A gentleman accorded with the Way yet stood alone; petty men gathered for profit yet strayed from the Way. That was the principle of gentlemen harmonizing without conforming, while petty men conformed without harmony.
While under impeachment, Zhang Tie had held fast to his post, fulfilled his duties, and rendered the great service of crushing the Heaven-Piercing Sect. Then he resigned and retired, refusing to remain the Judicial Governor of You Province. That was harmony without conformity.
The Devouring Party, meanwhile, cliqued together and attacked dissenters, inciting the censors of Xuanyuan Hill's Censorate to fabricate rumors and slander Zhang Tie. They had nearly stripped him of his post as Judicial Governor of You Province before the Heaven-Piercing Sect's rebellion. That was conformity without harmony.
For an official, the Way was duty and integrity.
If Zhang Tie returned, it would be a struggle of schemes and power. If he did not, it would be a struggle of principle and righteousness.
A struggle of schemes and power could vent a moment's anger, but a struggle of principle and righteousness could allow Huaiyuan Hall to seize the initiative completely.
Zhang Tie did not think himself such an excellent official, nor did he believe he possessed such sterling professional integrity. But as the saying went, the victor became king and the loser a bandit. At a time like this, as long as he could strike at the Devouring Party, there was nothing wrong with boasting a little and elevating himself somewhat beneath the radiance of a gentleman.
In short, as long as Zhang Tie insisted on no longer serving as Judicial Governor of You Province, the Devouring Party would not only be roasted over the fire by Zhang Tie, but would also, invisibly, be made to wear the hat of petty men.
That hat