Chapter 135: Double Insurance

Yan Luo did not suffer from indecision, but this time he truly found it difficult to choose.

Both Qin Shi Huang and Wu Zetian had their own strengths, as well as their own weaknesses.

Take Ying Zheng, for example. The First Emperor of Qin, the greatest emperor in history, possessed immense personal charisma. His appeal to players could be said to rank at the very top. His personal leader skill, Ancestral Dragon, transformed him into a black dragon! It was absurdly powerful.

His special unit, the Terracotta Army, could be unlocked as early as the Stone Age. Most Stone Age equipment consisted of wood and stone. Against an army made entirely of pottery...

Yan Luo had no doubt that Qin Shi Huang could crush any power in the Stone Age, whether foreign or Chinese.

In the Bronze Age, the Qin Repeating Crossbow could be unlocked. It was practically a piece of futuristic technology—and a ranged weapon at that.

But the First Emperor was simply too fierce, too overbearing. On the relatively small and chaotic continent of Chaos Mainland 1.0, if he encountered anyone—even Emperor Napoleon or President Washington—he would never show them the slightest consideration. Back then, whenever the State of Qin discovered an independent regime, it would send troops to destroy it. There was no reasoning with them.

With such overwhelming advantages in the early game, and as China’s first emperor with an exceptionally distinctive status, Qin Shi Huang would probably become the target of every other faction...

If he chose Qin Shi Huang, Yan Luo felt he might slip into a state of mind where the only rule was: do not hesitate—just fight.

Wu Zetian likewise possessed both strengths and weaknesses. Though she was merely a game character designed by Tencent, her characterization would certainly retain some basis in history. She had risen from a mere talented concubine to become emperor, replacing the mighty Tang dynasty with her own Zhou dynasty. Along the way, she had even been a nun, and repeatedly...

One could say that this empress understood the essence of keeping a low profile, while also possessing courage and resolve. She knew when to yield and when to stand firm.

In economics, politics, and culture, Wu Zetian was outstanding among the emperors. Militarily, however, the empire had declined during her reign. The empress was not skilled in military strategy; her wars ended more often in defeat than victory. Unable to wage war, she would have difficulty establishing herself in the early game.

Yan Luo examined Wu Zetian’s description.

Leader Skill: Natural Enchantment.

As a game intended for release throughout the world, it naturally could not include any explicit sexual content. After all, China had the Heavenly Law Bureau overseeing such matters. Natural Enchantment drew upon Wu Zetian’s title of “Enchantress” and the lore that she had become famous across the realm for her beauty at the age of thirteen.

As for the skill’s actual effect...

Once in every era—from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and beyond—the skill could be used to completely bewitch one male under another leader’s command, provided he was an NPC rather than a player, or one neutral human male, compelling him to join Wu Zetian’s faction.

For example:

Bai Qi had historically served under King Zhaoxiang of Qin, the great-grandfather of Qin Shi Huang. But in this game, only Ying Zheng existed among the emperors of Qin, so Bai Qi naturally belonged to the First Emperor as one of his generals. If Wu Zetian wanted to cause trouble, she could cast Natural Enchantment on Bai Qi. The greatest general of the Warring States period would then be dragged over and forcibly switch sides...

It was a shameless skill capable of making any leader feel utterly cursed.

Unfortunately, it could only be used once in each era.

Yan Luo also did not know whether it was meant to prevent players from overthrowing the empress, but in addition to Natural Enchantment, Wu Zetian had been given a combat skill called Flowery Fisticuffs. It allowed her to manipulate flowers in battle, presumably inspired by the legend of her commanding all flowers to bloom.

Wu Zetian’s faction also possessed a special building: the Bright Hall. It required several prerequisite technologies in the construction system before it could be unlocked.

The Bright Hall was a place for political decisions, worshiping the gods, receiving officials and envoys, holding banquets, and conducting lectures and debates—the most famous ritual structure of ancient China. In the game, it granted one point each to domestic affairs, religion, diplomacy, popular support, and culture, while also increasing the rate of development in all five systems.

It could be called a divine building.

But Wu Zetian had neither a special unit nor a special weapon.

Wu Zetian was the ruler of Great Zhou.

As for the Tang dynasty, it had two leaders here.

Emperor Taizong of Tang possessed the astonishing Iron Age unit known as the Black Armored Cavalry!

They were heavily armored horsemen.

He also had a special weapon: the Tang Mo Saber.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang likewise possessed the Divine Strategy Army and the Tang Horizontal Saber.

It could be said that Wu Zetian’s faction was severely handicapped in military warfare. Establishing itself in the early game would be extremely difficult, and it could easily be overrun by a rapid assault...

Yan Luo struggled to make a decision. Then, all at once, he received a message from Chu Qingfeng.

After forming a temporary team, communication became one of the team’s functions.

But even in this selection hall, the game’s internal interface allowed them to communicate. It seemed that the Dream Space’s technology completely overwhelmed the online game Rise of Great Nations.

“Yan Luo, are you choosing by yourself on the leader-selection screen?”

After seeing the message on his phone, Yan Luo replied with a single word:

“Yes.”

“Qin Shi Huang and Wu Zetian are the two leaders with the greatest potential! They’ll attract the most players. This is an online game, so the players themselves are an important factor! Qin Shi Huang is suited to dominating the early game and raising a massive army before the Iron Age. Wu Zetian is better suited to peaceful development. Don’t choose any of the others.”

Chu Qingfeng sent another message.

“There’s something else important!”

His messages continued:

“Xu Han and I entered the same selection hall at the same time. He’s right beside me. I discovered something: because the system judged us to have entered as a team, when I chose Qin Shi Huang, Xu Han was automatically assigned to Qin Shi Huang’s faction as well. When I chose Wu Zetian, he likewise joined Wu Zetian’s tribe!”

“It works the same way if he makes the choice.”

“I’ve worked out a conclusion. Once a team enters, all its members can only join the same faction. So perhaps being separated from you is actually a good thing. It means our team could join two major factions at the same time!”

“The system is maintaining balance, and in doing so, it’s also providing compensation. Remember, for the main quest, as long as one member of the team completes it, the teammates are counted as having passed as well.”

“That means we’ll have two layers of insurance! And if we each gain a certain amount of status in our respective tribes, we may be able to influence our leaders’ decisions, encourage them to form an alliance, and unite them. If everything goes well, both of the major factions you and I join could become great nations. There would definitely be a huge amount of extra rewards!”

Chu Qingfeng was clearly excited.

“Think about it. If, through our efforts, Qin Shi Huang and Wu Zetian form an alliance, and Wu Zetian’s domestic administration supports Qin Shi Huang’s expansion, wouldn’t the two factions’ weaknesses complement each other perfectly?”

“All right. Which one are you choosing? I’ll choose the other.”

That made things easy.

“Xu Han and I are far weaker than you, and in the previous world, we were members of Qin. So this time, we’ll naturally join Qin Shi Huang’s faction. First, Qin Shi Huang’s powerful early game will let the two of us—who are weaker and separated from you—cling to a strong ally.”

“Second, my Qin Legal Edict may give me a chance to advance even further. Besides, with my abilities, it’ll be easier for me to stand out and earn the First Emperor’s favor.”

“As for you, your strength is greater. You can help Wu Zetian get through the early game.”

At that moment, Xu Han, who was with Chu Qingfeng, sent a text message as well.

“Um, this is Xu Han. Just a reminder: although this is only an online game, the leaders’ personalities should still be consistent with history. Wu Zetian definitely liked handsome men. If you can influence the empress and become her consort, you’d effectively be controlling the faction from behind the scenes. You have to do your best!”

Yan Luo fell silent.

Sell himself through his looks?

As someone without emotions, perhaps it was not a big deal. But this was only a game, and he could not actually do anything explicit. Would selling his beauty even be useful?