Chapter 967 - 448: Utterly Horrific Hell
The young master of Yin Zhou, Fang Qingyi, found himself in a state of acute distress!
After several years of political corruption, the Rage Wave Kingdom’s subordinate provinces, counties, and noble territories have greatly reduced their tax contributions to the royal household, and collection has become increasingly difficult.
This was to be expected as the weakening of central authority invariably results in local powers becoming bold and aggressive.
Especially over the last two years, with the rise of Suo Lun, Zhi Li had to seek support from nobles and lords, thus giving local forces even more impudence.
Many properties belonging to the royal household were infiltrated by the Hidden Yuan Association, turning them into breeding grounds for corruption among the aristocracy and officials.
In normal times, the kingdom’s annual tax revenue plus the income from royal enterprises used to be around 2.6 million Gold Coins. How much actually ends up in the royal coffers now? Truly, only heaven knows.
Therefore, the monthly operational expenses of the kingdom are now being covered by Zhi Li signing off loans from the Royal Treasury, which in turn borrows from the Hidden Yuan Association.
In Fang Qingyi’s view, cutting off Rage Wave Kingdom’s financial roots should force Suo Lun to compromise.
However, Suo Lun did not compromise.
Next, Fang Qingyi threatened to reveal the true magnitude of the kingdom’s deficit, to blow open this volcanic crater.
Still, Suo Lun did not compromise.