188: A new broom sweeps clean.

Luol Star System, Governors Mansion.

Employees from various departments were working as usual.

Outside the main gate of the Governors Mansion, two guards were smoking and chatting.

"Life is truly comfortable now; our Luol Star System can finally be considered to be on the rise."

"Indeed. Ever since our Governor started pursuing Governor Wan Xingying, he has changed into a completely different person, constantly introducing various policies that benefit the people."

"Isn't that right? Come to think of it, we really should properly thank Governor Wan Xingying."

"Exactly. Our wages have increased tenfold, yet commodity prices have become even lower."

At this moment, Steward walked out of the Governors Mansion, his face ashen.

The guards hurriedly threw their cigarette butts on the ground to extinguish them and straightened their postures.

"The new Governor will be arriving to take office shortly; some things are better left said in private."

"Yes!"

The guards responded instinctively, yet they were somewhat confused.

A new Governor is coming to take office?

Then what about Governor Wang Chao? Could it be that he was dismissed by the Radiant Empire?

Before long, a Space Warp-class spaceship landed on the landing pad at the entrance of the Governors Mansion. The hatch opened, and a man wearing the Radiant Empire's standard military uniform stepped out.

Steward walked up to greet him with a smile.

"Governor, please, come inside."

"Hmm."

The person who arrived was none other than Kaidi, appointed by the Radiant Empire to succeed to the position of Governor of the Luol Star System.

One day later.

The new decree, [Adjustment of Salary and Benefit Structure for the Luol Star System Governors Mansion], was mass-sent to the Terminal of every on-duty civil servant.

Finance Department.

Supervisor Zhou Yun looked at the new decree on her Terminal and suddenly felt as if the sky were collapsing.

Her monthly salary was one million star coins, but with one stroke of the new decree, only one hundred thousand star coins remained.

Not only that, but the various benefits previously issued were also slashed to the bone.

She calculated carefully and realized she would lose at least fifteen million star coins over the course of a year.

"How are we supposed to live like this!"

She clutched her head, thinking of her husband who was currently attempting to break through to Planetary Level 5. If he lost their resource supply, his cultivation speed would likely slow down by more than tenfold.

Then there was her youngest son, who had excellent cultivation talent and had just been sent to the Radiant Empire Officer Academy last month; his monthly living expenses and subsequent tuition fees were an astronomical figure.

Every corner of the Governors Mansion was filled with negative emotions, and resentment was sky-high.

The new official's first three acts had burned away all their hope for the future.

"Captain! Who the hell does this newly appointed Governor think he is?"

"Keep your voice down, lest that grandson Kaidi hears you and makes your life miserable."

"Sigh, things were perfectly fine when Governor Wang Chao was here; why did the Governor suddenly change?"

The guard squad leader sighed: "Sigh, I was planning on having a second child this year, but it seems there's no hope now that this new policy is in place."

star marrow ore mine.

Law Enforcement Team squad leader Karl, Stellar Level 3.

He stared at the information on his Terminal, veins popping on his forehead, killing intent erupting in his eyes.

"The Luol Star System has changed Governors. That bastard who just arrived wants us to withdraw from the Luol Star System within three days."

To secure the opportunity to be stationed in the Luol Star System, Karl had almost emptied his life savings to bribe his superiors.

Even though the Luol Star System no longer belonged to The Stellar Faction, their positions remained unchanged, and a single day's salary was equivalent to ten years of a normal law enforcement team's wages.

As long as they worked here for three years, they could earn back their investment costs. Now, with the new Governor's arrival, their golden rice bowl was gone just like that.

"Captain, what should we do?"

Karl gritted his teeth and said: "What else can we do? We have no choice but to withdraw first."

"I heard Governor Wang Chao went to participate in the Star Tower Trial; he wouldn't be unable to return, would he?"

A burly man wearing black battle armor replied: "The Star Tower Trial—that damn place has always been a one-way trip. If Wang Chao is dead, our good days are over."

"I heard the new Governor is named Kaidi, only Star Level One. That dog is nothing but a fool who came to pick up easy pickings."

Karl gritted his teeth: "What else can we do? We are, after all, affiliated with The Stellar Faction; we can only withdraw for now."

The burly man: "What a massive loss. The money I invested hasn't even been earned back yet. Sigh, one can only hope that Wang Chao returns alive."

Governors Mansion, Steward's office.

Steward sipped his tea lightly, listening to his Deputy report on the discussions inside and outside the mansion. His expression was calm, and his heart was as still as an ancient well.

"Steward, the heads of various departments are about to blow up my communicator. They are all asking if there is any room for maneuver regarding this matter."

Steward set down his teacup and scoffed: "A new Governor taking office establishing his authority is normal. As subordinates, we naturally must cooperate fully."

"But the resentment inside and outside the Governors Mansion is very heavy."

Steward's eyes narrowed, and he sneered: "If the resentment is heavy, that is exactly right. If they don't feel the pain, how will they remember the kindness of Governor Wang Chao?"

"But..."

Steward said with a firm tone: "Rest assured, the sky will not fall."

"The Governor will return. Go and tell those who can still keep their composure to just wait and see. As for those who cannot, let them make a scene."

In the Governors Mansion, Steward was the only one who knew the inside story.

Before He Ming left, he had summoned him and had already arranged everything that would follow.

Now, the direction of events was entirely within expectations.

The next day.

The new Governor Kaidi's second blade was aimed at the tax system that He Ming had established.

This time, the shock it triggered was comparable to a magnitude-18 earthquake, with the radiation range affecting the entire Luol Star System.

The group most severely impacted was undoubtedly the farmers at the bottom.

The various agricultural support policies established by He Ming were all abolished.

Agricultural taxes were raised from tax-free to thirty percent of the Radiant Empire's standard.

For a time, the common people were filled with complaints.

But they also finally realized how precious the previous welfare policies had been.

The common people did not know where He Ming had gone, only hoping in their hearts that the old Governor would return quickly to rule the Luol Star System again; only then could they continue to live a good life.

And this was the greatest benefit of He Ming going to the Star Tower Trial—being able to harvest a huge wave of fortune.

Because, although people would be grateful to He Ming for suddenly living a good life, this emotion would not be very strong.

But once this good life was suddenly lost, the resulting emotions would be far too intense.

Beyond that.

The commercial policies previously set by He Ming had once been called the Golden Rule by merchants.

The core rules were simple and easy to understand.

Business taxes were significantly lowered, with various commercial taxes uniformly reduced from 50% to 20%.

There was a prerequisite to enjoy the low-tax policy: all goods and services sold within the Luol Star System had to be priced 30% lower than their external selling prices.

The business environment was strictly controlled, monopolies were eradicated, and any discovery was immediately punished severely, ensuring market order always maintained a virtuous cycle.

The low tax rate attracted a large influx of external capital.

Mandatory price reductions ensured that all the people of the Luol Star System could enjoy high-quality, affordable goods.

Because the policies introduced by He Ming made the wallets of the farmers at the bottom wealthier, and significantly increased the wages of civil servants.

The purchasing power of the Luol Star System was significantly enhanced, and commodity prices were stable and low.

This invisibly formed a virtuous cycle.

Merchants sold high volumes at low margins; their overall profits did not decrease but instead increased, and they raked in massive amounts of money.

However, to achieve balance, a large amount of money had to be distributed.

And what He Ming paid was merely a string of numbers in an account, and it was wealth plundered from the Great Purge; generally speaking, it was equivalent to making a profit with no investment.

The purpose of doing this was naturally to harvest a large amount of fortune.

The newly appointed Governor Kaidi overturned a system that was nearing perfection, and the consequences of this were unimaginable.