TEFSCBSS Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Tremble! This Is the Power of the Enlightening Monk

Participants in the “Warring States” game included Wan Niang, Wang Bokao, Zhao Wen, Wu Fei, and Chang Ting.

Veteran players met the newcomer, exchanging glances among themselves and then eyeing the defiant-looking Chang Ting. A strange smile spread across their faces.

Zhao Si stepped forward without expression and began explaining the rules.

Pointing to the large map spread out on the table, he focused on explaining it to the new player.

“This map represents the territory that the five of you will be competing to control.”

“Each of you may choose a color to represent your faction. Here are matching game pieces, soldiers, food tokens, books, and monument tiles…”

Zhao Si motioned for them to pick their preferred colors. Once the selection was complete, he continued, “Now, please decide whether you’d like to inherit a civilization from history, such as those from past dynasties—or even civilizations previously created by winning players.”

Wu Fei spoke up first. “I’ll inherit my previous civilization: the Kingdom of Compassion and the Enlightening Monks.”

Zhao Si nodded and handed over the corresponding monk pieces. Wu Fei placed them in a plains region, designating it as his starting area.

The other players made their choices as well, most sticking with what they’d chosen in the last round. Only the newcomer, Chang Ting, selected the cavalry specialization of the Jin Kingdom.

Zhao Wen discreetly observed Chang Ting and her companion. Their skin tone was a little different, noticeably more “healthy-looking.”
Recalling his father’s recent stress, Zhao Wen speculated, Are they from the Jin Kingdom? Already here? That was fast.

He kept a calm expression, but decided to quietly investigate who these two were.

Initial Selections:

【Wu Fei】
Nation: Kingdom of Compassion
Special Unit: Enlightening Monk

• Each Enlightening Monk can double the culture and food production of a village by staying there for one turn.

• On foreign soil, a monk can beg for food in one turn, talent in two, and convert the land to their nation in three.

• Amitābha. Well done, well done!

【Wan Niang】
Nation: Women’s Kingdom
Special Unit: Divine Archer

• Can attack enemies two tiles away.

• Can spend 2 Achievement Points to evolve units and create unique troop types.

【Zhao Wen】
Nation: Four Symbols Kingdom
Special Unit: War Elephant Squad

• Charges through and destroys enemies within two tiles.

• Drawbacks: slow, large target, easily wounded.

• Units can evolve via Achievement Points.

【Wang Bokao】
Nation: Nation of Gods
Special Unit: Ghost Soldier

• Starts with 5 ghost soldiers.

• Gains ghost soldiers equal to the number of allied casualties.

• Ghost soldiers are resistant to physical attacks and can only be purified through spells.

• They deal no direct physical damage and can only assimilate one enemy per turn.

• Evolvable through Achievement Points.

【Chang Ting】
Nation: Aya Kingdom
Special Unit: Cavalry

• Extremely fast, can move two tiles per turn.

• Highly effective against civilians and infantry.

• Drawback: extremely high cost of food and money.

• Evolvable through Achievement Points.

Each player starts with 5 special units and 10 basic units (civilians and infantry). Civilians can become infantry, but losing them slows down food and money production. Infantry can be upgraded to special units, but they require resources and gold.

While the evolution process for units is streamlined, it’s still clearly complex. Players—acting as national rulers—need solid planning and math skills to minimize losses and ensure steady national growth.

Once Zhao Si finished explaining the rules, he declared the start of the first round.

Wu Fei, as the previous winner, was granted the first move. The others would take turns clockwise from him.

“Well, it’s just the first round,” Wu Fei said. “Everyone will probably focus on development, so I won’t make any big moves. Zhao Si, please record: the Kingdom of Compassion is sending four monks with infantry escorts to four separate land tiles. Meanwhile, the base begins production.”

He smiled warmly. “Everyone, I was lucky to win last round, but as you’ve probably noticed, this is a game of both cooperation and competition.”

“Blindly developing alone usually ends in weakness and being ganged up on. So, how about we draft a temporary peace agreement?”

Wang Bokao scoffed. “Peace? The rules clearly say countries need to send diplomats to meet before they can sign treaties. You want peace just by saying so?”

Tch. Who’s he calling out, anyway?

Last round, Wang Bokao was ganged up on by the other three players. He wasn’t one to forget that.

Wu Fei kept smiling. “Amitābha. We’re all far apart. If we start fighting now, it’ll just weaken us all and help some outsider win.”

“So, how about we agree not to go to war for a few rounds? That way, everyone can build up first.”

“Then the fighting will be more fun, right?”

Wang Bokao was tempted.
Honestly, who wants to be the first one wiped out?

Wan Niang and Zhao Wen exchanged a glance.
Wow, Wang Bokao is still that naive? Should we clue him in?

Wan Niang shook her head slightly.
Forget it. He’s too impulsive. If we tell him, he’ll probably just charge into Wu Fei alone, turning his country into a thin strip and setting himself up for failure.

Zhao Wen nodded.
True. For now, we have a common enemy. Let’s pretend to agree to peace and deal with the outsiders first. Bokao’s always full of bad ideas and doesn’t know how to develop. After Chang Ting gets wiped out, he’ll be next.

Wu Fei glanced at them.
Ah, they get it.

The silent communication between the three was completely lost on Wang Bokao, who just thought they were twitching or something.

As for Chang Ting and her two followers?

They were already doing calculations on paper—figuring out optimal soldier placement, land occupation schedules, and ideal timing for attacks—until Chang Ting’s head was spinning.

She looked at Zhou Jin expectantly.
Zhou Jin’s forehead veins popped—sorry, she only knew how to charge in and kill things.

She turned to Xie Yanting.
He lifted his chin confidently: Don’t worry, sis. I’ve worked in government for years. Managing a nation is what I do. Just watch.

Reassured, Chang Ting nodded and agreed to Wu Fei’s “peace agreement.”

With that plan in place, Wu Fei smiled again.
“Amitābha.”