Mencius is primarily concerned with the production of wealth

The people are the way, those who have permanent production have perseverance, and those who do not have permanent production have no perseverance.

There is no perseverance, let go of evil and extravagance, and do nothing.

And to fall into sin and then to punish him is to be a blasphemous man.

There are benevolent people in the throne,

What can be done without the people?

Chen Changwen's interpretation:

The way for ordinary people to survive is to have fields to cultivate, eat and wear

If the people don't have these,

Then these people will not have a good heart and will not have any moral ideas.

Because I can't live anymore, I don't care about anything.

Without permanent production, they can do anything bad, and even the severe punishment butcher knife can't control them.

Therefore, the king's approach is, first of all, to let the people have permanent property,

When the common people break the law, they punish them with severe punishment, which is equivalent to the king framing them.

Everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, a place to live, and property, and who wants to do evil?

Therefore, kings, we must be concerned about everyone's production.