Chapter 14: The Suffering of the People
In their work, Zhou Jin and Fan Jin had the opportunity to encounter the real situation of the common people. They found that many people lived in poverty and suffering, yet the officials of the imperial court turned a blind eye to this.
Natural disasters occurred frequently, harvests failed, and people were hungry and cold. However, the court's relief policies were poorly executed, and many relief supplies were embezzled through layers of transfer.
Taxes were heavy, and the people were overwhelmed. Many farmers were forced to sell their children and even sell themselves into slavery to survive. This situation shocked and angered Zhou Jin and Fan Jin.
The extravagant lives of officials formed a sharp contrast with the suffering of the people. They built luxurious mansions, held grand banquets, and lived lavish lives. Meanwhile, the people struggled on the line between life and death.
Zhou Jin and Fan Jin decided to speak up for the people. They wrote memorials to reflect the suffering of the people to the emperor and requested the court to reduce taxes and improve the people's lives.
However, their memorials were often intercepted by powerful people and could not reach the emperor. Even when they reached the emperor, the emperor could not truly solve the problems for various reasons. This made Zhou Jin and Fan Jin feel powerless and frustrated.