How does the Chinese party-state seek to ensure political loyalty and curb official misconduct? The Virtue Machine examines China's disciplinary and supervisory agencies and their central role in enforcing political discipline and combating corruption. It introduces the framework of ethico-disciplinary governance to explain how traditional moral ideals are combined with modern institutions of discipline, investigation, and supervision. Drawing on newly available evidence, the book shows how ethical expectations become instruments of organizational control, shaping official conduct and reinforcing the Chinese Communist Party's governing authority. It offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between morality, institutional power, and political governance in contemporary China.