An Official Rebukes His Fellows on His Retirement (Yuan Jie: An Official Rebukes His Fellows on His Retirement)

In bygone days of peace and prosperity, I dwelt in seclusion among the mountains and forests for twenty years. The spring’s source lay within my courtyard, and caves and ravines faced my gate. Land taxes had their fixed deadlines, and under the high sun I could still sleep soundly. Suddenly I encountered turmoil in the world, and for many years I personally participated in military campaigns. Now I come to govern this prefecture, yet the mountain barbarians rise in rebellion one after another. The city walls are small, so the bandits do not plunder it; the people are poor, truly evoking pity. Thus, neighboring prefectures and counties have all been overrun, yet this prefecture alone remains intact. The imperial envoys carry out the sovereign’s commands—how can they be inferior to those bandits? They drive the tax-collecting officials, oppressing the people as if scorching them with blazing fire. Who can bear to cut off the people’s livelihood, only to gain a reputation as a worthy in this age? I wish to resign my office, take up a bamboo pole, and pole a boat myself. Leading my family to a place of fish and wheat, I will end my remaining years by the rivers and lakes.