Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s9.t2.3.3

v1.c7.s9.t2.3.3

At the same year, Duke Ding appointed him the head of Zhongdu. He managed administrative affairs with Virtue and Rite, making all surviving spouse, orphanage and helpless people there in their respective proper place, with social morality much improved; in one year term of office, his performance attracted the neighboring localities’ governors to emulate his way of governance. He was then promoted successively to the posts of Minister of Water Conservancy & Construction, and Minister of Justice. In the 10th year of Duke Ding’s reign, he assisted Duke Ding to meet with Marquis of the Qi State at the place of Jiagu and tactfully reclaimed the lost territory of the Lu State. In the 12th year of Duke Ding’s reign, he recommended his disciple Zilu as head of clan members. In order to concentrate power on family of prince, and consolidate prince’s ruling position for Duke Ding, he suggested enforcement of the policy of dismantling three cities’ wall of which the dimension and scale exceeded royal formality, ie the role-violating city walls of City Fei, City Cheng and City Hou, thus weakening the powers of the three big families of Ji Sun Si, Meng Sun Si and Shu Sun Si. Although his move was not completely succeeded, yet it reclaimed the partial usurped power from them, thus strengthening the authority of prince family.