Tang’s Campaign against Ge
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English translation
Original Chinese text
万章问曰:“宋,小国也,今将行王政,齐、楚恶而伐之,则如之何?”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “Song is a small state and now intends to practice kingly government. If Qi and Chu resent this and attack it, what should it do?”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“汤居亳,与葛为邻。葛伯放而不祀,汤使人问之曰:‘何为不祀?’曰:‘无以供牺牲也。’汤使遗之牛羊,葛伯食之,又不以祀。汤又使人问之曰:‘何为不祀?’曰:‘无以供粢盛也。’汤使亳众往为之耕,老弱馈食。葛伯率其民,要其有酒食黍稻者夺之,不授者杀之。有童子以黍肉饷,杀而夺之。《书》曰:‘葛伯仇饷’,此之谓也。为其杀是童子而征之,四海之内皆曰:‘非富天下也,为匹夫匹妇复仇也。’汤始征,自葛载。十一征而无敌于天下。东面而征,西夷怨;南面而征,北狄怨,曰:‘奚为后我?’民之望之若大旱之望雨也。归市者弗止,芸者不变。诛其君,吊其民,如时雨降,民大悦。《书》曰:‘徯我后,后来其无罚。’‘有攸不惟臣,东征,绥厥士女。篚厥玄黄,绍我周王见休,惟臣附于大邑周。’其君子实玄黄于篚以迎其君子,其小人箪食壶浆以迎其小人。救民于水火之中,取其残而已矣。《太誓》曰:‘我武惟扬,侵于之疆。则取于残,杀伐用张,于汤有光。’不行王政云尔;苟行王政,四海之内皆举首而望之,欲以为君。齐楚虽大,何畏焉?”
English translation
Mencius replied, “Tang lived at Bo, next to the state of Ge. The ruler of Ge was wanton and neglected sacrifice. Tang sent someone to ask, ‘Why do you not sacrifice?’ He replied, ‘I have nothing for the sacrificial animals.’ Tang sent him cattle and sheep, but the ruler of Ge ate them and still did not sacrifice. Tang asked again, ‘Why do you not sacrifice?’ He answered, ‘I have no grain for the offerings.’ Tang sent people from Bo to plough for him, while the old and young brought them food. The ruler of Ge led his people to stop those carrying wine, food, millet, and rice, and seized it; he killed those who would not hand it over. A child bringing millet and meat was killed and robbed. The Documents says, ‘The ruler of Ge made an enemy of those bringing food’; this is what it means. Tang attacked because the child had been killed, and people everywhere said, ‘He is not seeking the wealth of the world; he is avenging ordinary men and women.’ Tang’s campaigns began with Ge. After eleven expeditions, no one in the world could oppose him. When he marched east, western peoples complained; when he marched south, northern peoples complained, asking, ‘Why are we left until last?’ The people longed for him as those in a great drought long for rain. Markets continued, and farmers did not stop their work. He punished their ruler and consoled the people; when timely rain fell, the people rejoiced. The Documents says, ‘Wait for our lord; when he comes, we will no longer be punished.’ Another quotation from the Documents reads, ‘Where there are those who do not treat us as subjects, march east and settle their men and women…’ The punctuation and meaning of “不惟臣” are disputed; this draft provisionally takes it to mean “those who do not accord us the rites due to subjects.” The text continues: local nobles filled baskets with dark and yellow silk to welcome the Zhou king’s nobles; commoners brought food in baskets and drink in jars to welcome his people. Tang only rescued the people from danger and removed their oppressor. The Great Oath says, ‘Our martial force rose and entered their territory; we removed the oppressor and strengthened the campaign, bringing glory to Tang.’ The issue is simply that royal government is not practiced. If it were, everyone under Heaven would look up to it and wish to have such a ruler. Powerful as Qi and Chu may be, what is there to fear?”