Chapter 14: The Suffering of the People
Scholars - Bab 14
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.
Penderitaan Rakyat
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.
Dalam pekerjaan mereka, Zhou Jin dan Fan Jin memiliki kesempatan untuk menghadapi situasi nyata rakyat jelata. Mereka menemukan bahwa banyak orang hidup dalam kemiskinan dan penderitaan, namun para pejabat pengadilan kekaisaran menutup mata terhadap hal ini.
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.
Bencana alam sering terjadi, panen gagal, dan orang-orang kelaparan dan kedinginan. Namun, kebijakan bantuan pengadilan dieksekusi dengan buruk, dan banyak persediaan bantuan digelapkan melalui lapisan transfer.
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.
Pajak berat, dan rakyat kewalahan. Banyak petani terpaksa menjual anak-anak mereka dan bahkan menjual diri mereka sendiri menjadi budak untuk bertahan hidup. Situasi ini mengejutkan dan membuat marah Zhou Jin dan Fan Jin.
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.
Kehidupan mewah para pejabat sangat kontras dengan penderitaan rakyat. Mereka membangun rumah-rumah mewah, mengadakan jamuan makan besar, dan menjalani kehidupan mewah. Sementara itu, rakyat berjuang di garis antara hidup dan mati.
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.
Zhou Jin dan Fan Jin memutuskan untuk berbicara untuk rakyat. Mereka menulis peringatan untuk mencerminkan penderitaan rakyat kepada kaisar dan meminta pengadilan untuk mengurangi pajak dan meningkatkan kehidupan rakyat.
Namun, peringatan mereka sering dicegat oleh orang-orang berkuasa dan tidak dapat mencapai kaisar. Bahkan ketika mereka mencapai kaisar, kaisar tidak dapat benar-benar menyelesaikan masalah karena berbagai alasan. Ini membuat Zhou Jin dan Fan Jin merasa tidak berdaya dan frustrasi.