路不拾遗 — “No one picks up lost articles on the road”

Duke Xiao of Qin appointed Shang Yang as a key minister. Following his advice, new laws were enacted, old laws upholding aristocratic privileges were abolished, and reforms were implemented. This is the historically famous 'Shang Yang Reforms'.

Shang Yang firmly advocated for equality before the law, stating that regardless of one's status, anyone who contributed to the state should be rewarded. He abolished the hereditary system for aristocrats, granting different ranks of nobility based on military achievements.

He encouraged farming and weaving, developed agricultural production, built water conservancy projects, and stipulated that those who produced more could be exempted from corvée labor.

As Shang Yang actively promoted the reforms, the productivity of the Qin people increased, military discipline became strict, and soldiers were willing to fight. People's lives gradually became prosperous. Social order was stable, and public morality became simple and honest. It reached a state where 'lost articles were not picked up on the road and doors were not locked at night,' meaning people didn't need to close their doors and windows when sleeping, and didn't worry about lost items on the road being picked up by others.

The State of Qin grew stronger day by day, and all the vassal states began to fear its power.