novelapdf 96. Assessment
96. Assessment
Lin Mo saw off the last group of core alliance members who came to report on the progress of various matters, and remained alone. The four strategies decided in the council hall during the day had begun to take effect, but a deeper concern weighed on his mind. Strategies were merely directions; what truly needed to be measured was the gap in strength between the two sides, and whether the alliance, this newly set sail, could withstand the coming storms.
He needs a calm, even ruthless, self-examination.
A large sheet of Xuan paper was spread out on the desk. Lin Mo ground the ink, picked up his brush, and began to divide the paper into sections. On the left, he wrote "Alliance"; on the right, he wrote "Prince Jin and Dark Flame Division," and next to it, he added small notes such as "Potential rivals: the Grand Commander of the Inner Guard, other princes."
**"Top-tier military strength."** Lin Mo wrote these four words below "Alliance" and then paused.
He himself was undoubtedly the alliance's strongest fighter. Possessing the cultivation of two lifetimes, he had fused ancient and modern martial arts, and the Taixu Ancient Sword had recognized him as its master, its spirit beginning to awaken. In terms of individual martial prowess alone, he was confident that he was no less than any so-called grandmaster, and might even be stronger. But, he was alone.
The Grand Elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect is a highly experienced and powerful master, a first-rate expert, but his advanced age has diminished his vigor. Hong Jiu, Zhao Kun, and others are considered skilled and capable of handling things independently, but they are still insufficient against truly top-tier attacks or ambushes. The leaders of the smaller sects vary even more in strength.
In contrast, consider the "Prince Jin and the Dark Flame Division." The Prince Jin's forces are undoubtedly filled with talented individuals, and to command a secret force like the Dark Flame Division, the quality and quantity of his recruits likely far surpasses that of the current alliance. Last night's attack, though repelled, likely involved forces that were not top-tier, but rather a probing attack to wear them down. Within the inner guard, even more hidden talents abound; rumors suggest there is an ancient monster among them, whose strength is unfathomable.
"In terms of top-tier military strength, I may be able to contend with their high-end combat power, but in terms of the number of mid-level and low-level experts, we are at an absolute disadvantage." Next to the "top-tier military strength" of the "Alliance", Lin Mo wrote "high quality and low quantity", while on the side of "King Jin", he wrote "possibly superior in both quality and quantity".
**"Sphere of influence and resources."**
The alliance's core is currently located in the Seven Absolutes Manor, with influence radiating across several surrounding states. It primarily derives wealth and resources through its newly acquired control of the canal wharves. The newly signed Jianghu Covenant theoretically unites numerous small and medium-sized sects, but this force is loose, its loyalty remains to be tested, and the truly effective core force is actually limited.
The Prince of Jin, based in the capital, wields a deeply entrenched influence within the court. The resources he can mobilize—whether in terms of money, provisions, weapons, or the potential support from the government and the army—far surpass those of any martial arts alliance. The Dark Flame Division's activities likely extend throughout the land, and its intelligence network and infiltrators far exceed the capabilities of any newly established alliance's intelligence system.
"Small territory, limited resource channels, and although they control the waterway, their foundation is shallow," Lin Mo noted on the alliance's side. "The other side has deep roots, vast resources, and the power they can mobilize far exceeds that of the martial arts world."
**"Intelligence capabilities."**
The alliance's intelligence network is still in its early stages of construction, relying mainly on the existing, scattered informants of various sects, as well as the elite personnel that Hong Jiu, Zhao Kun, and others are selecting and preparing to infiltrate the capital. Efficiency, coverage, and depth of infiltration are all severely lacking. Last night's attack was clear evidence of this intelligence lag.
The Dark Flame Division, as its name suggests, specializes in surveillance, espionage, and assassination; its intelligence capabilities are its foundation. In their eyes, the Alliance holds few secrets. The intelligence network of the Inner Guard Grand Commandery is equally formidable.
"In terms of intelligence, we are practically blind and deaf, while the other side is sharp-eyed and sharp-eared." Lin Mo felt a sense of urgency; a disadvantage in intelligence often means being passively attacked.
**Official background and legitimacy.**
This is the most fatal point. No matter how resounding the slogans or how fair the covenant, under the laws of the court, an alliance is ultimately a "civil society," a "gangster faction." The Prince of Jin represents the imperial family and the official order. He could easily use pretexts such as "suppressing bandits" and "maintaining local stability" to mobilize more official forces to attack the alliance. At that point, the alliance would no longer face a sneak attack from the Dark Flame Division, but rather an encirclement and suppression by regular armies.
"If the name is not correct, then the words will not be proper. Legally, we are in an absolutely weak position, and the other party holds the title of 'righteousness'." Lin Mo's pen stopped heavily on this point.
As the comparison unfolded, the left side of the page, below the word "Alliance," was filled with "disadvantages," "shortcomings," and "weaknesses," while the right side was dominated by "advantages," "profound strength," and "vastness." The cold reality was clearly presented through the ink marks: the overall gap between the Alliance and the Jin King's power was like a stream compared to a river, or a firefly compared to the bright moon.
A heavy pressure weighed on Lin Mo. Logically speaking, faced with such a disparity in power, the wisest choice might be to compromise, back down, or even dissolve the alliance in order to preserve oneself.
But... he can't.
It wasn't just for the survival of the alliance, for the brothers from various factions who trusted him and staked their lives on him, but also for the cold magical artifact in his arms, for the imprisoned soul, for the unresolved grudges of his past life, and for the astonishing secret about the world's restart revealed in the fragments of the Taixu Ancient Sword Spirit's memory. Taking a step back might mean utter destruction.
He put down his pen, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and looked at the deep night outside, his eyes gradually becoming sharp.
"The gap in hard power cannot be bridged overnight. But... there is room for maneuver." Lin Mo muttered to himself, his mind racing.
"First, time. We must use every means to buy ourselves time to develop. The core purpose of those four strategies, especially 'exploiting contradictions' and 'showing strength externally while seeking flexibility internally,' is to create obstacles and delay the opportunity for the Prince of Jin to make a full-scale move."
"Secondly, we must play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. Our advantages lie in... mobility and flexibility, in the rough-and-tumble spirit of the martial arts world and the potential for widespread sympathy. We cannot get bogged down in a battlefield pre-set by the enemy, nor can we engage in a war of attrition fought in a grand, conventional manner. We must respond in a martial arts-like way, leveraging the advantages of expert surprise attacks, intelligence gathering (once established), and our grassroots support."
He thought of the canal wharves, the laborers, boatmen, and small vendors who relied on them for their livelihoods. The alliance's new regulations gave them more opportunities to make a living. This was the will of the people—though small, it accumulated over time. This advantage could be further consolidated, allowing the alliance to take deeper root, not only in the martial arts world but also in the everyday lives of ordinary people.
"Secondly, find a breakthrough and 'asymmetric' combat power." Lin Mo's gaze fell on the Taixu Ancient Sword hanging at his waist. The sword spirit had just awakened and could not be fully communicated with yet, but the ancient sword intent and mysterious power it contained might play a miraculous role at a crucial moment. This was a missing link in the enemy's intelligence, a variable.
Furthermore, some techniques and secrets from her past life might uncover methods beyond the current understanding of the martial arts world. The research on the sealed magical artifact has never ceased; if a method to break the seal can be found to rescue her lover, her past life's knowledge and power might also be a great help.
"Finally, and most importantly," Lin Mo turned around, his gaze returning to the Xuan paper on the desk, "we must establish an intelligence network as soon as possible, especially one in the capital, and it must be efficient and covert. We must not only gather intelligence on the movements of Prince Jin and the Dark Flame Division, but also closely monitor the movements of the Grand Commander of the Inner Guard, the Crown Prince, and the other princes, seeking out points of cooperation and exploitation. Only by knowing ourselves and our enemy can we find opportunities to advance."
He walked back to his desk, picked up the sheet of rice paper filled with comparisons, and brought it close to the candlelight. The flame licked the edges of the paper, spreading rapidly and turning those cold judgments of superiority and inferiority to ashes.
The gap is an objective reality, and acknowledging it is for the sake of facing it more clearly, not out of fear. After formulating a response strategy, this in-depth power assessment made him more clear about the alliance's positioning and key directions for future development—build high walls (strengthen defense), stockpile grain (integrate resources), delay declaring dominance (temporarily avoid direct official conflict), and quickly gather intelligence (establish an efficient information network).
As the paper burned completely, Lin Mo's eyes regained their calm and determination. The road ahead was fraught with peril, and the enemies were as fierce as tigers, but having been given a second chance, possessing the Taixu Ancient Sword, and burdened with unfulfilled promises and secrets, he would never easily admit defeat.
"Prince Jin... Dark Flame Division... This game of chess has only just begun." He muttered to himself, a cold smile curving his lips.