Chapter 6

"The first Imperial-level general recruited by a player is still Gaius Marius, it seems my rebirth hasn't had much of an impact yet."

Qin Kai received the server-wide announcement and entered the game forum, where the players in the Three Kingdoms area were already in an uproar.

The Roman player recruiting the Imperial-level general Marius from the ancient Roman civilization was not a good sign for the Three Kingdoms area.

Gaius Marius was one of the ancient Roman consuls who reformed the Roman legions and defeated the Germanic tribes. In *The World*, he is rated as an Imperial-level famous general.

"The Romans have an Imperial-level general, this is going to be bad for the national wars."

"The game has just started, the national wars are still far off. By then, we in the Three Kingdoms area should have a few Imperial-level generals to fight."

"There should be high-level players who will try to gather information on Marius, right?"

The emergence of the first Imperial-level general not only stirred the Three Kingdoms area but also the players in other civilization areas, such as the Indian, Japanese, Persian, Arab, Germanic, and Slavic areas. Almost all players were in a frenzy.

"Marius is best at recruiting and training troops."

Qin Kai had once fought against the Roman legions in a national war and was not unfamiliar with the ancient Roman general Gaius Marius.

"Regardless, the outcome will be different this time."

Qin Kai's consciousness returned to the game, his eyes more resolute.

Before the national war breaks out, the Three Kingdoms players won't encounter the Roman players, so there's no need to worry excessively.

"Ding! Three Kingdoms Area Announcement: Tang Zhou, a disciple of the Great Virtuous Teacher Zhang Jue of the Taiping Dao, has informed the court, leaking the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The court is now issuing a warrant for all Taiping Dao believers and their leaders!"

"Ding! Three Kingdoms Area Announcement: Ma Yuanyi, one of the major leaders of the Yellow Turban Army, has escaped. The government has issued an SS-level mission: Capture or kill Ma Yuanyi, and players can receive a generous reward from the Luoyang government!"

"Ding! Three Kingdoms Area Announcement: Emperor Ling of Han has issued an SSS-level mission: Pursue and capture the Zhang brothers—Zhang Jue, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang. Capture or kill any one of them, and you can be summoned by the Han Emperor!"

"Ding! Three Kingdoms Area Announcement: The Taiping Dao is recruiting disciples in various states and counties. Players can choose to join the Yellow Turban Army in advance, learn Taiping Dao magic, and prepare for the Yellow Turban Rebellion. However, joining the Yellow Turban Army will result in hostility from the court."

"Ding! Three Kingdoms Area Announcement: To respond to the impending Yellow Turban Rebellion, General He Jin's office is recruiting capable individuals from across the land to support the Han dynasty!"

While the Three Kingdoms players were still discussing the ancient Roman general Gaius Marius, a series of system announcements in the Three Kingdoms area caused another uproar.

The Han court was issuing warrants for the Yellow Turban leaders Zhang Jue, Zhang Bao, Zhang Liang, and Ma Yuanyi, and General He Jin's office was recruiting people. The prelude to the Yellow Turban Rebellion had already begun!

"According to the timeline, wasn't Ma Yuanyi betrayed by Zhang Jue's disciple Tang Zhou and torn apart by the court? How did Ma Yuanyi escape?"

"The timeline of the Yellow Turban Rebellion seems to have changed."

"Now that we can choose our factions in advance, the Yellow Turban Rebellion event should be starting soon."

"Should we choose the court faction or the Yellow Turban faction?"

"Of course, we should join Cao Cao, we have common interests."

"Not so fast, at this point, Liu Bei hasn't risen to prominence yet. He was recently betrayed by a player and is in a low point in his life. If we assist Liu Bei, even if we can't become his lord, becoming a general or a strategist in the future would be great."

"Have you forgotten about Yuan Shao of the four generations and three dukes? With the Yuan family's support, Yuan Shao is the most promising candidate to vie for the Central Plains at this time!"

The Three Kingdoms players were once again in a frenzy due to the system announcements.

Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion hasn't officially erupted, all players know that the Yellow Turbans are stirring!

Not just the players, but Emperor Ling of Han, He Jin, and even Liu Bei and the local warlords, know that the Taiping Dao is secretly active in many states and counties, signaling the approach of chaos.

Unexpectedly, before the Yellow Turban Rebellion began, the timeline changed. For some reason, Ma Yuanyi, who should have been betrayed, escaped the government's pursuit and returned to Ji Province.

Some observant players noticed this change, but they didn't pay much attention.

A single Ma Yuanyi wouldn't significantly impact the war between the Han court and the Yellow Turbans.

Players began choosing their factions in advance, with the majority still siding with the Han court, knowing that the Han court had a higher chance of winning.

A smaller number of players chose to join the Yellow Turban faction to learn Taiping Dao magic.

Qin Kai didn't choose a faction in advance but was busy building Longcheng Town.

From the 5,000 population, he selected over 200 able-bodied men, who were then converted into Han soldiers, bringing the Longcheng Town garrison to 300 men, costing 1,000 silver coins.

Qin Kai recruited 50 second-tier female soldiers for Li Xiu Ning, costing 200 silver coins.

If the female soldiers reach level 30, they can be trained into seventh-tier soldiers, the Nüzi Army, at a higher barracks.

Experienced soldiers have a chance to become generals.

Thus, the Longcheng Town garrison reached 350 men.

Qin Kai reorganized the 300 Han soldiers according to the system of five men per squad, ten men per platoon, and fifty men per company.

In other words, out of every five Han soldiers, one was selected as a squad leader. Out of every two squads, one was selected as a platoon leader. Out of every five platoons, one was selected as a company leader, with each company having 50 men.

Out of every two companies, one was selected as a hundred-man commander, leading 100 men.

Qin Kai selected the three most powerful men to serve as hundred-man commanders.

Hou San, a Bronze-level general, level 50, with 50 leadership, 55 strength, 45 intelligence, and 17 politics, totaling 167.

Ma Bo, a Bronze-level general, level 45, with 43 leadership, 57 strength, 40 intelligence, and 22 politics, totaling 162.

Gongsun Fang, a Silver-level general, level 41, with 45 leadership, 52 strength, 50 intelligence, and 45 politics, totaling 192.

These three hundred-man commanders were not comparable to legendary generals but were勉强可用 in the early stages.

As for the 50 female soldiers, Qin Kai assigned them to Li Xiu Ning as her personal troops, without setting a hundred-man commander.

"Zhang Huimin, Zhang Huimin."

Before dawn, the drowsy chief clerk Zhang Huimin was awakened by Qin Kai's knocking. He opened the wooden door to find Qin Kai, Li Xiu Ning, and Xing Daorong waiting outside.

"Zhang Huimin, you haven't gone to bed yet?"

"..."

"In the coming days, you, Hou San, Ma Bo, and Gongsun Fang will remain in Longcheng Town. I, the Captain, am going to Luoyang."

In his previous life, when many of his subordinates betrayed him, Zhang Huimin, an NPC subordinate recruited early on, never betrayed him and held the city until his death. Therefore, Qin Kai trusted this Silver-level civil servant.

Zhang Huimin was deeply moved. Could it be that Qin Kai has connections in Luoyang?

Luoyang, with Emperor Ling of Han, the Ten Attendants, General He Jin, and the Runan Yuan family, is the center of the Han Empire. With General He Jin recruiting heroes from across the land to prepare for the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it is a time of great turmoil.

Choosing to go to Luoyang at this time, Zhang Huimin couldn't help but suspect that Qin Kai had connections in the court.

Zhang Huimin patted his chest and said, "Sir, please rest assured, I will swear to defend Longcheng Town with my life!"

"Good."

Qin Kai, along with Li Xiu Ning and Xing Daorong, went to Liucheng and then used the teleportation array to go to Luoyang.

With the prelude to the Yellow Turban Rebellion beginning, Luoyang was a place of great turmoil, a perfect time to make things happen.