Chapter 639: Chapter 367, remember, remember
“Do you want to transform Korolya Battle Zone into a six-year regimen to clean up all of Nest Capital?”
Lois’s expression was not very good.
Gu Hang, smiling, sat across from Lois and said, “It’s to create a more dynamic, more prosperous Korolya for the Empire.”
“Don’t mess things up,” Lois’s expression did not improve, and she warned, “I agreed to give you six years to transform the battle zone so that you could clean up the Cult and ensure that Korolya could continue to provide labor to the Star Domain as it has done in the past.”
“These six years are not for you to fool around!”
“Don’t turn Korolya into a mess and then find yourself unable to pay the taxes after six years!”
…
Gu Hang knew he needed to put Lois at ease.
Lois couldn’t remove his position as Governor, just as she couldn’t dismiss Fatches, but could only pressure the latter to resign on his own and then, through a fast-track process, transfer the governorship to Gu Hang.
But that didn’t mean Lois, the Star Domain envoy who might soon become the Minister of the Interior for the Star Domain, had no way to deal with him.
Besides, Lois was the ‘benefactor’ who had pushed Gu Hang to the position of Korolya Governor; she was one of his own, and he could not afford to push her to the opposing side.
After organizing his thoughts, Gu Hang said, “Your Excellency Minister, do you still remember the encounter we had four years ago, when you came to Tianma Star Sector to collect taxes? At that time, you invited me to become the Korolya Governor.”
“I’m aware that at that time you valued the influence of the Interstellar Warrior and the fact that Galaraldo acknowledged my relationship. But besides those, do you remember why you wanted me to take this position as Governor?”
Lois was quite old but still had a sharp mind.
She only had to think for a moment, and she accessed that memory from the archives of her mind.
She remembered her thoughts at the time, and in addition to what Gu Hang had mentioned, there was another reason: she truly considered Gu Hang to be a promising candidate. Through him, forming alliances and integrating Rage Owl Star and Heijian Star, especially his accomplishment of turning a Wasteland World into a thriving place within just a few years, Lois believed he had a rare capability. Having him rule Korolya gave the chance to lift this rotten place out of the mud.
With this in mind, Lois’s emotions calmed down slightly, and her expression was not as stern as when Gu Hang had first entered the room.
She sighed and said, “I believe in you, and I support you. But you should also consider the difficulties I face.”
Gu Hang made a show of all ears.
Lois continued, “For transforming Korolya into a battle zone for six years, I have paid a great price. Forty billion Tax Currency a year, two hundred and forty billion over six years—it’s a huge number. For Korolya, I had to persuade many people and offend many others to get this done.”
Gu Hang nodded, indicating he understood.
“In the next six years, if everything in Korolya is calm and peaceful, do you know how much pressure I would endure? How many people would attack my decision, saying that transforming Korolya into a battle zone for such a long time is a colossal waste of the Empire’s finances. You won’t be comfortable either, not just within your Star Sector, but throughout the Star Realm, countless people are eyeing Korolya as a piece of meat. By that time, whether or not the transformation can last for six years is unknown, and it’s not something I can promise you now and let you truly rest easy.”
Gu Hang laughed and said, “Then shouldn’t you be more supportive of my cleaning up all the Bottom Nest District and Lower Nest District? Korolya can’t stay calm.”
“But I’m more worried about you screwing things up!” Lois said, slapping the armrest of her chair, “If it were only smooth sailing, the worst we’d face is pressure, and the worst outcome would be Korolya starting to pay taxes a bit sooner. But if during this period, the Star Domain Government finds that the situation in Korolya is losing control and might jeopardize future tax payments, then my political career is over, and your life is too! Do you understand?”
As she spoke, her tone was earnest and concerned, “Just sit tight in your position as the Korolya Governor, you’ve already solved the biggest difficulty, eliminating the cult shouldn’t be hard, six years is enough time, you could even save up a large fortune. After six years, when you can smoothly pay the taxes, you will be one of the most powerful figures in the Tianma Star Sector.”
“By then, your alliance controls three worlds, with your mother managing the Gu Commercial Firm and being able to mobilize resources from the Empire Commerce Guild; your fiancée is a naval major-general, bound to be the commander of the Tianma Fleet in the future. I will help you, Galaraldo will help you… your future is limitless, so why bother stirring up trouble?”
Lois believed she was completely considering things from Gu Hang’s perspective.
Even Gu Hang could not deny her standpoint.
But…
Gu Hang sighed in his heart.
How could my ambition be satisfied with just this?
However, it was difficult to express this aspect to Lois.
She would neither understand nor agree.
After a moment of thought, Gu Hang sincerely thanked Lois, and then spoke earnestly, “I fully appreciate your keen expectations for me and understand the importance of Korolya to the Empire, with its billions of people making extremely significant contributions to the Star Domain’s endeavors. But… but, General Lois, please consider, what is it that the Star Domain Government, the Empire, lacks and really needs to get from Korolya? Is it truly the population?”
“Where did these billions of people ultimately go? They were either sent to countless places within the vast Star Realm of the Empire, becoming slave labor, cannon fodder, or the lower-class residents of newly colonized planets. They are simply moving from Nest Capital on Korolya to another place to live or die, the value they create has not changed at all.”
“I hope to make some changes.”
“The same four billion Tax Currency a year, what if it is two destroyers a year? Or one cruiser every four years; or countless industrial goods, armaments; or what if Korolya could independently support a Star Realm Army ten times larger than the Dragonhawk Third Legion?”
“Aren’t these all more valuable than Korolya’s simple contribution of several hundred million people a year?”
Lois sighed.
She certainly understood that Gu Hang was right.
If you could actually create a new cruiser, then what would you need those billions of dry bodies for?
But the key is whether it’s achievable!
However, if it’s Gu Hang’s words… there might indeed be a possibility.
“I can’t convince you, who would’ve thought you are now the Korolya Governor?” Lois sighed, “But don’t act too recklessly. The Star Domain Government will be watching, and if things in Korolya get out of control, I won’t be able to protect you, remember that well.”