Chapter 243: Chapter 170, Mother (Extra 7,000 words)_2
Military garrisons are only right and proper!
After listening to Gu Hang’s words, Pei Desi slightly furrowed his brows and sighed with some difficulty, “I fully understand the difficulties you are currently facing, but the deployment of the Star Realm Armed Forces is very difficult, and it’s not something I can decide. I will certainly try my best to advocate for you, but please hold on for a while, and be sure to wait for support.”
His words sounded good, but there were no concrete promises, just stalling.
As the head of the Star Sector, he indeed did not have the power to move the Star Realm Armed Forces, but he certainly had a way, it’s just that he didn’t want to pay the price for it.
The Imperial Navy sent you a ship in orbit, now if they send dozens or hundreds of millions from the Star Realm Army Main Corps, should they also send a batch of reconstruction materials?
I might as well become the Planetary Governor myself.
But Gu Hang would not let Mr. Head off the hook so easily.
He took the opportunity to propose his earlier conception, which was to use the Imperial Tax from Rage Owl Star to fund a new Star Realm Army force, to be stationed on Rage Owl Star.
The grandiose rationale, of course, is that I am a loyal subject of the Empire, moved by the difficult times, the Head’s worries, and the threats facing the Star Sector. Full of enthusiasm and willing to contribute manpower and effort. It’s inevitable there will be losses in collecting taxes and then using it to build an army; deploying additional troops here is also hard to arrange. It would be better for the tax administration of Rage Owl Star to be directly converted into the cost of raising an army. Don’t bother with the promised first-period tax concessions, just give it to me directly. Ten million Tax Currency, and I will pull a Star Realm Armed Forces unit for you, one that is guaranteed to pass the scrutiny of the Military Affairs Department and the Department of Taxation.”
And implicitly, Gu Hang emphasized three points: first, the commander of this Star Realm force had to be decided by him; second, the new Star Realm force’s station had to be on Rage Owl Star; third, the long-term mission of this Star Realm force should be to ensure the safety of Rage Owl Star, including suppressing rebellions, quelling mutant monsters, and repelling foreign alien forms.
Pei Desi pondered for a moment and indicated that he supported the plan in principle, but there were many difficulties.
First off, there was no money, and secondly, the three points demanded by Gu Hang were hard to accomplish, especially the third point.
The first point was manageable; who to appoint as commander was not an issue?
The second point, although the Star Realm Armed Forces were at war in the Star Sea, with movements involving tens to hundreds of millions of people, eating, drinking, and resting, they still needed a relatively stable station, which could be on Rage Owl Star.
But the third point was the most difficult; ensuring that the Military Affairs Department wouldn’t just transfer this legion at will was no simple matter. Normally, Star Realm Armed Forces units, whenever there is a conflict, could be moved immediately, which is directly managed by the Military Affairs Department, and in theory, nobody can stop it.
Of course, there is actually a way to do it. Highlight regional threats, emphasize the role of guardianship, and when the Military Affairs Department is in need, alternative troops can be found from other places…
But this would incur a substantial political cost, which Pei Desi was reluctant to pay.
Of course, Gu Hang was not so easily discouraged.
Verbal sparring and haggling over prices are the most fundamental things.
Later on, Gu Hang subtly brought up two points:
“I can give up this plan, but if I lack sufficient deterrent forces, I will have to talk with Blackbird Heavy Industries and the Fatches Family behind them. It just so happens that the Gu Clan are still mending our relations with them. Looking at it from another angle, if they want Rage Owl Star, I am currently the Planetary Governor of Rage Owl Star and a member of the Gu Clan. If I help them solve this problem and become a Puppet Governor who doesn’t interfere, it wouldn’t be so bad, certainly better than being completely finished.”
“Alternatively, I could stop complicating things and just report the actual situation of the recent naval battle to the Military Affairs Department. All the talk about the Iron-Tooth Clan’s vanguard fleet and a large-scale invasion being thwarted in the early stage is false, it was just a random group of pirates. Quintet was even thinking of escaping, and it was I who forced them to fight this battle.”
When she heard the latter implication, Yelisia, who was sitting on the side enjoying the back-and-forth between the older and younger man like a spectator eating melon seeds, was taken aback.
Why am I involved?
Nice one, Gu Hang. Just a moment ago you were all about how you can’t bear to part with me, and now you’re digging a pit?
Pah! Scumbag!
She glared angrily at Gu Hang, only to see him wink at her.
Frustrated to the point her teeth itched, if it weren’t for Pei Desi’s presence, she’d have loved to bite him.
Grinding her teeth, she had no choice but to speak up and express her opinion: The battle situation has been confirmed as fact, and this is not up for discussion.
Are you kidding me? I’m on the rise to becoming a prominent star, how could I have such a blemish?
Pei Desi had to consider Yelisia’s stance, or rather, consider the Fufana Family behind her. The Gu Clan, part of the iron triangle, was already unstable; if the Fufana became unstable as well, his position as Head would really be precarious.
He spoke with Gu Hang again, agreeing to the proposal in principle, but many details still needed to be further discussed.
Over the next three months, the Star Sector Government would allocate a total of 2.5 million Tax Currency; plus the 2.5 million Tax Currency due when Gu Hang’s two-year term as governor expired, all of which would be invested in military construction. At that time, the Military Affairs Department and the Department of Taxation would both arrive on Rage Owl Star for inspection. His new military unit, combined from all sides, would have to be worth the value of five million Tax Currency.
The remaining five million Tax Currency would still have to wait for two years, acting as the Star Sector’s payment of the Imperial Tax on behalf of Rage Owl Star.
The obvious reason for not giving all of it to Gu Hang now was that they didn’t want to. Holding onto it for two extra years was two years, the Star Sector Government wasn’t flush with cash either.
