Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 900

Chapter 893: Slow Holy Terra

For some time thereafter, Gu Hang kept a close eye on the war in the Infinite Star Region.

Gu Jing, by some strange coincidence, had embarked on a unique adventure, becoming involved in a major event within the Empire.

Unable to return immediately, he joined the ranks of Robert, the Son of God, and entered a war that had originally had little to do with him. The course of the war   unfolded

much as Gu Hang had initially anticipated. Under the command of Robert, the Son of God, the Infinite Legion, despite being at a disadvantage, gradually turned the tide.   He was like an incredibly calm and precise command machine, always deploying troops and firepower where they were most needed and where they could achieve the greatest impact.   Furthermore, he was able to accurately predict and assess the enemy’s movements and intentions, allowing him to prepare in advance.   He meticulously calculated all available resources—manpower, munitions, and supplies—to formulate the most comprehensive battle plan. After he began intervening in the battle, while resource availability remained unchanged, the battlefields no longer suffered from shortages of troops and generals, nor did they suffer from a shortage of firepower and ammunition.   Furthermore, his elite experts, including himself, became crucial bargaining chips in his command. Each time they were deployed individually or in groups, they invariably shifted the tide of battle.   Thus, despite the blockade of the outer reaches of the Super Star and the difficulty of securing support from the Infinite Star Region, they managed to turn the tide by relying solely on the planet’s own resources and strength. Furthermore   , they even established communications with those outside the star region. Just   how terrifying was the Son of God’s influence?   The five hundred worlds of the Infinite Star Region, already a single entity, were ablaze with excitement upon hearing of the Son of God’s resurrection!   And this news spread at an incredible rate, reaching even further afield.   In some ways, even the news didn’t need to be spread.   After Robert’s resurrection, across the universe, all Space Marines of the Infinite Warriors Chapters bearing Robert’s bloodline seemed to receive a mysterious revelation. The bloodline, with some supernatural force, tugged at them, leaving them feeling uneasy.   Perhaps, for a moment, they couldn’t connect this peculiar feeling with the resurrection of their genetic father. But as soon as Robert appeared before them, they instantly understood.   What did this signify? With a single call from Robert, the Infinite Warriors—the vast majority of the Imperium and humanity, comprising nearly a third of the currently active Chapters—would instantly become his most devoted followers.   This was true not only of the Infinite Star Region, but of the numerous Infinite Warrior Chapters and all bloodlines.   This also included the Chapters forged from the Infinite Warrior gene-seed Gu Hang had redeemed from the system.   This is true for the Infinite Marines. Other Chapters, though not of Robert’s bloodline, can still call him “Uncle” or “Uncle.” Space Marines easily recall the glorious past, remembering the days when they united under the banner of the Sons of God and fought shoulder to shoulder. This makes them easily swayed to, and even to accept, the leadership of a Son of God.   Even if this Son of God isn’t their genetic father, it doesn’t diminish his greatness. Space Marines will have a strong liking for him, and he will naturally be able to rally all loyal Space Marines across the Imperium.   And with such widespread support, what will happen?   What changes will his resurrection bring to the Imperial political landscape?   Certainly, they will be positive.   Gu Hang is deeply concerned about the current state of the Empire.   On the Dark Side, with him and the Alliance at his side, the Dark Side Crusade is in full swing. While the situation outside of Alliance-controlled areas is dire, there is hope. Currently, the Dark Side Crusade is generally progressing smoothly and steadily. If this trend continues, the entire Imperium will be reclaimed sooner or later.   Regardless of the difficulties ahead, and whether there might be battles even more formidable than the Battle of Omgeria, at least things were moving in a positive direction until the Dark Side Crusade was thwarted and the Alliance collapsed.   However, on Holy Terra, even this positive trend wasn’t there.   Gu Hang received little news about Holy Terra, but it was almost never good news.   Over the past few decades, the Solar Segmentum had experienced numerous uprisings: external invasions, internal rebellions, cults, and xenos threats… Yet, Terra, the heart of the Empire, had been remarkably slow to react. While each problem was eventually suppressed, often with the resolution of one, two new ones would arise.   Their slowness was not enough, but they were also completely indecisive and resolute, perhaps even incapable of addressing the root causes of the problems.   This led to an endless stream of problems, including rebellions, xenos invasions, cults, and Chaos encroachment.   Gu Hang even believed that Holy Terra, with its trillions of people, was now a breeding ground for Chaos.   Under Holy Terra’s leadership, they may have opened up communication and navigation between the surrounding Solar Sector and even the Solar Universe. However, as the Terran government’s control expanded, they not only failed to gain greater power, but instead became burdened.   This was a stark contrast to the Dark Side Crusade.   The Dark Side Crusade grew larger and larger. Each conquered region, with some development, became not only a burden but also generally a source of supplies. The few more dire situations had no impact on the overall situation. Under these circumstances, the fighting naturally intensified.   Meanwhile, Holy Terra’s renewed expansion of the Empire might initially be supported by Terra’s vast wealth. However, if most of the newly conquered worlds became burdens, even Holy Terra would be unable to bear the burden.   Even more frightening, the Imperial Center continued to implement its old policies out of sheer inertia.   The governing system, based on Sector Heads, Sector Heads, and Planetary Governors, persisted.   While the Alliance employed this same system, it was merely a name; the underlying principles were completely different. Governments at all levels have very clear work goals and assessments, and must obey the direct arrangements of the alliance’s central government. Officials are appointed by the central government and have a term of office. If they perform well, they will be   promoted, and if they do not, they will be dismissed. And what about the Empire? The planetary governors are still the local emperors, and the imperial center is still only collecting taxes, not caring about specific governance and development. Only when the problems on the planet are so big that the planet itself can no longer solve them, and after asking the empire for help, the imperial support will be likely to arrive after layers of administrative approval and long preparations. Maybe with luck, some problems can be solved, but the world has experienced a disaster and is severely damaged. How can it continue to provide the imperial center with the same resources as before?   In Gu Hang’s view, in this era of catastrophe that affects the entire empire, the imperial center can no longer cling to the old and outdated system of the past.

Perhaps, in the past, that system had managed to work. Without the central government directly governing so many regions, it was slow and inefficient, but at least it could maintain a stable governance over vast territories.

But in the face of this unprecedented crisis, this approach was undoubtedly untenable.

Gu Hang and his alliance had conquered nearly a third of the Empire’s Dark Side during their century-long expedition, while Holy Terra, on the other hand, hadn’t even resolved its own problems.

Gu Hang was deeply disappointed.

Those idlers on Holy Terra were truly incompetent.

Prime Minister Zibodu was a complete waste.

When they fought, each was more ferocious than the other, but none of them could truly be considered a real person. At this critical juncture, they lacked the courage and ability to lead the Empire through the necessary reforms and pull it out of its quagmire.

Gu Hang couldn’t focus on matters on the other side of the Scarlet Scar. He and his alliance still had to focus their primary efforts on the expedition against the Empire’s Dark Side.

But he couldn’t just watch the other side of the Empire rot away.

He needed a figure capable of turning things around on Holy Terra.

Robert, Son of God, was that figure.

Perhaps no one else could do that.

He was the strongest among the Sons of God in domestic affairs.

An empire doesn’t necessarily need a powerful warrior or commander. Even at its current state, the Human Empire isn’t lacking in absolute power.

However, it definitely lacks someone who can integrate and leverage the Empire’s strength.

Robert possesses this ability.

His status as Son of God gives him even more prestige.

High Lords on Holy Terra, like Zibodu, are often incompetent, lacking the courage and ability to lead the Empire in reform. But asking them to honestly relinquish their power is incredibly difficult.

They themselves are obstacles to reform.

The only way to quickly and bloodlessly change this situation is to leverage Robert’s status as Son of God.

Only he can possess the prestige to effect change.

But that requires him to arrive safely on Holy Terra.

This, in fact, made Gu Hang a little worried.

While the war currently raging in the Infinite Star Domain was significant, Gu Hang believed Robert was close to victory.

But how would he get to Holy Terra?

The distance from the Infinite Star Domain to Holy Terra was considerable.

Would Robert launch a campaign like the Dark Side Crusade? Step by step, starting from the five hundred worlds of the Infinite Star Domain and advancing towards Holy Terra? Fighting

for another hundred years, reaching Holy Terra?

That would be a lost cause!

It was difficult for Gu Hang to directly interfere with Robert’s decision-making, but even in that situation, as long as Robert made the move, launching from the Infinite Star Domain would be enough. At least there would be hope on the other side of the Empire.

…

Compared to Gu Hang’s preoccupation with the Infinite Star Domain, the Alliance was currently engaged in a war of considerable importance.

Further west in the Tianwang Universe, the Western Expeditionary Force led by Yan Fangxu had entered the Great Whirlpool Universe.

There, they discovered a world called Vigilant Star.

Its most unique feature is that behind it lies a stable astral tunnel, allowing one to pass through the Crimson Scar and reach the other side.

This is a “corridor,” and Vigilant is located on the dark side of the Empire. From Vigilant, heading northwest on the star map, the next world is Crimson IV, followed by Crimson III and Crimson II, then Ealing III and Ealing II, and finally, Vale.

Seven star systems in total form this corridor.

Passing through the corridor is like passing through the Crimson Scar.

Even more remarkable, these seven worlds are still under human control.

Beyond Vale lies the Godria Sector and the Mercifate Sector. Within this sector lies a renowned Chapter—the Saints.

This is one of the nine founding Chapters still extant in the Empire, a direct descendant of the former Saint Legion.

The Saints’ bloodline is also the second-largest in the Empire, second only to the Infinite Warriors.

The Saints played an indispensable role in stabilizing the Mercifate Sector after the Cataclysm.

After stabilizing the sector, they discovered the existence of the Corridor.

The leader of the Saints, Chapter Master Perk Remondwes, a Living Saint ordained by the Ecclesiarchy, keenly recognized the importance of the Corridor.

He rallied numerous Chapters of the Saints, persuaded the Ecclesiarchy, and, leveraging their influence, assembled a massive force to maintain stability in the Mersiphat Sector and, ultimately, secure the Corridor.

The entire process was arduous, and

they fought here for over thirty years. The seven worlds within the Corridor were stable, but only insofar as the rest of the Scarlet Scar was completely impenetrable. Caught between the Scarlet Scar on both sides, the seven worlds faced immense pressure. Chaos enemies constantly attacked from all sides, relentlessly attacking them.

The Saints, along with the Ecclesiarchy’s most steadfast Crusaders, held the fort.

Each of the seven worlds had been lost at least three times, but they were recaptured within a few years.

Remondwes, a Space Marine and a Living Saint, was a truly resilient figure.

But after thirty years of warfare, even he began to feel lost.

Why did his reports to Holy Terra always fall on deaf ears? The occasional replies brought little good news.

Could it be that the High Lords failed to see the true importance of this corridor connecting the two sides of the Empire?

Support was slow to arrive, and the long-awaited expeditionary force was nowhere to be seen.

And the constant sacrifices in the brutal war forced him to question whether the Saints’ persistence here was truly meaningful.

(End of Chapter)