In the long history of China, the names of some characters seem to be engraved in the book of the wicked, which will never be forgotten. Liu Wencai, this name may be a little unfamiliar to say, but his deeds are enough to make people creepy. As a well-known big landowner in Sichuan, his behavior is not only harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, but also rampant and domineering to the extreme. Imagine what kind of existence is a man who sits on military and political power and oppresses the people so cruelly? In the first half of the 20 th century, how did he and his family cover the sky with one hand? In the first half of the 20 th century, how did he and his family cover the sky?
Looking back at China in the 20th century, especially Sichuan, the "land of abundance", not only the mountains and rivers are beautiful, but also there are some dusty pasts. Among these past events, Liu Wencai's name is undoubtedly extremely controversial. He is not only a big landowner in the region, but also holds military and political power, which can be described as a "soil emperor". In 1921, his brother Liu Wenhui was already the brigade commander of the Sichuan Army, and Liu Wencai himself held a lot of power and controlled the economic lifeline of southern Sichuan.
Liu Wencai's methods are extremely cruel, and his oppression of the people can be said to have reached the extreme. The Liu family, to which he belongs, not only controls the local politics and military, but also has absolute control over the economy. Imagine that their family has set up 44 different types of taxes, from farming tools to basic necessities, and even paying taxes on toilets!
What is even more outrageous is that Liu Wencai expropriated the peasants' land with a large amount of money, and the peasants were forced to grow opium poppies and collect high taxes and fees from them. If any peasants dared to resist, Liu Wencai would use even harsher means to suppress them, such as the water prison he had built on the estate, where the conditions were so harsh that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
Liu Wencai's greed is insatiable, and he never misses any opportunity to squeeze money. He set up more than 30 checkpoints, each of which was a tool for him to collect money. As long as the merchants who have passed through these levels, they are all snatched up by him. This kind of behavior made his reputation among the people extremely bad, and people hated him when they mentioned him.
However, Liu Wencai's private life is also extremely luxurious, with a group of wives and concubines, and an extremely indulgent lifestyle. His first wife, Lü, died of long-term overwork, after which he forcibly married a local girl, Yang Zhonghua. Yang Zhonghua was originally reluctant to marry him, but in the face of Liu Wencai's power, her family had to give in. Although Liu Wencai later married Yang Zhonghua, his attitude towards her did not soften because of marriage, but became more strict, almost giving her any freedom and dignity. This kind of cruelty is not limited to treating family members, but also treating his subordinates and farmers, Liu Wencai is even more ruthless. His atrocities spread far and wide in the local area, making him notorious.
Let's take a deeper look at Liu Wencai's economic means. His economic strategy consisted mainly of extremely crushing taxes and coercive economic activity. He used his power to force peasants to grow poppies, which were more economically profitable, than food. This practice has a direct impact on local food production and makes life more difficult for ordinary people. Opium poppy cultivation also brings about a drug problem that has a long-term impact on the morals and morals of society.
Under the pressure of the economy, many farmers could not afford the high taxes and fees, and eventually had to abandon their homes and be displaced. But Liu Wencai piled up mountains of gold and silver treasures in his mansion and lived a luxurious and erosive life. The private prison he set up on the estate, where peasants and enemies who dared to resist him were imprisoned, and the prisoners were treated with cruel methods such as water torture.
Liu Wencai's evil deeds are not that no one resisted. During his reign, there were many peasant uprisings that attempted to overthrow his rule, but because of the great military power he wielded, these uprisings ended in failure. His army was not only well-equipped, but also well-trained, and showed no mercy to any form of resistance.
In 1949, with the founding of New China, Liu Wencai's end finally came. He tried to flee to unliberated areas, but fate seemed to have predestined him. On the run, he died of illness, ending his life full of blood and atrocities. His death marked the end of an era and brought a source of solace to those who had been oppressed by him.
Although Liu Wencai has passed away, the problems he left behind are far from over. After his death, many of his family and subordinates were also punished by the law. And the wealth he accumulated became the object of the government's inventory and confiscation after liberation. This history has taught us that any rule that is maintained by oppression and exploitation will not end well.
Liu Wencai's story is like a mirror, reflecting the dark side of an era. His life shows us how power can corrupt a person's soul, and the helplessness and sorrow of ordinary people who struggle under tyranny.