Preserve One's True Character, Abide by One's Proper Station
■ Gui Tao
The root (本) is the foundation; when the foundation is established, the Way emerges. Chairman Xi has emphasized: "Leading cadres, especially senior cadres, must keep a clear head and maintain strict self-discipline, always preserving their true character (本色) and abiding by their proper station (本分), proceeding as if treading on thin ice, remaining modest and prudent." Implementing the spirit of this important address requires military leading cadres, especially senior cadres, to take the lead in conducting ideological rectification (思想整风), breaking down the psychology of seeking shortcuts and opportunism (投机取巧), fusing true character into the blood and soul, engraving proper station into the duties of one's post, and consciously achieving understanding of laws and discipline, clarity on rules and regulations, and a sense of reverence and awe—opening up a new landscape for the cause of strengthening the military through solid work and solid results.
True character is one's original nature; proper station is one's responsibilities and obligations. The two complement each other and form a dialectical unity. "The foundation (本) of us Communists is faith in Marxism, conviction in socialism with Chinese characteristics and communism, and loyalty to the Party and the people." Preserving true character and abiding by one's proper station requires not only doing what falls within one's duties, but also holding fast to the "foundation" of faith, the "foundation" of conviction, and the "foundation" of loyalty. With this foundation, leading cadres can elevate the duties of their post into wholehearted devotion to the people and commitment to the cause—conducting themselves with integrity, carrying out their work with clean hands, practicing self-restraint in service of the public good, cultivating frugality as a form of self-cultivation, and making greater contributions.
Preserving true character and abiding by one's proper station is the political consciousness and moral quality that leading cadres must possess. Comrade Xu Xiangqian upheld his ideals throughout his life, loved and served the people, and was honest and devoted to the public good—he was honored as the "plain-clothes marshal" (布衣元帅). Comrade Zhang Dazhi maintained an upright conduct, was strict with himself, lived simply, and never sought special treatment—he was known as the "plain-clothes general" (布衣将军). Comrade Lin Junde "spent a resounding life toiling in obscurity on earth-shaking endeavors; lived an unassuming existence, content to be a man who buried his name"—officers and soldiers called him the "plain-clothes academician" (布衣院士). Throughout their lives, they upheld the political character of loyalty to the Party and concern for the people, carried forward the fine conduct of hard work, plain living, integrity, and clean governance, adhered to the spirit of strict self-discipline and iron-clad observance of rules, established themselves through solid work, and advanced through solid results—setting a benchmark for preserving true character and abiding by one's proper station.
He who conquers others has strength; he who conquers himself is truly strong. Looking in contrast at certain fallen officials in reality, they lost their true character and abandoned their proper station through opportunism and fawning self-advancement, ultimately bringing ruin upon themselves and reaping the bitter fruit of their own making. This warns us once again that the small step of breaking rules and seeking shortcuts today may well be the first step toward disciplinary violations, rule-breaking, and sliding into the abyss of crime tomorrow. At present, as we stand at the opening stage of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan and at a critical juncture in the drive to build a centenary-strong military (建军百年), there is even greater need for leading cadres to preserve their true character and abide by their proper station—winning the trust of officers and soldiers through their exemplary image and concrete actions, and allowing a greater measure of wholesome conduct and upright spirit (新风正气) to fill the barracks.
All things that obtain their root flourish; all endeavors that obtain their Way succeed. Preserving true character and abiding by one's proper station cannot be separated from rectifying the mind, illuminating the Way, and holding virtue in self-regard. Political virtue (政德) is the comprehensive reflection of an official's political character, moral integrity, and conduct. Whether a leading cadre's exercise of power is properly regulated and whether the discharge of duties and responsibilities is genuinely oriented toward the people depends primarily on political virtue. For leading cadres to be wholly devoted to the public good, to embody an upright spirit, and to remain untainted, they must persist in using the yardstick of Party character to discipline and cultivate themselves, firmly establish a scientific worldview, outlook on life, and value system, as well as a correct view of power, of political achievement (政绩观), and of interests—upholding great virtue (大德), observing public virtue (公德), and being strict about private virtue (私德). They must take a detached view of personal gains and losses, let go of fame and fortune, vigorously guard against privileged thinking and privileged behavior, and manage the people and affairs around them.
Preserving true character and abiding by one's proper station requires both self-discipline and external discipline. Discipline and rules are both a "constraining spell" (紧箍咒) and a "safety belt"—strictly observing discipline and acting according to rules is the greatest protection one can afford oneself. This requires leading cadres to take the lead in studying discipline, knowing discipline, understanding discipline, and observing discipline: using knowledge of laws and discipline to build a firm ideological line of defense, using clarity on rules and regulations to temper political character, using a sense of reverence and awe to regulate the exercise of power—ensuring that all are equal before laws and regulations, that there are no exceptions in complying with laws and regulations, and that there are no exceptions in executing laws and regulations. They must both "keep hands and feet in check" in observing discipline and "free hands and feet" in getting things done, continuously advancing the cause of strengthening the military.