The straight-line distance from one end of the empire to the other is almost equal to two galaxies laid flat there, but the entire territory of the empire can accommodate more than two galaxies.

So even though Chen Ming had some knowledge of the vast territory of the empire before, he still felt a little shocked when he saw it again now.

After the star map was completely released, Baiquan pointed to the countless orange-marked areas on the edge of the empire and said, "First of all, not all places where battles take place are battlefields."

"Those low-intensity battlefields are not battlefields at all. They can only be considered places for training."

"Just like the borders between us and the mechanical race, although we fight to the death when we fight them, most of the time it's just small-scale friction."

"After all, the mechanical race is not stupid. They don't have a cluster on the border of the empire that is large enough to pose a threat to the empire."

"As long as we have no intention of actively expanding, they dare not harass us too much."

"The only truly large-scale battle is the one taking place with Yu Hui's headquarters."

Baiquan pointed to another star field called Sunset, which was located at the opposite end of the empire from the Galo star field. This was the only area marked in red on the star map.

“So we’re just opening up a second front where we’re really going to have an all-out war.”

"And we are opening up a new battlefield, or rather, a reason to start a war..."

"Have you seen the recent news? A wave of deformed children has begun to appear in various parts of the empire. You should be aware of this, right?"

Chen Ming nodded and said, "It seems that the Empire has no good solution."

"Of course there is no solution. As someone who was involved in the cause of this wave of deformed babies, how do you think it should be solved?"

"I'm not coming."

The president of the Psychic Society didn’t have a solution, so what could he say?

Baiquan obviously knew the answer, and asked, "Since this internal conflict cannot be resolved, what do you think the empire should do?"

Chen Ming, who had taken political science classes, immediately understood and said, "Of course, they are transferring the conflict to the outside world and using the war to shift the blame to the Mechanical Clan and Yu Hui."

"Then why doesn't the Empire continue to invest in the frontal battlefield?"

Baiquan explained: "The war started a long time ago and has never stopped, but if you look at the battle line, it is still very close to the border of our empire, and you can understand what the situation is on the front line."

"The main force of Yuhui blocked our attack, and they have been retreating as the defenders. The progress of the front line can be said to be quite slow."

"Earlier, when you were just emerging and then taken away by Yuhui, although we managed to advance some distance on the front line, the result was a failure."

"Instead, the front line is completely deadlocked, and we have to find another way."

"If we continue to invest in the frontline battlefield, it is very likely that it will not divert the conflict, but will make the empire further deteriorate."

Chen Ming understood.

If the Empire's investment in the front lines fails to produce results in the first place and is instead held back by the afterglow, the Empire's means of using war to divert conflicts will become ineffective, and the chaos that is gradually emerging in the country may even worsen.

Therefore, the empire had to open up another battlefield where it could definitely win and break through the situation in the local area.

Rely on this great victory to ease the pressure caused by internal conflicts.

Baiquan went on to say: “As long as the empire launches a war and relies on the war dividends to survive the first wave and not be directly dragged down, and achieves the first victory, all the internal problems in recent years will be solved by themselves.”

"As long as we can completely win this tough battle, the development of a mechanical star field can bring at least 50 years of development to the empire."

"After that, we will completely digest the star field, obtain the resources within the star field, and obtain the legacy of another civilization. The benefits will be unimaginable."

"What kind of bullshit internal conflicts are all fake in the face of the dividends brought by the war. The entire empire is thriving."

As soon as Baiquan finished speaking, Chen Ming said as if to summarize: "So this is the reason for the war."

"That's right. Then think about it further. What happens after that? What happens after the dividends are used up?"

"Fifty years is just two or three generations. A dividend that is eaten up in these two or three generations is not really a dividend at all."

“Dividends are something that seniors should leave for juniors and that they can eat for a long time.”

"So think about it from a long-term perspective. After we win the war in the Galo Star Region, do you think we should continue?"

Chen Ming felt that the answer was yes: "Of course."

Baiquan, as the initiator of the question, also knew the answer. He nodded and continued, "So after the war between the Galo star field and the mechanical race is won, the empire will put the focus of the war back on the front line."

"The huge bonus ahead will allow the Empire to easily drive its huge body. If the entire Empire works together, can we trouble Yuhui on the front battlefield? Or trouble other mechanical races?"

"Of course."

"Then that's the complete answer to your question."

"In fact, we can guess what the people in the empire are thinking. Isn't it normal to sort out the logic a little bit?"

"And, it is said, I mean it is said, that the top leaders are not only thinking about gaining war dividends, they even want to use this war to stimulate the entire empire and start a second era of development."

Chen Ming knew what benefits the first pioneering era would bring to the empire, but the beginning of the pioneering era...

"It's not that easy, is it?"

Baiquan said as a matter of course: "Of course it's not that easy. The empire's expansion did not stop because of the enemy, but because of the empire itself."

"Because the scale of the empire was too large given the technological level of the previous era, it was impossible to effectively control it."

"The magnitude of the continued expansion will far outweigh the positive benefits."

"Furthermore, after the empire's barbaric growth period, it must take some time to cultivate itself and rest."

"Plus, there are the Mechanical Tribe and Yuhui blocking the way outside, so there is basically no benefit from winning."

“So the pioneering era will stop.”

Baiquan suddenly gave an example and said, "If a person goes for a long-distance run and stops halfway, it is difficult to start again."

"It is easy to imagine how difficult it would be for the empire to return to the pioneering era."

"But the recently developed antimatter technology and the energy crystal technology you developed earlier have ensured that all spacecraft equipped with these two technologies have almost doubled their endurance and flight capabilities."

"In addition, the technological advancement during the Empire's years of silence has greatly increased the Empire's management scale."

"The prerequisites for the pioneering era have been met."

"As long as the empire, which has been stagnant, is set in motion again, it will embark on the path of expansion on its own."

“This is the best opportunity we’ve had in years.”

“If there could be another pioneering era, all internal conflicts would be drowned out by the huge benefits of the entire universe.”

"This Galo star region is where the curtain opens."

As Baiquan spoke, he felt that the emotions in his words were getting a little excited.

However, Chen Ming did not have any special feeling. After all, he did not know much about the history of the empire.

The only time I felt a little emotional was when I saw the actual map.

Seeing Chen Ming's reaction, Bai Quan did not continue to talk about the big picture, but instead shifted the topic to something closer to Chen Ming.

"In fact, if you pay attention to the price of goods in normal times, you will find that the prices of some wartime supplies are slowly rising, and the prices of various raw materials are also changing."

"Although it looks like normal fluctuations at the moment, it should go up soon."

"Even if I don't tell you now, you will definitely notice it within half a year."

Chen Ming thought for a moment and said, "Prices are indeed rising a bit."

"But you said that it would take half a year for me to notice it. Does that mean the war with the mechanical race will not start until half a year later?"

Baiquan immediately denied it: "It's not."

"It's just that waging war on a single star region is not that simple. It requires the entire empire to mobilize."

"Although the Empire is a huge monster and it is difficult to move, it is not so huge that it cannot even turn its head."

"The Empire will do its best to maintain normal prices for various war-related materials in the country. Generally speaking, there will be no problem keeping prices stable for half a year."

“So I said that in half a year you will definitely feel that various materials will start to be in short supply and prices will start to rise.”

"But in fact, the war has already begun and is only in its earliest stages."

Chen Ming asked subconsciously: "What stage?"

"Investigation. Our war against the mechanical race can be roughly divided into five stages: investigation, infiltration, sabotage, frontal attack, and finale."

"Whether we can execute it from beginning to end is probably an open question, but whether we can execute it smoothly depends on the performance of our Fourteenth Legion along the way."

"Only the Fourteenth Legion participated in the war?"

"Of course not. The mechanical power of a star field is not something that the Fourteenth Legion can handle alone."

"We are only responsible for the initial work and overall coordination. When the war officially begins, the Empire's regular army and other legions will enter the battlefield under our guidance and command."

Chen Ming thought about it for a while longer this time and said, "I understand."

"So the Empire was prepared to use war to divert conflicts, and when it was choosing its target, it changed its target because of me."

"That's the first half of the matter that concerns me. As for the second half... I guess you want to invite me to join the war against the mechanical race."

Baiquan said without denying, "Yes."

"As I just said, the Empire's war against the Mechanical Race has already begun, and the investigation has been ongoing since some time ago."

"But all the investigations were superficial. The only in-depth investigation was the one our ship secretly conducted after we got the video recording of the phase beast that you sent back earlier."

"And the other initial investigations into the shallow areas of the mechanical race have been completed so far. Next we must go deeper."

"Your psychic power has the ability to control the mechanical race, which will definitely be of great help."

Bai Quan suddenly stood up from behind his desk, looked at Chen Ming and said seriously: "I now formally invite you, Mr. Chen Ming, to join the Empire's battle against the Mechanical Star Region as a temporary tactical instructor as a psychic."

"You will enjoy all the benefits of an Imperial Colonel-level officer, but you only need to bear the obligations that an Imperial citizen must bear."

It sounds like a simple treatment, but the value it contains is more than just these two sentences.

However, Chen Ming did not give a direct answer, but asked: "Do you really trust me to help with the affairs of the Mechanical Clan? This is a major event in the Star Region."

"You've proven yourself."

Chen Ming was silent for a moment.

Some time ago, Chen Ming went to Yu Hui's star field, and when he left, Yu Hui was disturbed.

And the star field of the mechanical race...

Chen Ming did not ask Bai Quan what would happen if he refused, because that would just be nonsense.

The empire has already started running, and it will not stop because of personal ideas.

It was already surprising to him that the trajectory could be changed because of him, and stopping was absolutely impossible.

So Chen Ming's silence at this time was indeed because he was considering Bai Quan's proposal.

After all, this proposal coincided with his previous idea.

Chen Ming was already considering where to go next.

Because in the next period of time, all possible habitable planets near the temporary base have been searched almost completely, and the second jump will begin soon.

Then he would have only two choices: either go out with his pioneering fleet, help out occasionally, or concentrate on research.

Or he could continue to stay here and do what he needed to do in the empire, such as providing some improved technology to Shao Yang, so as to provide more logistical support in the empire.

To be honest, Chen Ming didn't really want to choose the first option.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that Chen Ming doesn’t want to continue exploring, it’s just that going out is really uncomfortable.

Since what Chen Ming can do if he stays in the country and goes out with the pioneering fleet is basically the same, and no matter whether he is in the pioneering fleet or not, his spiritual power will always be able to reach where it should be at the first time.

So when given a choice, Chen Ming would rather stay where there are more people.

The feeling of loneliness and solitude when you are alone outside cannot be relieved by chatting with someone on the phone every day.

He must return to the human world in person to experience the feeling of being back in the human world.

Therefore, Chen Ming's idea was to stay in the empire and remotely control Huihuang and others to carry out the development.

And it won’t be long before Shao Yang will send the second Supreme Point over.

Chen Ming could even directly hand over the task of opening up a hyperspace channel to other Afterglow individuals.

He can turn around and do something else.

In that case, since Bai Quan suddenly mentioned this to him, he might as well just get involved in it.

It's not just for the benefits that Baiquan said that one can gain by participating in it, but also for the precious things or technologies hidden in the ruins of another civilization.

Chen Ming was very envious of that civilization, but the coordinates he discovered were far away.

There is a closer one nearby, and the chance is much greater than that coordinate.

And since the Empire is going to take action against the Mechanical Race, it means that countless battles will definitely break out in the Mechanical Race’s star field in the future.

A large-scale battlefield is the best opportunity to test command capabilities.

Chen Ming felt that he could definitely give it a try.

"I can cooperate with you in conducting research on the mechanical race, but..."

Bai Quan understood the meaning of Chen Ming's words and added: "Any contribution you make in the war will be rewarded accordingly by the empire."

"Any spoils of war captured in any battle you participate in will not be subject to the Fourteenth Legion's internal spoils of war capture rules."

"And it's not just the Empire's rewards. We also have a reward and punishment mechanism within the Fourteenth Legion."

"If you don't want to directly participate in the battle, then register under the name of our research institute."

"If various research institutes produce analysis reports or research that are effective against the enemy during the war, they can all receive corresponding military merits."

"Of course if you don't need it I can try to replace it with something you might need."

Bai Quan thought for a moment and said, "We can influence the local government to provide you with policy support and give you the green light to clear all restrictions."

"And you've been buying supplies, haven't you? I can provide you with a new way. All the basic supplies you need can be sold to you at cost price."

"As long as the investigation and research on the mechanical race goes smoothly."

The policy approval means that it will be easier for Lao Wu to purchase supplies. After all, transactions of bulk materials always have to go through the local government.

Although Old Wu has been in the pirate space station all the time, all the supplies are sent to the boss's colony.

Although there wouldn't be any problems with the boss's connections in the government, Chen Ming's own relationships were definitely more stable.

And the cost price that Baiquan mentioned is even better.

One third of the supplies at Chen Ming's current temporary base are provided by the boss.

Although the boss originally wanted to provide it to Chen Ming for free, Chen Ming refused and at least purchased it at cost price.

Later, we built a temporary base, and the data of the surveyed galaxies and planets could be used to offset a considerable part of the money.

So this one-third of supplies is not bad.

But the other two-thirds were purchased by Lao Wu from various manufacturers, relying on his own connections or those of the factory managers.

Compared with the current purchase price from the boss, the profit is at least 50%.

This is very unfriendly to Chen Ming.

If these two-thirds can also be purchased at full cost price, it would definitely be good news for Chen Ming.

Chen Ming currently has a cash flow of less than 20 billion yuan.

The supply of materials for the construction of the second temporary base and the two temporary bases will only last for three or four months at most.

Of course, this is without taking into account Chen Ming's current regular income that has not yet been received.

His hyperspace jump engine patent and the recently hot pirate business should be enough to sustain him for another month or two.

If the second batch of patent fees from the antimatter patent is received, it can last longer.

However, Chen Ming was not sure when it would be delivered.

So when open source is not that easy.

Saving money is also a good choice.

Therefore, Chen Ming said decisively: "That's easy."

As long as he is paid, he can strip the mechanical people of their underwear.

Anyway, due to the mechanical race’s own psychic network, his psychic power cannot completely control the entire mechanical race.

He was more successful in deceiving the mechanical race than he was in deceiving Yu Hui.

"As for other battles, I generally don't participate, but if you are willing to provide a spaceship, I would be happy to help."

Bai Quan smiled and did not directly respond to Chen Ming's topic.

He then took out a contract that seemed to have been drafted a long time ago and gave it to Chen Ming, saying, "See if there are any problems."

"If there's no problem, let's sign it."

Chen Ming took a rough look and found that the content of the contract was the same as Bai Quan said.

Let him serve as a temporary tactical instructor, without any military rank, and not forced to join the army.

But they can enjoy the treatment of colonel-level officers and bear the obligations that ordinary people need to bear.

You should know that above colonel is major general, and above that is major general.

This treatment is definitely not low.

Chen Ming just felt that something seemed to be missing.

But before he could ask, Bai Quan spoke first: "It's hard to write down the preferential treatment in the policy and the preferential treatment when you actually purchase materials in bulk, but they will be there. I can personally guarantee this."

Chen Ming immediately held back his words.

He thought about it for a moment and said, "That's fine."

After confirming that there were no other problems with the contract, Chen Ming signed his name happily.

Bai Quan also collected the contract with a smile on his face, and said to Chen Ming, "A certificate will be mailed to Wu An in a few days, remember to sign for it."

"Then I want to confirm with you again, is there a way for the mechanical race you control to blend into the original mechanical race?"

Chen Ming shook his head and said, "There's really nothing we can do. The Mechanical Clan is more troublesome than Yu Hui."

"Each individual of Yuhui is different. I control them. As long as I don't issue some obviously abnormal orders, they will look no different from other Yuhui."

"But the mechanical individuals I control will be judged as abnormal sub-individuals. In the eyes of the mechanical people, they are just like aliens."

Chen Ming's serious answer made Bai Quan ponder for a moment, and then asked: "How do the mechanical race determine whether their kind is abnormal? Can you achieve your goal by modifying the 'identity mark' of the mechanical race you control?"

Chen Ming actually hadn't really thought about this question.

After all, the mechanical race he controlled was directly separated from the mechanical race's own hive network.

This is not a question of whether to recognize or not, but the ability to discover abnormalities in abnormal sub-individuals without identifying the mechanical race.

So Chen Ming could only answer vaguely: "This may be more metaphysical, I am not completely sure."

Bai Quan said in a way that made Chen Ming feel at ease: "It's okay. Generally speaking, psychics who officially join the official forces of the empire have a think tank behind them."

"Specialized people can help think about the direction of spiritual energy expansion. They can also help think about and test the upper limit of spiritual energy and how to use spiritual energy."

"As long as you can roughly understand the principle, there will always be someone to help you come up with a solution."

"Although you haven't officially joined, I'm sure you won't be given less than what you deserve."

Chen Ming was not happy because Bai Quan said he would arrange someone to help him. Instead, he frowned slightly. Bai Quan noticed this keenly. After having contact with Wu An recently, he quickly understood Chen Ming's concerns and said, "I have talked about the theory of your psychic association."

"It is said that psykers should develop naturally, but we generally believe that this is for psykers with potential."

"In fact, more psychics should conduct systematic learning. The sooner they start, the greater the achievements they will eventually gain than if they slowly figure things out on their own."

"Of course you have potential and are a genius, so we definitely respect your opinion and will not conduct actual psychic tests."

"Our people can only give some suggestions based on the situation you described."

"If anyone crosses the line, you can tell me directly and I will stop it for you immediately."

Chen Ming nodded and said, "Do you have any mechanical researchers there? It would be best if they know a little bit about psychic powers. It might be easier to talk to them about some things."

"I'll help you arrange it right away, but I'm not at the headquarters right now, so it may take a day to mobilize people."

"I'm not in a hurry. I think you might be more anxious."

"Too."

Bai Quan had an expression on his face that was not sure whether it was embarrassment or a dilemma.

"Let's start with what I said yesterday. I'll help you review the battle between you and Cheng Xinghe."

(End of this chapter)