Tree on Hill (5)

1 To fulfill his ideal, Confucius expected that all governments could govern their countries by his way, so as to be prosperous and safe.

2 However, for years everything has been tough. He was exiled twice by his motherland – the State of Lu.

3 In the state of Song, Huantui, a minister of war, tried to kill him.

4 In the state of Wei, he was besieged and almost killed since he was regarded mistakenly as Yanghu.

5 During staying in the state of Shang and Zhou, he was destitute down and out. When passing the State of Chen and the State of Cai, he was besieged in Fuhan by the army of Chu.

6 So much bitterness and hardship befell him. The people who followed him became less day by day. However, he didn’t understand yet why other people can’t identify his kindness.

7 Once, Confucius met Zisang. When chatting, he can’t help complaining about his bad experiences.

8 Confucius said, “In the past years, I was very ill-fated. I was exiled twice by the State of Lu. I was besieged in the State of Song and was treated mistakenly in the state of Wei. I was destitute down and out in the State of Shang and the State of Zhou. Nobody understood me. Later, I was besieged again between the state of Chen and the state of Cai. The relatives and friends, who used to visit me often, seldom showed up now and even my closest disciples leave me day after day, due to the misfortunes happened to me one after another. I have nothing to say, since it is my fate. However, I never make it clear why I am so.”

9 Zi Sang asked, “Have you heard the story about Lin who escaped from the State of Jia?”

10 Once a disaster befell the State of Jia, people escaped from the country. Lin left the valuable jade at home and carried his son and his son’s clothes to run away.

11 He was asked, “The kid’s clothes are valueless. Why do you carry them? Kid is more troublesome than jade, you should carry the jade instead of the kid in escape. Further more, the jade is invaluable.

12 Why you give up the jade instead of the kid?”

13 Lin replied, “I cherished the jade because it is invaluable, but kid has consanguineous parenthood with me.

14 Relations among those combining together for interest will vanish when the danger and disaster happen.

15 However, under the same situation, the consanguineous relation will make them help each other to pass through the difficulties. The two relations are very different.

16 You see the relation between gentleman is as natural as plain water while the relation between villains is as sweet as wine. The former is not based on interest or shakable money. The latter is as thick as honey. When their interest exists, they hoard up to drink and sing. When it is gone, the attraction between them reduces and their friendship is gone too.

17 The friendship of gentleman is based on ideal, hobby, taste and admiration. Coherence between them looks slight and common, but it can last for a long time in different environments. It will not change easily. Therefore, the relation somewhat like consanguineous relation will exist for a long time.

18 The feeling among villains is based on the common interests that depend on each other. For example, a man is rich and powerful. Many people cling to him to get some opportunity for business or simply for a fancy meal. The rich man is delighted in seeing people flatter and company around him. To spend a little money for this pleasure is just a piece of cake for him.

19 However, someday the rich man becomes poor. His fair-weather friends naturally are gone.

20 Therefore, there are certain of reasons to associate people together.

21 The reason exists and then they combine; the reason is gone and then they are gone too. These are very natural.

22 After listening to Zi Sang, Confucius’s doubt was gone. He thanked Zi Sang. “Thank you for your tuition.” And then went home.

23 After returning to home, Confucius threw away all books and ceased his daily study, reading and lecture. His disciples around him had no lecture to listen, and received no exhortation from him. To his surprise, the disciples were closer to him instead.

24 After a few days, Zi Sang thought that he still had something to tell Confucius so he went back to see him again.

25 He told Confucius, “In the past, Shun called in Yu when he was dying. He said sincerely with earnest wishes that, ‘Please remember that anything can’t be done by force, it is better to go with their nature.'

26 In associating with people, you are asked not to be sham or act as an affectation of peace. To be frank and let all go with their nature. Your governance should follow the trend so that you are close to the people’s will. Not to be sham and lie to pretend peace so that you don’t need to rack your brain to conceive more lie to cover your past lie. Hence, you will feel easy and relieved.

27 If your governance conforms to the people’s will and your feeling is frank, your policies are apt to implement. You needn’t persuade people to do referendum and issue any propaganda to promote your policy. You needn’t cater painstakingly for winning people support by the expensive pension and allowance programs to the farmer and fisher.

28 If doing so, you can’t be controlled by the interest group, careerman, and even sinister gang and malicious priest. Do remember it!”