The Incorrupt Official by Pu Songling
Sub-prefect Wu refuses to join the corruption tolerated and shared by higher officials, resisting the Prefect's bullying and defending his duty to preserve justice. Later, at a feast, a fox-medium declares that Wu alone among the prefecture's seventy-two officeholders deserves to be called an official.
By Pu Songling · Genre: Short Story, Moral Tale · 318 words
First lines
Mr. Wu, Sub-prefect of Chi-nan, was an upright man, and would have no share in the bribery and corruption which was extensively carried on, and at which the higher authorities connived, and in the proceeds of which they actually shared. The Prefect tried to bully him into adopting a similar plan, and went so far as to abuse him in violent language; upon which Mr. Wu fired up and exclaimed, "Though I am but a subordinate official, you should impeach me for anything you have against me in the regular way; you have not the right to abuse me thus. Die I may, but I will never consent to degrade my office and turn aside the course of justice for the sake of filthy lucre. " At this outbreak the Prefect changed his tone, and tried to soothe him.... [How dare people accuse the age of being corrupt, when it is themselves who will not walk in the straight path.] One day after this a certain fox-medium[1] came to the Prefect's yamên just as a feast was in full swing, and was thus addressed by a guest: -- "You who pretend to know everything, say how many officials there are in this Prefecture. " "_One_," replied the medium; at which the company laughed heartily, until the medium continued, "There are really seventy-two holders of office, but Mr. Sub-prefect Wu is the only one who can justly be called an official."
Genres
- Short Story — A brief prose narrative connects Wu's confrontation with the Prefect to a later feast where a medium singles him out.
- Moral Tale — Wu's refusal to sell justice culminates in a distinction between merely holding office and deserving its name.
Tags
official corruption · bribery · integrity · abuse of authority
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The Incorrupt Official is listed on Textopian as a short story by Pu Songling, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Pu Songling
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Moral Tale
- Length: 318 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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