When the two North-Expedition fleet-groups had but a scant few tens of thousands of interstellar warships left, Zhao Chen at last handed down a new command.
The Imperial Princess Fleet-Group was permitted to take the offensive of its own accord, and clean up these last interstellar warships entirely.
When this command reached Zhao Ruyue, she handed down the assault order without a word — as for combat dispositions, pre-battle mobilization, and the like.
In the present situation, what need was there of any combat disposition or pre-battle mobilization?
Over the past several hours, the Imperial Princess Fleet-Group had all along hung to the flank sweeping the line; save for a few enemy interstellar warships with no eyes in their heads that had wandered into their firepower range and been attacked, they'd near enough done no fighting.
They'd only kept compressing the ring of encirclement, compressing it, and then compressing it further still.
Watching, with their own eyes, those enemy interstellar warships be slaughtered sheet upon sheet.
They'd thought, at first, that this stirring campaign was one others would fight to their heart's content, while they could only look on wide-eyed from the side.
And now, with the command handed down permitting them to attack.
That was as good as tossing a torch into this pile of dry hay of theirs.
That passion for battle — one need hardly speak of how fierce it ran.
The more so as now the monks were many and the gruel scant.
The Imperial Princess Fleet-Group here still had a full 120,000 interstellar warships; the two fleet-groups there had under 30,000.
The situation had wholly turned over.
As for the outcome… that needs no further telling.
It could be described only as too wretched to look upon.
"Remind my elder sister — don't destroy those runaway T2 Tibetan Mastiffs; we can still recover them." Zhao Chen reminded Lilith, having her relay his meaning.
Back when those T2 Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers were first sold abroad, Zhao Chen had planted a backdoor within them.
A backdoor is a thing you can't plant too outrageously, for the more demanding the backdoor, the more easily it's discovered instead.
So the backdoor Zhao Chen installed was very simple: on activation it would merely paralyze one module of the power system, and repair would take a dozen-odd hours.
Yet just this plain and simple backdoor program could, on the battlefield, make the Princes' faction's fleet-groups suffer a great loss.
Besides, these paralyzed T2 Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers were no small haul either.
Tinkered back into shape in due course, they could be sold abroad once more; though they'd count as "second-hand ships," at a somewhat lower price there'd be buyers all the same.
Dare buy Northern Goose Group's interstellar warships — aren't you worried about the backdoor program?
Perhaps some would have such a misgiving.
The Princes' faction, naturally, could no longer buy Northern Goose Group's interstellar warships; but the various powers and minor lords within Zhao Chen's own territory had no such misgiving.
So what if they knew there was a backdoor?
These minor lords had no wish to rebel; they used these interstellar warships only to protect their own territories and interests.
They understood well: so long as they didn't set themselves against the Owl Dragon Legion, this so-called backdoor program was of no use whatever.
The more so — where else would you find an interstellar warship as high-performing and cheap as the T2 Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer!
"The T2 Tibetan Mastiffs captured this time come to over 30,000… the old price was 2 or 3 million star coins a ship; this batch sold off will go for 1 million to one and a half million. That's near enough to recoup 50 billion star coins; and it can indirectly strengthen the civilian fleet-armament within my territory besides." The corner of Zhao Chen's mouth curved up a little.
This "trade" with the Princes' faction was too profitable by far.
One in, one out — as good as earning two sums of money.
"Report, Commander-in-Chief — the Princes'-faction fleet-group originally locked in battle with the Chu-family legion has now begun to pull off the battlefield," Lilith reported.
Zhao Chen looked at one corner of the interstellar holo-table; the Princes' faction's remaining fleet-groups were pulling off the battlefield at speed.
Just then, a comm window popped up from Chu Changhe's side.
"You fought it well, lad! To annihilate two fleet-groups in so short a time, wiping out near 100,000 interstellar warships!" Chu Changhe led off with a round of praise.
This too was heartfelt wonder at the Owl Dragon Legion's present combat power.
"To business." Zhao Chen reminded him.
"On my side, that lad Qin Ming's begun to retreat with the remaining two fleet-groups — near enough 60,000 interstellar warships. On my side I have under 20,000 interstellar warships still able to fight. What I want to ask you is — should we press the pursuit or not," Chu Changhe asked.
Zhao Chen smiled faintly: "Set your mind at ease — there's no need to give chase. We need only wait by the stump for the hare."
Wait by the stump for the hare?
Chu Changhe was startled a moment.
Then Chu Changhe asked, all mystery: "Have you got some wicked stroke bottled up again, lad — tell me about it."
"You want to know?" Zhao Chen asked.
Chu Changhe nodded; on in years though he was, he was still full of curiosity for the doings of the battlefield.
"Then make ready — arrange for your fleet to rest and refit in place. Half an hour from now, bring the interstellar warships with full combat capacity and come with me. The rest of the warships can stay behind to keep resting and cleaning up the battlefield," Zhao Chen said, all mystery: "By then, you'll know what I mean to do."
"You lad, still holding out on me. Fine — then I'll watch closely just what other good show you've got in store." Chu Changhe pointed at Zhao Chen.
The video comm cut off.
Zhao Chen looked to Lilith beside him: "Arrange it — form a pursuit fleet of T4 Vermilion Bird-class Medium Interstellar Cruisers, T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruisers, and T3 Wind-Eagle-class Medium Interstellar Cruisers. Pursue the Princes' faction's remnant fleets! Remember — only pursue and harry; don't get into a head-on pitched battle with them. Pursue for at least half an hour; after half an hour, give up the chase and return here to await orders."
"Yes," Lilith said.
"How stands the situation with that Prince Yan Interstellar Main-Fleet Group at the North Wind Star Region?" Zhao Chen asked.
Besides this battlefield, there was still the North Wind Star Region battlefield, and the Prince Yan Interstellar Main-Fleet Group that had never managed to reach this one in time.
"By the word sent back from the interstellar scout-ships watching the Prince Yan Interstellar Main-Fleet Group. That fleet-group had originally been set to relieve this battlefield, but on learning the situation here it slowed its speed and turned toward the Azure Star Region. Our interstellar scout-ships are still tailing it, and will report intelligence at any time. Besides that, by the word sent back from the North Wind Star Region. With our Owl Dragon Second Legion's 3,000 interstellar warships taking part, in concert with the North Wind Star Region's fleet-groups— —the Azure Interstellar Main-Fleet Group has been successfully checked; the fighting is still ongoing, but the situation is already within our grasp. Commander Chitong pledges that within three days she can bring the battle to a close, and pledges the Owl Dragon Second Legion's losses will not exceed 500 interstellar warships — please set your mind at ease, Commander-in-Chief!" Lilith relayed.
Zhao Chen nodded, satisfied.
Well before this campaign began, Zhao Chen had made his dispositions.
First, his own Owl Dragon First Legion, carrying a great many interstellar missile ships, met the Princes' faction's main-fleet cluster head-on and won the victory!
On the other side, Chitong was charged with leading the Owl Dragon Second Legion to intercept the Azure Interstellar Main-Fleet Group attacking the North Wind Star Region.
Because the Owl Dragon Second Legion was fitted with only 10 T3 Judicator-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ships, its efficiency of annihilation on the battlefield was naturally far below Zhao Chen's side.
But with the enemy it faced numbering only 60,000 interstellar warships, and with the North Wind fleet-groups in concert.
Winning the victory was a thing to be expected; it was only a question of how the final losses came out.
As for the Owl Dragon Third Legion, which had made no move as yet.
The corner of Zhao Chen's mouth curved up a little — this good show had not yet reached its final curtain.