Chapter 671: Chapter 382, He Really Believed It!
Fatches No.1, Era Royal Court.
This is the ruling center of the Fatches Family. The Fatches Star System has three governors, but in fact, the other two are merely symbolic positions. The true ruler is the Family Head of the Fatches Family, Governor of Fatches No.1.
The current Family Head, named Minnick Fatches, is an elderly man. However, in reality, he had been ruling the Fatches Family for only seven years.
Seven years ago, his father didn’t have the chance to undergo the third life-extension surgery and passed away at the age of one hundred ninety; and he, at the age of eighty, took over the family.
His takeover was legitimate and the process went smoothly, with little turmoil within the family and not many dissidents. But, as with any new ruler, there would almost certainly be questions: can you truly lead us to a more prosperous path?
And all rulers need achievements to dissipate such doubts.
…
Minnick was no exception.
And the achievement he set his sights on was Korolya.
The Fatches Family’s demands on Korolya were promoted by him. If, under his leadership, the Star System could break free from its cage and expand outward, then his contributions would be immeasurable.
After firmly setting his sights on Korolya, and after his most outstanding son became the Korolya Governor, he indeed seized a huge amount of prestige—only to lose it all even more swiftly afterward.
When the Imperial penalty arrived recently, bringing a huge fine upon him, his reputation was trampled in the mire.
Dissatisfaction within the family nearly boiled over!
Thirteen billion!
This number was utterly unacceptable. Many within the family simply couldn’t fathom how they were going to come up with such a huge sum of money over the next ten years—it might be possible, but it would cost them their lives.
Under this boiling dissatisfaction, after Minnick had exhausted almost all of his political efforts but ultimately failed to resolve the fine, he took an even more insane action, spurred by certain secret assurances and encouragement from some people within the family.
He rejected all Imperial Tax demands, expelled the tax officers dispatched by the Imperial Tax Fleet, and sealed off the entire Star System.
The Fatches did not have their own fleet; the few small ships they had were not only unable to confront the Imperial Navy Fleet but couldn’t even fight against the main force of the Tax Fleet, which was composed of transport ships and escort vessels, leaving them with virtually no proactive naval power.
But that didn’t mean they lacked the ability to defend and blockade.
Above the Fatches Tri-Star, there were starports and the Star Fortress System surrounding each starport; in the orbital ring, there were satellite fortresses circling in orbit, coupled with the ground’s anti-orbital firepower, the three planets would become incredibly tough spots to crack.
If the Tianma Fleet came, it would be alright; but just a small portion of the Tianma Fleet, not so much. A head-on assault could easily cost a dozen ships, and the outcome might still be uncertain.
Once the Fatches expelled the tax officers and blockaded the Star System, it was an undeniable act of rebellion.
Everyone in the Fatches Family, including Minnick the Family Head, was acutely aware of this.
However, after the Star Sector Government issued an enraged declaration of the Fatches Family’s rebellion, they still offered a counterargument.
“Activate all the external relationships we can reach, and make our statement public:”
Minnick, with a stern face, spoke to the scribe who was writing furiously at the foot of his court:
“The Fatches Family has always been the Empire’s most loyal servant, and the Fatchess Tri-Star will forever be the Empire’s eternal territory. We have not in the past, are not now, nor will we ever in the future betray the Empire.”
“On the contrary, the Star Sector Government led by Ivan Martinelli, along with their accomplice Flying Wing Star, and the Coalition’s governors, are the real traitors to the Empire. They forge evidence, twist data, delude the senior government for personal gain, persecute the Empire’s good officials, shoulder unbearable punishments, they are the true traitors!”
“We have blockaded the Fatches Star System, not to refuse the sacred and inviolable Imperial Tax. But since a year ago, when the Star Sector Government fabricated data to upgrade the Fatches Tri-Star to the third level of development, the additional excessive taxes have become an unbearable burden on the people of Fatches, not to mention the unreasonable fines.”
“The ten billion Imperial citizens of the Fatches Tri-Star are outraged! And I, representing these ten billion citizens, call out to all who have the right and ought to know of the injustices suffered by the people of Fatches:”
“We are not traitors to the Empire, and the loyal people of Fatches demand the restoration of Fatches’ honor!”
“We demand severe punishment for those treacherous officials who have betrayed the Empire;”
“We demand the cancellation of illegal, unreasonable, and unfair treatment;”
“Only on this basis will we undertake our rightful obligations!”
…
Having expressed the words he had thought through in one breath, both verbally and in writing, Minnick finally heaved a sigh of relief.
He knew it was unrealistic to think that a mere declaration could absolve them from the charge of ‘rebellion.’ The Imperial Tax was always a red line, and the Empire had clear regulations regarding it.
But the declaration was necessary nonetheless.
Mainly for future reference, to facilitate quibbling.
Even though the Imperial Tax was a red line, many times whether that line was actually that red often depended on many factors.