At first she had started out as a carrier starship's captain too.
Being skilled at flying interstellar fighters, she naturally knew carrier starship combat well, and because of that she had a good personal friendship with Marshal Su Lan, supreme commander of the Queen of the Starry Sky ace fleet group.
Marshal Su Lan had once said that in the Owl Dragon legion fleets, in interstellar air combat, apart from herself, Su Lan, Pei Shengnan ranked first.
But because she had followed Chitong in her early years, Pei Shengnan's style of combat command had taken on some of Chitong's charging, headlong style too.
That too laid the groundwork for Pei Shengnan later finding a legion fleet command style of her own.
On the battlefield, Pei Shengnan could use carrier starships as her battle core, seizing the advantage on a section of the battlefield through interstellar air combat,
or use interstellar battleships, interstellar cruisers, interstellar battlecruisers and other main ship types to launch fierce attacks on the enemy on the main front, and win!
Her past seemed to pass before Pei Shengnan's eyes in that moment like a revolving lantern.
At last she stood in the center of the stage, before the Owl Dragon Emperor.
She saw, below the stage, the mercenary company leader who had once been a girl calling her "Sister Pei."
Her face now had less of the old willfulness, and more steadiness.
Close to ten years.
How could she, ten years ago, still deputy leader of a mercenary company's fleet, have imagined she would end up standing in such a place?
"Here I proclaim the conferring on Pei Shengnan of the rank of Imperial Marshal, as supreme commander of the Owl Dragon Empire's Tenth Legion Fleet Group."
The Owl Dragon Emperor's voice drew Pei Shengnan back from her memories.
She looked at the Imperial Marshal's insignia pinned on her breast.
She had, true, known of this long before.
After all, the Owl Dragon Tenth Legion Fleet Group's trial voyages and trial training had all been in her charge; all the real power had already been placed in her hands.
All that was missing was a public announcement.
But when this insignia was truly pinned on her, she felt a kind of responsibility.
Pei Shengnan looked at everyone; their eyes held congratulation, envy, worship, feelings of every kind.
"For the Empire, for the Emperor!" Pei Shengnan saluted, her voice carrying across the whole palace square.
Many below echoed her too: "For the Empire, for the Emperor!"
In that moment the spirit of the place reached a kind of peak.
At the same time it meant the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's marshals had grown to fourteen; counting the Empire's two five-star marshals as well, sixteen.
These sixteen stood for the sixteen pillars of heaven holding up the Owl Dragon Empire!
Next came the announcement of some newly promoted imperial lieutenant generals, major generals and brigadier generals.
Their numbers had grown greatly.
Three-star generals had grown to forty-eight.
Two-star lieutenant generals had grown to one hundred ninety-six.
One-star major generals had grown to nine hundred eighty.
Brigadier generals had grown to nearly six thousand.
This meant that the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's general-officer system had reached the formidable number of over seven thousand.
Some might think so many general officers would make the top of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's pyramid too bloated?
Lilith's Secretariat had worked out these figures too.
The answer they reached was: far from it; there was even a great shortfall in the number of general officers.
Had there not been far too few officers fit to meet the standard for general officer, the number would have passed ten thousand in a minute.
For in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire now, to begin with, the captain of any T6-grade interstellar warship had to hold the rank of brigadier general!
That rule alone meant the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire needed great numbers of brigadier-general captains!
After all, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was still in an early stage of military rule,
with the army still holding the main power of government.
Back to the matter at hand: getting through the promotion ceremonies for these general officers took close to a whole day.
Ranks like brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general did not need the Owl Dragon Emperor to confer them himself; several Imperial Marshals conferred them on his behalf.
But even so it took no little time.
Once the officers had been rewarded for their merits, next, naturally, came rewarding the merits of the other civil staff, scientists and the like.
For the contributions of these people to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire were quite great too.
And this time, under Secretary-Officer Lilith's arrangements, another tier of honors was formally put into effect, kept separate from the officers' honors yet matching them in grade.
It was divided into six grades,
from five-star at the top down to zero-star, with the matching profession added after.
The scientists and researchers working at the Imperial Military Industry Research Institute, for instance, could basically all find a place in it.
Even the very lowest could receive the title of Outstanding Scientist.
And above that came One-Star Scientist, Two-Star Scientist, all the way up to the highest grade, Five-Star Scientist.
In other fields it was Outstanding Engineer, Outstanding Researcher and so on.
"I proclaim the conferring on Annie of the title of Five-Star Scientist."
"Conferring on Nana the title of Five-Star Scientist."
"Conferring on Iris the title of Five-Star Engineer."
"Conferring on Jenny Niu the title of Four-Star Engineer."
"Conferring on Xiong Xiangxiang the title of Four-Star Educator."
"Conferring on Yang Ni the title of Four-Star Physician."
……
Name after name, strange to the outside world but very familiar to members of the Owl Dragon line, appeared in turn.
These people seldom appeared in the spotlight of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, but they had always been giving quietly to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire with their professional knowledge.
Those whose names were called went up onto the stage in turn.
With so many people suddenly looking at her, Annie actually grew somewhat timid.
She had even wanted to shrink back toward the rear.
But the blunt Sister Bull pushed her straight to the very front.
"Sis Bull, don't push me… don't push me!" Annie kept signaling to Sister Bull with her eyes, but Sister Bull, straight as a bull's gut, seemed not to notice at all.
In the end she could only stand obediently at the very front.
She grumbled inwardly that Sister Bull must be holding a grudge because last time Annie had had her roast a leg of beef and then not shared it with her; at worst, she would give Sister Bull some next time.
The award and decoration ceremony was soon over, and next, naturally, it was time for everyone to eat, drink and make merry.
Merry music rang out over the square, all kinds of fine food appeared on the square too, and everyone could eat and drink to their hearts' content here.
And along both sides of the square could be seen some small private rooms, naturally prepared for certain special people.
The Owl Dragon Emperor, for instance: he was willing to share the people's fun,
but if he stayed out there all the time, his subordinates could not enjoy themselves either.
So he simply showed his face, then found a place of his own to eat and drink.
And special people like Annie: first, their safety had to be protected;
second, it had to be made sure their behavior would not harm their public image,
like Annie right now, eating and drinking her fill, all but burying her whole face in her plate.
As for the decoration she had just received, she had long since tossed it who knew where, because it was in the way.
Luckily her younger sister, Nana, was beside her looking after her, and had put these important things away beforehand.
Nana glared at her sister in exasperation, but she knew her sister's temper; on so important a day, let her be happy.
"Nana, look at your sister. Sigh, I suppose she'll be like this all her life. Luckily you work in the same department as your sister; keep an eye on her as a rule." Her father, Chief Bajin, spoke beside her.
"I know, Father." Nana looked at her father, whose face had been beaming the whole while.
On his breast he wore a medal too, but only that of a Two-Star Engineer.
Their father, Chief Bajin, being of the interstellar dwarf race, had good craftsman's skills.
But some things depended on talent; that Chief Bajin had become a Two-Star Engineer through his own effort already counted as quite good.
Perhaps his two daughters even had something to do with it;
had they not, he might have been only a One-Star Engineer.
But even so, Chief Bajin was well content.
Because of Annie and Nana, his family could be called the foremost technology family in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire now; a small family, yet one of lofty standing in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
And among his own interstellar dwarf race, some relatives with ties of blood to him had been courted by many because of it too.
It could be called the whole household rising to heaven when one of them attains the Way.
And so long as Annie and Nana were there, Chief Bajin's family would never have to worry about its life in future.
Besides these private rooms, in one private room in a corner,
there was a group of special guests.
Huaya Lanlan and Huaya Nini, who had come here before, were in this room now.
This room was quieter than the other private rooms, and there were not many people in it.
And of those present, the only ones they knew were the three representatives from the Stone Kingdom.
As for the others, they could tell something of who they were from their looks, but having had no dealings with them, they did not know them, and it was awkward to greet them now.
In this strange silence, a party walked into the room.
"Why is no one talking? Is it because you don't know each other yet?" Zhao Chen came in, laughing.
Everyone rose almost as one and looked at this Owl Dragon Emperor.
And their eyes were very soon drawn to someone who had come in with him at the Owl Dragon Emperor's side:
the Bluewater Elf Queen!
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor, Lady Bluewater Elf Queen." Everyone greeted them and bowed.
The Bluewater Elf Queen smiled gently. "There's no need for you all to look at me; the host here is His Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor. I'm a guest just like all of you."
Zhao Chen said with a smile beside her, "That's not how it is. Without the information and channels you, the Bluewater Elf Queen, provided, I'd never have been able to gather all of you here, and we'd never have had this good fortune."
The Bluewater Elf Queen looked at Zhao Chen with smiling eyes. "I did give Your Majesty some things and some advice. But Your Majesty doesn't seem to have done quite as I said either, so the credit for it can't be counted mine."
Those present were somewhat puzzled at these vague words.
By the look of it, something had happened between the Owl Dragon Emperor and the Bluewater Elf Queen that they knew nothing of.
In fact the Bluewater Elf Queen was telling Zhao Chen: I gave you some intelligence and advice, but you didn't do as I said.
"I believe a saying: black cat or white cat, so long as it catches mice, it's a good cat." Zhao Chen had sat down by now.
He looked at the others still standing. "Don't all stand; sit down, quickly. I don't have much time here. Once I've said a few things, I have to go elsewhere. If I fall short as a host anywhere, I hope you'll all forgive me."
"Not at all, not at all."
With pleasantries all round, everyone sat down too.
Zhao Chen went on, "Then let me first introduce you all to one another; you'll be working together in future, after all. How could you not get to know each other?"
As he spoke, Zhao Chen began introducing them one by one, starting on his left.
"These two are from the Flower-Fairy Federal Tribes, the two heads of the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group, Miss Huaya Lanlan and Miss Huaya Nini. The Bailan Interstellar Trade Group that these two Flower-Fairy ladies now hold has reached 25% of the market share in the Flower-Fairy Federal Tribes, and will soon close in on 30%. By then it will be the largest interstellar trader in the Flower-Fairy Federal Tribes. These two are great moneybags; don't say I never found you a chance to get rich."
At the end Zhao Chen did not forget to tease a little.
Huaya Lanlan and Huaya Nini raised their glasses to greet everyone.
"These three are envoys from the Stone Kingdom; this is Prince Ahmed, and these two are the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance and the Economy……"
The three envoys of the Stone Kingdom rose and bowed to everyone.
The Stone Kingdom race's looks were plain to see; when they took off their disguises and showed themselves, everyone knew these three were from the Stone Kingdom.
And at this, everyone was greatly surprised.
For they all knew the Stone Kingdom's character very well: apart from the Flower-Fairy Federal Tribes' interstellar traders, they had very seldom had close dealings with any other interstellar race or interstellar power.
"This is His Excellency the Carefree King of the Giant-Fang Federation, from the Cancer Interstellar Civilization Universe."
A man who looked like a seal-man, with a fat, heavy body, dressed in white plush formal wear, with two great tusks at his mouth, stood up and bowed to everyone.
He looked rough and rugged, but this Giant-Fang Siren Carefree King's bearing gave one a feeling of gentle refinement.
That too was why he had such good connections in the Cancer Interstellar Civilization Universe;
it was closely tied to his character.
"These two are from the Luohe Principality: Queen Leng Yun and Grand Marshal Leng Qian." Two women stood up and bowed to everyone.
"This is the Seventh Prince of the Mohadis Star Empire."
"These three are envoys from the Fire-Sigil Interstellar Alliance."
Zhao Chen very soon finished introducing the guests present from five different interstellar universes.
"This lady, I think, needs no introduction. You all know who she is." As Zhao Chen pointed to the Bluewater Elf Queen, his face wore a teasing smile.
The Bluewater Elf Queen looked at everyone present with a smile. "It's my good fortune to meet you all here."
The Bluewater Elf Queen was naturally no stranger to these people; she was, after all, the Holy Elf Empire's "minister of foreign affairs."
"This time I specially invited you all to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire at this season. On the one hand, so that you can all share in the joy of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's banquets at this time. On the other, we're about to enter the next stage, and you all ought to join together with one another too. Only by joining together can we unleash a still greater potential!" Zhao Chen set out the purpose of this gathering.
Huaya Lanlan was excited at heart; she looked at the people present.
As an interstellar trader, she knew very well the power that lay behind these forces.
The Stone Kingdom had rich mineral resources; it could serve as a source of resources, and also as a market for goods.
The two interstellar powers of the Cancer Interstellar Civilization: as everyone knew, the Cancer Interstellar Civilization Universe's position was very special.
In future a universe star-gate network reaching in every direction could be built there, which would greatly increase the efficiency of interstellar trade!
Their Bailan Interstellar Trade Group could even set up an interstellar trade group system of its own in the Cancer Interstellar Civilization!
The Mohadis Star Empire looked to be of no great use, but mind you, the Mohadis Star Empire held very high standing and prestige in its own stretch of interstellar universes.
With the Mohadis Star Empire's favor, the markets of several universes around it could all be secured!
The Fire-Sigil Interstellar Alliance went without saying: the product of several interstellar universes' civilizations and powers joined together, and a T5 interstellar civilization at that.
That meant an enormous interstellar market.
With the technology the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire supplied, put these interstellar civilizations together, and they would form the largest interstellar market among the known universe's civilizations!
By then their voice would carry much greater weight, and expanding outward and recruiting allies would become all the easier.
Huaya Lanlan looked deeply at this Owl Dragon Emperor before her.
She found that what this Owl Dragon Emperor was after might go far beyond what they had imagined.
He seemed to be drawing a vast interstellar map; when the time came, a colossal organization would form among the known universe's civilizations,
and this organization would be led by the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
In future it might even become the sword and shield in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's hands, for standing against the Devourer Civilization,
and even against the still mightier, more terrifying Order!
Perhaps that was what this Owl Dragon Emperor truly had in mind!
…………
At the banquet, Zhao Chen briefly set out his plans for these interstellar civilizations' universes' futures.
He had basically taken everyone's interests into account on every side.
Those present were all satisfied too.
The Bluewater Elf Queen listened quietly all the while to what the Owl Dragon Emperor said, surprise flashing in her eyes now and then.
Some tens of minutes later, the Owl Dragon Emperor raised his glass to everyone: "That's the general direction. In the days you stay in the Owl Dragon Star System, people from the Secretariat will meet with you and negotiate, to settle the concrete plans for future development and cooperation. I believe that with all of us working together with one heart, each of us can get everything we want. To our future."
The Owl Dragon Emperor raised his glass, and everyone present naturally raised theirs in a toast too.
After that, the Owl Dragon Emperor took his leave for the time being.
The Bluewater Elf Queen watched the room liven up little by little once the Owl Dragon Emperor had gone.
Everyone began chatting with one another too.
After all, everyone present would be partners in future; with the chance right here now, they naturally wanted to talk and get to know each other more, for the sake of future cooperation.
"Lady Bluewater Elf Queen, it's been a long time." The Giant-Fang Siren Carefree King came over to the Bluewater Elf Queen now with his glass, greeting her and offering a toast of his own accord.
"It's been a long time. I hear your undertaking is thriving more each day now," the Bluewater Elf Queen said with a gentle smile.
The Giant-Fang Siren Carefree King said with an honest laugh, "That's all thanks to the Owl Dragon Emperor and your helping hand. When the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's envoys came to find me back then, I was quite astonished. Thinking of it now, had you, Lady Bluewater Elf Queen, not mentioned the likes of me before the Owl Dragon Emperor, I'd never have had my day, or the chance to show what I can do."
Hearing the gratitude in the Giant-Fang Siren Carefree King's words,
the Bluewater Elf Queen smiled kindly. "I didn't do anything; I only told the Owl Dragon Emperor about you. Whether you two could work together, and how, that was your own good fortune."
Though the Bluewater Elf Queen said so, the Giant-Fang Siren Carefree King still said earnestly, "I know who's helping us and who our friends are. I'll remember this kindness of yours; if you ever need anything in future, just tell me, and whatever I can do, I'll surely do for you."
"And what if our Holy Elf Empire were to become the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's enemy?" the Bluewater Elf Queen said suddenly, teasingly.
The words left the Giant-Fang Siren Carefree King stunned for a moment, but he said at once with a cheerful laugh, "How could that be? The whole world knows the Holy Elf Empire and the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire are in their honeymoon now; you two work closely together. You've even built two-way permanent universe star gates for traffic between you. You even have no small amount of interstellar trade cooperation. Two Elf Queens like you have even come in person to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's New Year banquet; that shows well enough how things stand between you. How could you draw swords on each other?"
Seeing that he had not answered her question head-on, the Bluewater Elf Queen did not tactlessly dig to the bottom of it either.
In a great many things, in truth, everyone looked to their own interest, above all when standing at the tip of a pyramid.
Often, at that stage, the decision you made was not a matter of what you thought; countless hands would push you into making a decision, even one that might not be what you truly thought in your heart.
Just like this Giant-Fang Siren Carefree King now.
He might truly be grateful to the Bluewater Elf Queen in his heart, but when it truly came to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire and the Holy Elf Empire becoming enemies or even going to war, which side he would stand on would depend wholly on where his interests lay then.
The Bluewater Elf Queen wasted no more time on such questions, but chatted with those present about their cooperation with the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.