| | In the third year of King Weizhou's reign, there was a great famine sent by Heaven. The king issued major regulations to govern his territory, and the marquises of the three states all followed suit. The king summoned the chief ministers, the three elders, the three officials, the gentlemen, and all those in charge of a hundred affairs to court in the great hall. He asked about the causes of exhaustion and illness among the people, failures in governance, injustices in punishments, extremes in mourning or joy, excessive hospitality, extravagant expenditures, and also levies on markets and passes, shortages from mountain forests, wastelands of fields and dwellings, damage to ditches and canals, negligence and idleness, cruelty toward arrogant and stubborn subjects, and calamities caused by droughts and floods. He said, "I am unworthy and lacking virtue; my governance is untimely, causing the state to grow weary and afflicted. I have been unable to properly assist you all. You, my ministers, do not yet support me sufficiently. Therefore, officials should examine their duties, local communities should inquire about their people, they should consult with the elderly, address the overall harms, carefully investigate the causes, and reveal no hidden truths." On a certain day, they reported to the ancestral temple. Those who did not obey orders and those with habitual offenses would not be pardoned. After the king issued his decree, no one entered to eat without presenting offerings; all officials maintained proper conduct, and [blank] did not partake in meals. On the appointed day at dawn, the king wore a plain hemp robe to attend court, and there were no colorful garments worn within the court. Officials examined their duties; local communities inquired about their benefits; they discussed calamities and sought advice from the people. No one dared to disobey. They interrogated and removed arrogant and stubborn individuals, dealt with those who were uncooperative, carefully addressed negligence and idleness. In groups of ten and five, they ensured mutual guarantees; movements encouraged idle residents to settle down. Affairs were regulated in a timely manner for prosperity. Farmers bore responsibility by household, and every household contributed its laborers. Grain reserves were distributed to the local communities; each community was assigned grain rations according to their needs. Standards for levies and assessments of goods were set, and officials personally competed in gathering and storing supplies. Stored grain would not be sold or bought at inflated prices; grain purchases would not increase the burden on the people. Taxes were collected in kind, and local magistrates ensured loans were provided with guarantees; if repayment was not possible within the year, trust and sincerity would be used to assist and support, aiding the people's ability to generate wealth. With sufficient resources for food, taxes could be levied as assessments; provisions were allocated according to household size, ensuring that everyone's share of the tax was fair and equal. For those outside who lacked food support, passes were opened to transport grain; when grain supplies ran out, they would not be abandoned. Orphans and widows would not be left destitute. Those who were stranded would not remain in place; garrisons would not retain them, ensuring the people were sufficient to defend their cities. Travelers departing were distributed evenly; carriages were dispatched to escort those who had passed away, and grain was transported day and night. Thus, the king announced to travelers from all directions; roads were cleared for smooth passage, ferry services and lodging along the way ensured that wherever they arrived, it felt like returning home. Taxes and rents were lightened; therefore, the government issued standard currency to circulate among the people. The value of goods was adjusted between high and low prices to ensure fairness for travelers, so that no one would be delayed or held back. There would be no selling of cooked food, and no markets within homes; internal and external regulations were established to ensure balance. There was no distinction between early or late arrivals; the people in each neighborhood moved forward equally. When moving together, all followed suit, accumulating resources without [blank]. Punishments were used to assist in maintaining fairness, ensuring that no one fell into destitution. Fairness ensured there would be no shortages, and benefits for the people remained moderate and not excessive. They would not sow vegetables, nor eat seeds; the amount of use was measured and reduced according to need. They made offerings without elaborate sacrifices or banquets for guests. Clothing and washing were simple and unregulated; carriages bore no ornate decorations; people did not consume meat, and livestock were not fed grain. The state would not encourage archery contests in the local communities; music was played without elaborate performances or wall enclosures. Walls and houses were repaired but not newly built, ensuring resources supported agriculture without being wasted on unnecessary projects. Only high-ranking officials such as the Grand Ministers would be entertained as guests; when entertaining, it would not exceed what was necessary. Mourning did not last for an entire day, and funeral rites were reduced by one level of formality. Commoners would not be buried alone; in groups of five, they planted trees as memorials. The sending off and welcoming of the deceased was conducted similarly for all. Those who did not obey commands would face habitual punishment without exception.
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