"Honestly, you've already done everything you possibly could. Ever since the Imperial armies came knocking, the number of people willing to grovel before the Dragon King has grown with every passing second. But each time news of a victory in the New World reached the home front, it shone like a brilliant star, giving those of us who resisted the courage to carry on. You've now fought for a whole year, surrounded on all sides by the enemy. Even if every one of you withdrew from the New World right now, you'd still be heroes of the Blue Star Commonwealth."
As soon as he said it, even Yu Lian felt a little hypocritical. Still, he leaned forward slightly and continued, "I promise you'll receive the treatment and honors you deserve! Even if not right away."
A brief silence fell over the room. Yu Lian even heard people whispering, but he had no intention of stopping them.
It was Horatio Wayne who spoke next.
The red-haired man asked with interest, "So, what exactly is the composition of the reinforcements? Are there any new capital ships? Are the personnel numbers above strength? We're short on just about everything—ships, ammunition, energy, food—but what we lack most is people."
Indeed, ships could be repaired, ammunition could be made from scratch, and batteries could be refined locally. There was always some improvised way to deal with those shortages. But trained crew were a nonrenewable resource. Yu Lian could imagine that Yang's fleet had no way to replenish its ranks at the Yaochi or the Ring of Miracles, either.
As Yu Lian's adjutant, Rozers answered directly, "The one million recruits sent from the home front are currently en route through the Southern Heavenly Gate. They'll all reach New Shuntian for assembly by January 30, then be