"And food?" Qin Xiaolei asked.
"Food our Owl Dragon Star System will undertake to supply. We have an Eden Grain Trade Group, and I shall arrange for them, within the next three years, to see to it that everyone in the whole Starlight Empire, upon the base premise of having their bellies filled, enjoys better food than that. We shall sell natural foodstuffs at very low prices. There was an institution earlier that carried out a social survey. The survey showed that when a citizen eats artificial food over a long span, though it may meet the basic needs of survival, it will by degrees lower his happiness, and raise his distaste for the local regime and for this empire. They will have no sense of belonging to this empire whatever. Natural foodstuffs are otherwise: they can stir the people's taste buds and give them a better experience of living. They can let them live with something to aim at," Zhao Chen said.
"Supply the natural foodstuffs needed by every resident within the Starlight Empire's bounds? Do you know how vast a supply of natural foodstuffs that requires!" Even Zhao Ruyue was given a start by this stroke of Zhao Chen's.
"To this hour, across the Starlight Empire's eight star regions, the total intelligent-race population before the civil war broke out is estimated at some 360 trillion. And what I said just now does not mean that everyone eats natural foodstuffs every day. It means letting those who work hard, in their hours off work, taste these natural foodstuffs once a day, or several times a week. Satisfying them bit by bit. And the cost of that is in fact not high. My Eden Grain Trade Group has the confidence to meet it; set your mind at rest, Your Highness." Zhao Chen said it with confidence.
The Eden-class starships of every grade and model with which the Eden Grain Trade Group was equipped to this hour were enough to meet the daily basic needs of 100 billion people.
And that by the Owl Dragon Star System's high living standard.
Were it by the notion Zhao Chen had just set out, the other star regions and systems of the Starlight Empire would certainly not be held to that standard.
At one to three meals of natural foodstuffs arranged in a week of the month, that would amount to meeting the living needs of near 1 trillion people.
Though it would want expanding above 300 times over.
But Zhao Chen now had the more advanced T4 Golden Eden-class starships in hand, which could greatly increase output.
And by this same means he would control the grain trade of the whole Starlight Empire. Zhao Chen had said low prices, granted—
but who says a low price means no profit?
This so-called low price was merely lower than those expensive natural foodstuffs presently on the market.
And Zhao Chen's production costs were exceedingly low, so the profit within it was quite terrifying all the same.
And at the same time, those workers, with the wealth they got from the lower-rung industrial posts in Zhao Chen's enterprises, bought the food Zhao Chen's enterprises produced.
And in the end, did that money not return to Zhao Chen's own pocket?
And yet it let Zhao Chen, at a stroke, control the Starlight Empire's military industry and its grain industry.
And the most important point of all!
When the hour came, who was it that gave them work?
They would say: the Owl Dragon lord.
Who was it that gave them cheap foodstuffs?
They would say: the Owl Dragon lord.
This was Zhao Chen's method.
He had no need to sit in that seat, and yet his power had already seeped into every quarter of the Starlight Empire.
"These two strokes can indeed ease the Starlight Empire's crisis." Qin Xiaolei's eyes lit up, and she looked at Zhao Chen with admiration.
Zhao Ruyue had spotted her brother's designs long since, but she did not say so outright.
So long as Zhao Chen married Qin Xiaolei, was this not helping Qin Xiaolei control the empire?
"For the empire." Zhao Chen laid a hand over his heart and said it plainly.
Which made Qin Xiaolei admire Zhao Chen the more, and left a certain sweetness in her heart besides.
"Then let us next discuss how the resources are to be allotted after this civil war." Zhao Ruyue put in from the side, "First, several of the governors drawn into this civil war. The Azure Star Region's Governor is dead; the Starlight Central Star Region's Governor is dead; the Snow-Swallow Star Region's Governor is dead; the Grey Moon Star Region's Governor has surrendered. And three imperial marshals have fallen besides, and one imperial marshal has surrendered and is imprisoned. The families behind these men, and the resources they held— all of it wants reallocating. And there are certain resource-mining districts among them whose production work has been delayed on account of the civil war. These must be restored as fast as possible!"
"Such things ought to be rewarded to those with merit. Zhao Chen, whichever star region you like, be that star region's Governor." Qin Xiaolei blinked at Zhao Chen.
Tossing out the post of Governor as easily as that.
Qin Xiaolei pointed at the Starlight Central Star Region's position upon the star chart. "How about the Starlight Central Star Region!"
Zhao Chen shook his head. "No — let these be bestowed upon those with merit. I want only the Owl Dragon Star System as it is, and the five resource star regions beyond that our Owl Dragon Legion opened up."
The star regions within the empire had long since formed their own tangled roots and knotted branches; Zhao Chen could clear them out, granted.
But it was far too much trouble.
And the profit gained was not great.
Better by far the five resource star regions outside — all of them virgin ground, where Zhao Chen might do as he pleased.
Though Zhao Chen was not wholly giving up the profits of these places either; he was merely using a method of far better value.
"Then what is it you want? Surely you cannot want nothing at all — that would leave me hard put to explain it to the others." Qin Xiaolei pouted.
Zhao Chen was, as everyone knew, this civil war's greatest meritorious officer; if he wanted nothing, it would be awkward for anyone else to open their mouth and ask.
"I wish to request commendations for my subordinates. This is a table; Your Highness may look it over." Zhao Chen handed a data roster to Qin Xiaolei.
Upon it were set out above 100 names.
Every one of them officers of the Owl Dragon Legion; and after each Zhao Chen had noted the commendation he hoped they might be given.
"Nothing for yourself?" Qin Xiaolei asked him again.
Zhao Chen shook his head and said with a light smile, "I am only a hands-off proprietor; those who truly fought and killed upon the field, who helped Your Highness recover the whole Starlight Empire, are they. They should have the honor that is due them."
"Very well — I approve all of these!" Qin Xiaolei approved the whole of it outright.
"And these resource-mining districts? They must be arranged as well," Zhao Ruyue said.
Zhao Chen said mildly, "Some may be rewarded to those with merit, and the rest put up anew for the sale of mining rights, and let every mining group compete fairly. That way the treasury, empty as it is now, can be subsidized as well."
"That stands to reason!" Qin Xiaolei clapped her hands, and thereupon brought out several items she meant to publish in a few days for Zhao Chen to look over, asking his opinion.
And before long the Starlight Empire's relevant affairs were settled, under the "onlooking" of this Owl Dragon lord.
"Then if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave." Zhao Chen made ready to go.
"Wait — we've come together with such trouble; stay and eat." Zhao Ruyue came up and caught Zhao Chen by the arm, throwing him look after look besides.