Another prevalent evil was the] extortion practised by money lenders @ue to the chaotic state of rural credit, Farmers who needed seed grain would often be forced to contract short term loans at rates of interest of three or four per cent. a month and, in case of inability' to pay, their land was subject to for-feature. Wang An-shih's scheme pro. vided for state loans to farmers need. month provision for extension them at a rate of. two per cent. a
of the term in case of necessity. This measure was, of course.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.