The story of integrity

Lu Huaishen (? - 716), a native of Lingchang, Huazhou (southwest of today's Hu County, Henan Province), was the censor of Wu Zetian at that time, and later served as censor and doctor. In the first year of Kaiyuan of Xuanzong (713) ) as prime minister. Lu Huaishen knew that his talents were not as good as those of another prime minister Yao Chong, so he avoided doing anything. His political achievements during his tenure were only to recommend talents and promote talents. He died of illness three years after he was appointed prime minister. Lu Huaishen was an honest official, but his family had no savings, no curtains on the door, no meat in his diet, his wife and children were hungry and cold, and he lived in poverty. He was a relatively honest prime minister in the Tang Dynasty. When Lu Huaishen's son Lu Huan was the governor of Guangzhou, he was not moved by the local rare treasures and could maintain his integrity, which was praised by people at the time. Xuanzong praised his beautiful government and wrote a praise for it: "The importance of a special city is divided into the heroes of Shaanxi. It is also a benefit, and it can be stored in the treasure. It is a national treasure and does not lose the family tradition."

18 A wealthy gentleman in England in the 19th century was walking home late one night when he was stopped by a little boy with unkempt hair and ragged clothes. "Sir, please buy a pack of matches," the little boy said. "I don't buy it." replied the gentleman. As he spoke, the gentleman dodged the boy and continued walking, "Sir, please buy a pack. I haven't eaten anything today," the little boy caught up and said. When the gentleman saw that he couldn't hide from the boy, he said, "But I don't have any change." "Sir, please bring the matches first, and I will change the change for you." After saying that, the boy ran away quickly with a pound given by the gentleman. The gentleman waited for a long time, but the boy still didn't come back. The gentleman went home helplessly. The next day, the gentleman was working in his office. The servant said that a boy came and asked to see the gentleman. So the boy was called in. This boy was shorter than the match boy and his clothes were more ragged. "Sir, I'm sorry, my brother asked me to bring you some change." "Where is your brother?" the gentleman said. "My brother was hit by a carriage and seriously injured on his way back to you after changing his change. He is lying at home." The gentleman was deeply moved by the little boy's integrity. "Let's go see your brother!" When we went to the boy's home, we found that only the stepmothers of the two boys were greeting the seriously injured boys. When he saw the gentleman, the boy quickly said, "I'm sorry, I didn't send you the change on time. I broke my promise!" But the gentleman was deeply moved by the boy's integrity. When he learned that the biological parents of the two boys were both dead, he decided to take on everything they needed in life.

One day, several Japanese photographers asked a local boy to buy beer for them. The boy ran for more than three hours.

The next day, the boy volunteered to buy beer for them again. This time the photographers gave him a lot of money, but the boy had not come back until the afternoon of the third day. As a result, the photographers talked a lot, thinking that the young man had cheated the money away. On the third night, the boy knocked on the photographer's door. It turned out that he only bought 4 bottles of beer in one place, so he climbed over another mountain and crossed a river to buy another 6 bottles. When he returned, he broke 3 bottles. He cried, holding the broken glass, and handed back the change to the photographer. Everyone present was moved. This story moved many foreigners deeply. Later, more and more tourists came here.

During the Three Kingdoms period, "people in Shu had no complaints despite severe criminal laws." A very important reason was that Zhuge Liang, the famous prime minister of Shu, was strict with himself and was incorruptible. Throughout his life, Zhuge Liang "pacified the people, demonstrated his official position, obeyed the authority, was sincere and impartial". Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times, and Zhuge Liang was deeply moved by it. Later, he followed Liu Bei in the north and south, and made many extraordinary achievements. After Liu Bei's death, Zhuge Liang "was appointed when the army was defeated and ordered to be in danger." He personally participated in every state affairs of Shu, no matter how big or small. He personally led the army five times to attack Cao Wei in the north, and fought against Cao Wei at close range. He strictly demanded that his children and nephews should not be treated specially because of his high position and power. He personally sent his nephew Zhuge Qiao, together with the generals' sons, to lead troops to transport military supplies into the deep mountains and dangerous valleys. For this reason, he wrote a letter to his brother Zhuge Jin, saying that Zhuge Qiao "should have returned to Chengdu", but "now all the generals and their children have to be transferred" and "it is appropriate to share the honor and disgrace". After Ma Su lost the street pavilion, he blamed himself and went to the postmaster Liu Chan, "please demote yourself to the third rank". From then on, he became more conscientious and diligent. "He worked hard and slept late at night. He was fined more than 20 years old, and all of them were taken care of personally; the food he ate was less than four liters." The long-term sleeplessness and forgetfulness of food made him exhausted mentally and physically, and he became ill from overwork. He died young at the age of only 54 years old. Zhuge Liang used his actual actions to verify his promise of "dedicate himself to death." During his lifetime, Zhuge Liang declared his property and income in a memorial to his later master: "There are 800 mulberry trees in Chengdu and 15 hectares of Susukino fields. The children have enough food and clothing. As for the ministers who are abroad, there is no other arrangement. All food and clothing should be given to officials, and no care should be taken in order to grow in size. On the day of death, there should be no silk left inside and no wealth outside, so as to be able to bear down on His Majesty. "After Zhuge Liang's death, the situation in his family was indeed as stated in the memorial. It can be said that there is no silk inside and no money outside. When Zhuge Liang was critically ill, he left a will and asked that his body be buried in Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong. The funeral should be frugal and simple, and the tomb should be built according to the mountain. The tomb must not be large, as long as it can accommodate a coffin. During the burial, only ordinary clothes are worn and no funeral objects are placed. This is the highest requirement of the famous prime minister Zhuge Liang after his death, and his high integrity is truly remarkable.

[Song Dynasty] Bao Zheng's "Officials Begging for Don't Use Stolen Money": Those who are honest are the representatives of the people; those who are greedy are the thieves of the people.

——Integrity officials are role models for the people; corrupt officials are thieves of the people.

[Qing Dynasty] Li Xing's "Xi Ceng Wai Ji Bing Yan": Gong begets Ming, and honesty begets authority.

——If an official is dedicated to the public good and acts impartially, he will be clear-sighted; if an official is honest, he will establish prestige.

[Song Dynasty] Yue Fei: Civil servants do not love money, military ministers are willing to die, and the world is peaceful.

——Civil officials are upright and honest, and military generals fight to the death to serve the country, so that the country can be at peace.