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五曰── |
| | The fifth is──
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天下輕於身，而士以身為人。以身為人者，如此其重也，而人不知，以奚道相得？賢主必自知士，故士盡力竭智，直言交爭，而不辭其患，豫讓、公孫弘是矣。當是時也，智伯、孟嘗君知之矣。世之人主，得地百里則喜，四境皆賀，得士則不喜，不知相賀，不通乎輕重也。 |
| | The world is lighter than one's body, yet a scholar places his body at the service of others. One who places his body at the service of people does so with such great importance, yet people do not recognize it; by what means can they then come to understand each other? A wise ruler must personally recognize scholars, so that the scholars will exert their strength and wisdom, speak frankly and contend earnestly, without shying away from hardship. Yu Ran and Gongsun Hong are examples of this. At that time, Zhi Bo and Mengchang Jun recognized them. The rulers of the world, when they acquire a territory of one hundred li, are pleased and all within their borders celebrate; but when they gain a scholar, they do not rejoice, nor do people know to congratulate each other—they fail to understand what is light and what is heavy.
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湯、武，千乘也，而士皆歸之。桀、紂，天子也，而士皆去之。孔、墨，布衣之士也；萬乘之主，千乘之君，不能與之爭士也。自此觀之，尊貴富大不足以來士矣，必自知之然後可。 |
| | Tang and Wu ruled with a thousand chariots, yet all scholars flocked to them. Jie and Zhou were emperors, yet all the scholars abandoned them. Confucius and Mozi were commoners. Rulers of ten thousand chariots and lords of a thousand chariots could not contend with them for the allegiance of scholars. From this we see that high rank, noble status, wealth, and power are insufficient to attract scholars; one must personally recognize them before it can be done.
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豫讓之友謂豫讓曰：「子之行何其惑也？子嘗事范氏、中行氏，諸侯盡滅之，而子不為報，至於智氏，而子必為之報，何故？」豫讓曰：「我將告子其故。范氏、中行氏，我寒而不我衣，我饑而不我食，而時使我與千人共其養，是眾人畜我也。夫眾人畜我者，我亦眾人事之。至於智氏則不然，出則乘我以車，入則足我以養，眾人廣朝，而必加禮於吾所，是國士畜我也。夫國士畜我者，我亦國士事之。」豫讓，國士也，而猶以人之於己也為念，又況於中人乎？ |
| | Yu Ran's friend said to Yu Ran: "What is so confusing about your actions?" "You once served the Fan and Zhonghang clans, which were all eliminated by the feudal lords, yet you did not seek revenge for them. Now that it has come to the Zhi clan, you insist on avenging them—why is that?" Yu Ran said: "I will tell you the reason." "The Fan and Zhonghang clans did not clothe me when I was cold, nor feed me when I was hungry. At times they allowed me to share their provisions with a thousand others—it was as if they kept me like an ordinary person." One who keeps me as an ordinary person, I also treat as an ordinary person. As for the Zhi clan, it was different. When going out, they provided me with a carriage; when returning, they ensured I had sufficient provisions. Even among many people in court, they always showed special courtesy to me—it was as if they regarded me as a national scholar and treated me accordingly. One who treats me as a national scholar, I also serve as a national scholar. Yu Ran was a national scholar, and yet he still cared about how others treated him; how much more so for an ordinary person?
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孟嘗君為從，公孫弘謂孟嘗君曰：「君不若使人西觀秦王。意者秦王帝王之主也，君恐不得為臣，何暇從以難之？意者秦王不肖主也，君從以難之未晚也。」孟嘗君曰：「善。願因請公往矣。」公孫弘敬諾，以車十乘之秦。秦昭王聞之，而欲醜之以辭，以觀公孫弘。公孫弘見昭王，昭王曰：「薛之地小大幾何？」公孫弘對曰：「百里。」昭王笑曰：「寡人之國，地數千里，猶未敢以有難也。今孟嘗君之地方百里，而因欲以難寡人猶可乎？」公孫弘對曰：「孟嘗君好士，大王不好士。」昭王曰：「孟嘗君之好士何如？」公孫弘對曰：「義不臣乎天子，不友乎諸侯，得意則不慚為人君，不得意則不肯為人臣，如此者三人。能治可為管、商之師，說義聽行，其能致主霸王，如此者五人。萬乘之嚴主，辱其使者，退而自刎也，必以其血汙其衣，有如臣者七人。」昭王笑而謝焉曰：「客胡為若此？寡人善孟嘗君，欲客之必謹諭寡人之意也。」公孫弘敬諾。公孫弘可謂不侵矣。昭王，大王也。孟嘗君，千乘也。立千乘之義而不可凌，可謂士矣。 |
| | Mengchang Jun was forming a coalition, and Gongsun Hong said to Mengchang Jun: "You would be better off sending someone westward to observe the King of Qin. Perhaps the King of Qin is a sovereign destined for imperial rule, and you may not even have the chance to become his minister—how then could you spare time to oppose him?" Perhaps the King of Qin is an unworthy ruler; it will not be too late for you to join and oppose him." Mengchang Jun said: "Well said. "I would wish, then, to ask you to go there." Gongsun Hong respectfully agreed and went to the State of Qin with ten chariots. King Zhao of Qin heard about this and wished to test Gongsun Hong by using harsh words to embarrass him. Gongsun Hong met with King Zhao, who asked: "How large is the territory of Xue?" Gongsun Hong replied: "One hundred li." King Zhao laughed and said, "My state has a territory of thousands of li, yet I still dare not consider it sufficient to take on challenges. Now, with Mengchang Jun's territory being only a hundred li in size, how could he possibly dare to challenge me?" Gongsun Hong replied: "Mengchang Jun loves scholars, but Your Majesty does not love scholars." King Zhao asked: "How does Mengchang Jun show his love for scholars?" Gongsun Hong replied: "There are three men who do not serve as subjects of the Son of Heaven, nor associate with feudal lords; when they achieve their ambitions, they do not feel ashamed to be rulers, and when they fail, they refuse to become ministers. Such people are found under Mengchang Jun." There are five men who possess the ability to govern and could serve as teachers to Guan Zhong and Shang Yang; they speak of righteousness, listen attentively, and act accordingly—capable of leading their ruler to become a hegemon or even an emperor. Such people are also found under Mengchang Jun." There are seven men who, if a ruler of ten thousand chariots were to humiliate their envoys, would return and commit suicide, determined that their blood would stain the clothes of such an arrogant ruler. Such individuals also serve under Mengchang Jun." King Zhao laughed and apologized, saying: "Guest, why speak in this way? I admire Mengchang Jun, and I wish for you to convey my message to him with utmost care." Gongsun Hong respectfully assented. Gongsun Hong can be said to have remained unaggressive. King Zhao was a great ruler. Mengchang Jun ruled with a thousand chariots. Establishing the righteousness of one who commands a thousand chariots without being overawed can truly be called a scholar.
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