The so-called interstellar cavalry are essentially mobile infantry. However, this particular corps of interstellar cavalry places greater emphasis on the use of vehicles, and it pays attention to combat in space. The corps, which numbers over three thousand, is equipped with more than two hundred interstellar fighters, along with various troop transport ships, landing craft, and even small fire-support vessels.
That evening, Bai Zhongqi reviewed the operational plans and training manuals for the interstellar cavalry that Nian Deng had submitted to him, and within them, he found something that absolutely dazzled him. The corps had been allocated approximately six hundred Spike Ships, intended to be used as boarding vehicles for combat.
The brave Silver Feather Army planned that, once their Unicorn Spacecraft provided extremely fierce firepower to shatter the enemy warship’s shield, the deploying ships would launch the Spike Ships toward these enemy vessels. The Spike Ships would directly pierce the hulls of the enemy warships, allowing the interstellar cavalry within to enter directly and engage the enemy in close quarters combat.
The Spike Ships were creations of Iridium Star, but the Silver Feather Army was particularly fond of them. From this, it was evident that the Silver Feather Army selectively accepted what Iridium Star had to offer.
In Bai Zhongqi’s view, there was a significant limitation to this mode of combat. If the shields had already been shattered, there was no need to risk lives in such boarding actions. The Silver Feather Army focused on bravery in combat, but to the people of Iridium Star, such an approach was incredibly foolish.
Bai Zhongqi’s thought process was in fact Iridium Star-influenced, prioritizing efficiency and cost. He would never approve a corps composed of the elite Silver Feather Army to conduct such operations.
Staying at the heart of the sacred city in the Chancellor Palace, Bai Zhongqi felt the arrangement was a bit too pretentious. The Silver Feather Army even planned to provide a full complement of palace maidens to serve the sacred city, but Bai Zhongqi expressly rejected that. Now, the massive palace was eerily quiet, with only the dozen or so members of Bai Zhongqi’s personal service team, in addition to the Chancellor’s guards.
Still reviewing various documents in his office, the Chancellor unusually worked late into the night, perhaps feeling in such an opulent palace that only by working hard could he justify such treatment and consider himself diligent and loving towards his people.
Han Jiaxue had already gone to bed, leaving only Ji to accompany His Majesty the Chancellor in the study.
Ji chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, do you feel that it’s only in the Silver Feather Army’s presence that you actually feel like an Emperor?"
Bai Zhongqi sipped some hot water, comfortably stretching and reclining in his chair, and said, "My title is originally Chancellor, not Emperor. The people of Iridium Star respect me enough, and I find the gesture of the Silver Feather Army a bit too much. But that’s their tradition, which has lasted four thousand years, and it wouldn’t be right to ask them to change it just like that."
"It is probably their persistence and reverence towards the title of Chancellor that have allowed them to endure for four thousand years across different universes, and ultimately, to find you."
Bai Zhongqi nodded. He did admire the Silver Feather Army. No matter their issues, Bai Zhongqi considered them an important part of the Star Alliance, giving them sufficient respect and power. Read exclusive content at freewebnovel
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"However, within the Star Alliance, the perception of the Silver Feather Army isn’t that good. Over at the Star Alliance government, there’s some apprehension about the Silver Feather Army."
Bai Zhongqi naturally understood why this was the case; the Silver Feather Army now essentially operated like a state within a state. Even though there were many countries on Earth, they were now unified under the management of the Star Alliance, universally subject to the Alliance’s constitution, and all national governments had to accept policy guidance from the Star Alliance government. However, the situation on Lieque Star, which the Silver Feather Army controlled, was different; Lieque Star took financial transfers from the Star Alliance while also contributing fiscal revenues to it, which, on the surface, appeared no different from the countries on Earth.
Yet, the Silver Feather Army’s local governance exhibited a great deal of autonomy, an independence that the Earth’s countries, the administrative regions of Emerald Sea Star, and the administrative regions of Lingge Star lacked. For instance, Lieque Star announced that ideally, every household should bear more than four children, a law that seemed reckless to the Star Alliance government and even met with criticism from many countries on Earth, but Zunsheng City was still able to implement it, and it was accepted by families of the Silver Feather Army.
The controversial policies of the Silver Feather Army were currently only implemented in Zunsheng City and not in other colonies on Lieque Star, which is why the Star Alliance government didn’t react strongly against it. Bai Zhongqi could imagine that if the Silver Feather Army extended such contentious policies across all regions of Lieque Star, they were likely to face strong opposition from the Star Alliance government.
Even though their interests were generally aligned with the overarching goals of the Star Alliance and they were equally loyal to Bai Zhongqi, the Chancellor, no central power wanted to have a subordinate that didn’t heed its calls.
From another perspective, within the Star Alliance, there were individuals among both the Iridium Star people and Earthlings who harbored political aspirations to limit the Chancellor’s authority, even though such political aspirations were difficult to realize. The emergence of the Silver Feather Army, and its maintenance of and compliance with the Chancellor’s authority, displeased these political forces.
For a segment of Iridium Star people, collective representational democracy and elite politics had been in practice even before welcoming back the Chancellor, while Earth had been influenced by liberalism; the existence of an unbridled super-authority terrified them.
Bai Zhongqi had long been aware of the existence of these individuals and was not concerned about his position; his power was ultimately determined by the Supreme Command, and with the Supreme Command in hand, he didn’t need to worry about what others thought. He also didn’t want to actually strike against these political forces opposed to Chancellor autocracy; even if he amassed more power, it wouldn’t be of any practical benefit, but rather could damage the Star Alliance.
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Therefore, Bai Zhongqi had always operated behind the scenes, even though many decisions were essentially his or influenced by him, he would never make a direct statement. It was like an open secret and a tacit political maneuver; he was the real power but never overtly so.
Bai Zhongqi didn’t need the title of a ceremonial monarch of the Star Alliance, he just needed to get things done.
Furthermore, having lived for thousands of years, as well as the mystique of the Supreme Command, both served to some extent in protecting his identity. Some Earthlings, despite not favoring a Chancellor system, had to acknowledge and accept his uniqueness, while some with idealistic tendencies naturally accepted that the Chancellor was the sole existence of the Star Alliance, and his power was rightful.
This time, the Star Alliance government’s pressure on the Silver Feather Army was essentially the government, as an established entity, tentatively seeking more authority from the Chancellor.
Bai Zhongqi could accept the Star Alliance government taking a leading role in affairs, but he certainly had his limits; he wouldn’t endlessly back down until he became a mere figurehead.
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