The Owl Dragon Star System.
The Governor's office.
"Are all the warp interceptors about the Owl Dragon Star System started up or not? Check them carefully! And every patrol fleet is to be set on, all of them. Remember: from this moment and for the seventy-two hours after it, not one interstellar warship, not so much as a shuttle, is to be allowed into the Owl Dragon Star System out of the system's edge space. Is that understood!"
"The three Star Gates of the Owl Dragon Star System, every batch of interstellar warships, interstellar liners and interstellar transports sent through must be strictly controlled! Any that have not been approved are not to come to our Owl Dragon Star System at all. In this time, the one way into our Owl Dragon Star System is the Star Gates!"
"Settle those visitors from outside. Divide them into their several grades by their standing and by their invitations. Guests of different grades are to be housed in different places, and promptly. Above all those guests who can only be put upon the several planets of the Owl Dragon Star System: take the interstellar transports directly into the target planet's near orbit now, and have the landing craft set them down at the appointed places upon the planet. Do not let them into the star ports or the space stations any more. Of the eighteen trade star-ports within our system now, six have already gone past 110% of their numbers!"
"And get in touch with the Eden Grain Trade Group. The grain supply for the coming month must be made sure of! The business itself takes only three days this time, but who knows how long this crowd will stay in our Owl Dragon Star System."
"Give notice to the lodging houses upon every planet of the Owl Dragon Star System: for visitors from outside who are not of Owl Dragon registry. All charges for lodging are to rise tenfold. Tenfold is too much? What is there to fear; every one invited this time is a person of money. If we do not gather this autumn wind now, when shall we! How large next year's annual bonus is for every worker in our system depends upon them!"
"Attend to the management of the lanes. Every interstellar warship must sail upon its appointed lane; the moment one strays, a heavy fine!"
Before Jiang Hong were communication window upon communication window; secretaries came and went before her one after another, and the matters to be dealt with came in an unbroken stream.
After a good long while, Jiang Hong, the present administrative Governor of the Owl Dragon Star System, got at last a chance to draw breath.
The management of this territory, the Owl Dragon Star System, had always been kept wholly apart from the Owl Dragon Legion.
The affairs of the Owl Dragon Star System were for the most part managed by Jiang Hong herself.
Lilith did not intervene.
As for the military restricted zones, those were naturally in Lilith's charge, and Jiang Hong had no authority over them.
But this time the business was somewhat particular.
She, the Owl Dragon's Governor, must come forward as well, and arrange matters upon every side.
"My lady Governor. There are above one trillion people within our Owl Dragon Star System now. Leaving out the star ports and space stations and such places, upon every inhabited planet alone there are above five million on the average. The population figures of not a few cities have raised the alarm!" said a secretary, his head all over sweat.
Jiang Hong shook her head helplessly, looking at the data of every planet, and at those cities upon them whose figures had already turned red.
"Pass my order: any city whose received population has gone past 130% of the limit. Close the ways into the city, every one; out is allowed, in is not! Those who would come into the city afterward are to be sent to other cities!" Jiang Hong arranged.
"My lady Governor, several planets report that there are not shuttles enough!" said another secretary in haste.
"Didn't we purchase a batch of shuttles before?"
"They were put up long ago, and even so there are nowhere near enough. The price of hiring a shuttle has gone past three times our set price. And it must be known that our set price was already five times the original!" the secretary said in a low voice.
Jiang Hong glanced at the time, and then said: "There is still time. Contact the Northern Goose Group, the North Dragon Group, the Rose-Red Dragon Group and the Earth-Dragon Group at once. Have them send me every spare shuttle they have!"
"Aye!"
Jiang Hong let out a long breath, and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.
And at this moment a golden dragon-patterned notice-box sprang open before her; it seemed to be an invitation of some kind.
Upon it was written the time: fifteen hours yet.
"Six years. I had not thought that in six years. You would be standing at such a height as this." Jiang Hong laughed at herself: "The I of six years ago would not have dreamed of it, I dare say."
The Golden Great-Dragon Space City, the best of the ceremonial viewing platforms.
"President, there are a great many people from the groups who want to meet you. These are the calling cards of the young ladies of those interstellar groups, and their room keys besides." A man secretary came staggering up before Li Wei with a paper carton in his arms.
Li Wei wore a well-cut suit, and his handsome mechanical arm held a cup of good wine.
He looked at the things heaped in the carton, and at the crowd shouting outside the barrier.
"President Li, it is I! Do you remember me? I am the younger sister of Zhang Xiaohua, of the class next to yours in the same year at Northstar! We ate in the same dining hall!"
"President Li, President Li, I have here an investment of the first excellence. Give me ten minutes; in ten minutes I shall content you."
"President Li, we are willing to do contract work for the Northern Goose Group; we ask only three points of the profit… no… two points! And I have a granddaughter who very much wishes to make President Li's acquaintance!"
"President Li, do you remember Xia Xiaohua of the Daming Lake planet, when you were seven years old!"
Li Wei drank a mouthful of wine, tossed his hair, looked at the carton of things, and drew out a paper card from among them.
He sniffed at it; one smell told him a woman had sent it.
There was even a print of lipstick upon it, and a room key tucked into the fold.
"It cannot be helped; who told me to be so radiant with charm!"
Li Wei was just waiting upon his man secretary's praise, when the man looked past him in alarm.
"But! I have not the least interest in these painted commonplaces. How should any of them be a match for our Little Miao! Take them all out and burn them. And besides, did I not tell you before. Do not bring such things before me again hereafter. It is simply an insult to my unwavering and faithful love for our Little Miao." So Li Wei spoke, and turned his head as he spoke.
And saw two women standing right before him.
One with her arms folded, looking at him with a smile all over her face, with the air of one watching a fine play.
It was none other than Li Wei's elder sister, Li Yaqi, now president of the North Dragon Group.
The other was a woman great with child, regarding him with a searching look.
Li Wei's wife.
Without a word Madam Miao went straight up and took Li Wei by the ear.
"What charm is this? How does it shine out? I do not see it. Shine some out and let me look at it, then." Madam Miao glared at Li Wei.
"I have none, none at all, how should I dare shine out? Little Miao, do not be angry; take care, you will disturb the child. You are carrying triplets this time, and must go carefully! Is that not so, sister!" Li Wei threw his elder sister a look at once.