Li Lou I · 孟子 4A.14

Passage 14

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「求qiú也yě，爲wéi季jì氏shì宰zǎi，無wú能néng改gǎi於wū其qí德dé，而ér賦fù粟sù倍bèi他tā日rì。孔kǒng子zǐ曰yuē：『求qiú非fēi我wǒ徒tú也yě，小xiǎo子zi鳴míng鼓gǔ而ér攻gōng之zhī，可kě也yě。』由yóu此cǐ觀guān之zhī，君jūn不bù行xíng仁rén政zhèng而ér富fù之zhī，皆jiē棄qì於wū孔kǒng子zǐ者zhě也yě，況kuàng於wū爲wéi之zhī強qiáng戰zhàn？爭zhēng地dì以yǐ戰zhàn，殺shā人rén盈yíng野yě；爭zhēng城chéng以yǐ戰zhàn，殺shā人rén盈yíng城chéng，此cǐ所suǒ謂wèi率lǜ土tǔ地dì而ér食shí人rén肉ròu，罪zuì不bù容róng於wū死sǐ。故gù善shàn戰zhàn者zhě服fú上shàng刑xíng，連lián諸zhū侯hóu者zhě次cì之zhī，辟pì草cǎo萊lái、任rèn土tǔ地dì者zhě次cì之zhī。」

Mencius said, 'Qiu acted as chief officer to the head of the Ji family, whose evil ways he was unable to change, while he exacted from the people double the grain formerly paid. Confucius said, "He is no disciple of mine. Little children, beat the drum and assail him." Looking at the subject from this case, we perceive that when a prince was not practising benevolent government, all his ministers who enriched him were rejected by Confucius - how much more would he have rejected those who are vehement to fight for their prince! When contentions about territory are the ground on which they fight, they slaughter men till the fields are filled with them. When some struggle for a city is the ground on which they fight, they slaughter men till the city is filled with them. This is what is called "leading on the land to devour human flesh." Death is not enough for such a crime. Therefore, those who are skilful to fight should suffer the highest punishment. Next to them should be punished those who unite some princes in leagues against others; and next to them, those who take in grassy commons, imposing the cultivation of the ground on the people.'