Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 1583: Chapter 896_2

The conflict between the two sides lies in that the New Teaching doesn’t acknowledge anything other than the “Emperor’s Holy Words Record.” This is a struggle for the power to interpret scriptures. It’s not that simple to dismiss the “Saints Prayers,” which has already gained substantial influence.

“Faith should not be a chain. Whether it’s the Sect of Mechanics or the National Church, they are the same. Using doctrine to hijack productivity, squeezing the last of the food for confession tickets, the so-called faith becomes poison. Are certain things truly for faith, for the Divine Emperor, for the Empire, for humanity, or because of certain prejudices, stubbornness, or even entangled interests? I believe you can see it clearly.”

“The Alliance’s religion is free, not only the New Teaching can exist. The ’Saints Prayers’ is not wrong, but no scripture can surpass the ’Emperor’s Holy Words Record’ in doctrinal grandeur. Similarly, nothing surpasses the welfare of the entire Human Empire.”

The Battle Group Leader’s fingers deeply embedded in the scripture relief, blood flowed down the engraving “Thou shalt not take the name of the God in vain.”

Gu Hang’s voice stirred up in his mind memories he thought he had long since forgotten, from hundreds of years ago, back in his youth. He was not even an Interstellar Warrior yet, golden waves of wheat swayed in his hometown, his mortal father was a farmer, and he didn’t have much thought at that time, simply moved by the scent of wheat wafting during harvest season and the smiles on his uncles’ faces.

Looking at the full granary, the smiling faces turning with the windmill, does it indeed reflect the Emperor’s benevolence more closely than the moldy sacramental bread?

He didn’t know why he suddenly recalled these memories; in his life spanning hundreds of years, events from before he turned fifteen occupy only three percent of his life. He thought he had long forgotten those insignificant memories, but suddenly, they surfaced at this moment.

“Then what do you want us to do?! Should the Saints Battle Group betray millennia-old tradition? To be like those wavering sub-groups, letting mortals strip away our traditions?”

His voice grew more agitated.

But Gu Hang actually felt that at this moment, Raymond Vis’s agitated state was a good sign.

Gu Hang gently uttered a sentence:

“I want you to become true saints.”

“The Battle Group requires cleansing,” Raymond Vis raised his head, his mask covered in frost, “but how am I to convince the Battle Group?”

“Is persuasion necessary?” Gu Hang countered, “No one needs convincing. Those who conform are loyal; those who oppose are traitors, simply put.”

“Give me seventy-two hours.”

He reached a significant decision.

Gu Hang finally smiled.

“If you require any assistance, feel free to speak with Marshal Yan Fangxu. The entire power of the Western Expedition Army will be your staunchest support. Some confessional chambers need complete purification to make the saints truly pure.”

…

Gu Hang did not pay attention to how the Saints Battle Group carried out the bloody cleansing that lasted for seventy-two hours internally.

He only cared whether this matter could be accomplished.

Raymond Vis’s final agreement to conduct a cleansing within the Battle Group had some influence from his conversation with Gu Hang but was by no means the crucial factor.

Essentially, it was because he chose to maintain cooperation benefits with the Alliance between the conservative faction within the Battle Group and the interests of the Mercifat sect.

This choice, rationally speaking, was absolutely correct.

The advantages of cooperating with the Alliance were already beyond need for advertisement or explanation. Before the Alliance arrived, the Saints were barely holding on to the Seven Star Corridor; after the Alliance came, the corridor faced no pressure, fully equipped, the forces moved to the front line, engaging in even greater endeavors…

The disadvantages of not cooperating with the Alliance? Just like now, the Saints have no room for regret.

The Saints along with their sub-groups and the Holy War Army have fully integrated into the Alliance’s military command sequence; administratively, the Alliance is also taking over the Mercifat Star Domain.

At this moment, saying you’d stop or withdraw from cooperation, what does that mean?

That means traitors.

Does the Alliance talk softly?

If it talks softly, why then along this long path through numerous Cosmos Domains, Star Domains, and worlds, not one acquired place does not join the Dark Side Expedition or refuse the Alliance’s jurisdiction?

Gu Hang has never issued any threats, but Raymond Vis must understand.

If it truly reaches that stage, there might be no way to salvage it.

Yet this is speaking from a rational perspective about weighing the pros and cons.

But in truth, it’s merely the facade.

If it’s merely about benefits, it’s not enough to compel the Saints to act.

Are Saints afraid of death?

If it merely concerns benefits or threatens life, then Saints and even Raymond Vis himself would not fear perishing, sacrificing life to uphold faith.

If probing deeper, it’s actually a test for the Saints: their so-called faith, is it really ’creed, doctrine, scripture,’ or rather ’Empire supreme, humanity supreme’?

Which does their devotion to the Emperor’s faith prioritize?

Some conservatives within the Saints Battle Group and followers of the Mercifat sect chose the former. They’ve thought this way and acted this way for hundreds of years, never believing there’s a conflict between the former and the latter.

Yet Raymond Vis sees at this moment’s grand environment, there is indeed conflict between the two. Gu Hang, Alliance, and Dark Side Expedition represent prioritizing the latter. When a choice between the two is necessary, which path should Saints choose?

He is visibly different from the conservatives within the Battle Group. He is, clearly, a supporter of the latter.

This is what drove him, upon encountering the Alliance and realizing the Alliance’s strength and code of conduct, to swiftly reach a cooperation with them; likewise, when the Battle Group’s religious beliefs clashed with the Alliance, despite immense internal pain, he would rather choose to turn the blade inward for self-cleansing to preserve collaboration with the Alliance.

However, this decision remains incredibly difficult to make. Before his conversation with Gu Hang, Raymond Vis harbored some wishful thinking, wondering if there was room for compromise, if a better, more mutually favorable solution existed.

Gu Hang’s intention clearly shattered his wishful thinking and illusions, helping him to finalize his determination.

Once the seventy-two hours promised by the Saints Battle Group Leader passed, two detailed reports were presented before Gu Hang.

One from Raymond Vis’s self-report.

The other originating from the Alliance Military Intelligence Bureau’s investigation report on this internal cleansing among the saints. They watched coldly from the sidelines throughout, even providing much support to Raymond Vis, ensuring that some who might have escaped or gone into hiding met their rightful fate.