"Boom!"
As the heavy golden cup fell to the ground, many ministers in the court hall also shrank their necks, not knowing how to speak to alleviate the anger of the young emperor on the throne.
Just a few days after the news that Krohokar's Imperial Army was brutally surrounded and annihilated, with the loss of millions of troops, the Imperial mining facilities and Nebula Refining Stations in the Cross Nebula were destroyed one after another, and the Outer Rim Navy and Intelligence The department could not even provide a list of the participating fleets dispatched by the People's Federation to the interior of the nebula.
In other words, the empire was not only pinned to the ground and punched hard, but it was not known who punched him. In the eyes of the young emperor, this was an insult to himself, the entire royal family and the empire.
Defeat is not shameful, or a defeat with reason is understandable, but the current situation is obviously not something that can be fooled by a frivolous "The minister is still investigating" and "the army is still fighting hard" - someone has appeared in the Cross Nebula The fleet means that the Empire's most vulnerable belly has been exposed to the sharp bayonets of the Human Federation, and the fate of the entire Outer Rim is at stake.
"You all have promised me with your chests that the human federation will never be an opponent of the empire! But now? Do you use this battle report as an explanation to me and my people?! Use this battle report to defraud the royal family. The military expenditures allocated to you in the outer ring and the trust of the entire empire?!"
This time the emperor did not stand up and angrily scold the ministers in the hall as before, and this was also the reason why many ministers were frightened. They were all imperial officials who had served in Chiennia for many years, so they knew the temper of Sazhar 22 very well.
This person is cruel by nature, suspicious and jealous. If it makes him satisfied or happy, he will do it. But if anyone makes him even the slightest bit unhappy, the emperor will never forgive this person or this group of people.
Standing up and reprimanding them showed that the emperor was venting his anger and establishing his authority. But if they sit on the throne with a gloomy face all the time, then they will be in misfortune - the other party is most likely thinking about who should be sent to the guillotine outside the palace to appease themselves and the citizens.
Just when the ministers were looking sad, Imperial Police Minister Tino Hilizaga stood up and said expressionlessly: "According to the information sent back by the hunters, there will be no less than two fleets of the Human Federation entering the nebula. , no more than five fleets at most, each fleet is about a hundred battleships in size, and contains about ten percent of the main battleships."
"Well, Sir Hilizaga did a good job this time."
The emperor's expression softened slightly when he heard that the Minister of Police took the initiative to stand up. This information had been presented to him before the imperial meeting began, but he still didn't want to let go of those who, in his opinion, had seriously neglected their duties. The old thing got angry because of this.
So after he snorted coldly, the emperor raised his left hand slightly, signaling the commander-in-chief of the outer ring, Zobagis, who was still kneeling on the ground to beg for punishment, to stand up and speak.
"Since we have figured out the enemy's strength through two disastrous defeats, I think Lord Zobagis should have already figured out a strategy to defend against the enemy, right?"
The emperor's tone was very low, and his slightly forward body made him look quite majestic. There was a sense of oppression that he would order people to drag Zobagis out of the hall and behead him at any time.
But everyone knows that this is impossible.
Inarim Zobagis is the only person in the outer ring of the empire who can be called an important minister, and he is also the nominal mentor of almost all senior officers of the outer ring army and navy. The teaching level of the outer ring military academy he founded is It is also one of the top military schools in the empire.
It is no exaggeration to say that if Zobagis is executed today, there is a high probability that the armies in the outer ring will mutiny tomorrow, and they will respond to one call.
With the emperor's permission, Zobagis slowly stood up from the ground, his eyes full of regret and loss.
He didn't want to believe that he would suffer successive defeats at the hands of others, but the painful facts were placed in front of him again and again. He could ignore the casualties of the slave soldiers, but the deaths and injuries of hundreds of thousands of Qien soldiers meant that more than 100,000 families were broken. This was a responsibility he had to bear.
Especially when these casualties proved to be completely avoidable, the guilt in Zobagis's heart was like a growing shadow, clouding his heart.
But since the emperor has asked a question, he, as a minister, has the obligation to answer. So after adjusting his state and thoughts, Zobagis slowly said: "If you want to fundamentally solve the problem, I have a way, but this requires your Majesty's consent to be implemented."
After hearing the words, the scales in the center of the emperor's brow wrinkled slightly, but he still stuck out his tongue and said in a softened tone: "I love you, but it doesn't matter. If it is really a good strategy to defeat the enemy, I will support it to the end."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After bowing deeply at the altar, Zobagis regained some of his usual high spirits, turned around and proposed his "method" under the suspicious eyes of many ministers, especially Police Minister Hilizaga.
It's very simple and crude, just two words: increase troops.
"The tens of millions of troops in Krohoka need astronomical supplies every day, so the supply fleet from the outer ring must not be missed. We can't let the boys hold wooden sticks to fight against the well-equipped People's Alliance troops. , I believe everyone agrees with this.”
Seeing that the ministers nodded in agreement, Zobagis presented the star map of the entire controversial star belt in front of the emperor and ministers using a giant projector above the hall.
"Krohoka is closer to the enemy, so the pressure on transporting supplies and fighting is much less than ours. Before the Cross Nebula was attacked, about half of our transport ships were inside the nebula. Although it will increase the voyage distance to a certain extent, the safety is the best.”
"But obviously now they have to take the regular route."
Zobagis worriedly looked at the coordinates of the space station and mining facilities that were attacked by the People's Alliance fleet on the star map. After connecting the dots, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the People's Alliance probably planned to destroy them all along the depth of the nebula. All imperial facilities along the way completely paralyzed the outer ring industry by cutting off the supply of raw materials.
If a transport fleet full of supplies is accidentally discovered by the passing People's Alliance fleet, even the most optimistic naval generals will not believe that the fleet's meager escort force can withstand the front of the People's Alliance assault fleet.
"In view of the serious consequences that may occur after the supply line is interrupted, I suggest that more warships be deployed from the outer ring fleet that is confronting the People's Alliance Navy to serve as escorts, and at the same time increase the size of the transport fleet. I think this can effectively Ensure Krohoka’s supply situation while improving safety.”
The emperor nodded slightly after listening to Zobagis's suggestion, but he also raised a corresponding question - there is a gap between the combat effectiveness of the outer ring fleet and the People's Federation. This is a consensus. If the fleets facing the front line are deployed, then Zobagis will How can Si guarantee that the Human Federation will not take advantage of the situation and annihilate the outer ring fleet, which is even weaker at the front, even if it suffers its own losses?
It is true that the Qien Empire has never fought any decent wars except for one world war since ancient times, but the principle that it is better to cut off one of its ten fingers is universal across the galaxy. Once the outer ring fleet on the front line is annihilated or suffers heavy losses, and the other fleets are freed up to join the attack fleet in the Cross Nebula, no matter how much escort force they have, it will be in vain.
"Your Majesty, you are right. This is why I need your support."
Zobagis bowed slightly to the emperor again and then turned his attention to the Central Representative who had nothing to do with him. The meaning was self-evident.
"Why is it that your Excellency, Commander, has more and more requests? Didn't you agree that when the war started, we would only provide army and material support in Central?"
The Zhonghuan representative's expression changed, and he obviously did not expect that the other party would actually target the Zhonghuan Navy.
If he agrees to Zobagis's request on behalf of Zhonghuan now, then I am afraid that every battleship lost by the Zhonghuan fleet will be attributed to him and his family.
But seeing the emperor's narrowed eyes, the Central representative realized that he might not be qualified to say no, and made his last effort.
"We will provide fleet support as requested by the Commander, but I think the escort of the supply fleet can be handed over to our Central Fleet, while the Outer Fleet currently responsible for cruising the supply line will go to support the front line. This is not a better option. ?"
The emperor, who believed that what the representative of the Central Ring said was true, also looked at Zobagis with a scrutinizing look - they were also naval fleets. If the other party insisted on the Central Fleet to go to the front line for the Outer Ring, then he would have to doubt Zobagis. Did Si give the advice with the purpose of dragging Zhonghuan into the water?
"I have no objection. As long as everyone in Central is willing to lend a helping hand, I will be grateful."
At this time, Zobagis, who just wants to prove himself with a long-lost victory, can no longer care about these political intrigues. As long as it is real support, he will not refuse anyone, whether it is money or people!
So under the somewhat distorted smile of the Central Representative, he touched the medal on the chest of his armor and said with some embarrassment: "In addition to the navy fleet, I also hope that Central can increase its efforts in the army."
