The people of Wu attacked Ch`u and King Chao left the
country. There was a sheep butcher of the country [named]
Yüeh,[2]
who followed him in his exile. When King Chao returned
to his state, he rewarded those who had followed him. When it
came Yüeh's turn he refused [a reward], saying, "When His Highness
lost his state, what I lost was my butchery. When he came
back to his state, I also came back to my butchery. My income
is adequate;[3]
what need is there for a reward?" He refused to
obey the command.
When the prince insisted, Yüeh said, "That he lost his state
was not my fault, so I have not prostrated myself for punishment.
That he came back to his state was not my merit, so I may not
receive any reward for it. When the army from Wu entered Ying,
I was afraid of the invaders and fled from harm. What part could
I possibly have had in his returning?"
The prince said, "Since he will not accept [a reward], grant
him an audience."
Yüeh sent back word, "By the laws of the state of Ch`u, if
a merchant wants an audience with the prince, he must have a
large present or valuable goods to offer[4]
before he is granted the
interview. Now my knowledge is inadequate to preserving the
state, my sense of duty (i) unequal to dying for my prince, and
my courage not enough to make me face an invader. To grant
me an audience in spite of this would be going against the laws of
the state." He persisted in not accepting the command and retired
to the Chien [River].
King Chao said to the Ssŭ-ma Tzŭ-ch`i,[5]
"Here is a man who
is living in most straitened circumstances, and whose discourse is
extremely exalted. Seek him out for me. I desire to make him my
sworn brother and would like to make him a
san-kung."
The Ssŭ-ma Tzŭ-ch`i, after leaving his carriage, went on foot
five days and five nights to seek him. On finding him he said,
"Not to rescue the state when it is in danger is to fail in jên. Not
to obey the prince's commands is to fail in loyalty.[6]
On the one
hand to hate riches and honor, and on the other to be satisfied
with poverty and discomfort, seems to me excessive. Now our
Prince desires to make you his sworn brother and would like to
make you a san-kung. What are you to do if you refuse to obey
your prince?"
Yüeh said, "I know that the position of san-kung is more
honorable than a butcher shop,[7]
and that an income of ten
thousand chung is more than one makes from slaughtering sheep.
But I have not heard that one should see [only] the benefits of
rank and salary and forget what conduct is proper (i) in matters
of refusing and accepting." In the end he refused the position of
san-kung and returned to his sheep butchery.
On hearing of this the superior man says, "Extreme indeed was
the conduct of his honor this butcher! Limiting himself and
clinging to poverty, he [continued to] live in another man's state."[8]
Yüeh said, "What do you mean poverty? Having refused it on
grounds of li, I [have the right to] live out my life in his state."
"To live in seclusion and fail to help when [the state is] in a
precarious situation, to see King Chao's virtue decline in the face
of Wu, and to find fault with one's state while `cherishing one's
jewel,' and withdrawing oneself with the sole desire of self-perfection—this
is to be generous toward oneself but miserly toward
one's prince. Being overcautious, he is not one to save the world."
"What is he like, one who may be called a savior of the world?"
"One like the Chief of Shên or Chung Shan-fu can be called a
savior of the world. Of old when the virtue of Chou greatly
declined and the True Way had been lost under [King] Li, the
Chief of Shên and Chung Shan-fu assisted King Hsüan. They
regulated a time of confusion and restored things to their proper
condition.
[9]
The empire was to a certain extent put into order,
and the ancestral temples again flourished. The Chief of Shên
and Chung Shan-fu unified the empire and enforced obedience;
they rectified the depraved and saved the lost. They gave out
virtuous instruction and promoted neglected gentlemen. All within
the seas united in responding to their influence. Hence the
people spontaneously sang of King Hsüan's virtue. The Ode
says,
[10]
Throughout the regions of Chou all rejoiced;
You have got a good support.
Another says,
[11]
In the States, the princes, be the good or bad,
Are clearly distinguished by Chung Shan-fu.
Intelligent is he and wise,
Protecting his own person;
Never idle, day or night,
In the service of the One man.
One like this can be called a savior of the world."
