Chapter 35 impartiality

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Ping of Jin once asked Qi Huangyang: "Nanyang County is short of a county magistrate. In your opinion, who should be appointed to be more suitable?" Qi Huangyang replied without hesitation: "Ask Xie Hu to go, it's the most appropriate. He will definitely be able to do it!" Ping Gong asked him again in surprise: "Isn't Jiehu your enemy? Why do you still recommend him!" Qi Huangyang said: "You only asked me who is competent and who is the most suitable; you didn't ask me if Xie Hu is my enemy!"

So, Ping Gong sent Xie Hu to Nanyang County to take office.After Xie Hu took office.He did a lot of good things for the people there, and everyone praised him. After some days, Duke Ping asked Qi Huangyang again: "Now there is a lack of a judge in the court. You see, who is qualified for this position?" Qi Huangyang said: "Qi Wu can do it." Pinggong became strange again and asked: "Isn't Qi Wu your son? How do you recommend your son? Are you not afraid of other people's gossip?" Qi Huangyang said: "You only asked me who was qualified, so I recommended him; you didn't ask me if Qi Wu is my son!"

Duke Ping sent Qi Wu to be a judge.Qi Wu became a judge and did a lot of good things for people, and was very popular and loved by people. Confucius heard these two things and praised Qi Huangyang very much.Confucius said: "Qi Huangyang said it very well! He recommends people based entirely on his ability. He doesn't recommend him because he is his enemy and is biased; he doesn't recommend him because he is his son and he is afraid of being criticized. Not recommended. Only people like Huang Qiyang can say "disinterestedness"!"