The work profoundly exposes the reality of political corruption and social moral decline in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. From the corruption and perversion of the law by the powerful minister Cai Jing, to the succumbing of the gangsters in the market, they have jointly constructed a ghostly world in which black and white are reversed. The book's profound portrayal of human greed and hypocrisy not only shows the impact of money on traditional ethics, but also reveals the devastating consequences of expansion of desire.
Purpose: To advise people not to excessively pursue worldly fame and fortune.