Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 502

Chapter 500, I’m Back

the Dragonhawk Sector, Yunluo Star.

Eight months have passed since that brutal duel in which the Phoenixes triumphed.

While ensuring the Wrathfire Chapter’s departure from the Dragonhawk Sector, the Alliance has also been rapidly dispatching officials to various planets within the Sector to take control of these worlds.

Political affairs are secondary, especially the military, which must be maintained as much as possible. This is

especially true of key planets.

Yunluo Star is undoubtedly a top priority. It is not only the core of economic development but also the political heart of the Dragonhawk Sector, housing the Sector Government.

However, the current Dragonhawk Government is incomparable to its peak. The arrival of the Wrathfire Chapter has practically treated the Dragonhawk Sector as a subordinate. Military and political decision-making power has been seized by the Chapter under the guise of wartime, and the Sector Government has become an executive body.

However, an executive body is an executive body; at least it still has work to do.

However, with the arrival of the Alliance, the situation has completely changed.

The Alliance isn’t the Fury, with its mere chapter structure. They possess a fully fledged governing body, capable of completely replacing the role of the Sector Government.

Of course, the Alliance hasn’t actually done so, at least not completely. The decision-makers have certainly been dismissed, or temporarily sidelined. However, some mid- and lower-level bureaucrats within the Sector Government, responsible for implementation, have been retained.

These individuals who do the actual work can’t be completely eliminated.

It’s not that the Alliance lacks officials.

While the sudden expansion of its jurisdiction to encompass nearly two hundred worlds would undoubtedly be a challenge, the Alliance could still manage other worlds for now, allowing their respective planetary governments to govern themselves. This is the empire’s original system, and management could be strengthened later when resources are freed.

But for Yunluo, a key world, officials, no matter how scarce, will be squeezed in to ensure proper governance.

Graduates of the Alliance’s various liberal arts colleges and thoroughly trained within the Alliance system, their capabilities are no less than those of the Sector Government. While the latter’s personnel were hand-picked from a vast pool of people, the Alliance’s consistent investment in talent development over the years was well-spent, not to mention the numerous exceptional individuals Gu Hang had cultivated with his gift points, who were undoubtedly even more talented.

More importantly, as a relatively new force, and with Gu Hang’s continued focus on preventing institutional stagnation, the vast majority of those entering government positions were quite young.

This youthfulness wasn’t simply reflected in age, but also in their mindset. This uniquely vibrant, eager-to-do mentality was something the aging, inertia-driven Imperial government lacked.

However, the primary reason the Alliance didn’t replace all officials was that they were, after all, newcomers and lacked a deep understanding of many local affairs. A complete replacement would have been disastrous.

Even if personnel were retained, it wouldn’t have been possible to retain particularly high-ranking officials. The decision-making level would undoubtedly be replaced, with Alliance officials forming their own teams. Half would be brought in from the Alliance’s home turf, while the other half would be selected from local officials.

While the executive level would be largely retained, a significant proportion of Alliance officials would be added to the mid-level and lower-level executive ranks, primarily to learn about local affairs and oversee their performance.

This shift in power would be effectively backed by the fleet stationed over Yunluo and the Alliance troops deployed on the surface.

In reality, neither the local officials of Yunluo nor the lower-level officials of the original star region government had much resistance to this move; instead, they were actively aligning themselves with the Alliance.

The reason was simple: they were all employees, low-level officials. While their interests would be affected to some extent, it wouldn’t be fatal. The Alliance’s selection and dismissal of local officials was meant to encourage them to perform well and avoid being screened out. With the

leadership already replaced, why wouldn’t they actively align themselves with the Alliance?

As for the higher-level officials whose interests would be affected and whose power would be stripped, their opposition wasn’t very significant. The Alliance had always intended to sideline them. Not being physically eliminated was good enough; what else could they possibly want?

Besides, the Alliance hadn’t completely blocked their path.

The current statement was merely a temporary review to assess their loyalty and capabilities. The Alliance had also stated that if these high-ranking officials passed the review, they might have the opportunity to serve in high-ranking positions within the Star Region Government after the Alliance and Star Region Government merged.

At that time, they would likely be at the Star Region level within the Alliance Government.

These high-ranking officials were experiencing mixed emotions.

On the one hand, they resented being deprived of power, but on the other, they feared the Alliance’s military might and the prospect of being liquidated. Deep down, they yearned to retain their power.

Some well-connected individuals were already making moves.

There were two possible paths: either to the Star Region Government or to the Alliance.

The Alliance path was relatively straightforward. Since the Alliance’s founding, communication between officials hadn’t been particularly frequent or close.

But wasn’t there Ms. Neil Lois?

She’s considered a supporter of Gu Hang, having assisted him during his early years. Then, about two or three years ago, he took the opportunity of representing the Fury of Flame to negotiate with the Alliance and “defected.” Within the Alliance-controlled half of the star system, he established a “Second Star System Government Department” under the guise of the Chief of the Star System Government Department.

Everyone knows that this so-called Second Government Department actually plays no role within the Alliance, serving merely as a facade for the Alliance government.

Regardless, she was there first and has ties to the Alliance, so at least she has some influence.

Seeking connections with Lao Yisi is a possible avenue,

but it’s a difficult path. The Alliance isn’t keen on such tactics, and Lao Yisi herself isn’t particularly willing to help. She also understands the art of keeping a low profile. Despite her age, she still aspires to progress.

While uniting many of her old acquaintances and leveraging her limited influence to bring them into official positions within the Alliance system could indeed help her build a small faction centered around her,

it was also a very risky proposition.

She didn’t want to be seen as forming a clique, a point that was quite sensitive within the Alliance system. If

the Alliance path wasn’t smooth, then the only option left was the Cosmic Domain Government.

And that path, she had originally thought, would be quite easy to navigate.

The ties between the star region government and the cosmic region government have always been relatively close. In other words, the three levels of government—star region, star region, and cosmic region—actually functioned as a hierarchical relationship. Many officials were transferred between them, creating a clear relationship of promotion and demotion.

Many senior officials in the Dragon Eagle star region were former officials from certain departments of the Eastern cosmic region government, who assumed leadership positions there. This served as a promotion, and also as a valuable asset for future careers.

When the Alliance effectively stripped them of their power within the Dragon Eagle star region, their first choice was, of course, to approach the cosmic region government to complain. The most crucial step was to find ways and opportunities to transfer back to the cosmic region government. The next best option was to seek transfers to other star regions.

However, this path was only accessible to those with truly strong connections.

The Alliance didn’t block their departure, but within the Cosmic Domain government, there was an unwritten rule, though it had become an unspoken one: senior officials from the Dragon Eagle Star Region were to remain within the region. They were not to be transferred elsewhere or transferred out.

Since it was an unspoken rule, it could be broken. Those with strong connections and relatively insignificant personalities could indeed be transferred out.

The Alliance didn’t care about these few small-time individuals.

But the very fact that it was an unspoken rule made it more reliable than some poorly enforced, explicit regulations.

The vast majority of people couldn’t leave the Dragon Eagle Star Region.

Tan Jiuyi was one of them.

This star region leader—oh, now I have to add the word “former”

—wasn’t lacking connections; his status within the entire star region was actually quite high, at least comparable to the few high-ranking officials within the Cosmic Domain government. He was definitely one of the top fifteen figures in the entire government.

He had connections,

but he was too conspicuous.

A transfer was impossible.

He could only sit on Yunluo Star, languidly in his office, with nothing to do.

Gu Hang had supposedly been appointed as the Dragon Eagle Star Region’s head, but he hadn’t arrived yet. This was a common situation throughout the empire. Normally, he would stand guard for the final shift, awaiting the arrival of the new head and then handing over his duties.

Even then, the handover process was often lengthy. If the former head didn’t have another urgent appointment, they might stay in their previous position for several months, helping the new head adjust to the new job.

However, he didn’t need to stand guard for the final shift, and he likely wouldn’t be required to do any subsequent handover work.

The alliance had already taken everyone away.

Not only was he left with nothing to do, but his personal freedom was also somewhat restricted.

He could only quietly await his fate.

And soon, the one who had pronounced his fate finally returned.

He received the notice and traveled to the Yunluo Starport several days in advance.

Honestly, he was quite excited.

Was he willing to lose everything?

Of course not.

With all other options exhausted, his only recourse lay with Gu Hang.

Ideally, he’d have a private meeting, where he could personally slide down and kneel before Marshal Gu, performing a graceful pose for all to see.

But even that would be difficult to come by.

However, he was the former head of the star region, so a handover process was necessary; the two of them had to meet.

That one meeting might only involve a few words. The space for sliding down was a bit narrow, but precisely because of that, he had to think carefully. He

weighed every word, crafted every subtle expression…

He’d been practicing this for months, and now was his chance to perform.

After another day of waiting at the starport, he was ushered into the dressing room by the guards. He donned a beautiful suit, then joined the others waiting at the starport’s dock.

A massive ship slowly entered.

It was the Fire Nova, the Alliance Navy’s flagship, a battleship.

A long red carpet stretched from the exit where they were waiting.

A fleet of hovercraft vehicles moved out, and elite guards disembarked, securing the surrounding area. At the same time, from the center limousine emerged what was arguably the most distinguished figure in the entire Dragon Eagle Star Region.

Alliance Governor, Star Region Head, Imperial Marshal—Gu Hang.

Seeing Gu Hang’s youthful face, Tan Jiuyi was momentarily stunned.

This was the first time he had seen Gu Hang in person; in the past, he had only seen him in virtual form during interstellar conversations.

He was perhaps only forty-six years old.

For most people, this would be in the prime of life, but also approaching the end of middle age. Even those living in more difficult circumstances would already look noticeably older by this age.

But for Gu Hang, life-extending surgeries and even his own psychic powers offered him the means to prolong his lifespan. Living to three or five hundred years old was no problem.

From this perspective, his life had only just begun.

Yet, even at such a young age, he had already achieved his current status.

As for himself, his future fate depends entirely on his thoughts.

He was nervous, but he did not forget what he should do.

After all the senior officials of the alliance met with Marshal Gu and shook hands, it was his turn.

He hurried forward and shook hands with the smiling Gu Hang.

“Marshal Gu…” The friendly smile on Tan Jiuyi’s face seemed seamless.

The smile on Gu Hang’s face faded a little, and he shook hands with Tan Jiuyi rather perfunctorily.

Tan Jiuyi wanted to say something else, but he didn’t have much chance. Maybe in the time it took to say a word, the next person who wanted to shake hands was already behind him. He

had already prepared the speech in his mind, but when Gu Hang glanced at him, he suddenly felt shocked.

Gu Hang didn’t want to listen.

He didn’t dare to say anything.

As they walked further and further away, he couldn’t help but turn his head and take a look.

He felt unwilling. What a good thing he had just said it.

But he also felt a little fortunate. If he insisted on saying it, wouldn’t it anger Gu Hang?

The complicated feeling of worrying about gains and losses echoed in his chest.

…

Gu Hang didn’t care about Tan Jiuyi’s complicated thoughts at all.

He cared about everything in front of him.

When he returned to the Dragon Eagle Star Region this time, he was greeted by a complete star region.

This made him happier than any gift. How could he have the heart to listen to the words of someone who was no longer important?

No matter how carefully he prepared, it was meaningless.

(End of this chapter)