Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 460

Chapter 459, You dare?

Larin Ulrich’s face looked rather ugly.

A planetary governor, especially a governor of a small, poor planet like Hippogriff III, is certainly not a big shot in the political arena of the entire empire and the entire star sea. Anyone can come and step on him.

But he is a planetary governor after all.

Generally speaking, he does not often come into contact with the political landscape outside the planet – except for the imperial tax collection every two years.

The rest of the time, he is the “emperor” on the planet, the kind who has the final say.

It is very rare for him to meet someone who would speak to him so bluntly and in a slightly threatening tone.

So, he looked ugly.

However, no matter how ugly it was, no matter how annoyed it was, he still didn’t dare to say “no to sign”.

The star district head of the Purple Horse Star District and the governor of Baishuo Star, the end of that was still vivid in his mind.

When the Orc War was still going on, he still remembered the might of the Alliance Army.

How dare he turn a face?

But if he really had to accept these terms, he would feel a little unwilling.

Unlike the Seven Horses Agreement, that thing still had independence and was a treaty of alliance nature. But now, if he signed this Federation Act, it would not be joining the alliance, but it would be better than joining.

The economic lifeline is completely controlled by the alliance, and the political power will also expand as the alliance’s economic influence on the planet expands. In the end, it won’t be long before the alliance system can completely replace the responsibilities of the original planetary government.

From an objective point of view, it is not a bad thing for the people on the planet.

At least for the poor people of Eagle Horse III.

The “tax coin” set by the Empire is not set randomly. Normally, the per capita output value of a planet can reach 1 tax coin, which means that it has reached the imperial standard level. On this basis, 0.1 is paid as tax, and the planetary government takes 0.1. The remaining 0.8 is enough for a civilian to live a pretty good life.

That is not just food and clothing, it is even better than a well-off life.

However, this is always just the most ideal state.

The imperial government does only want 0.1, but does it cost nothing to collect it?

Will the planetary government honestly set the tax rate at 10%? Are

n’t corruption in the government or similar government agencies, or normal administrative costs, and poor collection efficiency all extra costs?

The output value of 1 tax coin per capita does not mean that everyone can have this income. The gap between the rich and the poor certainly exists in any society. The rich must have much more than this income, and the poor are probably far from this income level.

What’s more, the per capita output value of 1 tax coin is not achieved by many planets.

Eagle Horse III cannot achieve it. Even before the war, it was only 0.9 per capita at best.

On the planet, a normal employee, whether a farmer or a miner, can only provide himself with about 0.4 per year, which is just enough to make ends meet; if the poor are a little poor, they simply can’t even have enough food to eat and are in danger of dying.

For these ordinary people on the planet, the alliance has come, and their lives have become better.

Ulrich knows what the living standards of the civilians in the alliance are like. Even the lowest, as long as there is a job, no matter what it is, you can reach the most basic E5 level.

The living standard of an E5-level person can reach at least 0.4 tax coins per year.

This can reach the level of food and clothing, which is not worse than the formal employees on Eagle Horse III. Moreover, under the system of the alliance, it is a very simple and quick thing to eliminate the unemployment rate, which means that a considerable number of people at the bottom who do not have formal jobs will benefit from it. They will become strong supporters of the alliance.

And those who have formal jobs, even if their ranks are not upgraded, their living standards will at least be the same as now.

Or even higher.

This is to mention what the ranks of the alliance mean to an ordinary person.

After obtaining the rank of the alliance, the personal income each year is composed of two parts: welfare and allowances.

Welfare is divided into basic social welfare and personal welfare. The former includes basic medical insurance and basic education security, which are the foundation of the establishment of the alliance.

For the former, although the Alliance will not provide resources that can really guarantee that you will not die from any disease, at least there is basic protection. It is good to treat a headache and prevent the disease from getting worse. Even if you really have an incurable disease, you can take enough painkillers, at least you can go to the last stage of your life comfortably.

This is already a great thing. A considerable number of poor people, no matter what disease they have, can’t expect to see a doctor. In the Alliance, these basic medical insurances are free for all.

The latter, that is, educational insurance, is even more advanced. The Alliance especially emphasizes educational equity – although it is impossible to really achieve the ideal state of equity, after all, how can we expect people on Eagle Horse III to get the same educational resources as people on Wing Star?

But at least, the system is trying to ensure fairness as much as possible. Six years of primary education is compulsory education, free of charge, all children must participate, and schools are arranged nearby. After that, there are four years of secondary education, which is not compulsory and tuition is charged. As long as you reach a certain level in the primary education exam, you can be promoted; the top students will be exempted from tuition; and the top students will be provided with scholarships.

After secondary education, students will apply for higher education. Although it is a bloody road that requires fighting for their way out, it at least provides a path for people from all walks of life to move up.

These are the two basic social benefits that all citizens of the Alliance at any level can obtain.

How could the lower-class people on Eagle Horse III dare to dream of these two things in the past?

Personal benefits are linked to job level. This includes food security, housing security, and personal medical security, which means that as long as you reach this level, you will have these things. The Alliance will be responsible for rationing food and housing, and provide better medical services according to personal job level.

With a higher job level, food will not be synthetic starch or simple grains. There will be more refined processed foods, meat and vegetables…

Housing will also change from a cubicle of several square meters where people have to live together to a separate house, or even better.

Medical services will also change from the most basic to some medicines that can be used for free, and some diseases that can be treated for free. If you don’t have a high job level, you can only spend money.

If you are higher, you will even have more vacations and more transportation subsidies.

These are just benefits, not allowances.

Allowances are equivalent to wages, and are directly issued in Alliance currency. This money can be traded and can be used to purchase all legal goods. It can be used to pay for the cost of secondary education and above, to pay for the additional cost of disease treatment beyond the medical benefits and basic medical benefits of the rank, to purchase food beyond the rank, to improve the meals, to purchase furniture, home appliances, cars, clothes…

In this way, although an E5-level citizen has welfare plus allowances, it means that he consumes 0.4 tax coins a year, and his food, drink, and clothing may be similar, but relying on the two benefits of medical care and accommodation, he is much more secure than the non-Alliance poor; not to mention, there is also the benefit of education, which is also a channel for the promotion of future generations, and he can also upgrade with his years of work and contributions.

For the general public on Eagle Horse III, who wants to go back to the old days when they experience these policies of the Alliance?

The planetary government is really finished!

Ulrich was worried.

But he still didn’t dare to refuse directly.

“Give me some more time…”

“I told you, today is the deadline.”

“I understand, but isn’t today over yet? Two hours, just two hours, at least let me discuss it with someone one last time.”

“Okay, then I’ll give you these two hours. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll stay here and wait for good news.”

…

After saying goodbye to Wu Yang, Ulrich wiped the sweat from his forehead and went to another conference room not far away.

Several bigwigs on Hippogriff III were waiting here.

It’s true that he is the governor of the planet, but no ruler can rule by himself. Of course, there are various interest groups on Hippogriff III. They

are mainly the owners of united farmers, large landowners, and mining groups.

They are supporters of the planetary government, and in fact, Ulrich is one of them. The agricultural and mining groups he controls are the largest landowners on this planet and the fourth largest mineral owner.

They are the real masters of this world.

The economic union of the alliance is to take this world away from them.

They are afraid of the strength of the alliance, greedy for the assistance of the alliance, and resentful of the plunder of the alliance.

Seeing Ulrich coming back, someone asked, “How did the talks go?”

“No change, the Alliance didn’t leave us any room for bargaining, only the option of accepting or not accepting.”

Hearing this, someone shouted, “Then we’re done! Let’s go our separate ways! I don’t believe it, could it be that this Alliance really dares to kill all of us?”

Someone taunted, “What’s there to be afraid of? And why do they want to kill people? They want to take away the land and minerals, what can you do? Who can handle the Alliance’s division? The Planetary Defense Force is already under their command, do you dare to rebel?”

“Then what else can we do? Give them the industries accumulated by our ancestors for nothing?”

“Aren’t there ways to redeem, convert equity, and recruit management on the spot? I always thought this was actually okay…”

“Bullshit! It’s just robbing your property and giving you some melons and dates!”

The conference room was in a mess, and Ulrich had a headache.

This was not the first time.

In fact, when Wu Yang first proposed the economic union bill to him, he called together various “lords” to discuss the matter, and the scene was roughly like this. Later, he held several more meetings to discuss the matter, and the results were all similar.

No unified opinion could be reached.

There were actually not many people who were really so stubborn. Most of the people who were making trouble were just trying to incite everyone to make trouble together, hoping that the law would not punish the masses. Don’t look at how fierce they are now, if they are really asked to be the first to make trouble, they will all shrink their necks.

There were more timid people who dared not to make a fuss.

But there was a basic mentality that everyone, including him, shared: unwillingness.

No, it seemed that there was one person who was the exception.

Ulrich looked at a young man who had been silent, just smoking silently, with a playful expression on his face.

This person was the second largest landowner on Eagle Horse III, and his status was not low.

Ulrich knocked on the table: “Stop, stop!”

After the meeting room was quiet, he looked at the young man again and asked: “Adam Shannon, I noticed that you have not spoken all the time, and you rarely expressed your opinions before. Tell me, what do you think?”

Everyone stared at the young man, and many people looked at him with a little contempt.

Adam Shannon was not a person who worked hard from scratch, and he was not very experienced from his age. He was a successor, and he had just taken over his father’s business recently.

I don’t know what old Shannon thought, letting this inexperienced young son take over.

Adam Shannon himself ignored these looks. He just smiled and said, “What can a young man like me say? Just listen to the seniors. But…”

After a pause, he continued, “Whatever the seniors decide, it has nothing to do with our Shannon Group. Our Shannon Group has made a decision. Next, we will fully accept the assistance of the alliance and access the management from the alliance. All employees will be managed according to the alliance system.”

When he said this, his voice was quite light.

But these contents were like throwing a boulder into a calm lake, and it caused a huge wave in an instant!

“How dare you, Shannon Group, negotiate with the alliance alone without the knowledge of our allies?!”

“How dare you, young man?”

“Is this your decision or your father’s? Let old Shannon come out!”

“Traitor!”

…

After a short silence, many accusations fell on Adam Shannon’s head.

Ulrich tried to control the situation again and calm everyone down.

But his face was also very ugly.

He stared at Adam Shannon’s overly young face and asked, “Can you tell me what your Shannon Group thinks about this matter? Are you really willing to hand over all the land accumulated by four generations?”

Adam Shannon spread his hands and said, “It’s not really handed over, right? Didn’t the Alliance say…”

“Alright!” Ulrich interrupted Adam Shannon’s hypocritical words, “This may be the last time we hold such a meeting. No matter what conflicts and filth we have had in the past, at least we have the friendship of being from the same world. Just tell us what you think, and let us be honest. Otherwise, if you are the only one selling, we can work together to make you unable to sell or feel uncomfortable selling!”

“Hahaha!” Adam Shannon laughed, with a hint of sarcasm in his words, “But it doesn’t matter. We have already made this decision. Whatever you do in the future has nothing to do with us. You can go and make trouble with the Alliance. But… just you? Dare you?”

Ulrich was choked back.

Dare you?

If you dare, why are you still here, showing off your strength but being weak inside?

Adam Shannon restrained his smile and became serious: “However, you are right in one sentence. Considering that we come from the same world and the friendship between our ancestors, I advise you: “

“If you regard this as plunder, then you will lose everything; the Shannon family is different. We regard this as an opportunity.”

“Opportunity?”

“Can you say more?”

Adam Shannon waved his hand, refused to say more, and turned away.

A room full of people looked at each other in bewilderment.

…

Shannon signed, and many others also signed.

I don’t know how many people have figured out what Shannon meant by “opportunity”. Some people signed mainly because of pressure.

But Ulrich finally figured it out.

Or, in other words, he visited old Shannon at the last minute, and after a chat, he was convinced.

He finally signed in the name of the planetary government.

In fact, the reason is not complicated.

First of all, this matter is not really preventable. Even if the entire planet united as one and blocked the Alliance, then what?

The Alliance should not take action, because it would be too ugly and would hinder the unity of the entire Seven Horses.

However, the Alliance has too many ways to deal with them.

The imperial tax is in the hands of the Alliance, the power of the star district government to set the tax rate is in the hands of the Alliance, and the interstellar trade is in the hands of the Alliance. Whoever the Alliance wants to bankrupt will go bankrupt. Food can rot in the barn or be purchased at a super low price; minerals cannot be sent to the factory and are just a pile of broken stones.

Moreover, is it really bad to join the Alliance system?

For these rich and wealthy people, it may not be the case.

The Alliance has given preferential conditions to those like Ulrich himself. If he signs, he will be able to receive B8 treatment immediately as the planetary governor and a wealthy person.

Welfare plus allowances are 600 tax coins a year.

Ulrich can touch his chest and ask himself: When I was the governor, did I spend 600 tax coins a year purely on my own personal consumption?

That’s definitely not the case. Just for food, accommodation, and entertainment, not enough. He is still quite self-disciplined, frugal, and has career aspirations.

Moreover, what kind of high-end enjoyment can be found on Eagle Horse III?

Far from it.

With these 600 tax coins a year, purely for personal consumption, he might live a more comfortable life than before – and

he doesn’t have to go to work. Can the life of a rich man with these 600 tax coins a year still starve him to death?

Judging from the current market of the Alliance, this is the purchasing power of 10,000 tons of staple food!

This is enough for him to buy a mansion in the core area of the capital city of Feiyi Star, hire a bunch of servants, eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks every day, and have fun!

Of course, he has personal pursuits, not personal enjoyment. Otherwise, as a planetary governor and a big capitalist, if he wants to spend 600 tax coins a year on personal enjoyment, wouldn’t that be easy?

However, can’t you have personal pursuits after joining the Alliance?

The level of B8 is considered very high in the alliance. He is not too old. He can continue to strive to manage this planet, participate in the new planetary government, and fully cooperate with the work of the alliance. He may even be promoted to the central government of the alliance in the future.

In the past, he, as a planetary governor and a big capitalist, had already touched the ceiling of the entire Eagle Horse III. Where was there any room for further progress?

But now, he has a vast sky in front of him.

According to the summary of his conversation with old Shannon, the meaning is: the alliance is coming, this is an irresistible wave. It is

better to be the one who controls the wave or at least follows the wave than to be the fool who resists the wave.

Perhaps, in the future, a senior official in the alliance will be named Ulrich or Shannon.

Although Ulrich is still uneasy and confused about the future. However, this also injected an extra fire into his heart.

In the past, he was already a planetary governor. Is he really willing to be a governor of a remote planet for the rest of his life? It might be a good thing to have a further path.

…

“Governor, there are nine worlds in total that signed the Seven Horses Economic Union Act in the first batch. According to your guidance, these worlds are all relatively poor but have certain development potential. Our economic assistance, supporting industrial upgrading plans, and our management personnel will be in place soon.”

Ossena reported the progress of the work to Gu Hang in a serious manner:

“The economic aspect is preliminary. Later, we will also use the job grade plan to replace the original salary system of each world as a starting point, gradually build an organization to manage job grade personnel, and eventually replace the original planetary government. By then, in addition to the conventional imperial taxes, the production capacity of these planets should also have additional fiscal revenue similar to that of the Alliance, and the overall living standards of the residents should also be able to improve with the improvement of economic development.”

“In this regard, the comrades in the Development Department have given specific predictions. We expect to continue to invest 2 billion tax coins in construction costs in the next two years. In these nine worlds with a total population of 10 billion, they can maintain a relatively high economic growth rate in the next two years, and the Alliance can steadily obtain additional fiscal revenue of about 1 billion tax coins every year in the future.”

“We will observe whether things develop according to plan in the next two years. If everything goes well, we will start the second batch of worlds to join the economic union next year. The ultimate plan is to promote the economic union to the entire Qima land within ten years.”

After listening, Gu Hang’s brows relaxed slightly.

If that time really comes, the core territory of the alliance will be able to expand from the Tianma star region to the 88 worlds in the seven major star regions of the entire Qima land!

The alliance with 230 billion core population will be more powerful than it is now!

————

This chapter 6k

still owes 59k

(This chapter is over)