说苑/04_18

Eric Henry

When Lord Kang of Song attacked E and massacred the people of Shanfu, Cheng-gong Zhao said, “Before, I had no understanding of my own position—I thought that, if one lived in a thousand-chariot state, then states with ten thousand chariots would not dare attack it and that, if one lived in a ten-thousand chariot state, then no other state in the realm would dare harbor designs against it.

Eric Henry

But now I reside in E, and Song has massacred the people of Shanfu—this shows that I have no means of securing myself here.

Eric Henry

I had better go and execute the Song ruler.” Zhao thereupon went to Song but for three months was unable to gain an audience with the ruler.

Eric Henry

Someone said to him, “Why don’t you seek an audience through an emissary from a neighboring state?” “That wouldn’t do,” said Cheng-gong Zhao.

Eric Henry

“If I depended on an emissary from a neighboring state to obtain an occasion to assassinate the ruler, then I would cause emissaries of later ages to come under suspicion. And, once the trustworthiness of official signet bearers had lost all currency, everyone would say, ‘It was Zhao who brought this about.’ It won’t do.” Someone else said to him, “Why not seek an occasion to kill him through one of the officers presenting gentlemen in retirement to the court?” “That wouldn’t do,” said Cheng-gong Zhao.

Eric Henry

“If I depended on an officer making an introduction to kill the Song ruler, then loyal officers of later ages would no longer be trusted, and statesmen skilled in argument would be ignored.

Eric Henry

And everyone would then say, ‘It was Zhao who brought this about.’ It won’t do.

Eric Henry

I have heard that officers of olden times thought of principle when they were angry and didn’t forget what is right in times of danger—they invariably used correct means to pursue their goals.