」尹鐸對曰:「公事急,措種而懸之臺,夫雖欲趨種,不能得也。
It began to rain continuously for days on end.
Turning to his attendants, Zhao Jianzi said, “Shouldn’t we urge the people to get on with their planting?” “The people are under heavy pressure due to state-imposed demands,” replied Yin Duo.
」簡子惕然,乃釋臺罷役,曰:「我以臺為急,不如民之急也,民以不為臺故,知吾之愛也。」
“When people’s minds are diverted from planting owing to their preoccupation with tower building, I believe that exhorting them to plant will not work, however much we may wish to do this.” Realizing his mistake, Zhao Jianzi disbanded the building teams and ceased tower construction, saying, “I thought that tower construction was of pressing importance, but it is not as important as the well-being of the people.
My abandonment of this project will cause the people to realize the magnitude of my love for them.