Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 1258: Chapter 710, Only Money

When Galaraldo first heard Prime Minister Luo Fei nominate Gu Hang to become the Cosmic Domain Chair of the Spiderweb Domain, he hadn’t reacted instantly.

What for?

Surrendered?

Immediately, he realized that was impossible.

Luo Fei had other plans in mind.

However, Galaraldo didn’t rush to speak.

Someone would speak up.

Sure enough, a High Lord raised a question: “The matter of the Alliance hasn’t been resolved, and now you propose Gu Hang to govern the Spiderweb Domain. Has the Executive Council considered this appropriately?”

“Not at all, in fact, we’ve been deliberating on this for a long time.” Luo Fei appeared quite confident and assured.

Then, he presented his ideas to the audience.

Clearing away the decorative and insignificant long-winded statements, the key point was Gu Hang taking over the position of Cosmic Domain Chair of the Spiderweb Domain.

Gu Hang performed exceptionally in the last war and was the greatest hero of the war, a fact that could not be erased by anyone. Therefore, achievements must be rewarded, and naturally, he needs to be promoted.

Isn’t Gu Hang’s primary official title the Dragonhawk Star Domain Leader?

Then, he directly steps up, rising to the position of Cosmic Domain Chair, becoming a governor of regions, governing the Spiderweb Domain.

Moreover, the Spiderweb Domain happens to need a political strongman to lead the thousands of worlds through post-war crises.

Isn’t Gu Hang suitable?

As for the Alliance, which has been under discussion for a while, Luo Fei did not mention it again.

But the current intention was already very clear.

Regarding these two issues, there is no related regulation within the Empire’s rules. There’s no rule that says someone who leads a unified political entity cannot assume the position of Cosmic Domain Chair.

In reality, within the Empire, there are actually a few Cosmic Domain Chairs under similar circumstances.

Of course, the political entities they command typically consist of only a few planets, several dozens of planets, formed into a military, economic, and political integration, usually located in the core areas controlled by the Space Domain Government, so that the Space Domain Government can manage a core area, wield core power.

Gu Hang, at such a scale, definitely does not exist.

But what of it? There’s precedent, others have done it before, the Empire has no stipulations, so why can’t Gu Hang?

Isn’t it just a tiny bit larger?

But Galaraldo couldn’t bring himself to say this openly.

At this moment, he silently shrank back, saying nothing.

He had to first observe the situation.

Actually, the present situation was already somewhat clear.

Luo Fei was advancing by withdrawing, throwing out the idea of a Cosmic Domain Chair as a strategic retreat, letting people thoughtfully consider what kind of might Cosmic Domain Chair plus the Alliance would possess?

How much power would Gu Hang wield?

Both Alliance and Cosmic Domain Chair, would Gu Hang push the already troublesome Alliance further? Expand it to encompass the entire Spiderweb Domain, thus becoming a gigantic, powerful, politically and economically advanced political entity from military to political aspects?

It’s quite possible indeed.

Even Xu Fuzhen, who had always been greedy for the substantial tax revenue the Alliance could provide, hesitated.

Desire for money is one thing, but a simple Alliance exists as it does, after all, it’s just five Star Domains; after all, the Alliance has existed for several decades, and Gu Hang’s attitude towards the Central Empire has always been relatively obedient…

Nevertheless, regardless of the situation, the combination of Cosmic Domain Chair and Alliance leadership was still overly extravagant, the powers too vast, and internally it could form a power loop, virtually unregulated from the outside.

Xu Fuzhen also remained silent.

A staunch supporter of Gu Hang fell silent, a supporter greedy for the Alliance’s money fell silent, the situation tended to become one-sided.

No need for Luo Fei to say anything more, rather, those High Lords with no relevant interests cautiously spoke one by one, expressing that Luo Fei’s proposal was unreliable.

Luo Fei, being rebuffed, was not angry but instead smiled cheerfully, explaining one by one, agreeing with the views of the dissenters.

Subsequently, he proposed, whether to dissolve the Alliance.

In that case, wouldn’t it be a win-win situation?

Gu Hang gets promoted.

Without this opportunity, it would be extremely difficult for a typical Star Domain Leader to advance to the position of Cosmic Domain Chair, with numerous hurdles in between, each hurdle potentially causing a politician to spend their entire life in vain.

Now, let Old Gu step over at once, and do not let his wartime achievements go unappreciated.

The Alliance is dissolved, letting the lords on Holy Terra be reassured without facing a new ironclad entity.

For Luo Fei, once Gu Hang became Cosmic Domain Chair, he entered the Executive Council’s appointment system overnight, transforming from a political adversary to “one of us,” potentially even becoming a friend in the future.

Even in Galaraldo’s mind, this was a good thing. Were it not known that Gu Hang absolutely would not want to abandon the Alliance for the position of Cosmic Domain Chair, he would vote in favor himself.

Isn’t it a win-win situation?

“I disagree!”

Finally, someone stepped out.

“I disagree with dissolving the Alliance.” The speaker was Xu Fuzhen.

This Minister of Taxation, with a cold face, tossed out a document, ignoring all other High Lords, her gaze fixed solely on Qi Bodu.

She reported in a detached tone, saying: “By preserving the Alliance, we harvest not only the current 300 billion a year but also a future income of 1.3 trillion annually. Meanwhile, through the Executive Council’s appointment system, we instead need to exempt the Star Domains within the Alliance, including the entire Spiderweb Domain, from taxes for ten or even twenty years. We need to support a military to manage and suppress; we need to annually invest more than 300 billion to rebuild the Spiderweb Domain.”

“Specific datasets can be found in the files; I just want to inform everyone, taking ten years as measurement, the comprehensive income and expenditure gap will reach 20 trillion.”

“This financial gap cannot be remedied by the Department of Taxation from any other source.”

“In other words, whether Gu Hang takes the position of Cosmic Domain Chair and whether the Alliance remains preserved, I don’t care. I’m merely telling everyone this one fact, if Prime Minister Luo Fei’s proposal comes true, then Solaria’s current annual investment of 700 billion must be halved…”

As she spoke, Luo Fei’s face darkened.

Solaria’s dozen Star Domains, tens of thousands of planets, are appointed by the Executive Council. This territory from the Sun Expedition has always been the greatest increment of power from the Executive Council through the years.

Xu Fuzhen ignored him and continued, saying: “All reconstruction investments for the Starfighter Battle Group will be halted entirely; the Navy’s plan to rebuild and supplement the Solar Fleet needs a thorough re-examination; the Tribunal’s budgetary allocation must reduce, it can’t support punishment on planet after planet; Holy Terra’s production orders to Mars need reduction…”

She continued to name several places.

A point advised, silently none.

“Hence, my suggestion is not only shouldn’t the Alliance be dissolved, but why can’t the Spiderweb Domain be given to Gu Hang?”

“Give! It’s all possible! Just as long as Gu Hang pays!”