Chapter 274, The Sun Lord (6k plus)
Through the glass window, Gu Hang looked at the restless little boy who was being questioned by the alliance intelligence agent.
In order to calm his mind, a lady was specially chosen to do the job. She spoke and soothed the little Sini's emotions.
Their conversation was transmitted to the outside through the loudspeaker.
Although little Sini didn't know much, a five or six-year-old child, no matter how well-behaved, reformed, or mature he was, could hardly summarize and extract various intelligence on his own like a well-trained intelligence member.
But after all, he has lived in that city for two or three years. Many of the things he said may seem to be insignificant details, but if you summarize them and deduce them, you may be able to get a very important piece of information.
But, anyway, those are just details.
The most important piece of information:
Gu Hang already knew the information that "Blackbird Heavy Industries has violated the ban on intelligent machines, and Blackbird City has become a nest of intelligent machines."
All other things are details under this important intelligence. They cannot be said to be unimportant, but Gu Hang does not need to think too much about them. He can just look back at what the intelligence officer has integrated.
Gu Hang was thinking about how to make use of this information.
Lambert Hodgson, who was accompanying him, did not dare to interrupt him. He knew that the Governor would need to think carefully about such a big matter.
He was thinking too.
This incident will inevitably lead to more and bigger incidents in the future. Perhaps, the Angry Owl Star, which has been at peace for a short time, will be ushered in war again.
Moreover, the enemies this time are not brainless monsters or local natives with poor equipment.
This is Blackbird Heavy Industries, which has the support of the famous Fats family in the Pegasus star region. Now it has been revealed that it has violated the ban on intelligent machines. Its productivity and the quality of its military equipment cannot be compared with those of its former enemies.
According to the intelligence sent back from the front, there are 15 million people in the western part of the continent, and it is estimated that there are 7 million in Blackbird City. Blackbird Heavy Industry has a very high degree of organization for these people. If it becomes a war of attrition and the maximum conscription is used, the troops they can mobilize are at least 1.5 million, and it is not impossible to say that there are more than 3 million.
Will the Alliance fight a war of attrition with them? How many people will die? How many laborers originally used for economic construction will be transformed into soldiers on the battlefield? How long will the development of the Alliance stagnate?
If you think about it more deeply, is the current Blackbird Heavy Industries... still the same as it used to be?
The ban on intelligent machines is not just a joke. It is not that the Empire wants to put a huge shackle on itself, but it is a decision made out of deep helplessness.
Don't say that everything is fine because the development of intelligent algorithms is not enough to cause an omnic crisis. That is not the case at all. Even a calculator can be infected by the electronic demon, and the result of adding one plus one is 365.
Those cyborgs that have been manufactured, have broken through the minimum limit of servitors and become fully mechanized, even according to the definition of the Empire, they cannot be called human beings, those mechanical dogs created by fully automatic machines, those automated production lines... are they still controlled by "humans" now?
From this perspective, can the alliance win?
Even if an Omnic Crisis really breaks out, the Alliance can request support from the Astra Militarum and the Imperial Navy, but it must at least hold on until then.
Is it ok?
His mind was in a mess, and the more he thought about it, the heavier he felt.
At this moment, the Governor's voice suddenly sounded in his ears: "Did that Elan Bird... come back alive?"
"...What?" Lambert was stunned for a moment before he realized that the Governor was talking about one of the demon hunters who was sent to the western part of the continent to carry out a mission.
He came out of the grand narrative, quickly recalled, and then said to Gu Hang: "No... As soon as we received the news, we made a request to the Air Force brothers, and the Wind Falcon set off within half an hour. But the west of the continent is too far away. Even at the speed of the Wind Falcon, it will take more than fifteen hours to fly there. In the end, including this little boy, only three people were brought back. Elan Bird is not on the list of survivors."
After a pause, Lambert continued, "According to the two surviving demon hunters, Elan Bird should have disguised himself as a personnel transport driver, and successfully passed the city checkpoint with Little Sini and came to the outside of Blackbird City. But due to the presence of the guards, he couldn't get away in the first time, nor could he get in touch with his teammates. After the transport team arrived at the town where other teammates were and loaded a group of people, he took the risk of taking Little Sini and disguised himself as a local resident, trying to sneak away, but this time he failed and could only resist on the spot. His teammates showed up in time and saved them. But after all, they were few in number, and with their whereabouts exposed, they could only send out a distress signal and stay where they were and wait for rescue."
"When Feng Falcon arrived with the elite special forces, only two of them were left alive."
Lambert told Governor Gu the story, and his tone became a little sad.
Fifteen people went, but only two returned. Although they obtained important intelligence, the sacrifice was still heavy, which is regrettable.
"Yeah." Gu Hang nodded slightly and didn't say anything more.
He didn't need to say much about the corresponding pensions, rewards based on merit, and even the follow-up arrangements for the child named Xiao Sini. He believed that the people below could handle it well.
After returning, Gu Hang sat and pondered for a while, then asked someone to make an interstellar communication.
The person on the other end of the line was none other than my mother.
The image of Ms. Wang Qi appeared in front of Gu Hang, looking a little tired.
"Very busy?" Gu Hang asked.
"Yeah." Wang Qi nodded, but didn't say anything else.
After the Black Arrow Star Incident, Wang Qi survived and Gu Ming died, and Gu Hang officially became the nominal head of the Gu family. However, he still has not met the most important powers under the name of the family, as well as the most important group of people in power - the remaining twelve fleet leaders.
All matters were handled by Wang Qi.
Gu Hang had no objection to this, as he had discussed it with his mother.
Even if he were to become the head of the family with real power, he would not be happy about it. He was so focused on the actual development of the ruling family that he had no time to take care of the family business.
Although the family business is large, in his opinion, the foundation is not strong enough and the future development potential is just so-so. It is not the path he wants to take.
What's more, he doesn't understand the rules of the Interstellar Chamber of Commerce.
After the recent events, his feelings towards Wang Qi have changed, and he feels more at ease leaving everything to his mother to handle.
His mother, Ms. Wang Qi, has been extremely exhausted during this period.
It was a win, but it also left a huge rift in Gu's business. The entire chamber of commerce, which was originally a franchise, was about to fall apart. People were uneasy and the business was unstable. Gu Ming's lineage had to be completely eradicated, the related business had to be restored, people's hearts had to be appeased, and the political situation in the star region and even outside the star region had to be connected. She was so busy every day that she was bursting with excitement.
She wanted her son to help, but Gu Hang brushed her off by saying "I don't understand, I don't know".
So much so that now, when Gu Hang called, she didn't even give this lazy son a good look, and asked stiffly, "What's the matter?"
Gu Hang probably had some understanding of his mother's current condition and mentality.
He was very understanding of that.
And told my mother all the information about Blackbird City.
After hearing this, Wang Qi's virtual image remained motionless in front of Gu Hang for a long time, which made Gu Hang think that there was something wrong with the signal.
After a long while, Wang Qi finally sighed deeply:
"What kind of thing is this... one crisis after another..."
It took her a long time to react.
After sighing, she forced away the tiredness in her mind, faced her son seriously and said, "You know the seriousness of this matter, right?"
Gu Hang nodded slowly.
"Then I'll give you two more pieces of information."
Wang Qi pondered, considered the wording, and then said:
"The first thing is the news from within the star zone. The situation on Koroja 3 is getting worse. A hive city with a population of one billion has already fallen. A large number of residents have been transformed into plague zombies under the evil magic. More residents are displaced and fleeing everywhere, spreading the plague everywhere... The main star army stationed in the Pegasus star zone, the Dragon Eagle 3rd Army, has urgently dispatched an army group with more than 1.5 million troops on the Pegasus fleet to Koroja 3."
After talking about the reality without subjective factors, Wang Qi paused and added some analysis: "But according to my estimation, even if this is the case, it will be difficult to calm the situation. I suspect that the situation on Koroga 3 will deteriorate rapidly. This is not a trivial matter. The population of Koroga 3 accounts for 56% of the entire Tianma Star Region, a full 40 billion. If there is chaos here, the impact will not be limited to this planet. Feiyi Star has a population of 10 billion and an annual output value of more than 40 billion. Feiyi Star is developed on the one hand, and Koroga 3 is a huge market and raw material provider. "
Hearing this, Gu Hang couldn't help but be moved.
This was indeed the first time he received this information.
He quickly recalled the urgent recall of the Sisters of Battle.
He originally thought that after Grit and more than 30 other nuns returned to Koroga 3, the situation would be suppressed.
But things don't seem that simple.
According to what my mother said, if Koroga 3 was in turmoil, then Wing Star, whose economy was strongly tied to Koroga, would also be in turmoil. With its output value dropping rapidly, Wing Star would not be so calm when facing the imperial tax later.
The total population of the Tianma Star Region is probably over 70 billion, and these two planets together have 50 billion. If they all start to become unstable...
Damn it!
At the same time, Gu Hang also realized that these two worlds were the core sphere of influence of the star zone leader of Pedes. The three worlds of Fache 1, 2, and 3, with a total population of 20 billion, were the base of the Fache family.
They seem to be fine.
Oh, it’s not that nothing happened. Gu Hang is about to cause trouble for them.
However, they have a very close relationship with the main force of the Astra Militarum in the star zone, the 3rd Dragonhawk Legion. A large number of troops and supplies are provided by the three planets of Fatsos.
Will they fully support Pei Desi in quelling the riot?
I'm afraid it will be difficult. This time, the Astra Militarum sent to Koroja 3 only had 1.5 million troops, which seemed like a lot, but... that was it.
Now, Gu Hang has revealed another scandal about Blackbird Heavy Industries violating the smart ban, which will give Pedes a reason to attack the Fachers family, and it is a very legitimate reason.
What could Fats do?
Cut off the relationship? Or even to distance themselves from the relationship and identify it as the sole act of Blackbird Heavy Industries? On the one hand, they are trying to manage the relationship, but on the other hand, will they react particularly strongly and be willing to push the Star Army to come in large numbers to destroy Blackbird Heavy Industries and destroy the evidence?
By the way, this will also give the Fats an excuse to reduce the Astra Militarum's support for Koroja III: compared with the Plague of Evil Magic and the Omnic Crisis, which one is more serious?
The evil plague will infect 10 billion people. If the omnic crisis is ignored, there won't be many people infected on the Wrathful Owl Star. But if the omnics really control it to a certain extent, they will automate mining, produce machines on their own, and start a war... It won't take more than ten years for humans to produce one population. I don't know how many combat machines will be left on the production line in a day!
Regardless of whether this is alarmist or not, it is a statement anyway.
From this perspective, it seems that this is not a good thing for Chief Pedes.
What should you do if you are in this situation?
Gu's family has always been an ally of Peders, and Gu Hang himself has gained a lot of benefits; but compared with Fofana and the Peders brothers, Gu's family has the most relaxed relationship with the Fache family, and they have even cooperated with each other in recent years. It was just that last time, in order to save his mother, Gu Hang agreed to Peders and fell out with the Fache family.
Eh? If you let me fight Blackbird, then I can fight him justifiably, right?
Maybe we can even drag the Fats family into the fight.
As for falling out with Fats...the Gu family's corresponding trade ban is already being implemented.
He had discussed this matter with his mother once before. The Gu family must carry out the agreement with Pei Desi. Not to mention the actual benefits, the political reputation cannot be lost. The Gu family is a business, and reputation is like life.
But there are some points that can be argued. There is no reason to completely isolate the three planets of Fache. That is the imperial world, and Gu's Trading Company is a subordinate caravan of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce. How can we just stop doing business? This is against the imperial decree.
First of all, this is a legal principle that can stand. Wang Qi has also communicated with Pei Desi many times and was in a difficult situation. The Fachers family is complaining to the higher-level institution of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce. Gu's Company is also in a difficult situation. They can only find ways to reduce trade volume and prohibit the circulation of certain categories of goods without violating the regulations of the Chamber of Commerce...
On the one hand, this was to give an explanation to Pedes, and on the other hand, it was to appease Fachs and show them his helplessness.
This is of course about not offending either side, pleasing both sides, and having the best of both worlds. If done well, the balance can be maintained, and both sides will not fall out, which will be beneficial. But if done poorly, both sides will be offended, which will be a great test of Wang Qi's skills.
But that's how it is.
Where are there any permanent friends or permanent enemies?
Didn't Pei Desi also take advantage of the Gu family's danger and threaten Gu Hang to do something by offering the navy title as a bargaining chip?
Moreover, although you, Pedes, are hostile to Fachers and have done countless dirty things in private, you have never really turned against each other. There is no reason for Gu's Company to break off relations with Fachers first.
This matter is not just a simple crisis on the Angry Owl Star, it involves a wide range of areas.
The situation became foggy.
How will the future evolve?
Gu Hang was still thinking, but his mother started talking about the second piece of information: "Another thing is about the imperial tax."
"What happened to the imperial tax? It will be collected in more than a month, right? Logically, a fleet from the Star Region Taxation Department will come to the Tianma Star Region, visit each planet one by one, collect taxes, and then bring all the collected goods to the capital Feiyi Star, settle accounts with the leader, use the seal, and then leave the Tianma Star Region and return to the capital of the Dragon Eagle Star Region..."
"Yes, this is the tax collection process. But this year is a little different. The tax collection fleet coming to the Pegasus Star Region is not a squadron, but the Dragon Eagle Star Region's tax collection fleet."
Gu Hang frowned deeply: "Why is it arranged like this?"
"Listen to me." Wang Qi continued, "It's not just the Star Region General Tax Fleet that came here. There's also a big shot coming here: the War Apostle of the Sun Lord, Boggio Gallardo."
Gu Hang’s eyes widened.
Gallardo, that is a very well-known name.
This person's stage is not some small-scale star district or star field. He is an imperial hero, and he is one of the forty-six war apostles of the Lord of the Sun.
And the Sun Lord: Sohkem, can almost be regarded as the most important person in the empire today, and is the 'ruler' of the empire.
Of course, the true ruler of the Empire is always the Emperor, and this is eternal and unchanging. It is only after the ascension of the eternal and immortal Emperor that the highest ruling body that manages this boundless human empire is the Supreme Council of Humanity.
There are thirteen seats in this Supreme Council, and some of the components are fixed, such as the representative of the State Religion, the representative of Mars, the Supreme Judge of the Imperial Inquisition, and the Imperial Prime Minister;
Some are relatively fixed but occasionally absent, such as the Grand Marshal of the Astra Militarum, the Grand Marshal of the Imperial Navy, and the representative of the Psionic Order;
Some are often there or not, mainly depending on the current political situation of the empire. There are more of these, such as the Space Marine representative, the president of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, the prime ministers of the administrative department, the legal department, the tax department, and the military department, the chief of the Imperial Astronomical Department, and an indefinite number of representatives voted by the chairman of the universe...
There are also some positions that may not be established, such as the Imperial Regent and Imperial Commander who have appeared before, and... the Sun Lord who was established for the first time in the current empire.
Solachem was originally the son of a planetary governor. He established an astral legion, joined the Astra Militarum, and after leading the army to victory, he quickly became a general.
Then, his invincible record in battles made him rise rapidly in rank, and he was noticed by the Grand Marshal of the Astra Militarum at the time, who trained him as his successor. Later, with his huge prestige and unparalleled military exploits, he naturally became the youngest Grand Marshal of the Astra Militarum and entered the Supreme Council - he was only thirty-two years old at that time.
He then gained the support of the Supreme Council and launched the Solar Crusade.
At first, it was just an ordinary expedition, but after he recovered 600 planets in three years, his expedition expanded like a snowball; not only did a large number of forces from all sides of the empire join in, but he even got the support of more than ten Space Marine chapters;
By the thirteenth year, the number of recovered planets reached six thousand. His huge reputation made him more than just the Grand Marshal of the Imperial Astra Militarum. He left this position to a general he trusted, and pushed more generals into the Supreme Council, and conferred the title of 'Lord of the Sun' on himself.
The Sun is the mother star of the origin of mankind. You can imagine the authority behind it.
Today, the Solar Crusade has been going on for thirty-five years, and more than twenty thousand Imperial worlds have been reconquered; endless armies continue the Great Crusade under his command, with more than one hundred Space Marine Chapters serving him.
Among those recovered planets, many worlds were not even lost by the empire, but had been isolated since the extremely remote ancient times and had never heard of the names of the emperor and the empire.
These newly recovered worlds have even established a whole new universe named "Solaria".
Today, the Sun Lord is the highest authority in the human empire and a hero known to everyone in the empire. Despite his mortal body, he has won the respect and loyalty of countless Space Marines, who regard his orders as the orders of the Emperor. Even the Supreme Council of Terra acts under his brilliant light.
However, Gu Hang recalled many real things again.
Does the entire empire really support the Solar Expedition?
Maybe not.
As far as Gu Hang knows, the empire is in such a poor state that the administrative efficiency is commensurate with such a vast territory, and the efficiency of resource utilization is extremely low.
The expansion speed of the Solar Crusade was 20,000 planets in 35 years, with an average of three planets conquered every two days. This was far beyond the limits that the imperial administrative agencies could bear. A large number of the newly recovered worlds could not be effectively managed and were in a state of anarchy. Not only did they fail to provide blood transfusions to the empire, but they became a burden instead.
The long supply lines also made the Military Affairs Department suffer.
The local worlds need to supply a large amount of materials for this purpose.
The imbalance of local power makes it difficult for each region to gain sufficient strength to counter the threats it faces.
The Solar Crusade has become an unbearable burden for the Empire over the years.
On a darker note, at the age of 65, with life-extending surgery, he could still live a long time, but the imperial system has begun to lose effective means to check and balance him.
Can the Empire accept the emergence of a mortal 'Emperor'?
Can the Supreme Council really continue to tolerate having a 'sun' on its head?
But no matter what, he is still that hero, that sun.
And one of his forty-six war apostles is about to arrive in the Pegasus star region.
————
6k
Alexander the Great - Macharius - Solakem!
(End of this chapter)
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