"I have a think tank, with members from various backgrounds, including regional officials, seasoned experts, and even artificial intelligence, covering all fields. When facing major decisions, the think tank's opinions are important references for me. At the same time, the members of the think tank must be absolutely loyal, as they possess too much top-secret information," Jiang Ye said. "There are many economists among these people, but no genuine businessmen. The only one who has experience in business, Isabella, is not purely a businesswoman."
"If you're willing to be a military merchant, I'll arrange for you to join the think tank," Jiang Ye said. "Besides deciding and discussing major planetary affairs, you might need to do some special things."
"What things?" Tian Rao listened intently.
"For example, regarding Wheeler Planet, which you just mentioned, I have an idea after hearing the specific situation," Jiang Ye said. "Can we invest or even provide weapons to support a warlord on Wheeler Planet to unify the globe, thereby indirectly controlling the planet?"
"So, you mean... combining planetary military and political affairs with my business?" Tian Rao mused. "My business empire is expanding to Wheeler Planet, so my company can become a bridge, following your troops' command to conduct some secret activities there, and ultimately help you take over Wheeler Planet?"
"Yes," Jiang Ye nodded. "Think about it."
"No need to think, I'm willing," Tian Rao said immediately. "As long as you need me, I will do everything I can to help you."
"Don't agree too quickly, this matter is not simple," Jiang Ye said. "You will be taking risks, and your company will be tied to me to some extent."
"Jiang Ye, without you, my company wouldn't exist," Tian Rao said without hesitation. "Whatever you need me to do, I will definitely not refuse. I am already financially independent, and earning more money doesn't feel like much anymore. It's better to use the company to help you do things."
Jiang Ye gazed at her for a moment, then nodded. "Then let's discuss the specifics."
...
At four in the morning, Jiang Ye's private car landed on the lawn of the Commander's Mansion.
He got out of the car, exhausted. For the past few hours, he had been discussing specific methods of military commerce with Tian Rao. His mouth hadn't stopped moving all night, and he felt drained from talking.
As soon as he walked through the door, he froze.
Cen Yemeng had returned home early and was standing at the entrance, vibrant and alive, frowning and staring at her husband with extreme displeasure, radiating an aura of dark resentment.
"Why are you back so late?" Cen Yemeng reprimanded him immediately. "Did I say you could go out and play, or did I say you could spend the night at Tian Rao's?"
Just as Jiang Ye opened his mouth to speak, Cen Yemeng suddenly grabbed his collar, yanked him forward, and sniffed his collar aggressively, fierce like a tigress about to devour its prey.
"We were discussing matters, standing on the balcony for several hours. Rest assured, I am one hundred percent loyal to you," Jiang Ye said with an open smile, hugging his wife. "We didn't even shake hands, just talked about official business."
Cen Yemeng glared fiercely at her husband, her anger still simmering. "You dare to smile! I'm very angry. I thought you'd just go for a meal and come back, but you stayed out for most of the night. It's really improper! Don't you understand the principle of avoiding suspicion? Have you considered my feelings? I thought you slept in her room!"
"How could that be? I wouldn't do anything that would cost me my head," Jiang Ye said with a tired smile. "Calm down, my dear, I'm so sleepy, I want to go to bed. Shall we?"
"Tell me what you discussed!" Cen Yemeng was angry like a little lion.
"Let Tian Rao be my military merchant," Jiang Ye said softly, putting his arm around his wife's waist as they went upstairs. "Her company is very powerful now, with its territory expanding to dozens of planets and commercial spies sent to hundreds of planets. She has a very complex and mature intelligence system. I plan to use her company as an outpost to take over some planets in the future. It's inconvenient for the military to send spies directly, but the espionage activities of a commercial company are more covert. Even if discovered, it's less likely to cause a diplomatic crisis."
"Do you have any targets yet?"
"Not yet. My current work focus is on Spiral Planet," Jiang Ye said. "I already have enough planets, and I'm too busy with too many things. So, for a while, I want to expand some hidden forces that are not under my name."
"What do you mean?"
"Ju Lanlan is the first, and Fu Qiuyan is the second. The Xinke asteroid belt and Daughter Planet are not officially my planets, and they have no relation to me on the surface. But in reality, I am their behind-the-scenes supporter and can mobilize relevant resources," Jiang Ye said. "It's like the relationship between King Zhou and the feudal states, although my King Zhou is more dominant."
"To secretly control some planets, accumulate wealth discreetly, and concentrate power at critical moments, is that what you mean?"
"Yes, my dear, I love talking to smart people like you the most," Jiang Ye pushed open the bedroom door.
Jiang Ye's eyelids were so heavy he could barely keep them open. He threw himself onto the bed, about to dive under the covers and fall asleep.
Cen Yemeng grabbed his waist and dragged him out from under the covers.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Ye was too tired to resist.
"Don't sleep yet, prove your loyalty to me and put my mind at ease," Cen Yemeng said, both angry and blushing. "Hurry!"
"No, my dear, I'm really dead tired..."
"Pull yourself together! You're tired now, but you weren't tired when you were chatting with Tian Rao!" Cen Yemeng gritted her teeth. "Prove it to me!"
...
Jiang Ye woke up. It was already dark outside; he had slept for a whole day.
His back and waist ached, and he felt as if his bones had been broken and reassembled, leaving him utterly weak.
The bed was warm. Jiang Ye lifted the blanket beside him and found Cen Yemeng curled up there, playing on her phone, also looking tired, as if she had just woken up.
"Honey, my back hurts so much," Cen Yemeng's voice was as soft as a kitten's.
"You brought this upon yourself. Didn't you need proof?" Jiang Ye sat up, baring his teeth. "My back feels like it was sawn open with a chainsaw."
"You brought it on yourself," Cen Yemeng pouted. "From now on, you're not allowed to stay out overnight. Even if I'm not home, you have to sleep at home or in your office. I came back early last night wanting to surprise you, but I found the house cold and empty. You were laughing and talking with another woman. The thought of it makes me so jealous!"
"You're really quite the jealous type," Jiang Ye said helplessly. "If I had known you were coming back early, I wouldn't have gone at all and would have waited for you at home."
"It's because I had a dream the other night."
"What dream?"
"I dreamt that you and I were having a wedding. When the host asked if you were willing, just as you were about to say yes, a woman suddenly rushed from the audience, pulled out a pistol, and shot the host in the head. Blood sprayed everywhere like a slaughtered elephant. Then the female gunman loudly announced she was stealing the groom and took you away," Cen Yemeng said with a sad expression. "I cried after waking up. The thought of you being taken away by another woman makes me incredibly jealous."
"I understand the logic, but why kill the wedding host? The host was innocent!" Jiang Ye laughed.
"It was a dream, dreams are strange and illogical," Cen Yemeng sighed. "I have to go back to Exile Planet for work. We're building six new cities recently, which will probably work me to death. Isabella has been so tired lately that her face has lost its color, she looks like a vampire."
"I'm going to Spiral Planet; the progress there is significant," Jiang Ye said. "It will probably take half my life to get it done."