Starting with God's perspective, how to lose an interstellar war?

With its superior equipment, the Pluto fleet, under Zhuang Zhixuan's actual command, severely damaged the Dragon Lizard fleet and even forced Wells's direct fleet to retreat.

The Poison Spider fleet therefore made an emergency evacuation to provide support.

Upon learning the news, Commander Yang Shao decided to press his advantage and ordered them to block the jump point in an attempt to annihilate the Wells Squadron.

Everything makes sense.

Except for one detail.

Qin Beiwang's role in it.

"commander."

Li Wen asked in a low voice.

"Shall we... go to the seventh jump point?"

Zhao Rui remained silent for a few seconds.

He looked at the brief battle report on the tactical screen, at the words "annihilation of the Dragon Lizard Fleet," and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.

On the one hand, he did not believe that this was Qin Beiwang's achievement.

On the other hand, if this was indeed a victory for the federal army, it was a great triumph.

Moreover, Yang Shao's orders were not to be questioned.

"All fleet, turn around!"

He finally said

"Target: The seventh jump point in the Elvira Galaxy."

Full speed ahead.

The order has been issued.

The massive hull of the Iron Spine began to slowly turn, and the engine exhaust gradually changed from pale blue to incandescent white.

That's a sign of overload operation.

The surrounding cruisers and destroyers also adjusted their course, drawing several arcs in deep space.

Li Wen walked up to Zhao Rui and lowered his voice.

"Commander, what if... I mean, what if it really was Qin Beiwang who fought that battle?"

Zhao Rui glanced at him, then shook his head.

"Old Li, I've told you about Marshal Qin. I admire him because he's a true soldier."

But his son… I’ve seen his file and met him in person. He’s not the type to fight.”

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"I hope there are more people like Marshal Qin in the federal army, instead of... good-for-nothings like Qin Beiwang."

Even if he got lucky this time, or stole someone else's credit, it doesn't change this fact.

Outside the window, the fleet began to accelerate.

10.56 light-minutes ahead of them, the seventh jump point of the Elvira Galaxy is quietly suspended in the void.

No one knew that, a few hours later, that place would become the end of an even grander hunt.

at the same time.

Inside the Kunlun Mountain.

"All fleet, move to the seventh jump point."

Heading 087, depression +3, full speed ahead.

When Qin Beiwang's order rang out on the bridge of the Kunlunshan, Zhuang Zhixuan's brows immediately furrowed.

She quickly pulled up the star chart to calculate.

"Commander, the seventh jump point is 70.78 light-minutes away from us (the distance light can travel in 70.78 minutes / 12.7 billion kilometers)."

It would take more than two and a half hours to get there at full speed.

The third jump point has a range of only 20.52 light-minutes; if the Wells fleet goes there, it can begin jump preparations within 45 minutes.

"They won't go to the third jump point."

Qin Beiwang answered without any hesitation.

Why?

This time, it was Ran Shaohua who spoke on the communications channel. The Scorpion had already turned around, but the doubt in his tone was obvious.

"Major Qin, time is the key to the pursuit."

We abandoned a closer goal to pursue something farther away; if our judgment is wrong, Wells will have truly escaped.

Qin Beiwang walked to the main tactics screen and tapped it lightly with his finger.

The data for the third and seventh jump points are displayed side by side.

"Look at the environment around the third jump point."

Open airspace, with no obstructions.

If Wells goes there, his fleet will have to conduct at least eight minutes of jump preparation while completely exposed.

He paused.

"Eight minutes is enough time for our reconnaissance ship to arrive and deploy another warp jammer."

Zhuang Zhixuan nodded.

"So he'll choose the seventh jump point, which offers cover?"

Qin Beiwang zoomed in on the star map around the seventh jump point, highlighting the distance between that area and the galaxy boundary.

"The seventh jump point is only 15 billion kilometers from the boundary of the Elvira galaxy. That's the key."

The bridge fell silent as everyone stared at the distance data.

15 billion kilometers.

For a starship powered by a nuclear fusion engine, this distance would take 3 hours to travel at full speed.

It takes a little longer, but it's not unacceptable.

"If I were Wells!"

Qin Beiwang's voice was as calm as if he were explaining a math problem.

"After the painful lesson of having our jump forcibly interrupted."

I would think of it this way: if I go to the third jump point and am interfered with again, I will be trapped in open airspace and become a sitting duck.

Even if I'm interfered with again at the seventh jump point, I have a second option: to use the nuclear fusion engine to slowly fly out of the galactic boundary over three hours.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over every face on the bridge.

"The three-hour escape was a mess, but at least I survived."

For a veteran like Wells, as long as the fleet can be preserved and the flagship can return to Imperial-controlled territory, that's all that matters.

Even if the battle report says they fled in disarray, it's still far better than being completely annihilated.

The logical chain is frighteningly clear.

Zhuang Zhixuan felt a chill down her back.

Looking at Qin Beiwang's calm profile, she suddenly realized that the depth of this young commander's thinking far exceeded her imagination.

He was not only anticipating the enemy's tactical choices, but also anticipating the enemy's psychological bottom line, and how a battle-hardened veteran would weigh dignity and survival in a desperate situation.

"so……"

She spoke slowly.

"Wells chose the seventh jump point not because it was safer, but because it provided a safety net for survival even in the worst-case scenario?"

"right!"

Qin Beiwang nodded.

"This is the typical mindset of a commander with his personality in dire situations."

We don't pursue the optimal solution, we only pursue a solution that doesn't result in a loss.

There was a few seconds of silence on the communication channel, then Ran Shaohua's voice came through.

"I see.

Scorpion obeys orders.

Other captains also confirmed the change of course.

Although doubts remain, Qin Beiwang's previous achievements and his impeccable logic at this moment have established sufficient authority.

In the depths of Qin Beiwang's vision, the three-dimensional star map was verifying his judgment with scientific data.

Tracking data transmitted back by the Shadow and Dark Shadow ships shows that...

The remaining 12 ships of the Wells fleet have quietly changed their course to 086.

It almost points directly to the seventh jump point.

As early as when the enemy was retreating, Qin Beiwang ordered two Shadowless-class reconnaissance ships to follow behind them.

Thanks to passive detection, the two ships were basically undetected by the enemy.

On the contrary, the other party's course was accurately transmitted to Qin Beiwang's command system.

Meanwhile, based on Wells' personality model and the current battlefield situation, the system provides the latest projection results:

Wells' current decision priorities: Fleet survival > Tactical victory > Personal honor

[Probability of choosing the seventh jump point: 76.8%]

[Key consideration: Providing a backup plan for "physical escape" (weighted at 57%)]

This is called "open card".

Qin Beiwang could see Wells' thought process on the bridge of the Imperial Glory.

That veteran must be weighing the options repeatedly: the third jump point is faster, but the risk is extremely high.

The seventh jump point is slower, but there is a way back.

Ultimately, the option of "having a way out" will prevail over everything else.