Serve with Utmost Loyalty
76. Loyal ministers are selfless, and selfish ministers are not loyal. Integrity is about upholding justice in carrying out one’s official duties.
Scroll 24: Hou Han Shu, Vol. 4
77. When His Highness requests for an opinion, I would speak cautiously. If he has no questions for me, I would carry out my work cautiously and focus on cultivating my moral character. When the country conforms with the Dao (the moral way) I will obey the orders. If the country has deviated from its moral way, I will decline to obey and revert to the simple life of a recluse.
Scroll 12: Shi Ji, Vol. 2
78. The social stability or unrest of a country is closely related to the ruler’s final decisions in determining the life and death, reward and punishment of his subordinates or people. If a ruler wished to spare the life of a man who deserved the death sentence, his officials should clarify in detail why the execution should be carried out. If a ruler wished to reward a man who deserved punishment, his officials should explain to him why the punishment should be carried out. A good government is said to be established when the above conditions are met.
Scroll 29: Jin Shu, Vol. 1
79. Faithful ministers who serve their ruler truly would risk their lives with honest remonstrations. However, their advice might not be heeded. Since implicit remonstrations might not be able to reveal the truth, a wise ruler should therefore be keen to listen to straightforward remonstrations that might put the life of the remonstrating minister at stake.
Scroll 17: Han Shu, Vol. 5