The purpose of appointing high officials in ancient times were not to raise their ranks and to increase their allowances so that they could live comfortable lives, but to seek benefits for the people, eliminate harms from the society, to bring wealth to the poor, to help the sparsely populated area become highly populated, to remove dangers and subdue rebellions. These are the ways how the ancient sage kings governed the country. 

（原载《海外南开人》146期 November 27, 2019）