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Mencius said, “Benevolence brings glory, whereas its absence leads to disgrace. Now people hate disgrace and benevolence, just like those who hate dampness but live in a low-lying area.
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Gongsun Chou asked Mencius, “If you should hold the power of government in Qi, could you achieve great deeds like Guan Zhong and Yanzi?”
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During the mid–Warring States period, Lord Mengchang (Tian Wen), once chancellor of Qi, fell out of favor with King Min of Qi and retired to his fiefdom of Xue (southeast of present-day Tengzhou, Shandong). Though renowned for hosting thousands of retainers and honoring talent, his growing influence had aroused royal suspicion.
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During the Warring States period, King Min of Qi (r. 323–284 BCE) presided over a state at the height of its power – thanks to the legacies of his grandfather King Wei and father King Xuan. Confident in Qi’s strength, he even entered into an agreement with King Zhaoxiang of Qin to divide the…