"Then the most important question now is which direction the undead legions will make their main attack. So long as we can check this offensive of the undead legions, we can gain the upper hand," Zhao Ruyue said.
When Zhao Ruyue had finished, everyone around the conference table fell silent for several seconds.
"Then the only problem now is that we have no idea at present where the undead legion fleets' main axis of attack lies."
Ye Xiaotong spoke, paused, and went on: "In a situation like this, our one best response is to meet movement with stillness. Wait until the undead legion fleets' main target shows itself, then commit our follow-on legion fleets to that battlefield and break the enemy's strategic plan. This choice matters a great deal. If we judge wrong, our defense line may be torn open by the enemy!"
"But right now we do not have many legion fleets we can draw on. The other places within the Empire where the undead crisis has broken out are all under control, but all of them still need some Owl Dragon fleets to garrison them. Our Second Fleet Group's four legion fleets have each put their main fleets here, yes. But that comes to only 200,000 Owl Dragon interstellar warships in all. To hold off the attack of a million undead legions across the way, with T6-grade combat units in unknown number besides, our chances of winning are not good." Midai set out her thinking point by point, then looked to Zhao Chen. "Your Majesty the Emperor, we may need reinforcements."
"You need not worry about reinforcements; leave that to me. And besides, I think we should set our strategic goal further out. We must not only stop this undead legion fleet attack from achieving its aim; we must also launch a counterattack. Break back into the Judgment Angel star system," Zhao Chen said.
Counterattack?
On hearing the word, not a few commanders looked surprised.
To think of counterattacking even now, that truly was something they had not expected.
"You should all know the plan we are preparing for dealing with these undead armies later on. That being so, we need to make our preparations ahead of time. So we must launch a counterattack and return to the core region of the Judgment Angel star system; only then can we carry out the battle plan that follows. And I think that after a fierce offensive, the enemy is bound to pass through a stage of going from strength to decline. That, beyond doubt, is the best moment for us to counterattack. So I think this happens also to be our moment to strike back." Zhao Chen looked at them all and said what he thought.
The commanders were silent a moment.
Marshal Chu Xuan spoke up then: "I agree with His Majesty the Emperor's view."
Since Marshal Chu Xuan herself had spoken in agreement,
the other commanders could hardly say anything more.
They all voiced their agreement one after another.
That did not mean the meeting was over, though.
Zhao Chen had only settled the broad direction.
The detailed battle plan still had to be discussed and settled by these legion commanders.
That was their specialist work.
Zhao Chen need only listen from the side.
Leave professional work to professionals, that had always been Zhao Chen's guiding principle.
"Your Majesty the Emperor. The legion fleets of our Angel Race are also most willing to lend our strength on this battlefield. The two Angel Sovereigns both bade me convey their wishes. All the Angel Race's legion fleets are willing to come in support at your command!" The angel Tilia looked at Zhao Chen with some hope.
But Zhao Chen declined the angel Tilia's request to fight on behalf of the Angel Race, saying slowly, "It has not yet come to where we need to send you. Your Angel Race's interstellar warships are to go on standing by where they belong. If…"
Zhao Chen paused there. To tell the truth, if the Angel Race's interstellar warships had to join the battle.
That was a state of affairs Zhao Chen did not wish to see.
It would beyond doubt mean that the Owl Dragon Empire's fleets on the main battlefield were already hard pressed to hold.
The Angel Race's legion fleets, a notch weaker in strength, joining the battlefield might ease matters.
But facing the powerful undead armies, it would also cost these Angel Race legion fleets dearly.
"If it truly comes to where we need you, I will send the order."
The angel Tilia was somewhat unwilling, but still answered quietly.
The meeting ended.
Zhao Chen, for his part, received a private video invitation.
Zhao Ruyue.
Zhao Chen nodded his assent.
The next second, Zhao Chen appeared beside a beach.
Zhao Ruyue was already waiting there.
"I hope my seeing you has not disturbed your schedule, sir." Zhao Ruyue smiled at Zhao Chen, who had appeared beside her.
Zhao Chen, without the least ceremony, gave his big sister a slap on the shoulder.
"Are you making fun of me? At a private occasion like this, Sis, what are you doing using honorifics on me?"
Zhao Ruyue laughed softly and looked at Zhao Chen, this little brother of hers.
"If I remember right, Charlotte's due date is the end of June, isn't it? How come you didn't stay by her side to look after her?" Zhao Ruyue asked with concern.
As for the pregnancy of this daughter-in-law of the Zhao family, she, as the eldest sister, cared a great deal.
She had even privately sent Charlotte a few caring words.
And Charlotte, however busy, would always find time to answer this eldest sister of Zhao Chen's.
In private the two of them in fact got on quite well.
"You know what that great white cat is like. Never mind that there's still a while to go before her due date, even if she were going to have the baby the next second, the second before she'd still be standing on the bridge commanding the battle. On this, not even my orders do any good." Zhao Chen shrugged helplessly.
Zhao Ruyue at once pinched Zhao Chen's arm.
She threw Zhao Chen a roll of the eyes. "Charlotte is carrying your children right now, dragon-and-phoenix twins, a boy and a girl. That's our Zhao family's bloodline. You'd better look after her properly for me. If anything goes wrong, I don't care what kind of emperor you are, just see what I do to you!"
Zhao Chen grinned. "Don't worry, Sis. I've put a team of physicians on the bridge of the Rakshasa-Hades just to keep an eye on that great white cat. I've told the staff and the secretary officers too. The moment Charlotte shows any sign of feeling unwell, they're to take over the tasks in her hands at once, and make sure of Charlotte's safety first thing. Whatever the circumstances, Charlotte's safety always comes first. So when I came this time, Charlotte wanted to give me her flagship, and I refused."
Hearing all this, Zhao Ruyue breathed a sigh of relief.
But then she eyed Zhao Chen warily. "I'm warning you, mind. You're somebody different now. On the undead battlefield this time, it's enough that you serve as the banner. Don't you go poking your head into dangerous places! If there's a task, just hand it to us. If it really comes to it, I'll go in your place."
He felt his big sister's concern.
Zhao Chen put on a good-boy look. "Don't worry, Sis. I'm the one sitting on the throne now. I won't go doing the things young hotheads do anymore."