Chu Xuan, having enjoyed this gathering-meal, returned to the Chu River Star Region.
In under half a day, Zhao Chen's side received a call.
No need to look — Zhao Chen knew who was contacting him at this hour.
The Chu River Governor.
"You're really something, lad — bringing out so fine an interstellar destroyer after all. Own up to me honestly: did you develop it long ago, and stall until now to hand it over!" Chu Changhe teased on purpose.
Zhao Chen said in a tone of mock grievance: "It truly wasn't that I stalled on purpose; you know well I have far too much on my hands now. Not only must I govern my own territory — now there's the business of these five resource-star-regions for me to manage too. That first batch of 30 billion in raw materials delivered to you, you saw it yourself. In so short a span, a single-month extraction exceeding 30 billion — how much thought that takes, you should know too. Besides, there was the Sacred-War Duel with the Holy Radiance Empire to prepare for, and the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's invasion to guard against. I feel I've been losing my hair lately."
The words Zhao Chen spoke were, one might say, half true and half false.
After all, most of these matters Zhao Chen in fact only took the lead on; a great many were handed off entirely to the people below.
Still, there was truth in it too: before this, Zhao Chen's System points and task points had indeed had other uses, and for a time he couldn't redeem a T4-grade interstellar destroyer.
Otherwise, where would those T4 interstellar escort-ships and T4 interstellar battleships have come from?
And that single-month raw-material value exceeding 30 billion…
What Zhao Chen said was "exceeding" — he never said it was truly only 30 billion mined in a month.
50 billion, 80 billion, 100 billion.
These all exceed 30 billion too, do they not.
Zhao Chen was an honest man, and never told a lie.
"Enough. This time counts as our Chu family owing you a big favor." Chu Changhe waved a hand — by the look of it he had another important matter to discuss with Zhao Chen.
Chu Changhe narrowed his eyes at Zhao Chen: "I hear from Chu Xuan that you reckon this civil war can end before March of next year. You're so sure of it? Bear in mind, the Princes' faction across the way now holds over 400,000 interstellar warships in hand, and the number's still climbing — and that's with battle-losses on the frontal battlefield!"
Zhao Chen had known Chu Changhe would surely come to him over this matter; even had Chu Xuan not relayed it, Zhao Chen had in fact meant to seek Chu Changhe out to talk it over.
"Old Chu, you understand it too. Though the Holy Radiance Empire has promised not to send its own military force directly into our Starlight Empire for three years. They'll on no account let the matter rest privately; they'll surely have other means. But putting those means into effect will absolutely take a stretch of preparation. So, to keep the Holy Radiance Empire's power from seeping into the civil war on the battlefield— —we must end this civil war as soon as we can," Zhao Chen said.
"Stop being cryptic, lad — I want this civil war ended too. But even with those strategic materials you supply, we have only enough to spare for defense, not for offense! Out with it — what wicked little idea have you bottled up this time." Chu Changhe fixed Zhao Chen with a stare.
He believed Zhao Chen would never toss out such words lightly; since he'd said he could end this civil war before March of next year, then in all likelihood he had full certainty of it.
"Old sir, there's no one beside you right now, I trust?" Zhao Chen asked suddenly.
Chu Changhe understood Zhao Chen's meaning, and said gravely: "Set your mind at ease — this comm channel is of high secrecy grade; no one can eavesdrop."
Zhao Chen's gaze glittered with light, and he opened his mouth: "……"
On hearing Zhao Chen lay out his plan, Chu Changhe's expression underwent an enormous change — the look on his face a sight to behold.
After the comm ended, Chu Changhe issued dozens of military orders one after another.
He also let word out that on the first of January next year he would launch against the Princes' faction a so-called "January Offensive."
Then he began assembling his legion-fleets on a grand scale.
As for the direction of the main thrust — it was the largest interstellar-legion-fleet garrison the Princes' faction held outside the Chu River Star Region.
The Royal Interstellar Main-Fleet Group!
This was the Princes' faction's mightiest crack fleet, made up of the Imperial military fleets of the Starlight Central Star Region together with certain Imperial fleets under the royal house's own hand.
Total strength: 60,000 interstellar warships.
Within the Starlight Empire, its overall combat power was second only to the Chu River Border Main-Fleet Group.
So this "January Offensive" Chu Changhe was launching was, one might say, a king-against-king interstellar grand battle!
If neither side gave ground, this grand battle would bear directly upon which way the whole shape of the civil war would tilt!
……
Royal legion flagship · T4 Starlight Emperor-class Medium Carrier Starship · bridge.
"A January Offensive? Is this intelligence certain?" Qin Ming stared at the interstellar holo-table before him and questioned the staff officer at his side.
"Most certain — and we've already scouted out a whole string of Chu Changhe's troop movements. Chu Changhe means, when the time comes, to muster the Border Main-Fleet Group together with the Chu-family legions — 60,000 interstellar warships in all — and launch an all-out assault on us. To that end, Chu Changhe has already ordered the reinforcement fleets he'd dispatched to the North Wind Star Region to rest and refit a while, then hurry straight back to the Chu River Star Region to make ready for the 'January Offensive.'" the staff officer said.
Another officer offered his guess: "I suspect Chu Changhe's strategic resources have run short — which fits near enough with the six-month span we reckoned before. They mean to stake it all on a single throw!"
The civil war had begun in August.
They'd estimated the resources in Chu Changhe's hands could sustain him six months at most.
Tie that to the "January Offensive" Chu Changhe was now setting in motion, and it seemed to follow as a matter of course!
Qin Ming's eyes lit up; he stared at the interstellar holo-table like a fierce tiger fixing its prey: "In that case, this is the chance we too have long awaited. The North Wind Star Region's own garrison was never strong; it's leaned wholly on the Chu River Star Region's support to hold out this far. And now Chu Changhe, staking it all, pulls his reinforcements away for the January Offensive — so the North Wind Star Region's defenses fall short. This is precisely our chance to take the North Wind Star Region."
The staff officer beside him agreed: "Yes — that is our thinking too. We can set the Royal Interstellar Main-Fleet Group to a decisive battle with Chu Changhe's fleet-group. And at the same time send another fleet-group to storm the North Wind Star Region, and seize it while we may. As for the frontal battlefield — Chu Changhe's strength is formidable, true, but don't forget our total force now nears 400,000 ships. Once the decisive battle is joined, we can well move other fleet-groups up in support, and wipe out Chu Changhe's fleets to the last, right here! This so-called 'January Offensive' of theirs is nothing but a cornered beast's last thrashing!"
The corner of Qin Ming's mouth curled up; as he gazed at the interstellar holo-table before him, it was as though he already saw the scene of himself grasping the whole interstellar empire in his hand, and formally ascending the throne as Emperor.