说苑/齊人王滿生見周公，周公出見之，曰：「先生遠辱，何以教之？

The Duke of Zhou came out to greet him and said, “You have endured the hardship of a long journey in order to come here, sir; what teachings do you have to bestow upon me?” “Internal affairs are discussed within,” said Wang Man Sheng, “and external affairs are discussed outside.

Shall we now discuss internal affairs?

Or shall we discuss external ones?” The Duke of Zhou led him inside, Wang Man Sheng saying, “I respectfully follow you, sir.” Mats were spread inside, but the Duke of Zhou made no motion inviting his visitor to sit.

Wang Man Sheng said, “When discussing great matters, one sits; when discussing inconsequential things, one leans.

Shall we discuss great matters?

Or shall we discuss inconsequential ones?” The Duke of Zhou invited Wang Man Sheng to sit with a gesture, and he complied.

“What teachings do you have to bestow on me?” the Duke of Zhou asked.

“Your servant has heard,” said Wang Man Sheng, “that sages understand things without being told about them and that those who are not sages fail to understand things even when told.

Would you like me to speak?

Or would you prefer it if I didn’t speak?” The Duke of Zhou lowered his head in reflection for a short while and made no response.

Borrowing a brush and a bamboo slip, Wang Man Sheng wrote on it the words “The altars of the state are in peril,” then held it up before his chest.

Looking at the words, the Duke of Zhou said, “Yes, indeed, I shall honor your directive.” The next day, he executed Guan and Cai.109 107 Wang Man Sheng 王滿生: unattested elsewhere.

The idea that “a man of Qi” might seek out the Duke of Zhou for an audience is an anachronism.

In the early Zhou, Qi was not a state but a military garrison. Only hundreds of years later did men begin to travel great distances to give policy advice to rulers.

Many subsequent dukes of Zhou existed, but only the original Duke executed (his brothers) Guan and Cai.