Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 913: Chapter 492, Never Worry About Gu Hang’s Loyalty!_2

Iron Fury Stone certainly understood that they had become a thorn in the side of Holy Terra. They too had made political efforts, with Norberto trying his best to mediate the relationship between the two parties. But now, with the mediator gone, would Iron Fury Stone take this as a sign that the Empire was about to move against them? Would they believe that the option for peace had completely vanished and that war was the only choice left?

This was the biggest reason why they couldn’t just swiftly eliminate Norberto: they feared it would directly push Iron Fury Stone to rebel!

The Empire wasn’t yet fully prepared for a rebellion!

Troops, supplies, personnel, propaganda, policies… everything was still in the planning stages.

If Iron Fury Stone were to rebel first, the entire Eastern Frontier of the Empire might well face a major crisis!

Thinking of this, not just the High Lords who were shocked during the previous council, but even ordinary politicians understood that the situation had slipped further toward an uncontrollable abyss.

Everyone was cursing internally; these golden corn spirits were really of no help at all, completely lacking in political wisdom, knowing only how to create chaos!

If you have the ability to create chaos, why not break out from Terra and personally subdue Iron Armor in the Empire’s Eastern Frontier?

Staying in the Imperial Palace every day, even The Emperor ascended and still not knowing what they are protecting!

But as much as they complained internally and bore resentment, they dared not voice these to the Imperial Guard.

Different departments of the Central Empire could only race against time, trying to get the bloated system moving, in order to respond to the crisis that might break out much sooner than expected.

…

After the assassination incident, Gu Hang stayed at Holy Terra for about another month.

During this period, his previously interrupted honours ceremony due to the incident was held again. This time, there were no accidents, and he received the golden scepter that symbolized his status as the Empire Marshal.

He became the highest ranked individual in the entire Dragonhawk Star Domain.

Although in reality, the only forces he had direct command over were the ones that originally belonged to him, the Rage Bear Legion, and his title was ‘Marshal of the Rage Bear Legion’. He did not have command over other corps of the Star Realm Army.

However, the Star Realm Army was, after all, a unified military force with a nation-wide character, unlike the defense armies under different planets which really had no jurisdiction over each other.

According to the unified regulations of the Star Realm Army, within a warzone, unless there were special orders, the highest-ranking officer would automatically obtain wartime command over the Star Realm Army in that region.

This meant that Gu Hang indeed could not exercise his power in places outside of the Rage Bear Legion. He could not decide on the organization of other legions, personnel appointments, or military movements.

But if a war broke out and there were no higher commands from a level above Gu Hang establishing an alternative command system, then all Star Realm Army forces within that battlefield region would have to follow the orders of this Marshal.

In practice, for the Dragonhawk Star Domain, this would include not only his own Dragonhawk 3rd Corps but also the eight additional army groups of the Dragonhawk Legion, which were currently under the jurisdiction of the Dragonhawk Star Domain Government. They would all have to listen to him.

Although there was a Legion Commander of the entire Dragonhawk Legion in the Dragonhawk Star Domain, Michelle Oliqi, the Legion Commander, only held the rank of Admiral, still a rank below Gu Hang.

If the Alliance and Fury Flame Battle Group went to war, the Dragonhawk Legion fighting under the Fury Flame Battle Group would find itself in a very awkward position—everyone was part of the Star Realm Army; would they listen to commands from a Marshal?

Thinking of treason, are you?

Similarly, Yelisia had been somewhat troubled before, as her Tianma Fleet kept receiving orders from the Yunluo Fleet’s Fleet Commander, who was also the highest Imperial Navy official in the Dragonhawk Star Domain.

But now, being associated with Gu Hang, she had been promoted to Admiral of the Imperial Navy.

Now that their ranks were the same, Yelisia could rightly ignore the other side.

Of course, just as Yelisia had previously evaded orders from that Admiral, technically Legion Commander Oliqi could also ignore Gu Hang’s commands.

The difference, however, lies in the fact that Yelisia had firmly decided to follow Gu Hang, with their relationship being clear.

Was Oliqi firmly determined to follow the Fury Flame Battle Group’s command, at the risk of being labeled a traitor?

Probably not.

At the same time, Gu Hang also gained another benefit.

This one came with more complications.

It was about the proposal for him to become the highest administrative officer of the Dragonhawk Star Domain—the Star Domain Head.

The appointment process for the Star Domain Head is proposed by the higher-level government, namely the Space Domain Government, reported to Holy Terra, and sanctioned by the Imperial Executive Yuan, thereby coming into effect.

Regarding the proposal to appoint Gu Hang as the leader of Dragonhawk, it followed the most normal and reasonable process. At Galaraldo’s suggestion, Zuo Zhaofeng submitted the nomination.

Generally speaking, the Imperial Executive Yuan rarely rejects proposals from the Space Domain Government.

But with Gu Hang, things are a bit different.

He is now the Marshal of the Imperial Star Realm Army, his daughter-in-law is an Imperial Navy Admiral, and he has an Interstellar Warrior Battle Group at his command; now to give him the title of leader of the Dragonhawk Star Domain Government… amassing military and political power in one hand, right?

The Empire had just been contemplating how to eliminate ‘Iron Fury Stone’, and now they’re fostering another local independent warlord themselves?

Indeed, there were concerns about this.

The Chief of the Administration Bureau was opposing it.

Everyone knows he is Zebert’s man, which to some extent, represents Zebert’s thoughts.

In this matter, Ou Juren played his role.

The appointment of a Star Domain Head doesn’t need to go to the Supreme Council for a vote. Ou Juren worked his connections, especially with a personal visit to Zebert, giving assurances that persuaded the Prime Minister.

Although not explicitly stated, Gu Hang could more or less guess the thoughts of these heavyweights.

They were of course afraid of nurturing another Iron Armor.

But on the one hand, although Gu Hang had the allegiance of Interstellar Warriors, unlike the situation in the Princess Star Domain, the Iron Armor Battle Group acted autonomously, while Phoenix did not. The Supreme Council believed they had ways to separate Gu Hang and Phoenix later.

They were more wary of Interstellar Warriors than a human political leader.

In the history of the Empire, Interstellar Warriors have caused turmoil time and again; a mortal rising from the local ranks to become too powerful to control?

That had never happened.

‘Turmoil’ caused by mortal political leaders did exist, but these occurred within the Central Government. Including the Sun Lord era that ended only a decade or so ago, Solakium first became the Supreme Marshal of the Star Realm Army, stepped into the ranks of the Thirteen High Lords, and then launched the Solar Expedition, seizing control.

Moreover, compared with the numerous misdeeds of Iron Armor, Gu Hang was dutifully paying taxes. Whenever he didn’t pay taxes, it was due to explicit tax exemption policies given to him, which were not even sought by him but proactively provided for various reasons. With these exemptions, he did more work than the taxes he saved.

Such as saving a Nest Capital, such as winning the Iron Teeth War.

Gu Hang’s reputation in this regard was much better.

Letting Gu Hang hold great power was also because of the presence of the formidable enemy, Iron Armor.

Having an enemy that even the Central Empire found troubling,

let them bite each other first. Once the battle was over, Gu Hang’s coalition would likely suffer heavy losses. By then, it would become much easier to dismantle it.

To this, Gu Hang just smiled, repeatedly reassuring everyone he met how honest he was. His lifelong wish was to achieve some merit locally, and then to move to Holy Terra to work together with everyone.

His words indeed made many believe him.

Because this really fit the notion most Imperial officials had at heart: Holy Terra is the best, superior to any other place. Better to have a bed on Terra than a palace in a Garden World.

Being transferred to Holy Terra to serve a term as a high official would make one willing to give up all local accomplishments.

Many Imperial high officials came about this way.

Once the battle with Iron Armor is settled and Gu Hang has achieved fame and success, finding an official position for him on Terra would naturally lead him to let go of the so-called coalition and come over eagerly, right?

No need to fear that Gu Hang will become too strong and troublesome at the local level!

You never need to worry about Gu Hang’s loyalty!

————

4k

End of the month, shamelessly asking, looking for a monthly pass!