“`
Gu Hang now has a full set of blueprints and technology, but many of the construction methods simply weren’t feasible to realize.
However, with external investment, things would be much easier.
He could hire large engineering vessels to do the job, which would be far more reliable than engineering machines; he could directly purchase mass-produced, super-large components, transport them here, and have the engineering vessels equip them…
In short, if he had enough money, Gu Hang estimated that he could expand the Rage Owl Star Port to several hundred times its current size within one to two years.
Saving up such a large sum of money on his own, through deception and trickery, or even with the support of the Gu Commercial Firm, was no longer sufficient.
It was necessary to bring in strong investors.
After Miss Wang Qi learned about her son’s ambition, she actively started pulling strings and found some initially interested parties.
In the past, this investment project would probably have attracted no interest. But now, Gu Hang had demonstrated a certain capability, the Rage Bear Legion had made a name for itself, and people began to slowly believe that investing in Rage Owl, a previously desolate planet, could be profitable.
Of course, these investors were still very cautious, willing to invest only tens of thousands, or at most hundreds of thousands, of Tax Currency.
This amount was hardly sufficient for Gu Hang’s grand plans.
Still, he was not one to turn away any comers.
Setting an early example was essential. Even scammers know to give a taste of sweetness first, and Gu Hang intended to let those willing to invest in building the starport make money from it.
As for later… with the starport built in Rage Owl’s orbit, and Gu Hang armed with guns and cannons, no need to say more.
However, at the moment, Gu Hang’s main reputation was still focused on his identity as an A-level Spiritual Energy user and the young Family Head of the Gu family. This type of reputation didn’t have as much pull in attracting investors.
If the Rage Bear Legion could put on a stellar performance on the battlefield of Korolya III, that would undoubtedly be a bonus.
Everyone knew that both the troops and equipment of the Rage Bear Legion came from Rage Owl itself. The combat effectiveness of an army could illustrate the comprehensive strength of a planet from all aspects, making it a massive billboard.
The value of reputation lay right there.
…
Beyond the value of reputation, if the Rage Bear Legion could achieve even better results here, they would reap other direct benefits.
Politically, it would help to strengthen relations with surrounding political powers. Helping the Empire World beat the Plague Demons was undoubtedly doing the right thing.
The achievements of the Rage Bear Legion would ultimately be attributed to Gu Hang. As the legion commander and a provisional general, if his merits were great enough later on, would the Star Domain Military Headquarters not consider promoting his military rank and improving his benefits?
Of course, this would be very important for those who are fully integrated into the Star Realm Army system, but for Gu Hang, the cost-effectiveness was not very high.
Even if his military rank were to soar and his duties increase, he could not abandon his base and merge into the Star Realm Army’s circle.
But just as his entry into the Imperial Psychic Association, and becoming a senior figure within the Dragonhawk Star Domain Association, brought him a series of benefits in that system, so too would rising to a higher status in the Star Realm Army through the growth and strength of the Rage Bear Legion bring direct benefits.
For example, the Rage Bear Legion might be granted expansion — not from Rage Owl itself, but the Military Affairs Department directly enlarging the army, providing troops and equipment.
All Star Realm Army Corps operate in this manner.
At that time, Gu Hang would essentially gain an army for nothing. The expenses for maintaining the army could be claimed back from the Military Affairs Department.
And to speak of even more direct benefits, there were others.
Wars produce spoils.
The Rage Bear Legion strictly followed the Alliance Army’s customs, disallowing looting and requiring unconditional surrender of all unclaimed spoils gathered after battle.
In the Alliance, these surrendered items would eventually enter the national treasury, soldiers would receive combat allowances, rank advancements due to valor, and the dead and injured would receive generous compensation…
But on the battlefield of Korolya, there was no such rule. The highest level for surrender was at the corps level.
The Demons killed by the troops in battle had value, and the corresponding logistics would deal with the biological materials from the bodies remaining after the Demons’ spirits were expelled. The logistics took a portion of the fees, and the rest went to the corps.
Moreover, when certain areas were recovered, and many of the local population were dead, the property left behind by the residents also became the possession of the corps.
“`
Li Kexi was somewhat at a loss; he had never dealt with this sort of thing before!
He had previously thought it necessary to hand over the funds to the Military Affairs Department and even consulted with the Dragonhawk Legion about it, only to find out it wasn’t necessary.
Later, following an inquiry to Gu Hang, the legion commander decided, the money would be taken as property of the legion and lent in full to the Alliance Government.
And the Alliance Government would establish a “Legion Foundation,” dedicated to consolations, extra allowances for the Rage Bear Legion warriors, ammunition replenishment, logistics maintenance, and the like. Of course, it could also be used for other purposes, but the foundation had to pay interest, whatever the case.
It was essentially a case of money changing hands from the left pocket to the right.
However, extra allowances and additional consolations did greatly help with the morale of the Rage Bear Legion.
The Alliance Army never had to worry about morale. On the one hand, soldiers trained systematically possessed an inherently high level of organization. They were resolute, disciplined, and spirited. On the other hand, the Alliance Army was a force with a belief system; previously mainly engaged in combat on the planet of Rage Owl Star, political officers always emphasized to the soldiers that their fight was for the future of the entire planet, for the happiness of all humanity.
However, in extraterrestrial combat, this belief was somewhat challenged.
Despite that, the political officers could offer another set of ideologies:
First was the loyalty to Mr. Gu, which was unquestionable and recognized by all the warriors.
Second was transforming the “for our world” message into “for all of humanity.” However, this message wasn’t quite as effective.
The former had already been grand enough, and many had come to accept this belief after experiencing firsthand the massive changes to themselves, their families, friends, and the entire planet.
But the latter was even grander and more abstract.
What was more terrifying was the lack of visible change. They had fought for half a year, but to be honest, had the situation in Fino City improved at all? Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire
It had not; in fact, it was getting worse.
The soldiers were willing to accept that they were fighting for humanity, but their acceptance was low, and the situation, without any outcomes or changes, inevitably caused some distress.
At such times, better allowances and improved conditions served as a material financial reward and played a role in compensation.
Gu Hang also clarified in his meeting with Li Kexi that they would fight for at most another half year; he would dispatch another half of the Rage Bear Legion from Rage Owl Star for rotation, letting the warriors who had fought for a long time have a chance to return home for rest, reunite with their families, and enjoy life a bit.
…
All the benefits and interests obtained by the Rage Bear Legion there, whether direct or indirect, whether in terms of prestige, politics, or economics, all depended on the efforts and command of Li Kexi and his soldiers in battle.
They were earned with the blood of the warriors.
After half a year of fighting, all seven divisions were under strength. A total of more than thirteen thousand warriors had been killed or injured, with over eight thousand dead, and more than five thousand severely injured and confirmed to be unable to return to the unit.
Gu Hang visited the battlefield hospital to console the injured.
He promised to bring back the casualties and the remains of the fallen to their hometowns. They would receive grand funerals and generous consolations.
Gu Hang did as he promised.
The remains of more than five thousand soldiers who had been withdrawn from the combat sequence, along with the bodies that could be recovered, were transported through the Star Realm Army’s logistical system to the Starport on Korolya and placed aboard the armed merchant ship of the Gu Commercial Firm, which was also carrying Gu Hang as he departed.
Besides, there were others joining them on their journey.
A survey team, composed of around twenty people, mainly from the Star Domain survey team, with three observers from the Space Domain Government’s survey group.
There was also a team of investors. Many tycoons, involved in the Galaraldo disappearance case and unable to leave Korolya, managed to send some investment consultants and trusted subordinates to inspect the value of Mr. Gu’s planet alongside him.
In addition, the largest group, consisting of 210,000 refugees set to be “evacuated” to Rage Owl Star, were loaded onto an accompanying transport ship.
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Ah, dawn is breaking