24
In his administration of Lu, Chi-sun-tzŭ had people put to
death on a large scale, as their crimes strictly merited, and frequently
inflicted punishments on people, as their faults strictly
deserved. Tzŭ-kung said, "A cruel government!"
When he heard of this remark, Chi-sun said, "I put the people
to death when their crimes strictly merit it, and I punish them
when their faults strictly deserve it. How is it that you, sir, find
it cruel?"
Tzŭ-kung said, "How unlike Tzŭ-ch`an's administration of
Chêng! In one year [the number of] faults requiring punishment
diminished; in two years crimes requiring capital punishment disappeared.
In three years the prisons had no prisoners. As a
result the people turned to him as water flows downhill, and
loved him as a filial son respects his father and mother. When
Tzŭ-ch`an was sick and on the point of death, the citizens all
lamented, saying, `Is there not someone else who could die in
the place of Tzŭ-ch`an?' When he finally did die, the nobles and
great officers wept for him in the court, the merchants wept for him
in the market, and the farmers wept for him in the fields. For
all of them weeping for Tzŭ-ch`an was like mourning for father
and mother. Now I heard that when you were sick, our citizens
were happy, and when you recovered they all were frightened.
When they take your death [as reason] for congratulation and
your living [as reason] for fear, if this is not [the fruit of] cruelty,
what is it?[1]
I have heard that to govern by relying on laws is
called cruel; that to insist on a definite period [for the completion
of a task] without having given warning is called tyranny; that to
punish [people] without having instructed them is called oppression;
[2]
that to impose oneself on others is called exaction. He who
makes exactions will lose his life; the oppressor will lose his
subjects; the tyrant will lose the government; the cruel ruler will
lose the people. Furthermore I have heard that there has never
been one who occupied the highest place and practiced these four
who did not perish."
Whereupon Chi-sun bowed his head gratefully and said, "I
listen with respect to your command." The Ode says,[3]
Blandly he looks and smiles;
Without any impatience he delivers his instruction.
