211: Chapter 211 The Emperor Fights to the Death! Mobilizing the Nation's Military Force!

January 7th, Year 1 of the Galaxy Era, Night.

The night sky of the Canglan Divine Capital had long lost its former bustling lights, leaving only the deathly silence and oppression following the curfew. Patrol mechas of the Royal Guard Fleet stepped across the cold alloy streets. The beams of their searchlights swept over tightly shut doors and windows. Occasionally, the cries of children could be heard, only to be stifled by their parents, instantly blown away by the wind, leaving behind only boundless fear.

Only the Lingxiao Hall deep within the imperial palace remained lit with gilded lamps throughout the night, yet they could not illuminate the thick, inescapable madness and despair within the depths of the hall.

Less than three hours had passed since Emperor Chen Fan's ultimatum was broadcast across the entire domain. The 72-hour countdown was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of the entire Canglan Empire. Every passing second was draining the last vestiges of life from this decaying empire.

Inside the hall, the scent of blood had not yet dissipated.

The bloodstains of the old officials who advocated for surrender, killed by Emperor Cang Lan Hao himself a few hours ago, had long been hastily wiped away by palace servants, yet they still left dark brown marks on the cold golden tiled floor—like the indelible scars and sins of this empire that had spanned three hundred years.

Emperor Cang Lan Hao slumped on the supreme dragon throne. The mysterious gold imperial robe that once symbolized the hegemony of the Canglan Empire was now wrinkled and crumpled by him. The gold-inlaid collar was stained with wine and blood spots. His hair was disheveled, his eyes bloodshot, and he had completely lost any semblance of imperial dignity, looking only like a trapped beast driven to a dead end.

On the dragon desk in front of him, countless empty wine bottles were scattered. The jade ornaments, memorials, and decorative items he had smashed into pieces were strewn everywhere in a mess. Sharp shards splashed everywhere, yet no one dared to step forward to clean them up.

Below the hall, only a dozen or so officials remained standing, bowing their heads. They were either die-hard loyalists who had followed the Cang Lan royal family for decades, or core members of influential families deeply bound to the royal family with no way out. The rest of the imperial court officials had either claimed illness to avoid disaster, or had taken their families and fled overnight with their wealth. Even worse, some had already secretly contacted the Shadow Fleet of the Star River Empire, preparing to surrender the city in exchange for a way to survive.

"Your Majesty, you cannot drink anymore." Commander Canglan Lie, the commander of the Royal Guard and a cousin of Emperor Cang Lan Hao, stepped forward. His tiger eyes were filled with bitterness and helplessness. "Emperor Chen Fan's ultimatum has already spread throughout the entire domain. Now, there is panic within the territory. Civilian uprisings have broken out on three administrative planets in the western region, and two defensive fleets on the border have defected to the Star River Empire. We must come up with countermeasures as soon as possible to stabilize the situation!"

"Countermeasures?"

Emperor Cang Lan Hao suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Commander Canglan Lie. He suddenly burst into a shrill and manic laugh, laughing until he swayed back and forth. Tears flowed down his cheeks, mixing with the wine stains and undried blood, making him look exceptionally hideous.

"You want countermeasures from Me? My countermeasure is to fight to the death! It is to perish together with that dog thief, that traitorous commoner, Emperor Chen Fan! What other countermeasures could there possibly be?!"

He slammed the dragon desk, causing the shards of the wine bottles to clatter. His voice was hysterical, filled with world-destroying resentment: "Does he, Emperor Chen Fan, not want Me to surrender? Does he not want to put Me on the executioner's block? Keep dreaming! I am the thirty-second generation orthodox emperor of the Canglan Empire, the heaven-chosen master who has ruled the Human Star Domain for three hundred years! Even if I die, I will drag him, drag everyone who has betrayed Me, and drag this entire star domain down to hell together with Me!"

The frantic roaring echoed in the empty hall, making the officials below feel cold all over. One by one, they lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe loudly.

They all knew in their hearts that the situation was lost.

From the total collapse of the border defenses to the comprehensive liberation of the colonial planets, and then to the promulgation of the constitution and the allegiance of all races, the foundation of the Canglan Empire had long been uprooted by Emperor Chen Fan. They were now like wild beasts trapped in a cage. Outside were the impenetrable walls of the Star River Empire, and inside was the monstrous resentment of the people who had completely lost faith. Let alone turning the tables, even holding on for a few more days was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

But no one dared to say this out loud.

The old official who had advised surrender earlier still had his head hanging on the flagpole outside the Noon Gate. Whoever dared to say a word of discouragement at this moment would be the next one to lose their head.

Emperor Cang Lan Hao breathed heavily, his scarlet gaze sweeping over the crowd. Suddenly, he pulled out the sword at his waist and slammed it into the dragon desk. The blade trembled, its cold light sharp.

"Listen well, all of you!"

His voice was hoarse but carried an indisputable madness. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth: "Emperor Chen Fan wants Me to surrender, wants the Canglan Empire to fall—what wishful thinking! Even if I exhaust every last person, fire every last shell, and blow up every last planet, I will never let him get his way!"

"Pass on My decree! From this moment on, the entire empire is to initiate the highest level of wartime mobilization! Every citizen is a soldier! Fight to the death!"

The first decree was issued. He suddenly raised his hand, pointing outside the hall, his voice booming:

"First, all star domains and all planets within the empire are to mandatorily conscript all males between fifteen and fifty years old, regardless of background, race, or status! Within three days, all conscripted personnel must report to local military stations and be incorporated into combat sequences! Anyone who dares to resist, evade conscription, or hide able-bodied men will be executed without mercy! And their families will be implicated and executed!"

When these words were spoken, the faces of everyone in the hall changed drastically.

Fifteen to fifty years old—it was forcing almost every male who could hold a weapon onto the battlefield. But the current Canglan Empire was already in a state of livelihood decline. The bottom-tier commoners had long been drained of their last drop of sweat and blood by exorbitant taxes and colonial oppression. Forced universal conscription was tantamount to forcing everyone to a dead end.

But Emperor Cang Lan Hao did not care about this at all. He didn't want the hearts of the people or a way to survive; he wanted cannon fodder who could block bullets and fill defensive lines for him, and someone to drag down as a cushion for his own burial.

His voice did not pause for a moment as the second crazy order followed:

"Second, all factories, mines, and interstellar workshops in the entire territory are to switch to wartime military production immediately. Cease all civilian projects. All production capacity, resources, and equipment are to be prioritized for the military! Anyone who dares to hoard supplies, delay production, or refuse to comply will be charged with treason. The factory owners will be executed, and all workers will be incorporated into suicide squads!"

"Third, implement indiscriminate military control and a permanent curfew in all planets and cities across the territory! Close all civilian jump lanes, blockade all interstellar ports, and control all communication channels! Anyone who dares to collude with the Star River Empire, transmit intelligence, spread surrender rhetoric, or criticize the royal family will be executed on the spot without trial!"

"Fourth, establish a wartime supervisory team system! Royal guards will be stationed in all combat units. If any soldiers on the front line attempt to desert, fear battle, or defect, the supervisory team can execute them on the spot, and their families will all be implicated and executed! For any city or fortress that opens its gates to the enemy, the entire city will be implicated, with no one—young or old—spared, and all will be killed without exception!"

"Fifth, all royal clansmen and influential families must hand over all private armies, warships, assets, and strategic materials within twelve hours to bolster the front-line troops! Anyone who hides assets, shirks responsibility, or is perfunctory will be charged with treason, have their families wiped out, and their clans destroyed, with no leniency!"

One decree after another was like a blood-stained noose, tightly strangling the neck of the entire Canglan Empire.

There was no appeasement, no mobilization, no promises—only the most naked violence, the cruelest collective punishment, and the most insane coercion.

From beginning to end, Emperor Cang Lan Hao never mentioned protecting his subjects or guarding his homeland. He only had one thing in his eyes—fight to the death. Even if it meant burning the entire empire to ashes, he would drag Emperor Chen Fan down to hell with him.

The hall was deathly silent, with only the sound of Emperor Cang Lan Hao's heavy breathing.

The officials kneeling on the ground were ashen-faced and trembling. They knew too well that issuing these decrees was not saving the empire; it was nailing the final coffin nail into this already decaying empire.

Universal conscription would only force the already resentful commoners to rise up; forced requisition of materials would only cause the already collapsing livelihood to completely crash; the collective punishment system would only cause the already demoralized army to completely defect to the Star River Empire; and purging influential families would only push the last group of people who were still willing to support the royal family to the opposite side.

But no one dared to refute.

"What? Are you all mute?!" Emperor Cang Lan Hao slammed the table, his eyes as fierce as a wolf. "Can you not hear My decree?!"

"We... we obey the decree."

The prime minister at the head kowtowed tremblingly, and the remaining officials also knelt on the ground one after another, responding in unison with despair and fear that could not be concealed.

They knew that once this decree was passed down, the entire Canglan Empire would completely descend into hell. But they had no choice; they would either die with this madman or die right here in the Lingxiao Hall.

The crazy mobilization order, centered on the Canglan Divine Capital, swept through the remaining 23 core star domains of the Canglan Empire in just a few hours like a bloody storm.

The former Canglan Empire had ruled the Human Star Domain for three hundred years with iron blood and oppression. Their decrees had always been enforced through violence and slaughter. And this time, they used this violence to the extreme, and also used it on every subject under their rule.

The first to fall into hell were the mining planets, agricultural planets, and those administrative planets on the border scattered across the star domains.

On the Black Iron Mining Planet, the mine owners who once relied on oppressing mine slaves to accumulate wealth now became the targets of coercion themselves. The royal supervisory team, accompanied by the Royal Guard, kicked open the gates of the mines. Not only did they drag all the mine slaves out to be incorporated into suicide squads, but even the mine owner's son, butler, and even the guards were forcibly conscripted. A slight resistance resulted in a burst of particle fire, killing them on the spot.

"Let go of me! My son is only sixteen! He is still just a child!" A mine owner hugged the leg of a soldier from the supervisory team, crying heart-rendingly.

But the only response he got was a cold rifle butt. The soldier from the supervisory team kicked him away and said expressionlessly: "His Majesty has decreed that everyone over fifteen is to be conscripted. If you dare to block it again, you will be charged with defying the decree and shot on the spot."

The mine owner slumped on the ground, watching his son being roughly pushed onto a transport ship, a dilapidated energy gun stuffed into his hands. Before he could even say a word of advice, he was completely drowned in the crowd of crying and cursing people.

And on the Green Lake Agricultural Planet, the troops responsible for requisitioning materials drove mechas directly into the homes of civilians. Regardless of the family's food reserves, usable metal, energy, or even the civilians' winter clothing, everything was looted.

"This is our family's last bit of food! If you take it all, how are we supposed to live!" An old woman threw herself onto the grain bag, refusing to let go.

The officer leading the team had cold eyes. He raised his hand and gave her a rifle butt, causing the old woman to vomit blood and fall to the ground. "His Majesty has ordered that all materials be prioritized for the military! Anyone who dares to block the requisition of military supplies will be charged with treason and executed without mercy!"

The soldiers swarmed up and snatched everything, leaving only a mess and the desperate cries of the family.

Such scenes were playing out on every planet, in every city, and in every village of the Canglan Empire.

The forced conscription teams kicked down doors and grabbed people house by house. Teenagers and white-haired old men were all roughly dragged away. A slight resistance meant being shot on the street. In order to complete the conscription quotas, the supervisory teams even grabbed people on the street. Even passing merchants or travelers, as long as they were of age, were directly put into military uniforms and stuffed into transport ships.

The teams requisitioning materials were like locusts passing through. Factories were sealed, warehouses were looted, shops were raided, and anything with any use was labeled for military use. Whoever dared to block it was branded with the label of colluding with the enemy and executed on the spot.

In just one night, the entire Canglan Empire had completely turned into a living hell.

The cries, curses, gunfire, and screams of the civilians intertwined, filling every planet shrouded in darkness. They used to fear the nobles, colonial officials, and overseers of the Canglan Empire, but now, what they feared most was their own country's army, which operated under the banner of "wartime requisition."

Emperor Cang Lan Hao kept saying he wanted to fight the Star River Empire to the death, but his blade first struck the billions of subjects under his rule.

Where there is oppression, there is resistance.

The crazy mobilization order did not coalesce into the so-called heart of fighting to the death; instead, it completely ignited the grievances that had accumulated for three hundred years.

On Rocky Planet in the western region, the able-bodied men who were forcibly conscripted mutinied directly on the way to the front line. They seized the weapons of the supervisory team, killed the officers leading the team, started an uprising on the spot, occupied the planet's military garrison, opened the armory, and then raised the flag to welcome the Star River Empire, waiting for Emperor Chen Fan's army to arrive.

On Wind Whisper Planet in the southern region, the civilians who had all their food rations stolen united to besiege the city government, killed the exploitative mayor and officials, and directly announced their secession from the Canglan Empire, waiting for the Star River Empire to take over.

At the navigation fortress on the border, the soldiers of the garrison fleet, who did not want to die for Emperor Cang Lan Hao in the first place, mutinied directly after hearing the order of the collective punishment system. They controlled the fortress, killed the supervisory team sent by the royal family, contacted the Shadow Fleet, and surrendered the fortress.

Overnight, hundreds of civilian mutinies and military defections broke out within the Canglan Empire, and the number was still growing at an alarming rate.

Emperor Cang Lan Hao wanted to use violence to force everyone to fight to the death with him, but he did not expect that this crazy violence would only make everyone wish for him to die sooner, and wish for the Star River Empire's army to strike sooner to end this nightmare.

Even more despairing for the Canglan Empire than the civilian mutinies was the disintegration of military morale and the collective betrayal of the influential families.

The remaining Main Fleet of the Canglan Empire was mostly deployed within the three-ring defense circle centered on the Canglan Divine Capital, totaling less than two thousand warships. Among them, those that could reach the level of the Star River Empire's main warships were less than three hundred. Most of the rest were old models that were in disrepair and could not even gather enough energy.

The crazy mobilization order not only failed to boost military morale but instead caused the already precarious morale to hit rock bottom.

In the barracks of the Canglan Empire's proud Royal Guard Fleet, soldiers gathered in twos and threes, whispering in low voices, their faces full of panic and confusion.

"Have you heard? The Third Fleet in the western region has defected to the Star River Empire! Emperor Chen Fan said that if we lay down our weapons, bygones will be bygones, and we will still be equal citizens of the empire. He won't make things difficult for us at all."

"I heard that long ago! My cousin was in the fleet that defected earlier. He sent me a message saying that over at the Star River Empire, the soldiers are treated very well. Everyone is equal, there is no bullying by nobles, military pay is sufficient, and the equipment is good. It's simply not something that can be compared to here."

"His Majesty is completely crazy now! Between the universal conscription and the collective punishment system, this is simply sending us to our deaths! The Star River Empire has tens of thousands of main warships and more than thirty Star Destroyers. With this pile of junk we have, what are we going to fight with?"

"Fight my ass! I'm not going to die for this madman! As soon as the Star River Empire's army arrives, I'll be the first to lay down my weapons and surrender! Anyway, my life is cheap. Who am I not serving as a soldier for? At least by following Emperor Chen Fan, I won't be shot casually by the supervisory team, and I won't be used as cannon fodder by the nobles!"

Such discussions were quietly taking place in every barracks, every warship, and every fortress of the Canglan Empire.

The rank-and-file soldiers were mostly civilians forcibly conscripted or low-level soldiers who had been oppressed by the nobility their entire lives; they had little loyalty to the Cang Lan imperial family to begin with. Emperor Chen Fan's ultimatum had long since pointed them toward a clear path—lay down their weapons to gain a new life and become equal citizens. Who would still be willing to throw their lives away for a mad emperor?

Even among the mid-to-high-ranking officers, most were restless.

They were well aware that the disparity in strength between the two sides was now like heaven and earth. Even without considering that they currently had fewer than two thousand battered warships, the Canglan Empire in its prime could not have withstood Emperor Chen Fan's torrent of steel. Resisting was a dead end. Surrendering, on the other hand, could save their lives and even allow them to retain their status as citizens.

Many officers had already secretly contacted Commander Ling Ye's Shadow Fleet through various channels, handing over deployment maps of the sectors they guarded and agreeing on signals for defecting when the time came, hoping only to atone for their crimes and save their own lives and those of their families.

Even among the Royal Guard Fleet, which Emperor Cang Lan Hao trusted the most, many captains had secretly made contact with the Shadow Fleet.

As for those aristocratic families bound to the Cang Lan imperial family for three hundred years, they had long since lost the will to fight to the death.

Once Emperor Cang Lan Hao's order to confiscate assets was issued, the various families superficially complied by turning over a portion of their private armies and supplies just to go through the motions. Privately, however, they had long since secretly transferred their family's core assets, key talent, and relatives to neutral star domains; some had even taken their entire families and defected to the Star River Empire.

Deep within the mansion of the Lin family, the premier aristocratic family of the Canglan Empire, the patriarch Lin Zhenghong was bowing respectfully to a Shadow Fleet operative on a holographic screen.

"Special Envoy, this contains the complete deployment maps of the Canglan Divine Capital's outer defense system, as well as the positions and communication frequencies of the imperial supervisory teams," Lin Zhenghong said, handing over an encrypted data drive with an earnest expression. "My Lin family has lived in Cang Lan for generations, but we have long been unable to tolerate Emperor Cang Lan Hao's tyrannical actions. Once the Imperial Army arrives, my Lin family will immediately open the three fortresses under our control to welcome the army into the city. We only ask that His Majesty spare the lives of the Lin family's elders and children and preserve our kin."

The Shadow Fleet operative on the screen replied in a cold voice: "His Majesty's ultimatum has already been broadcast throughout the entire domain. Anyone who voluntarily submits and atones for their crimes will be forgiven. As long as you truly submit and do not engage in conspiracies or tricks, the Imperial Constitution will guarantee the legal rights of every law-abiding citizen. But if you dare to feign compliance while acting against us, you know the consequences."

"We wouldn't dare! We wouldn't dare!" Lin Zhenghong bowed hurriedly. "My Lin family has absolutely no ulterior motives and will definitely cooperate fully with the Imperial Army to annihilate the remnants of Cang Lan!"

Similar scenes were playing out in almost all of the major aristocratic families.

They were the vested interests of the Canglan Empire's three-hundred-year rule and accomplices in the oppression of the common people. Yet, when the edifice was about to collapse, the first thing they did was abandon this corrupt imperial family to find a new patron for themselves. After all, compared to the illusory glory of the imperial family, their own lives and the survival of their families were more important.

Emperor Cang Lan Hao thought that by relying on collective punishment and slaughter, he could force everyone to fight to the death with him. But he did not know that when a regime loses the hearts of the people and their trust, leaving only violence and intimidation, its collapse happens in an instant.

His mobilization order did not consolidate the strength for a fight to the death; instead, it pushed everyone who could be pushed to the opposite side, turning himself into a truly isolated figure.

In the underground combat command room of the palace in the Canglan Divine Capital.

Emperor Cang Lan Hao had not closed his eyes for two days and two nights. His bloodshot, crimson eyes were fixed on the holographic star map in front of him, and he had not put down the wine bottle in his hand.

The reports coming in from everywhere were all bad news. Mutinies, defections, uprisings, desertions—urgent reports arrived like snowflakes, each one telling him that his empire was falling apart at an alarming speed.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!" He slammed the wine bottle in his hand to the ground, scattering glass shards and wine everywhere. He shrieked hysterically at the official who had come to report: "You can't even suppress a few hundred lowly commoners! What use are you to me?! Kill! Kill for me! Anyone who dares to mutiny or rebel, slaughter the whole city! Leave no one alive!"

The official, trembling with fear, scrambled away to carry out the order, terrified that if he were a second late, he would be cut down on the spot by this mad emperor.

Beside him, Commander Canglan Lie, watching his cousin who appeared to have gone insane, felt his despair deepening. He couldn't help but advise: "Your Majesty, you cannot keep killing! The more you kill, the more people will resist! Currently, the garrisons everywhere can barely suppress the mutinies. If we continue like this, we won't need to wait for Emperor Chen Fan to attack; we will collapse on our own first!"

"Collapse?" Emperor Cang Lan Hao turned his head abruptly, staring fixedly at him, his eyes filled with insane suspicion. "What? You also think I am destined to lose? You also want to advise me to surrender? Even you want to betray me?!"

"Your subject wouldn't dare!" Commander Canglan Lie knelt on the ground immediately. "I am loyal to Your Majesty and the imperial family, and I have absolutely no ulterior motives! I only feel that we cannot keep pushing like this. If we continue, there will truly be no one left to use!"

"Loyalty?" Emperor Cang Lan Hao sneered, stepping forward to grab him by the collar, his crimson eyes almost pressed against his face. "Loyalty? Then tell me, why have so many people betrayed me overnight? Why have even people in my Royal Guard Fleet secretly contacted Emperor Chen Fan's people?!"

"They all deserve to die! Everyone who betrays me deserves to die!"

He shoved Commander Canglan Lie away, staggered back a step, and grabbed the console, the madness in his eyes intensifying.

He did not believe it; he did not believe he would lose.

He was the Emperor of the Canglan Empire; he possessed a three-hundred-year foundation, and he still had the capital planet's defense system and his final trump card.

"Transmit my order!" Emperor Cang Lan Hao gritted his teeth, his voice filled with the ruthlessness of someone ready to perish together with his enemy. "Tell those trash in the Research Center to speed up the development of the planet self-destruct device! Within 72 hours, the deployment of the planetary core detonation device for the Canglan Divine Capital must be completed! Also, load all twelve surrounding satellites with overload energy bombs!"

"Doesn't Emperor Chen Fan want to take the Canglan Divine Capital? I will let him come! As long as he dares to enter, I will detonate the entire planet and make him, his fleet, and everyone on this planet be buried with me!"

Commander Canglan Lie shuddered and looked up abruptly: "Your Majesty! You cannot! There are over twenty billion civilians on the Canglan Divine Capital! If you detonate the planetary core, the entire planet will be blown into cosmic dust, and no one will survive!"

"So what?" Emperor Cang Lan Hao laughed hideously. "They are my subjects; if I die, they should die with me! The empire I cannot have, Emperor Chen Fan shall not have either! Even if it is destroyed, it will never fall into his hands!"

He had gone completely insane.

In his eyes, the lives of twenty billion civilians were merely bargaining chips for his revenge, tools to drag Emperor Chen Fan down to death with him.

He immediately ordered all the chief scientists of the Research Center to be placed under house arrest, taking their families hostage to force them to work day and night to develop the planetary core detonation device. If the progress was even slightly slow, he would kill a scientist's family member to force them into submission.

At the same time, he ordered all civilians around the Canglan Divine Capital to be driven into the outer defensive fortifications to serve as "human shields." He declared that as long as the Star River Empire's fleet dared to fire, these civilians would be the first to die.

There is nothing more deranged than this.

In stark contrast to the chaos, madness, and despair of the Canglan Empire was the composure and preparedness of the Star River Empire.

On Odin Planet, at the Imperial Combat Command Center.

The holographic star map above the dome clearly marked every mutiny, every defection, and every change in the defensive lines within the Canglan Empire. Commander Ling Ye's Shadow Fleet, like an invisible net, had long since infiltrated every corner of the Canglan Empire, and all intelligence was summarized and presented to Emperor Chen Fan in real-time.

Emperor Chen Fan sat upright on the main seat, his expression calm as he listened to Commander Ling Ye's report. There was not a trace of surprise in his deep eyes.

The struggle of a trapped beast; the crazier it became, the more it proved that it had reached the end of the road.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Cang Lan Hao's national mobilization order has already triggered large-scale chaos within his territory. Overnight, civilian uprisings have broken out on 17 planets, 32 organized military units have defected and submitted, and over 70% of the aristocratic families have secretly contacted us, willing to surrender their cities and cooperate with our army's operations," Commander Ling Ye reported the latest intelligence in a cold voice. "Additionally, we have confirmed that Emperor Cang Lan Hao is forcing the Research Center to develop a planetary core detonation device, while simultaneously deploying a large number of suicide turrets and overload bombs around the Canglan Divine Capital, intending to use civilians as hostages to perish together with our army."

"That son of a bitch madman!" Old Hu slammed his fist onto the table, his tiger-like eyes wide open, shaking with anger. "To save his own wretched life, he actually uses twenty billion civilians as human shields and wants to blow up the entire planet! It's simply heinous! Your Majesty, we cannot wait any longer! Please order the expedition immediately! If we wait any longer, who knows how many innocent civilians will die at the hands of this madman!"

"Your Majesty, this general requests to fight!" Commander Lei Meng stepped forward, his voice like a booming bell. "The vanguard fleet is fully in position and ready to depart at any time! I am willing to lead the vanguard army to be the first to tear open their outer defensive lines and clear the way for the main army; we absolutely cannot let Emperor Cang Lan Hao's conspiracy succeed!"

Commander Ling Shuang, clad in silver-white battle armor, stepped forward and said firmly: "Your Majesty, the Mecha Legion's 500,000 Dawn Mecha have all completed pre-battle maintenance and ammunition resupply. They are ready to cooperate with the fleet at any time to execute landing operations, stronghold clearances, and civilian rescue missions. As long as you give the order, I guarantee that I will break through their ground defenses at the fastest speed and protect the safety of the civilians."

The generals all requested to fight, their battle intent soaring, yet also filled with anger at Emperor Cang Lan Hao's atrocities.

They had followed Emperor Chen Fan all the way to end oppression, achieve equality for all, and protect the lives and dignity of the people. Emperor Cang Lan Hao's insane actions had touched everyone's bottom line.

Emperor Chen Fan slowly raised his hand, stopping the generals' requests. His gaze swept across the room, his voice calm yet carrying immense weight:

"I know everyone is anxious. But the ultimatum has been issued, and the 72-hour promise must be honored. This is not only a deadline for Emperor Cang Lan Hao but also an opportunity for all the coerced soldiers, wavering officials, and suffering civilians within Cang Lan to make a choice."

"What we want is not just a military victory, but to completely end the oppression and darkness of the old era, and to let all human subjects see clearly who brings light and who brings disaster."

His gaze turned to Commander Su Qingyue, asking: "How are the interception and cracking plans for Emperor Cang Lan Hao's self-destruct devices and suicide turrets coming along?"

Commander Su Qingyue stepped forward and bowed to report: "Your Majesty, the Research Center has completed the full set of response plans. For their overload bombs and self-destruct devices, we have developed remote energy freezing shells that can instantly freeze the device's energy core without detonating it, rendering it completely ineffective. Regarding the planetary core detonation device, we have obtained the design blueprints through our infiltrated scientists. As long as they dare to activate it, zero ai can remotely hack into the control system within 0.1 seconds and forcibly terminate the detonation program."

"At the same time, our cracking and jamming plans for the Canglan Empire's defense systems, shield systems, and communication networks are all complete. Once the war begins, we can immediately paralyze their domain-wide command systems and air defense systems, making them deaf and blind, minimizing our army's casualties, and avoiding collateral damage to civilians."

Emperor Chen Fan nodded slightly and looked at Aila: "How is the livelihood resettlement and logistical support preparation?"

Aila immediately bowed and responded: "Your Majesty, the Logistics Support Department has completed the material reserves for full-scale operations. Ammunition, energy, medical supplies, and livelihood provisions are all sufficient and can support the Main Fleet to fight continuously for over a year. The Ministry of All-Race Affairs and the Civil Affairs Department have organized over 200 resettlement teams. Once our army takes the planet, they can move in immediately to distribute supplies, treat the wounded, pacify the civilians, and rebuild order, ensuring that wherever we take over, we stabilize."

"Xing Xi, Zero."

"I am here." "I am here." The voices of Xing Xi and Zero sounded simultaneously.

"Are the domain-wide combat deployment and the coordination plans for each unit ready?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Zero central AI has completed the optimal combat planning for all combat units. Flight path planning, firepower deployment, coordination instructions, and emergency plans have all been preset. All combat units have been fully connected to the domain-wide command network, enabling Zero-latency transmission of instructions and no-dead-angle coverage of firepower." Xing Xi's voice was clear and firm. "At the same time, we have fully locked onto the precise coordinates of all self-destruct devices, suicide turrets, and fortifications within the Canglan Empire. Once the war begins, we can implement precision strikes immediately to clear risks in advance."

All preparations were ready.

Tens of thousands of Main Fleet ships, over thirty Dawn-class Star Destroyers, one hundred thousand auxiliary ships of various types, twenty million ground troops, and 500,000 Dawn Mecha were already waiting in battle array, just waiting for the Emperor's order.

Emperor Chen Fan stood up, his gaze looking toward the dark golden area on the star map, a cold, chilling gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Transmit the order."

His voice spread throughout the entire command center and reached all the Empire's combat units:

"The three armies will continue to maintain a state of first-level combat readiness and complete the final pre-battle preparations. At the same time, have the Shadow Fleet increase the intensity of infiltration, do everything possible to protect the coerced civilians, turn the enemy officers and soldiers, and sabotage the deployment of Emperor Cang Lan Hao's self-destruct devices."

"Once the 72-hour time limit is reached, if Emperor Cang Lan Hao still refuses to surrender, I will personally lead the Empire's Main Fleet to march on the Canglan Divine Capital, annihilate this corrupt old empire, and end this darkness that has lasted for three hundred years."

"As you command!"

The generals all knelt on one knee in unison, their voices shaking the universe, their battle intent soaring straight into the galaxy.

Time passed second by second.

The 72-hour countdown continued to tick away.

The madness and chaos in the Canglan Divine Capital continued to intensify. Emperor Cang Lan Hao's slaughter and suppression became increasingly frantic, yet more and more people defected to the Star River Empire. He thought he was mobilizing the whole country for a fight to the death, not knowing that he had long since become an isolated figure, with everyone waiting for his demise.

Within the military port of Odin Planet, steel warships were poised for action, and the silver-blue dragon flags flapped loudly under the starry sky.

Billions of soldiers held their breath in anticipation.

Once the time limit is reached, they will transform into a torrent of steel sweeping across the galaxy, crushing the last barriers of the old era and ushering in the dawn of the unification of human civilization.