Chapter 143: New Wallfacer's Assistant_1
Despite Feng Zi's mental preparation before his arrival, he still fell into confusion when his speculations were confirmed.
Feng Zi asked, "The truth of the universe is cruel, but it also serves as a means to deter the Trisolarans, which means we have entered into a Nash equilibrium of deterrence.
"It's strange that you don't seek verification, as it should increase the level of deterrence," he said.
At this moment, Feng Zi still harbored a bit of fantastical thinking and hadn't seriously considered the nature of deterrence.
Feng Zi was indeed the best executor of plans but was immature in many aspects and still needed to be refined and learn.
"Do you think that our deterrence level against the Trisolarans is higher after we get the verification results, or is it higher without verification and just issuing threats?" Lin Sen asked.
"Yes, in fact, we don't need the verification results; this is the simplest form of game-theoretic equilibrium.
"The level of deterrence does not depend on how much we know but on how much the opponent believes we know.
"Actually, without verification results, our level of deterrence is higher," Feng Zi agreed.
Sometimes ignorance is the most powerful form of deterrence. (A certain Madonna disagrees)
Lin Sen: "Deterring isn't that simple either, and it's impossible to save human civilization purely through deterrence."
Feng Zi: "I actually don't "care" about life or death; I just want to find my own value.
"Deterring could be very simple; just place a Cradle device in your heart and issue a launch command to broadcast Trisolaris's coordinates to the universe once the heart stops beating.
"After my death, let the deluge come.
"Exposure means destruction; whether humanity survives or perishes, what does it have to do with me!"
Feng Zi's words also told Lin Sen that he could be the one to enforce deterrence.
It might be abrupt, but some things always need someone to take responsibility, and Feng Zi was willing to take it.
From this speech, it was evident that Feng Zi was an altruist, ready to dedicate everything to a cause, fundamentally similar to Ye Wenjie.
Lin Sen: "There are others more suited for deterrence than you.
"You may end up taking on more than the person responsible for deterrence.
"Your identity has completely changed, and you can't go back now, which is why you're confused and can't find your value.
"Your value far exceeds your imagination; I need you to use your military talent to help me accomplish a plan which I can't reveal to you yet. Are you willing?"
Feng Zi's eyes blazed:
"Some knowledge, a single thought, is eternity.
"Some people, once met, are forever.
"Some acts, once started, have no turning back.
"This is our first meeting, but I trust you; whatever the task, it will be the purpose of my life.
"From here on, I will be your will, a promise from a soldier!"
Lin Sen nodded and then turned his gaze back to the space above the room, speaking slowly:
"The following words are for the Trisolarans.
"Feng Zi's arrival is to tell you Trisolarans something; the Dark Forest cannot be sealed off.
"Feng Zi is more excellent than I and Logic. He could comprehend the Dark Forest on his own. Logic understood it with inspiration from Ye Wenjie, and I'm merely Logic's companion.
"That is to say, there are many human elites in this world; they may also comprehend the Dark Forest in the face of various adversities.
"The Dark Forest Theory is not originally Logic's or Ye Wenjie's creation. Humanity has had similar theories for a long time, though they were a bit rough.
"Even if ordinary people figure it out, it usually does not make much difference because it's all based on hypothesis.
"No one would verify it, or they simply lack the capability. Since the Trisolaris crisis, all powerful radio transmission equipment has been monitored or sealed.
"But if humanity is driven to complete despair, any speculation might incite them to act, and Sophons cannot monitor everyone."
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"If the staff of the strong radio transmission station have realized, are you determined to bear the consequences?"
"You are making a mistake by limiting your targets to us. There are too many extraordinarily talented humans, you simply don't have the ability to monitor everyone.
"If there are multiple hidden Wallfacers, that would be your nightmare!"
"Mr. Lin Sen, you… were you just threatening the Trisolarans?" Feng Zi was shocked. Was this the job of a Wallfacer?
"It's not really a threat! It's just a friendly reminder.
"You make the Trisolarans understand that many things are beyond their control, even without us, others may discover the Dark Forest and many invisible Wallfacers may emerge.
"The Trisolaran Sophons can't monitor everyone; once these invisible Wallfacers get hold of certain key resources, they might establish a deterrence against the Trisolarans.
"Moreover, you don't need to be so hostile to the Trisolarans—we are enemies, true, but according to your military analysis, isn't the goal to achieve a Nash equilibrium in deterrence?" Lin Sen spoke steadily.
Feng Zi appeared somewhat surprised. He had thought that Lin Sen wasn't directly using deterrence measures because he was waiting for an opportunity to act, now it seemed the relationship between Wallfacers and Trisolarans was far more complex than he had imagined.
Seeing the expression on Feng Zi's face, some explanations were still necessary:
"Human relations are intrinsically complex, let alone between civilizations.
"There are no eternal enemies, nor eternal interests, only the fundamental craving for living space.
"It's precisely because this need is at the bottom of the hierarchy that it appears so dark and cruel.
"Whether humans can currently establish such a deterrence equilibrium with the Trisolarans is an unknown. The conditions required to establish this deterrence are extremely harsh, almost impossible. Perhaps it could only serve as a last countermeasure in desperation.
"Even if we enter peace through deterrence, what after deterrence?
"Do you think humans would dare look up at the stars then?
"With your military prowess, you can deduce what happens if the Trisolaran Interstellar Fleet arrives and humanity is utterly defeated, military forces entirely annihilated.
"Perhaps that's the only condition under which we could establish deterrence because only then would the Trisolarans truly believe that we would rather go extinct.
"But after establishing deterrence, are we safe? The Trisolarans only need to confine us to our last habitat and block us off, and our civilization will enter a countdown to its end."
Feng Zi didn't know that the Trisolarans didn't even need their Trisolaran Interstellar Fleet to arrive; just 20 "Whirlwind Stomps" could obliterate humanity's military power completely.
Feng Zi: "Indeed, this would essentially lock humanity within the Solar System, too afraid even to leave our home planet, let alone venture into deep space.
"At the same time, the Trisolarans wouldn't let us off either. Deterrence is based on power; without strength, deterrence only slows down the countdown to our civilization's demise."
Lin Sen: "So, we need to urgently improve human science and technology, to truly have the capacity to venture into space, to have a genuine confrontation with the Trisolarans in the doomsday battle.
"Humans must take that difficult step; if we shrink back now, we might stop there forever.
"Deterrence is much more complex than we thought, and deterrence negotiations are of the utmost importance.
"Just like I said earlier, only in the most desperate moment is our deterrence strongest. At that time, can we threaten the Trisolarans to lift the Sophons block on fundamental physics?
"The answer is no; asking the Trisolarans to lift the blockade of Sophons on fundamental physics is even more difficult than asking them not to invade the Solar System.
"Our maximum level of deterrence is that they don't completely destroy us. If the blockade of Sophons on fundamental physics is lifted, human technology might quickly surpass that of the Trisolarans, which is their greatest threat, and they won't agree to it.
"I don't like that kind of deterrence equilibrium. It's not just the equilibrium's fragility; more importantly, that's a kind of 'begging for a living,' like a beggar pleading for an opportunity to continue living from others."
Feng Zi: "Indeed, I thought too simply. Deterrence might not protect us, and might even push us into the abyss.
"If we are to use deterrence, we must also have a certain strength before we can use it."
Lin Sen: "If humanity is to survive the Trisolaris crisis, there is but one hope: we must qualify to challenge the Trisolarans.
"The Great Ravine will last for quite a while longer. In the near future, all Wallfacers will enter hibernation, and I intend to leave the Moon Base in your hands!
"At the same time, you need to hibernate frequently and properly allocate your lifespan; the plan requires you to live for at least a century and a half.
"You will become my assistant, the new Wallfacer's Assistant!"
Feng Zi saluted firmly: "Always ready!"
From that moment on, Feng Zi knew that he was leaving his past behind and embarking on a new journey filled with the unknown and challenges.
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