The banquet.
Lively though the place was, one would notice that the guests present kept glancing, now and again, toward one corner.
Because seated there was a row of beauties fit to sink fish and drop wild geese from the sky.
In former days, some of the more illustrious male guests would certainly have come up to strike a conversation, hoping for some romantic encounter.
But here they dared not entertain the least notion of overstepping.
Because they understood well: these were roses, granted, but roses with thorns — thorns that kill.
And at this moment a man in military uniform walked in, and everyone at once came alert.
"Your Highness the Prince, I am of the North Wind Star Region; we are schoolmates besides."
"Your Excellency the Prince Regent, congratulations — I drain this cup first in your honor."
"Your Highness the Prince, we sisters have long heard your great name; might we not make your acquaintance?"
Wherever Zhao Chen passed there was no lack of people from every quarter fawning and working up connections, and some of the womenfolk struck poses besides, hoping to win this new star of the empire's favor and rise to heaven at a single step.
To all of which Zhao Chen paid no notice whatever.
Zhao Chen walked straight to that corner.
These handsome women officers had risen well beforehand, and saluted Zhao Chen. "Commander-in-Chief."
"You've come up in the world now, boy — Your Highness the Prince, Your Excellency the Prince Regent. This old man must salute you when he sees you." Chu Changhe held a wine cup in his hand, looking at Zhao Chen.
"That business the girl never discussed with me either. I was taken in as well." Zhao Chen shrugged helplessly and sat down upon the sofa.
Looking at the women standing round about, he waved a hand. "Don't all stand about — sit. Eat what there is to eat and drink what there is to drink."
With Zhao Chen's leave the women sat, but for the food before them they had no great appetite.
Because set against the starship canteens within the Owl Dragon Legion, the two were of wholly different grades.
"Ahem, ahem… that form of address wants a little care… at the least a care for the occasion." Chu Changhe coughed and gave Zhao Chen a reminder.
Those who dared call the Empress "the girl" now came down, at a guess, to Zhao Chen alone.
Zhao Chen paid Chu Changhe's reminder no mind, and looked to Li Yaqi opposite. "Where's your brother?"
"Over there, lending face to his future father-in-law." Li Yaqi pointed into the banquet ground, where Li Wei stood surrounded by no few people.
Li Wei wore a modest expression, and beside him stood a young woman.
And there was a middle-aged man besides, saying something to those about him with a face full of showing-off, clapping Li Wei's shoulder now and again.
"And that man is?" Zhao Chen asked.
"A woman of a second-rate family from the Grey Moon Star Region; Li Wei came to know that girl, Xiaomiao, while traveling before, and the two are courting now. Her background is no problem, and their relation is no problem," Li Yaqi said.
The meaning within Li Yaqi's words was that she had already investigated the family circumstances of her brother's sweetheart, and there was nothing amiss.
At investigating her own brother's sweetheart Li Yaqi felt not the least excess.
Had Li Wei been merely himself, or of some other standing, Li Yaqi would not have minded who her brother's sweetheart was.
But Li Wei was the Northern Goose Group's president now, and the various particulars of those about him had to be established — and that for the Northern Goose Group's sake.
"Have Li Wei come over a moment; I have something to say to him," Zhao Chen said.
Li Yaqi nodded and rose to call Li Wei.
Li Wei soon came over; and after he left, the crowd over there cast envious looks after him, and that future father-in-law of Li Wei's wore a smile of surpassing brilliance, for all the world as though it were he whom Prince Owl Dragon had summoned.
"Er… Prince…" Seeing Zhao Chen, Li Wei did not know for a moment how to address him.
Zhao Chen looked at Li Wei. "A word with you. I have already discussed it with Qin— with Her Majesty the Empress. The imperial military is to undergo a round of large-scale expansion, to 500 legion fleets, 1,500,000 interstellar warships in all. Including 10,000 T3-grade warships. This great military procurement order goes wholly to the Northern Goose Group. Total value: 10 trillion star coins."
"1,000,001 half warships? 10 trillion star coins?" Li Wei was given a start.
This was a military order such as the Northern Goose Group had never taken in its life.
And Li Wei, having come to know the construction data of those Owl Dragon warships, understood well what terrifying profit a 10 trillion-star-coin military order could yield!
"I have reckoned the Northern Goose Group's present capacity. By your current 20,000 T2 Iron Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships, to complete this military order would want a span of a dozen-odd years. So I permit you to expand the T2 Iron Hammers, to a holding of up to 100,000. And at the same time to establish industrial subsidiaries in every star region, which will create local jobs and likewise feed back into your Northern Goose Group's capacity. Within three years, I want this military order completed. Can you do it?" Zhao Chen looked at Li Wei.
Li Wei was still running these figures through his mind, working it out.
Li Yaqi, at his side, spoke first. "Within three years it can certainly be done; and if the subsidiary link goes smoothly, one year will serve as well."
"One year?" Even Li Wei was given a start. 1,000,001 half warships produced in a year — he gulped.
"Establishing subsidiaries in every star region to take on the production of low-end technical components can cut near half the time it takes the Northern Goose Group to produce a single warship. And the Northern Goose Group need only keep the production of the warships' core technology in hand." Li Yaqi looked at her own brother.
Her brother had come along a great deal over this stretch, but he still fell somewhat short.
"But… so vast a Northern Goose Group… once this batch of military orders is done, what if there is no production demand?" Li Wei raised a worry.
Before Zhao Chen could open his mouth to explain—
Li Yaqi went up and slapped Li Wei's head.
"Adapt! Adapt! How is it you cannot think it through? Can interstellar industrial ships only be used to produce warships? This palace in the clouds where we stand — was it not produced by interstellar industrial ships? By then you can produce a great many civil industrial facilities besides; there are business openings everywhere!"
Li Wei saw it all at once, and there was a wild joy in his heart besides.
"Your sister has put the Northern Goose into your hands; mind you don't disappoint her." Zhao Chen clapped Li Wei's shoulder.
Li Wei nodded heavily, and then said in a low voice, "Old Zhao, that girlfriend of mine admires you greatly; she wants to ask you for a signature and a photograph."
"No problem; I'll come over in a while. Go on back first — I see that father-in-law of yours near straining his eyes with longing. And when the matter's settled, mind you call me. I mean to drink at your wedding," Zhao Chen said with a laugh.
"Right you are — wait for my good news." Hearing this, Li Wei was more delighted still, and left at a brisk step.
Chu Changhe, at his side, raised his wine cup and looked after Li Wei's retreating figure, and said with some meaning, "Young Zhao, you have fed the rice right up to the Northern Goose Group's mouth. 11 trillion military order — tsk, tsk, tsk… it will be hard for the Northern Goose Group not to become the Starlight Empire's military-procurement giant. And the maintenance and upkeep of these imperial fleets afterward is no small investment either."
"You may place some orders as well; I'll have Li Wei give you a discount," Zhao Chen said teasingly.
Chu Changhe rolled his eyes. "Those T2s and T3s this old man thinks nothing of — I want your T4s!"
"T4 output is far too small just now; wait a while yet."
"I have sent you my own granddaughter, and you won't get me a few T4s? That's too poor a showing. Nothing else — just that T4 Blue-Eyes White Dragon! One! Just one!"
"Have you not the Boreas already?"
"What's a Boreas beside your Blue-Eyes White Dragon? Don't be so stingy. And that T4 Gorgon… missile ships this old man can't afford to run, but that gun-ship is a fine thing."
"……"