Resurrection Empire

Chapter 1450: Chapter 547: Drastic Turn of Events (2)

This is somewhat irregular. Although he is an Earl, he has not yet passed the review and has not been formally enfeoffed, so he should not have the authority to gather retainers on such a large scale.

But now, none of that matters anymore.

Nobles of the Empire, including Wen Yuanbo, have all tried to send congratulatory messages to Ren Zhong through their channels, attempting to contact him. On one hand, to offer congratulations, and on the other, to continue to foster relationships and strengthen collaboration.

However, shortly after announcing the news, Ren Zhong entered the Fold Jump Subspace Channel, severing his connections with the outside world, leaving everyone regretful.

During the more than ten months of Ren Zhong’s voyage through the Subspace Channel, there was one person in the Nanxiang Star Cluster who was overwhelmed with frustration, and that was none other than the Nanxiang Marquis Liu An, whose conspiracy had once again failed, leaving him in a mess.

In order to maintain his absolute authority within the Nanxiang Star Cluster, to achieve complete control over the Military and Political Center, and to have full command over the Star Cluster Level conscription fleet, Liu An took targeted actions against Ren Zhong and the Red Blade Clan time and again.

Starting from the "unexpected dark energy eruption" when the Source Star Fleet passed through the Black Mist Zone, to the disaster of Star Annihilation Ants on South Nine C triggered by hints to Viscount Nan Jiu, to the complete blockade of South Nine C, the repeated interference with the Red Blade Clan’s normal commercial activities by using Shattered Star Ring Pirates, and even going so far as to personally assist Viscount Nan Jiu Grue Augustus in stealing the Red Blade Clan’s patented technology, he further manipulated legal matters, leaving nothing undone, and finally, with this last act of deploying official Empire military equipment, colluded with rebellion-like Pirate Alliance to ambush Earl Red Blade Ren Zhong himself, completely crossing the red line.

As Liu An initially considered, it seems on the surface that the risk is great, but as long as the kill could be ensured, the risk would actually be zero, and the red line would not exist.

The Military Department would not trouble him, a substantive Earl, for someone who is dead.

As for the rebel nature of the Shattered Star Ring Pirates, he could define it as he wished. If he wanted to, with the permanent fleet of the Military and Political Center at his disposal, he could easily eliminate the Shattered Star Ring Pirate Group, or with just a piece of paper, complete the pacification bloodlessly.

The situation was all under Liu An’s control, but the problem lies precisely in that the battle, which should not have failed, ended in a defeat so clean and thorough that even Earl Red Blade gathered a large number of captives, integrating them as non-regular subjects.

If Earl Red Blade were just an ordinary Earl, it would be fine.

Even in such a dire situation, Liu An still has things to say. The Liu Family, after years of cultivation, has connections at the Empire’s high levels and far and near marital relations, along with deeper interest ties, all of which could be his protective charms, and crossing the line slightly would not be fatal.

However, Earl Red Blade Ren Zhong is rising, now shining brightly across half the sky.

The top levels of the Military Department have already, at the first instance, required top warriors in the entire region’s army to carefully study Ren Zhong’s combat records.

The Royal Academy of Sciences and the Military Department Training Center almost simultaneously issued recruitment letters to the Nanxiang Military and Political Center.

The Royal Academy of Sciences’ reason for recruiting Ren Zhong is his mastery of short-range jump technology.

The Military Department Training Center’s reason does not need to be elaborated.

Moreover, letters of engagement from Marquises, Dukes, and even Princes from all over the Empire are pouring in like snowflakes. Decision-makers among these high-ranking powers all hope to establish contact with Earl Red Blade Ren Zhong as soon as possible.

But the above phenomena are not what gives Liu An the biggest headache.

The direct emissary from the superior administrative hub of the Nanxiang Star Cluster, the master of the Far Border Star Domain, Marquis Zhenjiang’s direct envoy, has set off the very first moment, about to cross the Star Gate heading towards the Nanxiang Star Cluster. The purpose of Marquis Zhenjiang’s envoy is to personally escort Earl Red Blade to the administrative hub Star Zone of the Far Border Star Domain.

Ren Zhong will receive formal enfeoffment on Marquis Zhenjiang’s main star.

On the surface, it seems that Marquis Zhenjiang is eagerly seeking talent, but anyone with a brain knows that to have a Marquis personally dispatch a direct envoy to spend life to pick someone up must mean that the high levels of the Empire’s core have seen through the chaos within the Nanxiang Star Cluster, resolutely using a truly significant figure to sit in, completely eliminating Liu An’s last opportunity to make moves before Ren Zhong’s formal enfeoffment.

The high levels of the Empire do not even plan to leave Liu An the chance to go mad.

At this moment, Liu An stands in his office, trembling, with a vague holographic figure in front of him.

This figure is so blurry that their appearance cannot be seen clearly, not even the gender can be distinguished.

However, Liu An doesn’t dare to have any trace of contempt for the person opposite him.

The communications identification code of the other party is that of Marquis Zhenjiang himself.

Not just any emissary, not a spokesperson, but genuinely Marquis Zhenjiang himself.

Moreover, unlike him, Nanxiang Marquis Liu, the Marquis opposite him is literally the first-generation Marquis Zhenjiang.

Their biological age is a mystery, but their existence has spanned over 500,000 years.

Back in his youth, Marquis Zhenjiang appeared suddenly on the frontline with mere Viscount status, achieving astonishing war achievements.

Upon returning to the Empire, Marquis Zhenjiang was promoted two ranks straightaway, being enfeoffed as a Marquis on the spot.

Having been granted the Marquis title, however, he chose to remain in long-term cryosleep, entrusting his battlefield confidants’ descendants with various matters.

After several hundred thousand years of development, Marquis Zhenjiang’s rank is among the top ten of the Marquises, wielding power far surpassing that of this Earl.

"Nanxiang Marquis Liu An, your courage indeed exceeds my imagination. You have it; you’re very spirited, I really admire you."

A synthesized electronic voice sounds in Liu An’s ears, the tone is flat, revealing no emotions of joy or anger.

Yet Liu An shivers all over, in panic.

He, Liu An, isn’t truly stupid; he clearly realizes the other party is being sarcastic.