Annotations to Canon IV:—
Chü was a retired scholar in Ch`i; Ch`uan in Wey. The
Rulers of Ch`i and Wey were not enlightened and not able
to penetrate into the actual conditions within the boundaries,
and both followed the words of the attendants. Therefore,
the two men used gold and jade and sought to join
governmental service.
Hsi-mên, while Magistrate of Yeh, was clean and honest
and had no self-interest even as small as the tip of an autumn
spikelet. He was, however, very indifferent towards the
courtiers. Therefore the courtiers joined one another and
together did him an ill turn. After one yeat of his term, he
handed in his report on local finance; then the Ruler took
back his official seal. Thereupon he presented to the Ruler his
own petition saying: "Formerly thy servant did not know
how to be Magistrate of Yeh. Now that thy servant has the
right way, may he petition for the seal in order to govern Yeh
again? If his work is again not equal to the official duty, may
Your Highness sentence him to capital punishment with axe
and anvil." Marquis Wên, unable to bear dismissing him,
gave him the post again. Pao, accordingly, imposed heavy
taxes upon the hundred surnames and began to bribe the
courtiers as promptly as possible. After one year he handed in
his report. This time Marquis Wên went out to welcome him
and even made bows to him. In response Pao said: "During
the preceding year thy servant governed Yeh for Your Highness's
sake, but Your Highness took away the official seal of
thy servant. This year thy servant governed Yeh for the
courtiers' sake, but Your Highness makes bows to thy servant.
Thy servant is no longer able to govern the place." So saying
he returned the seal and took his leave. Marquis Wên,
refusing to accept the seal, said: "Formerly I did not know
you but now know you well. Please do now well govern
the place for my sake." So saying he did not accept the
resignation.
In Ch`i once the son of a dog-like thief[26]
and the son of a
legless man played together and boasted before each other.
The thief's son said: "My father's fur-coat alone has a tail."
"My father alone never falls short of trousers[27]
even in cold
winter," said the other boy.
Tzŭ-ch`o said: "Nobody is able to draw a square with
the left hand and a circle with the right hand at the same time."
Expel ants with meat! Then ants will multiply. Drive
flies away with fish! Then flies will come nearer and nearer.
Once Duke Huan said to Kuan Chung: "Official posts
are few, but office-hunters are many. Over this I am worried."
"If Your Highness grants the attendants no request but
awards men with emoluments only in accordance with their
abilities and gives men official posts only in correspondence
to their merits, then nobody dare hunt any office. What will
Your Highness be worried about then?"
Viscount Hsüan of Han said: "My horses have had an
abundance of madder[28]
and grain. But why are they so
skinny? I am worried over it." In reply Chou Shih said:
"If the stableman feeds them with all the beans and grain,
then they are bound to become fat. But suppose he give
them much in the name but little in fact. Then they are bound
to become skinny. If Your Highness does not investigate the
causes of the fact but remains seated and worried over it,
the horses never will become fat."
Duke Huan asked Kuan Chung about the appointment of
officials to different posts. Kuan Chung said: "With
reference to eloquence and penetration in wording, honesty
and integrity in money, and knowledge of human affairs,
thy servant is not as good as Hsien Shang. May Your Highness
appoint him Supreme Judge! With reference to the manners
in ascending and descending steps and courtesies shown to
guests, thy servant is not as good as Hsi P`êng. May Your
Highness appoint him Supreme Usher. In matters of cultivating
grass lands, collecting taxes from towns, opening up
wildernesses, and growing grain, thy servant is not as good
as Ning Wu. May Your Highness appoint him Minister of
Agriculture. Regarding the ability to make the warriors look
upon death as going home when the three armies[29]
have
already formed in line, thy servant is not as good as Prince
Ch`êng-fu. May Your Highness appoint him Minister of
War. In moving against the facial expression of the ruler
and making utmost remonstrations, I am not as good as
Tung-kuo Ya. May Your Highness appoint him Minister of
Censorship. To govern the Ch`i State, these five gentlemen
are sufficient. If our Highness wants to become Hegemonic
Ruler, I-wu is here at his service."
[30]
