192: Chapter 192 Marquis Karl

"I think it's better to strike the Imperial Capital directly. If we wipe it out, the morale of the Canglan Empire's army will plummet, and they might even fall into a state of leaderless chaos!" Xia Feifei immediately voiced her opinion.

"I believe a gradual advance is better. While striking the Imperial Capital directly is faster, it would be easy for our spaceships to fall into a state of being besieged," Zhao Jianguo analyzed.

"Once the Canglan Empire's frontline troops receive the news, they will definitely retreat to the Imperial Capital immediately."

"The defense network near the Canglan Imperial Capital is definitely a fortress of iron. If we can't break through it in a short time, we'll find ourselves attacked from both front and back!"

Su Fan nodded. Zhao Jianguo's analysis was spot on. Being attacked from both sides was extremely dangerous; if they were to fail in such a predictable way, the losses would outweigh the gains.

"Great Elder, what do you think?" He turned to ask the Great Elder.

"I think a gradual advance is more secure. We've already waited over a hundred years; a few more years won't hurt!" the Great Elder said with a smile.

"Good! In that case, we'll adopt the gradual advance tactic and take the steady route!" Su Fan made the final decision.

With the strategy decided, the next step was the details.

Since most of the Canglan Empire's military strength was currently concentrated on the front lines and the core regions of the empire, there wouldn't be many class-c spaceships in the Third Ring area.

Therefore, Su Fan decided to split the forces for a coordinated suppression.

He dispatched the First through Eighth Legions to attack the eight major sectors of the Third Ring: East, West, South, North, Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest, with each legion responsible for one sector.

In addition, the Ninth and Tenth Legions would roam; if any legion encountered danger, they would provide immediate support!

Furthermore, the Ninth and Tenth Legions would temporarily serve as logistics units. If the resources gathered were too much for the Twelfth Legion to hold, the Ninth and Tenth Legions would be responsible for transporting them.

"Set out!" Su Fan commanded with a wave of his hand.

All the legion commanders present immediately saluted and took their leave. They would return to their rooms, log out of these Android bodies, and then log back in within their respective legions.

The Canglan Empire had no idea that twelve thousand spaceships were eyeing it hungrily. They had already quietly slipped into its home and were ready to strike at any moment!

...

Third Ring Southern Sector, Planet Karl.

Planet Karl was located in the outer reaches of the Southern Sector, a relatively remote location.

However, even if it was relatively remote, its level of prosperity was something the most flourishing areas of the Fourth and Fifth Rings could not hope to match.

Marquis Karl was the ruler of Planet Karl.

As a meritorious official who had once rendered great service to the Canglan Empire and been titled a Marquis, Marquis Karl chose to return to his hometown after retirement to be a free and easy lord.

In truth, given his achievements, he could have been titled a Duke, but unfortunately, he lacked a background; Marquis was the peak of his career.

At this moment, Marquis Karl was lying in his magnificent palace, eating the freshest fruit while being attended to by two beautiful maidservants.

"This life... I wouldn't trade it even if an immortal came!" Karl said comfortably, casually reaching out to pinch one of the maidservants.

"So what if I'm not a Duke! I don't even care!" Even though over a hundred years had passed, Karl still brooded over not being titled a Duke.

As a man from a grassroots background, he had been an excellent student since childhood, getting into the Imperial Capital's highest academy from a marginal planet in the Third Ring.

At that time, the entire planet was shocked.

One must know that on their remote planet, no one had been admitted to the empire's highest academy for over a thousand years.

Despite the honors bestowed upon him, Karl chose to maintain a level head and study with humility.

In the end, he graduated with the highest score in the academy's final assessment and successfully entered the imperial government.

He worked there for a full thousand years!

Karl successfully rose to the upper echelons of the empire and obtained the title of Marquis.

According to the Canglan Empire's regulations, after serving for a thousand years, an official could choose to retire to their hometown. If their home planet had not been granted to anyone else, it could be granted to the retired official.

The prerequisite was that they must hold the rank of Marquis or higher.

For those below the rank of Marquis, land on certain planets would be granted at the government's discretion.

Officials without titles who retired could only receive a pension.

Planet Karl was the planet granted to Karl by the empire, and it was also his former home planet.

It wasn't originally called Planet Karl, but after it became his fief, he renamed it Planet Karl.

Now, he still had over one thousand seven hundred years of lifespan remaining. For the rest of his life, he could enjoy himself as he pleased!

"Come! Give your master a massage," Karl said to the maidservant, enjoying himself.

What he didn't know was that this happy life was about to leave him!

1.5 light-years away from Planet Karl, ten kongming motherships suddenly appeared in space.

It was Su Fan and his group, who had just performed a jump.

"Master, there is a small star system ahead," Red Queen's voice came through.

"Oh? Scan it and see if there are any life-bearing planets or spaceships," Su Fan instructed.

"Received! Scanning..."

"Scanning complete. Discovered one life-bearing planet. Spaceships are present both on the planet's periphery and internally," Red Queen replied.

"Very good. Within the Third Ring, it's either a vassal state closely associated with the Canglan Empire or a meritorious official enfeoffed by them," Su Fan said with a smile.

"Red Queen, what are the numbers and grades of the enemy's ships?"

"The opponent has 10 class-d spaceships and 0 class-c spaceships," Red Queen answered.

"No class-c spaceships? Then let's just charge right over!" Su Fan ordered.

This operation was destined to be impossible to hide, so there was no need to be secretive.

"Yes! Master!"

Soon, with a short jump, the spaceships arrived outside the atmosphere of Planet Karl.

The sudden appearance of ten spaceships in the planet's outer space immediately triggered Planet Karl's alarms!

Eight class-d spaceships immediately "surrounded" them.

Unfortunately, with their small frames, how could they possibly resist Su Fan's ten class-c spaceships!

"Don't destroy these ships yet, and don't touch the people on the planet for now," Su Fan instructed.

"Send a message on the public frequency: The person in charge of the planet must come in person within half an hour, otherwise, we will blow up the planet."

"Yes! Master!"

Marquis Karl was playing games with several maidservants in the courtyard. Just as he was reaching the height of his enjoyment, the alarm in the courtyard suddenly blared with the highest-level warning!

"What's the situation?!" Marquis Karl was startled by the sudden interruption, but after only a moment, he remembered that this was the empire's highest-level alarm.

Hurriedly putting on his clothes, he rushed toward the entrance of the underground air-raid command center.

As soon as he entered the underground command center, he received news from the spaceships stationed outside the planet.

Ten class-c spaceships of an unknown force had appeared above their planet!

Origin unknown, purpose unknown!

"Send them a message. Ask for their origin and purpose!" Marquis Karl quickly calmed down, composed himself, and then ordered.

"Marquis, the other side just sent a message. We might be in big trouble!" the person in charge of the external spaceships said with a helpless tone.

...