Chapter 285: Qin Hao's New Plan

While Ke Huang secretly brewed his revenge plan, the gaze of the entire Milky Way Galaxy was drawn to the military standoff between the two major fourth-level civilizations.

Inside the Yanhuang Civilization, however, was a scene of thriving prosperity and bustling vigor.

The initial success of the "Muddy Water Fishing" plan secured for the Yanhuang Civilization an incredibly precious golden development period with almost no external pressure.

During this period, the civilization's potential was fully unleashed.

After the Academy of Sciences obtained the fourth-level civilization technology tree that Qin Hao had "packaged" back from the Bitien Empire, it ushered in an unprecedented technological explosion.

Qian Bowen and his team, almost forgetting sleep and food, dove into analyzing and reverse-engineering these "Divine Technologies".

The efficiency of the Space Energy Engine was increased hundreds of times, giving the Yanhuang Civilization's warships near-unlimited endurance.

Matter decomposition and synthesis technology was applied to industrial production, making the synthesis of various rare materials as simple as breathing.

And that theory of energy-life evolution obtained from the Oma Civilization,

furthermore opened a door to a completely new life level for Mao Xinyang and the Original Star Sea God Sect he represents.

Militarily, the second and third batches of Heavenly Sword-class warships poured out like dumplings from one secret star dock after another, continuously.

In less than five years, the number of Heavenly Sword-class warships possessed by the Yanhuang Civilization surpassed the million mark.

This does not include the previously copied five hundred million ships.

This massive fleet, enough to make any third-level civilization despair, became the Yanhuang Civilization's strongest shield.

Moreover, the results of the Thought Expedition were gratifying.

Under the joint efforts of Mao Xinyang and Li Ge, all of the dozen or so second-level civilizations within the Original Silicon-based Union's territory have completed their social system reforms.

One by one, "Interstellar SWA Republican Civilizations" filled with Yanhuang characteristics were formally established.

They not only achieved a high degree of political and economic unity with the Yanhuang Civilization,

more importantly, in thought and culture they have come to see themselves as an indivisible part of this great Yanhuang collective.

They study the Yanhuang language, sing Yanhuang songs, and even incorporate that great person's sayings into their own civilization's textbooks.

This vast starry expanse has completely turned into a red ocean.

It provides the Yanhuang Civilization with a continuous flow of resources, manpower, and the firmest strategic depth.

The Bitien Empire's laughable blockade order, before this self-sufficient and ever-expanding "Red Economic Circle", has become a complete joke.

Everything seems to be developing toward the best possible outcome.

However, in the Yanhuang Civilization's Strategic Command Center, the atmosphere did not relax because of this.

"We can't keep waiting like this."

Qin Hao looked at the star map where the two great empires still faced off with hundreds of millions of troops stationed at the border, mutually threatening yet showing no movement.

His words left everyone present stunned for a moment.

"Xiao Qin, what do you mean?"

Old Luo asked.

"The Bitien Empire and the Keluo Empire are no fools.

Their current standoff is merely a mutual probing.

Once either side finds more solid evidence, or sees no benefit from this standoff,

they will unhesitatingly turn their spears back at us."

"The peace we now possess is merely a castle built on sand—looks good, but actually fragile."

"We must take the initiative, stir up the water we've already muddied even more!

Muddy it so that both of them sink completely into it, unable to escape!"

Qin Hao's words lifted everyone's hearts to their throats.

"Still stir?"

"If we keep stirring, we might end up turning the whole Milky Way Galaxy upside down."

"You... you have another crazy plan?"

Zhou Shaoqing looked at Qin Hao, his face full of anticipation and excitement.

He loves seeing Qin Hao's kind of shocking, unconventional moves.

Qin Hao smiled, stepped forward, and enlarged the star map to the territory of the Keluo Empire.

His finger lightly pointed at it, locking onto a star system that made everyone feel unfamiliar.

"Here, under the Keluo Empire, is a third-level high-tier civilization called the 'Iron Curtain'."

Qin Hao introduced.

"This civilization is known for extreme militarization and absolute obedience, and is one of the Keluo Empire's most loyal and powerful lackeys.

Their fleet is stationed year-round at the Keluo Empire's western border, responsible for resisting incursions from certain forces at the opposite end of the Milky Way."

According to the latest intelligence compiled by Kong Jie and Mao Xinyang, the Iron Curtain civilization recently completed a large-scale military mobilization.

"Their target appears to be a second-level civilization beyond its western border that possesses some special strategic resource."

A meaningful smile curled at the corner of Qin Hao's mouth.

"Now, my plan is as follows."

"First step, we repeat our old trick. We deploy the Ghost Fleet again, but this time our target is no longer the Keluo Empire itself."

"Rather, it is the second-level civilization about to be invaded by the Iron Curtain civilization."

"We want to act before the Iron Curtain civilization moves, under the banner of the 'Bitien Empire Liberators', to 'liberate' that second-level civilization."

"Liberation?"

Everyone was stunned again.

"Yes, liberation."

Qin Hao nodded, "We will help that second-level civilization resist the Iron Curtain civilization's invasion in the gentlest, most friendly way."

We will provide them with technology, supplies, and even help them train their fleet.

"We will make them believe that the Biteng Empire is just, that it is a savior come to help them."

"But when the Iron Curtain Civilization's fleet arrives, fierce and menacing, they will be astonished to find that what they must face is no longer a second-level civilization that can be trampled upon."

"but rather a hard nut that, under the Biteng Empire's armament and support, has gained strong resistance."

"This step is called 'raising a tiger skin as a banner'."

Qin Hao's eyes glittered with a cunning light.

"Second step, when the Iron Curtain Civilization's invasion is thwarted by our intervention.

"As the Ke Luo Empire's most loyal lackeys, they will surely turn to their master, the Ke Luo Empire, and request stronger support."

"And the Ke Luo Empire, in order to uphold its hegemony and prestige, will inevitably dispatch more fleets into this war."

"Thus, the western border of the Ke Luo Empire will see a war that grows ever larger in scale."

"Their energy will be mired in this proxy war, which we ourselves are orchestrating."

"We can continue to operate behind the scenes as the Biteng Liberators, continually giving that second-level civilization a transfusion, letting this war continue endlessly."

"This step is called 'drive the tiger to swallow the wolf'."

"And the most crucial part is the third step."

"Qin Hao's gaze swept over everyone present, his voice dropping low and full of temptation."

"When the western border of the Ke Luo Empire is ablaze with war and chaos,"

"We, the Yanhuang Civilization, can raise the banners of 'maintaining peace and stability in the Milky Way Galaxy' and 'condemning all hegemonic aggression,'

"as a peace envoy and a justice arbiter, formally stepping onto the political stage of the Milky Way Galaxy."

"By then, we will no longer be an island, no longer a virus."

"We will become the hope and beacon for all small and medium civilizations weary of war and longing for peace!"

"This step is called 'holding the emperor hostage to command the lords'!"

When Qin Hao's entire plan had been finished.

The entire Command Center fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was captivated by Qin Hao's plan, interlocking and progressing step by step,

the grand plan that perfectly blended military, diplomacy, intrigue, and open strategy, left them utterly stunned.

If the previous 'muddy water fishing' was a clever tactical deception,

then this one is a true strategic ploy capable of shifting the entire Milky Way's balance!

After a long while, Old Luo finally came to his senses from the shock.

He looked at Qin Hao, his wise eyes filled with complex emotion.

There was admiration, there was appreciation.

"Xiao Qin," he said sincerely, "you… are truly a born strategist."

"No no no! I'm merely a student who has read a few books on military tactics."

Qin Hao laughed modestly.

In his mind rose the well-worn copy of Mao's Selected Works that he had read to shreds.

It is the wisdom within that which is the true source of all his plans.