In the late period of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, corruption and bribery became increasingly common, factional struggles intensified, and the efficiency of the government weakened. To raise military funds and maintain expenditures, the court had to increase various taxes, including agricultural, salt, alcohol, and tea taxes, among others, placing a heavier burden on the people. In addition to taxes, the court also increased the conscription of corvée labor, requiring people to work or serve in the military without pay, severely affecting their work and lives.
Local military governors also exploited their power to conscript militia, increase local taxes, and strengthen their military might, gradually forming a semi-independent state against the central court. An Lushan was the overlord among them, controlling Hebei and Hedong regions, accumulating a massive military force by taking advantage of the court's trust and indulgence.
Due to government corruption and political and social unrest, the economic order was also significantly affected. Many merchants began hoarding goods, buying and stockpiling necessities like grain and cloth, selling them at higher prices later to reap huge profits, exacerbating the shortage of goods, driving up prices, and increasing social unrest.
The heyday of Kaiyuan was a thing of the past, and the Tang Dynasty began to age and decline. 'He' could clearly feel the changes around 'him'. On the streets, vendors had fewer goods, their calls were no longer loud, and the bustling markets became sparse. People often looked worried, walking hurriedly, the heavy burden of life evident. The taverns had few customers, and the staff were listless. In the fields, farmers worked hard but had no joy of harvest; the heavy taxes made it hard for them to breathe. Many young farmers put down their hoes and joined the military governors' armies.
'He' lamented that those in power, the princes, generals, and wealthy merchants who controlled social resources, treated the lives of the masses as chips, squandering and trampling on them at will. Their minds were blinded and corroded by power and greed, already numb and indifferent. Thinking of these people's actions, 'he' who saw through the truth of the world still felt disgusted. If 'he' were younger, 'he' would surely feel sick to 'his' stomach.