Advise Frankly and Preserve Moral Integrity
 
Ji An (? - 112 BC), courtesy name Chang Ru, lived in Puyang County during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 9 AD). For generations, his family has held high ministerial positions. He admired the principles taught by Huang Di and Lao Zi, and he was an upright and straightforward man. As an official, he always put the welfare of his country and people first, didn't worry about his personal safety, and advised the emperor frankly. He became famous for his selfless behavior.
 
During the rule of Emperor Han Wu Di (141 – 87 BC), a large fire occurred in Henei County. Over one thousand houses were destroyed. The emperor sent Ji An to investigate the cause of the blaze. Ji An discovered that the fire was the least of the people's problems, as there were over 10,000 families suffering because of a severe drought. The people were starving and had eaten the bodies of the deceased to survive. Ji An made the people's needs his priority and took action to ameliorate the situation. By showing a Fu Xin (a document from the emperor), he got the local officials in Henei County to distribute food stored in a government granary to the poor people who were suffering. When he returned to the royal court, Ji An returned the Fu Xin and confessed to the emperor that he had used it in order to help the starving people. Emperor Han Wu Di realized that although Ji had used the document for unintended purposes, he had acted kindly so Ji An was spared punishment.
 
Once, while selecting Confucian scholars, the emperor kept talking about his plans. Ji An said, "Your Majesty, although you superficially appear to be executing justice and humanity, there are many desires in your heart. How can you compare with the rule of Tang Yu?" (Tang Yu refers to two Confucian sages Tang Yao and Yu Shun. In ancient times, Tang Yu referred to the ideal time when regulations were clear and people were wealthy and happy.) The emperor became very angry and red in the face and immediately dismissed everyone. Many officials were afraid that Ji An had gone too far. Some of them said that Ji An was wrong for speaking out. Ji An said, "The emperor sent for high ranking officials to assist him. How could they flatter and please him, which could allow the emperor to do wrong things? Moreover, I am already a high ranking official, even though I cherish my body, how could I damage the empire just to keep my rank and save my own skin?"
 
The great general Wei Qing was promoted again and again. His older sister even became the queen. The officials were afraid that they would lose favor if they did not show Wei enough respect. However, Ji An still treated Wei as an equal. Some people told him that he was wrong to be this way. Ji An said, "I let the great general have a guest with whom he can feel equal, isn't this respecting him?" After Wei Qing heard this, he was even more convinced that Ji An was a very virtuous person and he could see that Ji was not a sycophant. He sought advice from Ji An many times when deciding policies and treated him even better.
 
When Liu An, the Huainan King, rebelled, he was afraid of Ji An. He said, "This person likes to advise frankly and preserve moral integrity. He would sacrifice his life to maintain justice. However, to manipulate Prime Minister Gongsun Hong would be as easy as instructing a child."
 
Ji An could always point out shortcomings in the empire or crafty officials who were self-serving and not really looking after the country. It seemed nobody could affect his moral integrity. The emperor praised him as an official who could go through the hard times with his country and respected him so much that when Ji An requested an audience, the emperor dared not to meet him unless he was dressed appropriately. The emperor did not show the same manners to other top officials, such as granting an audience with great general Wei Qing in the bathroom, or meeting Prime Minister Gongsun Hong without his imperial hat.
 
Although Ji An had too much pride, lacked in propriety, liked to criticize others directly, and was intolerant of other people's mistakes, when there were big issues that affected the country and people, he could ignore his own safety and still advise the emperor frankly. In this way he preserved his moral integrity, which was very rare even in ancient times. Because of this, he was famous throughout the capital and the country.
 

直言进谏　坚守节操
 
汲黯，字长孺，是西汉濮阳县（今濮阳西南）人，家中世代为卿大夫，他喜好黄帝、老子的学说，为人刚正耿直，身为臣子，能够以国家社稷和百姓疾苦为重，不惜个人安危，直言进谏，因此而出名。
 
汉武帝时，河内郡失火，烧了一千多家，皇帝派汲黯前去视察。汲黯到了后，发现失火只是小事，当地贫民受水灾旱灾的有一万多家，甚至到了人吃人的地步。汲黯以民为重，见机行事，他凭着手上拿的符信命令河内郡的官吏发放官仓里的粮食，赈济当地贫民。回朝覆命时，汲黯归还符节，向皇帝请罪。汉武帝认为他非常贤良，对他免于治罪。
 
有一次在召选有文才的儒生时，皇帝大谈我要怎样怎样。汲黯说：「陛下您内心有很多欲望，而外面却装作要施行仁义的样子，这能效法唐虞之治吗？」皇帝发怒，改变脸色而宣布停止了朝政，大臣们很多都替汲黯害怕，有的责怪汲黯，汲黯说：「天子设置公卿等辅佐的臣子，难道能让他们奉承阿谀，迎合意旨，使君主陷于不义的地步吗？况且我既已位居公卿，即使爱惜自己的身体，那又怎能损害了朝廷的利益呢！」
 
大将军卫青的地位后来愈加尊贵，他的姐姐又做了皇后，群臣都唯恐怠慢了卫青，可汲黯还是对他施平等的礼节，有人劝汲黯，汲黯说：「让大将军有拱手平等礼待的客人，这难道不是敬重他吗？」卫青听到后更加认为汲黯贤良，不阿谀奉承权势，多次向他请教朝廷大事，比以前更加厚待汲黯。
 
淮南王刘安阴谋反叛时，也十分畏惧汲黯，说：「这个人喜欢直言进谏，坚守节操，为了道义可以牺牲性命；至于说服丞相公孙弘，那就像教小孩一样容易。」
 
对于朝政不合理的地方和那些奸佞之臣，汲黯总是能够直言指正，似乎甚么人都不能使他改变节操，皇帝曾称赞他是位能够与国家共患难的社稷之臣，对他非常敬重和礼遇，以至于大将军卫青入宫晋见时，皇帝可以蹲在厕所里召见他，丞相公孙弘平常因事晋见，皇帝有时不戴帽子，但汲黯晋见，皇帝不戴帽子就不敢接见他。
 
汲黯虽然有着性情倨傲，缺少礼节，喜欢当面指责对方，不能容忍人家过失的缺点，但在喜欢阿谀奉承的官场上，在关系到国家和百姓的大事上，他能够放下个人安危，直言进谏，坚守节操，这已经很难得了，因此而名震朝野。