After ending the conversation with Zhang Qingliang, the director of urban management, Jiang Ziyue turned off the communication system and closed the protective helmet of the space combat suit, so that the other subordinates in the cramped tactical command center of the cruiser "Siegfried" could not see his expression.

Whether it was in front of the Big Four, Irina, Zhang Qingliang, the elders of the Senate, or in the eyes of the people of New Rome, Jiang Ziyue showed extremely firm confidence, but at this time he was already extremely tired.

The unprecedented pressure of unprecedented power was unbearable for this young man, who had soared through the glory of the New Roman Empire. Although his performance in the army was extremely extraordinary, and he was also mentally and strategically prepared, after all, he came from an ordinary background, did not have the noble ruling mentality and political struggle experience, and lacked reliable party henchmen and solid backing.

From the moment he learned that Wang Zeren had nominated him as the dictator of war and national salvation, he knew very well that the reason why he was in the position he is today is not only due to the popularity brought about by his many miraculous achievements in the past, but also because he is a person who can be trusted by the people of New Rome and is expected to be a controllable figure expected by the ruling class that controls the empire.

In other words, as a dictator, he was essentially a pawn like an officer, a pawn used by the ruling class that had been formed over the centuries to save the crisis of the ruling class's rule over the people of New Rome.

In times of national crisis, the only thing he could trust was the greed for power and the preservation of self-interest on the part of the conservative bureaucracy of the Senate, who wielded real power. Because once the Senate and the Roman people collapse and fall to the territory of the Perseus Star Federation, the power and benefits of these people will be greatly affected.

Therefore, he can only boldly use conservatives, and let them implement what must be cruel and controversial policies, retain the power they have always held, and finally achieve Jiang Ziyue's own goal of protecting the people of the new Roman Empire.

"But what am I going to do when it's all over?"

This question finally came to his mind. When the pawn has fulfilled the player's assigned mission, that is, his role in the game, he will undoubtedly be abandoned.

However, at this time, Jiang Ziyue couldn't think of a perfect coping strategy for himself.

It is not realistic to use this cataclysmic opportunity to kill the conservatives, first of all, neither Irina and the Central Fleet, nor the Imperial City and Senate Guards are loyal to his forces. They can obey his orders in the righteousness of resisting the invasion of the Perseus Federation, but it is impossible for them to deal with the conservative forces of the Senate for his own selfish interests.

As for the Big Four, such as Diego Gato and General Karios of the Frontier Fleet, they are more of a temporary alliance than a reliable one. What's more, the strength of the Frontier Fleet is too weak to support the internal victory calculations that may break out afterwards.

All things considered, the future can only end when this great crisis of internal and external troubles is about to be lifted, he takes the initiative to announce his abdication, return power to the Senate, and then go away with Dana Kira Pontik and her parents and retire.

Thinking of Dana, he couldn't help but recall the promise he made to Dana to marry her in April next year, and to ask Dana to take her mother Jiang Xiaoqi and Fatoume away from the planet "New Byzantium" by December.

In fact, he is now the dictator who presides over all the power of the Senate and the Roman people, but he is unable to know the details of his beloved Dana Pontic and his family, which is both flawless and helpless.

The person who cares about him is also worried about him.

In the cabin of the special merchant ship "Kunlun" 4044 under the "Taiji" Planetary Autonomous Government Mayors Alliance, Jiang Xiaoqi, the mother of Jiang Ziyue, the current dictator of the Senate and the Roman people, can be regarded as the most powerful person in the entire Yingxian Spiral Arm interstellar world, but she is not happy at all.

On the contrary, she looked worried, and in a worried tone, she made a request to Dana Pontic: "Miss Pontic, can't you use your relationship with the military department to help inquire about the situation of the Emperor?" ”

"He is already a dictator, and in the current situation, there is no reason why we cannot contact him, let alone know where he is." Dana replied a little helplessly, "Also, I've been discharged from the army, so it's unlikely that I can ask someone from the military department to help." ”

"I know you've done your best, and I'm grateful to you. However, I'm really worried about Ziyue. That position is really not something that a person from a family like us can sit firmly......" Jiang Xiaoqi began to choke and shed tears sadly.

In the weightless environment, the tears that have been squeezed out float into the air, forming a crystal ball that reflects the cold light.

Dana hurriedly took out a special hand towel and waved it lightly to absorb all Jiang Xiaoqi's tears to prevent these mothers' tears from drifting away.

"Mrs. Jiang, I have a lot of confidence in Ziyue." Dana comforted Jiang Xiaoqi in an optimistic tone, "Don't worry, follow his arrangement, we have arrived at the 'New Tianzhu' planet, and he will go to meet us after dealing with the affairs here." ”

"Thank you." Jiang Xiaoqi gratefully shook Dana's white hand, turned her head and turned her gaze to the "New Byzantine" planet outside the porthole.

Under the light of the star "Himalaya", the blue, white and green planet "New Byzantium" still looks so peaceful and quiet. Just as she did when she was found more than 500 years ago, like heaven, like the Garden of Eden.

For the humans of the Perseus spiral arm, the planet "New Byzantium" is another center of civilization. For Jiang Xiaoqi personally, "New Byzantium" is of great significance to life.

At that time, she was still holding her son Jiang Ziyue in her arms, full of the anxiety and anxiety of a single mother, as well as the fear of her future life, and came here and met Wolfgang von Dorniersmark.

Doneelesmark accepted her and everything about her, gave her a new start in life, helped her get rid of all her bad habits, and allowed her and her son to live a normal life as ordinary people.

Now, all of that will be lost. The "New Byzantium", the center of the beautiful and peaceful New World, for which she is grateful and nostalgic, will soon be torn apart and completely destroyed in the gravitational chaos of stars and planets. Although she did not know that the son she conceived was the key person who caused this impending unprecedented crisis, she had already understood and experienced the turmoil and suffering, loss and sorrow, fear and despair of the cataclysm, which once again eroded her heart.

Seeing Jiang Xiaoqi staring at the home planet that was about to leave, Dana Pontik asked softly, "Mrs. Jiang, are you a little reluctant to leave?" ”

Jiang Xiaoqi turned her face, smiled slightly bitterly at Dana, and said:

"What if you can't bear it? People like us, in the current situation, how can we control our own destiny. Although my son is already the dictator of all power in the Senate and the people of Rome, I have no choice but to flee from this beloved planet. ”

"I heard that you emigrated to 'New Byzantium' later?" Dana asked, her tone calm and calm. Although she asked, she didn't seem to show curiosity about Jiang Xiaoqi's background.

"Yes." Jiang Xiaoqi nodded.

"Maybe it's a bit rude and abrupt, but Mrs. Jiang, can I hear about your previous experience?" Dana asked cautiously.

Jiang Xiaoqi hesitated slightly, then smiled at Dana and said, "Of course." We're all family, and we have nothing to hide from you. ”

Then she said slowly—the past that was almost never mentioned to anyone in the past:

"I was born on the planet 'Zion' and my parents died in the riots of that time when I was very young. I don't remember how old I was then, I just remember that I was scared. Later, I was sent to an orphanage, and soon after I was taken to my aunt's house on the planet 'New Tianzhu'. When I was fourteen, I ran away from school, and my aunt cut ties with me. That's when I met some people who introduced me and helped me get to the planet 'Iserlon'. ”

"There, I became a speakeasy drinkgirl, and slowly began to earn a higher income by selling my body, and I slowly became addicted to drugs. Later, a man who escaped from Marshal Du Yimin's fleet broke into my life. He is very handsome, just like Ziyue now. Because of the defeat, he started just living with me to escape reality, drinking heavily all day, and even taking drugs with me. ”

"I don't know much about him, I only know that his name is Chen Zhangwen, and he is a non-commissioned officer of a battleship."

"It wasn't long before I accidentally conceived his baby. But soon he suddenly disappeared. At that time, he went out to pick up drugs from the drug dealer for me and never came back. Later, I asked someone to inquire about his whereabouts, and they all said that he had been caught by the pickets and executed. ”

"I thought about getting rid of the baby, but in the end I didn't have the courage to give birth to myself in the basement. This child is Ziyue. ”

Jiang Xiaoqi choked up again when she said this, but this time, she held back her tears to prevent pollution of the space in the cabin.

"After Ziyue's full moon, people in my circle gave me an idea and asked me to apply for a subsidy from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Because I am a black household on the planet 'Iserron', and it is a military administration, I can only go to the civil tribune of the planet 'New Byzantium' to confirm my identity. Outside the Civil Affairs Building, I met Wolfgang. His friendliness and warmth made me fall in love with him. He didn't care too much about my past and helped me get rid of my addiction. Later, we got married and have lived happily ever after. ”

Dana took Jiang Xiaoqi's hand and said with a smile, "Mrs. Jiang, it's good for you to meet Mr. Donielsmark." ”

"Yes, so I've always been grateful to him. I am also grateful for the world, able to forgive my mistakes and give me new life. Jiang Xiaoqi nodded and said affectionately.

"Does Ziyue know his real biological father?"

When he was a child, he would ask why some classmates ridiculed him for not looking like his father, and he never asked again after joining the army. I don't know if Wolfgang told him the truth, but I don't care anymore, and Ziyue doesn't seem to care, because the three of us have a good relationship and are really family. ”

At this moment, a cabin attendant flew over with a robot nanny and a maternity care pod, and said to Dana cordially:

"Miss Pontick, we will soon be sailing at the speed of light at 'Akuberi', and for the safety and health of you and your fetus, please enter the conservation pod."

Jiang Xiaoqi's face was full of surprise, she looked at Dana, and was speechless for a while.

Dana smiled calmly at Jiang Xiaoqi and said, "Mrs. Jiang, I am pregnant with Ziyue's child." ”

"What?" Jiang Xiaoqi's expression rose from surprise to shock, and he seemed quite excited, holding Dana's hand hard. She was just guessing just now, but now it has been confirmed that she is a little overwhelmed with excitement.

"I'm pregnant with Ziyue's child." Dana repeated, "You're going to be a grandmother." ”

"Hmm!" Jiang Xiaoqi nodded excitedly, but couldn't speak, holding Dana's hand tightly, staring intently into Dana's eyes.

In those blue eyes, she seemed to see the future, and saw the child jumping with joy.

The massive "Kunlun" 4044 erupted a brilliant red tail flame, accelerating away from the space around the busy and almost chaotic "New Byzantium" planet, heading for deep space.

Similarly, there is a huge fleet heading for deep space.

Robb, the spearhead officer of the Commonwealth Expeditionary Fleet of the Immortal Star Wingwehr, was now in charge of the battleship "Yulapa" 2, leading the "Klaus Liszt" task force to once again advance at full speed along the outer space route of the spiral arm that had previously made a roundabout attack on the planet "New Byzantium".

The so-called "Klaus Liszt" task force was actually adapted from the Seventh Fleet, which had only half of the actual strength on the establishment table. The name given to the famous military strategist and explorer in the interstellar history of the Immortal Spiral Arm is clearly in the hope of obtaining groundbreaking feats.

The task force, under the full command of Colonel Robb, spearheaded the most adventurous and large-scale "Genghis Khan" operation. And behind him, the Wehrmacht is even more elite. The sixth, eighth, and ninth fleets were full and roundabout along the more remote routes.

In the tradition of Armageddon for the Wehrmacht, the new Minister of Defense, Manuel Beraskos, personally commanded the army, with the Zeus 3 super battleship as the main flagship. Admiral Zhang Bingye, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also took the "Saul" 7 as a ship and accompanied the action. As for the initiator of the plan, Captain Luo Xiaochen, accompanied Federal President Song Tingrong, strategizing and waiting for triumph.

The Bundeswehr has every confidence and strength to win. In the command team, in addition to Robb, a special person who is not a dead little strong, who has been defeated again and again, and who has the halo of the protagonist, Vice Admiral Henry Highfield, commander of the Sixth Fleet, Vice Admiral Zhou Jiande of the Eighth Fleet, and Vice Admiral René Martin of the Ninth Fleet, are all brave and fierce generals who have experienced a hundred battles and have never been defeated. In terms of troops, it has an advantage, and the three fleets plus Robb's task force, whether it is battleships or cruisers, have surpassed the remnants of the Central Fleet of the New Roman Empire.

In fact, both Rob and other commanders, including Velascos and Zhang Bingye, agreed that such a strategic detour of such a large scale would be difficult to maintain concealment. But in judging the enemy's situation, they are far from each other.

Velascos and Chang Bingye, like Presidents Song Tingrong and Luo Hsiao-chen, firmly believed that the Imperial Army, after learning of their own actions, would muster the remnants of the fleet and put up desperate resistance to the end. This judgment is based on empiricism, and it is not unreasonable to do so in the light of the tradition of the Central Fleet of the New Roman Empire over the past hundred years.

If the Imperial Army really gathers the last strength for a decisive battle, it will undoubtedly be beneficial to the Perseus Federation. The Wehrmacht will be able to fight a grand war of annihilation with superior forces, and thus the war will be decided.

Robb judged that the Imperial Army would inevitably avoid the powerful edge of the Federation Army, and their labor expedition was in vain. His reason is also clear and clear, and now it is no longer the traditional imperial soldiers such as Bergdorf and Badenbrock who are in control of the Central Fleet of the New Roman Empire, but Karios and Zubaran and others who have been obedient to Jiang Ziyue.

Under the influence of Jiang Ziyue, these people are no longer confined to the decisive battle of the fleet, and no longer care about the gains and losses of one star and one place, but are full of war creativity and can boldly and quickly launch surprise attacks. The remnants of the Imperial Army's Central Fleet and Frontier Fleet will inevitably adhere to Jiang Ziyue's consistent principle of not easily engaging in a frontal decisive battle under the disadvantage. At that time, the Federation forces that have penetrated deep behind enemy lines are likely to find themselves in the unfavorable situation of the enemy's strong walls and entangled guerrillas.

Intelligence from unmanned reconnaissance ships and other sources sent to the empire shows that the "Charlemagne" and "Caesar" subfleets of the Imperial Central Fleet, which are still complete, are deployed on two planets about a thousand light-years apart, and do nothing. As a result, Robb trusted his judgment even more.

When the fleet changed to sail faster than the speed of light with the "Akuberi" to carry out routine supply maintenance, repair and training, the unmanned notification ship that returned from deep behind enemy lines sent a piece of information that deeply touched Robb:

Jiang Ziyue became the dictator of the new Roman Empire!

"Dictator!" Robb exclaimed, his tone full of admiration, "That is the highest ruling power and status in this interstellar human world. ”

However, to the ears of Major Scati Tiassi, the captain of the battleship Yurapa 2, Robb's words were quite "envious, jealous and hateful". So, she said to Robb, "Sir, he can't rule over us yet. ”

"Yes." Luo Bo said thoughtfully, "I really want to face Jiang Ziyue face to face now and see what he has become?" ”

"Sir, haven't you met with him a few times?" Scati asked rhetorically.

"Yes. In the past, we were all on an equal footing. But now, he has become a dictator! Ascended to the pinnacle of their imperial glory, wielding all the power of life and death in the new Roman Empire. Robb looked a little excited, "You can practice your own ideals and pursuits according to your own will and means." ”

Seeing Robb's performance like this, Scati asked with a little concern, "Do you envy the dictatorial power, sir?" ”

Robb didn't answer her question right away, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "What would my mentality be like if one day, like him, would I concentrate all the power in my own hands?" What will I become? What will you think of me? ”

But without hesitation, Skaty replied: "If your power is elected by the people, I will be faithful to you; But if your power is seized by force, I will immediately take the lead in overthrowing you. ”

"Scati." Robb looked at his cold subordinates, and said in a low voice but very hard, "By now, I have finally understood that relying on the people and the people's election process cannot solve some important problems. ”

"Sir, ...... you" Scati looked at Robb in amazement.