King Hui of Liang II · 孟子 1B.13

Passage 13

滕téng文wén公gōng問wèn曰yuē：「滕téng，小xiǎo國guó也yě，間jiàn於wū齊qí、楚chǔ。事shì齊qí乎hū？事shì楚chǔ乎hū？」孟mèng子zǐ對duì曰yuē：「是shì謀móu非fēi吾wú所suǒ能néng及jí也yě。無wú已yǐ，則zé有yǒu一yì焉yān：鑿záo斯sī池chí也yě，築zhù斯sī城chéng也yě，與yǔ民mín守shǒu之zhī，效xiào死sǐ而ér民mín弗fú去qù，則zé是shì可kě為wéi也yě。」

The duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius, saying, 'Teng is a small kingdom, and lies between Qi and Chu. Shall I serve Qi? Or shall I serve Chu?' Mencius replied, 'This plan which you propose is beyond me. If you will have me counsel you, there is one thing I can suggest. Dig deeper your moats; build higher your walls; guard them as well as your people. In case of attack, be prepared to die in your defence, and have the people so that they will not leave you - this is a proper course.'