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七曰── |
| | Seven said──
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三代所宝莫如因，因则无敌。禹通三江、五湖，决伊阙，沟回陆，注之东海，因水之力也。舜一徙成邑，再徙成都，三徙成国，而尧授之禅位，因人之心也。汤、武以千乘制夏、商，因民之欲也。如秦者立而至，有车也；适越者坐而至，有舟也。秦、越，远涂也，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，反报岐周曰：“殷其乱矣。”武王曰：“其乱焉至？”对曰：“谗慝胜良。”武王曰：“尚未也。”又复往，反报曰：“其乱加矣。”武王曰：“焉至？”对曰：“贤者出走矣。”武王曰：“尚未也。”又往，反报曰：“其乱甚矣。”武王曰：“焉至？”对曰：“百姓不敢诽怨矣。”武王曰：“嘻！”遽告太公。太公对曰：“谗慝胜良，命曰戮；贤者出走，命曰崩；百姓不敢诽怨，命曰刑胜。其乱至矣，不可以驾矣。”故选车三百，虎贲三千，朝要甲子之期，而纣为禽，则武王固知其无与为敌也。因其所用，何敌之有矣？ |
| | 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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武王至鲔水。殷使胶鬲候周师，武王见之。胶鬲曰：“西伯将何之？无欺我也。”武王曰：“不子欺，将之殷也。”胶鬲曰：“朅至？”武王曰：“将以甲子至殷郊，子以是报矣。”胶鬲行。天雨，日夜不休，武王疾行不辍。军师皆谏曰：“卒病，请休之。”武王曰：“吾已令胶鬲以甲子之期报其主矣。今甲子不至，是令胶鬲不信也。胶鬲不信也，其主必杀之。吾疾行以救胶鬲之死也。”武王果以甲子至殷郊。殷已先陈矣。至殷，因战，大克之。此武王之义也。人为人之所欲，己为人之所恶，先陈何益？适令武王不耕而获。 |
| | 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，闻殷有长者。武王往见之，而问殷之所以亡。殷长者对曰：“王欲知之，则请以日中为期。”武王与周公旦明日早要期，则弗得也。武王怪之。周公曰：“吾已知之矣。此君子也，取不能其主，有以其恶告王，不忍为也。若夫期而不当，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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夫审天者，察列星而知四时，因也。推历者，视月行而知晦朔，因也。禹之裸国，裸入衣出，因也。墨子见荆王，锦衣吹笙，因也。孔子道弥子瑕见厘夫人，因也。汤、武遭乱世，临苦民，扬其义，成其功，因也。故因则功，专则拙。因者无敌。国虽大，民虽众，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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