Chapter 323: First courtesy, then force
Yang Ming now feels like complaining.
Look at what this petty-minded emperor gave him!
The rank of senior colonel does not have the power to lead troops, but is equivalent to an honorary title, and can receive a salary from the military every month;
An honorary earl with a title, the title is the ordinary "Brave", which shows the perfunctory and sloppy way in which the emperor selected the title for him;
The military was going to use three warships that were about to be retired as guards for his fiefdom's private army. The largest of them was a 700-meter-class patrol ship, and the other two were dry and shabby 300-meter-class frigates.
Of course, he has to respect reality.
Considering the current tense relationship between him and His Majesty the Emperor, it's good enough that he can give it to him.
The biggest problem is the hundred-year fiefdom that the emperor directly allocated to him -
Sakaar.
Yes, that was the first stop that Yang Ming, transformed into Hui Saka, had taken when entering the empire. The original territory of the Saka family had now been designated by the emperor as the territory of Earl Yongjian, the White Ghost Hanton.
Saka was once an important industrial center of the empire and was also a major administrative planet.
Directly allocating an entire planet to Yang Ming as a hundred-year fiefdom also highlights the emperor 's "grace" to him.
The problem is that Sakaar had suffered from an insect plague before, with more than 10 million people killed and injured, and most of the major cities on the surface were destroyed.
After the insect plague, most of the residents received official subsidies and left Saka. Today, the permanent population of Saka is less than six million, which is the lowest among the hundreds of main administrative planets in the empire, and most of them are old, weak, sick and disabled.
The Saka family itself has also moved away from this administrative planet.
Its economic benefits and population size are even worse than those of most small administrative planets.
Through this incident, Yang Ming also figured out the old emperor's mindset - it was really not much bigger than a sesame seed.
No matter how much he complained, he got everything he deserved.
It was the second day of the investiture ceremony, and Yang Ming had been freed after a formal questioning in the Court of Nobles.
He did not stay for long, but returned to the Imperial Star to visit Hanton's parents. After confirming that the couple was under comfortable house arrest, he said goodbye to them in a hurry and embarked on the journey to Sakaar Star.
When the fleet of three old ships left the Imperial Star Spaceport, Yang Ming did not look back.
He stood on the bridge, staring at the densely packed firepower network of small fortresses near the Imperial Star, and a question popped up in his mind.
How powerful a fleet must be to capture the Imperial Star?
Yang Ming thought this question was quite interesting, so he began to calculate carefully. In the end, he concluded that only the empire itself had the military power to break through the defense system of the Imperial Star.
Even if the empire's military forces are fully mobilized to go on an expedition to a distant star region, the Imperial Star can still be impregnable.
"Does Director Ino really believe what I said to Daphne?"
Yang Ming lowered his head and thought.
He was in the middle of the situation, so he couldn't see the whole picture. He could only try his best to use the information he had to slowly figure it out.
Suddenly, a coquettish voice came from behind: "Boss, would you like something to drink?"
"No need," Yang Ming turned around and looked at Hanxiang who was wearing a maid skirt, wondering, "Isn't this the prop costume I asked you to use when I was investigating a case before? Why are you wearing it again?"
Hanxiang was suddenly at a loss, her big eyes moved to the side, and she subconsciously took two steps back. The small apron in front of the maid's skirt was trembling slightly.
She hesitantly explained, "Yes, that's right. My sister said that you might not be in a good mood after leaving the Imperial Star like this, so we have to fulfill our duties as maids..."
Yang Ming smiled without saying anything, crossed his arms, and looked Hanxiang up and down.
The delicate beauty that emanated from her inside out was very rare among the girls Yang Ming had met.
Although Hera's figure is also of the slim and graceful type, she is very strong in her character. Once she makes a decision, no one can change it. She is completely different from Hanxiang, a palace maid who has been trained since childhood and is determined to serve her future master.
"Boss, please don't look at me like that," Hanxiang was a little at a loss.
The soldiers who were temporarily seconded to the ship all smiled faintly, as if they had discovered some interesting story.
"Tsk, man."
A sneer came from the side.
Hanyin leaned against the entrance of the bridge with her arms folded. She was dressed the same as Hanxiang, but looked a little more sexy and a little less innocent.
Han Yin said calmly: "A few of my sisters sent me messages saying that we might encounter some troubles on the road and we need to make some preparations in advance."
"trouble?"
Yang Ming understood immediately.
I'm afraid the Council of Elders will take revenge on me.
Nowadays, the imperial aristocracy is the organization that hates Yang Ming the most. They are the remaining faction of the former great elder. This faction has great influence throughout the empire.
Although Yang Ming spent a year to strike down the core group of this faction in a swift and decisive manner, he still could not completely wipe them out.
Now, Yang Ming has offended the emperor, and White Ghost has become the emperor's abandoned pawn, and these guys think they are in power again.
"Don't worry," Yang Ming said slowly, "our ship will go directly to Saka Star. This is within the Empire. I don't believe that the noble fleet dares to attack me directly."
Hanyin said: "You better be careful, for fear of running into some idiots. Using idiots to do stupid things is the usual style of the Council of Elders."
"No problem."
Yang Ming narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly:
"If they dare to attack me, I will let them know what a quasi-ancient god life form is."
Hanxiang whispered, "Can we get on a lifeboat?"
Yang Ming: …
"Have more confidence in your boss!" Yang Ming frowned and said, "Once we get to Sakaar, I will summon my most proud subordinate. You two should learn from her. Be confident. Do you understand?"
The captain on the side raised his hand nervously: "Um, Lord Earl, I think I need to explain a small problem to you."
"What?"
"Our cruiser was originally under repair... and now our main guns are unable to complete effective charging."
Yang Ming: …
The middle-aged captain immediately said, "But please rest assured, Count, we can supply all the energy to the shield! If the corrupt nobles want to insult the heroes of the empire, they should first ask us soldiers if we agree!"
"right!"
"Don't worry, Lord Earl. We are a regular army. If they dare to attack us, it will trigger the military's counterattack regulations!"
"The ships of the nobles' private soldiers are not necessarily any better than ours!"
A group of officers and technicians in the bridge spoke up one after another.
Yang Ming smiled and nodded, and said in a gentle voice: "Don't worry, everyone. We have to maintain peace within the empire. Even if we encounter someone looking for trouble, we must use courtesy before force."
"yes!"
Dozens of bridge operators shouted loudly, and more than 600 soldiers on the ship simultaneously entered a state of combat readiness.
Yang Ming pinched his nose, took out his watch, and typed a few lines of small words.
Despise the enemy strategically and take the enemy seriously tactically.
First let Lu and Xiao 026 go and find out how many enemies are ahead. It is easy to dodge an open attack but hard to guard against an arrow from the dark. If there really is a rubbish nobleman who orders the artillery to fire and bombards us with a heavy battleship, we will suffer a great loss.
…
The fiefdom of the Lasoga family, an outer space military port on a light blue planet.
Looking out the windows of the military port building, one can see long queues of merchant ships and cargo ships. The No. 2 Commercial Spaceport is being built at full capacity, and there are also many spectacles of 'parts floating in synchronous orbit'.
The new head of the Lasoga family, Revell Lasoga, ascended to the throne at a young age, which was originally considered to be the beginning of the decline of the Lasoga family. However, unexpectedly, this man conquered the dissenting voices within the family with his own skills at an early age, and put the Lasoga family on the road to glory again.
A year ago, Revill Lasoga went to the Imperial Star, where he received the blessing of imperial power and the allocation of resources within the empire.
Several princes who had no previous connections with him began to extend olive branches to him, allowing him to attend several important occasions in succession.
The political status of Reville and the Lasoga family improved significantly in just a few months.
Their family's business became better, the number and quality of the nobles' private ships rose to a higher level, and they had more abundant martial virtues.
But these days, Revell, who should have been in high spirits, was not in a good mood.
In the spacious indoor batting cage, Revell kept swinging the club. Having been exercising for half an hour, his forehead was covered with sweat.
"Master, you should take a rest. Excessive exercise is not good for your health."
The old butler at the side reminded softly.
Revell's hand slipped and the bat in his hand went directly into the field. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but his expression was still somewhat gloomy.
The old housekeeper brought a dry sweat-absorbent towel.
"Enough of them!" Revill cursed in a low voice, "When my idol was in power, he kept calling him Ghost-sama. Now that he's out of power, he keeps calling him Hamton!"
The old butler smiled and said, "Those young nobles you met in the group chat are much inferior to you. However, you should also be careful now. Please do not express your support for the White Ghost in public."
"I know that our Lasoga family is only a local noble family. I will not joke about the interests of our family."
Revil paused for a moment while wiping his sweat. He looked up at the old butler and frowned, "Do you think the Elders' Council will take revenge on my idol?"
"How do you explain this?"
"Although a group of elders have been replaced in the Council of Elders, the elders promoted by His Majesty the Emperor have very complicated backgrounds. There are no pure emperor supporters, nor pure aristocrats."
Revel analyzed carefully:
"My idol faced abdication from the chief elder a year ago, and he used public opinion and media to create momentum and severely humiliated the Council of Elders.
“The Council of Elders has a spiritual heritage.
"Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor must be a little angry now. He has been insulted by my idol. In order to please His Majesty the Emperor, the Council of Elders sent some nobles to humiliate my idol... This is likely to happen."
The network access terminal in the old butler's coat pocket made a series of sounds.
The old butler quickly answered the call, and a projection screen appeared in front of Revell.
The screen shows a busy base with dozens of young girls in various costumes walking back and forth, processing pieces of intelligence and information.
A girl shouted anxiously, "Master, you are handsome, elegant, lovable, gentle, resolute and brave! A large number of ships have appeared in the airspace near the planet Saka that you asked us to pay attention to!"
"Quantity, model."
"They have jumped here in succession. Now it is roughly estimated that there are more than 300 ships, including 12 thousand-meter-class battleships and more than 50 700-meter-class large cruisers! Judging from the logos on these ships, they should be from various major families, including the private fleets of four princes with the surname Sherman!"
Revill looked at the picture spread out in front of him, and his delicate brows gradually frowned.
These bastards!
"My little master, please stay calm."
The old butler at the side adjusted his glasses and said softly:
"Under the current situation, no one dares to really hurt White Ghost. They should just try to coerce her."
Revel whispered, "The more you think they dare not do it, the more likely it is that an accident will happen! The moment the main gun lights up, it's all over! Can you contact my idol? Ask him to come to my place immediately!"
"Young Master, you shouldn't interfere in this matter. This will cause you to offend dozens of families."
Reville glared at the old butler.
The old butler spread his hands helplessly.
Soon, Revill calmed down. He kept thinking, and one thought after another came to his mind.
"Go, pull up my emergency fleet and set sail immediately!"
Revil's eyes lit up:
"So, I will also join the ranks of those who humiliate my idol, and help him find a way out and open up a path for him to get through.
“Is this okay?
"I'll get along just fine with those assholes."
The old housekeeper hesitated to speak, then just shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You are the head of the family, you only need to tell us your decision, and we will execute it. But, can you really stay rational by then?"
"I have always been rational," Revelle said with a smile, "I am not blindly chasing after a star. I am chasing after the strongest warrior in the empire!"
The old butler has begun issuing instructions to the outside world.
Twenty-three ships of various types quickly lit up their main engines and accelerated smoothly towards deep space.
A few minutes later, the fast boat that Revell was riding rushed towards the fleet's flagship at full speed, and he also sent a reminder to the formation where the White Ghost was.
There are many obstacles ahead, and the outskirts of Sakaar are full of dangers.
…
Damn!
He comes with bad intentions.
Yang Ming frowned as he looked at the analysis report given by the lawyer in front of him.
With dozens of battleships, the enemy's chance of opening fire is infinitely close to '1'.
For those nobles, exchanging the future of a young and impulsive noble for the life of the White Ghost is a very profitable deal.
But fortunately, they all gathered on Saka, obviously unsure of the routes of Yang Ming's three small ships.
This shows that the military most likely did not betray him.
What now?
Han Yin frowned and said, "How about asking the military for escort?"
"That would make things difficult for the military," Hanxiang whispered, "They probably don't want to go directly against the nobles and the Council of Elders."
Yang Ming snorted, "Slow down and arrive at Sakaar two hours later than originally planned. Announce the news to the public before arriving and say that I am not in the formation."
"Boss, what do you want to do?" Han Yin asked, "Don't mess around. You don't have anyone to back you up now. The ways these nobles use to bully people are far beyond your imagination."
Hanxiang also said: "Besides, where did you get this report? The probability of firing is infinitely close to one. Isn't this a bit exaggerated?"
"This is my personal team. There is no doubt about the authenticity ."
Yang Ming said calmly:
"If you get scared this time, you'll be bullied to death by them later.
“If they dare to block me, I will dare to deal with them.
"Okay, all of you, just leave it alone. You two can follow the ship. I'm going back to my Ancient Tech ship to prepare for battle."
Han Yin was surprised: "Ready to fight? Didn't you say that we should use courtesy before force?"
"You showed up first to negotiate with them, isn't that the first courtesy? I launched a sneak attack from the flank, isn't that the last force?"
Outside the porthole, the Dongfeng lost its optical stealth and radar shielding, and the cruiser immediately sounded a shrill alarm.
"We are one family, don't worry, everyone stay restrained!"
Yang Ming greeted loudly, then took out a special communicator and threw it to Han Yin.
"If you need anything, use this to contact me."
"Why!"
Before Hanyin and Hanxiang could say something, Yang Ming had already turned over and jumped off the command platform. After a few jumps, he appeared in the lifeboat passage of the bridge and lowered his head to get in.
