Most of the land was controlled by private landlords who ruthlessly exploited the population, pushing them into debt and indentured servitude. Regardless, ask any historian and they will tell you that before Mao came to power, China was in terrible shape (1912-1949), and the living conditions for the vast majority of Chinese working people was beyond abhorrent.
I wasn't aware Fanshen was discredited.source on that? I thought it was widely recognized as generally trustworthy.
