Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 794

Chapter 788, What I Wanted

The negotiations between the Alliance and the Empire covered a vast area, with numerous and complex details.

However, the key points were finalized.

First, the escrow agreement was approved.

The Empire ultimately succumbed to the allure of 640 billion in annual revenue.

Having no alternative, the dispute with the Alliance centered on the specific amount.

The claim was that the Eastern Region’s tax bill wasn’t just 1.7 trillion, and they demanded that each sector government review their planetary tax data.

This point was difficult to refuse. Since the Eastern Region wasn’t a member of the Alliance, it wasn’t subject to a fixed tax rate, and tax audits were inherently

within the Empire’s prerogative. However, the Alliance could also exploit political conventions to its advantage. The review of each planet’s Imperial tax development status fell under the jurisdiction of the sector governments and was part of the local government’s authority. While the Imperial Central Government had the authority to order an audit, I held the power of execution, and the figures would remain the same.

This was the key point of contention. The final agreement was for the Empire to dispatch tax officials to each sector to oversee the audit process. But in reality, even with dozens of troops deployed from each sector, nothing could be uncovered within the Eastern Realm. The Eastern Realm had to give the empire a bit of respect, and the final figure would be slightly higher than 1.6 trillion, reaching 1.8 trillion, meaning the Alliance would have to collect 720 billion in taxes annually.

The Cui Ru government was recognized, but Yinbasim’s reputation was also preserved. The joint investigation team ruled his death an accidental tragedy. His body will be returned to Holy Terra, where a grand funeral is expected.

As for the Swords of the Dawn, the Empire had originally sought to preserve their reputation, but this was strongly opposed by the Alliance. Ultimately, this Chapter, lacking backing, was dismissed as a traitor.

This, of course, created a negative reputation for the Alliance within the public opinion of the various Space Marine Chapters, particularly within the Infinite Chapter’s many successor Chapters. The Alliance’s actions were far too overbearing and brutal. Li Guang Sword had made some mistakes, but their crimes weren’t punishable by death. Expelling them was fine, but annihilating their entire family and completely destroying their legacy was a bit too harsh.

At the same time, this further solidified the Alliance’s reputation—a reputation for brutality being a form of prestige.

Now, anyone within the Alliance’s sphere of influence who dared challenge the Alliance had to consider the fate of Li Guang Sword.

This incident not only proved the Alliance’s strength. This was obvious to everyone, even without Li Guang Sword’s demise, though it might have been subtle at best.

But after this incident, the Alliance’s strength was not only visible but also posed a direct threat: the Alliance was truly daring, unconcerned with negative repercussions, and committed to a drastic endeavor.

This was a stark contrast to simply possessing power but being hesitant to use it recklessly.

With this, the situation in the Eastern Cosmic Realm was resolved.

The Alliance had finally secured the coveted Eastern Cosmic Realm,

and in the manner it most desired.

To truly incorporate the entire Eastern Universe into the Alliance might actually be a bit unpleasant.

The Alliance is already enormous. Its total of 14 star regions is almost as large as two universes combined—some smaller universes only govern six or seven star regions, or even fewer than three thousand worlds combined.

At this point, the Alliance will naturally feel the pressure of a massive government.

With Gu Hang’s help, a significant number of key and core positions can be filled with ideals, integrity, and efficiency. Furthermore, the information revealed in the system dashboard shouldn’t be overlooked. This data, which requires no verification, is directly available, and offers no risk of fraud, is itself a powerful cheat that doesn’t require any Gift Points.

However, with this expansion, the Alliance’s governmental layers will inevitably multiply, significantly reducing control from the central government down to the local levels.

If the remaining star regions of the Eastern Universe were to be included, the pressure of governance brought on by scale would intensify, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Furthermore, the Alliance’s current size is already sufficient. With fourteen star regions as core areas, they should develop them well. The Alliance spent fifteen years finally getting the Spider Web Universe back on track, putting it on the fast track of development. To fully reap the fruits of this development, it needs more time to develop. Right now, we’re just tasting the fruits of their labor, and we’ll have to continue investing heavily in various development projects.

Adding the Eastern Universe, even though its foundation is undoubtedly better than when the Alliance first acquired the Spider Web Universe, would still be prohibitively expensive, a significant burden, to treat them like locals.

With the Alliance also shouldering the responsibility of developing the Spider Web Universe, it simply doesn’t have the resources to focus on developing the Eastern Universe on a local model.

The current “colony”-like trusteeship model might be a better option. While

the Alliance certainly doesn’t profit from taxes on the Eastern Space Domain, it still has to help collect them on behalf of the Empire. However, 60% of the tax revenue accrues to governments at all levels,

a portion of which the Alliance also collects on behalf of the Empire.

While this money is being handed over to the Space Domain and Star Region governments, the money is theirs, so how should it be spent be somewhat informed? Should

n’t it be done in accordance with the Alliance’s direction? Furthermore, the Alliance’s investments and trade with each other will generate substantial profits.

And without the burden of a homeland.

From a current profit perspective, this model is definitely the better choice.

…

After the Eastern Space Domain matter was settled, the “Alliance Plan Supplementary Agreement” was finally signed.

Taxes were set. Starting next year, the Alliance’s contribution to the Empire will increase to 2.5 trillion, with an additional 50 billion per year for the next ten years.

Regarding the money, the Alliance made significant concessions, right up to the bottom line.

However, the gains were sufficient.

Three Space Marine Chapters were approved.

All of them are fleet-based, not for home planets.

The Empire no longer wanted to exempt the Alliance from taxation.

Although it was a fleet-based fleet, it lacked a single ship, and each regiment was allocated only a hundred Space Marine seeds—just seeds, no personnel.

They asked for a title, but nothing else.

Alliance diplomats cursed on Holy Terra, but Gu Hang grinned.

It was fine, more than expected.

But then, his smile faltered.

Of these three regiments, two were descendents of the Infinite Chapter, and one was a descendent of the Golden Knights.

The problem was, Gu Hang saw three more Chapters to redeem in his Chapter interface, but they were all inferior seeds.

Gu Hang could only accept them with a curse.

While inferior seeds couldn’t produce the high percentage of Company Champions and Exemplary Warriors like the Phoenixes and Blood Sharks, and even the proportion of non-commissioned officers was low, they could at least bring all the members to veteran level, making them six thousand legitimate Space Marines.

So far, if Gu Hang pushed his force to the limit, he could reach a Space Marine strength of 14,000.

This is already a formidable force of Space Marines.

In the current situation where Space Marines are divided into thousand-man chapters and deployed in various locations, this force is enough to sweep across half of the Empire!

(End of this chapter)