Chapter 785: Not Willing
"I don't want to do that!"
During an internal meeting of the imperial central government, Qi Bodu threw a private letter from Gu Hang to him, along with the declaration from the Eastern Universe, on the table.
At the same large conference table, the four prime ministers of the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Taxation, the Ministry of Military Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice, together with their deputy prime ministers, as well as other prominent figures under Qi Bodu's political faction, gathered together.
Now, these big shots who can call the shots in the outside world all lowered their heads silently, listening to the prime minister above them, who was roaring and venting his emotions.
They had basically read Gu Hang's letter and the declaration from the Eastern Universe, and understood the situation.
They fully understood Qi Bodu's anger.
Gu Hang’s personal letters are especially irritating.
"To His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Empire, Mr. Qi Bodu:
In appreciation of your continued concern for the affairs of the Alliance, on behalf of the 7,109 worlds of the Alliance, I would like to present to the Holy See of Terra the glorious victory of suppressing the rebellion on the Star of Light and destroying the rebel chapter, the Sword of Light. Attached to this letter are 822 recovered gene seeds, which have been initially inspected and found to be free of contamination and can be assigned to the Imperial Space Marine Management Department. After inspection, they will surely be able to help you establish a new chapter.
I have heard about the turmoil in the Eastern Universe.
Chairman Yin Bashim's experience is regrettable, but I honestly say that what he did in the Eastern Universe has never shown the emperor's mercy. He brought too many disasters to the Eastern Universe and was finally overthrown by the people of the Eastern Universe. It was really his own fault.
I would like to point out that the unrest in the Eastern Universe could have been avoided.
I once expressed my opinion to my high lord representative, Mr. Jon Curtis, that before the riots occurred, my representative should have proposed to the Supreme Council to ask Chairman Yin Bashim to stop his hostile actions against the Alliance in the Eastern Universe, so as to prevent the Eastern Universe from suffering unnecessary economic losses in this unreasonable confrontation.
But Mr. Jon Curtis did not express my opinion accurately.
This leaves me a little confused.
I still remember that we talked about it fifteen years ago. You can appoint a person as the representative of my High Lord's power in Holy Terra. He should listen to your teachings and act according to your ideas. Your will is my will.
This has never changed and I still think so today.
But we also talked about the need for this representative to be loyal to the Emperor, fair, idealistic, and beneficial to the development of the Alliance and relations with the Empire.
Unfortunately, over the past fifteen years, I have seen less and less of this in his work.
Therefore, I had to activate the jurisdiction of the High Lords granted by Article VII-9 of the "Convention of the Imperial Supreme Council" - three days ago, I temporarily froze Mr. Jon Curtis's High Lord voting rights until he completed a forty-day soul confession ceremony.
In the communication records between Mr. Curtis and Chairman Yinbarshim last month, he mentioned those drunken words about "exchanging the star zone famine data for the repair quota of the Blackming Fortress". I have instructed the mechanical priest to burn it into the Confessor's servo skull. I believe it will be enough to support the entire repentance course before the fire of repentance is extinguished.
At the same time, considering that the Eastern Universe is in urgent need of stability so that the unrest does not affect the current imperial tax, I request to temporarily exercise the power of the high lord in the Eastern Frontier of the Empire to supervise and handle the situation in the Eastern Universe, ensure a smooth transition of power, and ensure the current imperial tax for this universe, while striving for long-term growth in the imperial tax in the next ten years.
Fortunately, the alliance fleet successfully intercepted the remnants of Yinbashim who were about to defect. In the attached list of spoils, you may be interested in the Netherworld-class transport ship carrying spiritual crystal blocks worth 15 billion tax coins - these taxes should have been paid, but the navigation records show that the destination is the private collection of a certain noble.
Of course, I fully understand that the Qi family needs time to recalibrate the transmission system. Therefore, I dare to suggest that this transport ship can continue to sail according to its target without entering the review stage.
Of course, you, who are so selfless, can also authorize me to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation of this.
I will carry out your will.
In addition, I hope to receive the list of nominees for the new representative as soon as possible before Mr. Jon Curtis finishes his confession so as not to hinder your work.
Your loyal companion
Gu Hang
…
After reading this letter, how could Qi Bo not be angry?
The words were polite, but every little thing that happened hit Qi Bodu hard.
Everyone knows what the Sword of Li Guang is.
Just like that, they wiped out a loyal regiment, and the Empire hasn't even started looking for an alliance yet, but Gu Hang came up and said that this was a "glorious victory", and classified them as a rebel regiment. Whose face is that?
With 822 gene seeds in front of him, was that handing over the spoils of war, or showing off the "corpses" in front of the victims? At least in Qi Bodu's understanding, it was the latter.
Gu Hang accused Zu Yinbasim of not doing a good job in the Eastern Universe and that the destruction was his own fault. Then who pushed Yinbasim to that position?
It was Qi Bodu himself.
Qi Bodu's grandmother's surname was Yin Bashim. Although the relationship between Grandfather Yin Bashim and Qi Bodu was very distant, if you really want to, Grandfather Yin Bashim could still call Qi Bodu "cousin".
The Yinbashim family has always been one of the supporters behind Qi Bodu.
The future star of such a family was killed by Gu Hang in this way, and he still pretended to say something like "regret", which was really outrageous!
Not to mention, the content that follows is really important.
Gu Hang froze Jon Curtis's representation rights, which seriously undermined the political agreement between Gu Hang and Qi Bodu when he obtained the chairmanship of Gaoling fifteen years ago.
But fortunately, it was only frozen, not cancelled. Although the forty-day confession ceremony was not very comfortable and embarrassing, it passed quickly. Moreover, although Mr. Curtis would be embarrassed and could no longer serve as the representative, at the same time, Gu Hang also gave the nomination right of the next representative to Qi Bodu, asking him to bring the list to Gu Hang for formalities, and the appointment would still be Qi Bodu's people.
This means that everyone is not at odds.
However, the transport ship and the name of the Qi family were mentioned again, which once again made people think about it.
Especially with the recent turmoil in the imperial political arena, it was a "Lingze Star Trade List", which listed many participants in the arbitrage trade based on the imperial tax between the alliance and the empire.
Although normal arbitrage trade is a loss to the Central Taxation Department of the Empire, there is no way to stop it because taxation is normal and legal. The Alliance finally paid the full amount of tax. The goods they transported to Lingze Star were not taxed. Everyone did business here. After doing it, the Alliance made a profit and then paid the tax. Who can tell?
Before the settlement with the Empire's tax collectors, the goods belonged to the Alliance and they could trade them however they wanted, as long as they paid enough in kind or in tax coins when the settlement came.
However, after the delivery, these items are confirmed to be part of the imperial tax. At this time, it is hard to say whether it is legal or illegal to use these physical objects and tax coins that have become imperial taxes to engage in arbitrage trade.
Even after the change, the amount of money handed in was still sufficient. However, something was not right.
Not to mention, the things handed back may not be in full; even if they are, the quality may not be up to standard.
This is the gray arbitrage trade.
And it has nothing to do with the alliance.
Gray trade occurs on the basis of imperial taxes, and imperial taxes are something that happens after the alliance completes the transaction, so the alliance is certainly not responsible for it.
Theoretically, this matter does not even need to be carried out on Lingze Star, and can be done on Holy Terra.
However, coming to Holy Terra was too conspicuous. On Lingze Star, under the cover of the normal arbitrage trade of large amounts of funds and goods, it was more secretive.
A few weeks ago, there was suddenly a wave of public opinion on Holy Terra regarding gray arbitrage trade, which clearly pointed out some families, forces, and individuals involved in the gray arbitrage trade.
The evidence was not mentioned, but what was discussed in public opinion was exactly the same as the actual situation.
Among them is the matter of the Qi family.
Qi Bodu himself knew it, but he turned a blind eye.
Not only his family members are making money, he himself is also making money.
Although he was the Prime Minister of the Empire, the money of the Empire was not his money after all.
Not to mention the use of funds for personal purposes, even if it is used for some imperial affairs, it is not really decided by him. To invest more funds and resources in a certain direction he wants, he has to fight for it and balance it in the political arena. Not only does he have to balance the outside, but he also has to balance the various factions within his own subordinates. If he must force it, it is okay, he has great power, but he has to pay for it with political prestige. If he uses this thing too much, others may not obey him so much in the future.
But if it is your own money, then there is no such problem and you can spend it however you want.
But after all, it is gray or even illegal income. It is one thing to do it in secret, and it is another thing to expose it to the sun.
Of course, no one in the public opinion field has produced any decisive evidence, so the parties involved in the gray arbitrage trade can spend some time to suppress public opinion. But there is no doubt that the initiator of public opinion can say things so accurately, so it is very likely that he has solid evidence.
If it breaks out, that would be a big deal.
Qi Bodu would certainly not step down because of this, but this incident would inevitably become a weapon fully utilized by the hostile factions, making him humiliated and even paying a heavy price, which would be normal.
Add to that the 15 billion worth of goods that Gu Hang mentioned, which should have been the imperial tax of the Eastern Universe, but were instead sent to the Qi family's warehouse under the manipulation of Yin Bashim, this is no longer a gray area, but a blatant act of treason by stealing imperial taxes.
Even if Qi Bo could suppress it, he would still suffer severe injuries.
What does the alliance want to do by using all of this?
Do you think you can threaten me like this?
Gu Hang is simply playing with fire!
Does he know that the reason why the alliance can exist so openly is because I, the great Prime Minister, support them!
There is no telling how many people are out there who want to crush the alliance and make a fortune!
Now, you, Gu Hang, actually dare to disobey me and threaten me with your guts, just because there is a rumor from the central government of the empire that the alliance will increase taxes?
How outrageous!
Qi Bo was so angry that he almost exploded!
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I think..."
After a long silence, it was Gallardo who spoke first.
However, just as he started to speak, Qi Bodu stopped him:
“Shut up!”
Everyone knows that Gallardo has a good relationship with Gu Hang. If he says this now, won't he be particularly biased towards the alliance?
Gallardo kept his mouth shut.
But his expression didn't seem too heavy.
He believed that there were some things that others would say even if he didn't say them.
Qi Bo called out his name: "Luo Xi, you go first."
Luo Xi coughed twice, his face serious.
"The most urgent task is to deal with the matter in the Eastern Universe first."
"The new chairman of the Eastern Universe must be determined as soon as possible. We cannot allow the current situation of being controlled by the Alliance for a long time to continue. Gu Hang and Cui Ru's letter of notification sounded good, but every day that things drag on, the Alliance's influence on the Eastern Universe through economy and culture, and the power of the High Lord that Gu Hang blatantly stole, will deepen their control over the Eastern Universe."
"The organization is already considering the relevant appointment list and accompanying personnel, and it will be ready soon. We will have a series of requirements for officials who will be appointed to the Eastern Universe. We must learn from the previous experience of Yinbashim's failure. The struggle with the alliance requires more wisdom and skills, and we cannot act rashly..."
"stop!"
Luo Xi immediately shut her mouth.
"You're saying that in front of me?"
Luo Xi shook her head vigorously: "No, no..."
"Is this the only measure I want? Compared with the shame the alliance has brought to the central empire, this measure is simply not worth mentioning! I am so disappointed. Are you indulging the alliance?"
"Well... we can also reprimand Gu Hang for his atrocities against the Sword of Light Regiment and report the matter to the Infinite Regiment..."
"Alright, alright." Qi Bodu waved his hand in disappointment and pointed to another person, "Xu Fuzhen, you go ahead."
The female Prime Minister of the Taxation Department, who was named, straightened her clothes and seemed to have been prepared: "We can make tax demands on the temporary government of the Eastern Universe and require them to guarantee that they can deliver no less than the tax standards in the past. At the same time, we can put more pressure on the alliance and require them to pay 3 trillion in taxes, which is 500 billion more than the previous requirement of 2.5 trillion, as a punitive tax."
The disappointment in Qi Bodu's eyes grew even stronger.
"You're going to sell the Eastern Universe to the Alliance for one trillion a year? Xu Fuzhen, the threat from the Alliance is imminent, but you're still only concerned about the money?"
(End of this chapter)
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