Chapter Forty-Two: A Way Out

Zhou Yingxiong sat across from Wang Luo, studying the task list and the exchange sheet.

After reading, he remarked, “These aren’t quite the same as the missions assigned by the Space. I understand the ones about persuading surrenders, but teaching soldiers to read—what’s your aim with that?”

“If they can read, they’ll be able to understand military strategy, at the very least they’ll be able to read official documents, and that will enhance their combat effectiveness. You know, I’ve always believed that knowledge is power.”

“There are other benefits, too. People have limited energy. If there’s too much work to do, it’s inevitable things will get overwhelming—especially when there’s a grand plan in place.”

“So it’s essential to set the overall direction, determine what needs to be done, then break it into many smaller, simpler tasks that can be handled even by those who aren’t inclined to think. Distribute these, set up a reasonable rewards system, and the entire process becomes much more manageable.”

“That’s true,” Zhou Yingxiong scratched his head. “But these tasks aren’t really my type.”

“Ah, those are just a small part. Honestly, designing them was a headache. But there will be tasks that suit you... it won’t be long.”

That was what Wang Luo said, but after Zhou Yingxiong left, he still found designing tasks to be a headache.

He only had a rough framework for these things, but when it came to the details, he was sorely lacking.

Why do groups, made up of many people and developed over a long period, eventually collapse?

Because after long-term growth and accumulation, they reach the limits of what their current theoretical framework can support. From there, they lose their goals for development, their system for advancement breaks down, and internal members grow weary of the status quo.

Wang Luo believed the most crucial part was this: many people forget just how much effort was required to obtain the benefits their group now provides them. Long periods of comfort create the illusion that these benefits are simply their due.

This mentality can arise in any group. If it isn’t checked but instead spreads, it often leads to the destruction of the group as a whole. (For example, in the modern world, many children of the wealthy believe their privileges are deserved, that they are naturally superior to others—mainly because they were born into it and are used to it. This habit leads them to believe such a life is only natural.)

But that’s straying from the topic. In the end, these are only some of the reasons. As far as Wang Luo was concerned, he couldn’t hope to analyze and resolve every problem; if he could just solve these, he would likely achieve his goal.

How to proceed? By reshaping the thinking, values, and spiritual core of the people in this world. By giving ordinary people a path to strive, and talented individuals room to show their abilities and obtain resources. By giving everyone pressure and goals.

From there, tally up the amount of work required to achieve these goals, break the work down step by step, categorize it until most of the tasks can be done without much thought—then set appropriate rewards for each level of difficulty and send them out.

This is what a true leader—someone who can guide the entire team in the right direction—should do. Plans made with this approach can be widely applied in various situations, and as long as they’re implemented well, they will be effective.

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“You’re saying each Han soldier who surrenders and joins them can be exchanged for a hundred contribution points? What about surrendering alone—how much is that worth?”

“What options are there for exchange? All the Han soldiers’ equipment, large amounts of food and medicine, skill books? No iron ore or ingots, and no special items? The prices are about a third of what they are outside?”

Charles glanced at the clock—just one hour left.

Let’s calculate: nine hundred Han soldiers could be traded for ninety thousand contribution points, plus ninety thousand general points, that’s one hundred eighty thousand altogether. Earlier, he’d bought seven transfer orders at a discount for just over one hundred twenty thousand—what a profit!

“Can I stay with my original faction? That is, not surrender to them. Ah, no... let me think again.”

Maybe, Zhou Suyan could handle the exchange. He could see admiration in her eyes; she probably wouldn’t cheat him.

But... even if she wouldn’t cheat him, she could still be deceived. Wasn’t she the one who’d delivered the false intelligence that misled him earlier!

What if this time the enemy was using false intelligence to trick her again? No, wait—if the task is issued in the form of a mission, a contract can be signed and the Space itself can provide arbitration.

“Does the mission description state that there’s a Space guarantee? What happens if the contract is broken, erasure? No, just three times the specified amount as compensation? That’s far too little...”

There wasn’t much time left. This might be the only way out.

The Shadow Team had long since been captured, yet none had been killed—they’d all surrendered, meaning they were people you could negotiate with. To defeat a stronger force and completely annihilate the Han army’s main force—that meant there was a chance of winning.

In that case, maybe that 10% chance would come true and the Yellow Turbans would win... If that happened, all of Lin Feier’s previous investments would be lost.

Even if he returned, even if he paid the required compensation, if the battlefield was lost, the entire team would be on the verge of bankruptcy. Even if she was wealthy beyond measure, such a loss would be crippling. And with Gru and his group fanning the flames, she might well take her anger out on him. More importantly, a team that’s gone broke would be of no value to him.

Wait—Gru. He could use Gru’s letter as his excuse, claiming it was the reason he didn’t dare return! That way, Gru would be in trouble too! And he wouldn’t have to leave the team—if the Yellow Turbans won, he’d be on the winning side; if the Han army won, he could return to the team.

Yes, that’s it!

Having finally made up his mind, Charles wrote to Lin Feier.

In his letter, he first expressed his loyalty to the team. He admitted he’d made a mistake, and though he wanted to make amends, the enemy was simply too strong.

At this point, he should have returned to camp to apologize and pay compensation. But with Gru slandering him behind his back, and to prevent those petty men from harming him, he had no choice but to defect to the enemy.

He then reassured Lin Feier in the letter that he hadn’t left the team, and that any losses he’d caused would be repaid in the future; for the remaining time in the scenario, he would relay any intelligence useful to the team in a timely manner; if another good opportunity arose, he would return to the team immediately.

He didn’t expect much trust from this letter, but it was the kind that would generally be accepted—and if his timing was right, it might really work in his favor afterwards. After sending it, Charles informed Zhou Suyan that he was preparing to defect, asked her to notify the other side, and said time was tight so they’d need to send troops to receive them. He then ordered the Han soldiers to leave camp and march toward Wang Luo’s position.