Biographies of Upright Officials, No. 59
The Grand Historian says: Laws and decrees are used to guide the people; punishments are used to prohibit evil. If civil and military governance are not fully complete, yet good people are able to cultivate themselves with caution, it is because officials have not disrupted order. As long as one fulfills their duties and follows principles, the state can also be well governed—why must it rely solely on severity?
Sunshu Ao was a recluse of the state of Chu. The minister Yuqiu recommended him to King Zhuang of Chu, allowing him to take over his own position. After serving as chancellor for three months, Sunshu Ao implemented moral teachings and guided the people, achieving harmony and unity between superiors and subordinates, with excellent customs and social atmosphere. Decrees were lenient yet effective, there were no corrupt officials among the functionaries, and thieves did not appear. In autumn and winter, he encouraged the people to go into the mountains to fell timber; in spring and summer, he facilitated transport by water routes. Each person gained convenience, and the people all delighted in their livelihoods.
King Zhuang of Chu considered the currency too light, so he changed small coins to large ones, causing inconvenience to the people, who abandoned their occupations. The market supervisor reported to the chancellor, saying: “The market is in chaos; the people cannot settle in their positions, and the order of the queues is unstable.” The chancellor asked: “How long has this been going on?” The market supervisor replied: “About three months.” The chancellor said: “Enough; I will have them restored to their original state now.” Five days later, at court, the chancellor addressed the king: “Previously, the currency was changed because it was deemed too light. Now the market supervisor reports that ‘the market is in chaos; the people cannot settle in their positions, and the order of the queues is unstable.’ I request an order to restore the original currency.” The king agreed, and within three days the market returned to normal.
The customs of Chu favored low carriages. The king thought low carriages were inconvenient for horses pulling them and wanted to order the carriage frames raised. The chancellor said: “If decrees are issued frequently, the people do not know which to follow—that will not do. If Your Majesty insists on raising the carriage frames, I request that the thresholds in the villages be raised. Those who ride carriages are gentlemen; gentlemen cannot frequently dismount.” The king agreed. After half a year, the people spontaneously raised their carriage frames.
Thus, without direct instruction, the people naturally followed the teachings. Those nearby saw and imitated; those far away observed from all directions and emulated. Therefore, Sunshu Ao gained the position of chancellor three times without elation, for he knew his abilities naturally merited it; he lost it three times without regret, for he knew it was not due to his own faults.
Zichan was a great official of the state of Zheng. During the reign of Duke Zhao of Zheng, the duke appointed his favored Xu Ji as chancellor, and the state fell into chaos—superiors and inferiors were not close, and fathers and sons were not harmonious. The senior minister Ziqing advised the ruler to make Zichan chancellor. After one year as chancellor, the young stopped being frivolous and playful; the elderly with graying hair no longer carried heavy loads; children did not work in the fields. After two years, market prices were not inflated. After three years, doors were left unlocked at night, and lost items were not picked up on the roads. After four years, farming tools were not brought home. After five years, scholars had no military registration documents, and mourning rites were conducted without official orders. Zichan governed Zheng for twenty-six years and then died. The strong young men wailed loudly; the elderly wept like children, saying: “Zichan has left us and died! To whom will the people turn?”
Gongyixiu was a scholar of the state of Lu. He became chancellor of Lu through outstanding achievements. He upheld the laws and followed principles, making no changes, and all officials naturally became upright. He ensured that those who received salaries did not compete for profit with the lower classes, and those who received great benefits did not seek small gains.
A guest once presented the chancellor with fish, but the chancellor did not accept. The guest said: “I heard that you love fish. I present you with fish—why do you not accept it?” The chancellor replied: “It is precisely because I love fish that I do not accept it. Now, as chancellor, I can supply myself with fish. If I accept the fish and am dismissed from office, who will give me fish then? That is why I do not accept it.”
When Gongyixiu tasted vegetables grown in his own garden and found them delicious, he pulled up the mallow plants and threw them away. Seeing that his household’s woven cloth was of fine quality, he hastily drove away his wife and burned the loom, saying: “How could I let the farmers and weavers have nowhere to sell their goods?”
Shi She was the chancellor of King Zhao of Chu. He was upright, incorruptible, impartial, and without favoritism or evasion. While on an inspection tour of a district, he encountered a man who had committed murder. The chancellor pursued him and found that it was his own father. He released his father, then returned and bound himself. He sent a messenger to report to the king, saying: “The one who killed the man was my father. If I punish my father to establish the law, that is unfilial; if I abandon the law and let the criminal go, that is disloyal. My crime deserves death.” The king said: “You pursued but did not catch him—this should not be considered a crime. You may continue to govern affairs.” Shi She said: “Not shielding one’s father is not being a filial son; not upholding the ruler’s law is not being a loyal minister. Your Majesty’s pardon of my crime is the ruler’s grace; accepting execution and dying is the minister’s duty.” Thereupon he refused the order and cut his own throat.
Li Li was a judge under Duke Wen of Jin. Because he mistakenly sentenced a man to death due to a mishearing, he imprisoned himself and believed he deserved to die. Duke Wen said: “Offices have grades of honor and lowliness; punishments have degrees of severity. The fault lies with the subordinate officials—it is not your crime.” Li Li said: “I hold the position of chief official and do not yield to my subordinates; I receive a large salary and do not share the benefits with them. Now, due to a mishearing, I have wrongly sentenced a man to death, yet I shift the blame onto my subordinates—this is not what I have learned as principle.” He refused the order. Duke Wen said: “If you consider yourself guilty, then am I also guilty?” Li Li replied: “Judges have their standards: if they err in punishment, they should suffer that punishment; if they err in the death penalty, they should suffer death. Your Majesty, because you saw that I could discern subtle details and resolve difficult cases, appointed me as judge. Now, due to a mishearing, I have wrongly sentenced a man to death—my crime deserves death.” Thereupon he refused the order and fell on his sword.
The Grand Historian says: Sunshu Ao spoke one sentence, and the market of Ying was restored to order. Zichan died of illness, and the people of Zheng wailed loudly. Gongyizi, upon seeing fine cloth, drove away his wife. Shi She released his father and took his own life, establishing the reputation of King Zhao of Chu. Li Li, due to a wrongful death sentence, fell on his sword, and Duke Wen of Jin thereby made the state laws just.