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?”
Duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius: “The people of Qi are building a fortress at Xue, and I am deeply afraid. What should I do?”
Duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius: “Teng is a small state, squeezed between the great powers of Qi and Chu. Should we submit to Qi, or align ourselves with Chu?”
After Qi conquered Yan, the feudal lords began plotting to rescue Yan. Alarmed, King Xuan of Qi asked Mencius, “Many states are now scheming to attack me – what should I do?”
When the state of Qi invaded and defeated Yan, King Xuan asked Mencius: “Some advise me not to annex Yan; others urge me to take it. We, a great state of ten thousand chariots, conquered another great state in just fifty days – surely this is Heaven’s will! If I refuse to take it,…