Minister Li Yaqi raised her hand and opened a hologram.
The hologram showed the text of a compact, on which the insignia of several nations or civilizations' powers had already been set.
The most conspicuous of them was the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's Owl Dragon insignia.
Besides that there was the Flower-Fairy Federal Tribes' insignia, and even the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group's insignia along with it;
and the Stone Kingdom's insignia, the Fire-Sigil Interstellar Alliance's insignia, the insignia of the two present giants among the Cancer interstellar civilizations, the Giant-Fang Federation and the Luohe Principality, and the Mohadis Star Empire's insignia.
Besides these there were the insignia of some other small and medium interstellar civilizations' powers,
over ten in number.
"Fifteen interstellar powers have already signed the agreement here to set up this universe trade alliance, and are willing to join us. But four of them signed secret clauses. What they come to is nothing more than a demand that some powerful interstellar powers join too. Some of those still negotiating have raised this condition as well. Among them, the largest share by far is the Holy Elf Empire, at forty percent. If we can persuade the Holy Elf Empire to sign this universe trade alliance, that would add at least twenty more interstellar powers' insignia to it. As for the other interstellar civilizations' powers named, there are five more. They include the newly risen quasi-T6 interstellar civilization, the Burns Interstellar Civilization. The long-established T5 interstellar civilization, the Mahasi Interstellar Empire; though rumor has it they were raised to a T6 interstellar civilization long ago, but, wary of Order's existence, have kept their technology at the T6 level secret all along. The quasi-T6-grade interstellar civilization, the Dalaran Interstellar United Civilization. The Silvermoon Interstellar Alliance, which claims to be the oldest interstellar civilization in history, also a long-established T5 interstellar civilization. The Searing Holy-Hammer Interstellar Free Federation, a T5 interstellar civilization's power too, but one that claims to have been, before us, the interstellar power with the greatest industrial strength in the known universe. Apart from us, over half the interstellar warships openly sold on the market in the known universe were born in the Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation. They have the industry with the longest history and deepest foundations. In their universe, industry makes up half their economy. These five interstellar powers hold a pivotal place among the known universe's civilizations. There's even a saying that before our Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire rose, there were 'one king and five marquises,' and the five marquises meant these five interstellar civilizations' powers."
Huaya Lanlan, beside her, nodded and said in agreement, "These five interstellar civilizations' powers are very important. Add the Holy Elf Empire, and so long as these six all sign this agreement of ours, this universe trade circle of ours will basically succeed."
Zhao Chen looked at the material on these five interstellar civilizations' powers.
He rubbed his chin and said, "So my job next is to talk these five interstellar powers round properly, is it?"
They nodded almost at the same moment.
An emperor acting as a lobbyist: anyone else in his place probably could not have brought himself to stoop to it.
But to Zhao Chen none of this counted for anything.
So long as it could solve the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's problem, what did it matter to go door to door "drumming up customers" in person?
"But the order of persuading them matters a great deal too. If we settle a few heavyweights first, the rest will be much easier to talk to. And among them, the Holy Elf Empire and this Searing Holy-Hammer Free Federation are the two heavyweights. So long as we can settle those two, we're basically halfway to success," Huaya Lanlan said.
Zhao Chen nodded, then looked straight at them and asked, "Then let's not wait. When do we set out? First a trip to our old friend the Holy Elf Empire; I sent that old friend such a great gift that, whatever else, she'll have to give me some face."
Zhao Chen's words were not only a joke.
Of these two targets, the likeliest to succeed was beyond doubt the Holy Elf Empire.
After all, the two had a strategic partnership before this.
Adding a trade partnership now: wasn't that perfectly natural?
"Preparations here are about done; we can set out any time. The two Huaya sisters and I will go with you together. We have experience in this, and have had dealings with these people. Some matters can even be settled on the spot with us there." Minister Li Yaqi stood up and looked at Zhao Chen, and in her eyes one could even see a little excitement.
Whether because the partnership plan could be settled, or because it was a rare chance to work together with the Owl Dragon Emperor, one could not tell.
Huaya Lanlan looked at Zhao Chen too.
Huaya Nini was even more excited.
Being able to build so vast and efficient a universe trade circle would beyond doubt let the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group's market grow larger and its money-making efficiency rise greatly.
"Since everyone's ready, I can't hold things back either. That being so, there's no day like today. Get packed; we set out today." Zhao Chen stood up and said it straight out.
So fast that Minister Li Yaqi and the others had never expected it.
Secretary Lilith, beside them, was rather used to it.
She laughed helplessly. "Setting out now is fine. But the fleet going with you has to be arranged too. You are the Owl Dragon Emperor after all; when you go out, some preparations have to be made. The more so as this time you're visiting several interstellar civilizations."
Zhao Chen thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll take the Emperor's Guard Fleet. Visiting other interstellar civilizations, three thousand interstellar warships won't frighten anyone. And the Emperor's Guard Fleet's starships are of a quality to have enough fighting power too. Besides, have the Reverse Scale ace fleet group and the Blizzard ace fleet group stand ready in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire; if I really do run into anything unexpected over there, I'll contact you directly, and you can send fleets to support me."
Zhao Chen had thought all these things through at once.
He knew, of course, that Lilith and the others put his safety first; if these matters were not properly arranged, Lilith would not lightly let him go.
But Lilith still did not think it enough.
She added, "That's still not enough. Have Zhong Xiaoxia take the Phantom Scouts ace legion fleet group's flagship corps, three thousand interstellar stealth reconnaissance ships, with you as well. And Zhao Waner take the Shadow Hunter ace fleet group's flagship corps, three thousand interstellar stealth bombers, with you. Besides that, take an interstellar transport fleet of three thousand along too. That way, whatever happens, Your Majesty will have the means to deal with it on your side. And those you visit won't notice anything."
Hearing Secretary Lilith's tight arrangements,
Zhao Chen too was helpless.
This way, this trip of his would have nearly ten thousand interstellar warships following it, plus three thousand more interstellar ships for logistics and supply.
And these were the aces among the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's aces.
Never mind a visit; they would be more than enough to deal with any small interstellar power in passing.
But since it was Lilith's idea and arrangement, Zhao Chen could hardly refuse.
It was done as Secretary Lilith proposed.
"I'll go and pass on the orders and arrange all this now. I expect it'll take three hours. So you can set out in four hours." When Lilith had given these instructions, she at once went off to see to it all.
Zhao Chen shrugged helplessly, then looked at Minister Li Yaqi across from him and the pair of sisters Huaya Lanlan and Huaya Nini.
"This time we're acting together, so it'll be up to your skills. So long as we get this done and set up this universe trade circle, you'll be heroes of great merit to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire. I'll give you the rewards you're due."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Huaya Lanlan and Huaya Nini said with a bow.
The two of them were utterly loyal to the Owl Dragon Emperor now; after all, the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group owed its present standing entirely to the Owl Dragon Emperor's backing.
Without the Owl Dragon Emperor, their Bailan Interstellar Trade Group would be nothing.
"This is what I ought to do." Li Yaqi stood straight and said it gravely.
But the sharp-eyed would have seen that in Li Yaqi's eyes there were in fact some little thoughts of her own hidden away.
But none of that concerned anyone.
They now all had to start getting ready to set out.
The three of them, on this trip, did not need to bring any escort fleet or the like,
but they still needed to get some staff teams ready.
After all, when it came to negotiating, they would still have to step in!
…………
Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire · Yuhang Star System
The Yuhang star system had been only a barren star system three years before, for its star had died thousands of years ago and become a black dwarf.
That had left the star system with basically no chance of development.
Gradually the star system's natives, because of the harsher living conditions, moved out of the star system one after another.
Only a very few tribes, relying on some technology, still struggled on in some settlements in the star system.
Until the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire took a fancy to this star system and gave it a new name, for its old name had long been forgotten along with the death of its star.
As for why the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire chose this star system:
researchers had found that this star system, having lost its star's energy, was in fact the best base point for cross-universe voyages.
It was true that cross-universe voyages could be made in most places, but the difficulty differed, and so did the degree of danger.
It was like the difference between jumping from the tenth floor and jumping from the second.
The former might not be certain death, but the danger was extremely high.
If possible, everyone would naturally hope to land safely.
And by the ratings of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's departments concerned at present,
the star-system zones in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's universe suited to cross-universe voyages were rated in five grades: A, B, C, D, and Danger.
Danger, naturally, meant absolutely unsuited to cross-universe voyages.
D meant the worst: possible, but with the greatest danger.
And each of these grades was divided further into three sub-grades:
three, two and one,
commonly called safe, dangerous and extremely dangerous.
A zone like D-1, then, was an extremely dangerous space zone of grade D.
And A-3, naturally, was the safest space zone.
And in the whole Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, only six star systems met the A-3 standard.
The one named the Yuhang star system was one of these six A-3 star systems.
But it was the only one that could be called a super-A-3 star system.
For it was like a harbor uniquely blessed on a coastline: it had no winter, no wind and waves, no natural disasters; even its depth was enough for any vessel to enter.
And it was big enough!
Three years before, when the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire began developing it, this place had only been set down for the time being as a hub node for interstellar transport, but with such a uniquely blessed nature, several planning schemes had naturally long been lying in the Secretariat.
And the building work here had never stopped.
Here stood the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's sixth T6 Divine Palace-class Interstellar Complex, "Yuhang City."
As for the purpose of building this "Yuhang City" here, it was in fact very simple: to serve as the distribution hub of this universe trade in future.
Just now a fleet had arrived here.
This fleet looked like an ordinary fleet of transport ships, only six thousand-odd interstellar ships.
But no one knew that by now, in this star system, the leadership of certain departments had quietly received orders.
Low-frequency control had begun on every front.
Low-frequency control meant controlling the airspace with the least possible disturbance, generally used when an important figure was passing through but did not want to be exposed.
And in this interstellar transport fleet there was one very large and special interstellar transport ship.
On its bridge,
Zhao Chen looked at the distant Yuhang City.
"Is Yuhang City fully completed?" Zhao Chen asked Minister Li Yaqi beside him.
Those traveling with him this time were Minister Li Yaqi and the others, while Secretary Lilith had to stay in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire in charge of all sorts of things.
Had it been any other Divine Palace-class Interstellar Complex, Minister Li Yaqi would not have known how it stood.
But she knew how this Yuhang City stood,
for she was one of those in charge of overseeing it.
For this Yuhang City's chief role was to be the center of the cross-universe trade transport the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was to set up in future!
After all, these cross-universe trade matters could not all be negotiated in the Owl Dragon star system; Chang'an City was placed more as the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's political center.
And Yuhang City might become its economic center in future.
So the Empire's Ministry of Commerce had a second headquarters in Yuhang City, with an office for Minister Li Yaqi as well.
Yuhang City's inner framework and overall layout had all been overseen by Minister Li Yaqi from start to finish.
Because this was a city built for interstellar trade, it needed more of the flavor of interstellar trade in it.
So this Yuhang City's outward look, seen from afar, had a strong air of commerce about it.
Minister Li Yaqi explained beside him just then, "Yuhang City itself is fully completed, and all the official departments inside have moved in; besides that, the Northern Goose Group, the Rose-Red Dragon Group and the Bailan Interstellar Trade Group, among others, have all set up offices here. More leading interstellar trading enterprises will take root here in future. Some interstellar trade orders won't even need buyer and seller to go to each other's universes; they can all be signed right here, in this Yuhang City. Besides that, some outlying areas are still being built. Mainly some scattered habitable moons. Because in building the Yuhang star system, to bring out its economic value more fully, we've put every planet around it under a habitability-reform plan. Considering why this place will become the core of universe trade, land prices here will naturally be very high. A great many traders will settle and live here. Some will even come here on holiday and so on. Yuhang City is very luxurious, but it can't house so many people. And some people want a special and luxurious place to live. As merchants, we can naturally provide them with that service; they need only pay enough crystal coins. By our projections, the value the Yuhang star system produces by itself alone may in future exceed every star system in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, and within ten years make it the most valuable star system in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire!"
Hearing Minister Li Yaqi's assessment,
a blueprint seemed already to appear in Zhao Chen's mind:
turning such a barren little star system into the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's capital of finance and trade.
To outsiders, perhaps, starting everything from scratch meant a great deal of investment.
But for the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire, that building maniac, it was in fact the best fit.
Few natives meant this star system could be reshaped and built however the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire liked.
By comparison, the Owl Dragon star system had in fact come up against many constraints in its later development and building.
So much future development and building was moving outward.
In future the Owl Dragon star system would play more the part of a political center.
The Yuhang star system would become a pearl in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's crown.
Zhao Chen moved his gaze from this Yuhang City to a brilliant star gate in the distance.
"That's the largest permanent cross-universe star gate we can build at present. Besides that, we've built nearly ten star gates of different grades in this star system all told. By our scientists' assessment, we may even be able to build over thirty star gates here. So many star gates are entirely to meet the needs of cross-universe trade voyages in future," Minister Li Yaqi said with conviction.
In future, thirty-odd star gates linking every universe civilization would stand here.
Zhao Chen closed his eyes and imagined the scene to come.
By then the Yuhang star system would no longer be dim as it was now; it would become one of the brightest pearls in the whole Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
The thirty-odd star gates here would light it up, the habitable planets here would light it up, and the starship engines of the interstellar transport fleets coming and going here, one after another, would light this place up.
By then this place would no longer be dim, but a brilliant pearl!
At the same time, it also meant countless riches would gather here.
This place was a treasure bowl.
"We've also run simulations and calculations with Minister Li Yaqi. The Yuhang star system's throughput can take ten million T5-grade interstellar transport ships at once. Here there'll be not only star gates, but outer anchorages too, and industrial docks serving those interstellar transport ships, and so on. And those star gates can handle a hundred million interstellar ship transits in a single day. That will surpass any interstellar civilization's power's 'port star system,'" Huaya Lanlan said excitedly.
Port star system.
It was a nickname for star systems of this kind, and a very fitting one.
It carried over from the planetary age before, when, on the ground, exploring new continents and carrying on trade needed some large ports.
Such a star system: wasn't it just a kind of port star system?
"Very good. You've done very well." Zhao Chen nodded approvingly.
Next, this fleet of theirs disguised as an interstellar transport fleet, having finished its application, began passing through the star gate to leave the Owl Dragon star system[1] for other universes.
"So far we've set up star-gate traffic compacts with thirteen universes. In future, once the universe trade network is built, we can set up such compacts with more interstellar universes. Then there'll be no more application procedure, and interstellar transport can be built up more efficiently," Minister Li Yaqi said beside him.
"Yes! Without this application and approval procedure, a good deal of time can be saved. Before, when we delivered goods to some unfamiliar interstellar universes, if the other side hadn't squared things with the star gate in advance, we had to go through the whole procedure ourselves. At best it held us up three days; at worst it might hold us up a week to half a month," Huaya Nini grumbled beside them.
Between universes, apart from those that had concluded compacts of mutual trust, though most were linked by star gates,
the other side would strictly vet any interstellar fleet coming through, and without the other side's permission one could not even pass through the star gate.
And this involved the procedure of application and approval.
It was a very time-wasting way of doing things, but it had come down to the present.
It went like this: an interstellar transport fleet, on reaching Star Gate A on one side, reported an application to Star Gate A, including which interstellar trader it was, what goods it carried, how many interstellar transport ships it had, where the destination it was carrying to was, and so on.
All this had to be declared.
Then Star Gate A's side would send a starship especially to Star Gate B's side to inform them of the declared information; once vetted by Star Gate B's side, it received the corresponding code of permission and came back.
Then the interstellar transport fleet in question, passing through the star gate with the corresponding code, could arrive safely at Star Gate B.
This procedure let two universes' interstellar civilizations' powers keep control of the star gate, but it also meant the convenience of interstellar traffic was greatly reduced.
And the universe trade alliance the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire was setting up meant to do away with this way of doing things and adopt a more efficient and convenient one, so that all interstellar transport could be faster and more convenient.