At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight pierce through the crystal dome of the "Nine Heavens Embracing the Moon Palace" and fall upon the giant bed carved from the spine of "Leviathan," Lin Feng will awaken from his deep sleep.
He doesn't need an alarm clock; his powerful biological clock is more accurate than any timer.
Standing by the bedside were always four stunningly beautiful maids, handpicked from among tens of thousands of palace women and bestowed with the names "Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon."
Their sole duty is to fulfill all of Lin Feng's needs the moment he wakes up.
The "Wind" woman will serve him "Awakening Tea," brewed with morning dew collected from the summit of Tianshan Mountain, which can instantly revitalize him.
The "flower" woman was responsible for wiping his face and hands with a warm towel soaked in hundreds of exotic flowers and herbs.
The Snow Maiden's work is the most meticulous. She needs to use a comb made of ironwood coral to comb Lin Feng's thick, black hair. Every movement must be as gentle as a feather brushing against his skin.
The "Moon" woman would kneel by the bed and use her softest hands to massage Lin Feng's legs, ensuring that every muscle in his body was in the most relaxed and comfortable state from the moment he woke up.
The entire process was quiet and full of ritual, with no superfluous words, only perfect service.
After washing up, Lin Feng would move to the "Qilin Pavilion," which was connected to his bedroom, for his meal.
The dining table at Qilin Pavilion is carved from a single piece of "warm jade" that originates from deep within the earth and can automatically regulate its temperature.
Today's breakfast was, as always, plentiful and unusual.
The staple food is a creature called "Deep-Sea Crystal Rice," which originates from the deep trenches of the North Sea. This creature resembles rice grains, is crystal clear, and has a chewy texture when cooked. It also contains a special energy that nourishes the spirit. Just a small bowl of it has a nutritional value exceeding that of 100 pounds of top-grade beef from the old days.
The side dishes are even more varied.
A dish of golden-yellow sauce made from the brains of "lantern shrimp" is incredibly delicious.
A bowl of rich soup, made with the tendons of "snow claw bear" and more than a dozen rare medicinal herbs, simmered for seventy-two hours, is a great way to replenish vital energy.
There were also a few slices of fish belly sashimi, as thin as cicada wings, freshly cut from a live "King of the Icy Sea Salmon," which melted in your mouth, filling it with the aroma of oil.
The one who served him the food was Meng Yao, who was already pregnant, but still insisted on serving him personally.
Her status in the palace has risen significantly, but her admiration and love for Lin Feng have not diminished in the slightest. Being able to prepare breakfast for the man she loves is the greatest happiness for her.
"Your Majesty, please try this. This is a new type of 'Rainbow Mushroom' discovered by the Ministry of Agriculture in the southern rainforest. Its taste is extremely unique. The Imperial Kitchen has studied it for a long time before finding the best way to cook it." Meng Yao picked up a small piece of the mushroom that emitted a rainbow halo and carefully placed it into Lin Feng's jade bowl.
Lin Feng took a bite and nodded: "Not bad, crisp texture, with a hint of fruitiness in the aftertaste. A good choice. Have the Ministry of Agriculture increase its cultivation efforts; this can be used as a high-grade condiment to supply the kingdom's upper echelons."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Meng Yao smiled happily.
After breakfast, Lin Feng would go to the "Taiji Hall" to handle government affairs.
This great hall is the nerve center of the empire; all information is gathered here, and all orders are issued from here.
Today's topic mainly revolves around the further development of Beihai.
Construction Minister Li Yuanchao stood respectfully before Lin Feng via holographic projection. His background depicted the bustling, vibrant scene of the Beiwangcheng Port.
"Your Majesty, the 'Icebreaker' Highways II and III are now fully operational, bringing over 3,000 kilometers of coastline along the North Sea under our effective control. According to the latest exploration report, we have discovered an unprecedented 'Giant Crab' breeding ground east of the 'Icewind Strait.' Preliminary estimates suggest that its annual production is sufficient to meet the protein needs of 300 million people!"
“Very good.” Lin Feng was not surprised at all. “The construction of the fishing fleet and processing plants must keep up. I don’t want to see any resources wasted.”
"Yes!" Li Yuanchao replied excitedly, "Furthermore, Your Majesty, we have made an astonishing discovery during our exploration of an underwater volcano!"
He waved his hand, and a three-dimensional geological map appeared before Lin Feng. On the map, a seabed area was marked in a dazzling red.
"We have discovered an astonishingly large and highly pure 'Flame Crystal' vein here! 'Flame Crystal' is the core material for manufacturing our new generation of 'Dragon Flame' series engines, and its energy efficiency is more than thirty times that of traditional nuclear fission!"
"Previously, we could only mine in small quantities deep within the volcano, which limited the expansion speed of our fleet. But the reserves of this vein... are enough for us to equip ten... no, twenty brand new fleets!"
This news finally brought a hint of genuine joy to Lin Feng's eyes.
Protein was merely a means to feed his people. Energy, however, was the foundation upon which he would conquer the stars!
"Minister it at all costs!" Lin Feng issued an unquestionable order. "I'm giving you the highest authority to mobilize all the resources and manpower you need. I want to see the first batch of 'Dragon Flame' engines installed on our new generation of 'Heavenly Punishment' class battleships within three years!"
"Yes, sir! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Li Yuanchao was so excited his face turned red.
After ending his communication with Li Yuanchao, Lin Feng leaned back on the throne and closed his eyes in deep thought.
The expansion of the empire went even more smoothly than he had anticipated.
A continuous stream of resources is propelling this country into an unprecedented period of rapid development. The population is approaching 100 million, and new cities are constantly emerging across the country.
Everything was thriving.
However, as an emperor, Lin Feng's vision would never rest on his existing achievements. A lingering unease always remained in his heart.
That is the "Great Shift" itself.
The mysterious phenomenon that brought them to this planet remains a mystery to this day.
No one can guarantee it won't happen again. No one can guarantee what will be transferred next time.
Is it a resource? Or... an enemy?
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts.
Dressed in black military uniform, Qin Lan, looking dashing and heroic, strode into the main hall. Her face bore a rare look of solemnity and surprise.
"Your Majesty!" she exclaimed before she could even curtsy.
"What's the matter that you're so panicked?" Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes.
"Your Majesty, the border is on high alert!" Qin Lan's voice was steady and powerful. "Our 'Sky Eye' satellite system has detected a... suddenly appearing landmass approximately 1,200 kilometers away in the eastern sea area of the kingdom!"
Lin Feng's pupils suddenly contracted.
They've arrived.
The shoe he was most worried about was finally about to drop.
“Specific details.” His voice turned cold and sharp.
"Real-time data analysis transmitted by high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft."
Qin Lan spoke rapidly, clearly having the intelligence memorized perfectly: "It's a huge island, or rather, part of a vast metropolitan area. Its architectural style closely matches that of the old 'Yingzhou Islands.' Our intelligence analysis department compared it with old satellite maps and is 99% certain of its accuracy..."
Qin Lan took a deep breath and said the name.
"That city is Dongjin, the capital of 'Yingzhou'!"
"Dongjin?" Lin Feng's lips slowly curled upwards, revealing a cruel and excited grin.
This is truly a case of someone bringing you a pillow when you're about to fall asleep.
He felt that the empire's military strength had become so great that it had no rivals, and that the soldiers had been complacent for too long and needed a war to hone their skills.
Unexpectedly, the enemy delivered themselves to our doorstep.
Moreover, it was someone he was most "familiar" with, his old neighbor.
“In that case,” Lin Feng stood up from the throne, a terrifying, domineering aura erupting from him and instantly filling the entire hall, “the war begins.”
His voice, though not loud, carried an unwavering resolve.
Qin Lan was taken aback. She had anticipated various reactions from His Majesty, but she hadn't expected him to be so direct, so...impatient.
“Your Majesty,” she hesitated for a moment, but still fulfilled her duty as Supreme Military Commander, reminding him, “we know nothing about their current situation. After all, they are a megacity with tens of millions of people, and their military potential should not be underestimated. Should we… first make diplomatic contact to probe their attitude?”
"Diplomacy?" Lin Feng scoffed, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.
He walked up to Qin Lan, reached out and gently stroked her striking face, his eyes filled with a wild, predatory glint.
“My General Lan, when did you become so naive? Does a lion need to engage in diplomacy with a sheep? We are conquerors, not peacemakers.”
His voice was filled with a bewitching magic.
"However, you're right. There always needs to be a reason to start a war. A reason that can be written into history books, so that we don't seem like pure aggressors."
Lin Feng's face once again revealed a sinister smile that made Qin Lan's heart tremble.
"Tell me... we have a small geological exploration team that went missing in the eastern sea area."
"We suspect they have been held captive by an unidentified force that suddenly appeared on land. Therefore, we must dispatch a powerful fleet to 'rescue' our citizens."
"If they are uncooperative or even obstructive in our search and rescue operation..."
Lin Feng's voice was drawn out and filled with a dangerous undertone.
"That is the most serious provocation against our Star Kingdom. It is a blatant act of war!"
Qin Lan's breath hitched slightly.
Looking at the man before her, she felt an overwhelming mix of admiration and...fear.
This is her Majesty.
Domineering and ruthless, yet full of the wisdom and skill of an emperor.
He not only wants to conquer your body, but also to morally trample you into the dust.
"Your Majesty, I understand." Qin Lan knelt on one knee, her voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Your Majesty, I will immediately convey your will. Under the name of 'Thunder Search and Rescue,' assemble the First and Second Expeditionary Fleets to blockade the waters off Dongjin! At the same time, issue the highest-level war mobilization order!"
"Go then." Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction. "Let the people of the empire know that their compatriots are suffering in a foreign land. Let them know that their king will personally seek justice for them!"
"Let the entire kingdom burn for this 'just' war!"
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