Abstract: 【Objective/Meaning】Based on the current situation of government failure,market failure and individual failure of targeted poverty alleviation in poverty-stricken areas,the coupling between targeted poverty alleviation and the rule of virtue by county sages was explored as well as the dilemma of the moral governing of county sages,and a new path of the rule of virtue by county sages in targeted poverty alleviation was further explored.【Methods/Procedures】Based on the group characteristics of county sages as the logical starting point,the diversified requirements of targeted poverty alleviation were explored to seek the coupling between targeted poverty alleviation and the rule of virtue by county sages.Through the village research method and by taking the deep poverty-stricken villages in the north of Henan Province as an example,the poverty alleviation difficulties of Y Village and the process of county sages' participation were analyzed.【Results/Conclusions】Because of their native,rational and moral characteristics,the county sages have met the requirements of the rule of virtue and the realistic needs of targeted poverty alleviation.However,due to the lack of legitimacy of county sages participating in rural poverty alleviation,it was necessary to improve the underlying design to give it the corresponding legal status;and establish a model of targeted poverty alleviation through the concerted efforts of the government,the village committees and the county sages.