Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Zhou Book 4 Scroll 4 (continued)
The 30th year of King Nan(285 B.C.)
During this period, the King of Qin had a conference with the King of Chu in the city of Wan. Similarly, he met the King of Zhao in the city of Zhongyang.
General Meng Wu of Qin launched a raid on Qi and successfully conquered nine cities.
King Min of Qi, after annexing the kingdom of Song, grew arrogant. His troops launched invasions into the southern kingdom of Chu and the three kingdoms that had originated from the state of Jin: Han, Wei, and Zhao. His ambition was to absorb the two states where the Zhou dynasty’s court resided and proclaim himself as the emperor. Criticism of these wars led to the death of Hu Xuan in the city of Tanqu. Additionally, Chen Ju was killed in the city of Donglu following a debate with the king.
During this time, King Zhao of Yan made constant efforts to address the grievances of his people, leading to prosperity and abundance within his kingdom. With the intention to invade Qi, he devised plans alongside his prime minister, Yue Yi.
Yue Yi expressed caution, stating, “The kingdom of Qi, though a remnant of a hegemon, still possesses vast territory and a large population. It’s not an adversary we should face alone. It would be wiser to seek an alliance with Zhao and perhaps even with Chu and Wei if Your Majesty truly desires to invade Qi.”
Responding to Yue Yi‘s counsel, the King of Yan dispatched him as an envoy to Zhao and sent other emissaries to engage Chu and Wei. Additionally, he persuaded Zhao to entice Qin with incentives related to the raid on Qi.
All the kings harbored resentment toward the arrogance displayed by the King of Qi. They were keen to join forces with Yan in an alliance aimed at attacking Qi.
The 31st year of King Nan(284 B.C.)
The King of Yan issued a march order, appointing Yue Yi as the general and commander-in-chief. Si Li, the defense minister, led troops from Qin, along with forces from the kingdoms of Han, Wei, and Zhao, all merging with Yan’s army. The King of Zhao conferred the seal of the prime minister upon Yue Yi. Commanding the combined forces of Qin, Wei, Han, and Zhao, Yue Yi launched a campaign against the kingdom of Qi. In response, King Min of Qi mobilized his entire kingdom for defense. A fierce battle erupted west of the Ji River, resulting in the defeat of Qi‘s troops.
Yue Yi then directed the troops from Qin and Han to return to their respective kingdoms. He redirected Wei‘s forces to invade the territory once belonging to the kingdom of Song and ordered Zhao‘s troops to take control of the Hejian area. Simultaneously, he led Yan‘s troops in pursuit of Qi‘s army deep into the north of the kingdom.
Adviser Ju Xin cautioned Yue Yi: “The Kingdom of Qi stands as a formidable state, while the Kingdom of Yan is comparatively smaller. Our victory over their army stemmed from the assistance of other kingdoms. It’s now opportune to bolster our own position by annexing their border cities, fostering enduring advantages. Your current strategy of bypassing unconquered cities under the guise of pursuing the enemy’s retreat won’t damage Qi and could not significantly benefit Yan. Instead, it perpetuates animosity between our peoples, a strategy that will likely lead to regret in the future.”
Yue Yi disagreed: “The King of Qi may boast about his military accomplishments and talents, but his strategic acumen falls short. He has expelled individuals of integrity and capability while placing trust in those who flatter him and unjustly tarnish others’ reputations. His policies exhibit brutality and cruelty, leading to widespread discontent among his people. With Qi‘s armed forces now in disarray, seizing this opportunity to pursue him is imperative. The populace of Qi will likely revolt against him, making it easier for us to conquer the kingdom once internal unrest erupts. We must capitalize on this moment, as it will become considerably more challenging if he later regrets his past actions, reforms his behavior, and begins addressing his subordinates’ needs and the grievances of his people.”
Ignoring the adviser’s counsel, Yue Yi pressed forward into Qi‘s territory. As anticipated, internal rebellion erupted in Qi, causing King Min to flee his kingdom. Capitalizing on the chaos, Yue Yi’s troops entered Linzi, Qi‘s capital, seizing the treasury and religious artifacts, transporting the spoils back to Yan. The King of Yan personally visited the frontline troops at the Ji River, generously rewarding all generals and soldiers. He bestowed upon Yue Yi the title of Lord Changguo and tasked him with staying in Qi to conquer the remaining cities yet to surrender.
The King of Qi sought refuge in the state of Wey, a smaller principality, after his exile. The Lord of Wey generously offered shelter in his palace, treating the King of Qi as his suzerain and covering all expenses. However, the King of Qi maintained his haughty demeanor, causing unrest among the people of Wey, who eventually drove him out. He sought refuge in other principalities like Zou and Lu, but his overbearing attitude resulted in these states rejecting him. Ultimately, he found refuge in a small state called Ju.
The Kingdom of Chu intervened, sending General Nao Chi with Chu‘s troops to assist the King of Qi. As a result, Nao Chi was appointed the prime minister of the Kingdom of Qi. However, Nao Chi‘s intentions were to divide Qi‘s territory between the Kingdom of Yan and himself. He arrested the King of Qi and accused him of heinous acts, questioning him about various ominous incidents: “Were you aware of the blood rain that stained people’s clothes across a stretch of several hundred miles between Qicheng and Bochang?” The King of Qi admitted he knew. Nao Chi pressed further: “Did you know about the water spring burst and mudslide between Ying and Bo?” Again, the King of Qi acknowledged his knowledge. Nao Chi continued: “Were you aware of the cries at the gate, with no visible individuals upon opening the doors, yet the cries were audible?” Once more, the King of Qi affirmed his knowledge.
Nao Chi condemned him: “The blood rain was a warning from heaven; the water spring burst and mudslide were warnings from the earth; the cries at the gate were warnings from the people. When heaven, earth, and people all cautioned you, and yet you did not heed these warnings, how could you escape death?” Consequently, Nao Chi had the King of Qi executed at a location called Guli.
Xun Kuang made this comment: The position of a head of state is the most advantageous in the world. It brings great comfort, glory, and a sense of virtue and beauty when entrusted to a moral individual. Conversely, it poses a grave menace and a severe ordeal, something an ordinary person might prefer to avoid. In extreme cases, as seen with King Min of Qi and Duke Xian of Song, individuals in such positions couldn’t even be ordinary when they desired to be.
Therefore, a head of state attains supremacy by governing with morals, dominates others through the establishment of trust, and faces peril if relying on political chicanery.
A leader who governs a state with propriety and righteousness is impervious to harm. A virtuous gentleman adheres to ethical principles and refrains from committing unjust acts or harming the innocent, even if it means gaining the entire world. This unwavering commitment to principles solidifies the state’s foundation, making it as robust as rocks. Those who collaborate with such a leader are righteous individuals, the laws they promulgate are just, and the goals they pursue are righteous.
This alignment of principles earns the leader the respect of their subordinates, and the support is built on a solid foundation. With firm support, the government achieves stability. When governments are stable, peace prevails in the world. As the saying goes, “Use the government to promote righteousness, and everyone will understand it in one day.” Historical figures like King Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou exemplified this approach. Hence, I assert that governing with morals elevates a leader to the status of a supreme king.
Even if the moral standards haven’t reached the highest level and righteousness isn’t universally embraced, it’s crucial that most people comprehend fundamental principles. Establishing a criminal justice system, a reward system, and clear rules regarding permissible and impermissible actions is essential. Administrators should have a clear understanding of their responsibilities according to the king’s directives. Transparency is key when implementing policies, acknowledging both their successes and failures.
Moreover, honoring pacts and alliances, regardless of the immediate advantages or disadvantages, contributes to building a solid fortress of a state protected by strong armed forces. Such a principled state would instill fear in enemy states and garner trust from allies. Even if located in a remote and destitute area, a state adhering to clear principles would not be taken lightly by the world. The examples of the five hegemons during the Spring-Autumn period illustrate this point. Hence, I assert that whoever gains trust will ultimately dominate.
When a state neglects the promotion of righteousness and honesty, the government is prone to pursuing short-term interests and fleeting fame. Internally, the state may audaciously seek small profits by deceiving its own people, while externally, it may pursue significant gains by betraying its allies. Such a state fails to utilize its internal resources effectively while harboring an unwarranted desire for what others possess. In turn, the underlings and common people would resort to deception against their supervisors.
This deceit permeates all levels of society, with the upper classes exploiting the lower classes and vice versa, leading to societal disintegration. Such a state becomes vulnerable, taken lightly by its enemies and viewed with suspicion by its allies. Political chicanery becomes rampant, causing the foundation of the state to crumble and ultimately leading to its demise. Examples such as King Min of Qi and Lord Mengchang illustrated the consequences of such governance.
King Min of Qi sought to strengthen the kingdom not through the promotion of righteousness and propriety, improvement of internal administration, or the pursuit of a unified external environment. Instead, he engaged in endless frictions and wars. Indeed, the kingdom of Qi once held considerable strength. It demonstrated its prowess by defeating the kingdom of Chu to the south, overpowering the kingdom of Qin to the west, defeating the kingdom of Yan to the north, and conquering the kingdom of Song in the middle. However, this strength proved hollow, and the kingdom fell as soon as the kingdoms of Yan and Zhao initiated attacks. His downfall stands as a humiliating admonition for posterity, emphasizing the consequences of relying on political chicanery rather than righteousness and propriety.
The three keys—Morality, Honesty, and Chicanery—are crucial elements that wise leaders must carefully choose, and virtuous statesmen must comprehend. Those who make wise choices aligned with morality and honesty are destined to prevail, while those who make poor choices, leaning towards chicanery, are likely to be overpowered.
Yue Yi discovered a highly respected scholar named Wang Zhu in the town of Zhouyi. He took the drastic step of ordering his troops to encircle the town within a thirty-mile radius, prohibiting anyone from entering. Intent on recruiting Wang Zhu, Yue Yi instructed his assistants to invite the scholar to join his administration. However, Wang Zhu firmly declined the invitation.
In response, an officer from Yan resorted to threats, warning Wang Zhu, “If you don’t come with me, I will massacre the whole town of Zhouyi!” Undeterred, Wang Zhu replied with conviction, “A loyal subject won’t work for two lords. A faithful woman won’t sleep with two husbands. I retired to this farm because the king of Qi won’t listen to my advice. I cannot live on as my country is ruined and my lord died. Now, if you want to take me by force, I would rather die than live unethically.” With resolve, he wrapped his neck with tree branches and proceeded to strangle himself to death through a series of jumps.
The army of Yan achieved significant success by penetrating deep into the kingdom of Qi, leading to the retreat of defenders from all the cities. Yue Yi, the leader of the Yan forces, took a strategic approach by resting and disciplining his troops, explicitly forbidding pillage and seizure of properties. He demonstrated a magnanimous gesture by bringing out hermits and dissidents of Qi, granting them respect and eminence. In addition, Yue Yi implemented reforms to benefit the people of Qi, including reducing taxation, abolishing draconian laws, and reinstating policies from before the reign of King Min of Qi. These measures contributed to the happiness of the people.
Yue Yi organized his armies to occupy the vast kingdom strategically. His left wing crossed the Jiao river, moving to areas of East Jiao and Donglai. The front army marched to the sea along the east of Tai Mountains, successfully conquering the city of Langya. Simultaneously, the right wing marched along the Yellow River and Ji River, quartering at the cities of E and Zhen in coordination with the army of Wei. The rear army occupied the city of Qiancheng near the north sea. The central command was headquartered at the city of Linzi, the capital of Qi.
Yue Yi paid homage to Duke Huan of Qi and his famous prime minister Guan Zhong in a worship ceremony held in the suburb of Linzi. Additionally, he undertook initiatives to enhance the local infrastructure, renovating the scholar’s house entrance and embellishing the tomb of Wang Zhu. Recognizing the loyalty of the people of Qi, Yue Yi awarded fiefs in Yan to about twenty individuals and granted titles from Yan to more than a hundred residents of Qi. In total, Yue Yi conquered over seventy cities of Qi, establishing them as the prefectures and counties of Yan.The kings of Qin, Wei, and Han convened for a meeting at the capital city of Zhou.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
Leave a comment