Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 1379 - 784: What a Load of Crap_2
Chapter 1379: Chapter 784: What a Load of Crap_2
The Yinbasim family has always been one of the supporters behind Qi Bodu.
Such a future star of the family being killed by Gu Hang, with his insincere words of ’regret’, is truly outrageous!
Moreover, the following content is even more significant.
Gu Hang just forcibly froze Jon Curtis’s representative rights, severely undermining the political agreement made fifteen years ago when Gu Hang secured the position of High Lord with Qi Bodu.
But luckily, it’s only frozen and not canceled. The forty-day penance ceremony, although uncomfortable and humiliating, will pass quickly. Furthermore, while Mr. Curtis will lose face and cannot continue as the representative, Gu Hang has given Qi Bodu the nomination rights for the next representative, letting him bring the list for Gu Hang to conduct a formality, and the appointee will still be Qi Bodu’s person.
This indicates that things haven’t reached a breaking point.
However, the mention of transport ships and the Qi Family’s name cannot help but stir imagination.
Especially considering the recent turmoil in the Empire’s political scene, a ’Lingze Star Trade List’ has surfaced, listing many participants in arbitrage trade founded on the Imperial Tax between the Alliance and the Empire.
Normal arbitrage trade, although causing losses to the Imperial Central Tax Department, can’t be stopped because the taxation is legal. The Alliance finally pays the full tax. The goods they deliver to Lingze Star were never stated to be tax-exempt. Business is done here, profits earned by the Alliance, and they pay the tax; who can argue against that?
Before settling with the Empire’s tax officials, this cargo belongs to the Alliance. They can trade however they want, as long as they meet the settlement with sufficient real goods or tax coins.
However, after settlement, these things are confirmed to be part of the Imperial Tax. At that point, using these already taxed real goods or tax coins for arbitrage trade becomes questionable in legality.
Even if after a round of trades, the submitted items remain adequate, the nature of it becomes inappropriate.
Not to mention the possibility that the things returned may not be sufficient; even if they are, the quality might not meet standards.
This is grey market arbitrage trade.
And it has nothing to do with the Alliance.
Grey trade occurs with the Imperial Tax, after the Alliance completes the transaction, so naturally, the Alliance doesn’t have to be responsible for it.
Theoretically, this matter could even be done on Holy Terra, not necessarily on Lingze Star.
It’s just that doing it on Holy Terra would be too conspicuous. On Lingze Star, under the cover of large-scale funds and goods movement from normal arbitrage trade, it’s more concealed.
A few weeks ago, a wave of public opinion about grey arbitrage trade suddenly emerged on Holy Terra, naming some families, forces, and individuals involved in grey arbitrage trade.
No evidence was mentioned, but the topics discussed matched the actual situation completely.
The Qi Family was included in this.
Qi Bodu himself is aware, but turns a blind eye.
Not only is his family making money, but he is also making money.
Although he’s the Imperial Prime Minister, the Empire’s money isn’t his money.
Let alone for personal use, even for certain imperial affairs, it’s not his decision alone. Investing more funds and resources in a direction he wants requires fighting and balancing on the political stage. Not only balancing externally, but factions within his subordinates also need equilibrium. If he insists forcibly, he could, with his power, but it would cost him political capital. Overused, people might not respect him as much in the future.
But if it’s his own money, that problem doesn’t exist; he can spend it as he wishes.
However, it’s still grey or even illegal income; conducting it in secret is one thing, but exposing it to the public is another.
Certainly, right now, no one in the public opinion field is presenting decisive evidence, allowing the parties involved in grey arbitrage trade time to suppress the narrative. However, undeniably, those who initiated the public opinion could likely be holding solid evidence.
If exposed, it would be a major incident.
It’s unlikely Qi Bodu would be forced to step down, but surely the incident would become a tool for opposing factions, leading to him being severely criticized and potentially paying a significant price.
Add this to Gu Hang mentioning the Eastern Cosmos Domain’s Imperial Tax, which, under Yinbasim’s manipulation, went to the Qi Family’s warehouse, a matter of 15 billion worth of goods; this is not merely grey, but outright treason by stealing Imperial Tax.
Qi Bodu can suppress it, but it would hurt him deeply.
What does the Alliance intend to do with all this?
Do they think they can threaten me with this?
Gu Hang is practically playing with fire!
Does he not realize that the reason the Alliance can exist so openly is all because of me, because of the great Prime Minister, supporting them!
Outside, there are countless who want to crush the Alliance and benefit greatly!
Now, you dare to defy me, boldly threatening me, just because there’s some noise from the Central Empire about taxing the Alliance?
Unbelievable!
Qi Bodu is practically exploding with anger!
“Prime Minister, I think…”
After a lengthy silence, it was Galaraldo who spoke first.
However, just as he started, Qi Bodu cut him off:
“Shut up!”
Everyone knew that Galaraldo had a good relationship with Gu Hang. What he would say would likely be heavily biased towards the Alliance, wouldn’t it?
Galaraldo firmly shut his mouth.
But his expression was not overly grim.
He believed that certain words would be spoken by others even if he remained silent.
Qi Bodu pointed someone out: “Luo Fei, you speak first.”
Luo Fei cleared his throat twice with a serious expression.
“The urgent task is to address the situation in the Eastern Cosmos Domain first.”
“A new Cosmic Domain Chair needs to be quickly established. We can’t allow the current situation, where the Alliance dominates, to persist. Gu Hang, and that letter of notice from Cui Ru, sound great, but every day this drags on, the Alliance’s influence over the Eastern Cosmos Domain through economic and cultural means, and through the audacious usurpation of High Lord authority by Gu Hang, will deepen.”
“The relevant appointment list, accompanying personnel, and organizational structure are already under consideration, ready to be presented shortly. For officials dispatched to the Eastern Cosmos Domain, we will have a series of requirements. Lessons from the previous failure of Yinbasim need to be learned; fighting the Alliance requires more intelligent tactics, avoiding rash actions…”
“Stop!”
Luo Fei immediately clamped his mouth shut.
“You think you’re delivering this kind of formal talk in front of me?”
Luo Fei shook his head vigorously: “No, no…”
“Is this all the measures I want? In comparison to the shame the Alliance has brought to the Central Empire, these measures are negligible! I am greatly disappointed, are you indulging the Alliance?”
“Uh… we could also denounce Gu Hang’s atrocities against the Li Guang Sword Battle Group, and report it to the Infinite Corps…”
“Alright, alright.” Qi Bodu, quite disappointed, waved his hand and pointed to another person, “Xu Fuzhen, you speak.”
The female Prime Minister from the Department of Taxation, who was called upon, straightened her clothes as if she was prepared: “We could impose tax demands on the temporary government of the Eastern Cosmos Domain, requiring them to guarantee a delivery no less than the previous tax standard. Meanwhile, we could exert more pressure on the Alliance, demanding an additional tax of 3 trillion, 500 billion more than the previous demand of 2.5 trillion, as punitive taxation.”
Disappointment was even more evident in Qi Bodu’s eyes.
“Selling the Eastern Cosmos Domain to the Alliance for a trillion a year? Xu Fuzhen, the threat from the Alliance is imminent, and you still only focus on the money?”
