By the time Jiang Jianming heard this news, the imperial starship had already gone far away.
The newly organized Silver Big Dipper Interstellar Expedition Army leaped across human star territories, with their spear pointing towards the distance.
Regarding the expedition, the commander did not express any further opinions.
Jiang Jianming lived his days leisurely in Watson, as if he had entered early retirement.
His condition fluctuated. When symptoms worsened, he would sleep hazily for four or five days; when his energy improved slightly, he would write some diary entries, work on his book, and play with the dog.
Seth had grown old, unable to jump high like before to catch the ball thrown in the sunlight. Jiang Jianming’s strength had also weakened, and he could only throw the ball in a small arc.
The ball would roll across the floor, and Seth would happily chase after it, wagging his tail with his tongue hanging out.
Jiang Jianming sat in the rocking chair, watching the old dog’s pattering feet on the floor with gentle eyes.
On clear nights, he would wear a coat and sit in the small courtyard to watch the stars.
The stars were far away, places he could not reach. But the person he cared about was there.
“Seth…”
“Where do you think His Majesty is now?”
News from the front lines reached Watson two months later.
“Commander!!”
That morning, Maria pushed open the door with joy on her face. “We won, we won, it’s news of victory!”
On the sickbed, Jiang Jianming’s hand trembled, knocking the light computer off his knee.
He didn’t have time to pick it up, turning his head with rapid breathing. “What?”
“The Interstellar Expedition Army!”
Maria quickly helped the commander pick up the light computer. Her nose was red with excitement, “I heard it went quite smoothly. The first batch of real crystal ores have been transported back to the empire. We’ll soon have a stable supply of medicine. This is wonderful, Commander…!”
—First batch. These words pricked Jiang Jianming’s nerves like a needle.
He immediately asked. “Is the expedition army returning home?”
Maria shook her head. “It doesn’t seem so. From what I heard, His Majesty is still leading the army forward.”
Jiang Jianming’s expression darkened.
The young nurse didn’t understand that in a battle, victory or defeat could only be determined at the end. Now it could only be called achieving initial progress or preliminary advantage, definitely not victory.
Since coming to Watson, the commander was very conscious of being under house arrest and basically didn’t initiate contact with his old colleagues in the imperial capital. But that night, he extraordinarily made a communication to Lin Ge.
“I’d rather he stumble a little and come back soon.”
Jiang Jianming said in a suppressed voice, “The Far Star is endless, how far does he need to go before he’s satisfied?”
But soon, Jiang Jianming couldn’t manage this matter anymore. His condition worsened again, different from before as the mental decline was greater than the physical this time.
He wasn’t mad or noisy, but remained in a dazed state for long periods, sometimes having no strength even to call out before fainting during an attack.
Fortunately, Maria was attentive enough, and Sylph would come to treat him when free, helping him through another dangerous period.
When spring arrived, the mountains opposite the estate were covered in peach blossoms. Even the windows of this small villa were dyed a lovely pink.
Maria carried the food tray to the bedside, softening her voice. “Commander, today Maria made beef soup, shall we try to drink some?”
Jiang Jianming’s eyelashes drooped gently, his consciousness unclear. Maria placed a white silk handkerchief under his lips, carefully feeding him the hot soup with a spoon in her right hand.
The commander frowned and tilted his head slightly. Lost in some dream, he murmured in an almost inaudible voice. “Your Majesty…”
Maria gently rubbed his chest, comforting him. “Ah, our Majesty is in the Far Star. When His Majesty returns victorious, he will come to see you. By then, Commander’s illness will be better too.”
But when the peach blossoms in Watson withered, urgent news from the front lines reached the imperial capital of Aslan.
Crash—
It was during an evening banquet when the glass goblet fell from trembling fingers. Lin Ge’s face turned ashen, red wine splattered like blood across the floor.
The expedition army was ambushed, suffering heavy casualties!
It wasn’t from alien creatures, nor from the harsh stellar environment, but from the Lava Space Bandits.
It was an unexpected stab in the back, a bloody and unbearable sight. Thousands of brave warriors who had set out to explore unknown seas of stars died under the guns of their human brethren.
Lin Ge cursed loudly, kicking over the table.
But this was far from the end.
The coordinates where the imperial army was ambushed were terrible. It was in the asteroid belt later known as the “Demon’s Tongue,” where countless asteroids maintained their rotation and revolution, their surfaces rugged and covered with impact craters of various sizes.
In that era, large groups of high-level alien creatures still inhabited that place.
Even just passing through there, fleets had to be as careful as walking on a tightrope, breaking out in cold sweat.
Now the person walking the tightrope had been suddenly stabbed – one could imagine how devastating the results were!
Cannon fire crisscrossed, countless starships crashed into the asteroids, awakening the alien creatures sleeping there, throwing the battlefield into chaos.
The Lava Space Bandits laughed maniacally as they attacked the empire’s cargo carriers, stealing large amounts of supplies and the hard-won crystal ores the expedition army had mined, making off with a fortune.
The Far Star was completely different from the human empire’s territory. If His Majesty Kaios hadn’t led the expedition personally, total annihilation wouldn’t have been surprising!
Now, the entire expedition force was trapped in the dangerous asteroid belt.
Unable to advance or retreat, surrounded by enemies on all sides, with the risk of not returning at any moment.
When the news arrived, every imperial leader turned pale.
The success or failure of the expedition aside – it had only been just over a year since founding the nation. If something happened to His Majesty, the three star systems and nine star cities would fall into chaos!
Reinforcements had to be sent immediately.
But another problem arose – who could lead the army?
After the council chamber meeting dispersed, Lin Ge, who was temporarily holding imperial power, kept Chen Hanke behind.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, forgive my frankness, but only one person can resolve the current predicament.”
Before Lin Ge could speak, Chen bowed with his hand on his chest.
“It has been a long time since I’ve seen Commander Aslan lead troops. But I still remember how we fought our way up from the ruins of Blue Mother Star step by step.”
“We protected Blue Mother Star, conquered Woll, counterattacked the empire’s million-strong army, continuously took Watson and Eden, two star cities within half a year, and of course there was the Albourne battle.”
Chen raised his head, his eyes gleaming. “Some geniuses are once in a lifetime, and the Commander is exactly this type. Heh, Your Highness has been with him for so long, you should deeply understand this, right?”
Lin Ge massaged her temples, her eyes dark. “It’s impossible. Dawn is seriously ill now, don’t count on him.”
These two were old acquaintances, though Chen liked to maintain formality, addressing her as “Your Highness the Crown Prince” every time.
At this moment, he frowned, asking with concern. “What exactly is the Commander’s illness?”
“Don’t ask useless questions.” Lin Ge waved irritably, “In the current situation, only you can make this journey. Go prepare.”
Time was of the essence. The military department moved at top speed, gathering manpower and resources.
However, just as the army was assembling at the military starship port, making final preparations for departure in a few hours, a small starship quietly arrived at the Aslan imperial capital.
When Lin Ge, who had come to see off the army, saw the figure walking down from the starship, she jumped up from her seat in shock.
The arrival lowered his hood, revealing a pale, thin face.
The starport guards who were about to step forward to stop him nearly fell to their knees on the spot.
They exclaimed. “Commander!!”
Jiang Jianming was dressed in plain civilian clothes, wearing gloves, and casually greeted everyone. “Mm, thank you all for your hard work.”
Lin Ge ran over wildly, completely forgetting her image, and grabbed his collar. “You, you, you!?”
She lowered his voice, eyes blazing, “No, how did you get here!”
Jiang Jianming: “Of course I have my ways. Did you really think that estate with only about a hundred staff could keep me confined?”
Lin Ge: “Why did you come to the imperial capital instead of properly recovering? We don’t need the Commander here, go back to Watson!”
“I just thought it would be better if I went.”
Jiang Jianming smiled helplessly. “One last time.”
Lin Ge froze. The next second she exploded, jumping up and shouting: “One last time indeed, you know exactly what you’re doing! If you go, your life will be gone – won’t that make it the last time!?”
Jiang Jianming shook his head lightly, gently gripping Lin Ge’s wrist. “I’ve already learned about the battle situation. The circumstances in the Far Star must not be optimistic.”
“You will be His Majesty’s person in the future, Lin Ge. Do you think the lives of millions of soldiers aren’t worth letting a dying disabled human expend his last bit of remaining energy?”
Lin Ge was speechless. Jiang Jianming looked up, waving to Chen Hanke who was about to board the ship. “Chen, come down.”
Chen Hanke was also stunned. He quickly straightened his uniform and cap, hurrying down. “Ah, Commander!”
He thought the Commander wanted to give some instructions, given Jiang Jianming’s sickly appearance indicated he was quite ill.
Unexpectedly, the Commander patted his shoulder and whispered in his ear as he passed by. “…After I return, you will become the empire’s second Supreme Commander.”
After saying this, the Commander directly walked up the gangway onto the flagship.
Chen: “…?”
Clearly, the Commander meant: you come down, I go up.
Looking at Lin Ge’s face, it had turned ashen.
Not just because of Jiang Jianming’s “arbitrary action,” more importantly, she sensed something was wrong.
Although during Kaios’s expedition she had temporarily managed imperial affairs for the emperor, being too busy to visit Watson more than a few times.
But according to communications and medical staff reports, Jiang Jianming’s condition had been very serious – he shouldn’t be this energetic now.
Lin Ge quickly opened her wrist computer, and as soon as the connection went through, she barraged the other side. “Sylph, let me ask you, did you give him some kind of medicine!?”
When both sides connected, their hearts sank halfway.
Sylph actually had no idea that Jiang Jianming had secretly left Watson!
But she knew about a newly developed drug this year for late-stage chronic crystal disorder patients that could intensively eliminate crystal particle activity.
The cost, however, was that normal human cells would also suffer severe damage. This drug was generally provided to patients choosing euthanasia, allowing them to remain clear-minded and pain-free while spending their final moments seeing the world with their families.
Lin Ge remained silent for a full minute, finally letting out a bitter laugh while looking up at the sky, forcing out. “Ruthless enough, that’s just like him.”
No one knew how Jiang Jianming had obtained this drug under the surveillance of medical staff and guards, just as no one knew how the Commander had mysteriously traveled from Watson to Aslan.
Lin Ge and Sylph only knew that Jiang Jianming was using this method to tell them: don’t stop me.
And indeed, they couldn’t stop him.
—In the second year of the New Imperial Calendar, when the First Holy War suffered setbacks, Commander Aslan temporarily resumed military command and led troops to the rescue.
The imperial army maneuvered around the Demon’s Tongue for another half month, until finally the Lava Space Bandits reluctantly retreated, the expedition army escaped their predicament, and set out on their journey home.
It was after confirming they had completely escaped danger that Commander Aslan took a small starship to enter the expedition army’s flagship named White Jade.
“I wish to see His Majesty,” Jiang Jianming adjusted his collar and said to Ryann’s guard.
“Ah, don’t worry, Commander!”
This guard, seeing the Commander, was so excited he’d forgotten even his own surname.
This bright-eyed young man repeatedly patted his chest in assurance. “Ah, Commander, don’t be so nervous! Look how you came all this way despite illness to save His Majesty – though His Majesty doesn’t show it, he must be incredibly moved inside!”
“Whatever estrangement there was before, after this ordeal, the Commander and His Majesty will surely reconcile completely!”
Jiang Jianming smiled gently. “Then I’ll take your kind words as a blessing.”
But just then, the Commander heard the sound of the automatic door opening beside him.
Jiang Jianming instinctively glanced to the side.
He saw his Majesty.
