Let us continue with selections from “Mencius” translated by James Legge, in which the Venerated Enlightened Philosopher advises that leaders should act as the parent of the people, and that the people will love those who practice benevolent governance.
Mencius Chapter 4 Acquiring Yen
“Now the ruler of Yen was tyrannizing over his people, and your Majesty went and punished him. The people supposed that you were going to deliver them out of the water and the fire, and brought baskets of rice and vessels of congee, to meet your Majesty’s host. But you have slain their fathers and elder brothers, and put their sons and younger brothers in confinement. You have pulled down the ancestral temple of the State, and are removing to Ch’î its precious vessels. How can such a course be deemed proper? The rest of the kingdom is indeed jealously afraid of the strength of Ch’î, and now, when with a doubled territory you do not put in practice a benevolent government, it is this which sets the arms of the kingdom in motion. If your Majesty will make haste to issue an ordinance, restoring your captives, old and young, stopping the removal of the precious vessels, and saying that, after consulting with the people of Yen, you will appoint a ruler, and withdraw from the country; in this way, you may still be able to stop the threatened attack.”
Practice a Benevolent Government.
“There had been a brush between Tsâu and Lû, when the duke Mû asked Mencius, saying, ‘Of my officers, there were killed thirty-three men, and none of the people would die in their defense. Though I sentenced them to death for their conduct, it is impossible to put such a multitude to death. If I do not put them to death, then there is the crime unpunished of their looking angrily on at the death of their officers, and not saving them. How is the exigency of the case to be met?’ Mencius replied, ‘In calamitous years and years of famine, the old and weak of your people, who have been found lying in the ditches and water-channels, and the able-bodied who have been scattered about to the four quarters, have amounted to several thousands. All the while, your granaries, O prince, have been stored with grain, and your treasuries and arsenals have been full, and not one of your officers has told you of the distress. Thus, negligent have the superiors in your State been, and cruel to their inferiors. The philosopher Tsang said, “Beware, beware. What proceeds from you, will return to you again.” Now at length the people have paid back the conduct of their officers to them. Do not you, O prince, blame them. If you will put in practice a benevolent government, people will love you and all above them, and will die for their officers.’”
Discussions with Duke Wan of T’ang
“[…] The Duke Wan of T’ang asked Mencius, saying, ‘The people of Ch’î are going to fortify Hsieh. The movement occasions me great alarm. What is the proper course for me to take in the case?’ Mencius replied, ‘Formerly, when King T’âi dwelt in Pin, the people of the north were continually making incursions upon it. He therefore left it, went to the foot of Mount Ch’î, and there took up his residence. He did not take that situation, as having selected it. It was a matter of necessity with Him. If you do good, among your descendants, in after generations, there shall be one who will attain the royal dignity. A prince lays the foundation of the inheritance, and hands down the beginning which he has made, doing what may be continued by his successors. As to the accomplishment of the great result, that is with Heaven. What is that Ch’î to you, O prince? Be strong to do good. That is all your business.’”
Negotiating for a smaller state.
“The Duke Wan of T’ang asked Mencius, saying, ‘T’ang is a small State. Though I do my utmost to serve those large kingdoms on either side of it, we cannot escape suffering from them. What course shall I take that we may do so?’ Mencius replied, ‘Formerly, when King T’âi dwelt in Pin, the people of the north were constantly making incursions upon it. He served them with [… gifts], and still he suffered from them. […] He served them with […] gems, and still He suffered from them. Seeing this, He assembled the old men, and announced to them, saying, “What the people of the north want is my territory. I have heard this, that a ruler does not injure his people with that wherewith he nourishes them. My children, why should you be troubled about having no prince? I will leave this.” Accordingly, He left Pin, crossed the mountain Liang, built a town at the foot of Mount Ch’î, and dwelt there. The people of Pin said, “He is a benevolent man. We must not lose him.” Those who followed him looked like crowds hastening to market. On the other hand, some say, “The kingdom is a thing to be kept from generation to generation. One individual cannot undertake to dispose of it in his own person. Let him be prepared to die for it. Let him not quit it.” I ask you, prince, to make your election between these two courses.’”
