Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 806

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Archer’s Streaming Season 3 Episode 276
90. The Current (3)
Hee-cheol watched China’s match from his hospital room.
In every confrontation with China, there was always one critical factor.
One had to shake up their weak early game no matter what.
There were no exceptions to this rule.
‘From that point on, China controls the match comfortably.’
Early-game pressure became mandatory.
China’s performance was so strong that if the match dragged into the late game, there was no way to win.
Even Mongolia, currently ranked 1st in power rankings, faced the same problem.
So when facing China, one had no choice but to apply early-game disruption.
And China knew perfectly well that opponents would come at them this way.
From a commander’s perspective, the game flow itself became far too convenient.
They simply needed to prepare by thinking they would block as much early-game pressure as possible.
Since the individual players’ skills were so exceptional, with such preparation, their defensive success rate was substantial.
Civil Empire itself was originally designed so that completely ending an opponent in Ages 1 and 2 was difficult.
Just consider the formidable defensive capabilities of the Town Hall, the basic building.
From the start, this game wanted matches to end in Age 3, where civilizations’ individuality shines brightest.
Going against this design to end in Ages 1 and 2 was like climbing upstream against a river’s current.
Until now, Hee-cheol had often found side channels within the water’s flow and gone against the current.
But even that wasn’t a complete ascent.
It was merely that the opponent’s spirit broke from the massive blow and they surrendered—Joseon had never planted their flag on their mountain.
‘China is different.’
Watching China’s previous matches, Hee-cheol was certain.
These players never surrendered unconditionally.
There were matches where, with only a single Town Hall remaining, they regrouped their army and launched a counterattack to claim victory.
This was partly due to China’s civilization trait—prosperity comes in the late game—but Chinese players were also famous for rarely surrendering in matches.
In other words, it was simply their nature.
Such things were rarely corrected, and there was no reason to correct them anyway.
This almost heroic tenacity of the Chinese, meeting their civilization’s unique characteristics, created an almost invincible synergy.
Why would they change it?
Hee-cheol’s thoughts deepened here.
‘Then….’
What stance should Joseon take in this situation?
Joseon couldn’t win just by holding on and persisting.
Nor were they an opponent easily defeated by rushing early.
Even if Joseon’s vaunted Age 2 Archer rush worked well, they couldn’t eliminate the opponent with only archers and no siege weapons.
Without completely eliminating them, early tactics against China were actually dangerous.
Soldiers and resources would only be consumed, creating a resource gap with China.
After all, China could perform so-called ‘resource pumping’ by deploying the special unit ‘Customs House’ given from the start, while Joseon had a weak faction for resource generation.
If both sides possess equal resources, China gains the advantage.
‘Slip in quietly, eliminate only the customs officials, and slip back out?’
China’s customs officials wear silk robes and sport rotund figures adorned with ornate official caps. They’re easy to distinguish even from great distances.
It’s hardly difficult for archers to slip in and snipe only the customs officials.
However, since customs officials are vital military assets from China’s perspective, they implement unconditional protective measures.
Particularly, customs officials are units controlled directly by commanders, not players.
In the early stages when managing small numbers, the commander would respond immediately to evacuate them, or the buildings would be positioned such that they’re unreachable from the start.
‘The opponent has mastered defense. I need to keep that in mind.’
As Hee-cheol’s expression grew increasingly troubled,
“Hah. Why does such a young fellow look as though he’s seen the entire world?”
An old man seated beside him spoke with a smile.
“Ah… sir. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
The two had already exchanged words a few times before.
“Hmm. Don’t brood over it so much. How about a game with me?”
“?”
Tap.
What the old man pulled out was a cheap plastic folding Go board.
Swish.
The old man placed his white stone and smiled with a grin.
“Since I suggested it, I’ll go first.”
“Why don’t you take a few extra stones, sir?”
“What?”
“I’m rather skilled at Go, sir. Please, take a few extra stones.”
In his childhood, Hee-cheol had even prepared to become a professional Go player.
Though he ultimately didn’t pursue it to the end, if he played seriously against an ordinary person—especially an elderly one—his opponent wouldn’t stand a chance.
However, since his nature made it difficult for him to intentionally lose, he asked the old man to place several stones first.
But—
“No way, you cheeky brat! Forget it! Just play!”
“…Ahem.”
The old man had his pride and refused outright.
Hee-cheol swept his long hair back, his expression becoming troubled.
‘Once we finish one game, I’ll say I won’t play anymore.’
Thinking there was no other choice, he decided to win quickly and end it, placing his black stone.
Tap.

* * *
King Gul slams the table excitedly.
“Joseon! Before even reaching Age 2! They’re moving on a massive scale right now!?”
Blue dots begin moving in large numbers.
[Age 2 – 89%]
There’s still time needed before reaching Age 2.
“Wait, could something be happening in Age 1!?”
A rugged mountain gorge.
This map is almost entirely blocked by mountains, making early rushes impossible, so Age 1 typically passes without major movements.
But if it’s Cookie, that’s another story.
That’s what King Gul thought.
“They’re climbing the mountain! The Chinese soldiers haven’t reached here yet!?”
The Joseon soldiers, as a mountain-dwelling faction, rapidly traverse to the mountain peak.
Boom.
[Joseon – Age 2]
Joseon advances to Age 2 simultaneously.
“Joseon reaches Age 2 fast!”
“China is currently….”
“China has no choice but to be slow reaching Age 2!?”
China, which must build two landmarks rather than simply upgrading the town hall.
Once they switch systems, it’s different, but initially it takes time.
“So do they strike in Age 2!? The timing looks good right now!?”
“But all the soldiers are Barbarian Soldiers… they came to the peak in that state!? What happens now!?”
Joseon’s strength in Age 2 lies in Archers.
Especially in this match. Archers are a unit type that works quite well regardless of which system China chooses.
To switch to that unit and receive those weapons, the corresponding building had to be nearby.
But this is a mountain peak.
There’s no way such a building could exist here.
“This doesn’t mean they’re just going with Barbarian Soldiers!”
“That’s it! There are Workers there!?”
Among the soldiers climbing to the peak, a few Workers are visible.
Not just one, but two came.
“Huh? Workers!?”
“Right! Joseon is trying to strike as fast as possible in Age 2! On the mountain peak!”
Thud.
The Workers begin moving.
[Training Grounds]
[Barracks]
Immediately, a Barracks to respawn soldiers on the mountain peak.
And, a Training Grounds.
“Ahhh! They’re building on the mountain!?”
“Is this also a Joseon faction characteristic, you ask!? Joseon buildings are incredibly well-suited for mountain construction!!”
Joseon buildings generally receive favorable judgments for construction even on treacherous terrain.
“After all, there’s a ‘Mountain Fortress’ faction in the 3rd era! We should consider this a type of faction bonus as well!”
It clearly reflects Joseon’s ‘Mountain Fortress’ culture.
Thanks to this, buildings rose up smoothly even on cramped, treacherous land like mountain peaks.
“Ah… but a mountain fortress against China…!? Is this how the Japanese felt when they saw the Crane Wing Formation!?”
Hahahahaha
Namhansanseong lol
-Ah…
-The humiliation of dogeza
“ㅁㅊㅋㅋㅋ I was wondering what you were talking about”
“Fortunately, they’re not actually building a mountain fortress!? Not yet!”
The workers continue constructing more buildings.
[Blacksmith]
[Defense Tower]
A blacksmith to produce weapons, and a defense tower to protect this position.
“A defense tower too!? This is quite an aggressive investment!?”
When a defense tower is built on a mountain, it gains one special advantage.
“The vision range must be incredible!?”
While Joseon constructs a rather bold forward military camp.
China was building its system the orthodox way.
“Yes! China, on the other hand, is safely building up its system….”
Boom.
[Tang Dynasty → Song Dynasty]
China switched its system.
With two landmark buildings, it receives new strengthening buffs and gains special unit types.
“Ah. They went with the Song Dynasty? The faction bonuses that apply universally are probably increased resource production speed and granary regions, right?”
Resource-related faction bonuses are included in the Song Dynasty’s landmarks.
“Exactly. That’s why it’s the most frequently chosen second system, right? When resources speed up, tax collectors accumulate quickly, and later even without the Song Dynasty! It’s excellent for rolling the resource snowball!?”
By extracting as many tax collectors as possible from the Song Dynasty system, one ensures no resource shortage even when choosing a more aggressive system later.
“Ah. Right. Tax collectors are also quite characteristic of China.”
“Exactly. They’re what people call corrupt officials. Simply put, they’re units that squeeze the people and collect taxes.”
Hahahahaha
Wow, there really was a corrupt official faction back then lol
No, I mean, they’re literally corrupt officials, lol.
“They cast movement speed buffs on nearby workers, or attach to production buildings to increase production speed, right? And when they go to resource buildings, they also collect taxes.”
“Wow… that’s incredibly busy!?”
“Exactly. That’s why China has such a high commander difficulty. The commander has to control all of that.”
-China is so hard
-I can’t do it.
Even corrupt officials have to be diligent lol
“Ah, I see. So what is the Granary Region?”
“The Granary Region means that even the same field becomes more productive farmland once you upgrade it one more time.”
-That’s completely broken
-The resources are insane for real
-But there’s no combat faction
-It’s all production
-Song Dynasty is too weak though
“No, this is really good though?”
“However, Song Dynasty lacks many combat-related factions. So it won’t be chosen for long.
Indeed, after switching to Song Dynasty, other landmark buildings soon began to rise.
“Wouldn’t this be the perfect moment for Joseon to strike?”
At first glance, it certainly seemed like Joseon could gain an advantage if they attacked now.
“That would be ideal!”
Even King Gul acknowledged this.
However, Joseon, having completed all their preparations, made an entirely different choice.
“…?”
The workers who had come to the summit earlier split into two groups and moved to an empty space on the mountainside or lower area.
The soldiers did the same.
As if protecting something, they spread across the mountain peak and deployed a defensive patrol.
In fact, a few of China’s scouts tried to enter but turned back.
However, they confirmed that defensive towers, blacksmiths, and other buildings were positioned there.
But—
“What is this?!”
Thud.
Two workers in a completely different location simultaneously began constructing something.

* * *
Thunk.
After the white stone was just placed.
Hee-cheol’s hand trembled as he picked up a black stone.
“…!”
I was devoured.
Swept up in the violent current, my hands thrashed about mindlessly until their end met something incomprehensible—a colossal maw gaping wide open.
Hundreds of thousands of teeth from some grotesque creature dwelling in the deepest abyss welcomed me.
Even if I hadn’t played Go in ages, this was no ordinary skill.
“Why are you so startled? It’s not over yet.”
The old man chuckled softly.
Hee-cheol alternated his gaze between the old man and the board.
‘It’s not over….’
I knew that too.
It wasn’t finished.
There was a way. Go was always like that.
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead.
In that instant, the Chinese match I’d been watching moments ago was completely wiped from my mind.
“You’re struggling because you resist too much. That’s what makes it difficult.”
“…What?”
“You flow against the current too much. Just because there’s a mountain, must you climb it? There’s also a way to lean against the mountain, watch the river, and farm for your living.”
“….”
Something writhed complexly inside my mind.
Yet I couldn’t understand what it was.
I exhaled roughly and placed a black stone.
The old man opened his mouth once more.
“Tsk tsk. You still don’t understand. Sometimes my forward current becomes a backward current for my enemy. If going with the current reaches the destination, then riding the current saves the oars.”
“…!”
Click.
In that moment, everything in my mind seemed to align in a single line.
‘My forward current could be… a backward current for my enemy.’
Of course, the game of Go with the old man was already irreversible.
But my enlightenment flowed onward into a future yet to unfold.
Whoooooosh…!
It felt as though currents were flowing through my mind.

* * *
Two workers in completely different locations simultaneously began constructing something.
Different positions, same time, same building.
Thud.
[Town Hall]
Both of them were raising town halls.
“Cookie! You’re building two more town halls!?”
“Yesssss!?”
“Oh, no! This isn’t even double! Triple!?”
The Civil Empire hoped the decisive battle would come in the 3rd era.
That’s how it was designed.
Joseon was surrendering to this current.
‘Then I’ll win in the 3rd era.’
Joseon followed this stream toward the 3rd era.
But I planned to add a few more sails.
The enemy already had the sail called the customs house, so Joseon needed something more as well.
That was the triple strategy.
With these three sails, Joseon would cut through the waters like a sailing ship.
“Joseon! If we do this, let’s really clash with China in the 3rd era! This is it!?”
“China, we’re not scared of your 3rd era! This is it! This is the one!”
“China has no idea Joseon is coming at them like this right now!!”
-Scary
-For once, playing it straight! Cookie!
-Wow
China thought it was coming now and wasted a shit ton of money lol
-This is winning by a lot though?
The enemy has no idea at all lol and lol

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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