Chapter 1101: Chapter 77: Stirring the Winds and Clouds Single-Handedly! Lord Meng Defects
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"Absurd, this is absolutely absurd." Prince Dexin erupted in fury upon hearing that the old codger Desun was trying to drag him down together, saying, "Desun, you’re tainting the dignity and honor of the Imperial Family!"
"Dexin, what’s got you all riled up?" Prince Desun cast a sideways glance at his old rival and sneered coldly, "Since our ancestor Emperor Ziwei Xuandu founded Daqian, the principle has been shared governance between the Imperial Family and Noble Family. Why can Noble Families inspect taxes, but we, the Imperial Family, cannot? Could it be, Prince Dexin’s Mansion is indeed guilty of some serious tax evasion?"
In Daqian, all farmlands and industries must pay taxes according to regulations.
The Imperial Family has numerous Prince’s Mansions, each one a massive entity with vast estates and various industries under its name.
These industries are semi-independent, managed by each mansion, with their output reserved for their own use. For example, the White Cloud Tower under Prince Heng’s name is such an asset.
Additionally, the Imperial Family has various Imperial Manors.
These manors are clan assets shared by the entire Imperial Family, managed and operated centrally by the Royal Ancestral Mansion, primarily used for basic support for most of the Royal Race and subsidies for outstanding offspring of the Royal Family.
For instance, the support for Your Majesty, aside from the national tax support, is partially provided by the Royal Ancestral Mansion.
No matter whether it’s the semi-independent industries by the Prince’s Mansions or the clan assets controlled by the Royal Ancestral Mansion, according to Daqian’s system, they must pay taxes, just like other Noble Families, without exception.
This rule was set by the Founding Emperor Emperor Ziwei Xuandu in imitation of the Immortal Dynasty.
After all, if the Imperial Family were exempt from taxes, countless smaller Noble Families would attach their industries to the Imperial Family’s name in exchange for offering thirty to fifty percent of the payable tax as a return, naturally there would be plenty of cash-strapped royals willing to accept this attachment. Over time, all industry belonging to Noble Families would end up under the Royal Family’s name.
Moreover, if the Imperial Family were tax-exempt, how could industries from other Noble Families compete with Imperial Family industries? They couldn’t even rival them on cost alone. Eventually, wouldn’t all industries belong to the Imperial Family?
If this model were adopted, leaving aside whether Noble Families would still want to play along with the Imperial Family, if all industries were tax-free under the Imperial Family, where would tax revenue come from?
Noble Families might as well sell off their possessions and go to the Immortal Dynasty to buy land and live.
This kind of national structure would collapse within a few years.
Therefore, taxing Imperial Family industries is an extremely crucial aspect of Daqian’s tax revenue. That’s why Prince Desun spoke with such justified authority.
The face of Prince Dexin darkened instantly, and he became somewhat anxious inside.
As a prince, how could he not know the state of his mansion’s industries?
Taking advantage of the fact that no one dared inspect, his industry’s taxation side engaged in quite a bit of falsification over the years. Though he hadn’t calculated the specific figures, he could imagine the loopholes were significant.
Moreover, as the saying goes, "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked," naturally, the situation of Prince Dexin’s offspring and those in the Prince and Prince’s Mansions wouldn’t be much better.
If there’s a thorough inspection of the taxes, who knows what kind of turmoil it might cause?
"Your Majesty." Prince Dexin turned to look at Emperor Longchang, speaking with sorrow and anger, "To support Prince Anjun’s ascension, Prince Desun has truly spared no means. It’s right at the moment when my Dexin lineage is about to assist Prince Kang in formulating an entire strategy for the Southern Border expedition that he incites a tax inspection, clearly intending to disrupt our plans and drag us down."
His line of Princes, and those Noble Families unwilling to have their taxes inspected, echoed in agreement, accusing Prince Desun of disregarding national strategy by setting obstacles for Prince Kang at this crucial moment.
Even if taxes are to be inspected, it wouldn’t be too late to wait until Prince Kang’s triumphant return.
Prince Desun sneered, "You’re going to formulate plans for the Southern Border expedition, just go ahead and do so; inspecting taxes has no conflict or contradiction with this matter at all. Lord Meng Yuanbai and his team have ample tax experience and can thoroughly and clearly inspect without troubling the Prince’s Mansions."
"Your Majesty." Duke Yinda Ancestor also spoke with righteousness, "Prince Dexin and his line are evading, finding excuses and reasons to avoid tax inspection, making it difficult for me not to suspect they have significant issues with taxation. Perhaps it’s already rotten to the core."
"Moreover, how crucial is the strategic plan for the Southern Border expedition? If Grand Marshal of the Expedition cannot even manage tax obligations without loopholes, how can one believe he has the ability and qualifications to oversee the grand plan for the Southern Border expedition? Perhaps, Dexin’s lineage proposed the plan only intending to make a fortune from the war."
"Based on the aforementioned points, this old minister proposes that both Prince Kang’s Mansion and Prince Anjun’s Mansion undergo tax verification simultaneously. Should Prince Kang’s Mansion tax discrepancy not exceed twenty percent, no, thirty percent! As long as it doesn’t exceed thirty percent, I, Wang Yinda, will be the first to support Prince Kang as Grand Marshal of the Expedition for the Southern Border."
At this time, Emperor Longchang, seated on the throne, had lost his early impatience and casual demeanor, his brows slightly furrowed, his face cold, and his gaze restrained, making it almost impossible for anyone to discern his thoughts.
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