Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.4

Passage 04

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「有yǒu人rén曰yuē：『我wǒ善shàn為wéi陳chén，我wǒ善shàn為wéi戰zhàn』，大dà罪zuì也yě。國guó君jūn好hǎo仁rén，天tiān下xià無wú敵dí焉yān，南nán面miàn而ér征zhēng北běi狄dí怨yuàn，東dōng面miàn而ér征zhēng西xī夷yí怨yuàn，曰yuē：『奚xī為wéi後hòu我wǒ？』武wǔ王wáng之zhī伐fá殷yīn也yě，革gé車jū三sān百bǎi兩liǎng，虎hǔ賁bì三sān千qiān人rén。王wáng曰yuē：『無wú畏wèi！寧níng爾ěr也yě，非fēi敵dí百bǎi姓xìng也yě。』若ruò崩bēng厥jué角jiǎo稽qǐ首shǒu。征zhēng之zhī為wéi言yán正zhèng也yě，各gè欲yù正zhèng己jǐ也yě，焉yān用yòng戰zhàn？」

Mencius said, 'There are men who say "I am skilful at marshalling troops, I am skilful at conducting a battle!" They are great criminals. If the ruler of a State love benevolence, he will have no enemy in the kingdom. When Tang was executing his work of correction in the south, the rude tribes on the north murmured. When he was executing it in the east, the rude tribes on the west murmured. Their cry was "Why does he make us last?" When king Wu punished Yin, he had only three hundred chariots of war, and three thousand life-guards. The king said, "Do not fear. Let me give you repose. I am no enemy to the people!" On this, they bowed their heads to the earth, like the horns of animals falling off. "Royal correction" is but another word for rectifying. Each State wishing itself to be corrected, what need is there for fighting?'