After the trials at Chen and Cai, Confucius and his disciples temporarily settled in Fuhan. Lord of She (Shen Zhuliang, styled Zi Gao, a virtuous high official of Chu State) was known for his wisdom. Because his fief was in She, he was called Lord of She. Admiring Confucius, a renowned figure from the north, he visited and asked about governance. Confucius replied: "Make those near you happy, and those far away will come." This means that when nearby people are pleased and support you, those from distant places will be drawn to come and submit.
Lord of She pondered Confucius’s words and said with deep emotion, “This is both a guiding principle and a goal. Achieving such a state is no easy task, but I will follow your teachings and strive to do so.”
One day, the Duke of She (a high-ranking official in the State of Chu) told Confucius: "In my hometown, there is an upright man. When his father stole someone's sheep, the son testified against him." Confucius, who always held Xiao (Filial Piety) as the foundation, was greatly displeased upon hearing this account of a son accusing his father. He said: "In my hometown, upright people are different. Fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers—uprightness lies within this."
Confucius's view is often misunderstood by people, so a specific analysis is needed here. First, laws in Europe and America also stipulate that relatives within a certain range cannot testify against each other, partly to prevent collusion, but more importantly, to avoid damaging family bonds. The father-son relationship often represents the most fundamental ethical norm; once this bond collapses, it usually signifies the beginning of the breakdown of the ethical foundation. If the warmth of human connection disappears, then what meaning does strict legal governance hold?
Second, the ethical order and self-awareness of personal values emphasized by Confucianism are not imposed from the outside but arise from within. What drives this process is Li (Propriety). Compared to law, Li places greater emphasis on individual introspection, which can instill a sense of shame in those with criminal intentions, thus deterring them from violating the law.
Thirdly, Confucianism holds that while laws are certainly necessary to maintain a stable social order, their effect is actually to treat symptoms rather than root causes, failing to truly solve problems. Intentions arise from the heart; to change people's criminal intentions, one must change their inner hearts, enabling them to become self-aware and self-disciplined. How can people be made self-aware and self-disciplined? Beyond the deterrent effect of law, it relies more on the restraining power of morality. It seems that the function of Li (Propriety) is to attempt to solve the problem of crime at its source.
In summary, there is a certain warmth of human sentiment inherent in Confucius's views, and they are quite reasonable, because heavenly principle, law, and human feeling share certain commonalities.
Another day, the Duke of She asked Zi Lu (a brave and straightforward disciple) about Confucius's character, but Zi Lu did not know where to begin and remained silent. When Confucius heard about this, he said to Zi Lu, "Zhong You, why did you not say: 'As a person, he is tireless in learning and never weary of teaching others; he strives diligently, delights in this Dao (The Way) and forgets his worries, not even feeling that old age is approaching,' and so forth?"
During his stay at Fuhan, King Zhao of Chu initially intended to give Confucius an important position, sending envoys with gifts to invite him and even planning to grant him a territory of seven hundred li (about 290 kilometers) with its associated settlements. However, this plan was thwarted by Zi Xi (the Prime Minister of Chu). While in Chu, Confucius taught and lectured, spreading Chinese culture to the relatively underdeveloped middle and lower Yangtze River region.
Once, Confucius was traveling by carriage when a wild recluse named Jie Yu (a madman of Chu) passed by and sang: "Phoenix! Phoenix! How your virtue has declined! The past cannot be corrected, but the future can still be pursued. Enough! Enough! Those in power today are in danger!" Hearing this, Confucius got down and approached Jie Yu, hoping to speak with him politely, but Jie Yu hurried away, unwilling to engage. Soon after, King Zhao of Chu died and King Hui succeeded him. Confucius sent his disciples Zi Xia (a disciple known for literary learning) and Ran Qiu (a disciple skilled in governance) to the capital Ying to meet the new king, but both attempts failed, dashing Confucius's hope of assisting the King of Chu in realizing Ren (Benevolence) governance.