One year later.
Jiang Yexing's forces had taken 85% of Birong Star's territory.
Twenty-six planetary forces had yet to withdraw, and negotiations were still ongoing.
The past year of negotiations, annexations, and construction had yielded significant results, and the entire Birong Star had undergone a great transformation.
A total of 72 alien cities had been completed. After a surge in population over more than half a year, these cities now housed 84 million people, far exceeding Jiang Yexing's population of 35 million.
These "alien cities" were built with funding from various planetary forces. Each city boasted a vastly different architectural style. Traveling between cities via high-speed subway took only a few minutes, and upon exiting the station, the distinct building styles made it feel like arriving in a different world.
Although the alien cities were funded by various extraterrestrial powers, all authority rested with Jiang Ye. Major corporations had to submit profit shares to him, military bases were situated near each city, and police officers were arranged by Shao Wan.
Extraterrestrial forces also benefited. By developing on Birong Star, they could expand their planetary markets, utilize Birong Star's resources, and strengthen cooperation with neighboring cities. With dozens of planetary forces present, networking was convenient.
For over half a year, Jiang Ye had been busy with visits, calling on various planetary forces. Simultaneously, the leaders of these planetary forces also visited Jiang Yexing or Birong Star. The schedule of planetary visits was even more packed than attending classes.
Jiang Ye naturally brought his wife and children on his travels. While he himself received few public honors, Cen Yemeng and Jiang Senlin were showered with accolades.
Cen Yemeng received over two hundred certificates and medals, including the "Outstanding Female Leader Medal," "Interstellar Peace Ambassador," "Traditional Heritage Preservation Ambassador," and the "Royal Friendship Medal of the Leon Star," among others. These were bestowed by authoritative bodies such as royal families, united governments, planetary organizations, and elected representatives of various planets.
Jiang Ye, looking through the honors his wife had received, found some of them quite amusing.
For instance, the "Traditional Heritage Preservation Ambassador." He couldn't discern what traditional heritage Cen Yemeng had preserved, so he jokingly asked his wife if she felt undeserving of the title.
"Why would I feel undeserving? I protect you," Cen Yemeng replied with a serious expression. "Don't forget you're an ancient person. Objects as old as you have long since entered museums. I protect you meticulously, and even your chromosomes. Can't I be a Traditional Heritage Preservation Ambassador for that?"
Jiang Ye was rendered speechless.
His wife's reasoning was undeniably sound.
In addition to receiving a host of intangible honorary titles, Cen Yemeng also became an honorary professor at twelve universities, an honorary dean of two university sub-colleges, and an honorary chairman of six foundations. These positions were flexible, and Cen Yemeng received annual stipends ranging from over a hundred thousand to tens of millions per year.
Cen Yemeng was delighted. "I have so much more private money now."
"What do you plan to do with this private money?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Perhaps buy gifts for you and our son, or for my relatives and friends," Cen Yemeng mused. "If there's any left, I might donate it to charity."
"What gifts do you plan to buy for me?" Jiang Ye asked, pleasantly surprised. "I don't lack anything. You'll have to get me something special, something I can't buy with money."
Cen Yemeng thought for a moment, a mischievous smile appearing on her face. "Black stockings?"
Jiang Ye was stunned.
Jiang Senlin's received honors were even more outrageously numerous.
Wherever Jiang Senlin went, he would meet with representatives from the local art scene.
The presidents of painting associations on some planets would even kneel down in excitement to kiss Jiang Senlin's hand.
Jiang Senlin would stand there, expressionless and aloof, extending his hand.
Jiang Ye felt his son's demeanor was even more imposing than that of ancient European emperors. With a change of clothes, he could have walked right into a painting of Napoleon's coronation.
The attitude of figures in the art world of various planets towards Jiang Senlin was indeed like paying homage to a king. Amateurs watched the spectacle, while insiders appreciated the skill. They were all painters, and they knew how divine Jiang Senlin's hands were. Naturally, they revered him as they would a deity.
The medals and honorary titles awarded to Jiang Senlin by the art world alone numbered over four hundred. The golden medals in people's hands seemed as plentiful as freebies, and they were desperately bestowing them upon Jiang Senlin. The presidents of the art associations of several planets even offered to step down for Jiang Senlin, but he declined all offers, finding it too troublesome.
The leaders of various planets also held Jiang Senlin in high regard, bestowing various royal titles upon him. Several planets even gifted him luxurious mansions, complete with lawns and small lakes. Some of these old residences were over two hundred years old, and they were maintained by over a hundred maids.
Jiang Senlin accepted everything without refusal. He even addressed the maids, instructing them to take good care of the residences, as he would visit periodically for vacations and sketching. He warned that any shirking of duty would be severely punished.
The beautiful maids, dressed in black dresses and white stockings, stood in neat rows before the diminutive Jiang Senlin, nodding their heads like pecking chickens, afraid to even breathe.
Jiang Ye marveled at his son's incredible fortune, calling him a true celestial noble. At the age of elementary school, he already owned a host of mansions on various planets, with enough medals to fill two chests. Even the most outlandish CEO novels didn't depict such extravagance. He couldn't imagine what kind of person Jiang Senlin would become when he grew up.
After a year of excavation, the traces of Birong Star's insectoid civilization had also been clearly mapped out.
According to current archaeological findings, Birong Star's insectoid civilization was self-generated, with a clear evolutionary chain. The underground ruins of cities and high-tech artifacts like spaceships were also their own creations.
During the archaeological excavation, some insectoid script was discovered, along with numerous large stone slabs carved with text.
These texts showed clear signs of evolution. The carving methods on stone slabs from different eras varied, indicating that the insectoid language iterated rapidly, much like new slang appearing on the internet each year.
Furthermore, given the diversity of insectoid species discovered, there was a high probability of different insectoid languages being mixed, just as humans have many languages on Earth.
The most critical issue was that, over time, the stone slabs with inscriptions were often incomplete, severely eroded, and missing sections at the beginning and end.
Most importantly, the insectoid civilization on this planet had formed and perished on its own, never integrating into the galactic empire's cultural sphere. Its language was entirely unique.
Therefore, deciphering the insectoid language was extremely difficult.
The military had specialized text analysis programs, but it was estimated that full decipherment would take approximately two years.
Jiang Ye photographed and packaged all the discovered insectoid script and sent a copy to the intelligent fungi, hoping they might attempt a translation.
It was merely an experiment, and he didn't expect any significant contribution from the intelligent fungi.
Unexpectedly, within just one week, the intelligent fungi had translated 99% of the insectoid script's meaning.
Thus, relying on the excavated insectoid steles, researchers were able to piece together the entire history of this civilization, from its origin to its demise.