Chapter 1499: Let the Mercenaries Intercept

Kusilei handed the military report to the clerk nearby for filing, then turned and walked toward the holographic Communication Room on the side of the main hall.

Kusilei walked to the table and stood still, reached out and pressed a few times on the touch panel at the edge of the table, and activated the communication system.

The Communications Officer operated the master console outside, connecting Kusilei's main terminal with the communication terminals of the five noble territories.

Five translucent blue human silhouettes slowly emerged in the center of the table, gradually becoming clear.

The first to appear was Lord Tuermeng of the adjacent territory, a generation older than Kusilei.

The second to appear was Lord Talian from the direction of Luosa Star.

The third to appear was Lord Walan from the direction of Kaerniya Star.

The fourth to appear was Lord Herman from the Southern Border region, similar in age to Tuermeng.

The fifth to appear was Lord Leien from the southeast side.

Kusilei stood at his main seat and spoke.

Everyone should have received the military report, right?

Tuermeng spoke first.

Received. One hundred and thirty Capital Ships, Central Army combat sequence, arriving at the edge of the Southern Border in three days. Kesi is quite bold this time; he dares to send troops like this just after obtaining military power, not even afraid that those soldiers might mutiny.

Talian replied.

One hundred and thirty is indeed quite a lot. All the ships I can mobilize on hand add up to only about forty. Facing the Central Army head-on, we don't have the advantage in numbers.

Walan's voice was young and clear.

I can provide thirty ships, but ten of them are still in the final stages of refitting and might not make it for the first wave within three days. If we can wait two more days, I can pull out all thirty.

Herman coughed once.

*Cough, cough, cough*, I don't have much of a foundation here; I can move about fifteen ships. The rest are old patrol boats, not suitable for head-on combat.

Leien's voice said steadily.

I have twenty-five ships. The ships are in good condition, and the personnel complement is complete.

Kusilei waited for all five to finish speaking, then nodded and said.

The total number of our ships compared to the Central Army's one hundred and thirty is not too large a gap, but we don't have enough time to complete all assembly and refitting.

In three days, the Central Army fleet will enter the Southern Border. If no other force blocks the Central Army within these three days, letting them enter the Southern Border hinterland directly, we will lose the initiative of fighting on our home turf.

Tuermeng's four eyes narrowed slightly.

You mean, we need to find someone to block them for three days?

Kusilei nodded and said.

Yes, we only need to stall them for three days and make the Central Army fleet stop at the edge of the Southern Border. By then, our entire fleet will be in place, and we can surround and wipe them out.

Talian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

Stall for three days? With what? Our own fleets aren't complete right now; forcing them into an Intercept battle will only lead to being picked off one by one by the Central Army. You're talking about mercenaries, right?

Kusilei nodded.

Iron Claw Mercenary Group.

Tuermeng spoke.

The Iron Claw Mercenary Group is the largest mercenary armed force in the Southern Border, with a scale of one hundred and forty ships. Their combat power is indeed sufficient, but their asking price is not low.

Kusilei said.

I have had preliminary talks with the leader of Iron Claw, fixed payment plus a share of the spoils. For the fixed payment part, they asked for five billion Klock Coins.

Upon hearing five billion Klock Coins, Talian said in shock.

Five billion? Isn't Iron Claw's appetite a bit too big? My annual military budget is only a little over four billion. They want five billion for one fleet to fight one battle?

Walan continued.

Five billion is indeed too expensive. Even if the six of us split it equally, each would have to pay over eight hundred million. My military orders and shipyard expansion have already pushed my budget to the limit; it's not very realistic to come up with another eight hundred million.

Herman also said with difficulty.

It's even harder for me. Ship maintenance and personnel expenses already account for the majority of my budget. Eight hundred million is almost the total income of a quarter for me.

Leien thought for a few seconds and said.

Five billion is not a small amount. I acknowledge Iron Claw's own combat power, but this price is close to my territory's entire annual military budget.

Kusilei watched the five holographic images express their respective difficulties one by one, cursing them as old foxes in his heart, but he spoke aloud.

I have already negotiated the price; Iron Claw said this is their bottom line and they do not accept bargaining.

So there are only two choices now: either the six of us split this five billion equally and let Iron Claw stall the Central Army for three days, or we do nothing, and in three days the Central Army fleet will drive straight into the Southern Border and crush our territories one by one.

It became quiet in the holographic images, and Kusilei watched them weigh the pros and cons.

Talian was the first to break the Silence.

If we split it, I cannot accept a simple six-way division. I have three shipyards rushing to complete work, so my financial pressure is the greatest. Your investments are relatively smaller, so you should pay a bit more.

Walan immediately replied.

I am also rushing to build ships here, and the schedule is even tighter than yours. I have built a new Shipyard, and the initial equipment investment has already made the finances very tight. It is also unfair to me if it is a six-way split.

Herman coughed twice and said.

My territory is the smallest of the six, and the output is already low. If it is based on a six-way split, the proportion is too heavy for me.

Tuermeng did not speak, watching these nobles all wanting to contribute less to gain the same benefits.

Leien spoke to break the brief stalemate.

It is more reasonable to split it according to the proportion of existing fiscal revenue. Whoever has a larger territory and more output should pay more. This way, the relative pressure everyone bears is equal.

Tuermeng finally spoke at this moment.

I agree with the fiscal proportion sharing plan. Kusilei's territory is the largest, and Lanos is also the wealthiest planet in the Southern Border, so he should pay the largest share.

Leien's territory is about the same as mine, Talian and Walan's are of similar scale, and Herman's is the smallest. According to the proportional split, Kusilei accounts for about thirty-plus percent, Leien and I each account for about twenty percent, Talian and Walan each account for ten-plus percent, and Herman accounts for less than ten percent.

Herman nodded.

I can accept this proposal.

Talian and Walan exchanged a glance, and Talian said.

I have no problem with the fiscal proportion. But how are the specific figures calculated? Each family reports their own fiscal revenue, and no one knows if there is any false reporting.

Leien said.

Use last year's statistics from the Southern Border Economic Association as a baseline; that data was produced by a third-party organization and is relatively fair, so we will allocate the shares based on that data.

Tuermeng nodded.

I agree; we shall use the Association's data as the standard.

Talian nodded and said.

Fine, we will go by the Association's data.

Walan nodded in agreement.

That is acceptable.

Kusilei stood before the round table, and after hearing the last person's statement, a trace of a smile appeared on his face.

Then I will calculate the specific figures. According to the Association's statistics from last year, my territory's output accounts for thirty-two percent of the Southern Border's total economy, Leien accounts for twenty-one percent, Tuermeng accounts for nineteen percent, Talian accounts for fifteen percent, Walan accounts for ten percent, and Herman accounts for three percent. Allocating five billion according to this proportion...

He reached out and swiped quickly on the touchscreen on the tabletop, and a string of numbers appeared above the holographic projection.

I will pay 1.6 billion, Leien will pay 1.05 billion, Tuermeng will pay 950 million, Talian will pay 750 million, Walan will pay 500 million, and Herman will pay 150 million. The total is exactly five billion.

The five holographic images looked at the string of numbers simultaneously.

Leien said: Reasonable.

Talian followed up: Acceptable.

Walan also said:

Herman said: I have no problem.

Tuermeng spoke last: Then let it be settled according to these figures. Kusilei, you are responsible for signing the contract with Iron Claw. The money will first be transferred from our respective accounts into the joint escrow account, and then the escrow account will make a unified payment to Iron Claw. This will ensure that all payments are synchronized.

Kusilei nodded.

No problem. I will arrange for a financial officer to coordinate with you regarding the escrow account. Once the money is in place, I will contact the commander of Iron Claw directly to issue the Intercept order.

After the Central Army's fleet enters the shipping lane junction at the edge of the Southern Border, Iron Claw will intercept them there; holding the Central Army for three days should be without suspense.

Once three days have passed, our own fleets will all be in position, and with over a hundred ships surrounding them, these one hundred and thirty ships of the Central Army will become a dead end.

The five holographic images nodded simultaneously, and Tuermeng said.

Then this matter is settled. I am going to arrange for the finance department to transfer the funds now.

Talian said: Same here; I will handle it immediately after we finish.

Walan, Herman, and Leien stated their positions in turn, and the five holographic projections dissipated.

Kusilei stood by the round table, the corners of his mouth turned up, and he turned his head to say to the Communications Officer waiting at the door.

I originally thought I would have to shoulder these five billion all by myself. Now there are five suckers to share the burden for me. Talian and Walan were still arguing over which plan was fair to them, yet after allocating by economic proportion, they still think they got the better end of the deal.

"You are wise, my lord."