Those who were not too happy about the agreement reached between Gu Hang and Blackbird Heavy Industries were Yelisia and Wang Jiarong.
Let’s start with Yelisia.
This outstanding young woman from the Fufana Family did not have a legitimate stance to oppose the matter, but she clearly hoped Gu Hang would fall out with Blackbird Heavy Industries. Moreover, during several calls, she had explicitly stated that should the negotiations fail, she could completely block the connection between Blackbird Heavy Industries and the starry sky.
Publicly and privately, she argued that Blackbird Heavy Industries’ failure to pay taxes was equivalent to rebellion, a disdain for the governor’s authority.
Gu Hang brushed her off.
Dealing with the Fatches Family was a matter for you, the Fufana Family, and the Pei Desi brothers. Why should I act as your enforcer if you’re offering me no benefits?
Even if a day comes when Gu Hang must completely unify the entire planet, inevitably facing Blackbird Heavy Industries, that day is not today.
There are no eternal friendships, only eternal interests. Future conflicts do not prevent turning a profit now.
Yelisia was thus completely out of options.
Gu Hang did not label them imperial traitors but approved their interstellar trade; Beautiful Lady was a legitimate member of the Empire Commerce Guild, with merchant qualifications. These two parties conducting legal trade activities, she had no proper reason to attack or sabotage.
She could only pinch her nose as Wang Jiarong, representing Gu Commercial Firm, and Blackbird Heavy Industries, representing the Fatches Family, exchanged goods ship after ship, fuming with irritation.
In their most recent communication with the surface, her anger vented on Gu Hang, questioning him on when he could arrange for a battle suitable for the currently damaged Quintet, to earn more merits?
She even ‘threatened’ in a fit of rage:
“If you don’t find some proper military achievements, I might not stay!”
Facing the peevish Yelisia, Gu Hang consoled her with a smile, drew a few pie-in-the-sky promises, and finally satiated her, leaving her content to continue waiting patiently.
When Yelisia came back to her senses, realizing she might have been sweet-talked by Gu Hang’s glib tongue, she got upset again.
She had an even worse thought: Could it be that Gu Hang, through this incident, was coordinating with the Gu Family to repair relations with the Fatches Family? Was the payment by Blackbird Heavy Industries essentially a gesture of goodwill towards the Gu Clan?
And even, was there some unknown cunning scheming involved?
Thinking of all this made Yelisia even more annoyed.
“Gu Hang! You’re just too wicked!”
…
“Cousin, you’re just too wicked!”
In their communication, Wang Jiarong complained to her cousin.
“I’m not, I didn’t, stop talking nonsense.” Gu Hang denied it in threefold.
Wang Jiarong rolled her eyes. Having a closer relationship with Gu Hang, she asked more directly, “Cousin, tell me the truth, do you not want to reconcile with the family, feeling it’s better to hold on to the Pei Desi leadership?”
“I’m not, I didn’t, stop talking nonsense.” Gu Hang consistently denied it again.
But to say he hadn’t thought about it?
That wouldn’t be entirely true either.
Blackbird Heavy Industries had spent a large sum, 3.5 million Tax Currency, which hurt them considerably. And Gu Hang’s surname was ultimately unchangeable; he was a member of the Gu Family. It was said that the Fatches Family was very skeptical if the Gu Family had any sincerity in their actions to repair relations.
Internally in the Gu Family, there was also considerable dissatisfaction with Gu Hang’s behavior, and several messages had come through, all of which Gu Hang ignored.
Why bother with them? Did sharing the same surname Gu entitle them to point fingers?
All things considered, both Yelisia and Wang Jiarong were overthinking, or rather, underthinking.
Governor Gu didn’t plan to cling to anyone’s legs or shear anyone’s wool.
Why should I mix with the Pei Desi brothers? They got me a governor’s commission which seemed valuable, but in reality, they were trying to use me to drag my mother into the fray. A cruiser was sent as supposed aid, but they didn’t provide a single bit of resource for planet construction.
Gu Hang wasn’t about to feel grateful for that.
Dream on.
It was the same with the Gu Clan, and likewise on my mother’s side, cutting ties mercilessly to avoid getting dragged down. Well, if we’re cut off, then we’re cut off, who needs to rely on you?
Gu Hang didn’t consider any of them enemies, but there was no need to treat them as insiders either.
Fair cooperation, mutually beneficial transactions. If the price is right, let’s do business; if not, maybe next time.
That was Gu Hang’s attitude.
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Of course, there was no need to say that outright and hurt feelings.
With the Gu Clan, it was all about ‘keeping it in the family’; with the leaders, it was about ‘gratitude for their favor, willing to devote life and limb.’
No problem.
Gu Hang didn’t want to discuss this matter further with Wang Jiarong and changed the subject to another matter:
“By the way, I’ve got the demand list for those goods on your merchant ship, and I already know how to pay for them.”
Wang Jiarong rolled her eyes, “It’s that money Blackbird Heavy Industries gave you, right?”
Gu Hang also laughed, “Yes, exactly! They really are great benefactors!”
He had no intention of keeping the 3.5 million Tax Currency promised by Blackbird Heavy Industries; money that lay idle couldn’t hatch more money.
As for using the Tax Currency for taxes later? That was not an option either.
Wealth has no value if it’s not used. Gu Hang would rather invest it all in production, in the development of his territory.
As for taxes? He’d deal with it in a year and a half.
The bigger the investment, the greater the output of Gu Hang’s territory, the less he would worry about Imperial Tax.
As for what Gu Hang wanted to buy, much of it was related to interstellar warriors.
First of all, it was the things promised to the interstellar warriors.