In the end, under the discussion of Zhao Chen and everyone, the strategic plan for what came next was laid out. First, the two parties of the Snake-folk and the Bramble Group would continue to hold a state of combat-readiness, with all interstellar warships making haste to repair, readying for the next campaign. At the same time, Zhao Chen's interstellar fleet would, too, return to the Lion King System to rest and refit for one day's time. And on the morrow, Zhao Chen would personally lead his own interstellar fleet, along with a portion of the Snake-folk's interstellar fleet, on a distant campaign against the interstellar fleets of the Starlight faction's supporters.
After the meeting ended —
Zhao Chen followed his own interstellar fleet to the Lion King System.
"How much strategic resource do we have left in hand at present?" Zhao Chen inquired of Lilith at his side. An interstellar war depended not only upon the interstellar warships the two combatant sides possessed, but also upon how much strategic resource the two sides had at their command.
Lilith quickly arrived at a figure.
"Before the end of June, we possessed a reserve of 4 billion star coins in funds and raw materials; but at the same time, we'd, back then, drawn up the next quarter's construction plan, which cost 7 billion star coins. Then, we drew from Li Yaqi's Northern Goose Starship Technology Group 5 billion star coins' worth of raw-material resources, and back then we'd also completed a piece of military trade with the Snake-folk, coming by 2.3 billion star coins in funds and raw-material resources. Without affecting our future construction plan, the total funds we can currently mobilize come to around 4 billion star coins — of which the share belonging to strategic resources is 3 billion star coins. In this Snake-Sovereign Fortress defense battle of ours, our combat consumption was 1.5 billion star coins of strategic resources. And so, we have only 1.5 billion star coins' worth of strategic resources left."
With Lilith, this competent matron-of-the-household, on hand, Zhao Chen was truly spared no small amount of trouble; the various figures were laid out plain and clear before Zhao Chen.
"To convert that 1 billion star coins of cash flow into raw-material reserves — how long would that take?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"If concealment is to be taken into account, then at least upward of a month's time," Lilith answered.
Zhao Chen scratched at his head. He'd originally thought himself already quite the rich man. But the upshot was that, having just now fought one lavish, spendthrift battle, he'd discovered… that, it seemed, his family fortune wasn't enough to be tossed and turned about by his own hand. The chief reason was, still, that the T3 Judicator-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ship's combat consumption was truly too terrifying; the consumption of a mere five of them in a single battle reached close to 1 billion star coins! This wasn't waging war — this was, truly, the burning of money. One might even say that even money doesn't burn this fast — though the stir it made was, sure enough, quite the big one.
"So when you gave me that look with your eyes just now, you were taking into account that our strategic reserves can't meet the combat plan for the whole Reef Star Region, is that it?" Zhao Chen inquired.
Lilith nodded. "Yes. By the look of the present situation, the whole Reef Star Region combat plan can only be sustained through to the second step."
"Which stage is that?" Zhao Chen asked back.
"That is, once we've finished clearing away the several interstellar forces of the Starlight faction, the remaining strategic materials, in facing the Warhammer faction's interstellar forces, would be more than enough to hold firm on defense, but insufficient for attack. Still less need it be said of the regular-army fleets of the two empires we may possibly have to face down the line. If you hadn't given me that look with your eyes just now, I would not, at the time, have agreed to this combat plan," the secretary Lilith said.
Zhao Chen was helpless; back then, for the sake of having a touch of dignity and authority before his two new "proxies," he had, in truth, rather slapped his face swollen to pass himself off as a fat man[1]. But that, too, had been a matter of no choice.
"Is there any proper method of handling it?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"There are three channels by which we can scrape together this shortfall, but each has a certain risk and limitation. First: through the Snake-folk and the Bramble Group, to collect a great quantity of strategic resources — we estimate we could scrape together around 1 billion in strategic resources. But the problem is that this would expose the problem of our strategic-materials shortage. Second: to continue drawing raw-material reserves from Li Yaqi's Northern Goose Starship Technology Group; by the account information we've come by of that group, without affecting its business production, we can still draw around 3 billion in raw-material reserves. But this needs a bit of time — around half a month to a month. Third: to go by Governor Chu of Chu River's channel, and, carrying on with the earlier pretext, have you ask Governor Chu of Chu River for so-called 'research-and-development funds' once again." Lilith set them forth for Zhao Chen, one by one.
"To fight this whole war through, how much strategic material do we need to consume in all?" Zhao Chen inquired.
Lilith called up a set of simulated data, and went on to explain, "Reckoning in this battle — if it's merely the combat consumption of integrating the Reef Star Region's various forces, it's estimated at 4 billion star coins. But if we're to do battle with the regular-army fleets of the two empires, then, in accordance with the degree of the engagement, there'll be combat consumption of differing levels. In the best case, that's small-scale combat, with combat consumption estimated at 3 billion star coins. In the worst case — that would, of course, be a great, all-out battle, with the aim of wholly annihilating the enemy fleet — that needs at least 10 billion star coins of strategic reserves!"
Zhao Chen gave a helpless little laugh. "Which is to say, the strategic goal I've laid out is very beautiful, but reality is cruel… when the time comes, it may be we haven't the money to fight."
"Yes," Lilith said.
Zhao Chen thought a moment, then said in earnest, "The first item, let's shelve for the time being. We've only just begun to cooperate with the Snake-folk and the rest; this is the time for establishing prestige — we can't let them come to know our shortcoming. The second suggestion and the third suggestion can be set going at the same time. Though the time's a bit rushed, let's get them under way first and talk later."
"Yes," the secretary Lilith responded. Just now, this was, too, the only method there was.
"The Lion King System side I leave to you and Charlotte; complete the fleet's rest, maintenance, and resupply work within one day. I'll first take a trip back to the Owl Dragon System." Zhao Chen enjoined.
"Yes."
Zhao Chen specially transferred to a T3 Blizzard of a comparatively high degree of soundness, and at once returned to the Owl Dragon System. Over there, there was, after all, a certain matter still awaiting his own handling.
"Reporting, Lord Commander — the Blizzard No. 023 ship has, in accordance with your instruction, arrived at the designated coordinate position; the shuttle has been arranged. Please give your instructions." This ship's female captain stood ramrod-straight, reporting to Zhao Chen, who lay resting on a sofa off to the side.
Zhao Chen gave a yawn. "Good, I understand. The lot of you, stand by where you are," With that, Zhao Chen left the bridge.
After Zhao Chen departed, the whole bridge fell into a joyful clamor. This was, after all, the closest they'd been to Zhao Chen; it truly felt like the greatest good luck.
And at this moment, Zhao Chen, aboard the shuttle, was sailing off toward an interstellar warship in the distance, lying at dock within the Owl Dragon System's supreme military forbidden zone.
And that ship was, precisely…
The T4 Reviver-class Clone-Human Starship!
This would be the first time this interstellar warship carried out its work-task.