In ancient times, why did most rulers not regard the common people as human beings? It was because they saw through this group of rabble and knew that as long as they were not pushed too hard, these people generally wouldn't stir up much of a storm. Has anyone noticed that the common people in ancient China had a characteristic, which was their submissiveness? They never thought about taking their fate into their own hands, but rather hoped for some virtuous monarch or benevolent official to save them and help them escape from suffering. In simple terms, they were always accustomed to passively accepting an outcome; whoever won, they would listen to, without considering how to change this situation.

Of course, this cannot all be blamed on them; it is the constraint of centuries-old moral principles and the deep-rooted reverence for the divine right of kings. In ancient times, common people were referred to as "grass people" because they were as insignificant as grass and could be slaughtered at will. The Chinese invented a very representative social etiquette, which is kowtowing. Kowtowing is quite profound, and if one were to write down its intricacies, it would be enough for a lengthy treatise, such as the three knocks and nine bows, or the five bodies prostrating on the ground, and so on. From Shang Yang's governance techniques to Emperor Wu of Han abolishing the hundred schools of thought, to Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, the awareness of resistance among the lower classes in ancient China has been firmly controlled by emperors, nobles, and landlord scholars. As long as there is still a morsel of food to eat, it does not matter whether they are treated like cattle or horses. Even when wronged, their first reaction is not to fight back with reason, but rather to adopt a pitiful demeanor, begging for the ruler's sympathy, hoping to continue surviving by appealing to pity. This instinctual reaction, engraved in their bones, has not completely disappeared even to this day.

It can be said that the common people of ancient China were the easiest group to manage. However, this also had a negative impact: long-term oppression and shackles would cause the common people to lose their spirit and have no loyalty to the court. If the rulers of the feudal dynasties do not restore their dignity for a long time, these people will have no motivation to defend the interests of the court; they will be like reeds swaying with the wind. Therefore, no matter which feudal dynasty falls, aside from the vested interests of the previous dynasty, not many people will reminisce about it. The common people of ancient times did not care whether the emperor was surnamed Zhu or Aisin Gioro; they only cared whether Master Zhao in the village could collect less rent this year and whether the corvée mandated by the government could be postponed a bit. When a person struggles to survive, asking them to have a noble spirit is somewhat unreasonable. Otherwise, why were so many common people particularly numb and indifferent during the late Qing Dynasty, when facing external invasions and tumultuous situations?