Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 1183: Chapter 641, How Does Corruption Occur?

The Empire’s Northern Front and Southern Front War Zones, there has been some verbal conflict between the commanders of the two sides.

Honestly, in the public opinion field within the entire Empire, Gu Hang is definitely at a disadvantage.

What kind of reputation does the Fleet Marshal of the Black Cross Army have compared to Gu Hang?

Although, in terms of status, both are war zone commanders; the actual power they possess differs significantly. Gu Hang mustered all his resources here, unlike Leroux, who is basically in a provisional role as the Alliance Hierarch. Leroux does have the strong Black Cross Army behind him, but he isn’t the Supreme Marshal of the Black Cross Army, whereas Gu Hang genuinely commands three star domains and is about to conquer two more, controlling over two thousand worlds under his banner, definitely stronger than Leroux.

But, he is an Interstellar Warrior, a renowned Fleet Marshal of the Black Cross Army, his combat figure appearing in many places within the Empire, his combat stories widely spread and recognized.

In this regard, Gu Hang falls far behind.

Galaraldo did use various methods on Holy Terra to promote Gu Hang. Stories like him defeating the Great Demon, saving worlds, and defeating the Green Skin Orcs are indeed quite good, even artistically arranging his actions, emphasizing heroism.

Yet, the Empire’s people love the brave and fearless warrior more.

Interstellar Warriors are cooler than Psychics; pure military commanders are more welcomed than politicians standing behind, possibly hiding numerous conspiracies.

Moreover, Gu Hang’s feats are limited to the eastern part of the Imperial’s Eastern Frontier, unlike the Black Cross Army, who flaunt their prowess everywhere.

They are a battle group with thousands of years of history, the reputation accumulated over countless years, which Gu Hang cannot compare with.

Gu Hang’s influence can’t compete with the other.

However, Gu Hang did the right thing: he avoided the pitfall of defensiveness.

In situations of ’debate’, one must avoid defending. If others criticize, and you reply saying that’s not true, I’m not like that, stop talking nonsense, then you’ll be scorned forever.

When the speaker opens their mouth, the defender has to break their mouth speaking.

Especially when there’s a disparity in influence between both parties, it’s even more true.

Upon hearing Leroux criticize Gu Hang, various commanders from different battle groups, different Star Realm Army units, and the Tribunal will react immediately…while Gu Hang speaks, only his subordinates can hear, his external influence is minimal.

That’s when you have to retort back, directly at them.

If you say I’m hoarding power, preserving strength, then I’ll criticize you for pursuing battle merits without considering consequences, risking failure.

It’s not merely about mutual accusations, Gu Hang truly thinks so.

Ever since the Iron Armor Battle Group shattered the Phoenix of the West Line and invaded the Magrey Cosmic Domain, their actions, from Gu Hang’s perspective, seemed quite odd.

In terms of offense, indeed there is; they’ve swept through thousands of worlds in the Magrey Cosmic Domain in a short time, seemingly dispersing their main force, striking here and there.

The momentum is grand, especially leveraging the previous victory over the Phoenix, genuinely making others surrender at the mere mention.

Yet Gu Hang finds it peculiar, their grand momentum is like rootless duckweed without a strategic focus, merely enlarging the attack area blindly, soon enough, they’ll have to retreat from what they’ve conquered.

Even though Gu Hang can understand they’re spreading the Insect Race’s infestation, turning more worlds into direct biomass resources, they indeed achieved it to some extent. However, each planet resists, unwilling to be consumed easily, and Iron Armor, overly dispersed, finds difficulty in suppressing resistance of many worlds swiftly.

How much can the Insect Race’s infestation spread? How much biomass can they absorb?

Facts prove Gu Hang was right.

When the West Line was reorganized, with Salius leading the Otaubis Battle Group as the core, returning to the battlefield, the vast areas of the Magrey Cosmic Domain were quickly regained, Iron Armor was pounded into silence.

According to reports from the West Line, they claimed Iron Armor’s forces were greatly dispersed, catching Iron Armor several times in small battlefields, most ending in victory.

But upon carefully analyzing their reports—the reports obtained from Galaraldo—Gu Hang believes the situation on the West Line is far less optimistic than what Salius has reported.

Iron Armor was silenced indeed, the main force of the West Line did progress triumphantly, nonetheless, hidden beneath those glorious battle reports, is the fact they’ve never annihilated the main force of Iron Armor in a decisive battle, even those victories in small skirmishes, upon closer inspection, were mostly against local rebels, cultists, and infected groupings. Few records exist of engagements with the elite of the Princess Legion let alone with Iron Armor’s Interstellar Warriors, and such records are glorified extensively, yet upon closer inspection, terms like disperse and drive off are frequent whereas eliminations or kills are less common.

This still without considering the possibility of embellishment in reports, is what Gu Hang observed.

Is it possible for the reports to be unembellished? Honestly, even the disciplined Alliance Army can’t achieve that.

Let’s not even discuss intentional embellishment, battlefield statistics are inherently complex, with various situations, sometimes requiring estimates—which to put bluntly means fabrication.