This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 48.7 warns unchecked official power breeds chaos. It demands merit‑based appointments, aligning praise‑reward and blame‑punishment, ensuring rank‑salary are sole legitimate benefits and eliminating mixed public‑private signals.
In the chaotic final years of the Eastern Han dynasty, the struggle for supremacy hinged not merely on military might, but on governance, leadership, and strategic vision.