45: Chapter 45: Aren't Heroic Spirits just for exploiting bugs?

Zhao Hongxiu and Xiao Zhenghong went to the bandit camp to gather ten [glory fragments].

Fan Ling was also continuing his duty of identifying the 'Anomaly' within the distant imperial palace.

At this moment, Chen Aoyun was the only one left in the West Mountain Camp.

It was absolutely impossible for Chen Aoyun to go and steal the token.

Chen Aoyun stopped thinking about the token and started pondering the issue of the Heroes.

"I believe Zhao Hongxiu and Xiao Zhenghong will definitely be able to gather the ten [glory fragments].

With enough [glory fragments], we can summon a Hero to force the West Mountain Camp to enter the capital to serve the King.

However, even if they enter the capital to serve the King, Fan Ling still won't be able to lock onto the 'Anomaly'.

Are we betting on a probability?

I can bet on the rules and I can bet on the Heroes' abilities, but I refuse to bet on pure probability!"

Regarding [General Zhang Fei]'s [Roaring at Dangyang Bridge] and the [Jianmen Pass]'s [One Man Stands at the Pass, Ten Thousand Cannot Pass], Chen Aoyun admitted that he was not that familiar with the rules of the [Game of National Destiny]. He wasn't quite sure how far the [Heroes] or the [wonders] could go, or whether their exclusive skills would truly have the ideal effect as he imagined. It could be said that his previous maneuvers involved an element of gambling.

But there is a difference between bets. He could bet on the rules and the abilities of the [Heroes] and [wonders], but he simply refused to bet on a probability!

"Heroes...

In the plot walkthrough, the [Roleplayer] themselves possesses magical abilities, so why would there be items like [glory fragments]? Why would the appearance of [Heroes] be allowed?

What are [Heroes] used for?"

Chen Aoyun sat cross-legged in his solitary tent, thinking.

He was thinking about why the plot walkthrough allowed for the summoning of [Heroes].

Finally, Chen Aoyun gave himself an answer:

"[Heroes] are just meant for exploiting bugs!"

He stood up and abruptly pulled open the tent flap with both hands. Sunlight spilled onto his face, and as he squinted, a sharp light flashed in Chen Aoyun's eyes.

The wind brushed slowly across his face.

"Since [Heroes] are meant for exploiting bugs, why not exploit this bug even further!

I had this idea before, but the hidden rules that Fan Ling found made me give up.

But isn't there a way to bypass the rules?

Isn't there a path where 'one Hero solves two plot missions'?"

Chen Aoyun recalled those annoying rules and plot settings.

First was the [plot setting]:

['Real-Power Emperor' plot content: Your Emperor has been controlled by those around him (disguised 'Anomaly'). The palace ([Home Base]) is no longer under your ([Strategist]) control, the Divine Tree containing great power cannot take root here, and corruption is about to spread here...]

Next were the hidden rules:

[Plot Rule A: There can only be one Emperor at a time. Only an Emperor not controlled by an 'Anomaly' can regain control of the palace ([Home Base])]

[Plot Rule B: There can only be one target for leading the West Mountain Camp into the capital]

[Plot Rule C: As long as the dynasty has not fallen, the West Mountain Camp may not enter the capital under the name of 'uprising']

[Plot Rule D: After the West Mountain Camp enters the capital and solves the target, power must be returned to the Emperor]

Chen Aoyun summarized them:

"There can only be one Emperor.

There can only be one target for entering the capital to 'cleanse the court'.

An uprising won't work, and neither will sidelining the Emperor.

In this case, how can one eliminate the 'Anomaly' or push it out of the center of power under the condition that the 'Anomaly' is uncertain, allowing the Emperor in the imperial capital to become a so-called 'Real-Power Emperor' again?

The West Mountain Camp needs a Hero capable of 'cleansing the court'; this point seems to be welded shut;

And over in the imperial capital, eliminating the 'Anomaly' or pushing the 'Anomaly' out will both work!

There is only one target; after entering the capital, one can only kill one person.

Kill whom?

How should one choose a Hero so that they can control the West Mountain Camp and also take care of the 'Anomaly'?"

The [hidden rules] and [plot settings] constrained each other, ruling out many of Chen Aoyun's options.

"The token is not in my hands, so 'cleansing the court' is a prerequisite.

[An Lushan] and [Dong Zhuo] can both be used to cleanse the court.

But because of [Plot Rule D: After the West Mountain Camp enters the capital and solves the target, power must be returned to the Emperor], if one enters the capital in the name of 'cleansing the court' with the target pre-selected, one must immediately relinquish power after storming the palace and killing the target. If the target is not the 'Anomaly', the plot is considered a failure.

Therefore, these two, as well as Heroes similar to them, cannot be chosen!"

Chen Aoyun continued his analysis,

"How about [Emperor Liu Bang]? How about [Zhu Yuanzhang]?

I have been saying 'cleansing the court', but 'cleansing the court' is just my summary of the rules and plot; none of them explicitly mention the three words 'cleansing the court'!

They are Emperors. What if we don't use the name of 'cleansing the court' and instead directly mobilize the West Mountain Camp to enter the capital using the Emperor's authority? After entering the capital, choose the Emperor as the target, kill the Emperor, and have the Hero become the new Emperor?

No, doing that clearly violates the requirement of [Plot Rule A] that 'there can only be one Emperor' and [Plot Rule C] that 'the dynasty has not fallen'!"

Continuing to change his line of thought,

"Then what about sidelining the Emperor? The 'Anomaly' can control the Emperor, so I can also use a Hero to control the Emperor!

[Cao Cao] is a figure who sidelined the Emperor; [Huo Guang] and [Sima Zhao] are also figures who sidelined the Emperor, and all have historical allusions to doing so.

There is no rule stating that the West Mountain Camp must enter the capital. I could directly summon a Hero in the imperial palace and use such a Hero to act arbitrarily and push out the 'Anomaly's' power, how about that?

That doesn't seem to work either; the [plot setting] mentions a 'Real-Power Emperor'.

The Emperor must hold real power, so a Hero who sidelines the Emperor also does not conform to the rules."

This won't work, that won't work.

Chen Aoyun had thought through almost every Hero he could think of, of all kinds and types, but it seemed there was no existence that could 'solve two missions with one Hero'.

But, however, yet, however... there was one Hero not included in the list.

And that Hero was so famous, and the historical allusion so special, that Chen Aoyun had to single him out to think about it.

"Hiss... it seems this one might work!"

Chen Aoyun's eyes suddenly lit up!

"Yes, yes, yes!

You can do it!

How could I have forgotten about you, big shot!

Damn it, I'm such an idiot!

Thinking of cleansing the court, thinking of entering the capital—as a citizen of the Dragon Kingdom, shouldn't you be the first one I think of!

It's because there are too many rules that I automatically ignored you, this 'typical' figure!

My mistake!"

The wind grew stronger.

It blew Chen Aoyun's hair into a mess, but Chen Aoyun was too excited to care.

He struck his palm with his fist, his eyes bright,

"Zhao Hongxiu, Xiao Zhenghong, I'm waiting for your [glory fragments]. You must complete the mission of clearing out the bandits!"