Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors

Xue Rengao asked a critical question, one that even he did not know how to answer.

Xue Ju had already declared himself emperor and, although leading troops in a standoff against the Liang Army, he was responsible for receiving and making decisions on all messages from the rear or intelligence from the front.

Thus, meetings had to be held every few days to gather the generals and assign tasks.

But now, with Xue Ju ill, would the meeting still take place?

If it did, would seeing Xue Ju in his current state and considering the upcoming Dingsi Day predicted by the prophecy affect the soldiers' morale?

Yet if it didn't take place, what reason could they give? Would the generals believe it? What to do if it led to even more suspicion?

After pondering, Xue Ju told Xue Rengao, "Tell the generals, we will hold the meeting a few days later."

Xue Rengao was stunned, "A few days later?"

Xue Ju nodded, "Correct, we'll hold it on Dingsi Day!"

Xue Rengao was taken aback, not understanding at first, but he soon grasped the significance and immediately replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xue Ju did this obviously to minimize the impact as much as possible.

His current condition was poor, and meeting with the generals would certainly be able to handle state affairs, but it would send a very bad signal to them.

So, he postponed the meeting until Dingsi Day because that was precisely the day predicted by the prophecy.

There were a few days left until Dingsi Day, and his condition might improve within those days. As long as he could appear vigorous on Dingsi Day, all the suspicion caused by his absence would be dispelled.

During this time, he could rest and recover from his illness at ease.

But what if his illness did not improve by Dingsi Day?

Then there would be no choice but to make an appearance to appease the ministers and consider a retreat.

...

The Liang Army was also getting anxious.

Although holding their ground was the consensus between Lord Qin and Prince Qi, the continuous challenges from Xue Ju still somewhat dampened the Liang Army's morale.

If the spread prophecy did not come to pass, it would be a huge blow to the morale of the Liang Army.

By this time, Lord Qin's illness had largely recovered, but considering his combat style of leading the troops tirelessly, often going without food for two days or armor for three days, Li Hongyun still urged him to rest for another half a month.

Lord Qin agreed.

Finally, the day of the eighth month's ninth day arrived.

Xue Ju's general Zong Luohou once again came to challenge, but this time, the Liang Army did not cower; they truly came out to meet the battle!

Li Hongyun arranged his troops and positioned generals like Yin Kaishan and Pang Yu at the forefront.

Zong Luohou couldn't help but rejoice and immediately led his troops in a fierce attack.

At this time, Xue Ju's forces held the advantage, and the Liang Army faced fierce resistance at the front.

But at this critical moment, a unit of elite Cavalry suddenly circled to the rear and launched a ferocious attack!

Leading this Cavalry was none other than Prince Qi himself.

Though only an adolescent of fifteen years, clad in a white robe and silver armor, he cut through the battlefield, his arrows flying in quick succession, each shot bringing down an enemy!

Such a heroic figure shocked Zong Luohou.

It was as if Lord Qin himself was incarnate!

Zong Luohou hastily sent for reinforcements, but unexpectedly, there was a long silence from Xue Ju's camp.

Therefore, Zong Luohou was soundly defeated, with the Liang Army fiercely pursuing and slaying thousands.

Zong Luohou was speechless; he couldn't understand why, even as both sides clashed, there was no movement from Xue Ju's camp.

Had reinforcements arrived sooner, he wouldn't have been caught between two sides and suffered a crushing defeat; there might have been a chance to turn defeat into victory.

Li Hongyun pointed towards Xue Ju's camp: "Xue Ju has died a divine death! Everyone, follow me and pursue!"

Although the Liang Army hadn't yet received news of Xue Ju's death, their own victory was certain, and from the fact that Xue Ju had not sent support, it was clear something significant had happened in his camp.

Thus, the Liang Army's morale soared, and they chased Zong Luohou all the way to Xue Ju's camp.

Indeed, Xue Ju had passed away from illness that day, and Xue Rengao, caught unprepared amidst the chaos, could only try to suppress the news while planning his succession.

But what he hadn't foreseen was that amidst the chaos, the Liang Army had actually attacked!

This led him to suspect that there was a high-level mole within his army.

Yet, even if there was a mole, how could the information have been delivered so quickly?

The Liang Army hadn't waited for Xue Ju's actual death; they had attacked while he was on his deathbed, clearly not acting on concrete information but rather on a plan set from early on!

Amidst the chaos, Xue Rengao was unable to organize an effective resistance, and his army crumbled at the first blow, pursued and slaughtered by the Liang Army, leading generals like Liang Hulang and others to flee, surrender, and join the Liang Army.

Seeing the situation was lost, Xue Rengao had no choice but to surrender as well.

Thus, this battle ended with a complete victory for the Liang Army.

...

After the battle, the Liang Army began to tally the results and sent messengers to Chang'an with the good news.

Lord Qin, freshly recovered from his illness, rode his horse surveying the wrapping-up battlefield.

"My younger brother is indeed a divine strategist... I am no match for him!"

He expressed this sincerely.

This was normal, as Lord Qin's view of Prince Qi's performance was as others saw his own.

Others didn't understand how Lord Qin fought those miraculous battles, but he knew full well. Yet, even after watching for a long time, Lord Qin could not understand how Prince Qi managed to fight such a miraculous battle.

He understood every step that followed, but what he couldn't comprehend was, how could Prince Qi be so sure that Xue Ju would die on this day?

"Little brother, was this a ruse, a fluke, or..."

Li Hongyun smiled slightly, thinking to himself, would you believe me if I said I read about it in a history book?

However, to maintain his persona, he had to put on a show.

"When Father and you were in Jinyang, I had nothing else to do back at home, so I dabbled a little in divination.

"Thus, by observing the stars at night and making calculations, I figured out Xue Ju's time of death and thus achieved a victory."

Lord Qin was skeptical: "Does my little brother possess such divine power? Could you perhaps divine the span of my life?"

Li Hongyun's expression turned solemn and he shook his head slightly: "Heaven's secrets must not be disclosed."

Yet as he spoke, he also showed a hint of regret that by contrast made Lord Qin uneasy.

Could it be... Little brother has divined that I will die young? Is that why he won't tell me?

A guess naturally formed in Lord Qin's mind.