Chapter 36: Chapter 36, Knocking
Dennison Henry dropped to his knees with a thud before Gu Hang.
Cold sweat had permeated his forehead.
The Governor’s three questions peeled away his psychological defenses layer by layer until they were completely stripped away.
He had not thought this way.
At least, he didn’t dare to consciously think this way.
But upon introspection, even by the instinct of a businessman, hadn’t he subconsciously done just that?
He was a merchant, and he was in the business to make money. The Governor, however, was not a merchant and always wanted him to do this and that. The additional conditions attached to the business inevitably impacted his profits.
He truly didn’t want other merchants competing with him for this business, even if in the future he couldn’t handle the full production capacity himself.
As for going one step further, he indeed hadn’t thought about it, but…
If he were the only one with exclusive authorization—and if in the future he managed to secure the agent qualification of Rubbish Town—powerful and influential under his command, and continued to grow stronger through exclusive rights, the Governor, looking to expand trade routes and further development, would gradually become more reliant on him. He would become a key official for the Governor; his every word and deed would have a significant impact on the Governor’s strategies, his voice becoming increasingly influential…
These unthinkable yet inevitably contemplated scenarios were crushed to smithereens by the Governor’s interrogation at this moment!
He kowtowed deeply: “Governor, I absolutely did not dare!”
Maintaining his kowtowing posture, he couldn’t see Gu Hang’s expression, only hearing the Governor’s indifferent tone after a moment:
“Really? You’re so clever, thinking about such deep matters, yet you can’t even imagine this?”
“I didn’t dare to think.” Henry no longer dared to play any tricks—today, he had truly been dealt a clear lesson, “You’re right, Governor, I am indeed a fool, unable to see the true nature of things. I should have realized that as long as I work diligently for you, I don’t need to worry about those elusive matters. Thanks to your guidance, I’ve completely understood. Please give me another chance.”
After speaking, he lifted his head, looked at the Governor sincerely, and then once again kowtowed deeply and heavily.
Seeing Dennison Henry’s submissive demeanor, Gu Hang finally let a slight smile cross his lips, and his tone softened, “Since you can be a bit smarter and think deeper, that’s good. Get up now, no need to kneel anymore, I’ll take you to see a new batch of goods. Didn’t you say that weapons and equipment are the best commodities in Rubbish Town? I think the standard weaponry widely equipped by the Imperial Star Realm Army would be very attractive to those adventurers.”
Dennison Henry suddenly lifted his head, his eyes brimming with surprise.
After being slapped across the face, this date stuffed into his mouth was unexpectedly sweet!
The standard equipment of the Imperial Star Realm Army!
If he could get a batch to Rubbish Town, wouldn’t they sell like crazy?
From the start, Gu Hang hadn’t intended to chastise Dennison Henry.
Objectively speaking, the job the guy had done this time was not bad. Everything Gu Hang wanted was there; the thousands of workers had greatly supplemented his labor needs for the upcoming expansion of production capacity.
But the guy was persistent about exclusive authorization, which had annoyed the Governor.
So, Gu Hang did not hold back.
At the same time, he clarified something further: what exactly was Dennison Henry’s position?
Maybe the guy saw himself as a collaborator. As a merchant, it was only natural to want profit from a partnership, to make money for oneself.
But of course, Gu Hang didn’t share that attitude.
What he actually wanted to say was:
“I’m not scamming you or bluffing you. I’m offering you a chance to rise to the heavens in one step. Do you want to keep being a merchant, or become my subordinate, a high-ranking official in the future Planetary Government?”
A regular merchant, even if one has made some money by relying on His Excellency the Governor, how could that compare with the status of a real senior official?
Of course, this was an extremely risky matter. Whether the Governor could truly consolidate power in the future and develop his domain were decisions Henry had to make, risking his own capital investment.
But Gu Hang was full of confidence in himself and generously offered the opportunity to Henry.
At least for now, Henry seemed willing to seize the opportunity.
That was good.
What he said aloud wasn’t the important part. After this statement, Gu Hang would carefully observe how Henry would perform in the future.
As for providing Imperial Star Realm Army standard equipment to Dennison Henry for sale, that was something Gu Hang had planned to do anyway, giving him a date to eat just came in handy.
The G9 Gun Family production line wasn’t available yet, but it would be soon enough. In fact, they were already using the Black Box Manufacturer for small-scale production.
Afterwards, a complete production line replicated from the mother machine would increase the heavy industry capabilities of the Abandoned Cave Society with another line of armaments.
With the production capacity for alloy plastic steel material being sufficient, the production capacity of the G9 Gun Family would quickly catch up. Before long, they would be able to fully reequip the two infantry battalions currently under Gu Hang’s command.
The phased-out G7 Gun Family would need a destination.
Selling them to Rubbish Town was a good idea, as Gu Hang’s territory was rapidly developing and his demand for raw materials was significant.
Of course, he wasn’t planning to sell them all.
He would set aside a small portion, mix them with the local mixed-brand weapons confiscated from mercenaries in the battle at the Mantan River Valley Manor, and make a bundled sale, which should fetch a reasonably good price.
The rest, Gu Hang planned to temporarily use them for the expansion of his forces.
He still intended to add to his military.
Currently, a portion of the newly recruited refugees, after simple registration and organization, would be assigned to the Abandoned Cave Society. Some would join the alloy plastic steel industry line, while others would participate in the construction of the Hot Ash Stone Power Plant.
Although Gu Hang still had enough energy crystal blocks, using these valuable high-energy batteries for industrial production was too extravagant. If there were cheap power plant construction capabilities, then saving the energy crystal blocks would be better.
Apart from dispatching people to the Abandoned Cave Society to fill the manpower gaps in heavy industry, the rest would set up a textile factory here at the Governor’s Camp.
Human resources were still scarce, and yet, under such circumstances, Gu Hang was still intent on expanding his military.
In this Wasteland World, he did not feel secure.
Frankly, everything he was doing was still like dancing on a tightrope.
The Quintet above was mighty indeed, but it didn’t belong to him.
He was the Governor, the ruler, but his directly-affiliated loyal forces were still too weak.
If powers nearby, like Rubbish Town or Revival City, were driven to desperation by him one day and launched an all-out strike, aside from having the Quintet strike back in revenge and obliterate a force from the planet surface, Gu Hang would have no choice but to await death.
And that’s not even considering those low-probability events that were not yet in sight, just the present situation alone posed a threat to his sense of security.
The threat of the mutant aliens.