Zi Gong redeemed a Lu native and refused to receive the reward. Why was Confucius angry?

At that time, Lu implemented a policy, that is, if you meet your fellow countryman abroad, as long as you bring him back, you can reimburse him in Lu and get some rewards. The implementation of the policy can be said to have won the hearts of many people in the country. There are also many people who are willing to do so.

Later, Zigong also redeemed a person, but Zigong's family was richer and richer. So I didn't go for reimbursement and didn't get a reward. It also spread the matter with great fanfare and gained a full wave of benevolence and righteousness. It happened that Zigong was in the spring breeze, and he came to Confucius, who scolded him and asked him why he didn't give him the reward.

Zi Gong, a man, was very surprised and thought it was bad for him to do so. Why should your teacher scold herself if she doesn't praise herself? So Confucius explained to him that Lu implemented this policy in order to save those prisoners of war and foreigners. Although the return is not much, it can also gain a wave of prestige, and many people will be willing to do it. But you broke the old rules today. You only do good deeds and don't accept rewards.

Where did you put the others? If you don't accept a reward, the person in front of you will be more hypocritical, and you are the real righteousness. If the people behind you also accept a reward, and you set an example in front, how can the people behind you have the cheek to accept a reward?

Since the person in front has received the reward, it will appear insincere, and the person behind will not dare to continue to receive the reward. But you have to know, if you harm your own interests in order to save people, how can the people behind you be willing to save people? At this rate, will anyone want to go abroad to save prisoners of war? After all, saving lives costs a lot of money. Originally, they saved a life and got a reward. It's not much, but they feel at ease. But after what you did today, do the people behind you dare to continue saving lives? Besides, not everyone is as rich as you. Saving lives with rewards will be laughed at, and not taking rewards will harm your own interests. In the long run, you can think about it.

So you not only failed to do this, but also destroyed this national policy and made it a dummy, leaving only the name of a benevolent person for yourself. You can say that this is all wet.

This is why Confucius scolded Zigong and told us a truth. Sometimes, we should not break some limited rules. Those rules are reasonable, existing and reasonable. Be sure to think more, don't be rash, and don't think clearly before you think it is good to do good.