Through the virtual image of the Star Speech phone, Gu Hang saw the astonishnt on Osenia's face and said discontentedly, "What kind of expression is that?"
"Uh... Nothing, I'm just waiting to hear the next brilliant remarks from you, Governor."
The corner of Gu Hang's mouth twitched, and he decided not to stoop to Osenia's level, explaining patiently, "Doing sothing similar to the Fury Fla Battle Group is not sothing we can afford to do. They have many reasons for intercepting Imperial Tax, but the main part still lies in claiming that the Green Skins on various planets in their control zone have not been completely eliminated, necessitating significant investnts, and thus they demand unilateral tax reductions or substitutions in lieu of tax."
"Of course, that's illegal because theoretically, the Green Skin threat on each planet is the responsibility of the local governnt of those planets to resolve. Even if combat is conducted in the na of the Star Domain Governnt, the only portion they can legitimately retain is what the original Star Domain Governnt was able to keep. But the amount intercepted by the Fury Fla Battle Group far exceeds what a normal Star Domain Governnt would be allowed to retain. This greatly offends the higher-level governnt while also damaging their reputation."
"We have to differentiate ourselves from the Fury Fla Battle Group; we cannot be the sa as them in this regard, or else we beco tarred with the sa brush."
Osenia nodded, indicating her understanding, but she also said, "I understand what you're saying, but... the cost of bearing the 76 billion Tax Currency plus collection and transportation ourselves is still too steep. If we go by that figure, it could impact our current four-year plan."
Gu Hang agreed with Osenia's point.
Imperial Tax is for the Empire, but parting with so much cash is always done reluctantly, especially when the numbers are so vast.
76 billion... that's almost enough to build one and a half Holy Grail Class Battleship Cruisers!
"So, we need to think of so other thods," Gu Hang said. "I've discussed this with the Space Domain Governnt; they are of course happy for us to do this since a large amount of wealth would flow directly to them, skipping the Star Domain Governnt altogether. Chairman Zuo is also aware that if the Dragonhawk Star Domain gets the taxes, most of it will end up in Furyfla's hands, and there won't be much left to deliver."
"Next, I will talk to the Space Domain Governnt again. Since they are reaping such large benefits, it's only fair that they share so of the costs. I'm fairly confident they should agree."
After pondering for a while, Osenia asked, "Is there a chance to get a direct tax reduction? To deduct the costs right at our step."
"It should be possible."
"That would indeed relieve quite a bit of pressure."
"Moreover, we don't really need to transport so many resources all the way to Wuji Star ourselves. I've spoken with the Space Domain Governnt and the governnt of the neighboring East Adjoining Starfield. We can deliver the materials directly to Abundant Spirit Star, and they can transfer them."
"That would save a considerable amount of ti and costs!"
It was all legal and legitimate to do so.
When collecting Imperial Tax, large amounts of physical materials would never actually be transported all the way to Holy Terra and handed over to the Central Empire, then distributed according to need to various Cosmos Domains, Star Domains, and Star Sectors. The wear and tear on the road would be imnse.
Transportation costs would indeed decrease significantly with scale; however, even then, such a large base figure requires a substantial number of ships, which wouldn't be used for anything else, and the fuel costs for the trip were extrely high.
Such a degree of waste is sothing even the Empire can't bear.
It was for this reason that the Empire's thod of handling Imperial Tax allowed the Star Domain and Space Domain Governnts to retain a portion; the remainder that goes to the central authorities would not actually all be transported to Holy Terra. So would be distributed in accordance with the Empire's current strategic objectives to the areas in need, while the rest would establish storage worlds within various Cosmos Domains for resource storage.
The costs generated in these processes are usually borne by the Imperial System. The Alliance now handling the transfer of tax duties effectively replaced part of the Star Domain Governnt's functions, so they could naturally require that these costs not be borne by themselves.
However, this situation was sowhat unreasonable.
The Star Domain Governnt is theoretically still in existence; is it your turn, Alliance, to pay taxes directly to the top?
If the Space Domain Governnt stood by the Star Domain Governnt and rejected your taxes submitted out of turn, then it would be all over.
That is, in fact, the most likely scenario to occur. The Star Domain Governnt is an official subordinate of the Space Domain Governnt with a direct affiliation under normal circumstances. The Space Domain Governnt would not normally accept taxes paid directly by a local power within a Star Domain.
It was only due to the exceptional circumstances of the Dragonhawk Star Domain and the implications from Zuo Zhaofeng, the Cosmic Domain Chair, facilitated by Galaraldo, that this could be arranged.
And it wasn't just arranged.
"I will also talk to Chairman Zuo later. After all, we are currently in a state of war, and we indeed have assud half of the Star Domain Governnt's responsibilities. Accordingly, we should also be able to receive a part of the appropriations for the Star Domain Governnt. Getting the standard 30% might be difficult, but 20% should be fair."
"However, the thod of retention can't be for to keep it directly. We still have to give it up, and then the Space Domain Governnt will provide the funding. Osenia, you need to be prepared to receive it accordingly."
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