Chapter 333: Benevolence Cannot Hold Power (Thank You to Our Patron 【You

"Mr. Zhang, population growth is a blessing for us, but also a challenge that demands serious attention."

Inside the Little Luck Restaurant, Yu Wen and Zhang Su sat facing each other; on the table sat an ashtray, with two lit cigarettes resting in the notches on either side, drifting slow wisps of smoke.

As the saying goes, the fewer the people in a meeting, the bigger the decisions made; the more people, the more empty talk. When Zhang Su and Yu Wen shut out everyone else and sat together, something critical was surely being discussed! "I can feel it!"

Zhang Su nodded and said, "When we were just over twenty people, the camp felt harmonious, like home—like we were all brothers. We understood each other without words. Even after the United Village folks, like Old Wang, came over, things were still fine—they were fewer, so their impact was minimal. But in just these two days, over fifty more people arrived. Today, I could clearly feel the difference: that sense of coming home had faded."

From the desperate struggle of the disaster's earliest days to now, survival alone is no longer enough. If all our efforts to build the camp still can't give us the life we want, it's no different from wandering helplessly outside.

Everyone wants to live better, and the camp's atmosphere is one of the most important indicators.

"Exactly—that's what I mean," Yu Wen adjusted his glasses. "Among Wang Longzhong, Ma Changshou, and Yang Liehuo, I think we need to pay special attention to Ma Changshou—or rather, the people from West Big Camp Village."

Zhang Su pondered seriously. He knew Yu Wen never spoke without reason, but he couldn't ask directly—he was the leader, and if he couldn't see what was obvious, his subordinates would criticize him.

After a moment, he said, "I understand Old Wang's situation well. The United Village folks have integrated nicely. Yang Liehuo from Kuan Village is blunt, or you could say bold yet shrewd—honest, with no ill intent. The women and girls following him are all quiet and well-behaved. It's not that the West Big Camp folks are full of malice, but I feel… their cohesion is still very strong, isn't it?"

"Exactly!"

Yu Wen sharply clapped his palm against his other hand. "West Big Camp has twenty-seven people. Though they came to Tianma Isle, they haven't integrated—they've joined our camp like a separate group under alliance. They never formally demanded autonomy, but internally, they still follow Ma Changshou's orders. That's very dangerous."

Strong cohesion in West Big Camp was good—but now that they'd chosen to join Tianma Isle, it was no longer good for Tianma Isle.

"Just now, standing higher up, I observed the crowd and noticed this issue. After surviving the earlier catastrophe, their cohesion is natural. I'll speak with Ma Changshou—I can tell if he has ambitions."

Zhang Su didn't just observe with his eyes—he heard things Yu Wen couldn't. Most of West Big Camp still looked to Ma Changshou as their core.

Yu Wen gave a deep smile. "Mr. Zhang, Tianma Isle is the camp you led us to, fighting all the way from Qincheng. To be selfish—I wouldn't want to see Tianma Isle change its name, even if someone else were stronger than you."

Zhang Su clicked his tongue, took a drag from his cigarette, and said, "Old Yu, I don't think I've told you about the Azure Dragon Corps. Do you know why they made such a critical mistake in their strategy against the horde?"

Yu Wen didn't understand why Zhang Su brought this up, but he sensed intent. He shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

"Because of factional infighting."

Zhang Su exhaled a smoke ring. "According to Pan Guoliang and others, the Azure Dragon Corps split into two factions led by the commander and deputy commander. They fought each other—and ended up like this. So… you don't speak, I won't change the management structure. At least for now, centralization is the better model."

"I agree."

Yu Wen fully endorsed Zhang Su's view. The two then laid out detailed plans for the coming period.

Considering issues of unity and morale, though they lived in satellite villages to avoid large horde attacks, all personnel would gather for training—except those on missions.

In the early stage, to aid development, familiar people would be housed together in satellite villages. Later, if any cliques formed, they'd be broken up and redistributed. The most vital resources would be tightly controlled by core members and stored solely at Tianma Isle.

"There's one more thing."

After discussing how to rebuild cohesion, Yu Wen narrowed his eyes. "Mr. Zhang, to keep everyone vigilant and prevent them from scheming, we need to establish an external enemy—strong enough and hard to defeat, so people maintain lasting alertness and unified resolve."

Zhang Su spread his hands. "Isn't the zombie threat enough?"

The zombies were no longer the weaklings of the disaster's early days. After two rounds of enhancement, their strength, reaction, and speed had all improved. Inside the fortifications, the threat felt distant—but in open-field encounters, they were extremely dangerous.

Yu Wen shook his head firmly. "That's not enough."

"Inside a safe camp, people can't feel the zombie threat. Without feeling it, they won't fear it. Everyone must have a visceral sense of danger. The horde's threat must be etched in their minds. Also, I believe we can fully exploit the cold—extreme climate is another enemy of humanity."

"Hmm… huh?"

Zhang Su suddenly had a flash of insight. "Comfort breeds complacency. Teacher Yu, are you suggesting we artificially create hardships to keep everyone aware of external threats?"

"Yes—perfect," Yu Wen nodded eagerly. The methods behind it wouldn't be pretty, but for the camp's future, Zhang Su had no objection. He didn't believe benevolence alone could win loyalty. After their discussion, Zhang Su and Yu Wen stepped out of the restaurant, both wearing pleasant smiles—outsiders had no idea their conversation had been grim.

They parted ways. Zhang Su learned via radio that Ma Changshou was overseeing vegetable cultivation. He found him without delay.

"Old Ma, you've got real talent."

Inside the vegetable greenhouse, Zhang Su squatted down, resting his hands by the stove to warm them, speaking casually.

Ma Changshou's eyes darted around, testing the waters. "Mr. Zhang, where did this come from?"

"You led your whole village through the apocalypse and kept them alive—surely you've got talent?"

Zhang Su stood up, pulled out a cigarette, and offered it to Ma Changshou.

Ma Changshou bowed to take it, fumbled for his lighter, lit Zhang Su's first, then his own, waving his hand humbly. "Mr. Zhang, you flatter me. It was all luck, and some fortune in misfortune—still, so many brothers died. Sigh."

"Not bad. Look at how loyal the survivors are to you—they follow you like a leader. That's impressive!"

Zhang Su held his cigarette, gave Ma Changshou a thumbs-up, his expression utterly sincere.

But that sincerity terrified Ma Changshou. He immediately snuffed out his still-burning cigarette, his face twitching. "Mr. Zhang, you… I swear, I have no ill intentions! Is there some misunderstanding?"

As a seasoned manipulator, Ma Changshou instantly understood: Zhang Su thought his control over West Big Camp was too strong, feared it would hinder future management—worst case, feared he'd incite rebellion. Such suspicion was normal, but he had to dispel it fast. Arriving as a newcomer with this impression would be disastrous.

"Why so worked up over a few words?" Zhang Su exhaled a smoke ring, smiling.

Ma Changshou laughed nervously, tucked the half-smoked cigarette behind his ear, and clasped his hands together in a pleading bow. "Mr. Zhang, my only wish is to keep my villagers alive—nothing more. I've already fulfilled my mission. From now on…"

He paused, then smiled with relief. "From now on, I'll hand this burden to you, Mr. Zhang. I'm just an ordinary member of Tianma Isle. I won't go back to Madian Village—I'll stay here, become a farmer, tend vegetables every day. How's that?"

Authority isn't built overnight, nor lost in a day—but he had to cut the knot now. Even if he felt reluctant, he couldn't hesitate.

"Old Ma, we've known each other for two months now—we're old friends. You know what kind of man I am. You know my bottom line, right?"

Zhang Su asked with a smile.

"Of course. Mr. Zhang, what do you think of my proposal?"

Previously, joining the Azure Dragon Corps, he'd played games—and nearly got everyone killed. Then the horde came, sparing only a few. This time, Ma Changshou wouldn't play smart—he'd fully cooperate.

"You staying here to grow vegetables? That's a waste of talent. How about this…"

Zhang Su thought a moment. "Come work for us as a technical advisor. Vegetables, chickens, ducks, fish, pigs, sheep—you know all this. Guide our people. I'll give you a good package. What do you say?"

"I couldn't possibly!" Ma Changshou bowed repeatedly. He knew "advisor" was just a polite term—what he really wanted was to keep Ma Changshou under his watch. But the phrasing was better, and he liked the arrangement.

These past days had worn him out. Now, having a quiet place to rest? For him, and for West Big Camp's survivors, it might be a blessing.

"Good, it's settled. I'll announce it tonight. Congratulations, Advisor Ma. Here, a small gift."

Zhang Su pulled two packs of cigarettes from his coat and handed them to Ma Changshou, then left the greenhouse.

"Phew…"

Watching Zhang Su close the greenhouse door, Ma Changshou exhaled deeply, his tense heart finally settling. The burden lifted, his body lightened, and he sank onto the small stool beside the stove.

He took the half-smoked cigarette from behind his ear, thought a moment, then slipped it back. He opened a fresh pack, lit one, and inhaled deeply, lost in mixed emotions.

(End of Chapter)