Season 3: Chapter 276. Currents (3)

Hui-Chul had been watching China’s match from his hospital room. One key factor always had to be considered in any confrontation with China. He had to disrupt their weak early game with no exception.

‘From there, China plays the game smoothly.’

In a situation where early aggression was mandatory, they had no chance of winning if the game dragged on due to China's overwhelming late-game strength. Even Mongolia, ranked number one in the current power rankings, would face the same issue.

Shaking China in the early game was necessary. China knew well that their opponents would try to play in such a manner. From the commander’s perspective, this made the game flow comfortably.

They simply had to prepare and block early attacks. Each of their players possessed exceptional skills and their defenses would be solid once prepared.

Civil Empire

had been designed so that ending the game in the first or second era was nearly impossible.

A basic building like the town hall boasted formidable defensive capabilities. The game was meant to conclude in the third era when civilizations displayed their fullest potential.

Trying to end the game in the first or second era was like climbing upstream against a river. Hui-Chul often found hidden paths in the current and managed to swim upstream, but even then it wasn't a complete victory. The enemy simply surrendered after being mentally crushed by a massive blow, but Joseon had never planted their flag on the enemy mountain.

‘China is different.’

Hui-Chul was convinced after watching China's previous matches. To them, surrender did not exist. They even staged a comeback with just one town hall left in a certain game.

Due to China’s civilization, victory often came in the late game. However, Chinese players were also known for rarely surrendering. It was simply part of their nature.

Traits like these were hard to change and they had no reason to. China’s civilization synergized with their unyielding spirit, which made them nearly unbeatable. Why would they change that? Hui-Chul’s mind grew heavy with such thoughts.

‘Then...’

What stance could Joseon take in this situation? They couldn't win simply by hanging on until the end. China wasn’t an opponent that could be easily defeated with an early rush. Even if Joseon’s famous second era archer rush was successful, they couldn't completely eliminate the enemy with just archers and no siege weapons.

If they failed to finish China off, such early game tactics against China would become dangerous. It would only deplete their own troops and resources, creating a resource gap between them and China.

With their special tax officer unit, China could effectively pump resources from the start whereas Joseon had weak resource management factions. With equal resources, China would always have the upper hand.

‘Should we sneak in, take out their tax officers, and retreat?’

China’s tax officers were easy to spot. They dressed in silk robes with plump figures and wore easily distinguishable hats. Archers could sneak in and snipe them. However, China also prioritized protecting its tax officers.

Tax officers were also commander controlled units and not player controlled. In the early stages with fewer units to manage, the commander would immediately respond and evacuate them or place them in buildings where they couldn't be reached.

‘They've mastered defense. I need to keep that in mind.’

As Hui-Chul’s face grew more troubled, an old man sitting next to him spoke with a smile.

“Huh. Why does a young man look like he’s carrying the weight of the world?”

“Oh... sir. I’m just thinking.”

They had exchanged words a few times before.

“Hm. Instead of worrying so much, how about a game with me?”

“?”

The old man pulled out a cheap foldable plastic Go board. He placed a white stone and grinned.

“Since I suggested it, I’ll make the first move.”

“You should take more stones.”

“What?”

“I’m pretty good at this, sir. You should start with a few more stones.”

In his youth, Hui-Chul had trained to become a professional Go player. He never reached that level but a normal person, especially an elderly opponent, wouldn’t stand a chance if he played seriously.

As someone who didn’t like to throw games, he wanted to give the old man a handicap. However—

“No way, you cheeky boy! Just play!”

“... Ahem.”

The proud old man refused the offer. Hui-Chul brushed back his long hair with a perplexed expression.

‘Once we finish one game, he probably won’t want to play anymore.’

Hui-Chul placed a black stone on the board, intending to win quickly.

Click.

***

OrangeKing slammed the table in excitement.

“Joseon! It’s still the first era, but they’re already making large movements!”

Blue dots began to move en masse.

[Second Era - 89%]

Some time still remained before the second era.

“Could something be happening in the first era?”

In this mountainous map, fast attacks were impossible because the terrain blocked most paths. Players usually passed through the first era without much action, but this was Cookie. Anything was possible. That was what OrangeKing thought.

“They’re climbing the mountain! Chinese troops haven’t arrived yet, right?”

Joseon troops swiftly ascended to the peak thanks to the mountain tribe trait.

Dudung.

[Joseon - Second Era]

Joseon successfully advanced to the second era.

“Joseon quickly reaches the second era!”

“And China...?”

“China is slow to reach the second era.”

Unlike other civilizations that only needed to upgrade the town hall, China took more time and had to build two landmarks.

“Will Joseon attack now in the second era? The timing looks right!”

“But all their soldiers are still barbarians... They’ve only reached the top of the mountain in that state! What happens now?”

Joseon’s strength in the second era lay in archers, especially in this game where archers could work effectively against any Chinese strategy. To upgrade to archers, they needed the necessary buildings nearby. However, this was the mountaintop with no such buildings.

“They can’t just stick with the barbarian soldiers, right?”

“Wait, I see some workers!”

A few workers appeared among the soldiers who reached the summit. Not just one, but two of them could be seen.

“Wait, workers!?”

“That’s right! Joseon is trying to strike quickly in the second era by building on the mountaintop!”

Boom!

The workers began construction.

[Training Center]

[Barracks]

They began building barracks to spawn soldiers on the mountaintop along with a training center.

“Oh my! They’re building on the mountain!?”

“Is this part of the Joseon faction’s trait? Their buildings can be easily constructed on rough terrain!”

Joseon’s buildings were designed to be placed on difficult terrain.

“This must be reflecting Joseon’s historical fortress culture! That’s why they can build on such narrow, rugged land.”

“Oh... But building a fortress against China? Is this what the Japanese felt when they saw the crane wing formation?”

— Hahahahaha

— Yi Sun-Shin!

— Oh no...

— Bowing in humiliation

— LOL what is he talking about?

“Fortunately, they’re not building a fortress... yet!”

The workers continued constructing more buildings.

[Blacksmith]

[Watchtower]

They also built a smithy to produce weapons and a watchtower for defense.

“A watchtower too!? That’s quite an investment!”

Building a watchtower on a mountain provided a unique advantage.

“They’ll get an incredible view!”

While Joseon boldly built forward barracks, China advanced with a standard strategy.

“Yes! Meanwhile, China is safely progressing with their strategy...”

Dudung.

[Tang Dynasty → Song Dynasty]

China transitioned to the Song dynasty. With two landmarks, they gained new buffs and unique units.

“Oh, they’ve switched to the Song dynasty! Doesn’t that give a production speed boost and a granary bonus?”

The Song dynasty’s landmarks had resource related traits.

“That’s right! That’s why it’s the most commonly chosen second strategy. With faster resources, you can start pumping out tax officers even if you don’t stay in the Song dynasty long-term.”

With this strategy, China could amass as many tax officers as possible and ensure they wouldn’t run out of resources when switching to a more aggressive strategy later.

“Yes, tax officers are a key part of China’s strategy.”

“Exactly. They’re like corrupt officials squeezing taxes from the people.”

— LOL

— They actually have a corrupt official faction

— No, it’s literally the same thing LOL

“They buff worker movement speed, boost production at nearby buildings, and even collect taxes from resource buildings.”

“Wow... they’re busy!”

“Exactly. This makes China one of the hardest factions to command. The commander controls all of that.”

— China is so hard

— I wouldn’t want to try

— Even corrupt officials have to work hard LOL

“Oh, I see. So what’s the granary bonus?”

“A granary bonus means that even the same field produces more resources once it's upgraded.”

— That’s so broken

— Their resources are crazy

— But no combat units?

— All focused on production

"But the Song dynasty is weak in combat, right?"

"Yes, the Song dynasty doesn’t have many combat-oriented factions, so players don’t stick with it for long."

Sure enough, China soon began constructing more landmarks after switching to the Song dynasty.

"Isn't this the perfect time for Joseon to attack?"

On the surface, it seemed like the ideal moment for Joseon to strike.

"It’s definitely a good opportunity!"

OrangeKing agreed, but Joseon chose a completely different strategy despite all the preparations they had made.

"...?"

The workers who had reached the summit suddenly split into two groups. Some moved to the lower slopes and others went to the clearings at the mountain's base. The soldiers followed suit, spreading out as if to guard the mountain peak and setting up defensive scouting positions.

A few Chinese scouts approached, only to retreat once they spotted the defensive structures like the watchtower and blacksmith. The scouts confirmed the buildings’ placements, but—

"What is this?!"

Boom!

At the same time, the workers began constructing something else in two completely different locations.

***

Click.

After placing his white stone, the old man chuckled as Hui-Chul picked up a black stone with trembling hands.

"...!"

Hui-Chul was being devoured. He felt like he was flailing desperately in a current, only to be met by the gaping maw of some unknown deep-sea creature with rows upon rows of sharp teeth. It had been a while since Hui-Chul last played Go, but that old man didn’t have the skills of an ordinary player.

"Why are you so shocked? The game’s not over yet."

The old man smiled knowingly. Hui-Chul alternated between staring at him and the Go board.

‘It’s not over...’

He knew that it wasn’t the end. There was always a way. Go was like that. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Suddenly, the match between Joseon and China completely vanished from his mind.

"You’re struggling too hard. That’s why it’s difficult."

"... What?"

"You’re pushing upstream too much. Just because there’s a mountain, does that mean you have to climb it? Sometimes, living by the river and farming while watching the mountain is also a way to live."

"..."

Something complex stirred in Hui-Chul’s mind, but he couldn’t fully grasp it. Exhaling heavily, he placed another black stone on the board.

The old man spoke again, "

Tsk, tsk.

You still don’t get it. Sometimes, flowing with the current is upstream for your enemy. If riding the current leads you to your destination, why waste energy rowing against it?"

"...!"

Crack.

Suddenly, everything in his mind fell into place.

‘My flow could be upstream for the enemy...’

Of course, he had already lost the game of Go with the old man, but this revelation would carry into battles he hadn’t yet fought.

Whoosh...

It felt as though water currents flowed through his mind.

***

In two completely different places, the two workers began constructing the same building simultaneously.

Boom!

[Town Hall]

Both were building new town halls.

"Cookie! They’re building two more town halls!?"

"What!? Really? This isn't just a double base strategy. It’s a triple!"

Civil Empire

was designed to reach its climax in the third era. That was the way it was meant to be played. Joseon was letting the current of the game carry them to that moment.

‘Then we’ll just win in the third era.’

Joseon moved with the flow and headed for the third era, but they also added a few more sails to their ship. Since China had the advantage of their tax officers boosting resources, Joseon needed something extra as well. That something was the triple base strategy. With these three sails, Joseon would slice through the water like a galleon.

"Joseon! They’re telling China, ‘Let’s clash in the third era head-on!’ They’re not afraid of China’s third era!"

"Exactly! They’re saying China’s third era isn’t scary at all!"

"And China has no idea this is happening! They think Joseon is preparing to attack right now!!"

— Wow

— When did Cookie become so honorable?

— China wasted so many resources preparing for nothing LOL

— They’re way ahead of China now

— China doesn’t see this coming at all