Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 525

Chapter 523, The Charm of the Black Box

. Gu Hang agreed to Chen Haixu’s request.

It was just three black boxes, wasn’t it?

Aside from Wu Jiarong, the other seven Master Sages each received one, so they wouldn’t be reluctant to give Chen Haixu three more.

That’s only ten black boxes in total.

In the past, he would never have dared to reveal his possession of the black boxes,

let alone directly trade with the Mechanicus.

Just look at the way the Mechanicus’ eyes lit up at the mere mention of the black boxes, and you can see how desperate they are for them.

They’d even put aside the interests

of their sect to obtain them. In other words, in their view, acquiring a collection of black boxes was more valuable to the sect than possessing over forty worlds and bolstering their own military might.

This was quite possibly the case.

In the past, when Gu Hang was still relatively weak, he would have worried that if word of his possession of the black boxes spread, he would be subjected to direct force and seizure.

Even if he claimed he’d voluntarily “handed it over,” Gu Hang couldn’t explain the black box’s origins. His lies would likely lead to further scrutiny, exposing even greater problems.

The rights of the weak are not protected. The oilmen won’t let go of any possibility. With just a little extra effort and a more thorough search, perhaps they could uncover a new black box?

Even a low probability wouldn’t stop him from trying.

But Gu Hang was a different person now.

Interested in the black box?

Wanting to use covert or overt tactics?

He could try.

Given the Ming Yang Cult’s character, they couldn’t win in battle, and stealing the black box in the Warp wouldn’t be possible either. So what else could they do?

In fact, if it weren’t for the Mechanicus’s unique nature, Gu Hang wouldn’t be polite to them!

If he really resorted to forceful tactics, he had enough power to force them into submission.

Forcibly occupying over forty worlds beyond Jindi, expelling the Mingyang Sect’s rulers and garrisons; blockading Jindi, cutting off its raw material supply; harassing orbital starports and shipyards, forcing a halt to starship production…

Perhaps even without resorting to full-scale war, simply severing trade ties and imposing siege sanctions would be enough to deal a fatal blow to the Mingyang Sect.

Failure to do so would simply be a way to completely tie them to their side, avoiding political complications.

These oilmen are truly skilled in production. As a forge world, Jindi boasts the highest productivity in the entire Dragon Eagle Sector.

Otherwise, Gu Hang wouldn’t have been willing to give up ten black boxes.

These ten black boxes, Gu Hang offered, represent technologies that are currently of very low value to the Alliance.

Examples include the G-series rifle, the Wanderer armored vehicle, and the Whetstone engine…

and all of them are finished black boxes.

For these low-end, high-demand products, simply using finished black boxes to produce standard products is of little practical value. Having the motherboard black boxes to roll out the production line is more than sufficient.

Furthermore, the production lines for these products can even be independently manufactured without the use of black boxes.

Furthermore, these black box alliances acquired them relatively early, and Ms. Wu Jiarong had already “played with” them many times.

Since their practical use is relatively limited, trading them out is a way to maximize their potential.

For the Ming Yang sect, the output of the black box itself isn’t actually that valuable. It’s nothing more than a few flawless rifles, low-end engines, and armored vehicles—what’s so valuable about them?

However, the technology within them holds a different meaning.

In the eyes of the Mechanicus, those “perfect products” hold immense mysteries. Observing, studying, and replicating them directly and significantly improves their skills; these flawless processing methods further enhance their technical capabilities.

And this is merely the benefit provided by the flawless products produced by the black box.

The black box itself holds even greater significance. If it could be dismantled…

well, no one dares.

The black box is a black box because the technology within it is completely incomprehensible. Dismantling it, even just a little, means it can’t be put back together, rendering it completely useless.

The few instances of dismantling black boxes within the Mechanicus have proven this point. Even the most accomplished sages are unable to restore even the simplest black box.

Doing so is a colossal waste.

It’s undeniable that every dismantling of a black box brings a huge technological revelation.

But Gu Hang wouldn’t allow them to do so.

He made it clear to them that these black boxes were only leased, not given away. Furthermore, these leases were exclusive, and sages were not allowed to exchange or borrow them.

Lease periods varied, but upon expiration, the Alliance would ensure the black boxes were in good condition.

Violations of the contract would not only incur heavy compensation, but also result in the Alliance blacklisting the sage, prohibiting future black box collaborations.

The former might be dismissed by the oilmen. If it could lead to a significant technological improvement, why not dismantle it? The exorbitant compensation was fine; it wasn’t something they couldn’t afford. Even if they truly couldn’t afford it, they could easily lose control when their minds were mad and itchy.

But the latter condition would calm even the most frantic oilmen.

It was clear that the Alliance possessed more than ten black boxes.

To ensure future research on other, even higher-level black boxes, the sages of the Ming Yang sect must grit their teeth and control their hands, no matter how much they find it difficult to control themselves.

For Gu Hang, relying on his now-relatively powerful influence, he can prevent the Ming Yang sect from resorting to military force; and by leveraging the black box’s value to the Mechanicus, he can keep them firmly in his sights.

This is the method he’s considering, tying Jindi Star to his chariot.

Furthermore, Wu Jiarong will become the representative of Gu Hang’s will.

After all, Gu Hang can’t stay on Jindi Star for long.

Wu Jiarong will shoulder this responsibility.

In the future, she will also manage all the black boxes loaned to the Ming Yang sect by the Alliance.

This is a tremendous power.

For now, they’re just tethered to the chariot. Once Wu Jiarong, through her management of the black boxes, gradually builds her own influence on Jindi Star, Gu Hang’s long-cherished wish of “stealing” Jindi Star will become a path to fulfillment.

So far, Gu Hang has basically completed all the work on his trip to Jindi Star.

(End of this chapter)