Alpha Centauri, Trisolaran World.
The administrators convened a meeting, chiefly to discuss matters concerning Liang Gong.
The Chief Administrator, also The Leader of Trisolaris, looked at the proposal the Science Administrator had submitted to him and read it aloud.
"Liang Gong Project: artificially create a closed environment where thoughts cannot be seen, allowing Trisolarans to imitate humanity's closed thought processes. On that basis, it will further help Trisolarans learn human deception and stratagems."
The project had been approved by The Leader, who understood it well, but some of the administrators present were still unfamiliar with it.
Before establishing communication with humanity, the Trisolarans had known nothing of "deception," much less its power. Their use of strategy had remained exceedingly rudimentary.
Once The Leader learned of "deception," he naturally coveted it greatly. No civilization would ever resent becoming stronger, and Trisolaris was no exception. If they could learn deception, Trisolaris would undoubtedly grow more powerful and survive more safely in the universe.
"I opposed this project from the beginning. Just as I expected, humanity used this project to deceive the entire Trisolaran World," one administrator said.
This administrator was an opponent. The Liang Gong Project required contact and exchanges with humanity, helping its participants imitate human thought and learn deception more quickly.
But doing so also carried the risk of being exploited by humanity in return.
Another administrator countered, "It is worth it. I believe many other civilizations in the universe must possess closed thought processes similar to humanity's. We have all seen the power of stratagems. We cannot always hold the technological advantage. Should we encounter a powerful enemy, human stratagems will become another means of preserving our civilization."
This administrator had proposed the Liang Gong Project and was one of its staunchest supporters.
After witnessing humanity's capacity for deception,