#253 - Ming 38: Manchus, and Pirates, and Rebels, Oh My!
The History of China
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The Impact of Events in Nanjili's Tongchung Region
Tensions between rich and poor existed in many other parts of southeastern China during the mid-1630s. Many landowners had, for years, falsified tax records and evaded a substantial portion of their tax obligations. The plight of any taxpayers was worsened by rising military costs which forced the government of Beijing to increase land tax assessments six times between 1618 and 1637. There can be little doubt that excessive taxes contributed heavily to the Ming dynasty's downfall.
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