

"I want to grow potatoes that yield 1,000 jin per mu!"

"I want to build a flying chariot!"

"I want to make Guangning City the second home of all Blue Star players!"

The commotion erupted again, but this time it wasn't chaos; instead, it was a frenzied drive with a clear direction. One hundred players from the second closed beta test, like a herd of wild horses unleashed, charged out of the barracks and towards every corner of Guangning City.

Cheng Huaxue rushed to the blacksmith's shop, eager to research how to refine higher-purity gunpowder using local saltpeter and sulfur. An Ji headed to the wounded soldiers' camp, intending to use modern medical knowledge to alleviate the suffering of those ancient wounded soldiers. Tian Qianhe ran straight out of the west gate, determined to cultivate a new experimental field on the edge of that bloody battlefield. Meanwhile, Gongshu Ban had already begun hammering and tinkering all over the city wall, muttering "mechanical structures," "gear transmission," and so on.

Looking at this group of "energetic" "heavenly soldiers," Wang Erniu felt like crying. These guys were even harder to manage than the Tartars!

Wang Han's eyes flickered. He looked at Chu Ze, then at these new "lifestyle big shots," and began to make plans in his mind.

Su Qingying had already taken out a brand new ledger and, with her delicate handwriting, began to record the special skills and needs of the new players one by one.

Guangning City, this ancient border town, seems to have been infused with new vitality at this moment. A wave of "large-scale infrastructure" and "large-scale production," intertwined with modern knowledge and ancient warfare, is quietly rising.

Chu Ze stood by the window, the night breeze brushing against his face.

He looked at the new players scattered throughout the city, like sparks of fire, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The manpower shortage in Guangning City is no longer so severe.

But the real challenge has only just begun.

In the distance, towards the direction of the Later Jin camp, several flames shot into the sky, as if responding to the "rebirth" of Guangning City.

That was Amin's anger, and Hu Yongqiang's resentment.

But Chu Ze knew that all of this would be the prelude to the update of the "Iron-Blooded Jiangshan" version.

The dawn of steel is about to arrive.