Zhai Zun, styled Disun, was a man of Yingyang in the early Eastern Han Dynasty. From childhood, he loved reading and understood propriety; though born into a wealthy family, he lived very frugally.
In 24 AD, Liu Xiu was attacking the Yingyang region when Ji Zun came to join him, becoming a minor official under Liu Xiu's command. Ji Zun later followed the army to Hebei, where he was appointed military judge responsible for camp law. In this role, he enforced the law strictly and impartially, earning widespread praise for never showing favoritism.
Once, a young attendant in Emperor Guangwu of Han's inner circle committed an offense. General Ji Zun investigated the matter thoroughly and, in accordance with military law, had the attendant executed. When Emperor Guangwu learned of this, he was furious that Ji Zun would dare punish someone so close to him and considered punishing Ji Zun in return. However, an advisor immediately counseled the emperor, saying, "Strict military discipline is exactly what Your Majesty demanded. Now Ji Zun upholds the law impartially, treating all ranks equally—this is the right course. Only with such consistency between words and deeds can you command the respect of the entire army."
Emperor Liu Xiu found the reasoning sound. He not only spared Ji Zun from punishment but also appointed him General Who Conquers the Barbarians and granted him the title Marquis of Yingyang.
Ji Zun was an incorruptible official under Emperor Liu Xiu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, known for his integrity, caution, and dedication to public duty. Though the emperor frequently bestowed imperial gifts upon him, Ji Zun always distributed these rewards among his subordinates. He lived frugally, amassing little personal wealth. Even when arranging his own funeral, he instructed his men, "Do not waste resources. Simply load my body and coffin onto an oxcart and bury me modestly outside Luoyang."
Years after his death, Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, still deeply cherished the memory of Zun Ji's spirit of self-discipline and devotion to public duty.
Later, the idiom "Ke Ji Feng Gong" came to describe being strict with oneself and wholeheartedly devoted to the public good.
Source: *Book of the Later Han*, "Biography of Zhai Zun"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "克己奉公" came to describe being strict with oneself and wholeheartedly devoted to the public good.