| | Mi Zijian was appointed as the administrator of Shanfu, and fearing that the ruler of Lu would listen to slanderers and thus prevent him from carrying out his administration, he therefore took leave to depart. Therefore, he requested two of the ruler's close scribes to accompany him to his post. Mi Zijian instructed the local officials and ordered the two scribes to write. When they began writing, he pulled their elbows; if their handwriting was poor, he would angrily scold them. The two scribes became very worried. They requested permission to return home, and the ruler of Lu asked Confucius about it. Confucius said: Mi Buqi is a man of virtue. It seems that he used this method to offer advice. The ruler then realized the truth. He sighed deeply and said: This is due to my own unworthiness. I have long disturbed Mi Zijian's administration and repeatedly demanded good results from him. Without the two scribes, I would have no way to know my faults; without Master Kong, I would have had no means to realize the truth. He immediately sent someone to inform Mi Zijian: "From today onward, Shanfu is no longer mine." "Follow your own policies; if they are beneficial to the people, you may decide to implement them. Report only the essentials once every five years." Thus, Mi Zijian was able to govern Shanfu according to his administration. He personally emphasized sincerity and thickness, clarified the importance of kinship, valued loyalty and reverence, practiced utmost benevolence, showed earnestness and honesty, and promoted loyalty and trustworthiness. The common people were transformed by his example.
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