This article introduces two legendary clean officials of the Kangxi era. Shi Shilun, son of Admiral Shi Lang, was honest and strict in governing finance, protecting common people. Yu Chenglong lived an extremely simple life, ate only vegetables, and turned troubled areas into stable regions. Kangxi praised him as “the most upright official in…
by Han Fei Duke Ping of Jin was drinking with his officials. When he was thoroughly drunk and merry, he sighed and said: “Nothing is more joyful than being a ruler — no one dares to disobey a single word of mine!”
Pi Qiu Gong (The Man in the Fur Coat) was a native of the state of Wu. When Yanling Jizi was traveling, he saw a piece of lost gold lying in the road. He looked at the Man in the Fur Coat and said, “Pick up that gold.”
This article profiles Wei Zheng, the most upright minister of Emperor Taizong. A former rival advisor, he dared to speak frankly, urging governance by integrity, opposing extravagance, and warning against complacency. Backed by Empress Zhangsun, he became the emperor’s “mirror.” His death marked the loss of a critical moral guide for the Zhenguan golden…
Confucius said, “When the hidden virtuous are elevated, the hearts of all people under heaven turn to them.” Mr. Hongya established lofty principles in the age of the Sovereigns of High Antiquity; Xu You and Shan Juan did not lower their integrity during the reigns of Tang and Yu. Therefore, the I Ching contains…
The Master said, “In serving a ruler, attend to your duties with reverence first, and place your salary second.”
The Master said, “The noble person cannot be fully known through small matters, yet can be entrusted with great responsibilities; the petty person cannot be entrusted with great responsibilities, yet can be understood through small matters.”