Chapter 1509: No Negotiations, Just Attack?

At this moment, a minister stood up and spoke.

"Your Majesty, the Star Spirit Federation possesses ninety-one rulers who call themselves Star Spirits, distributed across ninety-one planets. The strength and armaments of each Star Spirit are not to be underestimated..."

The Deputy Chief of Military Affairs also stood up at this time to dissuade him.

"Your Majesty, the Imperium's current military investment in the Southern Border is already the largest-scale combat operation in recent years. If we simultaneously initiate war preparations against the Star Spirit Federation, the logistics system will face the test of dual-front pressure."

Kesi finished listening to the three people's statements, raised his hand, and said.

"Regarding the treasury issue, after the rebellion in the Southern Border is quelled, there will be a large amount of confiscated noble territories and Assets recorded. The reserves and real estate of those nobles are enough to support the initial investment for military expansion."

"The Imperium cannot forever only deal with rebellions within its borders. The existence of the Star Spirit Federation itself is a challenge to the Imperial throne. I am the Emperor of the Keloke Imperium and will not tolerate a force that openly denies the throne continuing to exist beyond our borders."

"This matter will no longer be discussed. The Military Affairs Department shall begin drafting the expansion plan starting today and submit it to me for review within one month. The court is dismissed."

Kesi stood up from the main seat and walked toward the side door.

The Ministry of Government Affairs slowly turned and walked toward the main entrance, with the Deputy Chief of Military Affairs following behind, lowering his voice to say.

"His Majesty's step is a bit too large; the Southern Border hasn't been finished yet, and he already wants to fight the Star Spirit Federation."

The Ministry of Government Affairs said in a low voice.

"He said he would no longer discuss it."

The Deputy Chief of Military Affairs nodded slightly, ultimately did not reply, and quickened his pace to walk out of the main hall.

Lanuosi Planet, Kusilei residence, main hall.

Kusilei stood before the Holographic Star Map in the center of the main hall; the markers for five planets on the display screen had changed from green to gray, with the status description of 'cleared' automatically noted beside them.

Kusilei was shaking with anger, and said in a trembling tone.

"Five planets! They destroyed five planets!"

No one in the main hall replied; these aides now dared not provoke Kusilei.

Kusilei turned around to face the people in the main hall and said angrily.

"Those planets had defensive fortifications and gun emplacements; those were war targets. But what about the cities on the planets? The residential areas? The agricultural production facilities?"

"The people of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance don't distinguish these at all; they directly cover everything with firepower! A Light Lance strikes, and it's a line sweeping from beginning to end; no matter what is on the ground, it all disappears!"

He reached out and pointed at those gray light spots on the star map, his finger trembling slightly in the air.

"Kesi letting these people into the Imperium is just letting outsiders do this kind of thing on our own turf. The Keloke people of five planets are just gone like that."

An aide finally gathered the courage to speak.

"My Lord... there is news that the orbital defense forces of two planets attempted to negotiate before the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet approached, but the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet still executed the firepower coverage according to the original plan."

Kusilei turned his head to look at that aide.

"No negotiations at all, just attacking directly? They don't even want prisoners?"

"This... this subordinate did not know it would be like this..."

A notification sound rang out from the communication console in the corner of the main hall. The clerk responsible for summarizing information from various noble territories hurried to Kusilei's side and handed over the Data Pad in his hand.

"My Lord... news just received. Lord Tuermeng and Lord Talian have already publicly stated their willingness to disarm completely and send envoys to His Majesty Kesi's Imperial City to submit formal letters of apology. Their fleets have already begun to withdraw to the main ports, and the orbital gun emplacements are being disarmed."

Kusilei took the Data Pad, and after seeing the content on it, he knew that these two allies had officially left the rebel camp in the Southern Border.

Kusilei suppressed his overflowing rage and spoke.

"Tuermeng, Talian, the two who supported my father first; they are kneeling faster than anyone else now."

Kusilei turned and walked quickly toward the communication console, pressed the call button for the encrypted channel of Tuermeng's territory, and the communication was connected quickly.

Kusilei directly questioned him.

"Tuermeng, tell me, what is the meaning of this? Disarming? How many minutes has it been since you sent that message out?"

Tuermeng raised his gaze and said in a calm tone.

"Kusilei, the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet has already destroyed five planets. The ground defense forces on the fifth planet tried to negotiate before they arrived, but the result was no different. Their Light Lances covered the entire planet just the same, and the whole planet disappeared."

Kusilei interrupted Tuermeng, saying in an agitated tone.

"So you are going to kneel? Because you fear their firepower?"

"I fear that my family, which has continued in the Keloke Imperium for hundreds of years, won't have a single heir left after this rebellion ends."

"The people of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will not negotiate with us, will not accept conditions, and will not distinguish who is the mastermind and who is the vassal. They only do one thing: clear all targets that appear on their firing list."

"I am disarming so that those watching me from orbit can see that I am no threat. If they choose to bypass my planet to attack the next target because I have no armaments, my family might still survive."

Kusilei laughed in anger.

"Heh, you make it sound like you made the right choice. But have you thought about it? After he finishes off all of you one by one, do you think he will let you go? You disarmed, which is giving up resistance; when he finishes off everyone else and frees up his hands to deal with you, you won't even have a chance to fight back."

Tuermeng's four eyes looked straight at Kusilei.

"I know now that if I continue to resist, I will be cleared out right now. I don't intend to let my territory and my family disappear together. Call me cowardly, call me a traitor, my decision has been issued and will not be withdrawn."

After he finished this sentence, the image disappeared, and the connection was cut.

Kusilei's fingers trembled with anger, and then he pressed the call button for Talian's territory again.

The line connected slower than Tuermeng's side. Talian's holographic image appeared, and after seeing Kusilei, Talian spoke.

"Kusilei, if you are here to persuade me to withdraw my decision, then you don't need to speak."

Kusilei questioned him.

"Are you also going to tell me you are protecting your family? Talian, you weren't the type of person who would kneel and beg for mercy before."

Talian said wearily.

"My fleet going out was useless; Tuermeng's fleet was larger than mine, and he still didn't win. A few planets that resisted, they fought from beginning to end, and the result was the same as those who didn't fight—all were wiped out."

"I don't want my territory to turn into a gray-white ruin under that kind of firepower coverage. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet won't distinguish whether you are the mastermind; they only distinguish whether you are still resisting."

"I have stopped resisting; perhaps they will therefore stop acting against me. That way, at least my family has a chance to start over elsewhere, instead of everyone dying here together."

Kusilei's chest heaved violently, and he said in a desperate rage.

"You are all finding excuses for your own cowardice. Will the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance stop? Because you don't resist, they stop? Tuermeng said he would negotiate with Kesi; do you think Kesi will negotiate with someone who once publicly questioned the legitimacy of his throne?"

He will only wait until all the armaments in the Southern Border are completely dismantled, then stomp you all to death with one foot. Your cowardice cannot save you; it will only make you die faster.