Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 776

Chapter 771, The Ever-Changing Demon Lord

waved goodbye to the sweat-drenched Yang Shiwei. Gu Jing put on his top hat and returned to the spaceship.

The spaceship carried him and his entourage away from Yang Shiwei’s ship and returned to the space city on Lingze Star, landing directly outside the helipad of the Imperial Tax Office Building.

He strolled back to his office.

This was the exclusive office of the Alliance’s Imperial Tax Envoy, and now belonged to him.

The Imperial Tax Working Group was now a permanent organization, responsible for coordinating the payment of Imperial Taxes by various government agencies and local governments across the Alliance.

They had also previously overseen the Imperial Tax balance trade on Lingze Star.

But combined, this created a problem.

The working group’s authority was too extensive. Fifteen years ago, when the Alliance Plan was first implemented, the Alliance faced considerable tax pressure. Even military spending was under pressure, not to mention other areas.

Taxes, local development investment, trade investment, military spending, special project investment… all competed for funds. Imperial Taxes were particularly pressing, a mandatory annual target. Therefore, the working group was given considerable authority.

The military was a tough sell. Military spending had already been cut according to the Governor-General’s orders, and they were still asking for money.

Special project investments were equally difficult to deal with. These were specially approved funds, some of which were so confidential that even Prime Minister Ossena couldn’t even access them,

making them even more difficult for the working group to handle. Consequently, their focus was narrowed to trade and local development. Numerous conflicts arose, to the point where the working group

‘s forced taxation led to what could be described as “persecution.” Many within government and legal departments were also actively targeting the working group and opposing it .

After all, the Alliance wasn’t a true utopia; problems were bound to arise. Certain actions of the working group had indeed negatively impacted the economic development and livelihoods of the Alliance. This wasn’t enough. The working group wielded considerable power, especially later, as the amount of Imperial tax differential trade skyrocketed. Under their control, corruption was inevitable.

Not everyone received training at Zhongsi Academy; Zhongsi couldn’t offer so many positions. Even more so, not everyone attended the special training courses there, specifically designed for political commissars.

Without such a track record, others certainly wouldn’t have reached high positions. But the corruption of the younger members was often even more devastating, simply because they were so much more numerous.

Fortunately, the Alliance’s political climate, thanks to years of rigorous crackdowns and serious treatment, remained relatively sound, and corruption wasn’t particularly rampant.

The Alliance’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Anti-Corruption Agency jointly conducted a thorough investigation of the working group. Those deemed culpable were executed, those deemed imprisoned, and those whose subordinates knew of the crimes were guilty of dereliction of duty. Those who were truly unaware would also be held responsible and demoted or transferred to other positions.

Not satisfied with the cleanup of the Imperial Tax Working Group, the Alliance drastically reduced its authority.

The Imperial Tax differential trade was the first step removed from their control, with the establishment of the Lingze Trading Company, a state-owned enterprise affiliated with the Alliance’s Ministry of Commerce.

Subsequently, tax collection duties were also removed from their responsibilities. The Alliance already had a tax system, and local governments had their own financial institutions. In the early years, before development began, when the pressure of Imperial Taxes was still considerable, a working group was necessary to oversee them. However, in the past seven or eight years, this has been discontinued.

With these functions stripped away, the Imperial Tax Working Group’s remaining responsibilities were to collect Imperial Taxes on Lingze Star and coordinate the tax payments required of various regions, trade routes, and chambers of commerce. It no longer held the prestigious position it once held.

Even so, the Alliance Central Committee remained somewhat concerned and dispatched special envoys to Lingze Star annually. The rank of a tax envoy exceeded that of a working group director, but their appointment was a temporary one. When they arrived on Lingze Star, they often brought teams from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Anti-Corruption Agency with them. Clearly, the tax envoy’s role wasn’t to perform specific tasks, but rather to represent the higher powers of the Alliance, interacting with the Imperial Tax Department and overseeing any working groups found to have engaged in corruption.

This was how Gu Jing’s current position as a tax envoy came about.

Yang Shiwei’s initial assumption was correct; Gu Jing had indeed come to Lingze Star to “gild his credentials” and “brush up his resume.”

The Alliance is gradually feeling the pressure of the Imperial Tax issue. This is especially true since Ambassador Salihovich recently returned from his ambassadorial duties in Holy Terra and assumed the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also brought back a wealth of firsthand intelligence from Holy Terra. Combined with his deep understanding of Holy Terra’s political scene, having spent over twenty years there, he clearly warned the Alliance that the shift in the imperial center was pointing towards a situation where the Alliance was losing control. However

, since the situation hadn’t come to light yet, the rift between the two sides was likely still brewing.

The Alliance has made numerous preparations and contingency plans, but before this trend becomes a real threat, it must deal with it as it must.

Over the past 15 years, the Alliance’s GDP has skyrocketed at a rate exceeding 10% in its early stages. In recent years, it has slowed considerably, but still remains above 6%.

The Alliance is well-equipped to handle this.

It was against this backdrop that Gu Jing arrived on Lingze Star.

After completing this mission as a tax envoy, he would return to study at the Alliance Ministry of Finance for a few years before being assigned to a local government post, continuing to work in other central government departments, or even joining the military. It was

up to him.

In this regard, he was deeply grateful to his father.

Gu Hang had never held him to a particular kind of character, but he had never slacked off in his upbringing, always keeping him by his side. Even when he was only a few years old, he wouldn’t shy away from discussing important matters with him, even allowing him to speak freely.

Even if he didn’t understand, his knowledge was broad.

From a young age, he had been taught not only by his father himself but also by various renowned teachers.

When he reached adulthood, he wanted to attend university, and his father supported him. After graduation, he wanted to gain experience in various departments of the Alliance, hoping not to become an heir, but at least to become a useful person and contribute to its development. His father also supported all of this.

So, what was he going to do?

He had to do his best in everything he did to live up to it.

This was true during his school years, where he was among the top students. After graduation, when he joined the Alliance Tax Department, his work prowess was also evident.

He never denied that he had the strongest connections and the greatest support.

But he could also confidently say that even without the added bonus of his background, his academic and work performance were still top-notch.

Now, as a tax envoy, he knew his responsibilities were of paramount importance to the Alliance and were by no means trivial, so he naturally had to do better.

After sitting in his plush office chair for a while, he roughly figured out what he was going to do next.

“Send the memorandum that Yang Shiwei tried to get me to sign, as well as the one he later signed, to Angry Owl Star, along with my suggestions.”

“The Imperial Central Government has a clear opinion on raising taxes; it’s a foregone conclusion. They’ve already sent Yang Shiwei to conduct preliminary negotiations on a tax increase. Regardless of the outcome, further pressure will inevitably follow.”

“The memorandum I had Yang Shiwei sign repeatedly emphasized the sanctity of the Alliance Plan. The core of this is that the Alliance tax amount should remain fixed at 2.1 trillion and should not be changed.”

“This will become a weapon in our subsequent negotiations with the Empire.”

“Rather than waiting for things to develop further, we should use this incident, the memorandum signed by Yang Shiwei, and his corruption and abuse of power, as a breakthrough point and take the initiative.”

“I plan to send the Central Bureau of Investigation’s account books of Yang Shiwei’s transactions with various factions to Holy Terra. I’ll contact the individuals on the list and, together with those Holy Terra factions that have profited from the trade deficit, we’ll speak out together, building a coalition’s voice in the Imperial political arena and taking the initiative.”

“If necessary, we can also make this document public, along with details of the normal income earned from trade deficits. We anticipate this could create a political storm in Holy Terra.” “

Comrade Salihovich, please give your opinion. Do you agree to this?”

Gu Jing spoke in the deserted office, looking a little silly.

He had no communication devices or recording equipment activated, as if he were simply talking to himself.

However, as he finished speaking, a sudden arc of electricity flashed around him.

A monster, roughly half the size of a human, composed entirely of gentle electric current, took shape.

Its body, condensed from electricity, sprouted wings, its feathers etched with arcs of electricity, a vivid, lifelike quality. Its half-human form stretched its neck, crowned by the head of an eagle. Its clawed hands clutched a long staff.

Anyone who had a thorough understanding of demons would exclaim in amazement: This is a terrifying demonic form, descended from the most uncommon of the great demons.

This powerful demon, belonging to the most unpredictable and capricious of evil gods, is known as the Lord of Change!

Of course, this wasn’t the real Lord of Change. Its body, composed of lightning, suggested it was the offspring of Gu Jing’s father.

But in a sense, it was indeed a Lord of Change.

Gu Jing had been intelligent since childhood, inheriting many of his parents’ excellent genes.

And those with intelligence and wisdom are more likely to attract Tzeentch’s attention.

But he wasn’t truly exceptionally intelligent, merely quite clever among ordinary people.

Add to that his status, and he was inevitably coveted.

A monstrous demon lord named ‘Scheverritch’—the one currently standing beside Gu Jing—had set his sights on him.

Monstrous demon lords are skilled at scheming, rarely revealing themselves unless it was a crucial moment. They were completely different from the Khorne daemons, who always rushed out at the first opportunity, even the two extremes.

Scheverritch patiently navigated the Warp, navigating the periphery of the Storm Kingdom, carefully concealing himself and projecting tiny bits of influence onto Gu Jing.

He didn’t even try to bewitch Gu Jing, simply imparting some “wisdom.”

Easier to read, clearer to calculate, more mature in speech…

wouldn’t any parent, even those like Gu Hang and Ye Lishiya, want to see their child develop intelligence from a young age? Of

course not.

Over the years, Gu Jing’s innate intelligence became a given. Combined with his education, his reputation as a child prodigy and genius grew even more resounding within his small circle.

At this point, it began to execute its actions.

In Gu Jing’s dreams, it took the form of a kindly professor, identical to the teacher he had taught during his daytime education, and conversed with him. Most of the time, they discussed academic matters, but occasionally, Shefrich would impart some poisonous knowledge on Gu Jing.

He would tell Gu Jing, “You will never inherit the Alliance. Your father is immortal. Your

father may not even be human.

You are destined to live in the shadows.

You must do something to show the world that you are more than just Gu Hang’s son, you are one-of-a-kind…

” Shefrich never dared to directly tamper with Gu Jing’s mind, as that would only lead to Gu Hang’s discovery.

This master of the storm had become a figure in the subspace that was feared to be offended. Perhaps if Xie Fuliqi’s master could capture Gu Hang, he could easily destroy him. However, the Storm Nation, sheltered by the cold sun symbolizing the Emperor of Mankind, could not capture him.

Xie Fuliqi, on the other hand, lacked the ability to directly confront them.

He could only indirectly, using persuasive words, to plant the seeds of his conspiracy in Gu Jing’s heart from a young age.

He hoped his conspiracy would take root and sprout decades, even centuries later.

Then, a grand conspiracy and upheaval would surely erupt within the Alliance.

His master, the one he feared and admired most, would surely reward him handsomely.

Perhaps he would even ascend to the level of a God-Exalted Great Demon!

However, when Gu Jing was nine years old, he saw the old professor in his dream, as he had so many times before.

Xie Fuliqi had invaded again.

But before it could say a few more words to Gu Jing, the dream sky suddenly became overcast.

Then, it saw Gu Hang.

He let out a strange cry and transformed back into his original form, a giant human-shaped bird. He flapped his wings and tried to escape. But the violent thunder bound him in Gu Jing’s dream, and he couldn’t escape at all!

(End of this chapter)