Gao Yang didn't find his decision to be some trivial trick. As brothers in life and death, he didn't want to see anyone die, nor did he want to morally coerce anyone.
Andy He had just joined Satan not long ago and hadn't earned much money yet. He now had to risk his life for revenge for Bruce. If it weren't for this move, if Andy He didn't want to die but felt he had to stay because he couldn't lose face, then Gao Yang felt it would be inappropriate.
And Jansen, who originally came to earn money, ended up hardly making any before having to fight, possibly to death, for Bruce, and Gao Yang found that unsuitable as well, although he believed Jansen would definitely seek revenge for Bruce.
So no matter what, Gao Yang had to give everyone a chance to choose, to let them go home, and then, if they came back, they came back; if not, that was fine too—no hard feelings.
But Gao Yang's good intentions were misunderstood, and instead, they were met with unanimous disdain.