3. He Remits the Taxes

1Thereupon the Heavenly Sovereign, ascending a lofty mountain and looking on the land all round, spoke, saying: “In the whole land there rises no smoke; the land is all poverty-stricken. So I remit all the people’s taxes and [forced labour] from now till three years [hence].” Therefore the great palace became dilapidated, and the rain leaked in everywhere; but no repairs were made. The rain that leaked in was caught in troughs, and [the inmates] removed from [its reach] to places where there was no leakage. When later [the Heavenly Sovereign] looked on all the land, the smoke was abundant in the land. So finding the people rich, he now exacted taxes and forced labour. Therefore the peasantry prospered, and did not suffer from forced labour. So in praise of that august reign, it was called the reign of the Emperor-Sage.