Three Plans

"How many people have reached the Advanced Warrior level?" Lin Chenxing asked at once.

Gao Zheng gestured to Li Yueqi, who immediately understood and replied, "There are currently nine Primary Battle Generals at the base: four from the Board of Directors, one from the Rescue Team, two from the Trade Team, one from the Law Enforcement Team, and one from the Emergency Team. There are also thirty-eight Advanced Warriors: nine from the Rescue Team, seven from the Trade Team, seven from the Law Enforcement Team, six from the Emergency Team, and nine others. Eight of those each lead an Exploration Team, while the last one serves as the Training Ground Instructor."

Lin Chenxing was silent for a moment, then said, "So a few of these Exploration Teams have already joined forces, and they're just waiting to break through to Battle General before making their move. Is that right?"

He Qishun praised him. "As expected of Young Director Lin. You catch on at once." After saying this, He Qishun's expression turned fierce. "I even suspect that some of them have already broken through and are just hiding their strength."

"In that case, we'll make it impossible for them to keep hiding. We'll flip the table outright," Lin Chenxing said.

Gao Zheng asked, "It sounds like you have an idea. Let's hear it."

Lin Chenxing gave a crooked smile. "From what I've learned recently, it seems we haven't held a Martial Arts Tournament for several years. Is that right?"

"So you want to hold another Martial Arts Tournament and use the prizes to tempt them into revealing their strength? I'm afraid your plan will fall flat. We tried that before, and hardly anyone responded. The excitement around these competitions has passed," Gao Zheng said.

Lin Chenxing shook his head. "No, the prizes naturally aren't appealing now. But what if we offered them something they already wanted?"

Gao Zheng stared at Lin Chenxing. "You mean giving them a share of the power and letting them compete for it?"

Lin Chenxing nodded. "At the base, there are only four core teams, and they don't cover every area. I suggest we establish another team and put it in charge of some area that doesn't carry too much power. Then we can open the position up for competition. If someone from their group wins it, they'll eventually leave that group and join us. If someone outside their group gets it, they'll become another ally who can help us counter them. We can also leave it to the team leader to recruit members from the other teams."

Gao Zheng and He Qishun couldn't help applauding. Gao Zheng said, "Maybe we've been too caught up in the struggle for power lately to think of such a simple solution. Your plan could also complement the one we've already been putting into motion and keep them from causing any more trouble."

"Oh? Could I hear about the plan you already had?" Lin Chenxing asked curiously.

As Gao Zheng and He Qishun explained, Lin Chenxing gradually learned the whole story.

It turned out that after they rescued the survivors from Chuilong Town Hospital, He Qishun suddenly noticed that several of his Intermediate Warrior teammates had been spending a lot of time with a former team member who had left the Rescue Team after being punished and formed his own Exploration Team. Every time they returned, they would take a few days off to rest at home, usually giving seemingly ordinary reasons such as spending time with their families.

But after investigating, He Qishun discovered that on the evenings after taking leave, those teammates would invite Martial Artists from other bases out for drinks and karaoke.

Such behavior would have been normal on its own, but it was suspicious when everyone did the same thing.

He Qishun then asked Meng Chang for a listening device and planted it under a table at the karaoke bar those people often visited.

What he heard revealed a serious problem.

In their conversations, the word "Mask" came up frequently. He even heard them talk about taking over the base.

All this made He Qishun start guarding against them.

After speaking with Gao Zheng, they began using the conflict between them that they had already made public as a trap, hoping to draw the whole group out and eliminate them in one fell swoop.

Their plan was to use the county seat as a breakthrough point and assemble all the Exploration Teams. The Trade Team and Rescue Team would lead the effort, each finding a route to the county seat. The first to clear a route would receive five percent of the future earnings from it, with the two teams deciding among themselves how to divide the share.

As a group, those teams would surely band together to win the right to distribute the proceeds and claim as much as possible. That would expose them to Gao Zheng and He Qishun.

Of course, the plan depended on not every Exploration Team having joined the group.

Lin Chenxing's plan now struck directly at the group's weakness in securing allies, so it would naturally be more effective. They didn't believe those people would resist taking the bait.

However, when Lin Chenxing heard He Qishun mention the "Mask," he hesitated. "Director He, are you sure this 'Mask' was just something they came up with after forming their alliance?"

He Qishun furrowed his brow slightly. "Whether it was or not, what can we do about it? We don't have much contact with the outside world, and most of it is limited to this area. If it wasn't something they came up with themselves, I can't think of any other possibility."

Lin Chenxing sighed. "Let's hope so."

"Why don't we add a social mixer to the plan?"

A voice suddenly cut in.

The others turned toward the speaker. There was a woman in the office as well: Xi Qing. She had listened to the whole discussion and learned how complicated things were at the base, so she couldn't help speaking up.

Gao Zheng considered this, then asked Xi Qing, "Could you explain your idea?"

Xi Qing spoke as she worked it out. "Aside from the people who want to cause trouble, I think most people still want stability. Most of them are in the Martial Artists' ranks. So we could hold a social mixer and invite some gentle, reserved young women and some young men who care deeply about the base. If they develop feelings for each other and influence one another, I think quite a few people might abandon their plans."

Gao Zheng said with a sigh, "Young people these days are really impressive. We're nowhere near as capable. Old He, what do you think of this plan?"

He Qishun was just as impressed. "First it's Director Lin, and now it's Miss Xi. You're both far cleverer than most. I support this idea."

Lin Chenxing was also very interested in how well the mixer might work, so he suggested, "Then I'll host it. That'll give me a chance to watch for anyone who reacts strangely."

Gao Zheng grinned. "You're not the right person to host. If you want to observe them properly, you should mingle with them. Besides, you're at that age now. It's time you found someone. How about you join in too, Xi Qing? Maybe the two of you could pair up."

Lin Chenxing glanced at Xi Qing and gave an awkward smile.

Xi Qing blushed slightly and clicked her tongue. "Director Gao, aren't you just playing matchmaker?"

Gao Zheng suddenly grew serious. "Then I'll ask you both one more time: are you willing to carry out this plan?"

Lin Chenxing was already very familiar with Gao Zheng, so he didn't answer. But seeing Gao Zheng's sudden serious expression, Xi Qing froze for a moment, then replied, "All right. I'll take part."