This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 39.2 presents two successive rebuttals over imprisoning fugitive rebel Yang Hu. It debates whether punishing known rebels deters hidden treachery, examining ministerial loyalty, human greed and royal deterrent statecraft.
This article reviews Confucius’ whole life milestones. At 55, he left Lu for a 14-year wandering across states to promote ritual governance, enduring hunger and threats. He laughed off being called a stray dog, embodying perseverance before returning to Lu to focus on teaching and classics editing.
Confucius said, “The stipends and authority have been removed from the ducal house for five generations; political power has rested with the high ministers for four generations. Therefore, the descendants of the Three Huan families are now in decline.”