Resistance in Shandong came fiercely, born of heartfelt unwillingness. They believed Liu Heng had truly gone too far.
Since ancient times, no one had ever heard of treating the noble harshly for the sake of the lowly.
We are the ones who sustain the emperor's rule. We serve as generals in the field and ministers at court. Even in wartime, we are the ones providing money, labor, and men.
Yet now he wants to carve flesh from us to feed those lowly people. What sort of reasoning is that?
These were the heartfelt thoughts of most of them. Nor was this the thinking of any one individual, but the consciousness of an entire group, one exceedingly difficult to change.
Even among today's passionate, righteous students, many would one day join this group as they grew older, accumulated wealth, and acquired more land. Their abundant knowledge would even make them more powerful.
Someone submitted a memorial questioning him: "Your Majesty has always governed your realm with benevolence and virtue. Now that you have achieved success, why would you abandon the practices that brought you prosperity?
"If the Liu Clan cannot enjoy an honored position, how will your majesty be displayed?
"If nobles cannot shelter their families, where will your grace be shown?
"Your servant truly fears for your realm. Since ancient times, has any Dynasty ever endured without winning the people's hearts?"
Those submitting these memorials did not merely think this way themselves. Many others were pushing them along. Even within Chang'an, certain people outwardly supported Liu Heng while secretly arranging for others to obstruct the policies' implementation.
When Liu Heng learned of this, he rebuked them furiously: "A subject's life and death, fortune and misfortune, are ordained by Heaven, but favor and disgrace, honor and humiliation, are decided by the