Chapter 53: Ice Lake Enlightenment IV_1

Lin Sen calmly discussed the Dark Forest with Logic, and he didn't mind the Trisolarans knowing. Lin Sen had never thought of using the Trisolarans' belief that he was unaware of the Dark Forest to outwit them, as there was no need for that. He had never believed that the Dark Forest truly could save Earth—it would only bind humanity tightly to the Solar System.

Lin Sen was the person least willing to employ the Dark Forest; his arrival was meant to change everything. He did not want humanity to experience The Deterrence Era again, as deterrence is far more dangerous than we imagine.

Originally, when Logic established deterrence, he found himself in an extremely helpless situation, sick in body, ridiculed, and scorned, taking a difficult walk to Ye Wenjie's grave, even ready to end his life at any moment. Only by convincing the Trisolarans that he truly might commit suicide was it possible to establish deterrence. Whether Logic, in the subsequent period of deterrence, maintained a 90% level of deterrence was far from certain.

The Trisolarans said they greatly respected Logic, and this might not be a lie. The deeper meaning of respect is that they might have analyzed Logic's true level of deterrence. The Trisolarans might have already figured out Logic's actions, sealing himself underground, not communicating with anyone, not even seeing any color in front of him. Logic's deterrence might even have relied on such an inhuman environment.

There is another aspect: the true level of deterrence is greatest when one is unsure about whether the Dark Forest is correct because ignorance leaves no room for guilt, making one more likely to truly push the button; deterrence always comes before the launch button is pressed.

Logic: "I might have developed a fear of the cosmos, and now I'm too scared to look up at the stars."

Lin Sen: "Don't be afraid. I am beside you and together we shall face it. The most valuable quality of humanity is to look up at the stars. Fearlessness comes from ignorance, and knowing the truth makes you afraid, apprehensive—that is our instinct. But have you ever considered that this might only be part of the truth?"

Logic: "Do you think the Dark Forest can be broken?"

Lin Sen: "No, its theoretical foundation is solid. Based on the theorems and premises taught to you by Ye Wenjie, we can deduce the theory of the Dark Forest, and even infer that Dark Strikes are random and economical.

The assumption definitely is that the universe contains many advanced civilizations. On the surface, this seems very disadvantageous to us, but in reality, it is the most beneficial to us. We shouldn't fear the Dark Forest; rather, we should be thankful for its existence."

Logic: "How can that be possible?" As he spoke, it seemed as if his fear diminished quite a bit. It was a critical moment, and the Spirit Master had a way.

Lin Sen: "If it weren't for the Dark Forest between civilizations, then we, as newly emerged civilizations, would surely be ruled by many advanced civilizations. That is real desperation, where we might never be able to escape a fate of slavery. No one truly believes that extraterrestrial civilizations would selflessly help us.

Moreover, we can be considered to know in which era of the universe we currently live. Just like human civilization, we can divide the universe into several eras: the cosmic primitive era, the cosmic tribal era, the cosmic slave era, the cosmic empire era, the cosmic decline era.

This is just a rough division I've made; we should be in the cosmic slave era."

The truth should be the cosmic empire era. The Dark Forest is just a cold war among the universe's supercivilizations, but this is difficult to explain.

Logic: "Why is there no cosmic feudal era, cosmic capital era? Is this cosmic environment really fortunate for us?"

Lin Sen: "With so many civilizations in the universe lacking communication, the technological gaps between them are immense, thus the mathematical characteristics between cosmic civilizations become even more distinct.

Feudalism is a product of balancing multiple parties, and capital is based on trade—both of which cosmic civilizations do not need.

The development of cosmic civilizations must have also been constantly fraught with hardship, wavering between survival and annihilation. Most importantly, we must have courage to face it.

Did we not also develop from primitive tribes to modern civilization in the same way? Fearlessly and dauntlessly, we have made it to today. Have we lost the courage to continue walking?"

Consider our Huaxia nationality, from the beginning, how many ethnic enemies existed around us? Where are they now? During the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties, our enemies were collectively known as the Dongyi, Xirong, Beidi, and Nanman.

Those who attacked us, those we vanquished, were countless. Both the strong and the weak disappeared into the mists of history.

During the Xia there were Huaiyi, Fengyi, and others... during the Shang, Xun Yu, Yan Yun, Guifang, Quanrong, Tufang, Shifang, Er Fang, Renfang... during the Zhou, Quanrong, Sushen, Beirong, Shanrong, Chidi, Baidi, Changdi, Donghu, Linhu, Loufan, Xiongnu...

The mighty and the weak, ultimately they all vanished into the dust, fading into the long river of history.

In the era of the mighty Han and glorious Tang Dynasties, we annihilated countless ethnic states. We have been powerful, and we have been enslaved; we have had glory, and we have had downfall—all these have forged our nation.

We shall not forget those nations and ethnicities that have vanished into dust and smoke; they resisted, they surrendered, they shone brightly, and they also faced darkness.

Such a splendid historical scroll of civilization, such majestic poetry of civilization, needs to be sung continuously. Now it is in our hands, how can we willingly give up?

We coexist with the Trisolarans in this universe, regardless of the outcome of our doomsday battle with them. The victorious side will carry on with the other's glory, crossing the ice to the other shore.

The greatest respect for the other is to annihilate them! Even in death, there is no regret!"

Logic: "Yes, we have no regrets!"

Lin Sen: "I do not wish for you to test 'Pandora.' If we choose this path, it would be an escape, and I fear that once we choose to escape, we will never again have the courage to face the universe.

I hope it can serve as a deterrent weapon of uncertainty. It may be useful or useless; nobody knows. What we need to do is fight our hardest against the Trisolarans and see who will carry on the joint scroll of civilization of Trisolaris and Earth.

If humans still fail in the end, we will use 'Pandora' on the Trisolarans too. We will perish together."

Logic, thoughtfully: "You're right, if we choose to escape, we'll never again have the courage to face the universe. The power of 'Pandora' doesn't need to be tested. It may or may not work, nobody knows.

What we need is to give our all in a battle against the Trisolarans. 'Pandora' will serve as the ultimate deterrent. The battle for civilization may require brave and fearless resistance, but it also requires using any means necessary."

Lin Sen: "We don't mind if they lead the joint scroll of civilization of Trisolaris and Earth on their journey.

But if they cannot prevent us from resorting to mutual destruction with 'Pandora,' then they are simply not capable of carrying the combined hopes of both civilizations."

Logic: "In the final battle, 'Pandora' is our last resort. If they can stop us from using 'Pandora' and defeat us in a direct conflict, then we will have no regrets."

Lin Sen: "Indeed, we need to make more preparations now.

Not resorting to Dark Forest deterrence means we still need to face the future, face the universe, we must venture forth into the sea of stars.

If the Trisolarans cannot do that, it means they are fundamentally incapable of carrying the combined hopes of our two civilizations. We will make them pay.

They sparked this war,

We will keep the flames of war burning forever,

We will make them have nowhere to hide,

Until we completely annihilate them,

And then, carrying on their scroll of civilization,

Continue marching forward!"