Mencius dismisses slander that Confucius lodged with influential eunuchs for office. He argues Confucius followed rites to serve and upheld righteousness to resign, choosing virtuous hosts even in peril to preserve uncompromised moral integrity.
Mencius explains Shun enfeoffed his murderous brother Xiang out of fraternal love yet stripped him of real power via appointed officials, balancing kin affection and public justice. Shun met Xiang often under political pretexts to sustain their bond.
Confucius and Zigong list detestable conducts. Confucius condemns slanderers, insubordinates, reckless brave and stubborn men; Zigong loathes those masking plagiarism, arrogance and harsh criticism as wisdom, courage and candor, warning against fake virtues.
Confucius criticizes petty officials obsessed with rank: they fret over gaining power first, then fear losing it, resorting to any wicked trick to hold their positions. Unlike principled gentlemen guided by righteousness, such profit-driven men lack moral boundaries and ruin governance.
This article re-evaluates Feng Dao, a Five Dynasties prime minister serving nine emperors, long condemned for disloyalty. It records his benevolent deeds aiding civilians amid chaos and cites his poems revealing his pragmatic creed: focus on good deeds rather than personal fame.
Han Feizi tells Zeng Congzi offered to assassinate the King of Wu for gain. The Lord of Wei saw his motive and drove him away.
The Old Man on the River was a man from the state of Chu.