Chapter Forty-Six: Question X—The Operation Begins

“There are too many loopholes.” After pondering for a while, Charles raised his doubts about Wang Luo’s plan. “If we divide it among fifty million people, there isn’t enough land. If the government makes up the difference in assets, it will easily breed idleness.”

“That’s only part of it. In reality, the total income per capita over forty years may be a more appropriate figure. As for the issue of idleness—those who don’t work have no property; those willing to work should be rewarded.”

“In that case, there’s no way to develop. Even if someone earns more, they can’t leave it to their children. Many people, once their property reaches your stipulated limit, will simply bask in the sun and keep having children. What will you do when confronted with such people?”

“The lazy ones, if their working hours fall below a certain threshold, their property can be confiscated or withdrawn from legal protection... As for insufficient land, we give them land, but it doesn’t have to be arable.” Wang Luo waved his hand dismissively. “What you’re describing is something far in the future. When that time comes, we’ll give them foreign land, grant them titles, organize their teams, and let them go forth to conquer, seize, and cultivate.”

“If you’re talking about the flaws and loopholes in this policy, I can think of countless examples without your help. After victory, when power is established, if the ruler wants to pass his position to his child, all he needs to do is incite the lower classes. He can publicize the irrationality of the system, call it a temporary policy… glorify the love of ordinary people for their children as grand and noble, exaggerate how miserable it would be for animals like pigs and dogs not to inherit, or attack the labor review required for inheritance as rife with corruption, and simply abolish such audits for everyone’s convenience… In this way, the morals of society are corrupted. When people can no longer tolerate a countless number of idlers, the system of fixed property quotas will be universally hated and impossible to enforce.”

“With clever and skillful manipulation, ordinary residents who don’t think deeply and only seek short-term gain will undoubtedly begin to oppose this law meant to protect them. This opens the door for officials’ children to inherit tens of thousands of acres, vast power, and endless wealth. But what happens after they suffer from such abuse?”

“When they find themselves stripped of everything once more, perhaps they’ll remember the benefits of such a distribution system and seek to rebuild it, protecting it in a better way. If I’m around, I’ll have solutions to these problems. But by then, we’ll have long departed, and these matters will be theirs to resolve and manage.”

Wang Luo locked eyes with his interlocutor. “My goal is to win, to establish a new order, to let these people survive. If possible, I’ll also destroy the familial bloodline system that, at its dead end, will turn this land into a barren wasteland, rivers of blood, and people reduced to two-legged sheep. But I have no ability to prepare everything or eternal happiness for the people of this era.”

“That will be their own responsibility.” Charles laughed. “There’s another question: talented people who are stuck at the bottom, how do you plan to motivate them to join your army?”

“Just like any other successful person. Land, titles, wealth, power… If they have nothing and need to establish merit, do you think they’ll refuse us for the sake of ‘the future’ or ‘descendants’, instead joining the Han army, where their efforts bear no fruit and their labor brings no reward? If they have talent, we give them the chance to display it. Of course, inheritance still follows the prescribed law; those with great merit can receive an extra portion or special rewards, but the overall system remains unchanged.”

Charles persisted, “So it does seem possible to succeed. In the early stages, you could gain overwhelming support. But what if, once you’ve conquered the world, many people start to feel dissatisfied?”

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“At that time, we must remind them: a good education is the greatest wealth parents can give their children. Repeat it hundreds of times, and they’ll believe it—for it’s the truth.”

“If I’m still around then, I’ll have many ways to handle it. For any group, the two most important things are survival and development. My plan ensures the survival of the collective, while leaving room for development—but we are outsiders. Doing our utmost to save their lives is already a great achievement.”

“It is only outsiders, who have no children, no family to care for, no loved ones, and no interest in leaving a legacy, that could make such a plan. I imagine they’ll be quite astonished.”

No, no, outsiders aren’t enough. Only you could devise such a plan. You are an extraordinarily ruthless person.

Charles, feeling his own inferiority, asked the next question, “After all this, how likely is your plan to succeed? Suppose it does, what benefits will we gain?”

“Benefits? This plan requires us to win—ideally, a resounding victory. What the scene will give us after victory, I can’t say; in pursuit of victory, I’ll divide up the necessary work, assign corresponding rewards, and leave it to you all. The profit you gain depends on how much work you do.”

“The chances of success… should be high. For farmers suffering from hunger and near starvation, offering land, oxen, and houses is enough for them to abandon everything and support us. As long as we win a few more battles and spread the news, then, for the great families across the country, apart from their wives and children, there’s no one trustworthy left beside them.”

“I don’t expect those who stand to benefit from the plan to immediately kill their masters and support us. But as long as we win a few battles and aren’t immediately destroyed, opportunities will open up. When such enormous interests are at stake, they’re fundamentally inclined toward us.”

“After all, the truest love is self-love. And my plan is built on the premise that people value the present more than the future; that self-love outweighs love for their children.”

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“The Han army’s reinforcements number ten thousand, led by Lu Zhi, and will arrive in six days.”

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After occupying the main Han army camp, the Yellow Turban troops have been training for several days. Many of those responsible for training are surrendered Han soldiers. Quite a few refugees from the surrounding area have joined the Yellow Turban army, and their total numbers now exceed ten thousand.

The Yellow Turban army dispatched several small detachments, splitting into four groups of about a thousand men each. They all donned Han army gear and changed their banners—now they march under flags emblazoned with ‘Revolution’. They did not head for the ferry crossing, but instead attacked nearby outposts guarded by small Han detachments.

This time, the Yellow Turban army’s discipline was strict; they did not plunder ordinary residents. Few battles occurred, most Han soldiers fled, and a handful surrendered.

Getini and Rank refused the invitations of Charles and Garivik; instead, they demanded to join us as a unified group, forming an alliance. Many independent contractors also joined them.

The Han army at the ferry still cannot be dispatched using the transfer orders.

Countless pieces of intelligence were thus delivered, one after another, to the Wu Zhou team’s mobile team space.

“We begin our operation now.” After synthesizing the intelligence, Lin Feier issued the order. “Everyone moves out—first, eliminate the Yellow Turban scouts and scattered units!”