Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 293 Sea Hare Joins the Team
As a frontier world of the Empire that was only opened up in the Rostov sub-sector after Chen Xi arrived in the 40k era, Kherson, this young colony planet, can hardly be called prosperous.

It was like a speck of dust on the map of the empire, quietly settling in a corner of the empire's territory, inconspicuous.

The population of this planet is so simple it's almost monotonous: apart from the new wave of immigrants, comprised of fervent pilgrims, sent by the state religion, the rest are uniformed soldiers.

Troops from Rostov's home planet poured through Kherson on their way to the front lines like an iron torrent, gradually transforming this colony, which should have been developing its people, into a massive military fortress.

The railway station is always filled with transport fleets ready to depart, and the surface is covered with temporary military camps and supply warehouses, with the air filled with the smell of engine oil and metal.

In fact, as early as when Ventanus was stationed here, this political superman from the Ultramarines Chapter had already designated Kherson as a military logistics hub.

Under his plan, the planet's population consisted of either reserve soldiers ready to enlist at any time, construction workers working day and night to build military facilities, or service personnel busy shuttling between countless logistics warehouses.

The entire planet is like a sophisticated war machine, with every gear spinning frantically to meet the needs of the front lines.

The factory furnaces burned day and night, forging weapons and armor; convoys of transport vehicles flowed along reinforced roads, delivering supplies to the rail and airport; and the loudspeakers at the recruitment stations never stopped broadcasting, urging eligible men and women to sign military service contracts.

In the midst of a tense war, this distorted social structure has ironically become an advantage.

When Chen Xi took over the planet, he needed almost no transition or explanation to the people before he could declare martial law and place the entire planet under iron-fisted military control.

After all, there were no real "civilians" in Kherson – everyone here, from birth to death, had long been incorporated into the operating system of the war machine.

Children learn loyalty and sacrifice in the national schools, the only way out for young people is to join the army or enter the military factory, while the elderly are responsible for maintaining the operation of the logistics system.

There are no objections, no protests, not even any extra thought—only obedience, production, and fighting.

Chen Xi knew very well that he was not a political genius like Ventannis.

The Ultramarines inherited Primarch Robert Guilliman's exceptional governance skills, enabling them to maintain the normal functioning of the people, perfectly ensure supplies to the front lines, and even maintain a certain level of prosperity in the colonies.

But Chen Xi knew he couldn't achieve that balance—he didn't have the patience of Guilliman's sons, nor their administrative talent.

So he chose the most direct and violent method, using military control as a big stick to suppress all potential problems in their infancy.

Anyone who shirks their duties will be whipped, anyone who questions the rules will be sent to a disciplinary camp, and anyone who tries to evade military service will be sent to a military court.

But in this era where war is the priority, brute force is often more effective than a delicate balance.

Herson's system was even more efficient than that of Ventannius's time, although at the cost of the complete deprivation of the people's freedom.

However, for the people of the empire, this was actually nothing.

After all, the Rostov sub-sector was a newly opened frontier with abundant resources, and Chen Xi's rule could not be described as exploiting resources to the point of exhaustion.

At least the people can still eat their fill, survive, and even have some leisure time, living with human rights. This is already far better than most imperial worlds in the Milky Way.

What if it were a different imperial world?

Martial law? Ha, the methods of those planetary governors are far more cruel and harsh than martial law. Some worlds, in order to conscript soldiers, will directly execute the entire family of those who refuse to serve by lottery; some worlds, in order to satisfy Terra's high tithes, will squeeze every drop of resources dry, leaving the people struggling in famine; and some worlds, simply because of a drop in production efficiency, will be ordered exterminated by the Inquisition as a warning to others.

In comparison, the residents of Helson could even be said to be... doing quite well.

"Uh... you call this a pretty good life?" Sea Hare, dressed in a crisp Star Realm Army uniform, followed behind Chen Xi as he inspected the military camp, his face filled with disbelief.

He gazed at the group of laborers carrying supplies under the scorching sun in the distance, and their hunched figures made him clench his fists involuntarily.

Chen Xi stopped and turned to his new companion in surprise: "Dude, what brings you to ask such a question? What's the Empire like? You don't actually think this place is comparable to the 3K era, do you?"

His tone carried a hint of helplessness, as if he were talking to a child who didn't understand.

The sea hare frowned and thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "At least... can you guarantee an eight-hour workday?"

He said this with a hint of expectation in his voice, as if it were the most basic human rights protection.

However, Chen Xi just shook his head and let out a heavy sigh: "How naive are you to think you can implement an eight-hour workday in the Warhammer world?"

Even in the five hundred worlds of Alteramar, which Guilliman single-handedly created, workers had to work sixteen hours a day, which was considered heavenly treatment in the Empire!

“In Rostov,” Chen Xi’s tone suddenly became proud, “I implemented a three-shift work system, where each person only needs to work eighteen hours a day. This is already a monumental achievement!”

He said this with a serious expression, and there was no sign of him joking at all.

Indeed, in the empire's long history of dark rule spanning ten thousand years, Chen Xi's treatment of his people could be described as benevolent.

At least here, the workers get enough food and even have free time after work, which is a privilege that other imperial worlds can only dream of.

At this point, Chen Xi suddenly looked at Hai Tu meaningfully: "Moreover, hoping to obtain better working hours and treatment by relying on the benevolence of the ruler, instead of relying on one's own struggle... do you really think that such 'preferential treatment' can be maintained in the long run?"

The sea hare paused for a moment, then shook its head with a wry smile: "Sorry, I just didn't get it."

He then realized that this was not the great Eastern power of the 3K era, but the brutal human empire of the fortieth millennium.

Those rights and protections that were once taken for granted are now nothing but a pipe dream in this dark age.

“It’s alright,” Chen Xi patted Hai Tu on the shoulder, his tone softening. “It’s fine to say this to your own people. But remember, never say this to anyone else in the Empire. The Inquisition really will come and arrest you.”

He made a throat-slitting gesture, half-jokingly warning him.

In fact, it wasn't just Hai Tu; Chen Xi himself, Guterres, and others also experienced this cognitive shock when they first arrived in this era.

Everyone adapts to this cruel universe step by step, so Chen Xi completely understands the sea hare's reaction at this moment.

However, such remarks are indeed taboo in the Empire. Although people joke that as long as taxes are paid, the Empire will not care what the planetary governor does on his or her planet, this statement is about the lower limit of the planetary governor's authority, not the upper limit.

(End of this chapter)