Fikris' words interrupted Guilliman's thoughts, making him stunned for a moment. After a while, he raised his head and asked Fikris.
“Are they rebelling?”
"No, they just reject your reforms and only recognize the system established for them by the Holy Emperor. They have expelled the reform members sent by the New Council, declaring that they only obey the orders from Holy Terra. They have also issued notices to other worlds, asking them to join them in rejecting. Several families have responded so far, saying that unless the adults can get the Emperor's permission, they will not recognize your reforms." said Fikris.
“Let me get the recognition of the Holy Emperor?” Guilliman took a few steps, looked up at Fikris again, and asked, “Did they say anything else? Did they make any requests?”
"That's all the information we have received so far," Fikris said with a hint of anger. "Should we send out troops to punish these families? My Lord, this is disrespectful to you."
"No, this is not disrespectful to me. They are testing me, Fikris. They are trying to find out how strong and determined I am in this reform. Wait for a while. I think other families will speak out. Send people to collect their crimes and settle them together at that time."
Guilliman could see at a glance the true purpose of such a declaration.
The other party did not rebel, and even stepped on the right position.
Neither the Inquisition nor any other institution could find any evidence of treason against them.
The current situation in the Empire is very delicate. Logically, the awakened Guilliman should go to Holy Terra, obtain the power of the Terra Council, and then issue various orders.
But now, Guilliman remained in Ultramar, issuing various orders from Macragge.
He is the Regent of the Empire, appointed by the Emperor himself, and is the legitimate ruler of the Empire.
But for ten thousand years, the Empire has been accepting orders from the Terra Council, and has long formed a subtle understanding that the core power of the Empire lies in Terra.
Loyalty to Guilliman, loyalty to the Terran Senate, on the surface, all loyalty to the Empire.
"Why did these guys jump out at this time? Are they so ignorant that they can't see that what the adults are doing is trying to save humanity?" Fikris said indignantly.
"They can see it, that's why they object." Guilliman looked at a Seraphim that was flapping its wings and flying. It was hovering, passing the information to a crew member, and then flew to other places to continue fulfilling the mission assigned by the program.
"Why do you say that, my lord? If they can see it, why do they oppose you? Have they all abandoned the Empire and are no longer loyal?"
Fikris asked in confusion.
"There are many kinds of loyalty, Fikris. Loyalty to an ideal, loyalty to an individual, and the greedy loyalty to power and strength. They are loyal to the Empire, but they are not loyal to me, not to the future I am trying to create."
"I don't understand? Doesn't loyalty mean giving everything?"
Confusion crossed Fikris' broad, resolute face.
Guilliman averted his gaze, not allowing himself to look at the abominable technological creation.
"That's your idea, Fikris. More people are thinking, if I pledge allegiance to this person, what will I get? If not, why should I pledge allegiance? They hope that I can back down in exchange for their loyalty. That's what they really think. The Glaus family is just the first one, and there are countless other families waiting and watching."
"They have been rulers for generations, enjoying wealth and luxurious life that ordinary people don't have. They think they are loyal, so they are rewarded, which is what they deserve. I should continue to use these rewards to maintain their loyalty, otherwise it will be my fault." Guilliman smiled and said, "As for the overall situation of saving mankind, they think they are loyal enough, and they can't do anything if mankind is in crisis."
"It is absolutely impossible to ask them to sacrifice their own interests to maintain the overall interests of mankind."
"So what should we do?" asked Fikris.
"I will go to the Natal system, declare the Graus family excommunicated and traitorous, execute every member of this family, and announce to the entire empire that reforms must be carried out, and anyone who does not recognize them is a Chaos heretic who seeks to destroy humanity."
Guilliman's words were full of indifference, and he didn't care at all about the person who was about to be executed.
The Glause family was large, with numerous businesses and a fleet.
It is no exaggeration to say that it is a galactic dynasty.
There have been no traitors in this family, and they have remained loyal to the Emperor and the Imperium.
But Guilliman required no such loyalty.
What he needs is loyalty that will obey him and accept his reforms.
Many families have produced people who are loyal to the emperor and the empire, but this cannot offset some of their sins.
The reason why these families are willing to be loyal to the Empire and the Emperor is because the Empire and the Emperor can bring them huge benefits.
They can use the authority of the emperor to legally rule the world.
And when a rebellion breaks out in this world, ask for the protection of the Imperial Astra Militarum and the Imperial Navy to suppress the rebels.
Being loyal to the emperor means that they only need to be responsible to the emperor and the empire.
They can adopt any system to rule their world and squeeze out all the wealth they can.
The reason why the Graus family publicly issued such a declaration was undoubtedly because Guilliman's reforms had shaken the foundation of their power and their wealth.
They issued such a declaration in order to defend their power and wealth.
The message was clear: unless Guilliman backed down, they would not remain loyal to him.
It’s a pity that over such a long period of time, they have forgotten how the Primarchs and the Emperor established the Empire.
The Primarchs reduced all the dynasties and alien empires that refused to submit to them into ruins, and established the human empire on the ruins of those civilizations.
We have never relied on political means of intrigue and deception.
The Graus family tried to find out Guilliman's bottom line, wanted to gain the greatest possible benefits, and even forced Guilliman to retract his reform order.
Guilliman's bottom line is to let those nobles who cooperate with the reforms survive.
If the Graus family wants more, then prepare to face the wrath of a Primarch.
Guilliman will not back down, he will respond with the strongest possible attitude.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..
Planet Natal.
Nek Hive.
The nest is divided into three layers: upper, middle and lower.
The lower class belongs to poor peasants and gangsters, the middle class belongs to the working class, and the upper class with beautiful environment and fresh air belongs to the aristocracy.
The nobles control 99% of the wealth in the Natal galaxy and monopolize many fields such as medicine, medical care, machinery, shipping, etc.
Enjoying a luxurious life that ordinary people can't imagine.
In the industrialized hive, green plants and healthy food are scarce.
Ordinary people eat either nutrient blocks or contaminated foods such as ant bulls and earthworms.
Ninety-nine percent of the people will never know what flowers and plants look like in their entire lives.
The air in the hive is recycled and purified by the equipment of the Mechanicus.
It is normal for civilians living in the hive city to have never seen green plants.
Of course, the lives of the nobility were quite different.
Their estate has a garden made of green plants from various worlds.
Eat harmless food from the agricultural world.
Even the fruits they enjoyed were specially transported from other galaxies, and the value of each one was enough to equal a civilian's lifetime labor income.
The gap between the rich and the poor in the empire is so huge that it is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
If it is some merchant families with a long history, the accumulated wealth is even more astronomical.
More than a dozen galaxies are their industries.
Unless they are convicted of treason by the empire, there is no possibility of decline.
... ... ... ... ...
The top of Hawke's hive.
Many nobles gathered at a luxurious cocktail party.
"This is betrayal, Guilliman betrayed us. We served the Empire and died for the Emperor, but he wants to deprive us of our rights." An old noble shouted indignantly.