961. Alarmism
Count Dooku stood on the stage with a modest smile. However, in Tang Xiao's opinion, the smile on his face at this moment was more like a mockery.
That's right, from the beginning, the freedom and equality proposed by Confederacy of Independent Systems were just a game. Liberty and equality never existed from the beginning.
At this time, more than 300 planets, including Onderon, came to Confederate Congress to demand so-called freedom and equality? This is simply the greatest absurdity in the world!
Count Dooku raised his hand and pressed it, signaling that everyone around him should be quiet.
The prestige he has accumulated among Confederacy of Independent Systems for more than ten years is still unparalleled. The noisy venue immediately became quiet, and then he slowly asked, "So, do you have any plan for the peace proposal? Mina-Senator Bonteri?"
Mina-Bontri's expression softened slightly and began to sort out the documents in front of him.
Tang Xiao was just watching all this with interest, because in a meeting just half a year ago, Mina-Bontri was still looking forward to the victory of the war, and was even angry at Tang Xiao's remarks that the war was about to fail.
However, half a year later, she had directly stood on Confederate Congress and publicly announced her war policy against Confederacy of Independent Systems.
It can only be said that what happened in the past six months has exceeded the limit of what she can bear.
Although the Federation of Independent Systems has been victorious during this period, it has actually laid countless hidden dangers. Whether it was the massive festival offensive launched by General Grievous, which struck from the east to the south of the galaxy and covered hundreds of galaxies, or the subsequent plan to march into the Central Ring divided into five groups, behind this huge victory were the wails of countless planets.
A huge battle is naturally accompanied by a huge consumption of materials and battleship losses, and the war costs incurred are basically astronomical.
Naturally, it is impossible for the corporate giants located in War Core to bear this terrible cost alone. They will undoubtedly pass these costs on to other franchise planets in Confederacy of Independent Systems.
According to the statistics obtained by Tang Xiao, in the past six months, the average growth rate of war taxes on the planets joined by Confederacy of Independent Systems has reached 31%, which is equivalent to a reduction of almost half of the income of these planets. Those impoverished planets that were originally just on the line of food and clothing have now even begun to starve to death! This is completely unbelievable for a civilization that is already in the interstellar age!
At the same time, Tang Xiao also understands that the political situation on Onderon has begun to undergo earth-shaking changes. Now that Mina-Bontri has expressed such a stance, it basically means that Onderon is likely to change.
There is nothing that can be done about it. With taxes increasing so fast, the current ruling party will naturally be unable to suppress the turbulent public opinion. It is inevitable that other parties will start to rise.
Of course, Tang Xiao had already prepared for this, and it was impossible for him to let any accident happen to Onderon, the very important Behemoth-class battlecruiser production place.
Here Mina-Bontri has already started to speak, "I suggest that Confederacy of Independent Systems can send a special envoy to Galactic Republic to first seek a one-week temporary ceasefire between the two sides, and then conduct consultations on Peace Accord."
Count Dooku continued to ask sarcastically, "Oh? So, what does Peace Accord include?"
"Judging from the current political and war situation between our Confederacy of Independent Systems and Galactic Republic, we need to first draw a temporary ceasefire line, temporarily determine the control areas of both parties, and then seek to form a coalition government to jointly solve the problems of both parties." Mina-Bontri said.
Tang Xiao sat in his seat at this time and asked calmly, "In other words...Senator Bonteri, do you hope to negotiate peace with those Galactic Republic capitalists who have exploited and oppressed us, and then hope that they will spare our lives?"
There were several traps in his words. If Bontri directly refuted that we are also being oppressed and exploited now, then every word she said would become nonsense to Confederate Congress.
Sure enough, Mina-Bontri was about to retort, but then his expression changed, and his words suddenly changed, "Governor Tang, what do you think of this war? Do you think we can see the results of this war if we continue to fight like this?"
She was reminding Tang Xiao not to forget the conversation half a year ago. She seemed to think that Tang Xiao would support her in this matter.
"War is just an extreme political method... To put it bluntly, there is essentially no difference between war and negotiation." Tang Xiao said, "Now when this extreme method has not produced any results, and both sides have hope for the prospect of war, do you think that relatively mild means can achieve the goal?"
"That's totally okay!"
"Why?"
"Because of the people!" Mina-Bontri said firmly.
"Then what if Galactic Republic asks us to dissolve the government, re-merge it into Galactic Republic, and accept their rule?" Tang Xiao asked again.
"This is a matter on the negotiating table. If Galactic Republic insists on this, then we will fight to the end!" Mina-Bontri said.
"Then, I wish you success." Tang Xiao smiled coldly and stopped talking.
A look of disappointment flashed across Mina-Bontri's eyes. It seemed that she really hoped that Tang Xiao could be by her side. Because she recalled that half a year ago, Tang Xiao also told her that the war might fail. She originally thought that Tang Xiao's opinion was consistent with hers at this moment.
Count Dooku looked at the atmosphere in the parliament, exchanged glances with some core figures including Tang Xiao, and then said loudly, "Then, according to the parliamentary procedures, we will vote on the motion proposed by Mina-Bontri in one day! Adjourn the meeting!"
After the parliament temporarily adjourned, Count Dooku secretly summoned the core members of Confederacy of Independent Systems alone for a talk.
In this regard, Tang Xiao just sneered secretly. He felt that the time was almost here.
"What do you think of the peace initiative proposed by more than 300 planets led by Onderon today?" Count Dooku said straight to the point.
Parcel Argent, chairman of the Corporate Alliance, shook his head and said, "This war has indeed caused us to suffer heavy losses, and it seems that the outcome of the war is still far away."
Indeed, since the war began, the corporate giant that has suffered the most heavy losses is undoubtedly Corporate Alliance. Most of the battles they participated in failed, especially Battle of Christophsis, which invested so much, they almost lost their pants.
Although the battle was won in the end, it was Fourth Group's fault. Up to now, 80% of the income on Christophsis is controlled by Fourth Group. Corporate Alliance lost all his money and could only drink soup in the end.
After that, the raid on Kamino also failed miserably, and Corporate Alliance lost money one after another. So now when it comes to peace negotiations, Corporate Alliance is the most tempting.
"If we withdraw from the war now, we will really lose everything." InterGalactic Banking Clan co-chairman San Hill said slowly, "Just think about it and you will know that this war is based on us as the main force. Will Galactic Republic treat us like before? No, this is impossible. Our only way now is to overthrow Galactic Republic."
Technological Alliance Foreman Watto-Tamber twisted the knob on the chest of his mechanical armor, adjusted his tone of voice, and then said, "But overthrowing Galactic Republic is impossible."
Technological Alliance also lost troops and generals in the battle of Ryloth, and their life was not easy.
"Judging from the political situation of within the Galactic Republic, this war has begun to cause rifts within Galactic Republic. I believe that it will not be long before the political situation of Galactic Republic will undergo earth-shaking changes. At that time, it will be our opportunity. And what we have to do now is to continue to exert pressure and accelerate this process." Zyggeria Queen, Mira Ji-Sintel said.
Her political vision is relatively outstanding.
Count Dooku glanced at Tang Xiao and asked, "So, what is Dawn Star Planet's opinion?"
Tang Xiao smiled and said meaningfully, "I know that everyone here has your own arrangements for the end of the war, but actually what I want to remind everyone is... there is no retreat in this war. This is true for each of us."
"You'd better speak more directly! I don't have time to guess charades here!" The relationship between Merchant Guilds President Shu Mai and Tang Xiao has never been very good, but this is mainly because Tang Xiao has always stayed away from her.
Without him, I just look down on him.
Because if many of the heads of these corporate giants like Confederacy of Independent Systems are politically short-sighted idiots because of their once superior living environment, then Shu-Mai is not only stupid, she is also bad. Not only bad, but also a trap.
"Want to hear something more straightforward?" Tang Xiao glanced at the others and said, "Okay. I will tell everyone that if the war ends with our failure, then the businesses and properties of everyone here will be divided up by Galactic Republic and become their spoils. Why? Because in the future New Order, there will be no room for so many people sharing the cake, and only a few will be able to support themselves."
Count Dooku smiled slightly and said, "Oh, are you starting to scaremonger again, Governor Tang?"
"What I said naturally includes you, Count Dooku. What do you think you will do after the war is defeated? Bear the responsibility for the war, spend a few days in jail, wait until New Order is established, then come out again and accept everything you deserve?" Tang Xiao said, "Lord Archangel of Death wants me to bring you something..."
"Please tell me." Count Dooku's face darkened.
"He said: Do you think you will be Chosen One's master? No, you are not worthy. Chosen One's master is Das-Sidious." Tang Xiao said.
Dooku's expression changed again.
At this time, Trade Federation Governor Newt Gunray added in a timely manner, "Count Dooku, I hope you can tell us clearly, Lord Sidious, where do you want this war to go? At the beginning of the war, you promised We promised that Lord Sidious would create more conditions for us to defeat Galactic Republic, but now that the war has broken out for a year, the losses we have incurred can be calculated in astronomical figures, but where is Lord Sidious's cooperation?"
"That's right! Although we seem to be winning steadily on the surface, in fact we know that in the past three months, Kuat Drive Yards has built a total of 240 Hunter Class Battlecruiser, and at the same time, Confederacy of Independent Systems has built less than 100 warships of the same level. If this continues, it is impossible for us to win the war." Semirres Planet Councilor Tuunbach Tula also began to support.
At this time, Corporate Alliance Chairman Parcel Argent, who was already losing, was also provoked. He slammed the table and said loudly, "Where is our guarantee! If this war fails, where will our investment be recovered? Governor Tang's words may not be alarmist!!"
Count Dooku looked around and frowned slightly. He suddenly felt that, vaguely, Tang Xiao seemed to be using this incident to force his way into the palace?
Why are there so many people speaking on the side of Tang Xiao?
Count Dooku's face began to become more and more gloomy. InterGalactic Banking Clan didn't care. Now Trade Federation also showed signs of standing on Tang Xiao's side and united to question Sidious.
But it would be okay if he knew about this matter, but the words of Archangel of Death brought by Tang Xiao just now made him also have a little doubt about Das-Sidious's purpose.
Others may not understand that sentence, but he himself understands who is the master of Chosen One. The meanings contained in it are completely different, and even... include life and death!
He let out a heavy breath, stared at Tang Xiao and said, "If Lord Archangel of Death still has some advice, then please come to Laxus Planet in person, and I will meet with him in person."
"Unfortunately, the words Lord Archangel of Death gave me did not include these contents, so I don't know how to answer." Tang Xiao said coldly, "The question now is that Onderon has put our real hidden danger in front of us - how should we deal with these more than 300 planets, and... how should this war end?"
"I originally thought that we had reached a consensus, Your Excellency the Governor." Count Dooku's voice also turned cold.
"Assassinate Mina-Bontri, and then launch a terrorist attack on Coruscant?" Tang Xiao bluntly stated Count Dooku's plan, "In this case, the war will have to continue."
"How did you know... Humph, Archangel of Death told you, didn't he?" Count Dooku seemed to be on the verge of anger.
"This is absolutely not possible!" Parcel Argent was the first to jump up.
His reaction made Tang Xiao very satisfied. It should be said that Parcel Argent was cannon fodder in this operation to force the palace to be imprisoned.
"Tell me, Das-Sidious, which one of the senior officials of Galactic Republic is he?" Tang Xiao finally revealed his purpose, and the picture is clear!
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[Easter egg chapter attached picture 1: Mina-Senator Bonteri who made generous speeches on Confederate Congress.]