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The complete victory of Confucianism

Perhaps the most important circumstance in Emperor Yüan's rule
was his complete and whole-hearted acceptance of Han Confucianism.
The reason for this adherence is to be found in the circumstance that his
teachers had been Confucians. Since Confucian scholarship had made
Confucians the masters of knowledge, they became the teachers of youth,
and in due time became the counsellors of emperors. The criticism of
Emperor Hsüan's rule by his Heir-apparent and of Confucianism by
Emperor Hsüan in the conversation at the beginning of this chapter is
highly significant.

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In accordance with his convictions, Emperor Yüan selected Confucians
to head his government. His Lieutenant Chancellors were Yu Ting-kuo,
who had been appointed by Emperor Hsüan, Wei Hsüan-ch'eng, and
K'uang Heng. Wei Hsüan-ch'eng had participated in the discussions in
the Shih-ch'ü Pavilion as an authority on the Book of Odes. K'uang
Heng was also an authority on the Book of Odes; he had been recommended
to Emperor Hsüan, but that Emperor did not care for scholarship
in government, and had sent him back to his post in P'ing-yüan Commandery.
The future Emperor Yüan had an interview with him at this
time and liked him. Perhaps this interview led to the conversation
recounted at the beginning of this "Annals."

Because capable officials were first tried out in various ministerial
positions and regularly occupied the post of Grandee Secretary before
becoming Lieutenant Chancellor, some prominent Confucians died in
office or retired because of age before the position of Lieutenant Chancellor
became vacant. Hence Pan Ku includes Kung Yü and Hsieh Kuang-tê
in his list of influential and distinguished Confucian ministers (9: 14a).
The other Grandee Secretaries were of such negligible importance that
they are not even mentioned in the "Annals." Hsieh Kuang-tê had also
participated in the discussions of the classics in the Shih-ch'ü Pavilion
as an authority on the Book of Odes. Perhaps the most influential of
these Confucians was Kung Yü, who suggested a number of reforms,
some of which were put into effect after his death by K'uang Heng.