[1]
Zhao Chen nodded in agreement.
"This is a good arrangement. We'll put defense first. Build defense lines against the bug-tide. As long as the Trial civilizations' various powers make no move against us, we leave them be and watch the fire from across the river. Let them make their own trouble. But if the Far Shore of Deep Space or any other Trial civilization strikes at us, we move our fleets at once and hit their heartland first. Destroy their main fleets and their core industrial systems. Arranged this way, we can attack if we advance and hold if we fall back!"
Secretary Officer Barbara added, "What the Marshals just said makes me think of a few problems. The worst case. That would be a great many of our systems falling and our industrial capacity lost. By then, even if we have a vast interstellar fleet, without enough war resources it is nothing but a heap of scrap iron. So we have to prepare in advance. We need to stockpile large amounts of strategic resources. To make sure that in the future, even if every one of our industrial systems were paralyzed, our interstellar fleets could still keep up their fighting power for a long time. Don't forget. This is, after all, a Trial of the Gods. Our final aim is to defeat the other Trial of the Gods civilizations!"
"Barbara has a point too. All of this is Barbara's to take charge of. On one hand the expansion of the interstellar fleets must not slow; on the other we must prepare more battlefield resources, against every situation that might arise! From here on, everything is to be done according to what this meeting has decided. If, after the meeting, anyone still has thoughts or suggestions, report them to Barbara; she will gather them up and bring them to me together. The coming period is vital for our Fierce Dragon civilization. This Trial of the Gods may well come to a close within it."
"Yes!"
The generals and officials said in unison.
The meeting was over.
But Zhao Chen's work had not stopped yet.
"Your Majesty, the first bug-tide campaign is over. In this stage a great many fine commanders have come to the fore. Over the past while, because of the fighting at the front, there was no way to arrange a large awards ceremony. Considering that public morale matters a great deal at this stage, we and the military department, after discussing it together, have decided to hold a large decoration ceremony. Some of the most outstanding generals among them would be decorated by you yourself. The whole event broadcast live. The people of all nine Fierce Dragon systems will be able to see it!" Secretary Officer Barbara looked at the Fierce Dragon Emperor and laid out the plan.
Zhao Chen thought it over; the arrangement did make a great deal of sense.
It suited, too, the present need for social stability on the planets of every Fierce Dragon system.
"Mm, this is approved. You see it through."
"Yes!"
Everything was done.
Zhao Chen stretched.
He muttered, "Another three months to rest a little. These past nine months, I really was wound tight every moment. I expect it's the same for the other Trial civilizations. I just wonder what faces they'll make when they see this new safe-zone map. The Far Shore of Deep Space above all. Let's hope they don't go looking for their own death."
——————
At this very moment, the high commands of the Trial civilizations were indeed in an uproar over the new safe-zone map.
Above all because, among them, quite a few Trial civilizations had every last system of their territory outside the safe zone.
This had thoroughly cracked the alliances those Trial civilizations had originally formed!