In a mere three days, three standard days of the Star Alliance, the Yafeike Kingdom's Special Attack Brigade led by Gu Xiechen completed the ground war against the Doco Federation. All crucial strategic objectives agreed upon before the war were seized; all high-ranking government officials, including Doco President Dougall, were captured; the capital of the Doco Federation was completely occupied; all who dared to resist were executed by Hardwar's forces; and Yafeike Kingdom warships cruised over the Doco capital. On the Star Alliance News Channel, Gu Xiechen, clad in flowing robes and waving a feather fan, excitedly announced: "From this day forward, the city beneath my feet shall be renamed—The City of Radiance!" The City of Glory, this was the capital of the Yafeike Kingdom, preserved for tens of thousands of years; but the City of Radiance, in the strategic planning of Gu Xiechen and Fuya Ming, was set to become a comprehensive commercial and economic core.
President Dougall, his face ashen, pupils dilated and gaze unfocused as if sleepwalking, walked out from behind Gu Xiechen. Gu Xiechen lightly patted his shoulder, and President Dougall stammered out a lengthy proclamation. He confessed the crimes of himself and the entire Doco Federation, offered his most sincere apologies on behalf of all Doco citizens for the criminal act of launching an unprovoked war, and implored all Doco people to lay down their arms and surrender immediately.
A miracle occurred: the Doco Federation's space defense system, which had given the multinational allied fleet a bloody nose and prevented any advance in space, suddenly ceased fire. Twenty space fighter carriers, the remaining seven thousand-plus Level-One warships, and tens of thousands of auxiliary vessels of all sizes assembled neatly around the primary Doco planet's natural satellite, forming a colossal cubic formation, surrendering to three Yafeike Kingdom warships. Within these carriers, warships, and auxiliary vessels, all officers and soldiers who obediently relinquished resistance survived; those who stubbornly refused to surrender were all killed by the ships' internal defense systems.
Doco Federation warship commanders appeared one after another on the Star Alliance news channel, raising their right hands to declare unconditional defection to the Yafeike Kingdom. Even the deceased warship commanders were displayed in the news—fabricating and synthesizing video footage was no difficulty for Ducate. The Thirteenth Four-Star Civilizations, including the Lei Wu Kingdom, jointly sent congratulatory messages to the Yafeike Kingdom.
They stated their full commitment to honoring the pre-war agreements; the Yafeike Kingdom had rightfully become the master of the Doco Federation, inheriting its administrative main planet, its mineral resources, its sphere of influence, and everything else. Naturally, all Doco Federation warships in space also fell under the ownership of the Yafeike Kingdom; this was indisputable. Although the other international powers forming the allied force were somewhat displeased with this outcome, the signed treaties notarized by the Star Alliance stood firm, and Gu Xiechen had led a small fleet to independently occupy all the predetermined vital targets.
Having achieved a one-hundred-percent perfect occupation ratio as agreed beforehand, the representatives of those nations really had no grounds for complaint. The allied fleet concisely retrieved the remains of their destroyed warships and returned home. Only the fleets of the thirteen nations, including the Lei Wu Kingdom, were permitted by Gu Xiechen to land on the Doco main planet.
A minor footnote: Gu Xiechen's conquest of the Doco Federation in just three days caused two of the Star Alliance's largest betting corporations to declare bankruptcy! Upon hearing the news, Fuya Ming immediately led the remaining warships of the Yafeike Kingdom to the Doco Federation—this so-called remaining fleet consisted only of the private warships seized from the hands of the former noble lords, totaling no more than twenty Level-One warships. Gu Xiechen met Fuya Ming in the Doco Federation Presidential Palace, a place scarred with bomb craters and long claw marks.
Fuya Ming stared in shock at the massive claw marks stretching dozens of meters long on the walls of the Presidential Palace and asked in surprise, "What happened here?" These claw marks spanned dozens of meters in length, were about a foot wide, and sank a meter deep. The stone blocks used to construct the Presidential Palace were metamorphic rocks rich in metallic elements, quarried near the core magma layer—rocks impervious to anything less than a slightly lower-powered high-energy cannon. What kind of creature could leave such terrifying traces on these stone walls?!
Gu Xiechen pointed toward Zhenghua, who was perched atop the Presidential Palace's highest tower, howling at the sky like a great ape. Fuya Ming nodded. If it was Gu Xiechen's Senior Brother, then nothing was strange.
Yafeike soldiers might lack combat prowess, but they were absolute masters of all internal affairs. After the recent intense battle, they had spent barely a quarter of an hour meticulously cleaning the vast Presidential Palace until it was spotless, adorned with flourishing beauty, and filled with a faint, delicate fragrance. Especially in the Presidential Palace's largest conference hall, where nearly two thousand Presidential Guards had perished in the fierce fighting two days prior, the meticulous cleaning and reorganization by the Yafeike soldiers left no trace of the previous conflagration; all bomb craters were repaired as if new, not even a speck of blood remained.
In the immense conference hall, too much original equipment had been shattered. Yafeike soldiers clearly possessed a unique talent in this area; using facilities from a captured communications vessel, they installed a conference system of a significantly higher standard, a long rectangular table fabricated from salvaged warship plating, and dozens of high-backed chairs, all placed squarely in the center of the venue. As Gu Xiechen, Fuya Ming, and Duke Shenwu entered the conference hall, dozens of curved light screens flickered around the room.
On the conference table in the hall's center, a tablecloth handwoven in the Yafeike Kingdom had been laid, and the high-backed chairs were fitted with thick cushions and warm, comfortable brocade covers. Two rows of neatly standing male and female servants entered the hall slowly, holding large silver platters laden with steaming fragrant fruit tea and exquisite pastries, which they placed around the table. Glancing somewhat taken aback at the Yafeike Kingdom's Minister of Court Affairs who had followed Fuya Ming, Gu Xiechen gave the slightly receding, balding old man a thumbs-up.
This Minister of Court Affairs was absolutely qualified; for Fuya Ming to arrange such a high-standard venue so shortly after arriving in the City of Radiance, the little old man's capabilities were not to be underestimated. Indeed, an ancient kingdom with tens of thousands of years of history possessed its own unique qualities; the Yafeike people were simply unskilled in warfare. The Minister of Court Affairs bowed slightly with a reserved smile toward Gu Xiechen.
Being praised by Gu Xiechen made the old man very happy; it confirmed that his position was completely secure. The high-ranking officials of the Yafeike Kingdom all understood that Gu Xiechen, the suddenly emerged "country bumpkin," was destined to become a pivotal figure in Yafeike, and even across the entire Spiral Star Field and the Star Alliance. Judging by the current trend, he was even more likely to become the lifetime Prince Consort of Yafeike in the future.
Everyone took their seats around the conference table. Gu Xiechen sat in the first seat to Fuya Ming's left, with Zhenghua, Linghu, Holm, and others seated below him. Duke Shenwu took the first seat to Fuya Ming's right, and the other twelve Dukes were seated in order of their respective nations' comprehensive strength.
President Dougall, his face as pale as if his very soul had departed, stood stiffly at the opposite end of the table, staring blankly at Fuya Ming with his vacant eyes. Fuya Ming frowned slightly: "Lord Dougall, is there anything else you wish to say?" Dougall stared blankly at Fuya Ming: "Everything in Doco belongs to the great Yafeike Kingdom; all planets, all armies, and all citizens of the Doco Federation belong to the great Queen Fuya. I deeply regret the crimes we have committed, and I beg the great Queen for forgiveness." With a 'thud,' Dougall sank to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly to Fuya Ming.
His head struck the floor with a dull 'thump' as if made of cement, causing Duke Shenwu and the others to feel a chilling horror, their hairs standing on end—as the president of the Doco Federation, a notable power even among Four-Star Civilizations, Dougall was a renowned figure in the Spiral Star Field. Who could have imagined he would be reduced to this state? Fuya Ming looked at Gu Xiechen in surprise.
Gu Xiechen chuckled dryly, shook his feather fan, and spoke in a low voice, "Dougall, stand up." President Dougall obediently stood up like an obedient lapdog and gazed blankly at Gu Xiechen. Frowning slightly, Gu Xiechen looked helplessly toward Linghu. Was this guy's full-powered Charm Domain truly this terrifying?
It seemed even more frightening than some of the evil soul-controlling spells described in books. Dougall's entire consciousness and will were completely bound; the man was utterly ruined. Linghu offered an awkward, wry laugh.
Gu Xiechen then addressed Duke Shenwu and the others, "According to our prior agreement, our Yafeike Kingdom independently conquered the Doco Federation, so we will be taking over everything here." Duke Shenwu nodded: "We have received imperial decrees from our respective kings. The Doco Federation will become the territory of the Yafeike Kingdom starting today; no one can shake this fact." He paused, then lowered his voice, adopting his most serious tone: "Furthermore, His Majesty also hopes to exchange our nations' most advanced scientific research data for the cultivation methods in your possession. Here is detailed data from the research fields where each of our nations excels; you may select the data that satisfies you." Another Duke added: "If you are willing, we can exchange all the scientific research data you desire for your cultivation methods." A third Duke stated gravely: "If the transaction is finalized, and if your cultivation methods prove effective for our Six-Star Venerables, our thirteen kingdoms will form the most steadfast strategic alliance with the Yafeike Kingdom." The thirteen Dukes stared intently at Gu Xiechen.
Everyone held their breath. When Gu Xiechen was at the Yafeike Royal Palace, he had presented his proposed trade to these Dukes, who immediately sought counsel from their respective high commands. During the few days the Yafeike Kingdom occupied the Doco Federation, those nations not only formulated clear internal guidelines but their thirteen kings also held a secret meeting and reached a unified consensus.
Dukes Shenwu and the others were here to negotiate with Gu Xiechen and Fuya Ming based on this understanding, but the key to everything rested with Gu Xiechen. Gently fanning himself, Gu Xiechen looked toward Fuya Ming: "My Queen, what are your thoughts?" Fuya Ming tapped the conference table a few times with her slender fingers. She stood up, placed both hands on the table, and looked down upon the thirteen key figures: "I believe the political landscape of the Spiral Star Field is due for a change.
If we can strengthen cooperation in all aspects, the Spiral Star Field can [......text unclear, blocked by something] become a Five-Star Civilization." Duke Shenwu and the others simultaneously took a deep breath, a radiant glow slowly spreading across their faces. Fuya Ming spoke with her distinct clear, slightly cool accent: "This is an opportunity, an opportunity brought by Xiechen. Although we have had some unpleasant history, in politics, there are no eternal enemies, nor eternal friends—only interests.
The Spiral Star Field deserves to possess a Five-Star Civilization, and the strength of the Spiral Star Field should be channeled into one unified force. We must have a stronger voice within the Star Alliance." Slamming the table with her hand, Fuya Ming stated in a deep voice: "An alliance formed by fourteen Five-Star Civilizations is enough to decide many matters. What do you esteemed Dukes think?" Gu Xiechen looked at Fuya Ming, who seemed to radiate light all over.
The rising Fuya Ming possessed a captivating charm that made one intoxicated. Zhenghua muttered quietly from the side: "A terrifying arms dealer meets an even more terrifying warlike woman. Oh, perfect life, I love his damn life!" Duke Shenwu slammed his fist heavily onto the conference table and roared: "Let's do it!
We are already at the critical juncture of upgrading from a Four-Star Civilization to a Five-Star Civilization; what we lack is sufficient strength! Administrative stars, mineral stars, strategic maneuver space, population, armies, fleets! We only lack these things!
But if our fourteen nations unite, none of this will be a problem!" Gu Xiechen shook his long fan vigorously and said coldly: "Administrative stars, mineral stars, strategic maneuver space—these can be seized! Population is not an issue; as long as everyone diligently endeavors for ten or twenty years, the national population can increase tenfold. Armies can be trained, fleets can be built, or purchased.
As long as our own technological level improves, none of this will be a problem." Standing up and placing his hands on the conference table, Gu Xiechen looked at Fuya Ming, then at Duke Shenwu, whose face was flushed crimson, and finally at the other twelve Dukes who were breathing heavily. He nodded: "Using the Yafeike Kingdom's occupation of the Doco Star as an opportunity to resolve our past disputes and forge a solid military and political alliance, aiming for the breakthrough of all fourteen of our nations—this serves the interests of all of us." Fuya Ming clasped her arms across her chest and said with her head held high: "Indeed, we should not conflict at this stage. The fourteen most powerful nations in our Spiral Star Field are natural allies.
As long as we join forces, there is nothing we cannot accomplish." The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly fervent, and gradually, a general development plan began to take shape before everyone. A light screen appeared on the conference table. Whenever someone conceived an idea, someone else immediately wrote it down, making the plan more detailed and increasingly grand!
The core of the plan lay in: using the Yuan Energy cultivation method provided by Gu Xiechen as the foundation, the fourteen nations would form the most steadfast military (and political alliance). The Yuan Energy cultivation method provided by Gu Xiechen held profound significance for the entire Star Alliance. For the Star Alliance, whose technological development had reached a certain bottleneck, the significance of the Yuan Energy cultivation method, which explored the mysteries within the human body, was equivalent to the strategic significance of the atomic bomb for the nations of the Earth Federation before the War of '93.
At that time, the nations of the Earth Federation signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but the ultimate goal was to maintain the strategic advantage held by nuclear-armed states. The current fourteen-nation alliance was the same; to secure their future strategic advantage, the Yuan Energy cultivation method absolutely could not and would not be leaked. Therefore, this alliance was inherently stable.
After forming the alliance, the Yafeike homeworld and the Doco Star would become the most critical passageway for the fourteen-nation alliance to the outside world. On one hand, the Yafeike homeworld's defense system would effectively guarantee the strategic security of the fourteen-nation alliance; the planet's defense system, rumored capable of defending against simultaneous attacks from one hundred thousand Level-One warships, was not something one or a few Five-Star Civilizations could overcome. The thirteen allied nations, including the Lei Wu Kingdom, would also invest significant financial and material resources to expand and upgrade the defense system of the Yafeike Star.
As for the Doco Star, it would be established as the largest free commercial port in the Spiral Star Field. The Yafeike Kingdom would receive all revenue from the Doco Commercial Port, while the thirteen allied nations would enjoy the greatest preferential policies for their imports and exports there. The fourteen-nation alliance fleet would unconditionally escort all inbound and outbound commerce to secure a stable 'Starlight Silver Trade Route.' Politically, the fourteen-nation alliance would advance and retreat in concert at regional Star Alliance congresses, striving to secure greater speaking power and tangible benefits for themselves.
In technology, the research institutions of the fourteen-nation alliance would conduct unrestricted, comprehensive exchanges. The technological levels of Four-Star Civilizations were not vastly different, but they were all stuck at certain bottlenecks. A bottleneck proving difficult for one nation might already have been solved by another.
Therefore, after comprehensive exchange among the fourteen nations' research institutions, it was hoped that within a foreseeable short time, the technological standard of the fourteen-nation alliance could catch up to the weakest tier of Five-Star Civilizations, perhaps even surpassing it. Militarily, following a suggestion from Fuya Ming, an Allied Command Headquarters would be secretly established, with each nation contributing an elite contingent of troops under the command of the Allied Headquarters. This force would undergo joint training and coordination exercises in peacetime.
When necessary—for instance, if one nation attacked another within the dream realm—this joint force would coordinate in combat operations.
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