If a ruler fails to seal the cracks and holes in the walls, but instead exhausts his strength plastering them with red and white clay, the walls will inevitably collapse when a violent storm strikes. If he fails to eliminate the disaster right before his eyes, but instead longs for warriors like Meng Ben and Xia Yu to die for him; if he fails to guard against the threats within his own court, but instead fortifies strongholds on distant borders; if he fails to adopt the counsel of nearby wise ministers, but instead forms alliances with great powers a thousand li away – then, once a sudden gale arises, Meng Ben and Xia Yu will not arrive in time to save him, nor will foreign allies arrive in time to assist. No disaster is greater than this.
In the present age, those who sincerely counsel a ruler must never let the King of Yan flatter the people of Lu, nor let contemporary rulers blindly admire the sages of antiquity, nor expect the people of Yue to rescue those drowning in the Central Plains. Only by doing so will the ruler and his subjects be united in affection, internal achievements be established, and external prestige be attained.
Note
This excerpt comes from Han Feizi · Employing People, a key chapter on forestalling disasters and the perils of pursuing distant solutions. Using vivid metaphors such as patching a crumbling house and distant water for a nearby fire, Han Fei argues that rulers should eliminate internal risks and employ nearby talents. Neglecting fundamentals brings ruin; even powerful external aid cannot save the state once crisis erupts.
Meng Ben (孟贲) and Xia Yu (夏育):
Two legendary warriors of the Warring States period, renowned for their superhuman strength and courage. It was said that Meng Ben could tackle fierce beasts and wrestle bulls bare‑handed. He served King Wu of Qin. When the king attempted to lift a heavy bronze tripod and suffered fatal injury, Meng Ben was executed for complicity. Han Fei uses them as archetypes of ultimate martial power, arguing that even the greatest heroes cannot save a ruler who has neglected internal security.
The King of Yan and the People of Lu:
A hypothetical scenario illustrating the absurdity of favoring outsiders over one’s own subjects. Yan and Lu were neighboring states; Han Fei uses this to show that a ruler who tries to win over foreigners while alienating his own people will fail at both.
The People of Yue and the Central Plains:
Yue was a southern state famous for its people’s swimming skills. The Central Plains referred to the heartland of Chinese civilization. Han Fei uses this to create the famous metaphor: expecting a Yue swimmer to save a drowning person in the Central Plains is as absurd as expecting distant allies to save a state in internal crisis.
Red and White Clay (赭堊, Zhě è):
These were materials used for plastering and decorating walls. Han Fei uses “exhausting strength on plastering” as a powerful metaphor for superficial governance – focusing on outward appearances while ignoring structural flaws.
Threats within the Xiao Wall:
“萧墙” (xiāo qiáng) refers to the inner screen wall at the entrance of an ancient Chinese palace, symbolizing the internal court. “祸起萧墙” (disaster arising from within the Xiao Wall) became a famous idiom meaning internal rebellion or betrayal. Han Fei argues that internal threats are always more dangerous than external ones.
Sudden Gale / Political Storm (飘风):
A metaphor for sudden political crises, rebellions, or external invasions. Han Fei uses it to illustrate the suddenness and inevitability of disaster when internal vulnerabilities have been neglected.
Distant water cannot save a nearby fire:
Though not explicitly stated in this passage, the metaphor of “expecting Yue people to save Central Plains drowning victims” is the origin of this famous Chinese proverb. It perfectly captures Han Fei’s critique of relying on distant solutions for immediate problems.
夫人主不寒隙穴而劳力于赭垩，暴雨疾风必坏。不去眉睫之祸而慕贲、育之死，不谨萧墙之患而固金城于远境，不用近贤之课而外结万乘之交于千里，飘风一旦起，则贲、育不及救，而外交不及至，祸莫大于此。当今之世，为人主忠计者，必无使燕王说鲁人，无使近世慕贤于古，无思越人以救中国溺者。如此，则上下亲，内功立，外名成。
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