Citizens consciously and subconsciously emulate their govt similar to an infant emulating the parents. If the govt consists of thieves and robbers, expect the citizens to show similar traits, to varying degrees.
Tiongkok always has problem to feed the entire population since day 1 6.9k years ago.
In early time, to resolve the issue, early human resolve to Human Sacrifice and Ritual Cannibalism. Moreover, the implementation of slavery in medival china help to mediate the issue thru distribution of resources are diverted from public into hands of privileges, camouflage by "Confusionism" caused may social ills that is still existing today