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七曰── |
| | Seven said──
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三代所寶莫如因，因則無敵。禹通三江、五湖，決伊闕，溝迴陸，注之東海，因水之力也。舜一徙成邑，再徙成都，三徙成國，而堯授之禪位，因人之心也。湯、武以千乘制夏、商，因民之欲也。如秦者立而至，有車也；適越者坐而至，有舟也。秦、越，遠塗也，竫立安坐而至者，因其械也。 |
| | The Three Dynasties valued nothing more than yin; with yin, one is invincible. Yu connected the Three Rivers and Five Lakes, breached Yique, dug canals through Lu, and directed them into the East Sea; this was by taking advantage of the power of water. Shun, with one move, established a town; with another, a capital city; and with a third, a nation. Thus Yao bestowed the throne upon him by abdication—this was by taking advantage of people's hearts. Tang and Wu, with a thousand chariots, overthrew Xia and Shang; this was by taking advantage of what the people desired. As for Qin, it rose suddenly to power—this is because they had chariots; Those who travel to Yue can arrive while sitting still—this is because they have boats. Qin and Yue are distant places; one who stands still or sits in peace and yet arrives there does so by taking advantage of mechanical devices.
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武王使人候殷，反報岐周曰：「殷其亂矣。」武王曰：「其亂焉至？」對曰：「讒慝勝良。」武王曰：「尚未也。」又復往，反報曰：「其亂加矣。」武王曰：「焉至？」對曰：「賢者出走矣。」武王曰：「尚未也。」又往，反報曰：「其亂甚矣。」武王曰：「焉至？」對曰：「百姓不敢誹怨矣。」武王曰：「嘻！」遽告太公。太公對曰：「讒慝勝良，命曰戮；賢者出走，命曰崩；百姓不敢誹怨，命曰刑勝。其亂至矣，不可以駕矣。」故選車三百，虎賁三千，朝要甲子之期，而紂為禽，則武王固知其無與為敵也。因其所用，何敵之有矣？ |
| | King Wu sent someone to spy on Yin, and the person returned to Qizhou and reported: "Yin is in chaos." King Wu asked, "How far has its chaos spread?" He replied: "Because slander and wickedness have triumphed over the virtuous." King Wu said, "Not yet." He went again and returned to report: "Its chaos has increased." King Wu asked, "How far now?" He replied: "Because the virtuous people have fled." King Wu said, "Not yet." He went once more and returned to report: "Its chaos is now severe." King Wu asked, "How bad has it become?" He replied: "Because the common people dare not criticize or complain." King Wu said, "Ah!" He hurriedly informed Tai Gong. Tai Gong replied: "When slander and wickedness triumph over the virtuous, it is called punishment; virtuous people fleeing is called collapse; the common people daring not to criticize or complain is called the triumph of punishment. Its chaos has now reached its peak; it can no longer be controlled." Therefore, King Wu selected three hundred chariots and three thousand elite warriors. On the appointed day of Jiazi, he launched his attack, captured Zhou, and thus King Wu knew from the beginning that there would be none to oppose him. By taking advantage of what was already at hand, how could there possibly be any opponent?
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武王至鮪水。殷使膠鬲候周師，武王見之。膠鬲曰：「西伯將何之？無欺我也。」武王曰：「不子欺，將之殷也。」膠鬲曰：「朅至？」武王曰：「將以甲子至殷郊，子以是報矣。」膠鬲行。天雨，日夜不休，武王疾行不輟。軍師皆諫曰：「卒病，請休之。」武王曰：「吾已令膠鬲以甲子之期報其主矣。今甲子不至，是令膠鬲不信也。膠鬲不信也，其主必殺之。吾疾行以救膠鬲之死也。」武王果以甲子至殷郊。殷已先陳矣。至殷，因戰，大克之。此武王之義也。人為人之所欲，己為人之所惡，先陳何益？適令武王不耕而穫。 |
| | King Wu arrived at the Yushui River. Yin sent Jiaoge to spy on King Wu's army, and King Wu met with him in person. Jiaoge asked: "Where is the Western Lord heading?" "Do not deceive me." King Wu said: "I will not deceive you. I am heading to Yin." Jiaoge asked: "How soon will you arrive?" King Wu said: "I shall reach the outskirts of Yin on the day Jiazi. You may report this." Jiaoge departed. It rained, day and night without ceasing, yet King Wu pressed forward at full speed without stopping. The generals all advised: "The soldiers are exhausted; please allow them to rest." King Wu said: "I have already ordered Jiaoge to inform their ruler of the day Jiazi as our arrival date. If we do not arrive on that day, it will make Jiaoge appear untrustworthy." Jiaoge would then be deemed untrustworthy, and his master will surely kill him. We must press forward at full speed to save Jiaoge from death." King Wu indeed arrived at the outskirts of Yin on the day jiazi. Yin had already deployed its troops in formation. Upon reaching Yin, King Wu engaged them in battle and achieved a great victory over them. This was the righteousness of King Wu. When people do what others desire, but one does what others detest, how can being prepared first bring any benefit? It was precisely this that allowed King Wu to reap the harvest without plowing.
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武王入殷，聞殷有長者。武王往見之，而問殷之所以亡。殷長者對曰：「王欲知之，則請以日中為期。」武王與周公旦明日早要期，則弗得也。武王怪之。周公曰：「吾已知之矣。此君子也，取不能其主，有以其惡告王，不忍為也。若夫期而不當，言而不信，此殷之所以亡也，已以此告王矣。」 |
| | King Wu entered Yin and heard that there were elders of great virtue in Yin. King Wu went to see them and asked why Yin had perished. The elder of Yin replied: "If the king wishes to know, then please set noon as the time." King Wu and Zhou Gong Dan arrived early the next day at the appointed place, but they could not find him. King Wu was puzzled by this. Zhou Gong said: "I already know the reason." This is a man of virtue; he cannot speak ill of his former ruler, nor can he bear to inform Your Majesty of the ruler's vices. It is out of compassion that he refuses to do so. If one fails to keep an appointment and speaks without credibility, this is precisely why Yin perished—he has already conveyed this to Your Majesty."
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夫審天者，察列星而知四時，因也。推歷者，視月行而知晦朔，因也。禹之裸國，裸入衣出，因也。墨子見荊王，錦衣吹笙，因也。孔子道彌子瑕見釐夫人，因也。湯、武遭亂世，臨苦民，揚其義，成其功，因也。故因則功，專則拙。因者無敵。國雖大，民雖眾，何益？ |
| | One who understands Heaven observes the stars and knows the four seasons—this is by taking advantage of natural patterns. One who calculates the calendar observes the moon's movement and knows the new and full moons—this is by taking advantage of celestial phenomena. Yu entered the Naked Country naked but emerged clothed—this was by taking advantage of local customs. Mozi presented himself before King Jing wearing fine clothes and playing a sheng flute—this was by taking advantage of circumstances. Confucius arranged for Mi Zixia to be introduced to Lifu Ren—this was by taking advantage of opportunities. Tang and Wu encountered a time of chaos, faced suffering people, promoted righteousness, and achieved their success—this was by taking advantage of the situation. Therefore, to take advantage of circumstances leads to success; to act rigidly and independently leads to failure. To take advantage of circumstances is to be invincible. A state may be large, and its people numerous—but what benefit does that bring?
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