Qian Dai continued, "As for commercial taxes, Wei's tax rate on merchants was relatively low, only one in thirty. However, even with such a low tax rate, merchants would use various means to evade taxes, resulting in the actual amount collected being far lower than expected. This situation has affected the state's fiscal revenue to a certain extent."
Qian Dai then elaborated on the salt and liquor taxes: "Your Majesty, salt and liquor taxes are taxes levied on specific commodities. This year, Wei suffered a double blow from the Xiongnu invasion and natural disasters such as floods. Wei's grain reserves were already tight, and there was no way to spare any extra grain for brewing. Therefore, this year's liquor tax revenue is almost zero."
Qian Dai then added: "Your Majesty, regarding the salt tax, although it is profitable, the management of refined salt is authorized by Your Majesty to the Censorate. Currently, the Ministry of Revenue is not directly involved in its management activities.
The production and regulation of refined salt fell under the responsibility of the Censorate, while the ministers were responsible for its distribution. Due to the unique nature of the refined salt business, the Ministry of Revenue did not include it in the regular tax system, and therefore it was not reflected in the national treasury accounts. Your Majesty, I implore you to examine this matter."
After carefully listening to Qian Dai's detailed report, Chu Fan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of helplessness. He hadn't known the treasury's financial situation was so dire, and what surprised him even more was that this deficit was actually related to him.
Chu Fan had asked the Censorate to hand over the vast majority of the net profit from refined salt to the Imperial Treasury. This decision, while enriching his own treasury, had an unexpected consequence.
Since the profits from refined salt were almost entirely taken by the Imperial Treasury, the Ministry of Revenue became extremely passive financially and did not even dare to easily request taxation from the Censorate. As a result, the financial situation of the national treasury naturally became increasingly tense. After learning of this situation, Chu Fan could not help but reflect deeply on his decision.
Chu Fan reflected: I have become so selfish, why don't you, the Minister of Revenue, lead a rebellion and overthrow my rule?
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