The reform suddenly initiated by Fang Yuan quickly replaced his legendary deeds of slaughtering across the Ice Plains, becoming the new hot topic. It spread like wildfire, becoming the subject of constant conversation in the streets, alleys, teahouses, and taverns.
The response from the common folk was extremely enthusiastic. Whenever the new ruler was mentioned, they praised him endlessly, and they warmly welcomed the new policies from the bottom of their hearts.
However, amidst their excitement, a slight sense of worry lingered. The word "official" might sound impressive in theory, but when it came to implementation, the reality often looked very different.
The emperor's intentions might be good, but how could one guarantee that the new policies would not go awry, with so many layers between the imperial court and the people?
They were full of hope, yet also fearful that their hopes would be dashed.
The attitude of other social classes in the Summer Kingdom was entirely different, and it could even be said that it caused a huge uproar.
The bureaucrats and wealthy gentry, who had been tirelessly praising the emperor for his glorious achievements on the Ice Plains, suddenly changed their attitudes in the blink of an eye.
"Just from the 'land transfer tax' alone, I could buy three fine steeds, but now with the new policy, I'm afraid I can't even afford a pair of straw sandals!"
A county magistrate cried out, "Your Majesty is forcing us to our deaths!"
"I originally had ten thousand tenants, and my annual rent income was over a million bushels of grain, but after the new policy, I can only keep a small piece of ancestral land!"
An江南 tycoon also lamented, "How am I supposed to feed a family of over a hundred people now?"
From local landlords to provincial generals, everyone was grumbling about the new policy.
"What is this nonsense! With just a few casual words, my hereditary title that has been passed down for generations is being abolished?!"
In the Xi Ning Province, General Xiao Jun of the Xiao family slammed the table, enraged, feeling as though the sky was about to fall.
"Father..." Xiao Jun's son, Xiao Xuan, looked worried and said, "You must think of a way to persuade His Majesty!"
He hadn't yet enjoyed the splendor and wealth, how could he let it be easily taken away?
"If I know it, I know..." General Xiao Jun frowned, a trace of gloom flashing in his eyes as the cold and indifferent face of the young emperor appeared in his mind.
The boy was only fifteen, but his methods in pushing forward the reforms were so decisive and ruthless, every policy targeting the vital interests of the bureaucratic aristocracy.
"But, with my own strength, I'm afraid it will be difficult to turn the tide..." Xiao Jun thought for a while before saying, "We must mobilize other colleagues together."
"Mobilize colleagues?"
"Yes, the Summer Kingdom has one capital and seventeen provinces, all of which are carried on the shoulders of us generals. His Majesty's actions really disappoint us!"
Xiao Jun said loudly, "I suspect that other generals will not want the new policies to succeed. If we unite and present a joint petition, His Majesty may reconsider after weighing the pros and cons."
"And... what if His Majesty has already made up his mind and is unmoved? We can't force him to abdicate, can we?" Xiao Xuan asked anxiously, "His Majesty's power is unparalleled..."
If this were an ordinary world, then perhaps such an operation could work.
But unfortunately, this is a world of martial arts, and Xiao Xuan knew that even if all the generals joined forces, they wouldn't be able to fight against the emperor's strength.
"You unfilial child, stop spouting nonsense! Such treasonous words should never be spoken!"
Upon hearing this, General Xiao Jun's expression changed dramatically, and he sternly reprimanded, then softened his tone, "However, we can take a passive approach."
"His Majesty is indeed powerful, but in the end, he is just one person, and the Summer Kingdom is vast with numerous affairs. He cannot do everything himself, and he still needs us ministers to help him manage the kingdom."
"A passive approach? What if His Majesty is enraged and orders the massacre of millions? What should we do then..." Xiao Xuan said, still fearful, reminding him that the young emperor was ruthless.
"He can't kill us all, can he?" General Xiao Jun chuckled lightly. "That's right, His Majesty is indeed invincible in martial arts, but in the end, people will do anything for wealth and power, even at the cost of their lives."
"The policies His Majesty has implemented are shaking the very foundation of the bureaucratic aristocracy."
"But these policies still depend on us bureaucrats to implement them. Do you think anyone will willingly carry out policies that harm their own interests?"
"Ha, the new policies are doomed to fail."
"Of course, we don't have the guts to openly defy His Majesty, but there are always ways to work around it. If we make a few adjustments, distort the original intent of the policies, the new policies will turn into something entirely different."
Saying this, General Xiao Jun casually stroked his beard and said confidently:
"The Summer Kingdom is so vast, and no matter how powerful His Majesty is, there will be matters that he cannot personally oversee. He is still too naïve."
Xiao Xuan listened to his father's analysis and nodded slowly, realizing that his father, as an experienced politician, would certainly be able to handle this young emperor easily.
Although the young emperor possessed immense martial power, when it came to politics, could he possibly outmaneuver a group of old veterans?
...
As a result, the new policies formulated by Fang Yuan were rolled out with great fanfare in the following days.
But as General Xiao Jun had predicted, while the policies were implemented, the results were far from what Fang Yuan had envisioned.
The Southern tycoon indeed only had his ancestral three acres of land left, but the other fertile lands didn't end up in the hands of the common folk. Instead, they were handed over to nearby temples and monasteries, exploiting a loophole in the law.
Of course, it was just nominally, and in practice, the Southern tycoon still controlled them.
As for the county magistrate, when measuring the land, he deliberately made the county clerk miscalculate the acreage, listing "mountain land with poor soil" as "fertile plain land" and then distributing it to the poor farmers.
If farmers wanted fertile land, they had to pay money, and those who offered higher prices would receive better land.
In this way, the county magistrate was still able to purchase the fine steeds he wanted.
The landlords, in order to preserve their own interests, resorted to all sorts of methods.
They coerced their tenants to change their surnames and included them in their household registration, making them "family members."
So when land was distributed according to population, the landlords still received enough land.
Those tenants, however, not only lost their own land but were even forced to give up their ancestral surname and became the landlords' serfs.
And this was just the beginning. In the early days of policy implementation, food prices surged threefold.
Rice shop owners colluded and claimed that the "land redistribution policy" led to decreased soil fertility and reduced crop yields, so prices had to be raised.
The implication was clear: don't blame us, blame the new policy.
While the "low-status system" was nominally abolished, the trade of people continued, but it was now done privately rather than openly.
Local governments turned a blind eye to this, as they too were part of this profit chain.
The new policy came into being, and soon enough, countermeasures were quickly rolled out.
The common folk, though discontented and rising in revolt, voiced their objections, but their voices were so weak.
The wealthy bureaucrats, most of whom were martial artists, suppressed the commoners who were mere civilians. Those who resisted were either beaten or died in mysterious circumstances.
Everything had changed, yet nothing had really changed.