Sang Hongyang - Rise To Importance

Rise To Importance

Sang's skill at economic policy would only come into play during the middle of Emperor Wu's reign. By then the ongoing campaigns against the Xiongnu had drained the wealth built up by Emperor Wu's predecessors, and the state had entered a financial crisis. in 120 BC, the Minister of Agriculture Zheng Dangshi first proposed the state monopolies on iron and salt, recommending two powerful salt and iron magnates to join the government and manage the industry on the national scale. Sang Hongyang was then assigned to aid the magnates in their planning. With the success of the monopolies in alleviating the financial situation Sang eventually rose to become Assistant Minister of Agriculture.

As the Assistant Minister Sang soon implemented several more measures to refill the national coffers. These included an asset tax, payable by artisans, loaners, merchants, and owners of carriages and boats, which was calculated according to the amount of assets. Smallholders only needed to pay half the official rate of tax. At the same time laws were enacted, under which false reporting and concealment of assets was punishable by confiscation of assets and exile to the borders for a year. People were encouraged to report cases of concealment, since half the confiscated assets were awarded to the reporters.