Going to war

I think the fear of the king killing the people pushed them to fight in war. In war you have a chance to at least live because in war u have a chance of winning. If they wouldn't go to war then you are guaranteed to be killed. If someone told you would u rather get killed or go to war and have a chance to live which one would you choose I know i would choose the second one because i would be trying to be with my family.