The question then arises, many planets already find it difficult to pay their taxes, what room is there for additional payments?
Not to mention, even if they had the money, why would they pay extra? Tax Currency is the same when you get it in hand; you can offset it against your taxes one-to-one, with no interest gained.
In the past, Lois certainly wouldn’t have approved the issuance of Tax Currency so easily.
But this time was different.
After the order was issued, a subordinate hesitated before reporting to her, “Commander-in-chief, according to our usual practice, for the kind of surplus that is obviously prepared by the Planetary Governor in order to achieve the tax target and avoid accidents, we never issue additional Tax Currency for that, especially not in the mode of offsetting with Star Realm Military Personnel as taxes, right?”
Lois looked at the official indifferently and said, “Can the situations be the same? With those so-called ‘precedents,’ we’ve encountered governors who substitute inferior goods for good ones, with a rather high rate of non-compliance. We’ve turned a blind eye; we’ve already given them enough face, it’s unreasonable to issue them extra Tax Currency.”
After a pause, Lois continued, “But this time it’s different, even by the strictest standards, he has paid the full amount of taxes. Gu Hang’s kid… he’s really honest!”
Lois could only use that word to describe it.
In her long career as a tax officer, she seldom saw governors pay Imperial Tax so honestly.
No haggling, no extra trouble, saving lots of issues… Lois thought that if all Planetary Governors could abide by the rules like this, it would be great; she wouldn’t have had to undergo three life-extension surgeries to live to two hundred.
To her, if Gu Hang followed the rules, so would she. She would pay the full amount of Tax Currency due.
…
The next steps were relatively simple.
Unlike tax collection elsewhere, where haggling over the value of goods and dealing with various political trades was necessary, for Lois, the tax work on Rage Owl Star was quite trouble-free and efficient.
The only thing left to do was the final step: after her approval as the tax officer, solving the tax issues of Rage Owl Star, the Rage Bear Legion was officially established. The representatives from the Star Realm Army and the Military Affairs Department would represent the Star Realm Army, appointing a Legion commander.
This appointment had already been prepared, the candidate reported by Gu Hang: Yan Fangxu.
Of course, things did not go entirely Gu Hang’s way. He had first proposed that Yan Fangxu, with the rank of Major General of the Rage Owl Star Defense Forces, keep his rank when transferring to command the Legion. After all, the Planetary Defense Force is an officially recognized Imperial Army, so it would make sense for the rank to be transferable, wouldn’t it?
The Star Realm Army did not think it was reasonable.
You think you can become a Star Realm Army Brigadier with what you’ve got.
Commanding a ‘Legion’ of less than 150,000 people, and being a Colonel is already something.
After all, this Colonel can manage the internal affairs of the Rage Bear Legion, appoint officers, and grant ranks up to Lieutenant Colonel—still subject to reporting.
However, just when everything was ready, and the awarding ceremony was about to begin, an unexpected event occurred.
Galaraldo arrived.
At the sight of this Apostle of War, Lois internally rolled her eyes.
After verifying that Rage Owl Star’s military completely met the Star Realm Army’s paper standards, and there were no issues even under the most stringent checks, the Apostle of War calmed down.
Lois had thought he would continue on like this.
But, in the end, this deity still made his move at the last moment.
Disapproval.
But of course, she wouldn’t show such emotions externally.
She maintained her usual stern, serious demeanor and asked, “Apostle of War, do you have any objections?”
“Yes, of course, I do,” Galaraldo said with a smile, “I don’t think Yan Fangxu is suitable for the position of commander of this Star Realm Army Legion.”
As expected, he was going to cause trouble.
Lois sighed internally without changing her expression, and said, “This appointment comes directly from the Star Domain Military Headquarters of the Dragonhawk Legion; you have no right to interfere.”
At this point, she finally showed a bit of sharpness, “Moreover, if you tamper with this matter, that would be overstepping the line.”
“Rest assured, how could I? I won’t arrange for one of my people to assume the role of commander of the Rage Bear Legion, thereby gaining control of this army through underhanded means. I have great respect for the Star Domain Government, and for the control of the Star Realm Army in this Star Domain, you can be assured of that,” Galaraldo replied.
Upon hearing what Galaraldo had said, Lois’ attitude became slightly less guarded.
It dispelled her greatest concern.
The Rage Bear Legion had become a ‘property’ of the Dragonhawk Star Domain, and under the existing framework of rules, this army was governed by the Dragonhawk Legion Star Realm Army Headquarters. If Galaraldo had designs in this regard, it would step on the Star Domain’s bottom line.
Since Galaraldo had no such intentions, Lois felt much more at ease.
But she was puzzled, “Then who do you intend to nominate as the commander of this legion after cancelling Yan Fangxu’s appointment?”
“Gu Hang,” said the War Apostle with a smile, “I have already contacted the Dragonhawk Star Domain Military Affairs Department, and they have agreed.”
Lois was speechless.
What more was there for her to say?
The Rage Bear Legion hadn’t been pulled away and still belonged to the order of the Dragonhawk Star Domain Star Realm Army; a Planetary Governor holding the concurrent position of a legion commander in the Star Realm Army was unusual, but there were precedents. For some Star Realm Armies that drew their primary military personnel from a single planet, it was sometimes the case that a Planetary Governor was appointed to this position.
In a sense, to such a person, the identity of a legion commander was even more important than that of a Planetary Governor. Appointing a legion commander as Planetary Governor was to enable the planet’s forces to better serve the Imperial Army.
For instance, the famous Cadian Assault Corps, the Krieg Death Corps…
From the Star Domain’s standpoint, indeed there wasn’t much reason to oppose such an appointment, and it was not unreasonable for the Dragonhawk Star Domain Government to agree to the request.
But Lois knew it wasn’t so simple.
Galaraldo was full of nefarious schemes.
But she could do no more. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire
…
Gu Hang’s expression was extremely sour when he received the appointment letter and became a Star Realm Army Brigadier.
Facing the smiling Galaraldo and the apologetic Lois standing behind him, he opened his mouth, wanting to say he refused.
But Galaraldo cut him off.
“You can’t refuse,” said Galaraldo, “The morale and level of expertise of the Rage Bear Legion have truly moved me. Mr. Gu deserves ‘reward’ for establishing such a formidable force from ruins. I originally intended to secure you a Major General rank, but unfortunately, the Dragonhawk Star Domain Military Affairs Department was only willing to approve the rank of Brigadier. I even quarreled with them over this.”
He seemed so amiable, as if he had Gu Hang’s best interests at heart, which made Gu Hang feel nauseated.
One nasty trick after another.
What could go wrong with Gu Hang serving as the commander of the Rage Bear Legion?
Loads of trouble!
The current objective of the Rage Bear Legion was to be stationed at Rage Owl Star; that wasn’t a problem.
But what about in the future?
If the Rage Bear Legion were to be deployed elsewhere to fight… Gu Hang could appoint another commander to lead the team and not have to go himself.
But that was under normal circumstances.
If the Military Affairs Department specifically ordered it, however, Gu Hang would have no choice but to go.
Galaraldo was warning him in this manner.
“If I have the power to change the appointment and nominate you as the legion commander, do you think I lack the ability to change the orders for the Rage Bear Legion, to send it somewhere else to fight, and make it impossible for you to leave your planet?”
This move was despicable.
Seeing the look on Gu Hang’s face, Galaraldo’s smile brightened, “The next battle for the Rage Bear Legion will be at Korolya III. That’s the most densely populated planet in the Tianma Star Sector, and its unrest truly troubles me, precisely the kind of situation that needs the Rage Bear Legion’s assistance.”
Listening to these words, Gu Hang’s eyes narrowed.
Galaraldo’s behavior truly incited a murderous intent in Gu Hang.