Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 760

Chapter 755, Wait and See

Gu Hang’s departure from Holy Terra.

This news once again became the biggest news on the Imperial capital, humanity’s home planet.

The vast majority of Terran citizens were deeply saddened.

Why was the ‘hottest IP protagonist,’ a true Imperial hero, leaving so soon?

Originally, when Gu Hang accepted the position of Chief Honorary Grand Master of the Order of Psychic Powers and subsequently became a High Lord, the people of Holy Terra assumed he would remain permanently on Holy Terra, becoming one of the lofty rulers of the Empire.

They were eagerly anticipating this event.

Gu Hang’s lack of Holy Terran origin was a demerit. Terrans have a strong sense of superiority.

However, Gu Hang’s deeds had been widely publicized on Holy Terra through various literary and artistic works from the very beginning. The people of Terra had watched Gu Hang grow up, and felt a strong sense of closeness. The demerit of Gu Hang’s origins was significantly offset.

The Terrans were completely accepting of Gu Hang.

Furthermore, the general public believed that a hero leading the Empire was a better choice than a politician.

For this reason, his departure was deeply regrettable for the people of Terra.

However, this was understandable.

After all, the borders were still unsettled, and many hidden dangers remained, potentially threatening the entire Empire, requiring a hero to resolve—as many literary works hinted.

Beyond the general public, Gu Hang’s departure was also significant news for the high-ranking officials of Holy Terra’s Imperial Central Committee.

Few of these political figures welcomed Gu Hang’s true leadership of the Empire.

Of course, they also recognized that Gu Hang would not remain on Holy Terra. His High Lord status was a mere title, and the power he nominally wielded at the Imperial Central Committee was actually held by the Prime Minister. The Order of Psionic Powers, on the other hand, had renounced some of its grandiose, useless reputations and instead adopted a more low-key approach to its development.

While Gu Hang would not remain, his visit to Holy Terra, which lasted less than a year, had brought about profound changes.

Those with a more subtle perspective could see that Prime Minister Zilberto’s authority was growing stronger. With Gu Hang, a prominent figure within his faction, he held sway over the Ecclesiarchy with his left hand and allied himself with the Mechanicus with his right. Both the Inquisition and the Court of Assassins bowed to his command… In the thirty years since the Sun King’s death, a new figure of real power had risen to prominence. Judging by this trend, barring any further disruptions, Prime Minister Zilberto could secure control of the Empire for a century.

Those with a more far-sighted perspective could see that this powerful lord, rising from the frontiers of the Empire, would have a profound impact on Imperial politics. Having weathered the ravages of war, Gu Hang had forged a solid base, legitimated by the central government, both in name and in reality.

The Empire was full of local lords, but Gu Hang was the only one. He

controlled an entire outer galaxy, including two star regions, and exercised complete control. While nominally subject to central government appointments, he effectively appointed all his own officials… Had there ever been such a lord in Imperial history?

There certainly had been. After all, the Empire’s overall scale is enormous, and its system inevitably rigid. If information is cut off from certain areas, or a key air route fails, a vast area will be cut off from central communication.

However, the Alliance’s effective control of territory is unprecedentedly large.

Secondly, its unity is remarkably high.

Even the Empire’s current powerful Cosmic Domain Presidents aren’t necessarily able to control all of their respective star-domain leaders. Even those who do manage to do so are more like “leaders of vassal states” or “feudal rulers” than established unified regimes. Most still obey the Imperial Central Government, and at worst, they can only pretend to obey, not dare to take any real action.

But Gu Hang is different. His independence and legitimacy were fully confirmed after the signing of the “Alliance Plan” and his acquisition of the High Leader position as Chairman of the Spider Web Cosmic Domain. This means that within the Alliance, regardless of Imperial officialdom, he is legally legitimate. As

long as Gu Hang doesn’t openly rebel, as long as his High Leader position isn’t deposed, and as long as the “Alliance Plan” isn’t declared invalid by the Imperial Central Government… the existence of the Alliance as an independent kingdom is legitimate and reasonable.

At present, this move benefits the Imperial Central Government more than it harms. The Spider Web Universe, already devastated by the war, is a massive reconstruction burden and a financial black hole. Now, not only has it been handed over entirely to the Alliance, but the Imperial Central Government can also collect two trillion yuan in annual revenue from the Eastern Frontier. Even if that two trillion yuan will gradually grow over a decade, the current three hundred billion yuan in clear revenue is still more than what a typical universe would earn under normal circumstances, after deducting tax costs and losses. In ten years, it will be equivalent to the income of ten universes.

The Alliance’s effective control area now encompasses fourteen star regions, significantly larger than a typical universe. This is due to the Spider Web Universe’s inherent size, with twelve regions, while a typical universe typically has no more than ten, with smaller ones having as few as six or seven. Adding the Menghe and Dragon Eagle star regions north of the Eastern Universe, the total reaches fourteen.

This is equivalent to the administrative divisions of two smaller universes.

However, we must also consider that the Spider Web Universe was the primary battlefield of the Iron Armor War and the Zerg War. The flames of war ravaged thousands of worlds across the entire universe, and many areas were even devastated by the weapons of extermination, rendering them completely unusable and requiring massive reconstruction.

From this perspective, some gains have been made.

However, a considerable number believe that Gu Hang’s so-called 2 trillion yuan in future tax revenue is purely a power-grabbing ploy, an unrealistic promise.

The Alliance cannot possibly collect such a high tax revenue while maintaining its rule, rebuilding after the war, and absorbing tax losses.

Even if it could maintain its status, what else could the Alliance do?

Probably not.

Therefore, many central officials who support the Alliance don’t necessarily want to see the emergence of a separatist regime. Rather, they believe that Gu Hang is using the Alliance as a political model to demonstrate efficient administration and provide the central government with a massive tax revenue. Once this system is established, the territory of two universes could pay the central government the tax equivalent of ten universes. In the long run, this achievement would be even greater than winning a war.

This is what many self-proclaimed wise men see: Terra remains the most important political arena, and Gu Hang is sacrificing the Alliance, relying on the two trillion yuan in annual central government revenue to gain greater power within the government.

Furthermore, if this model proves scalable, wouldn’t it be natural for him, a capable minister, to step onto the grand stage of Holy Terra? Would the Prime Minister want him to spread the policies of the Alliance Plan to other parts of the empire, implementing empire-wide political and economic reforms?

It’s hard to say!

During that process, how will the relationship between Gu Hang and Qi Bodu, and between the Alliance and the imperial government, develop?

There are many variables.

Astute dignitaries are now subtly turning their gaze to the Eastern Frontier of the Empire, a region often portrayed in literary works as the “Land of Hope.”

They’re watching to see what Gu Hang, a very young High Lord, Grand Mentor, President of the Cosmic Realm, Marshal of the Interstellar Army… what achievements he can make in the Eastern Frontier.

It has become a place of intense political attention.

Beyond ordinary citizens and politicians, another group also holds a keen interest in the Eastern Frontier.

Some are even planning to sail, flocking to it in droves.

This group is the Empire’s merchants.

Unlike ordinary commerce, interstellar trade in the interstellar age is extremely expensive.

Merchant ships and transport vessels aren’t as expensive as warships, but it’s still difficult for ordinary forces to acquire such a high level of capital. Furthermore, interstellar trade is officially regulated by the Empire and requires a license.

Add to that the threat of piracy, the risks of interstellar travel, the risk of getting lost, and the enormous manpower and energy demands of long voyages… all of which make it difficult for small merchants to survive.

Thus, the Imperial Chamber of Commerce emerged. They are responsible for issuing licenses, collecting trade taxes on each license, and directly managing the large fleets of merchant companies involved in the actual operations.

The President of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce is even a top dignitary eligible to run for the position of High Lord.

Furthermore, unlike the declining Psychic Orders, which have long lacked the position of High Lord, the President of the Chamber of Commerce still regularly holds the position, though this has been absent for decades.

The Imperial Chamber of Commerce has a strong interest in the Eastern Frontier. They are far more economically astute than politicians.

The Spider Web’s reconstruction, the Alliance’s exceptionally developed manufacturing industry… these were all tangible business opportunities.

While Gu Hang and many Alliance officials were still on Holy Terra, numerous Chamber of Commerce representatives, even the Chamber of Commerce presidents themselves, visited and held numerous discussions with officials sent by the Alliance’s Ministry of Commerce, accompanying Governor Gu. They drafted numerous trade contracts.

The reason for these drafts was that the merchants also considered the policy risks. If the “Alliance Plan” failed to be signed, wouldn’t it be a waste?

But now, the dust has settled!

Numerous adventurous merchants have already set sail eastward, aboard ships laden with cargo.

Some, more swift and decisive, have even assembled fleets of merchant ships to join Gu Hang and his group on their journey eastward, departing from Holy Terra.

…

Whatever everyone thought, Gu Hang had finally left Holy Terra.

At a grand farewell ceremony, Gu Hang waved to the crowd and the cameras with a smile. The orbital elevator doors closed, and he and his entourage ascended to the vast starport of Holy Terra. They then boarded a hovercraft and boarded his vehicle: the Emperor-class battleship ‘Golden Gate’.

He had brought the Golden Gate with him on this trip to Holy Terra.

As for safety, Gu Hang was on his own. Unless he fell out with the Imperial Central Government, the journey would be safe.

Inside the starport, the Golden Gate had long been prepared for departure. The crew members who had gone out to play and the necessary supplies had been recalled and loaded onto the ship weeks earlier. Now, Gu Hang’s Golden Gate had arrived and slowly sailed out of the starport.

Accompanying the Golden Gate was a mixed fleet of approximately twenty cruisers, destroyers, and frigates. The small number and size of the ships didn’t create a sense of threat, yet they were impressive and respectable.

The merchant fleets that had joined them on their eastward journey also valued the sense of security. Although they all had fleet escorts, in addition to their own armed merchant ships, some powerful merchant guilds also had powerful warships to escort them. But in such an emergency, where could they find strong escort vessels? It was definitely not as safe as traveling with a battleship.

After leaving port, the Golden Gate, accompanied by numerous escorts, passed through the “Gate of Triumph.”

This was a heroic honor.

The accompanying merchant ships were certainly unworthy of passing through this area; they could only circle from a distance and then catch up.

Gu Hang stood on the bridge, watching the shrinking image of Holy Terra on the large screen, motionless for a long time.

This time, he had achieved most of his goals on Holy Terra, to varying degrees.

But overall, he was very satisfied.

His major concerns had been resolved, and he had also obtained the seat of High Lord, even if it was just a nominal title.

He left with a sense of accomplishment. From now on, the Alliance should have a long period of development.

Back to farming.

As for Holy Terra, farewell for now.

This would not be Gu Hang’s last visit to Holy Terra.

He would definitely come again.

Actually, his status changed with each trip to Holy Terra. His

first visit, he was a nobody, rising to fame thanks to victory in the Iron Teeth War. Threatened by the Iron Armor, he was supported and given the rank of Grand Marshal, so he could lead the charge on the southern front against the Iron Armor. Back then, no one could have imagined that the Alliance would be the primary force in the Iron Armor War, and the powerful on Holy Terra would see him as a mere expendable force, fortunately offering a minor distraction on the southern front.

They all looked down on him, yet you were the most capable.

His second visit, his victory in the Iron Armor War, made him a hero of the Empire.

He led a triumphal army through the Arc de Triomphe, receiving cheers from the world.

He secured legal status for the Alliance.

He became Honorary Grand Master of the Order of Psionics, effectively controlling this declining but still influential organization.

He shone brightly in Imperial politics, even becoming a High Lord.

So, what would happen when he returned to the Alliance, achieved further success, and made further achievements?   What kind   of

identity will he assume when he returns to Holy Terra for the third time?   Gu

Hang is waiting to see.