He was seized by the court supervisor, but, when the supervisor heard that the man belonged to Ziwen’s clan, he let him go.
Ziwen summoned the court supervisor and scolded him, saying, “The main reason for the establishment of the position of court supervisor was so that this office could deal with violations of the king’s orders and investigate offenses against the laws of the state.
An upright officer, please note, maintains the laws.
Though gentle, he does not bend; though hard, he does not break.
Now in this instance there is a man who has cast aside a law and gone against orders, and you have let him go.
This shows a want of propriety in the adjudication of cases and a desire to act in a way that shows partiality.
Why should I have any desire to further my private interests?
Why should a court supervisor act counter to a law?
I occupy a high position that requires that I lead the men-at-arms and the people.
The men-at-arms and the people may harbor resentment against me, but I cannot exempt them from laws.
Now a man in my clan has violated a law in an extremely obvious manner.
If the court supervisor should seek to curry favor with me by releasing him, my lack of partiality would then be blatantly apparent to the entire state.
I, who hold the levers of power in the state, would be known for attachment to personal benefit.
It would then be preferable to die rather than to live without honor in this fashion.” He then delivered his clansman to the court supervisor, saying, “If you do not carry out a punishment in this case, I will die.” The supervisor was afraid and punished Ziwen’s clansman. When King Cheng87 heard of this, he went at once to Ziwen’s residence without pausing to put on his shoes and said, “I am young and immature and put the wrong person in the position of court supervisor and have thus caused you offense.” He then removed the supervisor from his position and treated Ziwen with great respect, entrusting him with the supervision of domestic affairs.
When the people of the state heard of this, they said, “With a chief counselor as public spirited as this, what do we have to worry about?” Then they made a song among themselves that went, “Ziwen’s clansman, / Broke a state law; / The supervisor freed him, / Ziwen did not agree. / Concerned with the aggrieved, / He acted justly.