Chapter 638: Chapter 366, Everyone Can Applaud Now_2
All sorts of complicated gangs, interest groups, and rebel armies… various organizations occupy those places, effectively replacing the authority of the Planetary Government.
Their relationship with the Planetary Government varies; some are in opposition, others have a superior-subordinate dynamic, or are either managers or the managed… but whatever the role, there is a certain understanding between them and the government: “I respect you, and in consideration of your face, I’ll find a way to pay the taxes. Don’t meddle in anything else.”
Of course, the Planetary Government is ultimately the strongest, uppermost, and most legitimate force on the planet. As for that so-called ‘understanding,’ it solely depends on whether the Planetary Government wishes to maintain it.
But the reason this understanding exists in the first place is because the Planetary Government cannot fully manage the lower echelons. Thus, there is space for these interest groups to appear and grow. The Planetary Government needs them to administer the areas of power vacuum. Without these interest groups, would the Planetary Government itself go down to collect taxes?
In the Bottom Nest District, where things are a complete mess, collecting taxes is a joke; it’s feared that the tax collection convoy would disappear without a trace as soon as it goes down there.
Of course, there are some interest groups that mess around or are unreliable in paying taxes, such as the ‘Rebel Army’ (often self-styled as the Rebel Army), the most disobedient group. The radical rebel armies directly oppose taxes altogether, and even the more established ones hold their own territory and population ransom to negotiate with the Planetary Government, seeking to pay fewer taxes or none at all.
…
Sometimes, the Planetary Government turns a blind eye, but if things go too far, or if the Planetary Government is pushed to desperation, the Planetary Defense Army will be mobilized to launch a ‘pacification’ campaign to deal with the respective interest groups.
But pacification requires an army and time. What if, after a long battle, no taxes could be collected? After the interest groups are defeated, who will collect the taxes? Who are those who should pay taxes, where are they, how much can they pay… All this information is unknown, making tax collection extremely difficult.
Alternatively, the government could be ruthless, arresting everyone in a pacified area, killing all the resistors, and taking the survivors as a form of human taxation, but this approach is not sustainable. If you handle it this way now, what about next time?
You can’t afford to cut the grass and remove the roots.
Such actions can only be punitive, a warning. Normally, negotiations are held mid-battle, or after the group is defeated, a new interest group is supported to take over, which is a lower-cost and easier solution to implement.
In Korolya, the ecosystems of each Nest Capital have been operating like this for hundreds to thousands of years.
Korolya had a population of around forty billion many, many years ago, and has always maintained a relatively high birth rate. However, due to Imperial Tax and high mortality rates, the population of Korolya has hardly grown despite the high birth rate, always remaining at its current size.
Even this so-called ‘forty billion’ people is but a fictitious number.
The Korolya Planetary Government has carried out several world population censuses over the long years, and the data is quite unreliable, with many figures estimated in the end.
Anyway, as long as the Imperial Tax is levied for a population of forty billion, let’s assume there are forty billion people on Korolya.
That’s the general situation of this planet.
Now, Mr. Gu declares that he wants to thoroughly clean up the entire Bottom Nest District?
Everyone seriously doubts it.
If a system is still running, then don’t touch it. Otherwise, you won’t know how deep the mire is beneath it; one move could cause everything to collapse.
They simply can’t imagine what kind of changes should be made to the system that has been proven to maintain the operation of Korolya over such a lengthy period, to make it better?
Establish a complete government extending to the grassroots level?
Do you realize how many administrative personnel that requires? And how to manage these officials? How can the government afford the astronomical costs of so many employees? How many troops are needed to maintain stability during upheaval?
Can you afford them?
There are ten thousand problems here.
If someone had suggested doing this before, they would likely have immediately faced a storm of questions. Even though the Planetary Governor nominally has complete authority over their own planet, it’s just lip service.
In places like Rage Owl Star or Heijian Star, where things are a mess, you can do whatever you wish, and no one will care; it’s not crucial.
But with Korolya, such a crucial location for finance, taxation, and labor export, any disorder would doom everyone.
The Star Sector Government would want to interfere, the Star Domain Government would want to get involved, and all stakeholders tied to the population business in Korolya would come out to offer their unsolicited advice.
It’s only because Gu Hang comes here with a great victory in a world-saving campaign, speaking from here, that he can barely keep these words pressed in people’s hearts, preventing them from voicing them openly to him.
But in reality, the absence of open dissent does not mean it does not exist.
His foes, with mocking smiles on their faces, are clapping hands, but deep down, some may be waiting to see your blunder, and others may even be contemplating what to do next to sabotage your efforts.
And some of the intimates were evidently worried.
…
After the reception had ended, Mr. Gu’s elderly mother sought him out.
“You said you’re going to clean up every Lower Nest District and Bottom Nest District on Korolya Planet? You were just speaking metaphorically, right? You’re not seriously considering it, are you?”
“Of course, I’m serious,” Gu Hang replied, “When have I ever been all talk?”
She furrowed her brows fiercely, “How are you going to do it?”
“It’s too complicated to explain to you all at once.”
“Just tell me where the money is coming from.”
Miss Wang Qi asked a critical question, one that, from her perspective as a businesswoman, struck at the heart of the issue.
“From Korolya,” Gu Hang said, “With such a vast population resource, why should we worry about not being able to afford it?”
“Are you going to sell people? After selling them all, in the future…”
“No.” Gu Hang interrupted his mother, “Of course not selling people. In fact, I plan to possibly reduce the proportion of the head tax when Korolya pays its taxes in the future. The ideal situation would be to not pay any head tax at all.”
“Then what do you mean by population resources…”
Gu Hang rolled his eyes, “Mother, have you been brainwashed by Korolya’s past situation, that when you hear ‘human resources’, all you can think of is the price of ‘people’ themselves? People are the most valuable means of production, the core and the foundation of the labor force.”
“Oh my God!” Miss Wang Qi almost screamed, “Four billion people! Do you realize what you are saying? You want to provide four billion jobs to make them valuable as a labor force?! It’s utterly preposterous!”
“Why not? Isn’t that the best outcome for Korolya?”
“And the best outcome for the Gu Commercial Firm would be to become the President of the Empire Commerce Guild!” Miss Wang Qi rolled her eyes dramatically, “The key is how to achieve it?! It’s impossible!”
“Then just watch my ability,”
Miss Wang Qi wanted to ask in more detail, but at that moment, a servant came up to them.
“Please forgive the intrusion, but… Envoy Lois wishes to have a private chat with Mr. Gu alone.”
“That’s perfectly fine,” said Miss Wang Qi.
She tugged at her son and then whispered in his ear, “Don’t mention your crazy plan in front of Lois, you…”
“Alright, Mother, I know what I’m doing, don’t worry,”
With that, he turned and followed the servant to a small room at the side of the banquet hall.
Lois, dressed in white, was already waiting there.
However, her expression didn’t look too good, not at all like someone who had just won a great victory.
As Gu Hang approached, she blurted out:
“You’re planning to militarize Korolya for six years to clean up all Nest Capitals?”
————
I came home very tired yesterday, thinking I’d lie down for a bit, rest my eyes for a moment and then get up to write. But when I woke up, it was already time to go to work…
Today, after coming back, I was going to post a single chapter explaining the situation, but then I thought I might as well finish writing earlier.