Chapter 1 My Declaration
“In this world, just being alive is already very difficult.”
“We live in abandoned mine shafts from before the war, digging for minerals with the most rudimentary tools, or even bare hands, to trade for leftovers from other survivors’ camps. We have never harmed anyone; we just want to survive. Yet even so, there are those who cast their greedy gazes upon us.”
The thin and dark man kneeling before Gu Hang, named Patel, was neither tall nor robust.
Underneath his filthy, thin clothes was his rough skin.
Judging by his appearance, he was indeed someone who scrabbled for food in an abandoned mine, just as he had described.
Patel continued, “Eight days ago, a group of wasteland bandits who called themselves ‘Prisoners of the Void’ killed seventeen of our people and kidnapped forty-two. Oh, God Emperor above, the youngest among them was only four years old! They demanded a ransom, which we paid, but they grew even greedier, refusing to release our people and demanding even more.”
“I went to Revival City to find the officials of the Alliance, pleading for their assistance. They sent a warning to the ‘Prisoners of the Void,’ chastising them to not act rashly…”
“A warning… The day before yesterday, those bandits slit the throats of two children right at our doorstep and tore that worthless paper into shreds with their bloodied hands. They declared that we must produce twice the ransom within three days; otherwise, they would attack our mine, kill everyone, and take everything.”
“We were driven into a corner. Some said we should flee, while others declared that even with hoes and fists, we must fight against those bandits with guns and cannons. But I knew we were not without options. There is now a new Governor in this world. I had to come to you for help, Your Excellency the Governor. I beg for your assistance, for the salvation of our people.”
Patel bowed his head, his attitude sincere.
From his perspective, he could only see Gu Hang’s boots.
They were soft leather with satin ribbons connected to golden clasps, elegant and intricate.
Just how long would the nine hundred or so people from the hole community have to work, without food or drink, to afford such boots?
The boots moved in front of his eyes as Gu Hang crossed his legs, adopting a more comfortable posture, and then posed a question:
“Why didn’t you come to me before seeking the Alliance?”
Patel was taken aback and could only stutter out a reason, “We are members of the Alliance, and it is their responsibility to manage this matter…”
Gu Hang shook his head, “You think you are members of the Alliance, that they would protect you, and that I am just an appointed Governor who might not sit in this position for more than two years, just like the previous governors who were executed because they couldn’t pay the imperial taxes. You believe that I am insignificant until the Alliance also refuses to deal with your problem. Only then, with no other options, you come to me.”
“I absolutely do not have such thoughts!”
Patel denied in panic, clenching his back teeth, making a significant decision: “If you can save us, then we are willing to give everything! We will pay the imperial taxes for the next two years at a higher rate!”
Gu Hang became even more disappointed, “Let me put it this way, Patel. You clearly know that I arrived on this planet a month ago, and my camp is here, not far from you. Yet you have never visited me, until now, when trouble has arisen. You kneel before me saying ‘Your Excellency the Governor, please save us,’ but deep down, you’ve never regarded me as the true Governor. You didn’t even want to believe in my declaration from my first day here.”
“I said I would rebuild the entire wasteland world, so that everyone who submits to me can lead a good life. But you don’t believe it. Many of you never believe it, only seeing me as an annoying tax officer. You use paying taxes as a way to exchange for me saving you. So, how do you want to pay the tax? According to the imperial tax standards, even if everyone in your Wasteland Society works to death in the mines, you can’t afford it.”
Patel’s somewhat dark and shrewd face appeared extremely tense: “Governor, I believe in your words. Please save us.”
As he spoke, he was about to heavily kowtow to the ground.
But Gu Hang stopped him.
A pair of hands gripped his shoulders, forcibly lifting him to his feet.
Gu Hang held Patel’s shoulder, showing no disdain for the grease and dust on him:
“No need to kowtow, no need to kneel. For you diligent and honest workers, I will definitely help. Those non-productive raiders are our common enemies. But they are just small problems; rebuilding the world is the big issue. This is not an empty promise. Since you have pleaded with me, I will completely save you, not just eliminate the ‘Prisoners of the Void.’ I will also help you build your territory, ensuring you have ample food and clothing. Now, I ask you, do you believe me?”
Tears fell from Patel’s eyes, though it was unclear how much was due to being moved, being saved, or acting: “I believe! I completely believe! From now on, the Wasteland Society will strive for your ideal!”
“This should be our common ideal.”
Gu Hang patted Patel’s shoulder: “Go rest for a while. It won’t be long before I personally lead my troops to rescue your compatriots.”
“May the God-Emperor be above, my compatriots and I are extremely grateful for your help!”
After watching Patel leave the barracks with a guard, thanking him profusely, Gu Hang turned his gaze to the upright soldier standing slightly behind him: “Captain Yan, your eyes tell me you have some doubts.”
Yan Fangxu saluted him, then hesitantly said, “Are we… really going to help the Wasteland Society? On this wasteland planet, similar things happen almost every day, and we can’t manage them all.”
Gu Hang said regretfully: “It seems, Captain Yan, that you also don’t believe in my declaration.”
“Dare not.”
Yan Fangxu said, but indeed had doubts in his heart: “But… with all due respect, Governor, you only have two years. Within these two years, we must at least meet the minimum standard for the entire Fury Owl Planet’s ‘imperial tax,’ otherwise…”
Gu Hang continued his words: “Otherwise, I will be dismissed and executed. Of course, I know. But, Captain Yan, we’ve been on this planet for a month now, and you’ve seen what it’s like. This is a place that has experienced an apocalyptic disaster. Most of the land is uninhabitable, the wasteland storms are still raging, and mutated alien creatures and bandits who can’t survive are everywhere. The remaining survivors are struggling to live in various settlements.”
“They are already having a hard time surviving, and they can’t afford such high taxes. Collecting taxes is equivalent to taking their lives. The contradiction between imperial taxes and planetary development is the main issue on Fury Owl Planet. The previous governors all focused on tax collection, and the biannual imperial tax collection was like a death warrant that eventually took their lives. But I am different. I want to change my approach. Development is the key. If Fury Owl Planet becomes more prosperous, tax collection will be just a small burden, and we will succeed.”
Yan Fangxu sighed: “You are right, development is the right path. But development takes time, and time is precisely what we lack. Your first term is only two years, and we need to meet at least a quarter of the imperial tax quota, but Fury Owl Planet has always only been able to meet an eighth, leaving half the amount unaccounted for. In two years, trying to double the planet’s output value is…”
“That will depend on my skills.” Gu Hang smiled, “Fortunately, I have some confidence in this area.”
As he spoke, a holographic message that only he could see popped up in front of him:
[1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (300 people), training completed, unit level upgraded to T5.]
[Due to equipment level and personnel quality limitations, this unit cannot continue training and upgrading.]
Gu Hang’s smile widened.
He patted the still worried Yan Fangxu on the shoulder and said: “Assemble our troops. It’s time for us to seek justice for our neighbors.”