The Dax Empire · Capital Star
"What? Our shipworks has come under attack by the Fierce Dragon fleet!" The Dax King looked as if he could not believe it.
He had never in his wildest dreams imagined that the Fierce Dragon civilization would actually send interstellar fleets to raid their Dax Empire.
How dare they?
"The news is confirmed. Besides that, four other places of ours have also been raided by the Fierce Dragon fleet. In all, this time the Fierce Dragon civilization has thrown in one thousand five hundred interstellar warships, of which a hundred are T3 interstellar warships. And these T3 interstellar warships have performed very impressively; it's precisely because of these T3 interstellar warships that every battlefield is in crisis!" a subordinate said anxiously. "Right now every battlefield has suffered no small losses because of the Fierce Dragon fleet's surprise attack. They're all requesting our support!"
The Dax King said through gritted teeth, "Then send reinforcements to support them, quickly. These places are all extremely important places to our Dax Empire. They must not suffer losses!"
After a pause, a gleam of killing intent flashed in the Dax King's eyes: "Besides, for us, isn't this a chance too? The Fierce Dragon civilization has sent one thousand five hundred interstellar warships to raid us. This is probably all the Fierce Dragon civilization's interstellar warships. If we can keep these interstellar warships here forever, then when we later launch our expedition against the Fifth System, it will be much less difficult! Pass on my order: muster the interstellar fleets from everywhere to give all-out support. Not only make sure every place doesn't suffer too heavy losses, but wipe out these Fierce Dragon interstellar warships too!"
"Yes!"
The Fierce Dragon civilization and the Dax Empire civilization were both racing against time now.
The Fierce Dragon fleet's side was stepping up the force of its attack, striving to complete its combat tasks within the safe time window so that it could then withdraw smoothly.
While the Dax Empire fleet's side was rushing in support, not only to put out the fires but also to sink its teeth into these Fierce Dragon fleets.
Both sides were fighting for every second.
The Fierce Dragon Kingdom
Zhao Chen looked at the battle reports from every battlefield.
"Battlefield No. 1 is going smoothly. Though we couldn't completely destroy the shipworks, all thirty T3 interstellar warships under construction have been destroyed. At the same time, the production lines have been wrecked by us too. To restore production of these T3 interstellar warships from here on will take at least half a year," Secretary Officer Barbara said beside him.
"You can order the fleet at battlefield No. 1 to withdraw," Zhao Chen instructed.
"The situations at battlefields No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5[1] are also fairly in line with our expectations. The fighting time won't exceed six hours; they can all withdraw early. The greatest trouble is probably at battlefield No. 4. Battlefield No. 4 has the most enemy interstellar warships. It's the enemy's forward starport: inside the harbor, five hundred interstellar warships are bottled up by our Fourth Fleet, and outside there are five hundred more interstellar warships fighting. Under these circumstances, our Fourth Fleet is under great pressure," Secretary Officer Barbara said.
Zhao Chen thought a moment, glanced at the time and said, "We can't drag it out too long. Even if this battlefield doesn't manage to complete its task perfectly, we still have to pull our fleet out!"
Just then,
a cross-system communication popped up in front of Zhao Chen.
On the other side was Marshal Chu Xuan, who had completed her combat mission beautifully.
Marshal Chu Xuan said from the other end of the video window, "Your Majesty, I have a new idea on my side. You might consider it."
"Let's hear it," Zhao Chen said.
"As the battle stands now, apart from the No. 4 battlefield,[2] we've got the expected results on all the other battlefields. Our fleets should also be able to complete their withdrawal within the expected time. But one problem remains: there's still no movement from the Lanners civilization's side. We want to kill two birds with one stone, and the second bird hasn't come in yet. So we can't withdraw right away. We still have to show that we mean to swallow certain star-system territories. So I have a suggestion. That is, gather most of the T3 interstellar warships of our four fleets together, leaving out carrier warships, interstellar missile ships and starships of that kind, add T2-grade interstellar cruisers and interstellar battleships, and aim purely at destroying enemy starships efficiently! And so create the appearance that we're still widening the battle!" Chu Xuan laid out her plan.
Zhao Chen thought it over: "But that way the risk to our fleets will grow further."
"That's unavoidable. If we can't achieve our strategic aim, then this battle plan of ours goes up in smoke. And in this battle we've used up a great deal of battlefield resources. And in this Trial of the Gods we've used up a great deal of time too. If it goes on like this, then looking at the whole picture of the Trial of the Gods, it's extremely unfavorable for us! So I think a measured risk is called for!" Marshal Chu Xuan said in great earnest.
Hearing Chu Xuan say this,
Zhao Chen thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "All right, we'll do as you say. But be sure not to take excessive risks; if it really won't work, you pull back. Even if we lose a bit more time, it doesn't matter; we can win the time back in the future. But if anything happens to any of you, that's a loss we can't bear!"
At the very last,
Zhao Chen fixed his eyes on Chu Xuan and urged her, "Don't forget, someone at home is waiting for you."
On hearing this, Chu Xuan's expression visibly changed a little.
Yes.
She was different now from before.
Before, she could fight heedless of everything; even death she did not fear.
But now, someone was waiting for her to come home.
"I know." Chu Xuan nodded.
The communication ended.
Zhao Chen looked at Secretary Officer Barbara beside him: "How many interstellar warships under our hand can we still move?"
"There are still a hundred interstellar warships as a reserve, which are also responsible for your safety, in case the enemy should make a sneak attack. Marshal Chu Xuan gave instructions: they're not to be used unless there's no other choice!" Secretary Officer Barbara said.
"Then have these hundred interstellar warships get ready. The moment there's any danger on the front-line battlefields, I'll lead them in person to support the battlefield!" Zhao Chen's voice was unshakably firm.
"But the marshals all said that whatever happens, you must not go to the front-line battlefields. Your safety is what matters most!" Secretary Officer Barbara said with a complicated expression.
Zhao Chen only smiled calmly: "I know you all care about my safety. But don't you forget how I came this far in those years. I'm not an emperor who can only sit in a chair. I've been through battle after battle; I came out of blood and fire. My officers and men fighting for their lives at the front while I watch from behind: that's something I can't do. And I said it too: I'm not going right now, but waiting until the very end. If an emperor doesn't dare take a risk even when things have come to their most dangerous point, does he still deserve to sit in this seat?"
Hearing these words, Secretary Officer Barbara knew she could not talk the Fierce Dragon Emperor out of it; the Fierce Dragon Emperor had already prepared for the worst.
"Yes. I'll go and make the arrangements now." Secretary Officer Barbara knew that all she could pray for now was that the marshals and commanders on the front-line battlefields could bring about the best results.
Only that way could His Majesty the Fierce Dragon Emperor be spared from taking the risk.
——————
In the first hour of the Fierce Dragon fleets' invasion of the Dax Empire's systems,
the Lanners civilization got the news.
The Lanners civilization urgently convened a meeting of the highest level.
The Lanners leader sat in the chief seat and looked with a complicated expression at all those present: "We won't wait for those who haven't come yet. What's happening out there now, you've all learned on the way here. The Fierce Dragon civilization's interstellar fleets have suddenly launched an offensive against the Dax Empire on their own initiative!"
"Is this true? Is the news certain? How could the Fierce Dragon civilization strike first at the Dax Empire at this critical juncture!" One minister still somewhat refused to believe it, doubting the truth of the news.
The Lanners leader said solemnly, "This news I've had people confirm several times over, and I've drawn on our rather high-level connections inside the Dax Empire too. From what we've learned, it's certain that the Fierce Dragon fleets are fighting the Dax Empire right now."
When their leader confirmed the news once more,
everyone fell silent.
Then everyone was in an uproar.
"Isn't the Fierce Dragon civilization far too bold? To actually dare attack the Dax Empire on its own initiative!"
"Why on earth would they do this? Defense is plainly the most cost-effective battle policy. Their interstellar warships fight hard, but there aren't many of them. Add ship types like interstellar supply ships that need enough supply capacity. Whatever happens, they ought to choose to use defense as their offense! Now they've fought their way onto the Dax Empire's own turf. Though a surprise attack can get good results, what about the supply problem afterward? What if they get tangled up by the Dax Empire's fleets? They're nothing but a pack of madmen!"
So some thought.
But some held other views.
"The Fierce Dragon civilization isn't stupid, but they really are very crazy. Think about all they've done up to now. Earlier, after the second expedition campaign ended, they raided the Frey civilization outright and took that system completely into their own hands. Anyone else would never have made a battle deployment like that. But the Fierce Dragon civilization did just that. And the result? A whole system's resources came under their control. As far as results go, there's no doubt the Fierce Dragon civilization bet right that time. And with this strategic deployment now, don't we have reason to suspect the Fierce Dragon civilization still holds a similar idea? That this is another big gamble of theirs!"
This somewhat older minister said what he thought.
"But what are they betting on?" someone asked in puzzlement, still not understanding.
"Breaking the deadlock!" another minister said, his eyes lighting up. "As things stand now, of our three powers, the Fierce Dragon civilization is the weakest. Though the Fierce Dragon civilization's potential is great, and I fully believe that given enough time they can develop, and surpassing us is only a matter of time, don't forget: this isn't simply civilizations developing; it's the Trial of the Gods. Our opponents aren't only the ones before us; there are the other Trial civilizations too. So the Fierce Dragon civilization doesn't want to wear itself down like this; they want to break the deadlock. And breaking the deadlock means taking a risky move. And right now, the Dax Empire is already their mortal enemy. And if the Fierce Dragon civilization could annex the Dax Empire's star-system territory and use the seized system resources to develop and strengthen the Fierce Dragon civilization, is that feasible or not? By then the Fierce Dragon civilization would surpass us and become the strongest interstellar civilization of our three!" This old minister's words raised a great wave in the hall.
"Wait! That doesn't add up. The Dax Empire's strength is plain to see; its active-service interstellar warships even exceed ten thousand. How could the Fierce Dragon civilization possibly handle that!" someone objected.
"The Dax Empire's interstellar warships do exceed ten thousand. But don't forget, where are the greater part of them? On the front-line battlefield facing off against our Lanners civilization. In effect, we've been pinning down a very large share of the Dax interstellar warships for the Fierce Dragon civilization. And this is an open stratagem. We and the Dax Empire are locked in a fight to the death too. The Dax Empire has always held its bridgehead positions in our system. Why? Because these bridgeheads are the Dax Empire's vanguard fortresses for attacking us. Once it gives up these vanguard fortresses, then all it has put in over these years is as good as wasted. Whatever happens, even fighting on two fronts, the Dax Empire won't give them up. The Trial of the Gods is like rowing a boat upstream: if you don't advance, you fall back! And us? Naturally we can't give the Dax Empire's fleets a free hand. So this is where the Fierce Dragon civilization's open stratagem lies: they know that our fleets in this sector, neither side's, will move. That being so, the Fierce Dragon civilization's fleets, never mind wiping out the Dax Empire, could quite possibly seize half a system out of the Dax Empire's hands! Think about it, all of you. The Fierce Dragon civilization, with one system now, is already developing this fast. If it adds the resources of half a system more, then how fast will the Fierce Dragon civilization develop?"
The answer to this question was already laid out plainly before everyone.
The Fierce Dragon civilization's development would reach a terrifying speed never seen before.
"Then what do we do?" someone asked.
"What lies before us now is no more than a few choices. Break with the Fierce Dragon civilization. But after we break with them, if the Fierce Dragon civilization simply gives up trying, can we face the Dax Empire?"
This question had its answer too.
"Or else we, like the Fierce Dragon civilization, launch attacks on the Dax Empire's systems. Doesn't the Fierce Dragon civilization want to annex the Dax Empire's star-system territory? Then we'll come take a slice of the cake too. So long as our strength rises too, then even if the Fierce Dragon civilization's strength rises, so what?"
Hearing this,
everyone's eyes could not help lighting up.
That truly made a great deal of sense!