Heqia and Cao Cao On Frugality and Employment of People

Author: Xiangtan Yuanyuan (without my authorization, can not be reproduced)

Xiang Xiang (丞相掾) and Cao Cao (曹曹) were in agreement

"The people of the world are of different talents and virtues, and they cannot take a section." Frugality is too much, and it is okay to be self-reliant. With this lattice, what is lost or more. In the present court's discussion, it is not clear that officials have new clothes and good cars; those who are not decorated and badly dressed are called incorruptible. So that the master insulted his clothes and hid his public opinion. The court officials, or self-inflicted pots to enter the official temple. Fu Li sect is customary, your place is moderate, and it can be inherited. Now that all the embarrasses is to examine the special deeds, and if you do it reluctantly, there will be exhaustion. The great religion of the ancients is only to understand people's feelings; all acts of intrigue are tolerated and hypocrisy. it.

Chun, the order was said: "Meng Gong is Zhao and Wei Lao, and cannot be Teng or Xue Dafu." If it is available after the company, then why is Qi Huanqi hegemonic? The second and third sons are clear and ugly, and the only thing is to lift, and I have to use it. ”

Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 66

[Comment] 1 丞相掾: A subordinate official of the XiangFu. Heqia: Wei Smith, Cao Cao, Cao Pi, Cao Rui three generations, official to Taichang, for the official qing poor to keep the covenant. 2 Grids: Correcting the irregularities of things. 3 Meng Gongqiu: In the Spring and Autumn Period, lu people, sexual widows, incorruptible and virtuous. 4 Qi Huan: Duke Huan of Qi, the monarch of the State of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period, appointed Guan Zhong to carry out reforms, and became the first overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period. Guan Zhong was not an incorruptible official, so Cao Cao said so.

【Translation】

Xiang Xiang and Qia said to Cao Cao: "People in the world have different talents and moral characters, so they cannot use a single criterion to select talents, and it is okay to use excessive frugality and simplicity as a strict requirement for themselves; if you use it to restrain and correct others, there will be many mistakes." Nowadays, the discussion in the imperial court is that the officials of various departments who like to wear new clothes and ride in good cars are called incorruptible. As a result, the scholars and doctors deliberately soiled their clothes and collected the official uniforms of the carriages and horses and the top hats. Even high-ranking officials in the DPRK and China carried their own food and drinks in the government. Setting an example to educate others and change customs is important in being impartial so that people can emulate and persevere. It is now an intolerable code of conduct to be advocated, used to restrain people at all levels, and to implement it reluctantly, which is bound to be exhausting and difficult and will not last long. The ancients vigorously promoted indoctrination, and the intention was only to understand people's feelings. Any act of arrogance and fierceness is often contained and hidden hypocrisy. Cao Cao thought he was right.

In the spring, Cao Cao gave an order to his subordinates: "Meng Gongqiu's talent in the Jin state is more than enough to serve as a vassal of the nobles of Zhao and Wei, but he is not qualified to serve as a small state doctor like Teng and Xue." If it must be a clean and honest person who can be appointed, then how can Qi Henggong dominate the world? Please help me to discover and nominate talents from humble origins, and if they have talents, I will certainly appoint and give full play to their strengths. ”

【Solution】

This was a conversation with Cao Cao in the winter of December 209 and the aftermath. Frugality and simplicity should be advocated, but it cannot be used as the only criterion for selecting talents or measuring whether the official history is clean or not. Otherwise, many talented people will find it difficult to play their role in the official arena. Especially in the chaotic world where the competition for talents is very fierce, too harsh requirements will lose many talents. Moreover, clothing and carriages and horses are also a manifestation of social development, and it is completely permissible to pursue without luxury. He qia discussed this relationship realistically, so Cao Cao fully agreed, so he ordered the group of ministers to be meritocratic.