Rewards and merits have a major impact on civilization and society. This impact can be either a positive or negative and sometimes create situations that could encourage criminal behavior. If this behavior is allowed to go on without consequences then it festers into a culture of a disorder that is nearly impossible to correct. The Ming Dynasty encouraged banditry in the province of Jiangxi for years without knowing the government was to blame for this major problem. The Ming Empire was established after Yuan (Mongol Empire) in 1368 and lasted until 1644. During the Ming rule there was a culture of lawlessness within the rural mountainous region of Jiangxi. This area is an ideal location for bandits and criminals to hide undetected by the leisurely Ming soldier. Due to the high taxation of the Ming government on the commoners, peasants have taken the side of bandits in concealing their location and have turn to criminal behavior their selves. “These common people who had suffered at the hands of these bandits would at first, join together to oppose them, or they would complain to the officials for redress, relying on the power of the authorities to up hold the law and order. But the authorities, considering that the bandits would not be invited to surrender in any case did not bother taking up cases with them. The bandits, on their part, well knowing the authorities would not interfere with them, would further oppress the people and harass them even to a greater extent”.(Wang 1517) This way of thinking encouraged the common people to adapt to their society of banditry and further enculturation in the region. There is no reason for the commoners to get involved with assisting of removal of the bandits. The bandits rob and pillar and are into hiding before the soldiers arrive, this is due to top government officials that serve as spies for the robbers. The robbers then share with the commoners that will eventually turn to robbery as they get of age. The only defense to the bandits is soldiers that have lost interest and are insubordinate. The region knows the soldiers will not pursue anyone that has been involved in a criminal act therefore further encouraging a community of crime. Society would rather keep the bandits in the region and offer safe havens and concealment in exchange for stolen items to support the commoners for high taxes. The soldiers have no rewards or consequences for their actions of no enforcement further establishing a cultured state of lawlessness. The low ranking soldier was not the only to blame; corruption up and down the entire chain of command existed as well.

Some areas in the Ming Dynasty had more control of the state then that of Jiangxi. After the Mongols left at the end of Yuan Dynasty many of them were disbanded and could not regroup, this allowed the non Chinese to stay behind in the mountainous and forest region in the Jiangxi province. If plans were developed to eradicate the bandits totally and flee to neighboring states what then would become of the society that supports the commoners of Jiangxi, and what would become of the regrouped bandits in neighboring states? And what would it take to train the weak insubordinate soldiers of the region to encourage honor in carrying out their duties.
“Good leaders in ancient times were able to muster a crowed of the market to go to battle or to rally dispersed soldiers to oppose a strong savage force”(Wang 1517). Remember how the ancients lead an army to victory; there are still many soldiers that have not been corrupted by the culture of lawlessness in Jiangxi. In order to regain control of all the states under Ming Dynasty there needs to be a total restructure in organization from the entire government. Rewards and merits need to be completely clear to the society under Ming control. Punishment for harboring bandits needs to be clear an enforced. Rewards for soldiers need to be just and bravery instilled. The current minister is very aware of the losing battle on his hands, he understands his inexperience and unprepared force is doing nothing in the fight in the region. His current health is dire and his soldiers lack courage and training. He does not want to surrender to the emperor that he is unable to complete this task and acknowledge his failure. Wang Yangming (1472-1529) was a Confucian thinker that was appointed governor of the Jiangxi area when the bandit crisis was at its height. He gives the emperor a solution to this problem but advises it is going to take help from the emperor himself in enforcing the laws and reward when justified. Wang advises his majesty they have the trained soldiers and are ready to execute this plan on the emperor’s word. He also states that the minister is ready for the battle but will most likely die in the process.

The Ming Dynasty effectively revived purely Chinese rule and successfully incorporated the examination process to recruit new talent into bureaucracy. Population doubled in Ming times and the capital was relocated from Nanjing to Beijing. There were downfalls during the era that instilled a culture of criminal behavior that required major attention from not only the emperor but the most influential Confucian scholars of the Ming Dynasty.

Ebrey, P., & Walthall, A. (2013). East asia: A cultural, social, and political history (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth
A Memorial on Rewards and Punishment as a Means of Encouraging the Mind and Hearts of the People. (Wang Yangming 1472-1529)