This reminds me of the existence of Poul Anderson’s Three Hearts and Three Lions, a portal fantasy which is also the source of the Law versus Chaos idea in DnD and Michael Moorcock.

Real talk, but isn’t this sub pretty disappointing? It’s just people dropping in, day after day, to write at length on why some book sucks.

I don’t see how you can read that and think it’s author wish-fulfillment. The government comes to him and tells him that he’s one of four people assigned the job of saving the world, and given unlimited resources to do so. He immediately gives up and abuses the position to indulge himself. It’s deliberately unheroic.

For Luo Ji, you’re supposed to think “What’s wrong with this guy?”, so your reaction is the one intended by the author.

Also, none of the wallbreakers reveal their plans ahead of time.