| Encouragement of Immigration:...: |
Amongst the citizens of Qi was one Dong-guo Chang, who had very many desires and wished to have ten thousand pieces of gold. When his retainer begged for a monetary subsidy (in case he would obtain that money), he would not give it, saying: 'I want to use it to obtain a fief.' His retainer became angry, and left him and went to Song, saying: 'This is being stingy about what he has not; therefore he is now in a worse position than when he first had me with him.' Now Jin has the people, and Qin is sparing in the granting of exemptions from taxes; this is being stingy about what one has not, with the result that one loses what one might have. Is this not just like Dong-guo Chang's being stingy about what he did not have, and so losing his retainer? |
