| | Zhao Xiangzi sent Xin Zimu Zi to attack the Di people, and he defeated them, capturing the cities of Zuoren and Zhongren; he dispatched an envoy from Ju to pay homage. Xiangzi was just about to eat when he showed a worried expression. His attendants said, "In one day two cities have fallen—this is what people would normally rejoice over; yet you now look worried. Why is that?" Xiangzi said: "The great rivers, though vast, do not overflow for more than three days; a sudden gale or heavy rain does not last the whole morning, and noontime does not remain unchanged for a moment. The virtue and conduct of our Zhao clan have not been cultivated over time, yet in one day two cities fell—will ruin soon come upon us?" Confucius heard about this and said: "The Zhao family will surely flourish! Worry is what leads to prosperity, while complacency in joy is what brings about downfall. Victory itself is not the difficult part; the difficulty lies in maintaining it. A wise ruler uses this principle to maintain victory, and thus his blessings extend to future generations. Qi, Chu, Wu, and Yue all once experienced victories, yet in the end they perished—because they did not understand how to maintain success. Only a ruler who follows the Way is capable of sustaining victory." Confucius was strong enough to open the gate of the national pass with his bare hands, yet he refused to be known for his physical strength. Mozi devised strategies for defense and siege warfare, and Gongshu Ban was convinced of their effectiveness, yet Mozi refused to be known as a military expert. Therefore, those who are skilled at maintaining victory use strength as if it were weakness.
|
