Starting from the Planetary Governor

Today, Gu Hang is fully dressed in marshal's attire. The grandiose yet solemn military uniform in bright red is paired with black long boots and white pants, adorned with numerous medals on the chest, a ceremonial sash crossing his torso, and golden tassels and ribbons that intricately embellish the outfit.

Gu Hang has already grown accustomed to this attire.

As the supreme ruler of the Alliance, it is inevitable that he wears such clothing at many formal occasions.

Whether he likes it or not.

Sitting in the hover car heading to the 'Marshal's Terrace', the speed is not fast and it will take a while to arrive.

Gu Hang started thinking about the process of becoming a marshal.

Though he had the reassurance from Ou Juren, the matter had faced some obstacles a few days ago.

According to Galaraldo, his supervisor Mr. Norberto, the Minister of Military Affairs, fiercely opposed the idea.

Norberto argued that Gu Hang, with shallow experience, never truly led a real Star Realm Army, never fought for the Star Realm Army, was just a local force issue and even his legitimacy was questionable, to give him the title of Empire Marshal was surely a joke!

If someone like Gu Hang could be granted the title of Marshal of the Star Realm Army, then what would those veteran generals think, who have been stuck at the rank of grand generals for many years and have fought across countless battlefields and wars throughout the Imperial Territory?

In some ways, his point was valid.

Compared to most of the Star Realm Army generals, who have spent years leading troops and fighting battles, only to earn ranks like upper generals, Gu Hang's involvement in just one star domain and one battle, despite his significant contributions, was not enough to deserve the rank of Marshal of the Star Realm Army.

Certainly, that wasn't enough.

If Gu Hang were really just a Star Realm Army general, his achievements at most would allow him to rise from upper general to grand general, and that's it. If he were a grand general, he could at most receive an honorary rank.

But now, Gu Hang's rank was about to jump directly from major general to marshal.

Gu Hang did not deny this.

But of course he deserved it.

His marshal rank, heroic deeds were only a small part of it, more importantly was the power he held.

This differed from Star Realm Army generals, whose power came from the Empire. The Central Government, such as the Military Affairs Department or the central command of the Star Realm Army, if they think you're unfit, they can strip you of your power, leaving you with nothing. But Gu Hang was different; he possessed actual power, managing tens of billions of Alliance Army troops, equating the level of the Star Realm Army, and even a hundred billion Defense Army, and the Empire had to recognize and officially grant him the marshal title.

The nature of these two differed completely. If one day the Empire withdrew Gu Hang's marshal position, it would not affect his control over his troops in any way.

Thus, Gu Hang also felt no guilt about this.

Didn't the Minister of Military Affairs understand this principle?

He understood, very well indeed.

But for that reason, he had to oppose.

'The reality exists', and then giving him 'the title', aren't you elevating him too high?

Still, an adversary.

Of course, he would oppose it to the death.

And the granting of marshal could not avoid this Minister of Military Affairs.

This issue even escalated to the Supreme Council.

In the Supreme Council, according to Galaraldo's account, after intense debates, the promotion of Gu Hang to marshal was passed with six votes in favor, four abstentions, and three opposed.

For a marshal's commission to be decided by a vote in the Supreme Council was quite rare.

Gu Hang carefully inquired about the composition of these thirteen votes.

Those who voted in favor were: the Imperial Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Taxation, the State Religion Representative, the Supreme Grand Marshal of the Imperial Navy, the Interstellar Warrior Representative.

The four who abstained were: the Administrative Bureau Prime Minister, the Chief Judge of the Supreme Tribunal, the Sect of Mechanics Mars Representative, and the Provence Cosmic Domain Chair Representative.

The three who voted against were: the Minister of Military Affairs, the Supreme Grand Marshal of the Imperial Guards, the Northern Border Devouring Stars Sector President Representative.

From these votes, Gu Hang could roughly gauge how different major forces in the Central Government perceived the handling of the 'Iron Fury Stone' issue.

Speaking of this, it's also necessary to mention the origin of these Supreme Council seats.

There are indeed only thirteen seats in the Supreme Council, but actually, there are about twenty different types of seats. Some seats are permanent, although not explicitly stipulated, but present every term, such as the Imperial Prime Minister, the Mars Representative, the State Religion Representative, the Tribunal Representative, and the like.

But such seats are relatively few; most, like the Empire Commerce Guild Representative, the four great ministers of the government, the Interstellar Warrior Representative, the Psychic Cultivator Assembly Representative, are sometimes present and sometimes not.

Whether a permanent seat or a non-permanent seat, to occupy one of the thirteen seats undoubtedly means having sufficient strength. First, there is real power and influence, then comes the seat.

Permanent seats certainly mean these forces are strong, and continually so; the changes in non-permanent seats might show transitions in influence among some forces.

Those who voted in favor did not necessarily have good intentions towards him, perhaps even disliked Gu Hang's extraordinary fast-tracked military promotion. However, they are definitely involved in the 'Iron Fury Stone' issue up next, or are sharing interests in this matter, having reached certain benefit agreements with the political factions of Ou Juren, Tang Mili, and Galaraldo.