Chapter 71: Life is the Emperor’s Coin
If Gu Hang knew Mondok’s thoughts, he would laugh: “I just want to kill a few people, why would I bomb an entire city?”
Would he really order Alicia to bombard Revival City?
Yes, and no.
Yes, meaning small-scale, relatively precise military strikes; no, meaning he wouldn’t destroy Revival City unless it was the last resort.
The inner city and the outer city slums of Revival City together have nearly one million people.
And what is the population of the entire Fury Owl Planet?
Six years ago, during the final days of the second Governor’s term, the last time imperial taxes were paid, the number was over 42 million.
A planet with a population of 42 million, which is 0.5% of the peak era population before the war on Fury Owl Planet.
99.5% of the population was lost during that war and in the century of darkness and chaos that followed.
And after the end of the second Governor’s rule, with a new Governor every two years, has the situation on Fury Owl Planet improved in the past six years?
Clearly not.
Given the current situation, the population is likely still declining.
Compared to the population, the loss of productivity is probably more severe.
This has led to a situation where, even though the population is already very small for a planet, people are still not valuable.
Because even with such a small population, Fury Owl Planet’s current output can barely sustain itself.
So, the answer to the question is clear: why is Gu Hang absolutely unwilling to easily order a bombardment of Revival City by the starship?
Because this is one of the few densely populated areas on Fury Owl Planet.
With a population of one million, it already accounts for 2.3% of the planet’s total population from six years ago.
The actual proportion is likely even higher.
According to Gu Hang’s estimate, the current total population of Fury Owl Planet may be less than 40 million, or even less.
Moreover, although the slums outside Revival City are extremely poor, the city itself is still a jewel on Fury Owl Planet.
The productivity increase brought by the scale effect of this city, which gathers a million people in both the inner and outer cities, cannot be matched by a hundred small settlements of ten thousand people each.
Flattening Revival City would result in the loss of 2.3% or even a higher proportion of the planet’s population and more than 5% of its total productivity.
These are losses that Gu Hang is unwilling to accept.
Not to mention, losing Revival City as a population center would mean losing enormous development potential.
If he could peacefully take and control the city, a population of one million, combined with Gu Hang’s technological system, could generate immense productivity.
Without Revival City, Gu Hang would have to scour the wastelands, gathering thousands here and hundreds there, seeking out numerous small places like the Wasteland Society, which are hidden and full of vigilance, to recruit the population.
Peacefully controlling Revival City is equivalent to Gu Hang reclaiming a thousand Wasteland Societies.
This is the main reason why Gu Hang would not order the destruction of Revival City unless absolutely necessary.
Life is the Emperor’s coin, this phrase is very apt, but there is more to it: “Use it wisely.”
Even the Emperor is like this, so Gu Hang, whose entire wealth theoretically amounts to less than 40 million, has no reason to be extravagant enough to waste a million “coins” casually.
…
When he said six hours, it meant six hours.
A transport ship from the Quintet brought a squad of battle nuns.
Eleven nuns, led by Sister Gretel, arrived on the surface.
Each of them stood over 1.8 meters tall, and the armor they wore made them appear even taller and more imposing.
Their milky-white armor, adorned with green patterns, looked pure and elegant, making them seem like living embodiments of lily flowers.
When they stepped out of the hatch, Gu Hang thought he saw another battalion emerging.
Of course, this was just a sense of déjà vu.
There were still quite a few differences between them.
The Phoenix Battalion, with their red armor, looked like battle-hardened veterans who had fought through rivers of blood; the lily-green and milky-white armor of the Sisters of Mercy made them look like elegant ladies spreading the gospel.
But the biggest difference was in their physiques.
Each battle nun stood over 1.8 meters tall, which was already considered very tall and strong for women, not to mention that they wore power armor, making them even larger than the average soldier.
However, they still couldn’t compare to the Space Marines, who averaged over 2.3 to 2.4 meters in height and were also quite broad in build.
Gu Hang composed himself and stepped forward to greet them.
“Lady Gretel, welcome. With your help, the traitors and heretical cults on Fury Owl Planet will have nowhere to hide.”
Unlike the Space Marines, who always had a stern, deathly expression, the attitude of the battle nun leader was gentle and kind—at least Gretel was.
With her short white hair, she smiled and extended her hand to shake Gu Hang’s.
Her voice was low, gentle, and soothing: “I am also pleased to meet you, Governor. I hope we can have a fruitful cooperation.”
After speaking, she turned her gaze to Battalion Leader Salas Martins, who was standing a short distance behind Gu Hang.
She nodded with a smile.
Martins also nodded in return.
Gu Hang noticed this interaction.
These two have a history together.
Curiously, he asked, “Do you two… know each other?”
Gretel smiled and said, “If the Governor wishes to know, perhaps you should ask Battalion Leader Martins. If he doesn’t want to tell you, it’s not my place to say.”
Gu Hang then turned his gaze to Martins.
Martins didn’t speak for a while.
Gu Hang thought he wouldn’t get an answer, but in the end, the stern Space Marine spoke: “We fought side by side in the Pegasus Sector.”
Gretel added, “I have to thank you. Without you, the Sisters of Mercy might no longer exist.”
“No, I should be thanking you. You could have retreated but chose to stay and fight alongside us.”
Gretel’s smile turned sly. “That’s not what you said at the time.”
Martins, rarely, looked a bit embarrassed. “I…”
“Hahaha!”
Gretel laughed heartily and stepped forward.
Although much shorter than Martins and both in power armor, it didn’t prevent the Sister Superior from giving the Battalion Leader a big hug.
“Regardless, it’s good to see you again, my comrade. Congratulations on redeeming your sins. May the God Emperor bless your future.”
…
It was quite remarkable that two long-separated comrades could meet again in such a small place as Fury Owl Planet and even have the chance to fight side by side once more.
The so-called “Pegasus Sector” they mentioned is far from the Pegasus Sector.
But their time for reminiscing was limited.
It was time to set off.
The delay until now was because Gu Hang was waiting for the arrival of the Battle Nuns.
Although there were only eleven of them, they were still exceptionally skilled warriors.
Just two or three nuns working together had a good chance of defeating an ordinary Space Marine.
Moreover, there was Sister Superior Gretel.
Gu Hang could vaguely sense through his psionic abilities that her strength was probably not much weaker than Martins’.
Although no further news had come from Revival City and Old Hodgson seemed to have disappeared into thin air, his life or death unknown, Gu Hang decided not to wait any longer.
The Mechanized Infantry Battalion stayed to guard the base.
The 2nd to 6th Battalions, totaling over fifteen hundred soldiers, along with the Marines, Phoenix Battalion Space Marines, and Sisters of Mercy Battle Nuns—a whole force—escorted the Governor as they set off from the camp towards Revival City.