Seeking No Power and Pursuing No Fame
 
When Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu (5 BC – 57 AD), ruled China during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD to 220 AD), he appointed the scholar Heng Rong as court official with the duty of educating his son, the Crown Prince. Heng Rong was knowledgeable and honest, so Emperor Guangwu was very satisfied with this selection.
 
At the time, Heng Rong was already sixty years old. He created a school in Jiujiang City and had taught hundreds of students. One of his students, He Tang, was promoted to be a commander in charge of the Emperor’s safety. He Tang recommended that Emperor Guangwu appoint Heng Rong as the imperial tutor. On the first day that Heng Rong went to the palace, He Tang reminded him, "Being an official is completely different from doing scholarly research. A scholar should be rigorous and honest. However, an official must be adaptive and flexible. You have such a good opportunity to be the Crown Prince's teacher. Please don't be too stubborn."
 
Heng Rong did not say a word. Then He Tang added, "Although the emperor is a wise emperor, nevertheless, he likes to be flattered. In particular, you should not offend the Crown Prince. Please don't be too strict with him."
 
Upon hearing this, Heng Rong was not happy. He said, "You are my student. Don't you know your teacher? I have been doing scholarly research all my life. I appreciate most the way of the gentleman and did not want to be an official. I accepted the emperor's appointment because the emperor is wise and has helped to make the world peaceful. You have not been an official for long, yet you've learned political trickery and flattery. You even try to teach me such things. I truly feel sorry for you."
 
Then Heng Rong submitted his resignation. However, Emperor Guangwu would not approve it. Emperor Guangwu talked to Heng Rong several times and praised him, "What you say is excellent. Having you here is the nation’s fortune. I wish I had known you earlier."
 
Emperor Guangwu immediately appointed Heng Rong as imperial tutor. Unexpectedly, Heng Rong firmly refused. He said, "I do not have enough virtue or ability. If Your Majesty honors me with an official position just because Your Majesty is fond of me at this moment, it is not a prudent decision. In terms of knowledge, I am not as good as my fellow classmates, minister Peng Hong, or Yangzhou official, Gao Hong. It is more appropriate for Your Majesty to promote them."
 
Emperor Guangwu sighed, "Although scholars have been talking about not pursuing personal gains and not seeking fame, how many of them can truly achieve this? You are a rare gentleman. You are not only modest, but even recommend others to me, without seeking power for yourself." Emperor Guangwu insisted on appointing Heng Rong as imperial tutor. He also promoted Peng Hong and Gao Hong to be court officials.
 
Peng and Gao went to thank Heng Rong. However, Heng Rong did not admit them to his home. He sent a message to them, saying, "The emperor is wise, and thus promotes you. It has nothing to do with me. If you want to thank someone, you should thank the emperor. You must be diligent in your work and be loyal to the country. That is what you should do."
 
One day, Emperor Guangwu went to visit the imperial college. It just happened that the scholars there were having a heated argument. Many scholars talked on and on with red faces. Heng Rong was the only one who kept a calm manner with gentle words and did not show disrespect. Emperor Guangwu told the officials accompanying him, "Reasoning with respect is what a true scholar does. Only Heng Rong was able to do so."
 
Emperor Guangwu tried to promote Heng Rong several times; however, Heng Rong politely refused each attempt. He said, "Your trust is my great honor. I do not make great contributions to the country. If I accept the promotion because I seek fame, Your Majesty would be criticized for unfairness and I would feel embarrassed."
 
The Crown Prince was diligent and became an accomplished scholar after years of study. Heng Rong was very pleased; however, he asked to resign from his position as the Crown Prince's teacher. He wrote to Emperor Guangwu several times, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving me the opportunity to teach the Crown Prince. The Prince is able and he has learned all the classics. Therefore it is time for me to return home."
 
Others advised Heng Rong not to resign, and told him, "It is a great honor to be the Crown Prince's teacher. Someday when the Crown Prince becomes emperor, your honor will be immeasurable. Other people seek such an opportunity and cannot get it. How can you give it away so easily?"
 
Heng Rong replied, "If I had thought like you, how could I become the Crown Prince's teacher? Exactly because this position is honorable, I dare not to keep it for long."
 
Crown Prince Liu Zhuang later became Emperor Mingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty in 58 BC. Emperor Mingdi admired Heng Rong very much, and treated him with the courtesy due to a teacher. Emperor Mingdi once went to Taichang Court for religious ceremonies and to examine imperial scholars. The emperor asked Heng Rong to sit at a desk on the east side, just like when Heng Rong was teaching him. Emperor Mingdi also called several hundred people, including court officials and Heng Rong's students, to the Taichang Court to give a salute to Heng Rong. When Heng Rong was sick, Emperor Mingdi personally went to visit him. On each visit upon arriving, the emperor stepped out of his carriage on the street and walked to Heng Rong's home to show his respect. When Heng Rong died, Emperor Mingdi wore mourning apparel to attend his funeral.
 
不慕权位　受誉知辞
 
东汉光武帝刘秀在位时，桓荣被任命为议郎，教授太子读书。桓荣博学敦厚，光武帝对他十分满意。
 
桓荣此时年已六十，从前他在九江自办学校，招收的弟子有几百人。他的弟子何汤被提拔为虎贲中郎将，正是由于何汤的推荐，光武帝才征召桓荣的。何汤在老师入朝第一天便提醒他说：「治学和为官是截然不同的。治学讲究严谨、认真，而为官却在乎通融、应变，老师有此机遇，当不可太固执了。」
 
桓荣一声未吭，何汤又说：「皇上虽为明君，却也喜欢奉承喜言，太子更不可得罪，老师不要对他过于严厉。」
 
桓荣听他说完，不高兴的说：「你为我的弟子，难道还不了解为师吗？为师一生治学，最爱君子之道，本无意为官。今见天下大治，天子圣明，这才应召的。你为官不久，竟学会了官场的权术谄媚之道，还以此教我，我真为你感到痛惜啊。」
 
桓荣于是辞官，光武帝却不批准，和桓荣交谈数次之后，光武帝连连称赞他说：「你说的太好了，得到你，是国家的大幸，只是太晚了些。」
 
他当即任命桓荣为博士，不料桓荣却坚决推辞，口说：「臣无德无能，陛下一时心喜，就任我官职，未免失之草率。若论学问，臣不及同学郎中彭闳、扬州从事皋弘，陛下还是重用他们比较合适。」
 
光武帝感慨说道：「读书人虽口不言利，言不好名，然而又有几人能真正做到呢？你是个难得的君子，自我谦虚不说，还能荐举别人，不慕权位。」于是坚持让他担任博士之职，还提拔彭闳、皋弘做了议郎。
 
彭、皋二人向桓荣致谢，桓荣却不让他们进自己家的门，他派人传话说：「天子圣明，才会重用你们，与我何干呢？要谢，你们当谢皇上，勤于政事，为国尽忠，这才是你们该做的。」
 
一次，光武帝到太学视察，正赶上各位博士在争论不休，不少人争的面红耳赤，嘴里滔滔不绝，惟有桓荣言辞温和，也少有不敬之色。光武帝对随从自己的官员说：「有理有敬，这才是儒士本色，只有桓荣做到了。」
 
光武帝几次要提升桓荣的官职，桓荣都辞谢说：「陛下垂爱于臣，是臣的万分荣幸。臣于国并无大功，若贪誉而受，必让陛下遭人非议，说陛下任人不公。这样陛下有嫌，而臣亦难堪了。」
 
太子经学有成，学业精进，桓荣喜在心头，却要求辞去太子师傅的职位。他几次上书光武帝：「臣蒙陛下厚爱，有幸教导太子，今日太子凭其聪慧，经义皆通，臣理当辞归。」
 
有人劝他不该请辞，且说：「为太子之师，此乃荣耀之本，他日太子登基，其荣更不可估量。他人求之不来，你何以轻轻弃之？」
 
桓荣回答道：「似你多思，我又何以能任太子之师呢？正因此职荣宠，我才不敢恋据。」
 
太子刘庄后来即位，为汉明帝。汉明帝深敬桓荣，「犹尊桓荣以师礼」。他曾亲自到太常府去，让桓荣坐东面，设置几杖，像当年讲学一样，聆听老师的指教。他还将朝中百官和桓荣教过的学生数百人召到太常府，向桓荣行弟子礼。桓荣生病，汉明帝亲自登门看望，每次探望老师，他都是一进街口便下车步行前往，以表尊敬。
 
桓荣去世时，汉明帝亲自穿起孝服，为其送葬。