By evening, Jiang Ye’s family finally met the High Priestess.
The High Priestess was a changed woman. Her hair was disheveled, her face gaunt, and dark circles under her eyes indicated she hadn't slept well for days. Her eyelids were also swollen. Instead of her usual long dress, she wore a thick military uniform, with force field protection rings on her wrists and neck, both glowing.
"Forgive my appearance. We had a very serious mutiny a few days ago," the High Priestess said with a wry smile. "Fortunately, it's been quelled. Please, sit and eat."
"Oh dear, that sounds terrifying. I'm glad you're unharmed. What exactly happened?" Cen Yemeng asked, her face full of concern.
"A nearby military base, an entire division, were rebels. They launched a surprise attack here in the middle of the night, intending to detain me and use me to coerce my husband into ceasing his military operations. It was a tactic of 'besieging Wei to save Zhao,' supporting the rebellion in the Southern Hemisphere," the High Priestess sighed. "The Divine Palace Guard fought them for over three hours, suffering heavy casualties, but we managed to hold. However, most of the area was burned. I've been dealing with the aftermath these past few days."
"Do you need my people to help you out?" Jiang Ye asked.
"No, I don't lack for hands to do the work," the High Priestess replied. "Did you have any luck selecting the military officers for teaching positions?"
"My subordinates have been meeting with your work group, and they're in discussions," Jiang Ye said. "It should be soon. I mean no offense, but are any of the officers you recommended involved in the rebellion?"
"Rest assured, we wouldn't recommend rebels to you. A soldier's duty is obedience. If they rebel, their careers are over, their credibility is gone, and their value instantly becomes zero. All rebellious officers have been executed, and the soldiers are in confinement," the High Priestess stated. "It would be a different story if they had won, but they didn't."
"I took a walk around the vicinity, and it was a shocking sight," Jiang Ye remarked. "Last time, I took your advice about decentralizing military power, which is why I established the Officer Academy. I plan to cultivate a new batch of core personnel."
"My husband is currently working on decentralizing military power. I can introduce you to some of his methods," the High Priestess said, picking up her chopsticks to eat fish, meticulously removing bones and fins before slowly consuming it.
Jiang Ye then noticed the dishes on the table. Previously, when eating fish, a specialist would expertly de-bone and de-flesh it, leaving the fish almost intact, only to fall apart when poked with chopsticks. Now, the fish on the table were prepared in a traditional, almost crude manner, with spices still stuck to the fish. The other dishes also appeared inferior, with a noticeable drop in quality and quantity. Perhaps the original chefs had been killed in the attack, or the Divine Palace was too chaotic to prepare better meals, or supply lines were cut, preventing fresh ingredients from being transported in. In any case, looking at the spread, Jiang Ye felt a sense of profound damage to the Hal Star, a true blow to the bone.
"I would be honored to hear them," Jiang Ye said.
"My husband is personally overseeing the establishment of entirely new reserve forces, providing them with the best weaponry. These individuals are more likely to be loyal to him, as they understand their role. Simultaneously, the old troops are being given extended leave, allowing them to relax and visit home, to ease their constant tension."
"Officers who decisively suppressed the rebellion are being promoted consecutively, sending a clear signal that only those truly loyal to my husband can advance rapidly."
"There are many senior officers with high positions and significant influence. We are adjusting their rewards based on their past merits, acknowledging their contributions. We are also enacting policies that indicate a major reshuffle will occur in the near future, where not only past achievements but also current contributions and work performance will be considered, preventing the old guard from resting on their laurels. This also sends a message to the younger generation: work hard, and you will be promoted quickly, without worrying about the old timers hogging all the opportunities."
"We are strengthening the authority of the intelligence agencies, increasing surveillance on the wealthy, cultural icons, and high-ranking military officers. This surveillance is not intended to eliminate those with rebellious intent, but rather to serve as a deterrent. Many actions are overt, like visible sentries on guard duty. Of course, where there are visible sentries, there will also be hidden ones. Even if we don't deploy hidden sentries, they will assume we have, thus creating a deterrent."
"We are strengthening our communication with Li Nannan. Hal Star's wartime military strength relies primarily on the Galactic Empire's military. Having this backing provides us with significant confidence."
The High Priestess listed these points one by one, and Jiang Ye recorded them all on his phone. This experience was gained at the cost of countless lives and vast sums of money for the Hal Star, making it incredibly valuable. Jiang Ye Star was currently in a rapid growth phase, but eventually, all habitable land on Jiang Ye Star would be populated, all resources would be depleted, and all positions would be filled. At that point, the kind of unrest that erupted on Hal Star could potentially occur on Jiang Ye Star. Jiang Ye did not wish to face thirty-six rebel kings and seventy-two factions when he was old; he needed to prepare early.
During the meal, the High Priestess’s phone on the table vibrated constantly, with messages popping up incessantly. She finished eating quickly and left. As she opened the door, Jiang Ye glanced outside to see a large group of officials standing respectfully in the corridor, likely waiting for her to take charge.
After returning to his residence, Jiang Ye also received three documents. These were from Che Zhen, Shao Wan, and Tang Hanliu, who had compiled preliminary lists totaling sixty-two people. Jiang Ye spent the evening reviewing their profiles, removing two who seemed rather unremarkable.
The next day, these sixty individuals came to interview with Jiang Ye one by one. Jiang Ye’s interview objective was clear: to confirm three points – their character, whether they intended to teach on Jiang Ye Star with a casual attitude or a genuine commitment to education, and whether they were willing to work on Jiang Ye Star for the rest of their lives. The interviews eliminated another twenty people, leaving forty qualified candidates.
That evening, Jiang Ye and the High Priestess processed the citizenship transfers for these forty individuals, changing their status from Hal Star citizens to Jiang Ye Star citizens. Simultaneously, these forty were immediately hired as university teachers, assigned to three faculty teams, and instantly integrated into his ranks.
Early the following morning, they boarded a spaceship again, setting course for the next planet.
Ghost Star, with a total population of six billion, had all its cities built underground. The surface temperature averaged over minus forty degrees Celsius, and the atmosphere was thin, bombarded by cosmic rays, allowing only a few microorganisms to survive, with no vegetation. It was called Ghost Star because its surface terrain was rugged and the wind currents were erratic, often carrying clumps of white dust that moved and moaned, resembling ghosts. The underground cities of Ghost Star were perpetually dim. Food consisted of underground fungi, reptiles, and synthetic meat, which was tough to chew, resulting in the entire population having well-developed jaw muscles and broad, thick lower faces. Smoking was prohibited planet-wide because air was more precious than water. Starting open fires was also a serious offense, and lighters and matches were controlled items. The air quality in the slums was the worst, while the air in the affluent districts was incredibly fresh. Every person had to pay an air tax from birth, priced at one thousand yuan per month.