King Hsüan of Ch`i met with King Hui of Wei to hunt in the
suburbs. The King of Wei said, "You certainly must have
treasures?"
The King of Ch`i said, "I have none."
The King of Wei said, "If even a little state like mine has
pearls an inch in diameter, ten of which will illuminate the space
around a chariot for a distance of twelve ch`êng,[2]
how can a state
of a thousand chariots [such as Ch`i] lack treasures?"
The King of Ch`i said, "I differ with Your Majesty in what I
consider treasures to be. Among my subjects is a certain T`an-tzŭ.
I sent him to administer Nan-ch`êng, and as a result the people of
Ch`u dared not commit acts of violence, and all the twelve feudal
lords up the Ssŭ River came to [pay homage at] my court. Among
my ministers is a certain P`an-tzŭ.[3]
I sent him to administer
Kao-t`ang, and as a result the people of Chao dared not fish to the
east in the River. Among my subjects is a certain Ch`ien-fu. I
sent him to administer Hsü-chou, and as a result the people of
Yen offered sacrifices to the North gate,
[4]
and the people of Chao
offered sacrifices to the West gate,
[5]
while there were over ten
thousand families that came over to serve him. Among my
subjects is a certain Chung-shou. I had him oversee robberies,
and [the result was that] things dropped on the roads were not
picked up. With [these subjects] I light up a thousand
li beyond
my borders. How is it a mere matter of twelve
ch`êng?"
The King of Wei was ashamed and left displeased.
The Ode says,[6]
If your words were pleasing,[7]
The people would be settled.
