Alex stood on the observation deck of the Governors Office, gazing at the gradually forming administrative map of the Rostov Sub-Sector.
Ten years ago, when he first arrived, the entire Sub-Sector only had Rostov II, a solitary colony planet, but now it has developed into an administrative region with multiple developing star systems.
Now, he must strive for more benefits on the political stage of the Star Sector Capital to make the establishment of the Rostov Sub-Sector a fait accompli.
A pressing issue lay before him—the assessment of the tithe level.
Alex recalled the predicament when Rostov II was first established: this remote, emerging colony world didn't even have an official tithe level in the Imperial Department of Internal Affairs' archives; the Imperial bureaucrats simply didn't expect to extract any wealth from such a backwater.
Moreover, not only did the Department of Internal Affairs not levy taxes, but it also continuously provided food subsidies to Rostov II, and these free rations are still being transported in an endless stream even now.
Although Rostov II has long achieved food self-sufficiency, and agricultural development in other colonies within the Sub-Sector is progressing smoothly, the Department of Internal Affairs' administrative system clearly hasn't caught up, and subsidies are still being issued on time.
Alex couldn't help but feel fortunate for the inefficiency of the Imperial bureaucracy—this unexpected windfall helped him greatly.
But the situation is different now.
As the Sub-Sector's war gradually subsides, the Department of Internal Affairs' watchdogs will sooner or later sniff out the wealth here.
Alex could almost imagine the tax auditors—they would surely arrive with precise measuring instruments and data-slates filled with clauses, scrutinizing every factory and every farmland in Rostov with critical eyes.
As an Imperial official, Alex never thought of evading the tithe.
But he knew that in the bloated Imperial administrative system, paying taxes was never a simple matter of numbers, but a delicate game of strategy.
The key was how to use the rules to pay this tax at the most appropriate time and in the most advantageous way.
"Twenty years…" Alex murmured softly to himself.
This timeframe repeatedly flashed in his mind.
According to his plan, he could completely drag out the tax assessment until after the Regent's return.
After all, a simple approval from the Department of Internal Affairs often takes decades, let alone a comprehensive tax assessment of an emerging Sub-Sector?
During this precious time, the taxes that should have been remitted could continue to be invested in the Sub-Sector's construction.
By the time Guilliman returns, Rostov will have long been transformed, and it won't be too late to pay the back taxes then.
And by the time the Great Rift unfolds twenty years later, the connection between the Rostov Sub-Sector and Holy Terra will be severed, making the payment of this tax optional.
What to do specifically at that time will depend on how much influence Alex can wield.
If he could command tens of thousands of Astartes, Alex felt he might even be able to contend for the position of High Lord.
In addition to these, among the post-war cleanup efforts, how to deal with the various Astartes Chapters that participated in the war became a key issue for Alex to consider.
These Angels of the Emperor were completely different from ordinary armies—they neither needed monetary rewards nor sought worldly honors.
For them, fighting for the God-Emperor itself was the highest reward.
As the war ended, most Chapters had already begun packing their gear, preparing to withdraw.
Those Chapters that suffered heavy losses in the battle were able to recruit qualified new recruits locally, thanks to Alex's specially approved reinforcement policy.
Although the number of new recruits could not fully compensate for the battle losses, it at least kept the Chapters' formations at an acceptable level.
In terms of equipment, thanks to Archmagos Cawl opening his armory, the participating Chapters received far more excellent weaponry than expected.
Now, the armories of the various Chapters were piled high with brand-new Bolters, master-crafted Power Armor, and even a few precious Land Raiders.
This abundance, paradoxically, caused a happy dilemma for many Chapter Masters—they began to privately inquire with Adeptus Mechanicus representatives whether they could be allocated more new-style equipment that they had grown accustomed to using.
However, beyond these superficial equipment supplies, Cawl's secretly advancing Primaris Astartes modification plan remained under absolute secrecy.
The Chapters were completely unaware that their precious Gene-Seed had unknowingly been injected with new possibilities.
This "benevolent" intervention might cause new disturbances in the future, but for now, it was merely classified data hidden deep within data-slates.
However, these were not the main points; the main point was that Alex needed to establish good relations and connections with the various Chapters before they withdrew.
He personally arranged multiple private meetings, holding one-on-one confidential talks with the Chapter Masters of the major Chapters in the strategic command center of Rostov III.
Not to make them obey his direct orders, but at least when something arose, they would respond to his call.
To this end, Alex specially prepared a detailed strategic memorandum, meticulously recording the heroic deeds of the major Chapters during the expedition, and promised to report these accomplishments to the Terra High Lords Council.
Because those who could participate in this expedition, besides a few Chapters from the Blood Angels and Imperial Fists lineages, were other Chapters stationed around the Rostov Sub-Sector and Mariupol Sector, or even within the Mariupol Sector itself.
Alex paid special attention to these local Chapters, ordering the quartermaster to prepare ample supplies for each Chapter, including master-crafted weapons and blessed ammunition.
These Chapters might not be much now, but after the Great Rift unfolds, they will be important strategic support and key forces for the Mariupol Sector and surrounding Star Districts in resisting the threat of Chaos!
During the talks, Alex subtly alluded to future threats, suggesting that these Chapters might face even more arduous challenges.
If he could establish good relations with these Chapters and organize them after the Great Rift opens, even if it was just to form a loose alliance, it would be enough to greatly enhance the security of the Mariupol Sector and surrounding Star Districts.
To this end, Alex proposed establishing an encrypted communication network to ensure that the various Chapters could maintain real-time contact.
Even before the Indomitus Crusade began, he aimed to establish a pocket empire-like entity in this region to maintain the peace of the Imperium.
Alex had already begun to formulate detailed defense plans, preparing to link the defense zones of the major Chapters to form a mutually supportive defense system.
It should be known that the Mariupol Sector is located on the edge of the Segmentum Solar; although remote, it is still within the protective range of the Empire Holy Land.
Even after the Great Rift opens, this area will still be able to receive the guiding light of the Astronomican, and the overall threat of Chaos faced is relatively small, which provides Alex's strategic layout with a unique geographical advantage.
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