」對曰：「嬰聞之，國具官而後政可善。
“In earlier times, whenever our former ruler Lord Huan was indisposed and could not issue orders, then Xi Peng would assist him; whenever the faults of his attendants grew numerous and punishments were ineffective, then Xian Zhang would assist him; whenever those residing at court cast off restraint and his attendants grew fearful, then Dongguo Ya would assist him; when the fields and meadows were not well maintained and the people grew apprehensive, then Ning Qi would assist him; when the army officers were lax and the soldiers took liberties, then Wangzi Cheng-fu would assist him; when his virtue failed to be conspicuous and his reputation for trustworthiness declined, then Guanzi would assist him.
」景公作色曰：「齊國雖小，則何為不具官乎？
“Our former ruler was able to use the strengths of others to supplement his shortcomings and their abundance to supplement his scarcity.
」對曰：「此非臣之所復也。
That is why his commands went forth to the farthest regions and were never flouted, and why his troops, when sent against offenders, never suffered any setback.
昔先君桓公身體墮懈，辭令不給，則隰朋侍；左右多過，刑罰不中，則弦章侍；居處肆縱，左右懾畏，則東郭牙侍；田野不修，人民不安，則甯戚侍；軍吏怠，戎士偷，則王子成父侍；德義不中，信行衰微，則筦子侍。
That is why the vassal lords paid tribute to his virtue and why the Son of Heaven presented him with sacrificial viands.
「先君能以人之長續其短，以人之厚補其薄；是以辭令窮遠而不逆，兵加於有罪而不頓；是故諸侯朝其德而天子致其胙。
But now, though Your Lordship’s errors are numerous, no officer concerns himself about them.
92今君之失多矣，未有一士以聞者也，故曰未具。
That is why I say that your positions are not filled.” “Well observed!” said Lord Jing.
」景公曰：「善！
“I have heard that Gao Liao is often in your company.
吾聞高繚與夫子遊，寡人請見之。
I beg you to present him to me.”64 57 Lord Jing of Qi 齊景公: p.n. Chu Jiu 杵臼, “pestle-mortar”; r. 547– 490.
」晏子曰：「臣聞為地戰者不能成王，為祿仕者不能成政。
“Yanzi” is Yan Ying 晏嬰 (courtesy name [hereafter c.n.] Ping Zhong 平仲).
He was a court officer of Qi credited with many penetrating observations in Zuozhuan. He is also the protagonist of the anecdotes in the early text Annals of Yanzi (Yanzi chunqiu).