Chapter 1489: Ultramarines Head to the Kesi Empire

Guilliman quickly went over the star map and troop distribution in his mind.

The Ultramarines currently have three fleets in a state of refit, with full complements and ships in good condition. Adding the one currently resupplying in the outer orbit of the Xiuluo Holy Star, a total of four fleets can depart at any time. From the Xiuluo Holy Star to the Kesi Empire, it will take approximately eleven to twelve Standard Days.

Four fleets are enough; they just need to suppress the noble armed forces in the rebel region. Kesi still needs to retain his own military system; you adjust the four fleets, have the Fleet Commander directly interface with Lao Lu's communications, and the sooner the departure time, the better.

Guilliman nodded, reached out to take a Data Pad from the tabletop, and quickly swiped across it a few times.

I will complete the final resupply and personnel deployment within twenty-four hours, and I will send the formation plan for the four fleets to your data terminal later.

Fine, you arrange it; I have nothing else here.

Guilliman nodded slightly.

Then I will go deploy immediately.

The communication cut off.

Selina's projection remained suspended on the mobile device.

Your Majesty, do you need me to assist with the summary of the fleet dispatch data for Primarch Guilliman?

No need, he will handle it himself. You just help me keep an eye on the new news from Lao Lu's side, and report to me immediately if there are any changes.

Understood.

Selina's blue projection bowed slightly, and her figure dissipated.

Outer orbit of the Xiuluo Holy Star, the berthing area for the Ultramarines fleet.

Guilliman stood on the Bridge of a Mars-class Battlecruiser, with the formation positions and route plans of the four fleets marked on the star map in front of him.

Behind him stood several commanders from various fleets wearing blue Power Armor.

Guilliman pointed to a highlighted route on the star map.

The vanguard formation will be led by two Mars-class Battlecruisers, with the Frigates and Destroyers following behind maintaining standard spacing. Do not slow down after reaching the border star sector of the Kesi Empire; proceed directly to the rebel region, and someone will meet you upon arrival.

An officer nodded.

Preliminary preparation orders have already been issued to all ships, and resupply and ammunition loading are expected to be completed within twenty Standard Hours.

Guilliman nodded and said to the group.

"This Task is not complicated; your mission is speed. Do not delay after arriving; Lord Lu will tell you who to strike first."

"Yes! Father!"

Over the next few days, the atmosphere in the capital of the Kesi Empire became very strange.

Lu Zhenda would go to the diplomatic hall on the east side of the Imperial City for a while every morning; on the surface, he was communicating with the Kesi Empire's liaison officials about the coordination process after the fleet arrived, but in reality, he was just sitting there to listen for news.

Gewanuosai stood behind him, condensing the intelligence received each day into a few short briefings, and whispered them to him on the way back to their residence.

On the evening of the third day, Gewanuosai reported to Lu Zhenda.

Today, seven more ministers jointly submitted a petition to Kesi, requesting him to reconsider the decision to have the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance intervene. The leader was an old minister who said directly at the imperial council yesterday that the entry of foreign troops would shake the foundation of the Empire. Kesi did not express his stance on the spot, but after the meeting, he called the old minister to his study for a private talk for one Standard Day.

Lu Zhenda did not slow his pace, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

One Standard Day? It seems they talked about quite a lot.

The specific content is unclear, but when that old minister came out, his face was very ugly, his walking speed was very fast, and he did not greet any of his colleagues in the corridor. The two attendants following him were also replaced; this afternoon, those two people beside him became Kesi's men.

Heh, Kesi is telling him that if he makes any more trouble, it won't just be the attendants who get replaced.

Gewanuosai's voice had no fluctuation.

Similar warning tactics have been used three or four times in the past few days. Every time a group of ministers submits a petition, Kesi picks the leader for a private talk; after the talk, those people either fall into Silence or are transferred from their original posts.

As of today, the number of ministers still openly opposing the intervention of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance has decreased from seventeen to five.

Among the remaining five, are there any with significant weight?

There is one, the Minister of Military Affairs who manages the defense of the Empire's eastern star sector, named Xierta. He still holds real power and isn't just someone living off his seniority. He hadn't spoken up for the past few days, and only this afternoon did he say one sentence at the imperial council—Your Majesty must think clearly about the consequences of foreign troops entering the country.

"Hmph, there are still people like that."

The two walked back to the entrance of their residence; Gewanuosai pushed the door open first, glanced inside the room to confirm there was nothing unusual, and then stepped aside to let Lu Zhenda in.

The door closed, Gewanuosai stood back to the inner side of the door, and his voice returned to a normal volume.

There is also the matter of the rebels. This morning, the heir of Duke Kusa publicly released a communication, facing the entire communication network of the Kesi Empire.

They directly stated that Kesi's throne was of unknown origin, said that the late Emperor had not designated a successor before his passing, and said that Kesi summoning foreign troops to enter the country was to cover up the truth.

Did you see the content of the communication?

Gewanuosai took out a small Data Pad that had already been prepared.

We intercepted the full text here.

Lu Zhenda took it and read a few lines, his brows twitching slightly.

The wording of the communication is very tough, deliberately inciting the emotions of the ordinary people of the Kesi Empire, and between the lines, it implies an abnormal temporal connection between the death of the late Emperor and Kesi's ascension to the throne, and at the end, it even calls out to Kesi directly.

Tell the truth; you don't dare let the people of the Kesi Empire fight for you because you are afraid that they will also discover the truth.

Lu Zhenda sat at the table and said with a smile.

This move is played well. They also know they can't beat the Regular Army, so they are buying time. As long as they drag out public opinion and let more nobles wait and see or even turn to their side, Kesi's pressure will become greater and greater.

Within three Standard Days after the communication was issued, two more noble territories publicly announced their support for the rebels. Now the rebel region has increased from six star sectors to eight.

Lu Zhenda spoke with a hint of mockery in his tone.

Being an undercover agent is also a hard job.

This is the duty of Y-7. However, the situation is still within a controllable range. Eight star sectors look like a lot, but in reality, the internal interest relationships are intricate and complicated. As long as our fleet arrives and strikes down the largest rebel star sector first, the remaining seven will waver on their own.

Lu Zhenda nodded.

Has the fleet on Guilliman's side departed?

It has already departed, setting off yesterday morning, taking the relatively stable route on the northeast side of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. It is expected to arrive at the border of the Kesi Empire in ten to eleven Standard Days.

Lu Zhenda calculated the time in his heart.

Eleven days; during this time, Kesi must withstand the rebels' offensive and also withstand the pressure from the ministers within the country.

Gewanuosai said.

It is nothing more than the Aliens slaughtering each other; this afternoon, the Sergeant from the Lamenters squad and I took a tour inside the Imperial City and observed some situations.

Kesi has already ordered a portion of the Central Army's forces to be deployed to the periphery of the rebel area; although fighting has not yet broken out, this posture itself is very clear. As long as those fence-sitting nobles see the Central Army move, they will not easily lean toward the rebels.