"In this world, just surviving is already very difficult."

"We live in abandoned mining tunnels from before the war, using the most rudimentary tools, even bare hands, to extract minerals, and we trade them for leftover scraps from other survivor camps. We have never harmed anyone; we just want to survive. Yet even so, there are people who cast their greedy gazes upon us."

The gaunt and dark man kneeling in front of Gu Hang, recounting his hardships, was named Patel. He was neither tall nor strong, and beneath his dirty and thin clothing was rough skin. From his appearance, he was indeed as he described: someone who scraped a living in abandoned mines.

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. Divine Emperor above, the youngest of them was only four years old! They demanded a ransom, we paid it, but they grew bolder, not only did they not release our people, but they also demanded more."

"I went to Revival City, found the officials of the Alliance, and begged them to help us. They sent a warning to the 'Prisoners of the Void', chiding them not to cause trouble..."

"Ha, a warning... The day before yesterday, those bandits cut the throats of two children right on our doorstep, tore the paper of the warning into shreds with blood on it. They declared we had to come up with double the ransom in three days, or else they would attack our mining tunnels, kill everyone, and take everything."

"We were cornered. Some said to flee, others argued that even with hoes and fists, we should fight those bandits armed with guns and cannons. But I knew we weren't without options, the world now has a new governor. I had to come to you for help, Your Excellency the Governor, I implore your aid to save us."

Patel lowered his head, his manner sincere. From his perspective, all he could see were Gu Hang's boots. They were soft leather boots, with satin ribbons connected to golden clasps, elegant and elaborate.

Those boots, who knows how long over nine hundred people from the Abandoned Cave Society, would have to toil without food and drink to afford them.

The boots moved before his eyes, as Gu Hang crossed his legs into a more comfortable position, and asked:

"Before seeking the Alliance, why didn't you come to me first?"

Patel was momentarily stunned, only managing to muster an excuse, he stammered, "We are members of the Alliance, and the Alliance should govern this matter..."

Gu Hang shook his head and said, "You think you are a member of the Alliance, that they will protect you, and I am just an appointed governor who might not sit here for two years, like the previous governors who were executed because they couldn't pay the empire its taxes. In your heart, you think I am not important, until the Alliance also turned a blind eye to your affairs, and you ran out of options, then you came to me."

"I never had such thoughts!" Patel denied in panic, gritting his teeth, making a major resolution, "If you can save us, then we are willing to give everything! We will pay the imperial tax at a higher rate two years from now!"

Gu Hang became even more disappointed, "Let me put it this way, Patel. You know full well that I arrived on this planet a month ago, and my camp is close by, not far from you. Yet, you never visited me until trouble arose, and now you kneel before me saying, 'Your Excellency the Governor, please save us,' but deep down, you never regarded me as a real governor. You even refused to believe my declaration on the first day I arrived."

"I said I wanted to rebuild the entire Wasteland World, to ensure every person submitting to me would live a good life. But you didn't believe it; many of you never did, just treating me as an annoying tax collector. You offer to pay taxes in exchange for me to save your people—how do you plan to pay the taxes? By the standards of the imperial tax, all of the people in Abandoned Cave Society could work themselves to death in the mines and still not afford to pay."

Patel's face, dark and lean, showed extreme tension, "Your Excellency the Governor, I believe in your words, please save us."

As he spoke, he was about to forcefully knock his head on the ground.

But Gu Hang stopped him.

A pair of hands grasped his shoulders, lifting him to his feet without allowing resistance.

Gu Hang wrapped an arm around Patel's shoulders, not minding the grease and dust on his clothes:

"No need to kowtow, no need to kneel. You diligent and hardworking folks, I am certainly going to help. Those predators who do not engage in productive work are our common enemy. But they are a minor issue, rebuilding the world is the big task at hand. This is not empty talk. Since you have implored me, I will save you completely, not just by eliminating some 'prisoners of death,' but by helping you build up your territory and ensure you have plenty of food and clothing. Now, I ask you, do you believe in me?"

Tears fell from Patel's eyes, and it was unclear how much was moved by emotion, how much was relieved at being saved, and how much was acting: "I believe! I fully believe! From now on, the Abandoned Cave Society will strive for your ideals!"

"This should be our common ideal."

Gu Hang patted Patel on the shoulder: "Go rest for a bit. Before long, I will personally lead my troops and rescue your compatriots."

"By the Divine Emperor above, my compatriots and I are deeply grateful for your assistance!"

After watching Patel leave the barracks, profusely thanking the guard as he went, Gu Hang turned his gaze to the military-clad man standing stiffly to his rear, "Captain Yan, your expression tells me you have some doubts."

Yan Fangxu saluted him and then began hesitantly, "Are we... really going to help the Abandoned Cave Society? On this wasteland planet, similar incidents occur almost every day; we can't manage them all."

With a tone of regret, Gu Hang said, "It seems, Captain Yan, that you also do not believe my declaration."

"I wouldn't dare." While Yan Fangxu said this, his heart was indeed full of doubt: "But... forgive my frankness, Governor, you only have two years. In those two years, we need to submit at least the minimum standard 'Imperial Tax' for the entire Rage Owl Star, otherwise..."

Gu Hang picked up his thread, "Otherwise I'll be removed from my post 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 undergone an apocalyptic catastrophe, most of the land is unfit for living, Low Energy Storms continue to rage, and there are mutated monsters and desperate looters turned bandits everywhere. The remaining survivors are hiding at various settlements, struggling to stay alive."

"It's already very difficult for them to survive, they can't afford such high taxes; taxing them would be tantamount to taking their lives. The contradiction between Imperial taxation and planetary development is the main contradiction of Rage Owl Star. Previous governors have all focused on taxation. The biannual Imperial tax collection acts like a death warrant, ultimately taking their lives. But I am different, I am thinking differently. Development is the true key; if Rage Owl Star becomes more prosperous, taxes will be a minor burden, and we will have succeeded."

Yan Fangxu sighed, "You're right, development is the correct path. But development takes time, and that is exactly what we lack. You only have two years in your first term, and we need to deliver at least one quarter of the Imperial standard in taxes. However, Rage Owl Star has always only managed to contribute an eighth, and there's a half-gulf to overcome. In two years, trying to double the planet's output is..."

"Then it's time to see what I can do," said Gu Hang with a smile. "Happily, I am somewhat confident in this area."

As he was speaking, a ghostly message popped up before him, visible only to him:

[1st Automaton Light Infantry Battalion (300 soldiers), training complete, unit level upgraded to T5.]

[Limited by equipment level and personnel quality, the unit cannot continue to train for improvement.]

Gu Hang's smile broadened, and he patted still worried Yan Fangxu on the shoulder, saying, "Assemble our troops, it's time we sought justice for our neighbor."

————

A new book is here!

ps: It's not about hammering, at least not entirely.