《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪三十》
王莽派出使者，到当地赦免这些强盗。使者回京之后，奏称： 强盗们解散之后，不久就又聚合，问他们原因，都说： 忧愁法令既多又苛刻，动辄犯法。努力劳动所得到的报酬，还不够缴纳捐税。就是闭门自守，又往往因邻居私自铸钱或携带铜，要连坐入狱，贪官污吏，逼人欲死。 百姓走投无路，便都起来做盗贼。 王莽大怒，免其官职。
莽遣使者即赦盗贼，还言： 盗贼解辄复合，问其故，皆曰： 愁法禁烦苛，不得举手，力作所得，不足以给贡税；闭门自守，又坐邻伍铸钱挟铜，奸吏因以愁民。 民穷，悉起为盗贼。 莽大怒，免之。
Wang Mang sent envoys to each of these places to pardon the robbers. After the envoys returned to the capital, they reported: “After the robbers dispersed, they soon regrouped. When asked why, they all said: ‘We are worried that the laws and regulations are too harsh and complicated, and that we will break the law by accident. The rewards for working hard are not enough to pay the taxes. Even if we stay at home, we are often imprisoned because our neighbors have made their own money or brought in copper, which is against the law. Corrupt officials treat us so badly that we feel like we are going to die.’ The people have nowhere to turn, so they all become robbers.” Wang Mang was furious and dismissed the envoys from their posts.