| | Heaven has four calamities: floods, droughts, famines, and disasters; their arrival is unpredictable. If one does not diligently accumulate provisions, how can one prepare for them? The admonition of the Xia dynasty says: "Common people who do not have enough food to last two years, when encountering a famine in heaven, will find that their wives and children are no longer theirs." A high official who does not have enough food to last two years; when encountering a famine in heaven, his servants, concubines, and carriages will no longer be his. A state that does not have enough food to last for two years; when encountering a heavenly famine, its people are no longer its subjects. Take heed! If one does not reflect, calamity and misfortune will come without warning. Those who clearly open the blocked and lift prohibitions will gain the world as if by transformation; Those who do not clearly open the blocked and remove prohibitions will lose the world as if by transformation; A strong army can conquer people, but a strong person can conquer Heaven; Those who can control what they possess can also control what others possess; those who cannot control their own possessions will be controlled by others. When orders are carried out and prohibitions respected, this marks the beginning of kingship.
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