208 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
17th Day (Kabo)
The Privy Council spoke to the king: “We have reviewed the memorial of
Yi Mindo, minister of the Board of Works, as you instructed. We found the
discussion of currents affairs presented in the memorial appropriate, and
therefore we selected main points in it for your final decision and implemen-
tation.
“First, the memorial said, ‘Men of talent and virtue must be employed
and incompetent government agencies regulated.’ We believe it made a
good point. Men of talent and virtue are the foundation of the state. The
success or failure of administration depends on whether or not these are
employed. Martial Marquis Zhuge [Zhuge Liang] admonished Hou Zhu,^71
‘The Former Han prospered because its rulers employed wise officials and
kept themselves away from petty people. The Later Han, on the other hand,
declined because its rulers associated with petty people, while alienating
worthy officials.’ These are the words that you should keep in mind forever.
At the end of the former dynasty, you witnessed how the state fell into ruin
when it endeared itself to petty people while rejecting loyal and upright
officials. Since lessons to be learned are close to you, you have to be careful
not to repeat them.
“The Classic of Documents says, ‘Let not his various officers obstruct
their places. The work is Heaven’s; men must act for it!’^72 If men of virtue
are employed, everything in the affairs of state will be well ordered; if the
petty people are employed, however, the consequence will be quite the
opposite. So how can you not be careful?
“Second, the memorial says, ‘Flattering officials should be kept away,
and their slandering rooted out,’ and we believe the point was well made.
Since flatterers are good at pleasing the ruler, they in his eyes may appear
loyal to him. Mistaking their flattery for loyalty, the ruler follows their
advice on all matters, and, as a result, it happens that right and wrong are
reversed and faithful subjects are falsely accused. We earnestly urge you,
when you employ people, to distinguish between those who are loyal and
those who are cunning, without allowing them to be mixed together.
Generally speaking, those who are loyal speak out what they believe to be- The last emperor of the State of Shu. During his reign, he surrendered to the State of
Wei in 263. - Kao Yao’s counsel to Emperor Shun. Shu Ching: Book of History. Clae Waltham, p. 28.