Banditry and Peasant Revolts

It has come to my attention as well as to others that the problem of peasant revolts and banditry has gotten quite out of hand. It is an issue that must be dealt with swiftly and efficiently or the ramifications could be disastrous for the order and balance of the empire. The blame cannot be placed solely on the peasants for such revolts because as the Master said to Chi K’ang when he inquired about the prevention of thieves:
“If you yourself were not a man of desires, no one would steal even if stealing carried a reward.” (Book 12, Analect 18)
We know that the common people follow our example and so we must act quickly on their behalf. As well we must instill harmony within the bureaucracy. Our peasants are joining the groups of bandits because they see no other option. There is little being done to prevent or discourage the bandits. They are not being given adequate consequences. The peasants see this and rationalize that they will be able to gain from joining the bandits without incurring any consequences. In order to decrease the banditry we must enforce stricter punishment for those who continue to take part in stealing.
Unfortunately the solution to that problem leads to another. At this time the military fears the bandits more then they fear the consequences of not doing the job. This ill-directed fear has caused the soldiers to stop enforcing the law like they should which in a vicious cycle has added to the increased banditry and peasant revolts. Like I stated before, the bandits and peasants have no consequences to fear because the soldiers are not doing their job. It is imperative that punishment be enforced not only for banditry but for soldiers who fail to enforce punishment on the bandits. The soldiers must also see that executing their duties with excellence will bring them favorable rewards.
The soldiers cannot be expected, however, to enforce their own system of rewards and punishment. That duty falls onto the shoulders of the army and civil officers. The entire bureaucracy must work together in harmony in order for success to be reached. The army and civil officers must instill in their soldiers a noble fear. This fear is needed to inspire the soldiers to eradicate the bandits. The soldiers must see that eradicating the bandits will save and improve their own lives. Without such a noble fear the soldiers have no incentive to fight courageously against the bandits.
The bureaucrats are in need of you, Worthy One, to increase their morale. They must see you to know that you are still in control and that you care about the issues that they are facing. In addition the order, to enforce rewards and punishments, must come from you so that it may trickle down through the hierarchy and begin the process of eradicating the problem.
It is imperative, Son of the Most High, that action be taken, for the order and balance of the empire is at stake. It is right that the people honor you, they must honor you for balance to be maintained. That is why you must act on behalf of the righteous. For in the words of the Master:
“Raise the straight and set them over the crooked and the common people will look up to you. Raise the crooked and set them over the straight and the common people will not look up to you.” (Book 2, Analect 19)