This was because they thought that not everyone who panned gold in the river would be caught. So although there was a harsh punishment, there were still many people who counted on their luck.

   这是因为他们坚信并不是每个偷 金子的人都会被抓住,因而虽然有重 刑,但心怀侥幸的淘金客仍大有人在。

    River Lishui, located in the south of the state of Chu, abounded in alluvial gold.

    楚国南部的丽水河中盛产沙金。

    In order to monopolize the mineral resources, the government issued a law to the effect that whoever was caught panning secretly in the river would be burned asunder by five carts.

    为了垄断矿产资源,官府下令,凡是偷偷进入河中采金的人,只要被抓住,立即处以车裂的极刑。

    The bodies of those who had been killed were thrown into the river,  blocking the flow of the water and raising the water level. Although many people had been killed because of panning stealthily in the river, there were still many people who defied the law and panned gold in the river.

    杀死的犯人的尸首扔进河中,首尾相叠,堵住了河水的流动,抬高了河床的水位。尽管杀了许多偷金子的人,但依然有人为了得到金子而不惜以身试法,偷偷地到河中淘金。

    This was because they thought that not everyone who panned gold in the river would be caught.  So although there was a harsh punishment, there were still many people who counted on their luck. 这是因为他们坚信并不是每个偷金子的人都会被抓住,因而虽然有重刑,但心怀侥幸的淘金客仍大有人在。