On Swordplay (1)

1 King Wen of Zhao was fond of swordplay. Swordsmen under the sun all took pride in being praised by the king. The State of Zhao hosted three thousand more swordsmen from all direction. They matched for swordplay all day. Every year people of a hundred more died in the match. The society therefore, went into mess, affecting the operation of trade and manufacture.

2 King Wen was in power for three years. Civil economy went stagnant because he indulged himself into swordplay match. Other neighboring countries found the situation of Zhao, covet to occupy it. The king neglected the bad situation and still had mania for swordplay.

3 Prince Kui was a sober young man. He cared much about his country.

4 One day, he told his consultant, “Who can dissuade my father from the swordsmen and make him bend to state affairs, I will award him gold of a thousand liang.

5 His consultant suggested, “Chuang Tzu can do it.”

6 The prince sent his messenger with gold of a thousand liang to Chuang Tzu’s house. Chuang Tzu didn’t accept the gold but he would like to see the prince, accompanied by the messenger.

7 Chuang Tzu came straight to the point. He asked the prince, “Why do you invite me to do it? Why do you give me the gold?”

8 The prince replied, “I heard that you are a wise and able man. I specially gave gold of a thousand liang to your servant and expected them to serve you well. Now that you don’t accept it, I feel small to ask you to do something.”

9 Chuang Tzu said, “Alas! Please speak frank in front of a reasonable person. I know you want me to persuade your farther from mania of sword and to attend state affairs. This is good. However, in regarding of the reward, if I persuaded but failed, I couldn’t make him correct, which mean that I didn’t accomplish your assignment. Thus I would lose my life. How could I spend the gold then?

10 If I succeed in persuading, which mean that I accomplish your assignment. What may I not ask for from the king? Gold of a thousand liang is petty to me then.

11 That is why I refuse your gold but I still am at your call.”

12 The prince said delightedly, “That’s great! But my father only gives audience to swordsman. Can you play sword?

13 Chuang Tzu said, “Yes! No problem. I have excellent swordplay.”

14 Prince said, “Your clothes and dressing up are improper. Those people whom he meets are like bandit, with helmet on head and long hair disheveling on shoulders. Tassels on helmets are puffy and big; upper clothes are short, half belly exposing. They speak unclearly and loudly, eyes round and eyebrow rising. I am afraid that you have difficulty in audience because you look gentle.

15 “It is easy! You make a costume like that for me.”

16 The prince ordered his men to make a set of clothes of swordsman within three days. Chuang Tzu dressed it and had his hair disheveling, and then put on armor. He looked like a swordsman.

17 Chuang Tzu in the swordsman clothes went to see the prince. The prince felt contented at the sight of him. So, he took Chuang Tzu to court for audience with King Wen of Zhao.

18 Eunuch called the prince with Chuang Tzu to have an audience with the king in court. King Wen knew that the prince had an intention to keep him from the swordsmen. To threat the lobbyist, King Wen pulled out his accompanying sword and put it on the visible place of desk, by which he made it clear that if anyone wanted to ask him to give up sword, the man had better give up this idea, or he would be killed

19 The prince and Chuang Tzu came up to the court. With head up and chest lifting, Chuang Tzu strode to the king in a soldier liked way. Before the king’s desk, he just bid a simple salute of warrior to him and then stood steadily there, feet posing as T-shape. The prince stood aside, having done a solute of kneeling. Seeing Chuang Tzu’s arrogance, the prince rather cared about him. He was much afraid that Chuang Tzu would be killed for his impoliteness.

20 King Wen of Zhao instead admired Chuang Tzu’s attitude, because, he thought that a swordsman should be like this. A man must be of dignity. It was not a man if he knelt at sight of others.

21 The king’s heart of exclusion softened somewhat. He asked Chuang Tzu, “What do you want to tell me? Why do you have to be introduced by the prince and why not see me directly? As you know, I favor swordsman. You look like a good warrior.”

22 Chuang Tzu answered, “I heard that Your Majesty like swordplay so I asked the prince to introduce me. I just want to exchange with you on swordplay. That’s all. ”

23 “What’s the speciality of your swordplay?” The king asked.

24 “I can kill a person within ten steps, once my sword is pulled out. I would win all matches in my journey of a thousand li.” Chuang Tzu boasted.

25 Hearing this, the king was very delighted. He said to himself that a wonderful play is coming. He said, “So, you should be the invincible warrior under the sun?”

26 Chuang Tzu explained, “Swordplay must depends on brain, muscle is not enough. In match, you should disguise your weakness and give your rival an opportunity to attack. And then you wait his attacking, because we are ready while our rival devotes to attack and neglects defense. Then we start later but attack earlier. We thus win and cut off our rival’s head. Do you want to arrange a match for me to show my swordplay?”

27 The king was more delighted. He said, “Sir, you may have a rest in hotel now. When I have arranged all things of competition, I will inform you.”

28 King Wen of Zhao convened all swordsmen in his country and divided them into groups to hold elimination games that lasted for seven days. Procedure of matches was throat-cut and cruel. So, the games took a toll of sixty swordsmen’s death. At last, there were the best thirty swordsmen attended the final match.

29 In the morning, King Wen called up the thirty swordsmen gathered outside the court. They carried their own swords, standing in a row. And then he sent for Chuang Tzu.

30 Chuang Tzu in swords clothes strode to the court. Pointing to the outside swordsmen, King Wen told Chuang Tzu, “I’ve selected thirty best swordsmen to compete with you.”

31 Chuang Tzu replied without any fear, “I hunger for it for long.”

32 Then King Wen found that Chuang Tzu seemed not to carry his sword. How to compete without sword? King Wen asked him, “If you don’t have sword, please use mine. What kind do you like? Longer one or shorter one? I’ve collected many swords. You may choose whatever you want. ”

33 Chuang Tzu replied, “Don’t care it. Any one is acceptable. But as for sword, I have three ones. I bet that you don’t have them. I wonder which sword you like. Before match, let me talk about the three swords.”

34 King Wen had been taking pride in his collected swords. Now there were three swords that he never heard. He felt very curious. He told Chuang Tzu, “Well! Tell me the three swords.”

35 “The swords have their names as: Sword of Emperor, Sword of Marquis, and Sword of the Common Man respectively.” Said Chuangt Tzu.

36 “What’s the Sword of Emperor?” King Wen of Zhao asked earnestly.

37 Chuang Tzu replied seriously, “Its tip is Shicheng City and Yanxi City; its blade is Tai Mountain in the State of Qi; its back is the State of Jin and the State of Wei; its ring is the State of Zhou and the State of Song. Its handle is the State of Han and the State of Wei; its sheath is four seasons and the outside countries; its fringe is Bo Sea and Chang Mountain.

38 The principle of five elements interaction is used to make it; the rule of award and punishment to turn it; the principle of Yin and Yang to pull and close it; the warmth of spring and summer to hold it; the cold of winter and autumn to wield it.

39 This sword is invincible everywhere. When wielding up, nobody can escape; when stabbing down, nobody can ward off. When playing it, nobody dare come up. It can cleave cloud in the sky and chop off all obstacles. He who uses this sword can overwhelm marquis and rule all countries. This is the Sword of Emperor.”

40 King Wen thought over on Chuang Tzu’s description of the Sword of Emperor. He started to introspect: Why doesn’t he find such a distinguished sword before?

41 After his mood calmed down, he raised head to look at Chuang Tzu. “What about the Sword of Marquis.”

42 Chuang Tzu explained, “Smart and brave man is its tip; incorrupt man its edge; kind and loyal man its ring; wise man its handle.

43 The sword is invincible too. When wielding up, nobody can escape; when stabbing down, nobody can ward off. When playing it, nobody can come up.

44 Heaven is its rule in the order of sun, moon and star. Earth is its rule in the order of four seasons. It integrates people’s will to settle down the countries of all directions. Its wielding carries the power of thunder of ten thousand tons. Each one in the surrendered countries obeys the wielder’s order. This is the Sword of Marquis.”

45 King Wen lightly put back the sword on the desk and asked him to sit down by gesture. Taking off the heavy armor, Chuang Tzu sat down immodestly beside the desk in good taste.

46 King Wen asked, “What about the Sword of the Common Man?”

47 Taking a drink of tea, Chuang Tzu replied, “The Sword of the Common Man is seen everywhere. Wielder holds a sword and wears armor, with long hair disheveling on the shoulders. Tassels on helmets are puffy and big; upper clothes are short, half belly exposing. They speak unclearly and loudly, eyes round and eyebrow rising. In match, he chops up rival’s head and stabs down to rival’s liver. Their fighting is like cock fighting. When careless, they are stabbed to death. They are helpless to the country and society. Now you are a king but you like the vulgar sword of the common man. I really feel unworthy for you.”

48 Nodding after listening, King Wen stood up and stepped up to Chuang Tzu. Chuang Tzu stood up politely too. Hand in hand, King Wen said to Chuang Tzu, “Go. Let’s go to the rear palace and ask my chef to make some dishes. Let’s talk there.”

49 After Chuang Tzu sat down, King Wen was still thinking over the description on sword, walking around the table. He walked and walked, without stopping after three circles. Chuang Tzu said, “What I said is over. Your Majesty, please sit and calm down; when having dinner, we better not think about the swordplay anymore.”

50 After Chuang Tzu left, King Wen retrospected the details of the Sword of Emperor, the Sword of Marquis and the Sword of the Common Man alone. He felt shameful to his past when he sought for the humble but deserted the noble, sought for the small but deserted the great. Since then, he ignored the swordsman and no longer financing their cost of living.

51 These swordsmen left one after another under the condition that they had no living support and were despised. Some of them, who had nowhere to go, committed suicide.

52 After these bellicose swordsmen went away, state of Zhao picked up its prosperity and peace again.