Zhao Chen fell silent.
A fleet composition of 10 to one, T4 and T3-grade interstellar warships without exception.
At that proportion, it stood level even with the present Owl Dragon Legion!
The Owl Dragon Legion too now raised its fleets of T3 and T4-grade interstellar warships; and within an Owl Dragon legion of 3,000 hulls there were 300 T4-grade interstellar warships.
It was upon so elite a composition that the Owl Dragon Legion could stand undefeated in every battle and take every position it attacked.
Zhao Chen felt that before his eyes he could all but see the scene of those five Dragon-folk fleet groups being butchered.
Though the numbers differed fivefold, the number of T4 warships those five Dragon-folk fleet groups could scrape together was presumably under 300 — to say nothing of two of those classes being merely quasi-T4.
"Is there any battlefield intelligence, and the Demon Race fleet's loss situation, and the Demon Race fleet's movements hereafter, and so forth?" Zhao Chen asked.
If the Demon Race fleet truly had begun an invasion of the Warhammer.
Then this was to be his own great white cat's ground in future; this crew could not be allowed to make trouble in it.
Zhao Chen must make ready.
"The battlefield intelligence is not yet clear. As for the Demon fleet's loss situation, it seems to be under 3,000 interstellar warships. As for the Demon Race fleet's movements hereafter, Grandfather Deer King's side says he will keep in contact with me afterward and inform me. He tells us these things now only in the hope that we may halt the present civil war, and make ready to meet an enemy from without," Charlotte said.
150,000 Dragon-folk interstellar warships traded for only 3,000 Demon Race interstellar warships — that was a loss ratio approaching 50 to one.
Zhao Chen imagined it a moment: what result would it be if his own Owl Dragon Legion stood in their place?
After thinking a while, Zhao Chen gave it up.
Because the intelligence on this Demon Race was still far too scant.
As of now he knew only that they too followed a policy of developing elite fleets, that they were fitted out with great numbers of T4-grade interstellar warships, and that, employing intelligent living beings as starship fuel, they must necessarily be exceedingly aggressive.
Only this much intelligence.
As the common saying has it: know yourself and know your enemy, and in 100 battles you will never be endangered; know yourself but not your enemy, and you will win one and lose one; know neither your enemy nor yourself, and you will be endangered in every battle.
"Lilith, make an arrangement. Send out a scout fleet to penetrate to the frontier beyond the Dragon-folk tribe's northern territory — and if it is at all possible, to travel that route and go to the Demon Race's territorial star regions, and establish clearly every kind of intelligence upon the Demon Race. This is exceedingly important to us; the faster the better! And at the same time, the relevant work must be opened upon the Holy Radiance Empire's side as well. Though these two matters pose no threat to our Starlight Empire at present, still — the one an interstellar hive-race, the other a Demon Race — if they are left to develop unchecked, the Starlight Empire will assuredly suffer for it!" Zhao Chen said gravely.
"Very well; I shall arrange it afterward." Lilith nodded.
Zhao Chen looked to Charlotte. "Charlotte, how does Grandfather Deer King stand? Was he not imprisoned by the Dragon Emperor earlier? And now the Dragon Emperor has fallen. So what is his situation? And how did he come to contact you?"
Charlotte explained, "Though Grandfather Deer King was imprisoned by the Dragon Emperor before, he suffered no ill usage. And the Dragon Emperor had long since given orders to those holding Grandfather Deer King that the moment anything happened beyond the frontier, Grandfather Deer King was to be released. Grandfather Deer King is free now, but he has determined to take his portion of the Revolutionary Army and hold the northern frontier. He says that by the Demon Race's nature, once they enter the Warhammer, the Warhammer will assuredly be laid waste and its people slaughtered! He will not permit such a thing to happen. And at the same time he hopes we may come to terms with that crowd of the Warhammer's old powers. To set the civil war aside and face outward as one — and in this matter he will help draw the threads together for us."
With that, Charlotte's gaze rested upon Zhao Chen, as though asking his opinion.
"Charlotte, I should like to hear your own opinion and thinking." Zhao Chen looked to Charlotte.
The Charlotte of the future was to become the Warhammer's empress.
So she must have the capacity to make her own decisions.
Charlotte said without hesitation, "I hold that we may come to terms. But they must agree to certain conditions we set. At the same time, I hold that we may run two courses at once: we cannot ignore a Demon Race invasion, and at the same time we can begin to control the movements of the Warhammer's several tribes. Though this civil war has not been fought long, our strength has been fully displayed, and we have a T5 interstellar warship to hold the ground besides; presumably those tribes that were formerly wavering will now come over to us thoroughly."
Hearing Charlotte's words, Lilith gave a knowing smile; it was an answer she approved.
Zhao Chen nodded as well. "Very well; do as you have said. The Warhammer's affairs you may decide directly; if you have any question, come and ask me."
"Yes." Charlotte nodded.
"Go and make your arrangements first."
"Very well."
Charlotte's video window closed.
Zhao Chen looked to Lilith on the other side.
Lilith said with a smile, "Charlotte has grown into a fit leader. From that battle at the Black Tiger Star Region's home star, to advocating terms with the other side now. She did not stand upon her own vantage, but looked at the situation from the larger view — from the vantage of one who moves the pieces."
Zhao Chen nodded. This too was the cultivation he had given Charlotte over this stretch.
Bringing Charlotte from a Valkyrie commanding 1,000 armies and 10,000 horse into an empress who might rule a sea of stars.
"Lilith, the present situation is very delicate for us. We cannot leave the Demon Race threat here in the Warhammer unattended, nor can we disregard that permanent Grade-5 cosmic bug-nest over in the Holy Radiance Empire. But within a crisis there lies opportunity as well; perhaps we may hasten our penetration and control of those two empires. Besides what I charged you with just now, help me make contact with that Saint Cana of the Sacred Angel family," Zhao Chen instructed.
Lilith nodded to signify she understood.
As to the Holy Radiance Empire and the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth, in both the threat had only now shown itself.
Even with a permanent Grade-5 cosmic bug-nest appearing on the Holy Radiance Empire's side, by the Sacred-Spirit people's proud temper they would not at first accept an outsider's support — the more so support from the Owl Dragon Legion.
At the same time the Holy Radiance Empire still had some military strength of its own, and in the short term should be able to contend with the interstellar hive-race; but the final outcome was foreordained.
It chiefly depended upon when the T5 Hive Motherships took the stage, and upon how many T4 Hive Motherships appeared.
And before that, they would assuredly never consent to the Owl Dragon Legion's direct intervention.
So if the Owl Dragon Legion wished to intervene, it must have a spokesman.
On the Warhammer's side that was naturally Charlotte.
And on the Holy Radiance Empire's side, the best choice was that Sacred Angel Legion commander Saint Cana, who had had some dealings with the Owl Dragon Legion before.
"And besides — I recall that Chitong too is of the Demon Race; and though she has been away from them some while, I think she should have relevant threads and information. You may go and talk with her."
"Very well."
The video communication ended.
Zhao Chen shut his eyes and began framing in his mind the strategic course to come.
The upheavals in the Holy Radiance Empire and the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth meant that Zhao Chen's original strategic direction must be thoroughly changed.