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禹有十年之蓄，故免九年之水；汤有十年之积，故胜七岁之旱。夫蓄积者，天下之大命也。苟粟多而财有馀，何向而不济？以攻则取，以守则固，以战则胜，怀柔附远，何招而不至？ |
| | Yu had a ten-year surplus, so he was spared from the nine years of flooding. Tang had a ten-year accumulation, so he overcame seven years of drought. Accumulation is the great sustainer of the realm. If grain is abundant and wealth sufficient, what direction cannot be sustained? In attack, one captures; in defense, one is secure; in battle, one triumphs. To win over and bring distant peoples to submission—what summons would not be answered?
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管子曰：“仓廪实，知礼节；衣食足，知荣辱。”民非足也，而可治之者，自古及今，未之尝闻。古人曰：“一夫不耕，或为之饥；一妇不织，或为之寒。”生之有时，而用之无节，则物力必屈。古之为天下者至悉也，故其蓄积足恃。今背本而以末食者甚众，是天下之大残也；从生之害者甚盛，是天下之大贼也；汰流淫佚侈靡之俗日以长，是天下之大祟也。残贼公行，莫之或止，大命泛败，莫之振救。生之者甚少，而靡之者甚众，天下之势，何以不危？汉之为汉几四十岁矣，公私之积，犹可哀痛也。故失时不雨，民且狼顾矣。岁恶不入，请卖爵鬻子，既或闻耳矣。安有为天下阽危若此，而上不惊者！ |
| | Guan Zi said: "When granaries are full, one knows propriety and restraint;" Clothing and food sufficient, one understands honor and disgrace." The people, unless their needs are met, yet can be governed—such a thing has never been heard of from ancient times to the present. Ancients said: "If one man does not till the soil, someone may suffer hunger;" one woman does not weave, someone may suffer cold." Production has its seasons, but if usage is without restraint, then material resources will surely be exhausted. Those of old who governed the realm were most meticulous; thus their reserves were sufficient to rely upon. Now, many turn away from fundamentals and seek sustenance through secondary pursuits—this is a great injury to the realm; those who indulge in harmful pursuits are numerous—this is the greatest thief of the realm; the custom of wastefulness, licentiousness, and extravagance grows daily—this is a great calamity for the realm. Bandits and thieves act openly, none daring to stop them; the great order collapses broadly, no one able to rescue it. Those who produce are few, while those who squander are many—what is the reason for the realm not to be in peril? Han as a Han has lasted nearly forty years, yet public and private reserves are still pitiable. Therefore, when timely rains fail to come, the people will look about in panic. When harvests are poor and grain does not enter, people petition to sell their titles or their children—such things have already been heard of. How can the realm be in such perilous straits and yet the sovereign remain unalarmed!
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世之有饥荒，天下之常也，禹汤被之矣。即不幸有方二三千里之旱，国何以相恤？卒然边境有急，数十百万之众，国何以馈之矣？兵旱相乘，天下大屈，勇力者聚徒而横击，罢夫羸老，易子孙而沦其骨，政法未毕通也，远方之疑者并举而争起矣。为人上者，乃试而图之，岂将有及乎？可以为富安天下，而直以为此廪廪也，窃为陛下惜之。 |
| | Famine and disaster are common occurrences throughout the world; even Yu and Tang experienced them. If misfortune brings a drought over an area of two or three thousand li, how can the state provide mutual relief? Should suddenly an emergency arise at the frontier, with hundreds of thousands or even millions of troops needed, how can the state supply them? When war and drought strike in succession, the realm suffers great depletion. The bold and strong gather followers to launch reckless attacks; weary men and frail elders exchange their children for food, leaving bones to rot. Before governance and law are fully restored, doubts from distant regions rise together, and rebellions erupt. Those in positions of authority should now consider and plan accordingly—how can they wait until it is too late? It is possible to achieve wealth and stability for the realm, yet one merely considers this precarious situation—this I secretly lament for Your Majesty.
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