Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

The vigorous reform movement was in full swing, seemingly sweeping away the gloom and ushering in a period of revival.

Seeing the court filled with voices supporting the reforms, the fifteen-year-old Zhao Huan felt as if the halo of a wise ruler had been placed upon his head.

The restorer of China – what a resounding title!

"Your Majesty, this is the total amount of land in various places that I have compiled over the past few days. Please take a look."

"I trust you completely with your work, Your Majesty. Just go ahead and do it your way."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."

Inside the imperial study, the two, the Sleeping Dragon and the Young Phoenix, were truly radiant, exchanging glances like an adulterous couple, as if they had discovered the meaning of life.

Zhao Huan didn't even bother to glance at the tax reform proposal submitted by Ye Fan, leaving it entirely to Ye Fan to implement.

At this time, half a month had passed since the date of the reform.

Ye Fan also successfully collected his first commercial tax from the merchants in Bianjing, a total of 76,000 taels of silver, which was 3,500 taels more than last month.

Although three thousand five hundred taels is not much, the growth rate is quite considerable. Moreover, this is just the beginning, and everything will develop in a good direction.

"Brother Yu, I forgot to tell you, I've already taken care of things at the Ministry of War. Take a look at the official positions appointed at all levels, are you satisfied with them?"

Zhao Huan took out an appointment document and handed it to Ye Fan.

Ye Fan glanced at it and frowned slightly.

"What's wrong, Your Majesty? Is there something you're not satisfied with? I can have them make changes."

Ye Fan shook his head: "Your Majesty misunderstands. I have no objection to the Ministry of War's arrangements, but why are my master and junior sister not appointed?"

Zhao Huan was taken aback: "Brother Yu, women are forbidden in the army. Even if Fairy Langyue's cultivation is extraordinary, she cannot violate the ancestral rules of the Song Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but since it is a reform, it should be thorough. My master is at the Immortal Realm."

One man could be worth a thousand soldiers; if such a person couldn't even hold a military post, how could he possibly stand against the Jurchens?

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan frowned deeply, then explained with a troubled expression, "What you say, Brother Yu, is true, but..."

"If women are allowed to serve in the military, I fear it will cause a huge uproar, and then it will be difficult to control."

Ye Fan: "Your Majesty is acting for the sake of the Song Dynasty, so why care about those idle gossips? When the Jin people are defeated by the Song Dynasty in the future..."

All problems will be easily solved. At that time, the entire Song Dynasty will only praise Your Majesty's wisdom and be called the restorer of the dynasty.

After being praised by Ye Fan, Zhao Huan suddenly understood.

"Yes, my reforms are for the sake of the country and its people, so why should I care about what others think? Very well, I will make the arrangements now."

"As an Immortal Realm martial artist, Fairy Langyue should be granted the rank of Army Commander. The other female disciples should also be granted corresponding military ranks. I will issue the decree tomorrow."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ye Fan breathed a sigh of relief.

In this way, he would have control of the Song Dynasty's military power, but if he wanted to further enhance his prestige and gain recognition from the Song court and the public, he would need to achieve some military exploits.

Therefore, he set his sights on Xiangzhou Prefecture, which was occupied by the Jin army, and planned to take it over in one fell swoop when he found a suitable opportunity.

By then, he would have firmly established himself in the State of Song.

Just then, a eunuch rushed into the imperial study: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

Zhao Huan was having a pleasant conversation with Ye Fan when he was interrupted and immediately became furious: "What's all the noise about? Can't you see that I'm discussing state affairs with Imperial Censor Ye?"

The eunuch knelt on the ground and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, a large number of people have suddenly gathered outside the imperial city. They are all villagers from the suburbs."

"Village?"

Zhao Huan and Ye Fan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of confusion in each other's eyes.

"What are those villagers doing outside the imperial city?"

"This old servant does not know, but I vaguely heard them say that this year's summer tax will be three or four times higher than usual. They are unable to afford it and can only come to the capital to ask His Majesty for an explanation."

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan immediately turned his head and said, "Impossible! My reforms are primarily aimed at benefiting the people. When did I ever say I would increase taxes for them? You must have misheard!"

Zhao Huan also said, "Yes, Imperial Censor Ye's reforms are for the benefit of the country and the people, so how could they increase the burden on the common people?"

"This old servant is also unsure, but the villagers causing trouble outside the imperial city is undeniable. I beg Your Majesty to decide how to deal with it."

"This……"

Zhao Huan hesitated for a moment, as he was really not good at handling such matters.

Upon seeing this, Ye Fan immediately said to the eunuch, "Please lead the way, sir, so that I may take a look and verify the truth."

After saying this, he pulled up the eunuch, and without even bowing to Zhao Huan, immediately rode towards the palace wall of the imperial city.

"I will go and take a look too."

Zhao Huan hurriedly followed Ye Fan out of the imperial study.

……

"Refuse to pay taxes, oppose reform!"

"Refuse to pay taxes, oppose reform!"

Standing on the palace wall and looking out, one can see that the area outside the palace gate is densely packed with people.

The young farmer at the head of the group led the protest loudly, and with each shout, a wave of cheers rose behind him.

This scene terrified Zhao Huan, who trembled all over and didn't know how to handle it.

Ye Fan also frowned, eager to know what had happened.

He immediately ordered his men to summon the young farmer who was leading the group to the palace wall for questioning.

"Aren't you afraid of going to jail for causing trouble in front of the palace with so many of you?"

Upon hearing Ye Fan's question, the young farmer blushed and retorted, "We're barely surviving, what's there to be afraid of about going to jail?"

"Tell me, what's going on?"

"What's going on? Don't you officials know?" The young farmer was agitated, glaring at Ye Fan. "Originally, we paid 10% of the produce as tax each year!"

But now, we have to pay 30% to 40% in taxes. Do you really think we have any way to survive?

Ye Fan frowned: "Speak properly. What exactly happened? The imperial court hasn't increased taxes."

The young farmer roared, "I don't know which bastard came up with this law that requires gentry to pay taxes as well!"

Now things are much better; the land belonging to those local gentry has been distributed among us as well.

My family only has twenty acres of poor land, yet we have to pay taxes to those local gentry. Isn't this designed to make it impossible for us to survive?

"What did you say?!"

Ye Fan was furious upon hearing this.

"The new tax policy stipulates one tax per household per plot of land. Each household pays tax on the amount of land it owns. How can you farmers be expected to share the tax equally?"

"Yes, that makes sense, but it's already happened. What do you suggest we do? Master Tao's family owns over four thousand acres of land."

Now their land is distributed equally among all the farmers in the nearby villages.

He doesn't have to pay a single penny of tax. May I ask what you officials are thinking?

Why change things all of a sudden? You'll only be satisfied if you change things to the point where we rebel!

The young farmer was clearly very angry, and he spoke without any restraint, saying whatever came to mind.

After all, if they really had to pay 30-40% of their income in taxes every year, the only way out for the whole family of seven would be to starve to death.

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan immediately became anxious.

He thought to himself: "Good, so that's why the reforms went so smoothly, with no one in the court opposing them. So that's how they were playing this trick on me, huh? Okay, I'll remember that."