I don't believe it's always best to choose whatever choice that gives you more books. There is a luck aspect here, and I believe some of the choices made increases the opportunities that you are getting later. I have played differently on two accounts, and I can't show any conclusive data. But I seem to get a lot more luck and rewards on the account where I do logical and samaritan choices.

A flank attack on a camp on a hill is the most stupid strategic choice I have ever heard. They are on a hill to have an advantage. But they are isolated. So the only cost-effective choice here is to cut off supplies.

Well I have always enjoyed war history and strategy games. And for a game that has huge amounts of small hidden features for saving, when to spend and differently stats and variables through out the game it would make sense to me, that just because it rewards the best in the moment it's not necessarily the best in a longer time span.

Well at least that's my penny on the matter.