Chapter 483: You Made the Right Choice
Through the virtual image of the Xingyu phone, Gu Hang saw the astonishment on Ossena's face and asked unhappily, "What's that expression on your face?"
"Uh... nothing much, I'm just waiting to hear your next brilliant speech, Governor!"
Gu Hang's mouth twitched, and he decided not to argue with Ossena, and patiently explained: "We can't do things similar to the Fury of Flame. They intercepted the imperial tax for many reasons, but the most important part is that the greenskins on the planets in the controlled area have not been completely eliminated, and a large investment is still needed, so they demand unilateral tax reduction or tax replacement."
"Of course this is illegal, because in theory, the greenskin threat on each planet is the responsibility of the local government of each planet to resolve. Even if they fight in the name of the star domain government, the only part they can legally and reasonably leave behind is the part that the original star domain government can retain. However, the number of people intercepted by the Fury Corps far exceeds the number that a normal star domain government can retain. This will greatly offend the higher-level government and will also affect its reputation."
"We have to separate ourselves from the Fury of Flame. We cannot be the same as them in this respect, otherwise we will become birds of a feather."
Ossena nodded to show that she understood, but she also said, "I understand what you mean, but... 76 billion tax coins plus the collection and transportation costs are all borne by us, the price is still too high. If we really go by this number, it may even affect our current four-year plan."
Gu Hang also agreed with Ossena's statement.
Imperial taxes are imperial taxes, but it is always hard to accept the thought of handing over such huge sums of money, especially when the amount is so huge.
76 billion... is enough to build one and a half "Holy Grail Class" battlecruisers!
"So, we have to think of some other ways." Gu Hang said, "I have discussed this with the Cosmic Territory Government. They are of course happy for us to do this. After all, a large amount of wealth will be directly gathered to them, without having to go through the Star Territory Government. Chairman Zuo also knows that if the Dragon Eagle Star Territory takes the tax revenue, it will fall into the hands of Nuyan, and not much will be paid."
"Next, I will talk to the Cosmic Domain Government again. Since they have gained such a huge benefit, it is only natural for them to share some of the costs for us. I am quite confident that they should be able to agree."
Ossena thought for a while and asked, "Is there a chance to reduce or exempt taxes directly? Just deduct the costs at our stage."
“It should be possible.”
“That really takes a lot of pressure off.”
"Besides, we don't really have to transport all these supplies to Wuji Star ourselves. I have talked to the Zhouyu Government and the neighboring Donglin Staryu Government. We can send the supplies directly to Maoling Star and have the Donglin Government transfer them there."
“That would save a considerable amount of time and cost!”
It is reasonable and legal to do so.
When the imperial tax was collected, it was impossible to transport all the large quantities of physical materials to Holy Terra, hand them over to the imperial center, and then distribute them to various universes, star fields, and star regions according to demand. The loss on the way back and forth would be extremely large.
As the scale of the transportation industry increases, the cost will indeed be greatly reduced; but if it is further reduced, such a large base will require a large number of transport ships. The ships will have nothing else to do when going back and forth, and the fuel consumption on the road will be extremely high.
Even the empire cannot afford this level of waste.
Because of this, the Empire's method of using the Imperial Tax will allow the two levels of government, the Star Domain and the Universe Domain, to retain a portion of it; the remaining portion that is collected by the central government will not actually be transported to Holy Terra. Part of it will be transported, and the other part will be directly distributed to the corresponding places in need according to the current strategic goals of the Empire. If there is any surplus, some storage worlds will be established in various universes to store supplies.
The costs incurred during these processes are usually borne by the imperial system. The alliance is now responsible for transportation taxes, which in fact replaces some of the functions of the star region government. Naturally, it can follow the requirements to avoid bearing this part of the cost.
However, this matter is still somewhat unreasonable.
The star domain government still exists in theory. Is it your alliance's turn to pay taxes directly to it?
If the Universe Government sides with the Star Domain Government and refuses to collect the taxes that you have submitted bypassing the proper channels, you will be doomed.
This is actually the most likely scenario. The Star Domain Government is a lower-level government under the formal Cosmic Domain Government, and they are directly subordinate to each other. Under normal circumstances, the Cosmic Domain Government cannot accept the imperial taxes directly paid by local forces in a star domain.
It was because of the special situation of the Dragon Eagle Star Domain and the willingness of Zuo Zhaofeng, the Chairman of the Universe Domain, to provide some extra help at the suggestion of Galardo that this matter could be implemented.
It’s not just implementation.
"I will talk to Chairman Zuo later. After all, we are still in a state of war, and we do bear half of the responsibilities of the Star Region Government. We should also be able to get a portion of the corresponding funding for the Star Region Government. It is a bit difficult to get the conventional 30%, but giving us 20% should be justified."
"However, the way to keep it is not for me to keep it directly. We still have to hand it over, and then the Cosmic Domain Government will provide funding. Ossena, you have to make the corresponding preparations to receive it."
"I understand." Ossena nodded.
She didn't ask why it had to be so complicated.
She also knew the reason, which was a question of legality.
No matter how powerful the alliance is, it is not yet the star domain government. It is not compliant to directly bypass the star domain government and pay taxes to the next higher level. It is even more compliant to keep the imperial tax directly. After paying the tax, it is better for the universe domain government to distribute it in the form of special grants.
Before hanging up the phone, Ossena said to Gu Hang: "Governor, this is not a solution. Nuyan has used this kind of thing to cause us too much trouble. I look forward to you becoming the true Lord of Dragon Eagle soon."
“Soon.”
…
As Ossena said, the Imperial tax was not the first trouble the Fury had caused.
In the past two years, they have used similar methods to disgust the league many times.
The simplest way is to send sector heads and planetary governors to the Alliance-occupied areas in the name of the star region government.
Gu Hang detains every one that comes.
Issue orders to the alliance forces in the name of the commander-in-chief.
Ignore each one I receive.
The rest, such as cutting off trade, are routine operations.
Of course, the Fury Corps also knew that these things would not lead to any results.
However, every time the Alliance detained or expelled an official from a star domain government and ignored an order from the star domain government, it was equivalent to giving them an explanation and an excuse.
They took advantage of these things to criticize Gu Hang for his domineering behavior, criticized the alliance for actually engaging in separatist activities, and called them traitors.
These words were not spoken to Gu Hang, but to the many surrounding star regions, to the government of the Universe, and to the center of the empire.
What can the alliance do?
This kind of thing cannot be tolerated, so we can only make excuses.
Of course, it is not enough to justify it. No matter how you explain it, it is passive defense.
The Alliance also kept criticizing the Fury Corps, saying that they were holding the star region government hostage and plotting evil, and that they were traitors to the Empire.
Who doesn’t know how to curse?
Another disgusting thing is the reporting of merits in the Iron Teeth War.
In theory, the Iron Tooth War took place in the Dragon Eagle Star Region, and after the war, the Star Region Government should report the course and results of the war. This is how it is determined who or which army played a greater role in the war and what their specific achievements were.
This not only determines the honor, but also determines how the rewards to be issued by the empire are determined.
The appropriations for the reconstruction of each planet and the replenishment of military losses are all actual benefits.
And for Gu Hang, the more important point is that he wants to gain the legitimate status of the Dragon Eagle Star Region government through his undoubted contribution in this war.
To put it bluntly, the various troubles that the Fury Corps had caused him were all caused by taking advantage of the naturally legitimate name of the Star Domain Government. The key method to resolve these troubles was to become the spokesperson for legitimacy himself.
But since Gu Hang has already had such a mess with the Fury Corps, how can he expect the other party to say good things about him?
If the alliance reports its achievements to the higher authorities through the star domain government, then it will probably become invisible.
Gu Hang deeply understood that victory and the fruits of victory were two different things. There was a possibility that one could win a battle but end up getting nothing.
He must fight for this voice.
His war reports, like imperial taxes, bypassed the star region government and were submitted directly to the higher authorities.
However, the efficiency of the empire is too slow.
A year ago, Gu Hang had contacted Gallardo and asked about the conclusion of the Dragon Eagle Star Region War. As a result, Gallardo told him at that time that the relevant information had not yet been sent to the Imperial Military Affairs Department!
Gu Hang had to ask the Zhouyu government again, and Chairman Zuo said that he had already sent it up.
This is fucked up.
Now, no one knows where this report of merit is stuck.
But that is said to be the normal situation.
For Holy Terra, the Eastern Universe... is a very remote place. A star-level war took place here, and the scale was just that. In the entire universe and the entire empire, wars of similar scale happened every day, which was a bit too exaggerated. That was several wars happening every day!
Just wait patiently.
But in general, with the attention of "big shots" like Zuo Zhaofeng and Gallardo, the efficiency can always be faster than usual.
This wait has lasted until now.
It would be bad for Gu Hang to keep urging him.
All we can do is keep waiting.
And if the final result does not satisfy him, he also has some follow-up preparation plans.
Hope it won't be used.
…
Before Gu Hang could wait for a response to the war report, an old acquaintance came.
It's Laois again.
After receiving instructions from Governor Gu, the Alliance's border defense forces in Dumingxing had to drive away the tax fleet led by Lao Yisi.
They refused the tax fleet's docking, and the naval forces were also approaching, and warned the Dragon Eagle tax fleet, telling them that if they forcibly passed through the Duxing star system's jump point, it would be regarded as an act of war.
But the tax fleet did not leave.
Lao Yisi requested to have a personal phone call with Gu Hang.
Gu Hang thought that this senior official of the Star Domain government was coming to persuade him of something.
After all, Gu Hang could guess that the reason why the Fury Corps let Lao Yisi be the tax collector was because Lao Yisi had the so-called "favor of recognizing someone's opportunity" towards Gu Hang.
Of course they wanted to get it, but it was definitely impossible for them to receive money from Gu Hang, which was something that disgusted Gu Hang.
Moreover, the nature of the imperial tax is worse than anything else. They are just waiting to use Gu Hang's excuses to find fault with him.
Logically speaking, after being expelled from the Alliance, Laois should have gotten what she needed and should have left.
What to talk about?
As a result, after the call was connected, Gu Hang realized that he was wrong.
"Gu Hang, please save the Star Region Government."
This was the first sentence Laois spoke.
"Save the Star Region Government?" Gu Hang asked, "How? Can the Star Region Government admit that the Fury Corps has held you hostage?"
"Yes! This is the truth!"
Gu Hang did not comment and continued to ask: "So, the Star Region Government is going to give me a secret order to lead the troops to drive out the Fury Flame Regiment?"
"Of course you can if you need!"
"Okay, please give me the secret order."
Gu Hang said with a smile.
But his heart was cold.
Even with the so-called secret order, it would be impossible for him to send troops westward to fight a civil war.
This time, it was just like every time the Raging Flame Legion disgusted him. With this secret order, Gu Hang could make a big fuss and shout everywhere, looking at what the Raging Flame Legion had done to the Star Domain Government.
But there was no way Laois would give him this secret order.
She said, "I don't want to go back to Yunluo Star."
"Oh?" Only at this point did Gu Hang become really interested.
"It's meaningless for me to go back. I can only continue to be a puppet of the Fury Flame Corps. They have never thought about leaving the Star Region Government. Tan Jiuyi's wishful thinking is just a dream!"
"I want to reorganize the star region government in the eastern part of the star region, at least reorganize the structure of the star region's government affairs department. Gu Hang...will you support me?"
Gu Hang's attitude became enthusiastic: "Of course! We are old friends, of course I will fully support you! What the Fury Flame Regiment did is really too much, the Star Region Government needs people like you, General Lao Yisi, to stand up and expose them, and then independently assume the responsibilities that the Star Region Government should have! Since you want to, then stay. The Alliance will provide you with all the help you need."
"Believe me, Chief Lao Yisi, you made the right choice!"
(End of this chapter)
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