Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 713

Chapter 711, Just Money

When Gallardo heard Luo Fei nominate Gu Hang as Chairman of the Spider Web Universe, he was momentarily stunned.

What?

Surrender?

Then, he realized, that was impossible.

Luo Fei had other ideas.

However, Gallardo didn’t rush to speak.

Someone else would speak up.

As expected, a High Lord questioned, “Isn’t the Executive Yuan’s consideration of proposing Gu Hang as the head of

Spider Web proper ill-considered when the alliance issue hasn’t been resolved yet?” “Not really. In fact, we’ve been considering this for a long time,” Luo Fei said confidently.

He then laid out his plan.

Ignoring the embellished, meaningless exposition, the key point was Gu Hang taking over the chairmanship of the Spider Web Universe.

Gu Hang had performed exceptionally well in the last war, his greatest contribution, a fact undeniable. Therefore, meritorious service deserves reward, and a promotion is naturally necessary.

Isn’t Gu Hang’s most important official position the Head of the Dragon Eagle Star Region?

Then he could simply ascend to the rank of Cosmic Domain President, becoming a high-ranking official and ruling the Spider Web Cosmic Domain.

And coincidentally, the Spider Web Cosmic Domain needed a strong political figure to lead the thousands and tens of thousands of post-war worlds out of their predicament.

Wouldn’t Gu Hang be suitable?

As for the much-discussed “alliance,” Luo Fei didn’t mention it again.

But his current intention was clear.

Imperial regulations didn’t stipulate these two matters. There was no stipulation that those who led a united political entity couldn’t serve as Cosmic Domain President.

In fact, there were a few Cosmic Domain Presidents in similar positions within the Empire.

Of course, the political entities they controlled were generally limited to a few or a dozen planets, forming integrated military, economic, and political alliances. These were typically located in core areas controlled by the Cosmic Domain government, allowing the government to manage a core region and control core power.

There certainly weren’t any who could hold a position on Gu Hang’s scale.

But so what? There were precedents, people were pioneering, and the Empire had no regulations. So why couldn’t Gu Hang be elected?

Wasn’t it just a few billion larger?

But Gallardo couldn’t bring himself to say this out loud.

He simply huddled back, saying nothing.

He needed to observe the situation first.

Actually, the current situation was probably already clear.

Luo Fei was retreating to advance, throwing out a Cosmic Domain Chairman. This retreat, to advance, made people think carefully about the power of the Cosmic Domain Chairman and the Alliance together.

How much authority would Gu Hang have?

With both the Alliance and the Cosmic Domain Chairmanship, would Gu Hang further expand the Alliance, which was already causing headaches? Expand it to the entire Spider Web Cosmic Domain, thus becoming an oversized, powerful political entity that was highly developed from military to political to economic?

It was quite possible.

Even Xu Fuzhen, who had always been greedy for the high tax revenues that the Alliance could provide, hesitated.

He wanted money, but a simple alliance existed, and it existed. After all, it only consisted of five star regions. After all, the alliance had existed for decades, and Gu Hang had always been relatively submissive to the imperial government.

But, no matter what, the combination of the chairman of the Zhou domain and the leader of the alliance was still too exaggerated. The power was too great, and a closed loop of power could be formed within the alliance, completely free from external supervision.

Xu Fuzhen fell silent.

With the silence of one Gu Hang’s die-hard supporter and the silence of another who favored the Alliance’s money, the situation gradually became one-sided.

Luo Fei didn’t need to say anything more; instead, those high lords with no vested interests began to cautiously speak up, expressing their disapproval.

Rebutted, Luo Fei, far from being angry, smiled and explained each point, agreeing with his opponent.

He then proposed disbanding the Alliance.

Wouldn’t that be a win-win for everyone?

Gu Hang got a promotion.

Without this opportunity, the rise to the position of Cosmic Domain President for a typical star region leader is incredibly difficult, with numerous hurdles to overcome, each of which could cost a politician a lifetime.

Now, Old Gu could cross it in one step, worthy of his military achievements.

With the Alliance disbanded, the masters of Holy Terra could rest assured that they wouldn’t have to face a new Iron Armor.

For Luo Fei, Gu Hang becoming the Chairman of the Cosmic Domain meant he entered the Executive Yuan’s official appointment system, transforming himself from a former political enemy into one of his own, and perhaps even a friend in the future.

Even in Gallardo’s mind, this was a good thing. If he hadn’t known that Gu Hang absolutely refused to abandon the alliance for the position of Chairman of the Cosmic Domain, he would have voted in favor.

Wouldn’t that be a win-win for everyone?

“I disagree!”

Someone finally spoke up.

“I don’t agree to disband the alliance,” said Xu Fuzhen.

The tax minister, with a stern face, tossed out a document, ignoring all the other high lords and fixating solely on Qi Bodu.

She reported in a tone of voice, “Preserving the Alliance will not only bring us 300 billion a year in revenue now and 1.3 trillion a year in the future, but also, using the Executive Yuan’s system of appointments, we’ll have to grant tax exemptions to the star regions within the Alliance, including the entire Spider Web Universe, for ten, perhaps even twenty years. We’ll also have to maintain a military to manage and suppress it, and we’ll have to invest over 300 billion annually to rebuild the Spider Web Universe.”

“You can refer to the documents for the specific figures. I’ll just tell you, over the next ten years, the gap between internal and external revenue and investment will reach 20 trillion.”

“The Taxation Department can’t make up this fiscal gap from anywhere else.”

“In other words, I don’t care whether Gu Hang becomes the Cosmic Domain Chairman or whether the Alliance remains. I’m simply stating one fact: if Prime Minister Luo Fei’s proposal comes to fruition, Solaria’s current annual investment of 700 billion will have to be cut by more than half…”

At this point, Luo Fei’s face darkened.

Solaria’s dozen star regions and tens of thousands of planets were appointed by the Executive Yuan. This area, conquered by the Solar Expedition, has been the Executive Yuan’s largest increase in power for many years.

Xu Fuzhen ignored him and continued, “All reconstruction investment in the Space Marines will be halted; the Navy’s shipbuilding plan to supplement the Solar Fleet will need to be reviewed; the Inquisition’s budget will need to be reduced; it can no longer support you punishing planets one by one; Holy Terra’s production orders for Mars will need to be reduced…”

She continued to name several companies.

None of them said a word.

“So, my suggestion is, not only can we not disband the Alliance, but why can’t the Spider Web Universe be given to Gu Hang?”

“Give it! Anything! As long as Gu Hang pays!”

—

It was too late yesterday and I didn’t finish writing, so I’ll make up a chapter.

There’s more tonight.

(End of this chapter)