(Minghui.org) There is a Chinese phrase that says, “A public employee has many opportunities to do good deeds.” This means government officials can use their power to benefit people and improve society. That is, they have opportunities to do good deeds and accumulate virtue. Despite facing all kinds of difficulties and temptations, they can set a good example for the public by showing kindness and perseverance.
Law enforcement officers are one group of public employees who have many chances to accumulate virtue. Yuanshi Shifan (The Yuan Family Education) from the Song Dynasty wrote, “People in ancient times said those who handle criminal cases tend to have more virtue, and their offspring will be prosperous. They said those who benefit others without letting them know will be blessed.” One example of such a person is Guo Gong, who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD).
Not Conflating Law and Authority
According to The Book of the Later Han, Guo followed his father to study law, teach law, and to later become a government officer. During the era of Emperor Ming, a high official named Dou Gu went to battle the Huns. Another official, Qin Peng, was his lieutenant general. Qin once executed someone in his area based on military law. Dou then complained about this arbitrary action, pleading for the emperor to execute Qin. The emperor asked senior officials their opinion, and everyone except Guo agreed with Dou.
“According to the law, Qin has the authority to carry out an execution,” Guo explained.
“Dou is the general so he has overall authority. How could Qin decide to do this on his own?” asked the emperor.
Guo said Dou’s power to supersede is usually limited to military actions. Plus, Qin and Dou were not in the same location. Military law does allow some flexibility for the lieutenant general to make the decision depending on the specific situation. Therefore, Qin had not commited a crime.
In the end, the emperor accepted Guo’s recommendation and did not execute Qin.
Presumption of Innocence
The Book of the Later Han documented another story about Guo. Two brothers were arrested for killing a person, but it was unclear who was the main perpetrator. Since the elder bother did not educate the younger one well, Emperor Ming considered him to have more responsibility and approved his execution and spared the younger one.
When the emperor’s aide Sun Zhang announced the edict however, he made a mistake and said that both brothers would be executed. Upon hearing this, a minister impeached him for “forging the edict,” and pleaded for his execution. Sun said it was an error and he did not do it intentionally. The emperor thus asked Guo for his opinion on the matter.
“Sun should pay a fine,” Guo said.
“But he forged the edict. Why just pay a fine?” asked the emperor.
The emperor said the law differentiated between a deliberate action and negligence. Sun had been negligent and the punishment was thus light.
“Sun and the criminals were from the same county. I suspect he did this on purpose and is thus unpardonable,” the emperor said.
“We all follow Heaven’s law, which is upright and righteous. The presumption of innocence does not allow us to punish someone when there is no evidence,” Guo explained.
The emperor agreed and Sun’s life was saved as well.
Forgiveness and Generosity
When Emperor Zhang reigned, he once granted amnesty to all criminals who had been given the death penalty and were detained before April that year. That is, all their crimes would be lowered by one level and they would be sent to Jincheng (in today’s North Korea) to guard the border. But the amnesty did not apply to fugitive criminals.
Guo said to the emperor, “Over 10,000 criminals with a death penalty have fled, and most of them were arrested and taken back to prison after the amnesty was issued. As a result, all of them received harsh punishment and were not given the amnesty.”
Guo said that the amnesty was intended to protect people’s lives. He proposed to apply the amnesty to those death-penalty inmates who fled before the amnesty was announced. This would protect their lives and give them a chance to contribute by safeguarding the border. The emperor agreed to give them amnesty.
When handling legal cases, Guo focused on forgiveness and generosity. He once advised the emperor to change 41 felony crimes to lighter ones, and the emperor approved all changes. Historians documented that Guo was later promoted and many of his offspring were blessed by becoming high-ranking officers.
Summary
The ancient saying, “a public employee has many opportunities to do good deeds” still applies today. Right now in China, tens of millions of Falun Gong practitioners are discriminated against and mistreated for their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. If government officials followed their consciences and helped the innocent practitioners, they would pave a better future for themselves and their families.
If officials blindly follow orders from the Chinese Communist Party or pursue political gains through persecuting Falun Gong, uncertainty and misfortune could follow them.
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Category: Traditional Culture
