Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 513

Chapter 511, Imperial Alliance Act?

When Gu Hang asked if there was no precedent for this, Gallardo was at a loss for words.

Precedent? Of course

there was.

The Empire was vast, and nothing could have happened without it.

And if there really was a precedent, wasn’t Gallardo’s loyalty to the Sun Lord Solakem the prime example?

Even beyond Solakem, the commander-in-chief of many Imperial military operations would, to varying degrees, practice this. War is brutal; without fully mobilizing all forces, how can you win?

The Space Marines and the Inquisition were particularly fond of this practice.

They, and a few others who did so, were mostly temporary;

their power lasted only a short time, and then, when the war was over, it ended.

Some, like the Chapters and Inquisitors, simply didn’t care, seizing power solely to get things done. Once their work was done and they were ready to leave, they naturally let go.

Some cared, but couldn’t hold onto it.

Some of them were able to take it, but were later eliminated.

Of course, there are also some who were able to take it, and it continued to happen.

There are all kinds of situations, and examples can be found.

So which one does Gu Hang want to be?

Gallardo thinks he knows Gu Hang quite well. Needless to say, what Gu Hang pursues is definitely to always hold this power.

He understands that this is Gu Hang making a request. It

is not only a requirement to deal with this war, but also a requirement for the fruits of victory after the war.

It can’t be that all the benefits are taken by you masters on Holy Terra, and I, who am working hard in the local area, can’t get anything, right?

Speaking of this, Gallardo is not opposed to giving Gu Hang benefits.

However, he also gave Gu Hang a clear explanation:

“This matter must be handled step by step. Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Theater Command will definitely be yours, and I can still make the final decision. Furthermore, I can also try to secure as many benefits for you as possible. You can confidently spend the Alliance’s local taxes on the development of the Angry Bear Legion, as well as the Pegasus Fleet and Yunluo Fleet currently controlled by Ye Lishia. If Alliance taxes alone are not enough, I can also supplement your income from the Eastern Space Region with taxes originally submitted to the Imperial Center, as well as the budget originally allocated to the local Interstellar Army and Navy.”

These are tangible benefits, real money.

Even if the Alliance’s production capacity is insufficient, isn’t there a Mechanicus faction like the Mingyang Sect in the Dragon Eagle Star Region? Jindi Star’s production capacity is still very strong, and if you have the money, you can place an order with them.

Moreover, these things are indeed within Galador’s authority; as the Minister of Military Affairs, he has the final say.

“I can’t make the decision on the personnel appointments and the power to impose arbitrary punishments without reason that you want, but I can talk to the Astra Militarum and the Navy. As for the troops dispatched under your command, I will give you full management rights, no problem. But if it involves the Chapter, the Inquisition, the Skitarii, etc., then it won’t work, there is no way at all. Unless, I make a firm announcement on your behalf, those who don’t want to accept your control should not go to the Southern Theater. But if you do this, the external support you might have received will be reduced, you have to be aware of this.”

After hearing this, Gu Hang probably understood that this was indeed the limit of what Gallardo could do.

He thought for a moment and replied, “Then let’s do it this way. I’d rather not have those people who are actually not sure whether they will come or not, and who may not help or cause trouble when they come. I must also ensure that I have complete control.”

“Okay, then do as you say.” After agreeing, Gallardo began to sigh and complain, “At most, I can only use the instructions of the Ministry of Military Affairs to let the Star Army and Navy in the Eastern Space Domain assemble as much as possible and obey your command.”

“But even so, they still have to pass the test of the Star Army and Navy General Headquarters respectively, as well as the corps commanders and fleet commanders of specific units. The local government, whether it is the Space Government or the Star Government, will not let go so easily… It’s full of difficulties! I can only say that I will allocate as much as possible to you and guarantee their logistical supplies.”

Gu Hang said, “It’s good to be able to get to this point. I don’t expect more help.”

“I’m glad you understand my difficulties.” After sighing, Gallardo began to talk about the third aspect of Gu Hang’s request:

“As for the administrative management of the local government, you’re asking for administrative authority over the entire Eastern Universe. That’s impossible. Even if the war truly requires logistical support from the entire Universe, handing over all administrative management to you is ridiculous.”

“Not only is this difficult, but the opposition is overwhelming. Forcing it through will not only be difficult to succeed, but it will also easily make enemies. The Executive Minister and the Prime Minister will absolutely never agree to this, apart from the administrative department and the hierarchical management system of the government. Furthermore, not only is the work in Holy Terra difficult, even our own people, Zuo Zhaofeng and Chairman Zuo himself, wouldn’t agree, as it would infringe upon their authority.”

“The most I can do is to contact Zuo Zhaofeng and have him mobilize as much human and material resources as possible from the entire Universe. But I can’t guarantee it’s all, and I certainly can’t guarantee you complete authority.”

At this point, Gu Hang was a little dissatisfied.

But then another promise from Gallardo turned his anger into joy.

“However, as compensation, I can think of other solutions. For example, during the war, those worlds already under Imperial control cannot be given to you; however, those worlds ‘liberated’ by the Alliance can be handed over to the Alliance for management. As for the reasons, they already exist. After all, the Alliance is the liberator, and those places originally had no original owners. The Alliance temporarily aids the Empire, taking responsibility for the security of the recovered areas and managing the military and civil administration of the recovered areas. This is only natural. As for the people of these worlds, grateful for the Alliance’s rescue and return to the Empire’s embrace, they voluntarily request to join the Alliance, which is also acceptable.”

“Planets in the areas liberated during the war can be assigned to the war zone’s wartime regime, and the commander-in-chief of the war zone will have full wartime management authority. I will work hard to help you achieve this.”

If this step is achieved, it would indeed be quite satisfying.

Anyway, Gu Hang hadn’t really planned to just talk his way into the entire Eastern Space Region. That was impossible. The Iron Armored Legion wanted a space region as compensation, and now after directly raising the flag of rebellion, they still haven’t received it.

It’s just an exorbitant price.

Gallardo’s counteroffer was indeed quite good.

Regardless of the high-sounding embellishments, the bottom line was: the territory you conquered would be yours. This statement still interested Gu Hang.

However, so far, this was only Gallardo’s one-sided statement.

Nothing said verbally is truly reliable. Gu Hang needs a definitive document, a statement.

This is crucial for the Alliance to legally expand.

Furthermore, it’s best if this statement or document doesn’t come from Gallardo or Ou Juren. Even if it comes from the current Prime Minister of the Empire, Mr. Qi Bodu, it won’t work.

It can’t be said by just one person.

The very legitimacy of the “Alliance” has been subject to constant debate and challenge over the years, primarily because its founding was based on the words of the “Apostle of War.” If it were just an alliance of a few planets, no one would have cared. Now, with the Alliance having expanded to its current size, even with Gallardo’s own rising status, its legitimacy is insufficient.

If the Alliance truly follows Gallardo’s words and claims all conquered territory, then if the Alliance loses the ensuing war, all will be lost. However, if the Alliance wins and actually seizes vast territories, the Alliance’s size will expand further, spanning multiple star regions. Its power might even surpass the apparent might of the Iron Rage Stone before its rebellion. At

that point, documents and orders issued independently by any individual or group of individuals would likely be insufficient. What Gu

Hang needs is an “Imperial Alliance Act,” explicitly passed by the Supreme Lords Council, the highest authority in the Empire, in the collective name of the “Human Empire, Holy Terra Central Government,” confirming the Alliance’s legitimacy.

This way, Gu Hang’s Alliance will have no further worries.

At least, no one can challenge its legitimacy.

Of course, this still doesn’t replace the importance of its own strength. If the Alliance proves weak, even with its full legitimacy, it will be treated like a lamb to the slaughter, with powerful forces vying for supremacy.

But at least, if the Alliance is strong enough, with the protective veneer of “loyalty” and “legitimacy,” it will be truly secure.

You can’t win a debate; in a fistfight, the Alliance is stronger.

That’s the safest way forward.

In the ensuing conversation, Gu Hang agreed in principle to Gallardo’s terms, but emphasized his own demands: a clear and concise bill to confirm everything.

He also explained to Gallardo the importance of this “bill” and its future role—from Gallardo’s perspective. If the Alliance becomes strong and legitimate, it will become Gallardo’s most important fulcrum outside of Holy Terra.

Whether it’s supporting Gallardo in regaining the seat in the Supreme Council that rightfully belongs to him as Prime Minister of the Ministry of Military Affairs, or even further, allowing Gallardo to aim for higher positions, the Alliance will be a strong support.

Gallardo understood and acted.

But he also made it clear that this matter was difficult to handle.

It wouldn’t be settled with empty words.

He needed the Alliance to take concrete action, coupled with the right timing, to accomplish this.

What concrete action?

Of course, the Alliance sending troops north. But

that alone wasn’t enough.

If the battle was going their way, how would the Alliance’s importance be demonstrated? How would the high price paid to the Alliance be justified?

It would have to be a battle where all other fronts were decimated, leaving only the southern side enjoying a beautiful scene. This would create a stark contrast, and make the lords of Holy Terra feel that the Alliance to the south was their only hope.

What if the Alliance became overly dissatisfied and stopped dead in their tracks, or even secretly reached some drastic agreement with Iron Fury Stone? That would be the beginning of a catastrophe… Only

then would the “price” be high enough.

Gu Hang understood this.

Furthermore, he felt that this scenario was not difficult to achieve.

He truly had little power to influence the Ironclad’s movements on the northern and western fronts.

But the Empire’s current performance in these two areas is undoubtedly lagging, while the entire rebel group led by Humphrey Paul is also displaying excessive ferocity.

From the current perspective, things are indeed trending in this direction.

…

Two months after Gu Hang’s conversation with Gallardo, the Alliance assembled a fleet and entered the Menghe Space System, located in the northern Dragonhawk Segmentum. With the support of Alliance intelligence agencies, which had taken the lead, they expelled and detained government observers left behind by the Fury of Flame on several planets and punished several planetary governors and small caravans that had been trading strategic materials with the Iron Fury Stone.

This was Gu Hang’s clear statement: I’m getting to work.

However, Gallardo delivered bad news to the Alliance.

While Gu Hang’s other demands weren’t particularly problematic, the specific “Alliance Act” he requested hadn’t been passed. At that point, only the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Ministry of Justice would issue a joint document supporting this.

In other words, Gallardo and Ou Juren were there to support him.

Gu Hang immediately resented this.

The advance force, which had just entered the Menghe Star Region, halted its advance.

Then, in the third month, the Iron Rage Stones made another significant advance.

On the western front, they captured the Spider Web Space Region’s capital planet. They encountered stiff resistance there, but after a ferocious orbital airdrop of at least four thousand Space Marines, they overwhelmed the capital’s defenses in eighteen days.

On the northern front, they penetrated the entire Spider Web Space Region and entered the Devouring Star Region. A Loyalist Chapter, responding to the Devouring Star Government’s call and launching an ambush, temporarily thwarted the Iron Rage Stones’ attack, but nine days later, they were met with a powerful retaliation. Over six thousand Space Marines, aboard a massive fleet, raided the Chapter’s homeworld, destroying its Chapter Monastery. They

then ambushed the Loyalist Chapter as it was furiously returning for reinforcements,

nearly wiping it out.

At this point, the Empire was truly panicking.

(End of this chapter)