Chieh made a wine lake in which a boat could move about, and
the [resulting] mound of dregs was so [high] that from it one could
see for a distance of ten li. There were three thousand men who
drank [from the lake] like cattle.[2]
Kuan Lung-fêng proffered a remonstrance:[3]
"In antiquity
rulers themselves practiced
li and
i. They loved the people and
were sparing of property. As a result their states were at peace
and they themselves lived out their span of life. But your Highness
now is using up property as though it could not be exhausted
and is putting people to death as though he were afraid he would
not be able to kill them all.
[4]
If Your Highness does not reform,
the retribution of Heaven will certainly descend on him and
punishment will inevitably come to him. May Your Highness
reform!"
He stood at his post without leaving the court until Chieh
imprisoned him and put him to death. On hearing of this the
superior man says, "It was the will of Heaven." The Ode says,[5]
[The terrors of] Great Heaven are very excessive;
I shall take care[6]
to commit no offence.
