Yang Yan

Yang Yan (simplified Chinese: 杨炎; traditional Chinese: 楊炎; pinyin: Yáng Yán; Wade–Giles: Yang2 Yen2) (727–781), courtesy name Gongnan (公南), was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor early in the reign of Emperor Dezong. He was credited with reforming the tax system to reduce burdens on the peasants and to bring merchants into the rank of taxpayers, but was blamed for using his position to take vengeance on political enemies. He was removed in 781 and soon executed.