Now, Gu Hang has exposed a scandal about Blackbird Heavy Industries violating the intelligence ban, which will give Pei Desi an opportunity to attack the Fatches Family, and it is a very serious reason.
What can Fatches do?
Sever the relationship? Or, in order to clear themselves of the connection, might they declare it as Blackbird Heavy Industries’ independent action? On one hand, they manage relations, and on the other hand, might they react extremely vehemently, willing to promote a large-scale arrival of the Star Realm Army to destroy Blackbird Heavy Industries and incidentally destroy the evidence?
By the way, this also gives the Fatches Family an excuse to reduce support from the Star Realm Army for Korolya III: dark magic plague and smart mechanisms crisis. Comparing the two, which is more severe and which is lighter, how can one say?
The dark magic plague could infect tens of billions of people, and if the smart mechanisms crisis is ignored, there might not be much of a population on Rage Owl Star to get infected. But if the smart mechanisms reached a certain level of control, they would autonomously mine, produce machinery, and muster an army…
This is something that humans cannot compete with, as it takes more than a decade to mature a human population. Who knows how many combat machines would come off the production lines in a single day!
For now, let’s not consider whether this is alarmist or not, after all, it is an argument.
From this perspective, it doesn’t seem like good news for the head of Pei Desi.
And being involved, what should one do?
The Gu Clan has always been an ally of Pei Desi, and Gu Hang himself has benefited quite a lot; but compared to Fufana and the Pei brothers, the ties between the Gu Clan and Fatches have been the most relaxed, with some cooperation in recent years. It’s just that last time, in order to save his mother, Gu Hang promised Pei Desi to fall out with the Fatches Family.
Hey? If you let me hit Blackbird, wouldn’t that give me a legitimate reason to fight?
It might even be possible to drag the Fatches Family into the fight as well.
As for falling out with Fatches… the Gu Family’s corresponding trade embargo is already in effect.
Gu Hang had discussed this matter with his mother before. The Gu Family would definitely carry out the agreement with Pei Desi. Not to mention the actual benefits, they couldn’t afford to lose their political reputation. The Gu Clan is in business, and reputation is as important as life itself.
But there were also some grey areas. It didn’t make sense to completely isolate the three planets of Fatches; that’s Empire World, and the Gu Commercial Firm is a subsidiary of the Empire Commerce Guild. How can you say you won’t do business when you won’t do business? That would be against Imperial law.
This was a legal rationale that could stand up. Wang Qi had had many communications with Pei Desi, appearing to be in a difficult position. The Fatches Family was complaining to a higher-level institution within the Commerce Guild, making it hard for the Gu Commercial Firm to operate.
They could only try not to violate the guild’s regulations by reducing trade volume and prohibiting the circulation of certain categories of goods…
This was on one hand to explain themselves to Pei Desi and on the other hand to appease Fatches by showing them their helplessness.
Naturally, this was about not offending either side, currying favor with both, reaping benefits from all directions. If handled well, they could maintain the balance, benefiting from both sides without falling out with either. If not, they could offend both sides, a move that greatly tested Wang Qi’s skill.
But that’s just how things are.
What everlasting friends or enemies are there?
Did Pei Desi not kick Gu Clan when they were down, using the provision of a Navy title as leverage to compel Gu Hang to act?
And even though Pei Desi is hostile to Fatches, not to mention their countless unsavory private dealings, they haven’t really fallen out on the surface. It makes no sense for the Gu Commercial Firm to break with Fatches first.
This matter is not as simple as just a crisis on Rage Owl Star, it involves a much wider range.
The situation has become deeply murky.
How will it evolve in the future?
Find your next adventure on empire
Gu Hang was still pondering, but his mother had already begun speaking of the second piece of information, “Another matter is about the Imperial Tax.”
“What’s happening with the Imperial Tax? Isn’t the collection starting in just over a month?
Normally, a fleet from the Star Territory Taxation Department would come to the Tianma Star Sector, visiting each planet to collect taxes, then take all the collected items to the Capital Wing Star for settlement with the head of state, stamping, and afterward leaving the Tianma Star Sector to return to the capital of the Dragonhawk Star Domain…”
“Yes, that’s the tax collection process. But this year is a little different; the tax fleet coming to the Tianma Star Sector is not a sub-fleet, but the main Tax Fleet of the Dragonhawk Star Domain.”
Gu Hang deeply furrowed his brow, “Why have they arranged it this way?”
“Hear me out,” Wang Qi continued, “It’s not just the main Star Domain Tax Fleet coming, but also a very important figure: the Sun Lord’s War Apostle, Bochoya Galaraldo.”
Gu Hang’s eyes widened at this.
Galaraldo, now that’s a name that resounds like thunder.
This man’s stage wasn’t some minor star sector or star domain level: He was an Empire hero, one of the forty-six War Apostles of the Sun Lord.
And the Sun Lord, Suo He Kaim, this person can almost be counted as one of the most important figures in the Empire today, the ‘ruler’ of the Empire.
Of course, the true ruler of the Empire would always be The Emperor, a fact that is eternal and unchanging. But after the eternal and immortal Emperor ascended, the highest governing body managing the boundless Human Empire was the Human Supreme Council.
This Supreme Council had thirteen seats, with some components fixed, such as representatives of the state religion, the Mars Representative, the Judgment Chief of the Imperial Inquisition, the Imperial Prime Minister;
Some were relatively fixed but occasionally vacant, such as the Grand Marshal of the Star Realm Army, the Imperial Navy Grand Marshal, the Psychic Cultivator Assembly Representative;