Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 795

Chapter 789, Ten Years

years passed in a flash.

During this decade, excluding those minor conflicts resolved within the stars, the Alliance experienced three major wars.

Thankfully, none of these wars were fought against the Imperial Central Government. This

was a rare occurrence.

Although a series of new treaties were signed between the Empire and the Alliance ten years ago, pulling both sides back from the brink of war at a time when bilateral relations were at their most critical,

any discerning person could recognize that the conflict between the Alliance and the Imperial Central Government had not been resolved. Those agreements were largely compromises, essentially easing tensions but failing to address the fundamental issues.

The core conflict remained. Suppressed this time, it would only erupt with greater ferocity the next time it could no longer be contained.

It seemed that war was the only definitive solution to all conflicts.

However, it was also important to recognize that, given the current state of the Alliance and the Empire, a war between them would be extremely devastating, threatening both sides with destruction.

Neither side could afford it.

It was unclear how long this fragile balance could be maintained.

In fact, in recent years, the problem has once again grown larger and more serious.

Objectively speaking, both sides bear responsibility.

Within the Alliance, there are hardliners. The Alliance has profited handsomely from the custodial taxation and trade within the Eastern Universe. Naturally, a significant number of people hope to expand this model.

They believe that the Eastern Universe model could be replicated in the Magree Universe, west of the Spider Web Universe, and the Devouring Star Universe, north of it, by leveraging economic and cultural influence to indirectly control and even colonize them.

Of course, the reality is not that simple. Control over the Eastern Universe is due to many inherent factors.

During his decade or so as chairman, Zuo Zhaofeng provided numerous advantages to the Alliance. The Alliance’s most core and most developed territory, the Dragon Eagle Star Region, is located very close to the Eastern Universe.

These conditions do not exist in the Magree and Devouring Star Universes.

The chairmen of these two universes were actually newly appointed after the Iron Armor War. Before arriving, each of them had been lectured by the Imperial Central Committee on the formidable nature of the Alliance. They were told to be extremely cautious of its existence while in power and to avoid any influence it might have on the cosmic domains.

However, despite this, the Alliance’s economic and cultural power remained immense. Relying on this hard power and influence, even with the vigilant efforts of local politicians, the two or three nearest star regions would still be significantly affected.

The presidents of the two cosmic domains brought their cases to Holy Terra. Holy Terra, in turn, conveniently used this as an excuse to attack the Alliance, repeatedly denouncing it.

Meanwhile, taxes have been gradually increased in recent years, by 50 billion per year, with the Alliance’s tax revenue projected to reach 3 trillion by this year. However, the Alliance’s rapid growth has persisted over the past decade. Even if the growth rate has slowed somewhat, that’s due to its sheer size. In absolute terms, the figures remain terrifying.

Given this, the Empire desperately hopes that the Alliance’s tax revenue will continue to grow.

The first idea proposed by the Empire was to extend the agreement, which would have increased tax revenue by 50 billion per year, for another ten years.

This was harshly rejected by the Alliance.

My goodness, you’re still thinking of collecting an extra 50 billion every year for countless years to come, right?

What’s the concept? Every four years, the Imperial Center is expanding its tax base by an entire universe?

How could such a thing even be possible!

And for the Imperial side, it’s perfectly normal for them to have similar thoughts.

Your Alliance earns so much money every year, can’t you even get a little extra?

According to the standard Imperial tax rate of 10% of annual output, you’d have to pay 7 trillion!

Now the Empire only asks you to pay an extra 500 per year. In ten years, it’s only an increase from 3 trillion to 4 trillion. Why not?

The tax increase plan didn’t pass smoothly, and it became the root cause of all the conflicts.

At the negotiating table on Holy Terra, Alliance diplomats and Imperial tax officials would gather regularly to discuss these issues. Besides directly discussing tax issues, the Empire was constantly looking for other ways to pressure the Alliance.

The Alliance is no pushover. The Alliance government, which had initially exercised some restraint in encroaching upon other regions, has since relaxed its control over hardliners. Under the guise of Alliance caravans and investment institutions, they have begun to enter those star regions on a larger scale.

The game of wits is constantly ongoing.

…

As for the three wars the Alliance has been involved in over the past decade, they have had little bearing on the Empire.

These wars were an Ork War, a war against the Dark Eldar, and a war on Solaria.

Three years after the signing of the Supplementary Agreement to the Alliance Plan, a large Ork force gathered in the Eastern Space. That region was already plagued by Ork plagues, and it’s likely that the energy of these local Orks, channeled outward, attracted a powerful Ork warlord from beyond the Empire’s borders.

In terms of its intensity, it’s even more significant than the threat posed by the Irontooth Orc Empire to the Dragonhawk Space.

However, it doesn’t matter.

Given the Alliance’s current strength, such a war is no longer difficult to handle.

Since the Eastern Space Domain is now considered its own territory, the Alliance will certainly not ignore it.

Led by the New World Torch and Fury Flame Chapters, the Alliance’s army and navy were mobilized. At the “invitation” of the Cui Ru government in the Eastern Space Domain, the Alliance joined the war and, over the course of three years, destroyed the orc army.

The war in Solaria is self-explanatory. The Alliance has been involved in Solaria’s war for twenty-five years now.

As early as twenty-five years ago, when Gu Hang became High Lord and one of the conditions for signing the “Alliance Plan” was that the Alliance send troops to help the Empire fight the Solarian rebellion.

The Alliance has consistently fulfilled this responsibility, and the number of troops sent has increased over the years.

Initially, the Imperial Central Government was quite pleased with this.

But now, there are some concerns.

The Solaria Space Domain is located in the southern border of the Empire, logically far away from the Alliance, and cultural and economic influence cannot be extended. So, why not use military force to expand?

(End of this chapter)