(Minghui.org) Su Qiong was one of many notable officials from ancient China. Here are a few stories that highlight his good character and devotion to the people that he served.
“People Shouldn’t Pursue Public Positions”
Su Qiong, courtesy name Zhenzhi, was from Wuqing County (today’s Wuqing in Hebei) during the Southern and Northern dynasties (420 – 589 AD). When he was young, he went to the outer area of inhabited land with his father, and paid a visit to Cao Zhi, Governor of Dingjing Prefecture.
At one point, Cao Zhi jokingly asked, “Do you want to be an official?”
“Well, official positions should be established first, then people selected to fill them, rather than people pursuing them,” Su Qiong replied.
Cao Zhi was so impressed with this answer that he kept him on as an administrative assistant in his household.
Catching the True Thieves
Gao Cheng, the Wenxiang Emperor of Northern Qi, established his government office under the name Yitong and appointed Su Qiong to oversee judicial and penal affairs. The Emperor often encouraged and rewarded him for his dedication.
A robbery occurred in Bingzhou that had been previously investigated by the adjutant officer. During interrogation, all of the suspects confessed, and they were identified by the families who had been robbed. However, none of the stolen goods were recovered.
Emperor Wenxiang asked Su Qiong to thoroughly reexamine the case, which led to the arrest of more than 10 suspects. Emperor Wenxiang laughed and said to those who had been wrongfully convicted, “You were about to be executed for something you didn’t do, if not for my good official Su Qiong.”
Focusing on Morality
Su Qiong was inherently honest and cautious. For instance, while serving as Governor of South Qinghe Prefecture, he didn’t even open any letters from those seeking personal favors. He also encouraged local residents to keep their weddings and funerals simple and respectful.
There was a monk named Daoyan who served as the Shamentong (Chief of the Sangha) in Jizhou. He was very wealthy from making many high-interest loans locally and often had county and prefectural officials help him collect the payments.
He made several visits to Su Qiong, who knew why he had come. Each time Daoyan visited, Su would discuss high-minded principles with respect and sincerity, making it impossible for Daoyan to ask him to help him collect the debts.
When his disciples asked him about it, Daoyan explained, “Each time I visited Su Qiong’s residence, he would lead me straight into those high principles. How could I possibly raise those trivial issues of the secular world?”
Honest and Upright Governor
Su Qiong ran South Qinghe in an orderly and efficient manner, earning great respect from officials and local people alike.
Zhao Ying, who served as Governor of Yueling Prefecture years ago, retired due to old age and returned to his hometown. One day in early May, he picked two ripe melons and personally offered them to Su Qiong, insisting that Su accept them.
Out of kindness and respect, Su Qiong accepted the melons. However, he didn’t eat them; instead, he placed them on the beam of the main hall.
Seeing that he accepted the melons, many people rushed to offer him fresh melons too. But when they saw the two untouched melons on the beam, they just looked at each other and left with their melons.
Two Brothers Reconcile
A man named Yi Puming argued with his brother over land ownership for years without reaching a resolution. Over time, they accumulated over 100 witnesses to support their claims.
One day, Su Qiong invited the brothers and their witnesses and said, “It’s much harder to be brothers in this lifetime than to take land from each other. Even if you gain the land in the end, how will you feel?” He couldn’t hold back tears as he spoke, and others began shedding tears as well.
The brothers asked to be excused so that they could go out and think about what Su Qiong had just said. In the end, they decided to live together in harmony after 10 years of separation and fighting over land.
“Student House”
Every spring, Su Qiong would invite well-known scholars, such as Wei Jilong and Tian Yuanfeng, to give lectures at the Prefectural School, and he allowed local officials to come and study after they finished their duties. People called the Prefect’s Office “Student House.”
Lending Grain Saves Lives
During the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong, a severe flood hit South Qinghe, causing widespread damage and leaving over 1,000 households without food. Su Qiong appealed to everyone who had extra grain to lend it to those in desperate need.
Since the prefecture was collecting taxes on a per-household basis, the authorities wanted to investigate Su Qiong for his unauthorized grain lending. The Chief Clerk of his office was concerned and said to Su Qiong, “Even though you were doing this to help the starving people out of kindness, it might implicate you and cause you trouble.”
“I might be punished, but I saved more than 1,000 households. I have no regrets or complaints,” Su Qiong said. He also submitted a memorandum to the imperial court explaining the reasons for his actions. Therefore, the imperial court didn’t send anyone to collect taxes that year, nor did it dispatch anyone to investigate Su Qiong.
After the disaster victims managed to get through the hardship, they said to their children gratefully, “You survived because of the kindness of Prefect Su.”
Redressing Miscarriages of Justice
Su Qiong was later promoted to Shangshu, one of the three top officials in the imperial court. He upheld fairness and justice when reviewing cases, and exonerated many people who had been wrongfully convicted.
There were frequent reports from Zhao Prefecture, Qinghe, Nanzhong, and other areas that various groups were plotting rebellions against the imperial court. These cases were assigned to Su Qiong for review. As a result, many of the accused had their cases redressed and their names cleared.
Cui Ang, another Shangshu in the imperial court, told Su Qiong, “You should try other ways to gain a good reputation instead of getting justice for those accused of planning rebellions against the imperial court. Won’t you bring trouble to yourself if you keep doing this? Why do you demean yourself like this?”
“All those whose charges I’ve cleared were wrongly convicted in the first place. However, I will never let any true traitors go unpunished.” Su Qiong said to Cui Ang, who felt very ashamed upon hearing these words.
People in the capital city praised Su Qiong, saying, “Su Zhenzhi is the most impartial and fairest authority in judging cases.”
(Excerpt from Biography of Su Qiong in Book of Northern Qi)
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Category: Traditional Culture
