Luo Fei could no longer refuse.
Continuing to oppose the advancent of the "Alliance Plan" would be like trying to stop a chariot with one’s arms.
Currently, the Departnt of Taxation is cutting his administrative budget, which he already finds quite uncomfortable. In the Supre Council, the other High Lords are relatively neutral, but when it cos to the budget, everyone wants a piece of the pie that the Alliance promises with its long-term projection of one to two trillion tax currency annually.
Moreover, Gu Hang has made many friends from the previous war. Both the Star Realm Army and the Navy, as well as the Interstellar Warriors and the Tribunal, have spoken on his behalf, both openly and behind the scenes.
And with the strong support from Galaraldo...
He’s been having quite a difficult ti lately.
Sotis, he couldn’t help but think, was he being too sensitive, overthinking?
If you carefully calculate, is there really any benefit to blocking the Alliance for him? Why fight over the Spiderweb Domain, a place already in ruins? Even if he gains control over it, all he would have is the power of personnel appointnts in this Star Domain.
From past experiences, those appointed as Cosmic Domain Chair or Star Domain Head by him initially seem obedient, as they strongly support the Central Administrative Bureau. However, over ti, as they consolidate their own forces and establish their foothold, it’s an unknown whether they will remain obedient.
Unless a rotational system is adopted, changing positions regularly. But given the current state of the Empire, that’s practically unrealistic.
Of course, overall, a new Cosmic Domain brings significant benefits due to the nurous positions available. However, the political cost of fighting for all this has beco excessively high, dragging on until now.
Gradually, it has left him feeling that the gains don’t outweigh the losses.
Besides, there’s actually a fundantal thought: to let Gu Hang, the head of a separatist regi, beco a Cosmic Domain Chair while freeing his separatist faction from restraints...
No matter how you look at it, it’s not a fortunate event.
Whether or not Gu Hang himself is loyal, or whether he will eventually rebel, is irrelevant. Institutionally, this situation should be avoided from occurring.
The safety of the entire Empire shouldn’t hinge on one individual’s whim.
As the Pri Minister of the Imperial Executive Yuan, he has always held such a belief. Therefore, he is most vigilant about Gu Hang’s current situation.
However, it seems like in the High Lord Council, there are those who think like him, but these ideas usually aren’t their top priority when making decisions.
Sotis he feels a bit tired: why should I have to think this way?
Of course, at this ti, he tends to selectively forget when it cos to situations where departntal or personal interests conflict with the Empire’s interests, what choices would he normally make?
Anyway, now he feels exhausted.
Since none of you care, neither will I.
Whatever happens, happens.
From a profit perspective, fighting for the Spiderweb Domain may no longer be profitable; from the perspective of securing the Empire’s interests, it’s hardly achievable.
But these are all secondary matters.
The core blow to him lies in the Pri Minister’s shifting attitude.
The Pri Minister is the one who ultimately decides everything.
When he feels like the whole world is against him, only the full support of the Pri Minister gives him the possibility to overturn Gu Hang’s rule in the East.
In the past, the Pri Minister was fairly supportive of him.
Especially when he clearly explained to the Pri Minister about Gu Hang’s threat in the East, Gu Hang’s potential disloyalty, and how the loss of so tax currency doesn’t compare to the damage to the Pri Minister’s authority...
Through these argunts, he felt the Pri Minister’s stance was inclined towards his own.
But he didn’t know why; suddenly, the Pri Minister had a complete one-eighty turn in their attitude.
This matter couldn’t proceed any further.
When soone from Gu Hang sent an invitation for him to et, he initially wanted to refuse.
However, an order from the Pri Minister forced him to lower his head, begrudgingly eting with Gu Hang.
He had resigned to the situation.
However, his attitude was still far from pleasant.
He was determined that during this eting with Gu Hang, he would definitely not show a friendly face!
...
"What?! That’s wonderful!"
Luo Fei smiled brightly as he raised his glass to Gu Hang and, feeling it wasn’t intimate enough, moved from across the table to sit beside him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"I knew that a person like Governor Gu Hang must be the Empire’s most loyal. Solaria is already the greatest concern for the Empire. The Sun Lord’s historical expedition indeed earned him widespread acclaim and brought the Empire a rare opportunity for territorial expansion, but it cost too much money, and now it’s a chaotic ss."
"With your words, Governor Gu, I can set my mind at ease."
"The combat effectiveness of the Alliance Army, proven by the Iron Armor and tested by the Void Insect Species, is considered the Empire’s elite. Those grandly nad elite Star Realm Army Corps are all exaggerated; none are as formidable as the Alliance Army!"
"And those Battle Groups have only seen a revival with the support of the Alliance. In the past, who had even heard of Phoenix or Blood Shark?"
"With the help of the Alliance Army, Solaria is saved! Co, let’s have another drink, to the Empire’s tomorrow!"
...
Luo Fei’s change from arrogance to humility was almost amusing.
But Gu Hang did not underestimate him.
After Zebert’s attitude shift, the advancent of the "Alliance Plan" had beco a foregone conclusion.
Given the circumstances, standing firm would only an a loss. As long as Luo Fei was not foolish, he would not act that way.
Moreover, since things were settled, why make an enemy out of soone like Gu Hang?
Powerful, influential, with seemingly complicated relationships with the Pri Minister, and extensive connections...
Being an enemy would be far too distressing.
However, the previous conflicts lay evident, making reconciliation seemingly impossible.
Yet, during this eting, Gu Hang did not take a victorious stance to show dominance. Instead, he earnestly discussed so human resource arrangents after the Spiderweb Domain and prospects for future developnt.
It was all empty talk; even if Gu Hang offered so positions within the Spiderweb Domain governnt and various Star Domain governnts, inviting the Executive Yuan to assign personnel, the quantity was limited, and they were all marginal positions, essentially useless.
But it didn’t matter, both knew it was a way to broach the topic.
At least, Luo Fei sensed that Gu Hang was extending an olive branch.
Fine, let it be; there’s a way out for everyone.
However, what Luo Fei didn’t expect was that Gu Hang subsequently ntioned that the Alliance Army could enter Solaria to fight.
This was a major surprise!
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