Zhu Yuanzhang, who came from a grassroots background, surprisingly achieved this amazing feat by distinguishing between the "good and evil" of officials and going to the Ministry of Personnel | Officials | Grassroots
Governance requires a large number of officials who possess both virtue and talent, namely "virtuous and upright" officials. Due to the unpredictable nature of the human heart, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the good and evil of officials.
Even wise and extraordinary sages and capable individuals are bound to misjudge others. Confucius once misjudged people, saying, "To judge a person by their words is to lose their favor; to judge a person by their appearance is to lose their son's feathers.".
The eyes of the masses are bright and bright, like a clear mirror, which can help the monarch distinguish between the good and evil of officials. According to the "Mencius", Wang said, "Why should I know that one is not talented and abandon them?" Mencius said, "If a ruler advances to the wise, if he has no other choice, he will make his subordinates inferior and superior, and neglect his relatives. Can he be careless with them? Both the left and right sides are called wise, and it is impossible to do so; all the officials are called wise, and it is impossible to do so; all the people are called wise, and it is impossible to do so; and then the people are called wise, and they observe it. When they see something that is not possible, they use it. When left and right sides are called impossible, do not listen; all the officials are called impossible, do not listen; when the people of the country are called impossible, they observe it. When they see something that is not possible, they go." In the four links of the employment program, only the approval of the Chinese can be considered and decided to use it.
Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang had a set of theories and practices on this issue. According to the "Ming Taizu Baoxun", Zhu Yuanzhang once discussed with officials in the Ministry of Personnel how to distinguish between "good and evil" officials. An official said, "It is difficult to distinguish whether a person is evil or righteous." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "If everyone is evil, one person may not necessarily be righteous; if everyone is pleased, one person is evil, not necessarily evil. It is based on the public opinion of everyone, and it is based on the personal will of one person. Evil and righteousness are determined by public opinion."
Zhu Yuanzhang also defined what "righteousness and evil" means: "What a righteous person does, governing official affairs without favoring their own family, governing public affairs without favoring their own interests, governing public law without favoring their relatives, and opposing evil people, which is also sufficient." He emphasized that the term "everyone" here refers to a gentleman rather than a petty person. Otherwise, it is inevitable to confuse right and wrong, and distort black and white.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who came from the grassroots, also made remarkable achievements in distinguishing between the "right and wrong" of officials. The "Da Gao" promulgated in the 18th year of the Hongwu reign stipulated: "From now on, officials who are in office, officials in the prefectures, prefectures, and counties, as well as laid-off officials, and those cunning and stubborn people in cities and rural areas, if they dare to manipulate lawsuits, instigate crimes, frame others, collude with the government, and harm the state, they are allowed to be arrested by local virtuous and righteous individuals, and be bound to the capital. If anyone dares to invite them to intercept halfway, they will show their heads to the public. No one can stop them at any pass or ferry."
For local officials who were wrongly punished due to various factors, Zhu Yuanzhang, based on the evaluation of the people under his jurisdiction, also provided remedial measures such as amnesty or promotion. In the 29th year of Hongwu's reign, Yu Tingcheng, the magistrate of Yongzhou, Zheng Min, the magistrate of Qidong, Wang Zuo, the Supervisor of the County of Yuezhou, Fan Zhiyuan, the Supervisor of the County of Anning, and Meng Lian, the Supervisor of the County of Dangtu, were wrongly arrested. Later, the people they governed sent representatives to Beijing to plead, citing their diligence for the people. Zhu Yuanzhang immediately ordered the correction and awarded the inheritance of clothing and precious yarn as a reward.
In the same year, Zhou Rong, the Supervisor of the County of Lingbi County, Shen Chang, the Supervisor of the County of Yichang County, Yu Zirong, the Supervisor of the County of Changle County, Ye Zong, the leader of Xinhua County, and others were wrongly arrested. Later, the people under his rule went to Beijing to plead and list their honesty and outstanding political achievements. Zhu Yuanzhang also pardoned them and promoted them to the magistrate.
Distinguishing the right from the wrong among officials essentially involves involving the people in selecting talents and supervising officials. The relevant practices of Zhu Yuanzhang in the early Ming Dynasty can be said to have had a positive effect in history, forcing officials to not act recklessly, reducing and avoiding the phenomenon of wronging good officials and using bad officials.
