Alas, you people of Hainan's shore,
Oppressed by corrupt officials' greed.
With grievances that have no place to plead,
You turn to banditry, a desperate deed.
A bandit's life is foolish, it is true,
Yet it can keep you living day by day.
Acting official Chen Jianzhong, you
Are most rapacious, wolfish in your way.
Your daughter clings to power, a social climb,
A mismatch unforeseen, a forced design.
You only seek a dowry rich in time,
And bribes keep flowing in a constant line.
With this, you indulge your avarice untold,
Like a tiger given wings, fierce and bold.
The deputy inspector, in his role,
Was beaten when he came to plead your toll.
Lastly, conscripting laborers by force,
To exempt ten men, you set a cruel course.
The poor sell wives and children in despair,
The strong take up arms, ready for warfare.
Even in Wenchang County, broad daylight
Sees not a soul, such is the people's plight.
Next, the land surveyor, in his station,
Is the prefect's own kin by relation.
He lets his jailers run with lawless might,
Their thunderous terror spreading day and night.
The counties suffer curses, scorn, and shame,
The records altered in a vicious game.
Three bullies, rousing public wrath and dread,
Have followers like reeds and thorns widespread.
Last year, through persuasion, peace was sown,
The neighborhoods had settled, calm had grown.
But mad schemes from bribed clerks began anew,
From this, rebellion stirred and overthrew.
The ignorant folk, who knew not right from wrong,
Were lured and forced to join the battle throng.
Both jade and stone were burned, all turned to waste,
The old and weak in ditches were displaced.
Their scattered bones lie strewn across the roads,
A thousand miles run red with blood that flows.
The slaughter brings them joy, a savage feast,
The corrupt officials wear a virtuous sheen.
From now on, without fear or any check,
When will their endless levies cease to wreck?
For eaglewood and kingfisher plumes they seek,
Exhausting searches, shooting far and bleak.
Black-clad enforcers swarm each village scene,
Their blazing arrogance is felt and seen.
Long has the acting official's vice held sway,
And now it reaches its extreme display.
Our ancestors established laws so clear:
Corrupt officials should be caned, held dear.
The weary people languish, worn and thin,
Envoys should show compassion from within.
Imperial carriages come seldom here,
Send but a minor officer in fear.
Forever ease the folk beyond the sea,
And seek true governors, just and free.
No poetry collector walks the land,
My words are but a sigh, empty and grand.