The former had the Hall of Punishment behind it, giving it just cause, but raising commercial taxes had no banner of righteousness to fly. It was bound to face one obstacle after another.
Reforming commercial taxes was far more difficult than reforming the judiciary.
Because commercial taxes meant snatching food from the mouths of every lineage and even every aristocratic clan in Jing Kingdom.
With Jing Kingdom's current methods of taxation and financial condition, if commercial taxes were not reformed, it would not last five years.
But if commercial taxes were reformed and mishandled, it might not even last three years.
Whether he had reformed the Ministry of Personnel or the judiciary before, Fang Yun had never touched the fundamental interests of the various factions. Commercial tax reform was different—it was cutting out the flesh closest to their hearts.
Without sufficient exchanges of benefit, the major factions would certainly not let the matter rest.
On Saint Origin Continent, true great merchants were all scholars. Either those merchants belonged to great lineages themselves, or powerful clans, wealthy households, or aristocratic clans stood behind them.
Increasing taxes was, in truth, taking money from the pockets of Jing Kingdom's scholars.
This was far more difficult than hollowing out imperial power.
After all, the Sage Aristocratic Clans were involved as well.
Therefore, Fang Yun did not force the matter forward as he had with the reforms of the Ministry of Personnel and the judiciary. Instead, he first established the General Taxation Office, completed its framework and system, and only then planned to proceed further.
The establishment of the General Taxation Office did not draw much attention. On the surface, it merely sorted out tax collection, increased the number of tax officials, and ensured taxes could be collected smoothly. It did not touch the core