Taking various factors into account, Gu Hang finally decided to adopt a strategy of swallowing first, then digesting.
In fact, when he initially conquered the Green Valley Region and the Eastern Provinces on Rage Owl Star, he had also adopted this strategy, and had been forced to temporarily leave a large number of the original ruling class in place, not to mention on an alien planet.
On this basis, Gu Hang had to give the existing kings and nobles a glimmer of hope, making them feel that the Alliance wasn’t aiming to completely annihilate them. Otherwise, he would surely face the most intense resistance.
After making clear the preservation of the kingdoms, Gu Hang further stated,
“As long as the nobles of each region act in accordance with the laws of the Alliance, the Alliance will fully respect your power.”
This was the second assurance Gu Hang offered.
At the same time, he also offered favorable conditions:
“The Alliance, along with the Gu Family, will continue to provide various forms of aid to Heijian Star, helping to gradually establish more modern agricultural production and industrial systems on the native soil of Heijian Star.”
If she were a decadent feudal monarch, she might not be interested in such so-called support, but Queen Isabel was not.
She even felt a sense of elation.
In the past, Heijian Star was not without enlightened individuals who wanted to make some changes. However, firstly, the conservative forces within the planet were too stubborn, and secondly, it was extremely difficult to import production lines from outside, and getting the necessary equipment and technology for industrial upgrading through the Gu Commercial Firm was prohibitively expensive.
Now, it seemed both these problems could be solved.
Mr. Gu significantly eliminated the conservative forces of the past, and the technical assistance mentioned even sounded like it was free.
This made Queen Isabel somewhat incredulous.
Gu Hang said, “The Alliance will not view Heijian Star simply as a subject to be ruled. Instead of gaining four hundred million slaves, I would prefer that the Alliance gains four hundred million citizens. I hope that the kingdoms of Heijian Star can truly become members of the Alliance.”
Beautiful words can be spoken by anyone, but Queen Isabel heard sincerity in the words of Mr. Gu.
She believed that this was indeed what Gu Hang thought.
It left her with mixed feelings.
The joy was that it seemed her kingdom would not be suffering;
The concern was, after all this, would the kingdom still be a kingdom?
She couldn’t help but ask, “So… what’s the price?”
Gu Hang replied softly with a laugh, “Firstly, each kingdom will have a special agency from the Alliance stationed within it. From military to administrative to economic development, the Alliance’s special agency will have the authority to directly intervene. Our representatives will wholeheartedly assist each kingdom in getting on the right track.”
“We will establish a New Kings’ Council, inviting all the major kingdoms to join. This New Kings’ Council will differ from the past and will shoulder much greater responsibilities. The succession of thrones in each country must be approved by the King’s Council; the military forces of each country will be uniformly allocated through an allied force system set up by the New Kings’ Council. The Council will also have representatives from the Alliance, and overall will be seen as part of the Alliance Government…”
“On this basis, the King’s Council guarantees the survival of each kingdom, ensuring the rights of the royal families and nobility, but at the same time, you also need to act according to the rules laid out by the King’s Council.”
This whole setup weighed heavily on Isabel.
She was aware of the Alliance’s ambition, wrapped in a series of seemingly mild words.
The most important point here was that by joining this New Kings’ Council, the countries would, in essence, have lost their independent military power.
All military strength would be taken away by the Alliance.
This so-called New Kings’ Council was obviously just a shell under the control of the Alliance. Council, council, what was there to discuss? It was nothing more than kings sitting there, lending an ear, and following the orders of the Alliance’s representatives.
Without control of their own military strength, it was the same as having a knife held to their neck by someone else, and the so-called non-interference in internal affairs was pure nonsense.
If they say they won’t interfere, they won’t, but what can be done when they decide to intervene? Isn’t it just a matter of obediently doing as they say?
As for the rest, such as king succession needing Council approval; the deployment of observers in each country, who can intervene in specific affairs, all of this just becomes a matter of course. With the knife in someone else’s hand, is it not for them to do as they please?
She opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to haggle.
But looking at the smile on Gu Hang’s face, she suddenly remembered what Mr. Gu had just said.
There was no room for negotiation; this was a one-sided announcement.
So, what could she choose?
If she said yes, Stefano’s future would be assimilated into a member of the Alliance, and even the name itself might shift from that of a country to simply a geographical location. But at least, for the time being, the kingdom could be preserved, and it seemed, from what she heard, that the people here would receive fair treatment.
But if she chose no, it meant death.
She would be the first to die, but actually, she wasn’t afraid. What about what followed? The Alliance had countless ways to unearth a Stefano royal descendant to play the role of king, and the final outcome wouldn’t differ from her choosing ‘yes.’
Ultimately, she could only nod helplessly, indicating that she understood.
…
The Alliance’s actions were swift.
The New Kings’ Council convened just four days later.
Amid protests from diplomats from the five other major nations of Heijian Star and over forty smaller countries, the New Kings’ Council declared its establishment.
Four countries that participated in the New Kings’ Council ultimately chose to reject joining.
No matter, it was quite normal.
For the time being, Gu Hang wouldn’t trouble them.
The new governor of Heijian Star, elected by the council, was still Nes Luman, with member countries including Stefano within it.
The Alliance’s strong display in destroying Stefano, the second-largest country on the doomed planet in just over forty days and capturing the Iron Curtain Queen, had indeed created a shockwave. Additionally, seven smaller countries chose to join the New Kings’ Council.
According to requirements, their armies, totaling approximately two hundred thousand soldiers, would gather with the three hundred thousand troops of the Luman Kingdom to form a joint force under the command of Major General Perbov from the Heijian Star Group Army, the supreme commander of the Alliance.
Furthermore, the New Kings’ Council, with authorization from Queen Isabel, would establish a new government for the Kingdom of Stefano and demand that all uncontrolled local nobles, landlords, and warlords swear allegiance or be deemed traitors to be purged.
This part of the operation was assigned to the new joint forces.
And Stefano’s new government would consist of local nobles who had sided with them, officials dispatched from the Luman Kingdom, and Alliance officials. They would also strive to convert the captured six hundred thousand Stefano troops, aiming to select another two hundred thousand to join the new joint forces.
Isabel exerted significant effort in this regard.
She was the head of state, the queen, and not a figurehead; she had truly ruled over the past decade and more. When she sided with the Alliance, she greatly aided the Alliance’s operations in the Kingdom of Stefano.
Of course, for this very reason, the Alliance was also wary of her.
At present, she was constantly guarded by no less than four Demon Hunters, and she had to ensure that her whereabouts were entirely within the military control of the Alliance.
If she were to escape and be seized by Stefano’s remaining resistance organizations, it would be quite troublesome.
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Especially since the Alliance’s occupation forces here were not very strong at the moment.
Right now, the Alliance Army’s primary target was still the Panbos Kingdom.
The main corps had already advanced into the territory of Panbos.
And at this moment, inside this foremost powerhouse of Heijian Star, there were more than two million soldiers gathered, with over two thousand Sentry Mecha and twelve Knight Titans.
This was already a military force the Alliance Army could not ignore.