| | Pang Zi asked Hecuanzi, "What is the first priority of the sage's way?" Hecuanzi said, "Respect for others." Pang Zi said, "What is the first priority in human conduct?" Hecuanzi said, "Militia comes first." Pang Zi said, "Why abandon Heaven and prioritize human conduct?" Hecuanzi said: "Heaven is lofty and difficult to know; blessings cannot be requested, calamities cannot be avoided. To emulate Heaven would lead to transgression." The earth is vast, deep, and thick; it offers much benefit but little authority. To emulate the earth would result in disgrace. The seasons change constantly, with nothing remaining the same; to emulate the seasons would lead to inconsistency. These three—Heaven, Earth, and Time—cannot serve as foundations for establishing moral transformation or social customs, so sages do not emulate them." Pang Zi said: "What about yin and yang?" Hecuanzi said: "The spiritual forces of yin and yang are awe-inspiring and luminous, harmonizing with Heaven; their subtle movements arise together with the Earth; and their cold or warm influences arrive in accordance with the seasons." When these three—Heaven, Earth, Time—are present, sages bring order; when they are absent, chaos ensues. Therefore, when people become wealthy first, they grow arrogant; when they become noble first, they become weak. Militia is something that may not be used once in a hundred years, yet it cannot be forgotten for even a single day. Therefore, human conduct prioritizes the military." Pang Zi said: "What does it mean to prioritize the military?" Hecuanzi said: "The military is about propriety, righteousness, loyalty, and trustworthiness." Pang Zi said: "I would like to hear the meaning of the military." Hecuanzi said: "When one loses the Way, they dare to use the lowly to defy the noble; when there is no righteousness, they dare to let the small encroach upon the great." Pang Zi said: "How should it be employed?" Hecuanzi said: "When injustice occurs, impose prohibitions; when things return to correctness, then abandon them. Therefore, not killing surrendered people is esteemed by the ruler's way; nothing is more precious than keeping commitments. To gain territory but lose trust, sage kings will not occupy it. To break promises and violate agreements—each must have a reason."
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