"Humane$-$ness may make one shed tears and be reluctant to apply penalties, but law makes it clear that such penalties must be applied. The ancient kings allowed law to be supreme and did not give in to their tearful longings. Hence it is obvious that humane$-$ness cannot be used to achieve order in the state."

From Selections from the Han Feizi, c$.230$ BCE

The ideas expressed in the excerpt most directly challenged which prevailing ideology in imperial China?

Choose $1$ answer:

Confucianism

Buddhism

Manichaenism

Legalism