Simultaneous Journey: Starting from Holy Terra

Chapter 69 The Beginning of the Reforms, Regent Guilliman (5k)

"This will be a very difficult thing."

Guilliman looked at Ye Ming and said, "According to your plan, search for evidence of the lord's crimes, establish the lord's guilt, lead the people who still have courage to overthrow the lord's rule, and reshape the people's beliefs and thoughts."

"This will be a very long battle. Ten thousand years of confinement cannot be broken overnight."

"Moreover, our most pressing task now is the expedition. Every moment, empires' worlds are falling, and we must act quickly!"

"So I decided to give it a try first and create a model," Ye Ming said.

He took a pen and paper, circled a name on the list, and said, "He will be that role model."

Guilliman looked at the list, pondered for a moment, and said, "Many people will want to stop us; it might not even be him. Why choose him?"

"Intuition, my lord."

Ye Ming couldn't say that he already knew the "plot," so he could only rely on his intuition.

"Intuition? — Okay, let's go then."

As he spoke, Killman stood up, put away the document he had written, and led Ye Ming out of the laboratory.

As soon as the door opened, Ye Ming felt an intense chill, followed by an endless expanse of darkness and the only ray of light within it!

Above the towering, seemingly hundreds of kilometers high steps, a throne shrouded in machinery and pipes looms in the distance.

Ye Mingchao looked in that direction and vaguely saw a figure.

The instant he saw that figure, Ye Ming seemed to see countless faces and countless forms.

Then, everything vanished.

What appeared before Ye Ming was a middle-aged man sitting on a throne, looking worried, as if he had been constipated for many years.

The moment Ye Ming saw him, he also turned to look at Ye Ming.

When Ye Ming saw those eyes that seemed to be burning with flames, he saw coldness and ruthlessness, but he also saw a trace of expectation and warmth in those eyes.

The middle-aged man nodded at Ye Ming, and then everything seemed to vanish as if it were an illusion. Ye Ming's vision returned to normal, and he only saw golden light and a faintly visible figure.

"Let's go."

Guilliman glanced at Ye Ming, then looked in the direction of the Golden Throne, signaling Ye Ming to follow him.

From the moment Guilliman appeared to the end of the battle, only a very short time had passed.

Therefore, it seems that all the victory and honor are attributed to Guilliman alone.

But in fact, the reason why this battle was won, and why it was won with minimal losses, was entirely due to the desperate fighting of Ye Ming, the Imperial Guard, and all the Astartes and mortal troops!

Guilliman's arrival was merely the final blow, eliminating the possibility of further fierce fighting.

Unfortunately, people only remember the Primarch's glorious and towering figure, forgetting the sacrifices of the ordinary people on the battlefield and the Astartes.

Of course, they don't have time to sing praises of the Primarchs right now.

Thick black smoke drifted everywhere outside the palace walls. The first step after killing the demon was to remove its influence. After that, effective incineration was required, followed by the use of a purification mark or a priest's prayer to eliminate the corrosive and corrupting power left by the demon's corpse.

Nowadays, everyone is busy.

Thanks to the orders of Marshal Trajan, those who had seen the demons were gathered together, but instead of being punished, they became workers on site, participating in the work of cleaning up the corpses.

Now that we've seen it, let's make full use of it and get them involved in the Astral Army so we can better control and supervise them.

Most importantly, it avoids wasting labor, and as Ye Ming often says, one should not condemn someone to death before anything has even happened!

Trajan had reservations about this; he was willing to try, but he didn't necessarily agree with it.

He loves and cares about humanity, so it's good for him to avoid harming them.

But the corruption of evil cannot be judged by ordinary people's perspectives and morals. Any attempt to deal with it in advance is a desperate measure born of desperation.

Trajan's orders were difficult to carry out effectively and were instead carried out through a few allies who held seats in the High Lords' Council.

This feeling made him feel restricted and very uncomfortable!

"A whole day has passed, and they still haven't come out? Time waits for no one—"

Trajan looked worried. He glanced at the star map and intelligence in his hand, then looked towards the palace, hoping that the two figures would reappear.

A full day has passed since Killieman took Ye Ming away.

After completing the cleanup, the soldiers of the expeditionary force stood solemnly and attentively outside the throne room once again, silently awaiting their leader.

Meanwhile, the believers who witnessed the return of the Primarch and the reappearance of the Living Saint wept with excitement and then began to pray fervently, crowding towards the palace.

They surged forward, eager to see the true face of the original and to receive the glory of the living saint.

The impoverished pilgrims crawled to Captain Sicarius, Grand Master Vodes, and every combat monk, offering their meager offerings and countless words of praise.

On the contrary, it was the living saint Celestine who was always enthusiastically spreading blessings to everyone.

As thick smoke billowed into the sky and the sun gradually set, people could only barely tell the passage of time by the dimming of the candlesticks and the lamps held by the servants.

But the believers showed no sign of leaving.

A group of people gathered near the dim light source, silently praying for the Primarch without stopping, until the State Religion servants forcibly brought the bowls of porridge to their mouths, allowing them to rest briefly.

Those who were truly unable to continue simply lay down fully clothed on makeshift sleeping mats made from tattered monks' robes, seizing the opportunity to rest.

On this night, songs of praise filled the air and prayers lingered on.

As the morning prayers rang out once more and the lumens shone brightly, the doors to the throne room finally opened!

This time, what poured out of the gate was a thin mist with a golden glow, shimmering and hazy, like the remnants of last night's moonlight.

In the golden and silver glow, Robert Guilliman and Ye Ming, who had removed his helmet, stepped out.

The two, one after the other, with inscrutable expressions, strode down the heavenly steps and returned to the warriors.

And with their appearance, the golden light was rekindled!

The light of the Emperor's starlight shone once more over Terra, and the Emperor's radiance once again spread throughout the entire galaxy!

"O Primitive One! Great, sacred, and noble Primitive One! Grant us enlightenment!"

Amidst the shock and fear, a cry suddenly erupted, pleading for enlightenment from the Primarch.

They knelt in fervor and shouted wildly.

That expression made Ye Ming feel uncomfortable, causing him inner turmoil and pain.

Humans need faith. People become steadfast because of their trust in faith, courageous because of their steadfastness in faith, and fanatical because of their courage.

But this is the source of human power in this world!

However, one should not be fanatical about a specific person, nor should one place all one's hopes on a particular individual!

Guilliman glanced around, ignoring them completely. He gathered his warriors and instructed Guilliman and the others to accompany him.

As he stepped out of the palace, his first order was issued: "All high lords, Terran lords, nobles, and officials of all departments, assemble in the Senate Hall!"

"I will announce the Emperor's decree; those who fail to arrive by the appointed time will be punished for disobeying the order!"

Guilliman's order was tantamount to throwing a massive boulder into a calm lake.

An endless wave swept in, causing a massive upheaval to ripple outwards from the royal palace and the capital city throughout Terra!

Guilliman summoned the High Lords of Terra and officials from various departments, then waited quietly in the solemn council chamber with the Ultramarines and the Expeditionary Force.

The High Lords received the summons and set off with trepidation. Although they were unwilling to relinquish their power, they dared not disobey the orders from the Primarch.

Because when Guilliman and Ye Ming reappeared, the Emperor's Starlight was rekindled!

Even if Guilliman and Ye Ming were unwilling to admit it, they did indeed possess the divine light of the Emperor and the endless burning flames of the Emperor!

Guilliman stood on the high platform, his eyes, full of wisdom and profound perception, calmly sweeping over everyone.

Every high lord, lord, and official who arrived at the council hall would come forward to pay homage to him.

Even those who were determined to oppose him had to admit the importance and sanctity of the Primarch!

If you don't come to pay your respects, it's disrespectful to the original body and the emperor's offspring!

Even without Killieman's intervention, their political enemies will find a way to bring them down tomorrow!

"Ye Ming, pay close attention to their expressions and movements. We can easily capture those subtle movements, and we can discover a lot from them."

Guilliman whispered instructions to Ye Ming, who was also learning attentively and observing everyone who came here.

For several days after Guilliman gave the order, he waited for the High Lords to arrive.

While receiving these people and granting them an audience, he had already begun preparations for the expedition!

Yes, from beginning to end, the opinions of the high lords were irrelevant.

Guilliman courted them and sought their opinions simply because he was a true aristocrat and a politician who cared about the people.

All the compromises he made were for the sake of a smoother expedition and to provide faster support to the fallen worlds!

He carefully explained the structure of the Terra Elders to Ye Ming, analyzing for him who was truly dedicated to humanity and the Emperor, and who might have been corrupted and misled by power.

He also introduced Ye Ming to the system he had previously established and explained its benefits.

The Senate of Terra has twelve seats.

Because certain bodies held such important positions that it would be unreasonable for their voices to be absent from the Senate, nine permanent seats were created.

They were selected from the Minister of the Interior, the Pope of the State Church, the Forging General, the Minister of Justice, the Navigator Ambassador, the Abbot of the Star Torch Academy, the Grand Instructor of the Assassin Court, the Abbot of the Star Language Court, and the representative of the Court of Judgment.

In addition to the nine permanent seats, there are three non-permanent seats, which are selected from the most powerful leaders of various imperial factions.

Roughly, they were selected from among the Sun Commander, the Commander-in-Chief of the Astral Army, the Imperial High Admiral, the Bishop of the State Church of Terra, the Sisters of Battle, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Archives Minister, and the Charter Captain's Spokesperson.

While explaining, Guilliman himself was also recalling—

The Highlord Council was originally a twelve-member Senate he founded after returning to Terra following the Horus Rebellion, carrying on the legacy of Imperial Chancellor Macado.

Each seat is given to a highly skilled expert or the leader of an imperial organization.

They all have their own positions, and each person checks and balances the others. They can always put forward different views and opinions on a certain issue, ensuring that a resolution is not easily issued.

This method was very effective during the Primarch's lifetime. Even during the Guilliman Expedition, it ensured that Terra and the entire Imperium of Man operated effectively, guaranteeing that every step taken by the Imperium of Man was the result of careful consideration.

But during the ten thousand years of Guilliman’s temporary death, the Terra Senate began to change.

Rebellion, dictatorship, inefficiency, stagnation—all the ills that can be found in human history can be seen in them!

Guilliman is very dissatisfied with the current High Lords Council because while they appear stable, they actually lack the efficiency that a government agency should have!

However, there is one point that Killieman agrees with.

That is, there is no place for the Astartes, that is, the Space Marines, in the High Lords Council!

Ten thousand years ago, he intentionally prevented the Astartes, an important military force of the Empire, from having a place in the High Lords Council.

Apart from the first Grand Master of the Empire, Guilliman himself, the High Lords always kept the Space Marines out of power. Even when they were pressured by enemies to ask Space Marine leaders for personal help, they would quickly send them away afterward.

Guilliman himself believed, as stated in the Astartes, that the Space Marines were there to serve humanity, not to rule it.

But now, Guilliman must reform the highest authority of the entire empire!

Just as he and Ye Ming had thought, the current Imperial Senate, the council formed by the high lords, has lost the efficiency that a government institution should have.

High efficiency will be the key to the survival of the human empire in the dark years to come!

Unfortunately, there are many people on Terra who seem unwilling to relinquish their power.

And for these stubborn people, Guilliman will also show another side of himself—

"Is everyone here? Good, it seems you've maintained some efficiency."

Once everyone had arrived, Guilliman's calm voice rang out in the council chamber, and he then announced the appointment from the Emperor.

"I, Robert Guilliman, will once again assume the position of Supreme Commander of the Empire and serve as Regent, overseeing all affairs!"

When they heard that Guilliman had been appointed by the Emperor to once again become the Regent of the Empire, no one was actually surprised.

They began to silently ponder how to preserve their own rights in this chaotic situation.

While they were pondering this, Guilliman stood up.

In an instant, all the Ultra Warriors and Expeditionary Forces stood up, the clanging of their armor and the cocking of their weapons echoing through the council hall.

This made everyone's hearts leap into their throats, and they watched Killieman with bated breath.

Then, Killieman publicly announced his first resolution—

"The Empire is burning. The birth of the Great Rift has plunged the entire empire into chaos. The Emperor's people are constantly being invaded by Chaos. We must quickly organize an expeditionary force to reclaim the Empire's territory. Whoosh—"

It will annihilate all the enemies and traitors who have caused humanity to suffer!

After Killieman's voice fell silent, the entire council chamber fell silent.

No one expected that Guilliman's first task would be to mobilize resources for an expedition!

"I object!"

The first to stand up was Iltu Hermonteri, one of the twelve high lords of the empire and the current Minister of the Interior.

He regretted it as soon as he stood up, because he met the Primarch's cold gaze.

But he still mustered his courage and said, "My lord, Terra is currently facing a resource shortage, and the enemy seems to have already bypassed the solar system's defenses and entered the Throne World directly!"

"Launching an expedition now might leave the Throne World vulnerable, giving the enemy an opportunity to exploit the situation!"

As Yiltu Hermonteri spoke, as if he had convinced himself, he even stood up straight, looking righteous and awe-inspiring.

Guilliman gave him a deep look, not because of his opposition, nor because of his attitude.

Rather, it's because he is the "role model" that Ye Ming chose!

"My lord, in this critical situation, we cannot launch another expedition. Protecting the Emperor and the Imperial Capital is our top priority!"

"Yes, sir, please reconsider."

Seeing that the Primarch did not answer, many more lords and nobles stood up, and the voices of the crowd rose and fell. Many officials who were listening in also expressed their agreement at this moment.

But Guilliman merely swept his gaze across each of them indifferently; when the Primarch's gaze swept over them, none dared to meet his eyes.

"I am not discussing, I am informing."

Guilliman said, "I'm asking you how the specifics of the expedition should be arranged."

"But since you don't have any plans, then do as I say."

Meeting adjourned.

With that, Killieman stood up, turned, and left the hall.

Everyone looked at each other, but in the end they all looked at the huge army and could only leave in silence.

After leaving the conference hall, Killieman, along with Ye Ming, secretly met with the Marshal of the Imperial Guard.

"grown ups."

Trajan walked into the office, glanced at Ye Ming standing to the side, and then handed the star map and intelligence to Guilliman.

"This is a star map and intelligence that Sister Silent Tanao Areya seized during her battle with the Black Legion."

"My lord, the situation is urgent. Perhaps we should take special measures," Trajan said, offering a slightly more tactful response.

"Yes, you're right."

After reviewing the intelligence, Guilliman said gravely, "Abaddon wants to trap us in the solar system. We absolutely cannot let them succeed!"

"Trajan, send a small team to provide initial assistance. I will immediately mobilize a fleet; we must get out as quickly as possible!"

"Yes, sir!"

Tula was very happy; this was the second happiest thing that had happened to him during this period.

He carried Guilliman's secret orders, and subsequently with the tacit approval of the reformists and the Imperial Chancellor, who was wholeheartedly devoted to saving the country and fully supported Guilliman.

A strike team composed of the Silent Sisters and the Imperial Guard was dispatched, traveling aboard the Imperial Guard's high-speed warships, to leave Terra ahead of time to support Wallace.

Guilliman himself put aside all other affairs and personally organized an expeditionary fleet, preparing to personally support Wallerus.

This move was meant to tell those high lords who opposed him that he was the Imperial Regent personally appointed by the Emperor, and that no one could stop his will!