Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 524

Chapter 522, I want it too!!!

Chen Haixu could use his veto power and forcefully reject Gu Hang’s proposal at this meeting, despite the unanimous agreement of the other eight Master Sages.

But if he did so, what would he face next?

What secret agreement had Gu Hang struck with these eight that could convince them to defect?

Would this secret agreement escalate and threaten him?

The eight Master Sages might not directly threaten his position, but if he brought in Gu Hang, a powerful foreign aid, would his position as the Forging General be secure?

All these factors were before Chen Haixu’s eyes. He saw the smile on Gu Hang’s face, a smile that seemed to ask him:

Do you really have the power to forcibly veto this proposal?

He hesitated.

He was indeed a little afraid.

The situation was beyond his imagination.

But being coerced into voting in favor without knowing anything was equally impossible.

Unable to veto or approve, Chen Haixu, the Forging General and supreme leader of the Mechanicus sect, was momentarily stunned under the gaze of the crowd.

After a long pause, he slowly spoke, “Please suspend this meeting. Governor Gu, please step aside. We need to discuss this for a moment…”

Gu Hang stood up and said, “Okay, but please don’t keep me waiting too long.”

Chen Haixu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the matter wasn’t resolved, his biggest concern was that Gu Hang would use the current voting situation to force an immediate decision.

That would have been a very awkward situation, perhaps even pushing both sides into an unsolvable situation.

Fortunately, this didn’t happen. Gu Hang was very… ‘thoughtful.’

He was even a little grateful to him.

After Gu Hang left, Chen Haixu’s eyes swept over the sages.

Their attitudes varied, but most were too embarrassed to meet his gaze.

But when his gaze finally landed on Wu Jiarong, he clearly saw that this youngest of the main sages, the one he had personally nurtured, was looking him in the face fearlessly.

It seemed that this was the key.

“Tell me, what’s going on!” Chen Haixu’s gaze fixed on Wu Jiarong.

Wu Jiarong smiled. “Actually, it’s not complicated at all…”

…

It really wasn’t.

It was just a black box.

Gu Hang possessed extraordinary charm and possessed the ability of psychic powers. However, Gu Hang had always been quite restrained in his use of the latter.

This was because, to achieve effective control, the target’s manipulation would be more obvious, making it easier to detect.

To avoid detection, the implanted alteration needed to be closely aligned with the target’s own thoughts, and a considerable amount of control would be required, performing a kind of “psychic surgery.” It was similar to what Gu Hang did with Gallardo. Gu

Hang couldn’t use psychic powers to influence the minds of these sages of the main occupation, nor did he have the means to control them enough to perform psychic surgery.

There was no need for that.

To convince them, Gu Hang didn’t have, and didn’t care to, resort to any extraordinary means.

Simply bringing out a top-notch weapon like the black box was enough.

For the senior members of the Mechanicus, the numerous plans for rebuilding and revitalizing the order are undoubtedly crucial and deeply valued. However, none of these surpasses the importance of “technology.” The

higher the rank of the Mechanicus, the deeper and more irresistible their inner thirst for technology.

So how can new technology be acquired?

Lower-ranking members of the Mechanicus may still have the means to learn and pass on knowledge. But for higher-ranking members, the scope for learning and passing on knowledge is extremely limited.

While individuals may possess unique techniques, these techniques are often mere tricks or unique, inexpensive designs that can’t be mass-produced. Furthermore, because they are “unique,” they naturally won’t be easily passed on to others, even to colleagues. Hoarding

one’s own possessions is a common problem within the Mechanicus. Despite their internal propaganda and attempts to break this status quo, the Imperial government and governments at all levels are constantly seeking to collaborate and exchange technology with the Mechanicus.

However, this culture within the Mechanicus has persisted for thousands and even tens of thousands of years. How could it possibly be easily changed?

The difficulty in learning and passing on unique techniques not only severely impacts the flow of technology within the Mechanicus, but also severely restricts the Mechanicus’s research and innovation, leading to a massive waste of resources.

Many technologies may already exist, even possessed by numerous individuals. However, due to a lack of transmission, the death of the master often means the technology is lost. Even if they survive, if they are unwilling to pass on the technology, resources will be expended on further research by others seeking similar techniques.

Furthermore, the Mechanicus itself is inherently averse to innovation.

Techniques are ancestral methods, proven and effective for millennia, so they are best left alone. Even minor changes, even if effective, could be a temptation from the abyss, ultimately leading to disastrous consequences. Not to mention truly major innovations, such as the production of new products, which could very well be derived from the unholy lore and forbidden knowledge of the Abyss. The resulting product could very well be the product of a demonic conspiracy, leading to extremely disastrous consequences.

The history of the Mechanicus is filled with tragic examples of this.

Without anyone else having to intervene, they themselves rigorously scrutinize such cases.

These factors combined make it incredibly difficult for the Mechanicus to acquire new technology, especially safe new technology.

When learning, inheritance, and research and development are all unreliable, what remains?

Archaeology and plunder.

The latter involves plundering the technology of alien races to see if it can be used for one’s own benefit. However, this also requires considerable caution.

Analyzing alien technology is difficult. For example, how would humans use Greenskin technology? Even reference value is minimal.

However, some alien races, such as the so-called Eldar and Omnics, possess quite advanced technology.

However, these technologies also present challenges with adaptability and are extremely difficult to acquire.

Certain small races discovered during space exploration, or even abandoned, independently developed human colonies, may possess unique technologies. However, these technologies require careful identification. After all, who knows how those who possess them acquired them? Could the technology itself be tainted by demonic knowledge?

This is possible.

Therefore, archaeology, the only remaining source of technology, is the safest and most profitable.

Over the past millennia, the Empire’s technological capabilities have shown little progress, if any decline.

Even many of the technologies from the founding wars, organized and led by the Emperor himself, at the founding of the Empire, have been lost after ten thousand years of chaotic transmission.

Furthermore, even before the founding of the Empire, during the so-called “Golden Age,” humanity possessed even more absurdly advanced technologies during that dark age.

Finding an ancient relic from a past Golden Age, even a lost piece of technology from the founding expeditions of ten thousand years ago, would be a tremendous bounty.

In fact, the technology currently possessed by the Human Empire, including that of the more advanced and rational Human Empire ten thousand years ago, is largely built upon the legacy of the Golden Age.

And the Black Box is a product of that Golden Age.

The Human Empire still can’t produce this kind of thing, and even their workings haven’t been fully deciphered.

But this hasn’t stopped the Mechanicus from enthusiastically collecting every black box they can find.

On the one hand, these black boxes could be used as the core of an industry; obtaining them means a production line could be quickly built from scratch.

On the other hand, the immense technological value contained within them could provide immense inspiration to high-ranking Mechanicus members.

This technological inspiration is not only reliable but also safe.

Technology left over from humanity’s Golden Age is generally flawless.

Simply finding a relic raises concerns about whether it’s a ‘wisdom trap’ or a demon of knowledge disguised as ancient technology, requiring careful identification. Black boxes offer no such concerns; they’re absolutely safe and genuinely authentic from the Golden Age.

Therefore, when Gu Hang offered the black boxes as rewards to each of these Sages of the Main Work, he deeply impressed them.

Gu Hang could see the deep desire and greed in their mechanical eyes.

They agreed to his offer almost instantly. “

It’s just a few dozen resource planets, isn’t it? Give it to me!”

It originally belonged to the Star Region Government. Giving it to the Alliance doesn’t mean they’ll be cut off from supplies. On the contrary, the Alliance has promised to increase mining efforts and import raw materials from resource planets controlled by other alliances.

Isn’t it just taking orders? Take, take, take!

The starships we build are meant to be used. Now that the greenskins have been driven away, our Mingyang Sect won’t be able to use them right away. It’s better to give them to the Alliance first. After all, the Alliance isn’t getting the ships for free; they have to pay for them.

Besides, what’s the impact of a single vote of approval?

The Sage Council has nine members, and my single vote of approval won’t affect the overall situation.

Let’s get the black box first.

Driven by greed and desire, the appearance of the black box instantly tipped the scales in their hearts.

As for what would happen if Gu Hang truly managed to win over the majority of the main-business sages and the Sage Council passed these proposals…

Then there’s still the Lord Casting General.

You, Chen Haixu, have a veto; use it wisely.

What if Chen Haixu doesn’t veto?

If you, General Casting, voted in favor or abstained, what right do you have to criticize us?

With this guiding principle in mind, Gu Hang visited the homes of the eight main sages and secured their unanimous approval.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Chen Haixu, but the General Casting had been in seclusion for some time, making it nearly impossible for Gu Hang to see him.

…

After learning the whole story, Chen Haixu’s expression had grown incredibly grim.

Even more so than when he’d first seen the eight other votes in favor.

His fury was palpable to everyone else.

“So, you’ve been bribed by the Alliance?”

“Ahem…” Sage Ke Zonggang coughed twice and said, “It’s not bribery, is it? I haven’t done anything to wrong the sect or Jin Dixing! They’ve made a proposal, and the process has already reached the parliament. I’m just casting my vote.” “

Yes, yes, yes!”

“We’re just casting our vote!”

“Don’t you have us?”

“If you disagree, just veto it!”

the sages chimed in.

Chen Haixu grew even more enraged. “So, you all got a black box, right?”

“Uh…”

“Only I didn’t?!”

“Uh…”

“You took all the benefits, and then you expected me to be the bad guy, only to end up with nothing?”

“Uh…”

“Outrageous!” Chen Haixu finally stood up in anger, his red Casting General robes peeling off his body. His octopus-like mechanical limbs propped him up tall, and billowing white steam filled the entire mechanical throne.

The remaining eight Main Work Sages trembled in fear.

The Casting General’s anger was still somewhat frightening.

Although they were all at the level of Main Work Sage, Chen Haixu’s rise to the position of Casting General had its reasons. He was almost the longest-lived person in the entire Mingyang Sect, over nine hundred years old. It had been at least six hundred years since he became a Main Work Sage.

Although he had yet to reach, or even see the opportunity to become, a Great Sage, this long accumulation of power had given him immense strength, enough to pose a significant threat to the other eight.

Then, the eight sages heard the furious order from the Casting General:

“Hand over all the black boxes that Gu Hang gave you!” Everything else was fine,

but

this was unacceptable!

The eight main-business sages all stood up, each revealing their mechanical bodies hidden under their red robes.

“That’s absolutely impossible!”

“This is private property!”

“The black boxes were leased by Gu Hang, and he has to return them in a few years. He has to abide by the agreement!”

The sage who said the last sentence completely ignored the hundred ways to breach the contract that had run through his mind when he first signed the lease agreement.

Chen Haixu was furious.

“I don’t care! I absolutely cannot accept not having a single black box!”

“Governor Gu! Come in!”

His voice penetrated outside the conference room.

“I want three black boxes! At least three! Otherwise, I will veto it!”

(End of this chapter)