King Hui of Liang II · 孟子 1B.10

Passage 10

齊qí人rén伐fá燕yàn，勝shèng之zhī。宣xuān王wáng問wèn曰yuē：「或huò謂wèi寡guǎ人rén勿wù取qǔ，或huò謂wèi寡guǎ人rén取qǔ之zhī。以yǐ萬wàn乘chéng之zhī國guó伐fá萬wàn乘chéng之zhī國guó，五wǔ旬xún而ér舉jǔ之zhī，人rén力lì不bú至zhì於wū此cǐ。不bù取qǔ必bì有yǒu天tiān殃yāng。取qǔ之zhī何hé如rú？」孟mèng子zǐ對duì曰yuē：「取qǔ之zhī而ér燕yàn民mín悅yuè，則zé取qǔ之zhī。古gǔ之zhī人rén有yǒu行xíng之zhī者zhě，武wǔ王wáng是shì也yě。取qǔ之zhī而ér燕yàn民mín不bú悅yuè，則zé勿wù取qǔ，古gǔ之zhī人rén有yǒu行xíng之zhī者zhě，文wén王wáng是shì也yě。以yǐ萬wàn乘chéng之zhī國guó伐fá萬wàn乘chéng之zhī國guó，簞dān食shí壺hú漿jiāng以yǐ迎yíng王wáng師shī，豈qǐ有yǒu他tā哉zāi？避bì水shuǐ火huǒ也yě。如rú水shuǐ益yì深shēn，如rú火huǒ益yì熱rè，亦yì運yùn而ér已yǐ矣yǐ。」

The people of Qi attacked Yan, and conquered it. The king Xuan asked, saying, 'Some tell me not to take possession of it for myself, and some tell me to take possession of it. For a kingdom of ten thousand chariots, attacking another of ten thousand chariots, to complete the conquest of it in fifty days, is an achievement beyond mere human strength. If I do not take possession of it, calamities from Heaven will surely come upon me. What do you say to my taking possession of it?' Mencius replied, 'If the people of Yan will be pleased with your taking possession of it, then do so. Among the ancients there was one who acted on this principle, namely king Wu. If the people of Yan will not be pleased with your taking possession of it, then do not do so. Among the ancients there was one who acted on this principle, namely king Wen. When, with all the strength of your country of ten thousand chariots, you attacked another country of ten thousand chariots, and the people brought baskets of rice and vessels of congee, to meet your Majesty's host, was there any other reason for this but that they hoped to escape out of fire and water? If you make the water more deep and the fire more fierce, they will in like manner make another revolution.'