Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 404 Secret Meeting - Part 3

"Expanding the army? But the Astartes Codex..." Yolandil, the captain of the Sky Lion Chapter, frowned.

The lessons of the Badab War are still fresh in our minds; the rebellion triggered by the expansion of the war group remains a stark reminder of the conflict.

Yolandil clearly remembered the blood-stained scrolls in the chapter's archives, which detailed how the disaster had escalated from a simple troop expansion into a war that swept across the entire sector.

Chen Xi was certainly aware of this issue.

He narrowed his eyes slightly as he swept his gaze over the crowd, a hint of sarcasm appearing on his lips, but he quickly regained his serious expression.

After all, Guilliman's toilet paper—that's what he called the Astartes Codex, which he regarded as the ultimate authority—was something even the author himself wanted to tear up when he awoke and learned that it had been treated as an inviolable classic for ten thousand years.

But to be honest, at this point in time, not many people dare to openly violate it.

Even the representatives of the newly formed battle groups remained cautiously silent, fearing to violate this ironclad rule that had sustained the empire for millennia.

“Ten thousand years ago, Roger Dorn was the most opposed to breaking up the Legion,” Chen Xi suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a clear hint of sarcasm. “How come ten thousand years later, his descendants regard the holy text written by Guilliman as gospel?”

He deliberately emphasized the phrase "regarded as the highest standard," his gaze fixed on Garadon, the company commander of the Imperial Fist.

Although he wanted to call it "toilet paper," he reluctantly maintained a facade of respect, considering the reverence the Astartes held for the Holy Scriptures among those present.

These words made Yolandil's face turn pale and then red.

As the leader of a squadron, he had limited access to historical archives, not to mention that the Imperial Fist parent group had been wiped out once during the "Beast Wars".

At that moment, he suddenly realized that his understanding of the history of the mother organization might not be as deep as that of the judge in front of him.

However, that was clearly not the point. Company Commander Galadon quickly took over the conversation: "Lord Chen Xi, in any case, the Holy Codex is a rule that all Astartes in the Empire must follow, and even the newly formed chapters should not violate it."

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying the unwavering determination characteristic of the Fist of the Empire.

Although Chen Xi was speaking to the Holy Blood Angels, as a son of Dorne, Galahad clearly did not believe that the Fist of the Empire could remain uninvolved.

At this moment, Company Commander Tycho also chimed in, "Lord Chen Xi, even if the Holy Blood Angels are short of troops, we probably cannot expand our military strength on the premise of violating the Holy Scriptures."

He stroked the Imperial Eagle insignia hanging on his chest, his tone tinged with helplessness: "The lessons of the Badab War are still fresh in our minds, and the Imperial High Lord Council will not allow us to do this."

Faced with the objections of the crowd, Chen Xi simply nodded slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping across the conference hall.

His gaze moved from the resolute face of Garadon, the Fist of the Empire, to the furrowed brow of Tycho Brahe, the Blood Angel, and finally to the uneasy fingers of Yolandil, the leader of the Sky Lions Chapter.

For the Empire, although everyone knows that the Astartes Codex has problems, it is precisely because of the existence of the Codex that the Astartes Order has been able to maintain the stability of the Empire for the past ten thousand years.

This totem, personally compiled by Primarch Guilliman, was a double-edged sword: on the one hand, it did limit the Chapter's combat power; on the other hand, it prevented a repeat of the Legion's mistakes and averted a second Horusian strife. This ancient totem was like an invisible shackle, both restricting the Chapter's development and constantly reminding everyone of the calamities brought about by the Legion's era.

It keeps each chapter at just the right size—powerful enough to deal with conventional threats, but not powerful enough to threaten the Empire itself.

This is why, although many warbands do not strictly adhere to the canon in private.

However, on the surface, everyone should at least maintain basic decorum and show due respect to the sacred texts in formal settings.

Expanding the army in complete violation of the Holy Scriptures' restrictions remains an insurmountable red line for all the Empire's warbands.

This is not only about respect for Primarch Guilliman, but also about the legitimacy of the entire Astartes Order within the Empire.

Once this precedent is broken, what awaits the empire is likely not a stronger defense, but a new round of civil war and division.

However, this was not so difficult for Chen Xi to solve.

A slight, meaningful smile played on his lips as he simply stated, "According to the Codex Astartes, the size of a chapter is not restricted by the Codex when it is on an expedition."

"You mean..." At this point, the battle commanders present understood each other and exchanged thoughtful glances.

"The Rostov Expedition was a massive undertaking, and although it lasted ten years, it has essentially eradicated the main Xenomorphs in the Rostov Sector," Chen Xi said, looking around at everyone with feigned seriousness, "but this does not mean that the expedition is over."

His finger traced a star field across the tactical holographic projection, and his voice suddenly rose a few decibels: "The Space Necromancers, an ancient race that existed 60 million years ago, once had influence throughout the galaxy!"
We have only eliminated a portion of their forces; it is highly likely that their tomb worlds still exist throughout the Mariupol sector!

He slammed his hand on the table, causing the holographic projection to ripple: "Therefore, the Rostov Expedition will continue until the threat of the space undead to the Empire is completely eradicated! The expedition will not stop until this goal is achieved."

He paused deliberately, making sure each word was clearly heard by everyone present: "And all the battle groups participating in the expedition can recruit new soldiers without restraint or restriction to expand their forces."

At this point, Chen Xi solemnly took out a sheepskin scroll with gold trim from his bosom.

As he slowly unfurled the scroll, the air in the entire council chamber seemed to freeze.

The faint golden light emanating from the signature at the end of the scroll caused the Astartes and Caul to hold their breath involuntarily—it was the emperor's signature written in ancient High Gothic script, each stroke imbued with the majesty and sanctity of the Golden Age.

"By the authority bestowed upon me by His Holiness," Chen Xi's voice echoed in the silent hall, the scroll in his hand gleaming with a sacred light under the lamplight, "I hereby command the Imperial Fist and the Holy Blood Angels, both major warbands, to actively expand their armies and prepare for war over the next twenty years, recruiting and training new soldiers to better serve this expedition and His Holiness."

As he spoke, the emperor's signature on the scroll seemed to come alive, shining even brighter, and the sacred light made everyone present feel the pressure emanating from the golden throne.

What Chen Xi was showing was his letter of appointment as governor—a sacred document personally signed by the emperor.

(End of this chapter)