A year is but a fleeting moment for an expanding empire.
However, for Lin Feng, who sat high above the heavens, looking down upon all living beings, this year had given rise to a sense of unease he had never felt before.
This restlessness does not stem from national affairs.
On the contrary, the empire was functioning even more perfectly than he had most optimistically anticipated.
The benefits of the Battle of Dongjin have been fully digested and absorbed.
Driven by both the baby boom and continuous immigration, the population has officially surpassed 150 million and continues to grow at an alarming rate.
The three interstellar battleships named "Heavenly Punishment" have completed their final adjustments. Like three silent steel gods, they are quietly moored in the secret starport of "Chengtian" New Port.
Everything in the empire runs on a golden track he laid out himself, a track leading to glory and immortality.
His troubles stemmed from the most primal and fundamental issue of bloodline.
He, Lin Feng, the ruler of the Kingdom of Stars, a god walking among mortals, has yet to have a son.
Phoenix Palace was a palace that Lin Feng built specifically for his daughters.
Its level of luxury is comparable to his own "Nine Heavens Moon-Embracing Palace".
The entire palace is constructed from pink "warm jade" sourced from a volcanic island in the South China Sea. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, and emits a calming and soothing fragrance.
In the palace courtyard, there are glowing "starflowers" that were discovered deep in the southern rainforest. Every night, the entire Phoenix Palace is like a galaxy that has fallen to earth, a beautiful sight.
His seven princesses lived in the palace.
They are the most precious pearls of the empire, and the perfect embodiment of Lin Feng's excellent genes.
The eldest princess, Lin Yueyao, was born to Meng Yao.
She inherited her mother's gentleness and beauty, and also had Lin Feng's deep, starry eyes. At a young age, she had already shown extraordinary wisdom and a calm temperament.
The other six princesses were all exceptionally talented women.
These princesses were all as beautiful as fairies in a painting, incredibly intelligent, and because they received the best elite education from a young age, they showed talents far beyond their peers in art, science, and even combat skills.
Any emperor of the old era who had such a group of outstanding daughters would be able to rest in peace with a smile on his face.
However, Lin Feng was not an emperor of the old era.
At this moment, he was sitting on the soft "cloud fox" fur carpet in the Phoenix Palace, watching his daughters play.
Lin Yueyao was using her telekinesis to carefully control several crystal butterflies, making them flutter in the air, which amused her younger sisters.
This should have been a heartwarming family moment, but there was no smile in Lin Feng's eyes, only a lingering gloom.
A daughter is, after all, a daughter.
In his vision of a vast, blood-soaked empire spanning eternity, the successor must be a son capable of bearing all his will and power.
A male heir who can ensure the perpetuation of the surname "Lin".
"Your Majesty." Meng Yao, who had become an Imperial Consort but still personally cared for her daughter, walked gracefully over, knelt beside him, and offered him a cup of tea.
She keenly sensed Lin Feng's mood. "Have the princesses displeased you again?"
“No.” Lin Feng took the teacup and shook his head. “They are very good, very…perfect.”
His choice of words made Meng Yao's heart sink slightly.
She knew exactly where the crux of His Majesty's problem lay.
"Your Majesty, it's my fault... it's our wombs that are failing us." Meng Yao's voice was filled with fear and self-reproach.
Over the past year, Lin Feng has visited the harem quite a few times.
His harem has expanded to over a hundred women, including some of the strongest female warriors and the most fertile women from Yingzhou, who were carefully selected.
But the result was either no reaction at all, or the baby was still a princess.
"It's none of your business." Lin Feng's voice was unreadable. "Perhaps it's because my bloodline is too domineering, and ordinary mothers can hardly give birth to male offspring who can rival me."
Meng Yao didn't dare to reply and could only lower her head.
Lin Feng put down his teacup, stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked at his carefree daughters in the courtyard with a distant and cold gaze.
“It seems this pond is too small,” he muttered to himself. “We need to bring in more fresh, new water.”
Meng Yao's body trembled slightly. She understood His Majesty's meaning.
Your Majesty is about to expand the harem once again. Moreover, this time the scale will likely be unprecedented.
The next day, a supreme edict entitled "Heavenly Grace Election" was issued from the Taiji Hall and spread to every corner of the empire through its propaganda network.
The content of the edict was grand and dignified.
"In order to prosper the imperial bloodline, enrich the royal court, demonstrate the emperor's boundless grace, and enable all people to share the glory of the bloodline with the monarch, I have decided to hold a 'Heavenly Grace Election' throughout the country."
"All unmarried women in my Star Kingdom who are between sixteen and twenty years old, in good physical and mental health, and of good character and appearance are eligible to participate in the selection."
“Those selected will receive unparalleled glory, and their families will be granted the title of ‘House of Glory,’ enjoying wealth and privileges for three generations. This is a divine grace, bestowed upon all people.”
This edict, like a nuclear bomb dropped into a calm lake, stirred up a monstrous wave throughout the empire.
Unlike the forced talent shows of the old era, Lin Feng's "Heavenly Grace Selection" was transformed into a nationwide carnival under the powerful propaganda machine of the empire.
Long Shu's home in Cuihu Villa District.
Long Shu, now the deputy commander of the internal security forces, was pacing back and forth in the living room with great excitement.
His seven wives, including Ryuyuki (Sato Yuki), who has fully integrated into the family, and more than a dozen children, all surround him.
"Did you hear that! Did you hear that!" Long Shu exclaimed excitedly, his face flushed. "His Majesty is holding a general election! This is a momentous occasion! What does this mean? It means that our empire is thriving! It means that His Majesty's bloodline needs a wider world to carry on!"
"Husband, what does this have to do with us?" Sun Li, the first wife, asked, somewhat puzzled.
"This is of paramount importance!" Long Shu slapped his thigh. "This is a momentous event for the Empire! As His Majesty's subjects, we must give our full support! I've decided to take a portion of my salary to establish a 'Glorious Election Fund,' which will be donated to the community to support girls from impoverished families who aspire to run for office! We must show His Majesty our loyalty!"
"The leader is wise!"
"Yes! Supporting His Majesty is supporting ourselves!"
His wives immediately chimed in with their own opinions.
There was no trace of jealousy on their faces, only a feverish sense of pride.
In their eyes, all the women in the world belonged to His Majesty; it was a matter of course. To be chosen by His Majesty was a testament to the accumulated virtue of that girl and her entire family for eight generations.
In ordinary families, especially those with only one daughter, this decree was like a divine pronouncement.
At Li Gang's home in the Third Heavy Machinery Plant.
Li Gang and Meiji were looking at their three-year-old daughter. Their daughter had inherited Meiji's delicate features and Li Gang's healthy physique; she was a beautifully sculpted little girl.
“Miki, do you think… when our daughter grows up, will there be a chance…” Li Gang’s eyes were full of longing.
Miki's feelings were complicated. As a mother, she naturally wanted her daughter to stay by her side. But as a woman from Yingzhou who had been "saved," she knew better than anyone what it meant to become His Majesty's woman. It was a meteoric rise to the top, an unparalleled glory.
"As long as she has the good fortune," Miki finally said softly, "we... will all follow His Majesty's arrangements."
The entire empire was mobilized.
Countless families sent their daughters to the specially set up "election registration offices".
This was not like a talent show; it was more like a devout pilgrimage. The girls were proud to participate in the "Heavenly Grace Selection." They dreamed of being chosen, even if it was just to be the lowest palace maid in the palace, to catch a glimpse of His Majesty's face from afar. That would be an honor to boast about to their descendants.
This bottom-up, frenzied talent show is about to unfold in a grand and spectacular fashion.
However, at this moment, a sudden message interrupted the empire's internal celebration, and also made Lin Feng turn his gaze from the harem back to the distance.
Inside the Taiji Hall, the alarm sounded again.
Dressed in black military uniform, Qin Lan, whose posture was even more upright and capable, strode into the hall.
Her face held a familiar expression, a mixture of solemnity and excitement.
"His Majesty!"
"Speak." Lin Feng opened his eyes from the throne; he already had a premonition of what was to come.
"Your Majesty, the 'Sky Eye' system has issued its highest alert again!" Qin Lan's voice was calm and powerful: "Following 'Dongjin,' in the southern sea area of the kingdom, about 1,500 kilometers away, and in the southwest, about 2,000 kilometers away, almost at the same time, two more... massive landmasses have appeared!"
Lin Feng's pupils instantly sharpened to the point of being as sharp as an eagle's.
The slight irritation in his heart was completely replaced by a long-lost hunter's excitement.
"Specific details."
"Yes!" Qin Lan quickly brought up the holographic star map. Two new landmasses, outside the kingdom's territory, were marked in striking red.
"Based on the analysis of images and data transmitted back by high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and geostationary satellites, these two landmasses are also products of the 'Great Migration'. Their architectural style and urban layout are highly consistent with the 'Yingzhou Islands' of the old era."
Qin Lan pointed to one of the larger landmasses and said, "Based on our intelligence database comparison, we are 98% certain that this area is the Kansai region of the old 'Yingzhou'. Its core city is... 'Osaka'!"
She then pointed to another, slightly smaller piece of land: "And this one contains the old-time 'Kyushu' and 'Shikoku' regions."
Lin Feng's lips slowly curled upwards, eventually transforming into a cruel and gleeful grin.
When I felt sleepy, someone brought me a whole set of pillows.
He was worried that his harem of over a hundred women still couldn't produce an heir.
He felt that although the "Tianen Election" was a large-scale election, it was ultimately a selection process within his own country and lacked originality.
Unexpectedly, the enemy, or rather... a new "resource production area," delivered itself to their doorstep.
Moreover, three of them came at once.
Osaka was a megacity in old Japan, second only to Tojin, with a population of tens of millions.
Kyushu and Shikoku are also important industrial and agricultural bases.
what does that mean?
This means tens of millions of new "labor force", countless industrial resources, and... millions, or even tens of millions, of new, young women!
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