"People are doing things, and heaven is watching. No matter how capable a person is, there are three things they must not do, or they will face consequences."
Ancient wisdom says:
As a person of virtue and ambition, one should strive for self-improvement like the sky, continuously seeking progress. At the same time, one should possess the broad-mindedness and tolerance of the earth, embodying a generous heart and an open attitude.
In this vast human world, every action and movement should conform to the way of heaven and uphold one’s conscience. Even a person of exceptional talent must be cautious in their words and actions. There are three things that one should never do, even if they possess extraordinary abilities.
Cunning and Deceitful, Unprincipled
During the Han Dynasty, there was an official named Jiang Chong. He was worried that after the emperor's death, the crown prince would kill him due to their poor relationship. Therefore, he lied and claimed that the emperor's illness was the result of someone using witchcraft to curse him.
Upon hearing Jiang Chong's words, the emperor sent him to investigate the matter. Jiang Chong took some sorcerers from the Hu people and began digging up wooden dolls everywhere, claiming they were used to curse the emperor.
They arrested many people and brutally coerced them into confessing that they had placed these dolls. As a result, many were wrongfully accused, and some were even executed. The death toll from this incident reached tens of thousands, spreading from the capital to various regions.
The emperor, being old and constantly suspicious of those around him wanting to harm him, led no one to dare speak up for the wronged. Jiang Chong exploited the emperor's psychology, convincing the Hu sorcerers to say that there were also items in the palace cursing the emperor that needed to be found.
The emperor sent Jiang Chong and his associates to search the palace, leaving no quarters of the harem unexamined. They began their search with the concubines the emperor rarely visited and eventually made their way to the crown prince's palace.
They dug through every inch of the palace, even disturbing the areas where beds were placed. In the end, Jiang Chong claimed to have found the most wooden dolls in the crown prince's palace, along with pieces of cloth inscribed with treasonous words.
The crown prince was terrified and didn't know what to do. His teacher, Shi De, also feared being implicated and advised the crown prince to act first and have Jiang Chong and his group arrested. However, the crown prince wanted to seek an explanation from the emperor.
But Jiang Chong and his associates denied the crown prince the opportunity to explain. Ultimately, the crown prince followed Shi De's advice and pretended to be an envoy sent by the emperor, capturing Jiang Chong and his group. In the chaos, they even killed Han, the marquis who had suspected them.
In the end, the crown prince personally killed Jiang Chong. Jiang Chong, by fabricating lies, exploiting the emperor's fear, and resorting to unscrupulous means, attempted to solidify his position and take revenge on the crown prince. However, his wicked actions did not escape the due consequences.
As the ancient saying goes, "Good and evil will ultimately be rewarded." Regardless of one’s status, pursuing personal interests through cunning and unscrupulous means will ultimately lead to self-destruction and the consequences one deserves.
During the Han Dynasty, there was a chancellor named Gongsun He. His family faced trouble when his son, Gongsun Jingsheng, violated the law and secretly misused a large amount of money meant for the army. As a result, he was discovered and arrested.
Gongsun He, being a relative of the empress, desperately wanted to save his son. He approached the emperor, requesting permission to capture a formidable hero named Zhu Anshi, hoping to use this accomplishment to redeem his son.
As chancellor, Gongsun He should have upheld his duties with integrity and impartiality. Instead, he abused his power to seek personal gain, proposing to capture the hero Zhu Anshi to gain merit for his son's release.
The emperor agreed, and Gongsun He successfully captured Zhu Anshi. However, Zhu Anshi, upon being arrested, showed no fear. Instead, he smiled and remarked to others, “This time, Gongsun the chancellor will drag his whole family into trouble.”
Then, Zhu Anshi wrote a letter from prison, exposing the Gongsun family. He alleged that Gongsun Jingsheng had an improper relationship with Princess Yangshi, the emperor's daughter, and secretly buried cursed dolls along the emperor's frequent routes, along with many other slanderous statements.
When the emperor investigated, he found that Zhu Anshi's claims were true. Both Gongsun He and his son were imprisoned, ultimately dying in jail, and the entire Gongsun family faced punishment.
Zhu Anshi’s act of revenge was a consequence of the Gongsun family’s greed and pursuit of personal gain. Gongsun He’s indulgence and protection of his son only exacerbated the negative consequences.
His greed and shortsightedness not only harmed himself and his son but also brought ruin upon the entire family. By failing to promptly stop and correct his son’s illegal behavior, he instead attempted to absolve him through improper means. This blind pursuit of family interests ultimately led to their downfall.
As the saying goes, “Greed knows no bounds, and resentment knows no end.”
It is crucial for a person to learn to be content and find happiness in simplicity, for greed is insatiable, and the anger and strife it can provoke are limitless.
A long time ago, during the Han Dynasty, there was a general named Li Guangli. When he was preparing for a military expedition, the chancellor Liu Quliang accompanied him to the bridge and even performed a ritual to pray for his safety.
Li Guangli secretly asked Liu Quliang, “Please speak to the emperor on my behalf and advocate for my nephew, the Prince of Changyi, to be named the crown prince. That way, we can both feel at ease.”
Liu Quliang agreed since the Prince of Changyi was also his son-in-law.
However, while Li Guangli was at the front lines, he heard that something had gone wrong at home, which made him anxious.
His deputy, Hu Yafu, advised him, “Your family has been arrested. If you return and the emperor is displeased, your whole family will end up in jail together. It might be better to surrender to the Xiongnu.”
Li Guangli felt conflicted but ultimately decided to press deeper into enemy territory, hoping to achieve merit and redeem himself.
He led his troops to the banks of the Zhi River, where the Xiongnu retreated.
Li Guangli’s army fought against the Xiongnu all day, killing one of their generals but suffering significant losses as well.
At this point, two senior officers under his command sensed that something was wrong and intended to capture him.
Upon learning this, Li Guangli killed the two men and retreated with his army back to Yanzhan Mountain.
Seeing the Han army exhausted, the Xiongnu chieftain personally led 50,000 cavalry to attack, resulting in a fierce battle.
That night, the Xiongnu dug deep trenches in front of the Han army and launched a surprise attack from the rear, causing chaos among the Han troops. In the end, Li Guangli had no choice but to surrender.
The chieftain was delighted to have Li Guangli as his son-in-law and treated him with great favor.
However, Wei Lu was jealous of Li Guangli's favored status and took advantage of an opportunity to have a sorcerer claim that the chieftain was untrustworthy for capturing Li Guangli but failing to conduct a ritual sacrifice.
Upon hearing this, the chieftain became furious and arrested Li Guangli, ultimately killing him for the sacrifice.
As a result, when Emperor Wu of Han learned that Li Guangli had surrendered and was then killed, he ordered the execution of Li Guangli's entire family.
Li Guangli's lack of the necessary sense of responsibility when faced with adversity was evident. He did not actively seek solutions to the problems at hand and failed to consider the serious consequences of surrender. Instead, he was easily influenced by his deputy Hu Yafu and others, making a decision that followed the crowd.
As a general, he should have possessed the spirit to stand firm and take responsibility in difficult times.
He was meant to be the pillar of his family and a key figure for the state, but at a crucial moment, he did not choose to step up and shoulder his responsibilities; instead, he was driven by fear and ultimately chose to surrender in an extreme and irresponsible manner.
There is an ancient saying: “A man should value resilience; what is success or failure worth discussing?”
A person should be steadfast and courageous in taking responsibility. In contrast, Li Guangli's performance in adversity appeared weak and lacking in accountability, ultimately leading to a tragic end in his life.
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Life is fleeting, like a white horse passing through a narrow gap; it vanishes in an instant. Only by adhering to the right path can one leave a clear reputation in the world.
Do not let cunning and deceitful thoughts tarnish a noble soul;
Do not allow insatiable greed to consume the roots of conscience;
And do not evade responsibility, forgetting the heavy burdens on your shoulders.
I wish that we can all take this as a warning, enabling us to walk steadily and far, not wasting our youth.