The meeting ended, and it was settled that the second-stage offensive would be launched in mid-February.
For when a great war begins, the grain and fodder go first.
One must ready the combat materials, no?
Zhao Chen and Lilith returned to their own flagship, the lift-platform slowly rising.
Zhao Chen gazed at the great mass of interstellar warships in the star-port outside, waiting for repair.
"By our present tally. The Chu-family legion fleet at present has only 20,000 interstellar warships in high repair, but the great majority are the Chu-family legion's elites, including 50 T4 Boreas. In the earlier decisive battle, Chu Changhe lost half his T4 Boreas; otherwise there's no way he could have gone on pressing the Royal Interstellar Main-Fleet Group even while facing the encircling assault of several fleet-groups at once. What he relied on was the T4 Boreas-class Heavy Interstellar Battleships holding the line from the rear. Though at present Governor Chu is trying to purchase new interstellar warships and levy interstellar warships once more from the Chu River Star Region. But by my estimate, he can reach at most a count of 30,000." Lilith analyzed at Zhao Chen's side.
For this civil war, the Chu-family fleet had indeed given a great deal.
Zhao Chen thought a moment, then said: "Afterward, relay to Governor Chu for me — if he's willing. I'm willing to have the Northern Goose Group sell him a batch of T2 Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers at near cost price. Besides, of those 30,000-odd T2 Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers captured this time, I can sell them a batch cheap as well, to shore up their ship-source for the moment."
Though this would lose Zhao Chen no small sum, as a leader one had to look to the long term.
Mighty and fierce though the Owl Dragon Legion's interstellar warships were, their one shortcoming was that they were too few in number.
If there were important star systems and star-ports needing garrison, then what was Zhao Chen to do?
He surely couldn't scatter his Owl Dragon Legion about.
That was where the likes of the Imperial Princess Fleet-Group and the Chu-family fleet came in — not only could they consolidate the territories Zhao Chen occupied for him—
—but even on the battlefield they could assist the Owl Dragon Legion in fighting.
For instance, when a great mass of enemy interstellar fleets was to be encircled and the Owl Dragon Legion's warships fell short, these fleets could help hold the ring.
"Though the Imperial Princess Fleet-Group has been through no few battles too, the fights were all hard fights; add to that that though it has no T4-grade interstellar warships, it's fitted out with a great many of our Owl-Dragon-line interstellar warships. Its combat power is fierce indeed; as of now it's lost under 10,000 interstellar warships," Lilith answered.
Of the Imperial Princess Fleet-Group's showing in its first appearance, Zhao Chen was well satisfied.
Suppose the Imperial Princess Fleet-Group were fitted out with a certain number of T3-grade interstellar warships of every model, and a dozen-odd T4-grade ones besides.
The Imperial Princess Fleet-Group might even surpass the Chu-family legion fleet outright, and become the mightiest fleet power in the Starlight Empire besides the Owl Dragon Legion!
"Find a way to make up the Imperial Princess Fleet-Group's lost interstellar warships; make sure that before the second-stage offensive, it's restored to the establishment of 120,000 interstellar warships. Besides, you may, as fitting, arrange for them some T3 interstellar warships other than the T3 Judicator-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ship, the T3 Imperial-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship, and the T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship."
Having said it, Zhao Chen did not forget to add: "And don't forget — have our Princess sign and set her mark to it; these are all owed to us. To be re~paid, in the future."
Zhao Chen weighted the sound on that "repaid."
Lilith nodded, understanding within that the Commander-in-Chief meant to control Qin Xiaolei — even, perhaps, to shape Qin Xiaolei into a puppet, so that the Commander-in-Chief could hold the Starlight Empire in hand from behind the curtain!
Thinking of this, Lilith's eyes shone.
In the span of a few short years, from a tiny little Owl Dragon fleet to the Owl Dragon Legion of today.
Even, with hope, to grasp the whole Starlight Empire.
This man was too formidable by far.
"Is the tally of our losses complete?" Zhao Chen asked.
Lilith came back to herself at once, and answered: "In this campaign, we lost a total of 570 interstellar warships, including five T4-grade interstellar warships. Over 200,000 personnel fell. Combat consumption: 100 billion star coins."
100 billion star coins!
In the span of a few short battles, Zhao Chen had burned clean through 100 billion star coins.
Were it noised abroad, it would likely scare people to death.
This was truly fighting a war with money.
Though Zhao Chen still had 100 billion in strategic resources, for the sake of avoiding needless casualties, and for the fleet's rest and refit, and because the T4 Lucent-class Interstellar Jump-Ships needed reset-cooldown, and so on—
—Zhao Chen could not take the Starlight Central Star Region in one stroke; he could only wait for the follow-on extracted resources to keep pace.
And then launch the second wave of offensive in mid-February.
Think of it — in the span of a single short month.
Qin Ming should be able to stir up no great waves, no?
"Carry on with everything per our plan. Don't let our military action affect the resource production and starship-build tasks within our territory. This point must be stressed to Annie — if she can't complete the production tasks, see if I don't paddle her backside into eight pieces when I get back." Zhao Chen cautioned.
"All right, I'll remind the various rear production and manufacturing departments." Lilith nodded.
"Before mid-February, can these interstellar warships we lost this time be made up?" Zhao Chen asked.
"No problem; I've already sent the relevant build tasks over to Annie. The 500-odd warships lost will surely be made up within 20 days. Though for the Owl Dragon Third Legion to reach the 3,000-ship establishment standard, it may still need to wait some days more," Lilith answered.
As of now, of the Owl Dragon Legion's three legion-fleets.
Only the First Legion and the Second Legion had reached the 3,000-warship establishment standard.
The Owl Dragon Third Legion still had a shortfall of some interstellar warships — which was why, in that earlier ambush, the Owl Dragon Third Legion's interstellar warships had not come to 3,000.
"That's nothing to worry about; the Princes' faction lost over 300,000 interstellar warships this time. In the span of a single month, is Qin Ming somehow going to overturn the heavens?" Zhao Chen said scornfully.
Were it not for fear of over-heavy losses to himself, Zhao Chen could perfectly well have driven the Owl Dragon Legion to the Imperial Capital Star for a great decisive battle.
He had a full 10-out-of-10 certainty of settling the Imperial Capital Star; but for it, his Owl Dragon Legion would surely pay grievous losses too.
Weighing gain against loss, the present plan was the most sensible.
But Zhao Chen never once imagined that what came next would confound everyone's expectations.
Qin Ming had no power to overturn the heavens — but someone was about to overturn Qin Ming's heaven!