Chapter 1012: Selecting Seedlings

Xiuluo Holy Star, Zhongyang Xingzheng Xueyuan, top-floor observation hall.

Behind the one-way glass curtain wall, Yingzhou's gaze swept calmly over the hundreds of students in the hall below who were writing busily at their desks.

Lu Zhenda stood beside Yingzhou, holding a Data Pad that displayed in real-time the progress of all the students' answers and excerpts of key responses.

"How is it, Lao Lu? This batch of seedlings, they look pretty good, don't they?"

Lu Zhenda swiped across the Data Pad and spoke.

"On the surface, yes. They can recite the Xiuluo Holy laws and regulations backward, they have economic models at their fingertips, and when it comes to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's policies, their slogans are louder than the next.

Judging solely by their written exam scores, picking any one of them to be a planetary Governor seems more than sufficient.

But the problem is, Yingzhou, exams test knowledge and logic, but governing a planet—especially those that have just joined, are in ruins, or have undercurrents surging—tests the human heart, willpower, and... in the face of temptation, just how tightly that string called 'Loyalty' can be pulled."

Yingzhou nodded in agreement.

The expansion of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's territory is only the first step; the key to ensuring that new territories can truly integrate into the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance system, rather than becoming new separatist forces and hotbeds of corruption, lies in these "frontier officials" about to be sent to various locations.

Ability is certainly important, but loyalty and the ability to resist corruption are of even greater importance.

"That is why we need to be here, before they step into their actual posts, to screen out those potential... unstable factors as much as possible.

See if they truly understand and identify with the fact that 'liberating all Human beings' is not an empty phrase, but a great cause that requires immense effort and sacrifice.

See if they possess the resolve to lead the masses toward the future we have planned, rather than being captured by local Rune Bullets, remnants of old forces, or their own greed."

Lu Zhenda nodded, his fingers pulling up the files and real-time test situations of several key candidates on the Data Pad.

"Here, look at this one, ID A-07. Theoretical scores are top-tier, and he has unique insights into resource allocation and urban planning.

But he has a few questions regarding 'how to handle relations with local traditional forces' where his answers are too idealistic, leaning toward unconditional compromise and integration, attempting to complete the transition 'without shedding a drop of blood.'

The idea is good, but in some deep-rooted old worlds, this weakness is likely to be exploited, eventually leading to the failure of the new policy, or even him being sidelined or corrupted."

Lu Zhenda pointed to another name; it was a female student whose grades were equally excellent, especially in her arguments regarding labor rights and industrial transformation.

"And this one, B-33. Her answer sheet is full of sympathy for the grassroots masses and criticism of the old exploiting classes; her stance seems very firm.

However... when assuming the planet she governs faces a conflict between important mineral export interests and strict environmental protection regulations, her choice reveals an obvious utilitarian tendency, leaning toward 'moderately relaxing' standards for short-term economic gain.

This shows that in the face of huge interest temptations and development pressure, her bottom line of principles may have elasticity."

Just then, the bell for the end of the written exam rang.

The students handed in their papers and left the exam hall one after another.

Next to the observation hall, in an interview room, Yingzhou and Lu Zhenda sat in the positions of the chief examiners.

One student after another was guided in to answer the questions posed by Yingzhou and Lu Zhenda.

Yingzhou's questions pointed directly at governance philosophy and the understanding of loyalty to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

"In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge in implementing the 'Xiuluo Basic Law' on a newly annexed planet with a complex mix of races and existing contradictions? How will you ensure the majesty of the law is not eroded by local customs or special interest groups?"

"When the overall strategic interests of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance conflict with the local development needs of your planet, how will you choose? What is your basis?"

"How do you understand 'liberating all Human beings'? Does it mean absolute exclusion of non-Human intelligent species? In concrete governance, how do you grasp this scale?"

Lu Zhenda's questions were even trickier.

"Suppose the planet you govern discovers a rich rare mineral vein, and a local great noble says that as long as you 'make things convenient' for the mining permit he is applying for, he is willing to 'donate' thirty percent of the proceeds to a 'development fund' you personally designate, and guarantees it will not violate the Imperium's overt laws. How would you handle this?"

"When you push a policy that touches upon vested interest groups, they incite some of the uninformed masses to protest in the streets, even creating violent incidents, attempting to force you to compromise.

What response strategy will you adopt? Is it forceful suppression, temporary concession, or something else?"

"If someone tells you that as long as you 'adjust slightly' some irrelevant data, you can make your performance report look incredibly bright, thereby gaining a chance for faster promotion, would you be tempted?"

The students' answers were varied.

The interviews lasted for a long time.

After the last student left, the interview room returned to silence.

Lu Zhenda stretched and sighed.

"The forest is truly big enough for all kinds of birds. There are those with real talent and firm beliefs, those who are talented but need their character tempered, and those who seem honest but cannot withstand scrutiny... It is not easy to find a few talents who can truly be trusted to be sent out to take charge of a side."

Yingzhou's gaze fell on the files of the final selected candidates, his finger tapping lightly on one of them.

That was a student whose performance in the written exam and interview was not the most dazzling, but who always maintained a firm stance and clear thinking, especially when facing the various "temptations" and "pressure" tests set by Lu Zhenda, answering with reason and evidence, neither humble nor pushy, and always placing the Xiuluo laws and the long-term interests of the masses first.

"In governing a planet, ability can be cultivated and experience can be accumulated, but the belief in loyalty and the resolve to resist corruption are the foundation. If the foundation is not firm, the greater the ability, the greater the potential harm."

Yingzhou looked up at Lu Zhenda.

"Focus on investigating these few. Arrange for them to enter Selina's 'True Sandbox' simulation program, and let them handle several extremely complex situations that typical newly annexed planets might encounter in a highly realistic environment.

At the same time, I want to know their true performance when facing pressure and temptation."

"Understood. Rest assured, Yingzhou. The territory of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance needs capable officials to govern, but what it needs even more are loyal guards who will never betray the Emperor's will.

I will guard this pass to ensure that every 'seed' sent out can take root and sprout in strange soil, growing into a towering tree that supports the Human great cause, rather than... rotting as a woodworm."

"Mm, thank you for your hard work."