Starting from the Planetary Governor

For this very reason, Yan Fangxu couldn't help but use phrases like "rivers of blood" and "fields of corpses" when reporting to the Governor.

However, this clearly provoked Mr. Gu's dissatisfaction.

"Obviously, if the battle needs to escalate to that level, it would mean that we have already failed," he said.

"Sacrificing tens of millions of brave soldiers, spending innumerable amounts of money, gaining three worlds that require post-war reconstruction... I can't even bear to imagine that scene, Old Yan, can you?"

"..."

Yan Fangxu didn't know how to answer that question.

"We need a smarter way, and I've already made preparations."

"So... Governor, should this plan be abandoned?"

"Not necessarily, in case it really comes to that, we must have a contingency plan. However, from now on, you and your staff need to come up with a strategy to take over the three planets of Fatches."

"Take over?" Yan Fangxu carefully confirmed the word he had heard.

"Yes, take over."

With that, Gu Hang stood up and looked into the distance.

"As your plan states, Fatches comprises three well-defended civilized worlds. But what is the best way to conquer a stronghold? Of course, it's to break it from the inside. Coincidentally, we've been preparing for this for a year, and the Fatches people are not as united as they claim to be. This is our opportunity."

"Now, we're just waiting to see if our beloved Star Sector leader can come to his senses, and I have no doubt about that."

Gu Hang said this with great confidence because he had already seen through Martin Nelli's current predicament.

In the present situation, Martin Nelli has four main requirements for settling the Fatches rebellion, in order of importance.

Don't let the Star Domain intervene = Ensure the Imperial Tax of the Fatches Star System > Destroy the Fatches Family, severely punish the rebellion > Fines.

The first two are equally important; that's the substance. The Star Domain Government is not incapable of resolving the issue, but doing so would require diverting Fleets from the front lines of the Iron Teeth War and calling back the Star Realm Army. This would cost a great deal of money and create defense gaps on the front line, potentially leading to Green Skins capturing several worlds, resulting in even greater losses.

The Imperial Tax is the same; the three Fatches stars together generate six billion in Tax Currency annually, and that's something that cannot be lost.

These two substantive issues must be preserved; failing to do so means Martin Nelli can expect to share the Fatches' fate—perhaps even meeting their end a bit sooner.

Destroying the Fatches Family and severely punishing the rebellion is a matter of face. The dignity of the Empire needs to be upheld, and those who dare trample its baseline must be eradicated.

Pure subsistence is not enough; the chaos is Martin Nelli's doing. If just the chaos is quelled and the Fatches remain at large, or even continue to control the planets, then the Star Domain Government would be losing face. In this scenario, Martin Nelli wouldn't necessarily die, but his career would certainly be finished.

Fines are an additional benefit. If the substance and face issues are resolved, Martin Nelli might maintain his position, and if fines cannot be secured, then so be it.

On this basis, Martin Nelli has absolutely no foundation for negotiation with the Fatches Family.
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The Fatches Family would not negotiate with Martin Nelli either. They're also aware of the priority of issues above. What they want to achieve is to preserve the substance for the Empire and let Martin Nelli bear the loss of face. At that time, the declaration issued by Minnick would not be worthless, but the truth, and Martin Nelli could play the role of the rebel who forced the Empire's loyalists to compensate for the Empire's loss of dignity.

On this basis, Gu Hang had no doubt that in the end, Martin Nelli would surely compromise and dutifully use his own connections, relationships, and methods to seek the Alliance's control over the Fatches Tri-Star.

The Star Sector leader had no other choices left.

...

Although he was certain, everything happened even faster than Gu Hang had anticipated.

Just eight days later, Gu Hang, stationed at the Governor's office on Korolya III, met with Martin Nelli.

This Star Sector leader had personally come to Korolya to meet Gu Hang and announced the latest orders from the higher government.

The Korolya Battle Zone was henceforth expanded to become the "Tianma Battle Zone."

Commander Gu Hang could now mobilize the military forces within the Star Sector, including the Dragonhawk 3rd Corps—although, in reality, this did not significantly increase in size and was essentially a mobilization of the forces already under Gu Hang's command. What was added was the reserve portion of the Tianma Fleet, which was now under the command of the Battle Sector commander once again.

But in fact, Gu Hang had never expected any additional military assistance.

The Tianma Star Sector had nothing extra to offer.

What Gu Hang considered most important, he had now obtained.

With the inclusion of the three Fatches stars in the battle sector, Gu Hang now had full authority to deal with them.

This was clearly reflected in the document Martin Nelli brought, signed by both the Star Domain Government and Star Sector Government.

After stating these points and handing over the assignment document bearing the signatures of the Star Domain Government and Star Sector Government to Gu Hang, Martin Nelli left, with no intention of further communication with Gu Hang.

Gu Hang did not detain him.

For Gu Hang, he had already gained what he desired.

The Alliance's war machine, from this moment, began to operate openly.

The first to be mobilized was the Gu Commercial Firm.