Doing One's Duty Without Claiming Credit
 
Bing Ji (? – 55 BC), a man from the West Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), was very forgiving and morally respectable. He did a lot of great things in a low-keyed manner and never showed off.
 
Emperor Xuan of Han (91 – 49 BC) was the emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 BC to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story. Emperor Xuan's birth name was Liu Bingyi. He was born in 91 BC to Liu Jin, the son of then-Crown Prince Liu Ju, and his wife Consort Wang. Emperor Xuan was the great-grandson of Emperor Wu (156 – 87 BC, ruling from 140 – 87 BC).
 
Late in Emperor Wu's reign, conspirators accused Crown Prince Liu Ju of using witchcraft against his father, Emperor Wu. The prince was forced into a rebellion to defend his own life, which was defeated. Liu Ju committed suicide, and his two uncles died with him. The princes’s entire family, including the prince’s son and daughter-in-law, who were Emperor Xuan's parents, also died in the incident in the capital.
 
Emperor Xuan (then baby Bingyi) was but a few months old at the time. Bingyi was spared, although he was imprisoned. He was put into the custody of the warden Bing Ji. Bing got involved in the trial of Liu Ju’s case and found that Prince Liu Ju was actually not guilty. Bing Ji advised Emperor Wu several times, telling him that there was not enough evidence to support the accusation, but each time he was reproached by Emperor Wu. He took pity on the child, and specially selected two detailed and honest female prisoners, Hu Zu and Zhao Zhengqing, to serve as his wet nurses and caretakers. Bing visited them each day to see how the child was doing.
 
A friend of Bing Ji was worried about him for speaking his mind and repeatedly told him to stay clear of the storm. "His Majesty himself ruled on the case. Everyone is trying to draw the line with those who are involved in it. Why do you risk your own safety to seek justice for the prince or look after his grandson Bingyi? Did it ever occur to you that you might be accused of being an accomplice to the prince? Is it wise for you to take the risk?"
 
Bing Ji replied in an impervious manner, "One has to comport with kindness and morality. The witchcraft case was a conspiracy. Besides, the Emperor’s great-grandson is just a baby. What crime has he committed? I cannot look away and turn a blind eye to it. I cannot live without conscience."
 
Emperor Wu became ill near the end of his reign. He heard seers claim that an aura of an emperor was appearing from Chang'an (the capital of the Han dynasty) prisons. Emperor Wu ordered that all prisoners, regardless of whether they had been convicted or not and regardless of the severity of the charges, were to be executed. When the eunuch delivering the edict arrived at the prison that Bing Ji oversaw, Bing refused to receive the eunuch, stating that innocent people should not be executed, let alone such a baby. The eunuch said, “This is the Emperor’s edict. How dare you disobey it (a capital offense)? Are you looking to end your life? You’re such a fool!” Bing Ji replied, “I’m not a person without wisdom. My actions are to protect the Emperor’s reputation and the Emperor’s great-grandson’s life, as well as many innocent lives. If I had any selfishness on such an urgent situation, a big mistake would be irreparable.
 
The eunuch hurried back to the palace to report to Emperor Wu. Hearing Bing Ji’s words, the emperor realized his error and declared a general pardon. The prisoners in Bing Ji’s prison all survived.
 
Years later, the 17-year-old Bingyi, assumed the throne and became Emperor Xuan. However, Bing Ji never once mentioned what he had done for Emperor Xuan, although his family repeatedly prompted him to do so. "You have saved His Majesty's life and done him great service. If you informed His Majesty in person, you will surely get a big promotion. Anyone else would be proud of taking this credit. Why are you keeping your lips sealed?" Bing Ji replied with a smile, "It is my duty as a subject. It was an honor to have the opportunity to repay the grace of the emperor. I wouldn't be a gentleman if I exchanged it for wealth or power. I am well above such a thought."
 
Eventually Emperor Xuan heard from others what Bing Ji had done for him. He was so deeply touched that he was sleepless until he made Bing Ji the Marquis of Boyang.
 
Meanwhile, Bing Ji became very ill, which worried Emperor Xuan. A royal subject named Xia Housheng knew that heaven always rewarded good deeds, so he told the emperor, "I have heard that heaven will reward those who have done many good deeds and even their offspring. Bing Ji has not been rewarded for his great deeds, so it stands to reason that he will recover from his illness. Your Majesty does not need to worry too much." Shortly afterwards, Bing Ji indeed made a full recovery and accepted the title of Marquis of Boyang. He also became the prime minister and was rated one of the most moral prime ministers in Chinese history.
 
Saving a life brings one infinite virtue. Hence, it is only natural that Emperor Xuan wanted to repay Bing Ji for saving his life. Although the reward seems to have come from the emperor, it actually was bestowed by heaven. Because Bing Ji's act of charity and kindness comported with the heavenly law, heaven rewarded him with honor and good fortune.
 
尽责而不言功
 
丙吉，西汉鲁国人，为人厚道，通大义，有功却从不夸耀。汉武帝晚年时，宫中发生了诬陷太子的冤案，太子男女妻妾皆连坐受害。太子的孙子刚刚生下几个月，也被株连关在狱中。丙吉在参与审理此案时，心知太子蒙冤，他几次为此上奏说此案证据不足，都被武帝呵斥，他怜悯皇曾孙无人照顾，特选派谨慎忠厚女子，保护养育，丙吉每天再三来狱探望。
 
丙吉的朋友怕他为此遭祸，多次劝他说：「太子一案，乃皇上钦定，避之尚且不及，你何苦为其辩白，又何苦照顾他的孙子？你想过没有，人们会怀疑你是太子的同党呢？这是聪明人干的事吗？」丙吉却坚定的说：「做人不能不讲仁德，本是冤案，况且皇曾孙还是个娃娃，他何罪之有？我是看着不忍才这样做的，人不能昧著良心。」
 
后来武帝有病，又听传言说长安狱中有天子之气，遂下诏将长安的犯人一律处死。使臣连夜来至皇曾孙所在的牢狱，丙吉却不放使臣进入，他气愤的说：「无辜者尚不致死，何况这样一个娃娃呢？我不会让人们这样做的。」使臣见状说：「此乃皇上旨意，你敢抗旨不遵，岂不自寻死路？你真太愚蠢了！」丙吉誓死抗拒使臣，他决然说：「我非无智之人，这样做只为保全皇上的名声和皇曾孙的性命及无辜之人。事急如此，我若稍有私心，大错就无法挽回了。」
 
使者不得入，只得回去急奏汉武帝。汉武帝闻言醒悟，他没有追究丙吉，而且赦免天下，丙吉所管的犯人因他才都得以幸存。
 
数年后，刘询当了皇帝，是为汉宣帝，丙吉却绝口不提先前他对宣帝的恩德。知晓此事的他的家人曾对他说：「你对皇上有恩，若是当面告知皇上，你的官位必会升迁。这是别人做梦都会想得到的好事，你怎么能闭口不说呢？」丙吉微微一笑说：「身为臣子，本该如此，我有幸回报皇恩一二，若是以此买宠求荣，岂是君子所为？此等心思，我向来绝不虑之。」
 
后来宣帝从别人口中知晓丙吉的恩德，大为感动，夜不能寐，敬重之下，他封丙吉为博阳侯。
 
就在此时，正赶上丙吉害病，宣帝非常忧虑，夏侯胜深明善恶吉凶、洪范五行，奏说：「臣闻有阴德者，必享福乐以及于子孙，如今丙吉未获善报，定非不治之疾，请陛下宽心。」不久丙吉果然痊愈，受封博阳侯，代魏相为丞相，世称贤相。
 
救人一命，善德无量，因为对于生命来说，最大的感恩莫过于救了他的命，所以宣帝对丙吉的报答也是理所当然的了。丙吉所得到的荣誉表面是人授予的，实际上是因为其善行符合了天理大道，是上天给予仁人志士的褒奖和福报。