Prefect Kong Yong Peacefully Resolves an Armed Insurgency
 
During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty ruled by Emperor Xiaozhong (1488 –  1505 AD), there was a prefect (county magistrate) named Kong Yong. On his first day as the prefect of Tianzhou he was greeted with big trouble. His troops had been dispatched outside the county to carry out a task. As a result, Tianzhou was without any defense. The people of the Tong ethnic minority had long been dissatisfied with local government officials and had had numerous conflicts with them, so they attempted to take advantage of this opportunity to attack the city with all kinds of weapons.
 
The situation was critical. Some proposed to close the city gates and defend it with their lives. Some advised to borrow troops from neighboring counties to defeat the rebels. Kong Yong said to his subordinates, "Our city is now isolated and it's very weak inside. Defending the city can hardly last long, while borrowing troops is like trying to put out fire with remote water. Let me talk to them in person and try to persuade them. Perhaps they will retreat. If that's the case, it’ll be like exchanging weapons of war for gifts of jade and silk."
 
Kong Yong opened the gate himself and walked alone toward the military camp of the Tong troops. Watching a solitary person walking toward them without any weapons, the rebels did not stop him. Kong went to the middle of the camp and sat down on a chair. The leader of the Tong yelled at Kong, "Who are you and why are you here?" Kong replied, "I'm Kong Yong, the newly appointed prefect. I know you are kind citizens, but you gather here because you live in hunger and cold. Today you are poverty-stricken because the former officials were not considerate. They used troops to suppress you and attempted to exterminate your people. Now, following the emperor's order, I'm here to serve you as your official. I'll take you as my children, and I'll never kill you or corner you. Why in the world would parents kill their children? If you can really listen to me, I'll forgive your wrongdoings. If you send me back to the county capital, I will distribute grains and cloth to you. In the future, please do not rob anymore. If you don't follow my advice, you can kill me, but soon the official troops will come and the result will be horrific."
 
Quite a lot of people were present at the scene. Having heard Kong Yong's words, they all admired his courage and compassion. The commander said, "If you can truly be as considerate as you just said, our Tong people will really be lucky during your tenure, and we will not violate the laws anymore." "My words are set. Please believe my sincerity," Kong replied. Everyone thanked Kong.
 
After staying overnight with the rebels exchanging sincere dialogue, Kong returned to the capital the next day. He gave away a lot of grain and cloth to the Tong people, who repeatedly thanked him and then retreated. From then on, they lived a peaceful life and never committed any crimes to disturb people.
 
As the poet Du Fu wrote, "When officials live frugally and show compassion, thieves will be their obedient people as they should be." As long as the officials, ranked high or low, live a plain life without being extravagant, and provide the opportunity for the people to have prosperity without exploiting them, the people will not steal or rob at the expense of their families and lives. As the saying goes, "Oppressed by officials, the masses revolt." Those in power must take this saying seriously.
 
Presenting compassion and credibility, Kong Yong quickly won the trust and support of the Tong people. It demonstrated that people are reasonable, obedient, and good. It is admirable that in handling this incident, Kong Yong demonstrated his compassion, credibility, and courage. Only those who are selfless can be courageous, and be truly compassionate and trustworthy. Kong Yong’s attitude and policies towards other ethnic groups are a demonstration of virtue.

 

孔镛太守正确处理突发事件
 
明孝宗弘治年间（公元1488-1505），有一个太守名叫孔镛，他刚上任到田州当知府，就遇到了一件大麻烦事。他的下属军队调到外地去执行任务，田州一时空虚，毫无防御能力。因侗族民众长期对田州官员不满，曾与官府多次发生过冲突。趁此时，侗族民众手持凶器，声势浩大的突然来进犯州城。
 
情况紧急，有人提议：关紧城门，死守州城；有人提议：速借邻州兵力，驰击叛乱分子。孔镛说：「目前这里是一座孤城，现正内部空虚。守城难以持久；请求借兵，一时远水难救近火。不如我亲自去晓谕他们，或许他们会解围而去。要真能这样，也就化干戈为玉帛了。」
 
于是孔镛只身一人，独自大开城门，向侗族的军营走去。对方见他一人大摇大摆的走来，也未加阻拦。孔镛来到屋子中间，坐定。侗族首领大声的斥问孔镛：「你是谁？来干甚么？」孔镛说：「我就是刚来此上任的太守孔镛。我知道你们本是善良的百姓，只因为饥寒交迫，才聚集起来苟且活命。你们有苦衷，是前任官员不体谅你们，动不动就用军队来镇压，想把你们剿尽杀绝。我现在奉朝廷的命令，来做你们的父母官，我把你们看成自己的晚辈，我绝不会杀害你们。哪有父母杀害晚辈的道理？如果你们真能听从我的话，我将宽恕你们的罪过。你们把我送回州府，我把粮食、布匹发给你们。你们以后就不要出来抢掠了。你们如果不听从我的劝告，可以把我杀掉。但是很快就有官军来兴师问罪，后果就不堪设想了。」
 
当时有很多人在旁边，都听到了孔镛的讲话，人们都佩服孔太守的胆量和善心。那个侗族首领说：「要是真象您讲的那样体恤我们，在您任太守期间，我们侗族人民真是有福了！我们绝不再做违法的事。」孔镛说：「我一语已定，请你们相信我的诚意！」众人一齐拜谢孔镛。
 
孔镛在这里住了一夜，和他们作了亲切的交谈。第二天，回到州城，送给侗族人民许多粮食和布匹。侗族人民再三道谢而归。从此以后，他们安居乐业，再也没有做过扰民之事。
 
杜甫有诗道：「不过行俭德，盗贼本王臣。」大小官员们，只要简朴一些，不要过份奢侈靡费，少剥削一点，让人民略得温饱，他们是不会抛家舍命去抢掠的。官逼民反，为官者当深细思之。
 
孔镛向侗族人民，表现出善良和诚信的风范，立刻就取得了侗族人民的信任拥戴，这也就说明：人民是通情达理、温顺善良的。孔镛在处理这次突发事件中，表现出他的善良、诚信和勇毅，是令人钦佩的。只有无私的人，才能无畏，才会真正的做到善良与信诚。他对其他民族的态度和政策，也是华夏美德的一种体现。