Duke Ping of Lu was about to set out when his favorite courtier, Zang Cang, asked: “Usually, Your Lordship informs the officials of your destination before leaving. Now your carriage is ready, yet no one knows where you’re going. May I ask?”
Duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius: “Teng is a small state. We’ve exhausted every effort to serve the large states, yet we still cannot escape their aggression. What should we do?”
Zhuang Bao (a close minister to King Xuan of Qi during the Warring States period.) went to see Mencius, and said, “I was given an interview by the king, who told me that he enjoyed music. I was at a loss what to say.”