Ficher No. 1, Court of the Times.

This was the center of rule for the Falces family, who had three governors, but the other two were in fact only symbolic positions. The real ruler is the head of the Falces family, the Viceroy of Falchers No. 1.

The current head of the house is named Minnick Fastes. Although he was already a dying old man, in reality, he had only ruled the Faltchis family for seven years.

Seven years ago, his father died at the age of 190 after not having the opportunity to undergo a third life-extension operation. And he, at the age of eighty, took over the family.

The way he took over was quite right, and the process did not have too many waves, and there were not too many opponents within the family. But as a new ruler, there will almost certainly be some questioning: Can you really lead us on a more prosperous path?

And all rulers need merit to dispel these doubts.

Minnick is certainly no exception.

And the merit he looks at is Koroga.

The Faches family's claim for Koroga was promoted by him. If, in his hands, he is able to break through the cage of the galaxy and expand to the outside, then his merits will be immeasurable.

And after he had actually secured Koroga, his best son as governor of Koroga, he had indeed gained great prestige - and then he threw it all away with even greater speed.

When he was recently punished by the Empire, and a huge fine fell on his head, his reputation was trampled in the mud.

The voice of dissatisfaction within the family is almost boiling!

130 billion!

This figure is completely unacceptable. Many people in the family can't imagine how they will come up with such a large sum of money in the next ten years - maybe it is possible, but it will cost them their lives.

And in the midst of these boiling grievances, after Minnick had exhausted almost all of his political efforts but was unable to settle the fine, he had received some secret assurances and was encouraged by some in the family to make an even more frantic move.

He rejected all tax demands, expelled the tax collectors sent by the Imperial Tax Fleet, and sealed off the entire system.

The Fasters did not have their own fleet, and the few small ships they had were not even able to confront the Imperial Naval fleet, and even the tax fleet, which was mainly composed of transports and frigates, could not resist it, and there was almost no active naval force.

But that doesn't mean they don't have the ability to defend and blockade.

There is a starport on the three stars of Fastces, as well as the starcastle system built around the starport; On the orbital circle, there are satellite fortresses orbiting in orbit, and with the anti-orbital firepower on the ground, the three planets will become three extremely difficult places to bite.

The Pegasus fleet is coming, okay; It's not going to work right now, so it's not going to work. If you hit hard, you will have to drop a dozen ships, and the result may not be able to take it down.

When Fastes expelled the tax collectors and sealed off the system, there was no doubt about the rebellion.

The entire Facher family, including Minnick, understood this clearly.

However, after the Star District government angrily issued a statement about the rebellion of the Farchers family, they refuted it.

"Mobilize all the external relations we can contact and make our statements public:"

Minnick said with a calm face to the clerk who was struggling to write under his court:

"The Facher family has always been the most loyal servants of the Empire, and the Faches Star is the eternal territory of the Empire, and we have not, are not, and will never betray the Empire in the future."

"On the contrary, the star district government led by Ivan Martinelli, as well as the winged stars and the governor of the alliance who acted as accomplices, are the real traitors to the empire. They falsify evidence, distort data, and bewitch the higher authorities, because of their own selfish interests, persecute the good ministers of the empire, and bear unbearable punishments, they are the real traitors! ”

"We have sealed off the Fast system not to reject the sacrosanct imperial tax. However, since the star district government falsified data a year ago to upgrade the three stars of Fastes to the third level of development, the extra unreasonable tax has become a heavy burden on the heads of the people of Fasters, not to mention the unreasonable fines they have to pay. ”

"The tens of billions of imperial subjects of the three stars of Falces have been departed with anger! And I, on behalf of the tens of billions of people, appeal to all who have the right to know, and should know, the injustice suffered by the Ficher people: "

"We are not traitors to the Empire, loyal Fachers demand that the reputation of Fachers be restored!"

"We demand severe punishment for the wicked officials who betrayed the Empire;"

"We demand the abolition of unlawful, unreasonable and unfair treatment;"

"Only on this basis will we fulfill our obligations!"

……

In one breath, the words he had conceived were pronounced and recorded on paper, and Minnick breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that it was unrealistic to rely on a statement to get rid of the charge of 'rebellion'. Imperial taxes have always been a red line, and the Empire has clear rules about it.

But this statement had to be made.

Mainly for the future, to facilitate quibble.

Although the imperial tax is a red line, in many cases, whether the so-called red line is so red or not often depends on many factors.

Minnick never wanted to seek independence, but it was necessary to show his firm stance with a strong attitude.

Minnick did this with two most important goals, one of which he had already achieved.

After the expulsion of the tax collector and the blockade of the galaxy, the boiling opposition within the family was suppressed almost instantaneously.

Of course, the opponents did not extinguish their objections, but after Minnick's shocking act, they had to keep their mouths shut for the time being.

The enemy is outside, and no matter how stupid people are, they know that they can't fight inwardly now. Minnick is trying to turn this disaster from his own mistake into persecution from foreign enemies.

He succeeded in transferring the internal contradictions, which he could barely suppress, to the outside.

Now is the time to stand up to the enemy.

As for the second purpose, it is to erase the absolutely unacceptable figure of 130 billion.

At the very least, it should be reduced to an acceptable level.

The ideal state is naturally that there is no need for war, and the star sector and the star field government will compromise.

As long as they take into account the difficulty and cost of eliminating Falces, it is higher than the gain.

How much power does it take to destroy Fastces? It seems that the income is 100 billion, but if Falchers is destroyed, who will the empire ask for this 100 billion fine?

Do you want to loot it yourself? The three stars of Falces, who were rotten after the battle, may be able to find a few cents in the scavenging.

What's more, doesn't there be a cost to such a thing as 'looting'? How much military power does the empire need to station in order to scrape out more than 100 billion after a war in a place where even before the war, the total GDP for ten years was only 200 billion?

You can't change it.

Measuring this, it is possible to solve the problem without going to war.

For this reason, Fax's personnel in external activities, as well as their own connections, have been mobilized and constantly lobbied.

It is really necessary to face the war, and then Fax must also hold on in the next war, and continue to release the willingness to negotiate peace and surrender, and finally be edicted.

In this process, everything is negotiable.

Should the imperial tax be raised to 3 billion a year? It can be discussed.

Fines can also be paid, 100 billion is not good, but the figure of 20 or 30 billion is acceptable.

What the specific conditions are, just see if the strength shown by Fax in the battle is enough and how much money it is worth.

These ponderings were churning in Minnick's mind.

His clerks have already gone down, and they must get the statement that Minnick has just said to the diplomatic department as quickly as possible. They will polish and add some evidence and data to prove that the content of the statement is true and reliable.

Then send this statement as soon as possible to wherever it can.

And after these clerks go down, the next thing Minnick will see is a key person.

His name is Salihovic, a diplomat from the Alliance, who was stationed at the Union embassy at Facis 1 a year ago, and is responsible for communication between the two sides.

This mechanism, which was actually put in place several years ago, when Salihovic took over a year ago, appears to be nothing more than a normal rotation.

Minnick collected his emotions and said to Salihovic seriously: "The alliance has broken the agreement with us!" On behalf of your governor, you promised that no matter what ensued, the Alliance would not be against Fastces! ”

Salihovich spoke respectfully: "You are right, but we did not break our promises. ”

"What does it mean that the people who followed the star district government and issued a statement of rebellion against Fastes? Who provided the Blackbird Heavy Industries and Robotics Rebellion thing? Isn't the statistics of Koroga's losses related to the Union government? How embarrassed are you to say in front of me that you have not broken your promises! ”

"I need to correct you." "Our promise to 'no enemy' refers to the declaration of war on Falchers. As for what you said, we really can't refuse it at the request of the star district government. ”

"Clever tongue! I am disappointed by your behavior, go and tell Gu Hang that he must have more explicit support! If we fall and let Martinelli and Pedes Jr. take control of the Fastces system, your alliance will be next! ”

"We, the Governor, are fully aware of this, which is why we support you in your tough stance against the Star District Government. But what exactly is the so-called 'explicit support' that you are talking about? ”

Minnick Lion opened his mouth: "Army, munitions, supplies!" Give me back the Dragon Eagle 3 Legion! ”

Salihovic's attitude was very earnest: "I know your request, and of course the alliance can let the 3rd Army Group of the Dragon Eagle Legion return to the Faches station, but ...... With all due respect, are you sure what they will do when they return to the Fastces Samsung? Will they be your help, or will they be a noose around your neck? They are the Astral Army. ”

Minnick was momentarily speechless.

He really wasn't sure.

Although the personnel composition of the Dragon Eagle 3 Legion is basically Facher people, after all, they are the Astral Army. What will they do when the task of counterinsurgency is reached?

This legion has always been on the three stars of Falces, and he can be sure. As long as some officers are purged, the propaganda of the legion is strengthened, and the rhetoric of emphasizing that they are not traitors and that the government of the star district is a traitor will not work.

But now, it has been almost eight years since the Dragon Eagle 3 Legion left the Falchers system, and the sudden return is about to be a big event, and he is not sure at all.

Salikhovich's words continued: "The troops of the Union will not set foot on the territory of the Falchers, in fact, I am sure, you will not allow this to happen either. As for arms and supplies, the alliance is willing to provide them to you secretly, but the blockade of the Star Sea makes it difficult for ships to pass......"

"Excuses." Minnick said coldly, "The Gu Clan's trading house belongs to your family, and the Pegasus fleet belongs to your governor's fiancée. You want to transport goods, turn a blind eye, and you don't know it. ”

"But ......"

"No, I'm fed up with your excuses. Material! Material! Material! From food to necessities; From conventional industrial goods to munitions! We're going to urgently recruit more than 20 million troops, and the Alliance must cover some of that! The Alliance and Fatchers are secret allies, as you promised! ”

Salihovic's face was full of embarrassment, but under the anger of the head of the Minnik family, he still had to reluctantly answer: "This is difficult, I need Governor Gu's personal order." However, I assure you that I will do my best to facilitate this. ”

"Then do it!"

Salihovic bowed and left.

Walking in the court, he frowned.

But in fact, his heart was already happy.

"He believed, he really believed!!"

……

Winged Star, inside the Pegasus Palace.

Martinelli, Pedes Jr., plus a circle of senior government officials from the star district, gathered together.

At this moment, their faces were full of panic that could not be concealed.

Falchers reversed...... They really reversed!

"How dare they? How dare they?! Little Pedes still looks incredulous.

In his concept, there was never such an option.

As a planetary governor, as an imperial bureaucrat, he never dared to think that someone would dare to rebel!

It's an option that shouldn't have existed, it's a suicidal move, it's a choice beyond imagination.

Looking for death?

He knew that they had pushed Falchers very hard. But before that, he, Martinelli and others, not only did not worry about anything, but were proud of it.

As they expected, the next thing to do was to watch Falchers struggle to the death and be unable to succeed, and then grovel to negotiate terms. They might be able to give in, even reduce the fine to a very low level, or drop the charges against them for violating the ban on intellectual machines, as long as Fastes yields to their feet.

However, Fastes actually launched a rebellion, expelled the tax collectors, and sealed off the galaxy!

After the first reaction of astonishment, their second reaction was joy—wouldn't that be able to destroy Fastces in the open?

So, the third reaction that followed was to be at a loss.

It's a matter of course, to eliminate Falchers, to put it simply, who will exterminate?

Star District Government?

No soldiers, no generals.

Winged Star?

It's just the Planetary Defenders, can they beat the Falcis? And how to get there?

Star Field?

Martinelli made a phone call and was scolded by his superiors.

“…… The trouble you caused, you solve it yourself! Every penny of the Star Domain Government is incomparably precious, and it is impossible to wipe your ass! In any case, the imperial tax must not be less! The 6 billion that Fastes will pay in this period, and the 6 billion that will be paid every time in the future, must be stable! Falchers This is a definite rebellion that must be put down, and the traitors are absolutely punished! ”

"But ......"

"No, but! If you can't do it, you can do it yourself! ”

Such a cold sentence means the end of the communication.

What to do?

Martinelli's face darkened.

“…… Call Gu Hang! ”

(End of chapter)