Defending the State with Its People
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
滕文公问曰:‘滕,小国也,间于齐、楚。事齐乎?事楚乎?’
English translation
Duke Wen of Teng asked, ‘Teng is a small state between Qi and Chu. Should we serve Qi, or Chu?’
Original Chinese text
孟子对曰:‘是谋非吾所能及也。无已,则有一焉:凿斯池也,筑斯城也,与民守之,效死而民弗去,则是可为也。’
English translation
Mencius replied, ‘That choice of strategy is beyond what I can settle for you. If I must offer one course, dig the moat, build the walls, and defend them with the people. If they remain even at the risk of death, there is something you can do.’