They say to despise the enemy strategically, but to take the enemy seriously tactically.
As the Underground City's manager and the lord of the entire territory, Su Mo held the central command.
This time, Su Mo had no intention of personally leading the expedition to that research institute. In the battles, large and small, that followed, he would gradually withdraw to the second line, participating only in strategic planning and emergency rescue operations.
This was a necessary transition.
History had proven time and again that a commander's presence was always merely an added bonus. It improved upon a foundation of one hundred points; it did not merge with the army to form those one hundred points.
The sooner Su Mo—the most influential factor—let go, the better it would be for the territory's military system.
As the army struggled and grew, it would gain more autonomy and rapidly absorb the lessons of failure through the process of war.
But conversely, if his continual interference caused those below him to become dependent on him—
Then, if a delay like the one at the Future Ruins happened again, or if an expedition involved several fronts and Su Mo was unable to attend to everything—
The territory's combat strength would probably keep falling, perhaps even dropping straight below the passing line.
Moreover, conclusions verified from multiple sources indicated that the Great Rift Valley Research Institute had at most a little over two hundred guards. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the escapees to travel eight hundred kilometers before being caught.
Su Mo believed he had been sufficiently cautious in his arrangements, so an unexpected situation was unlikely.
First was manpower.
There were 1,600 Volunteers and 160 members of the Tian Yuan Army—more than eight times the enemy's number.
Even if they had yet