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Moreover, I have heard an old saying: Be cautious and trembling in mind, growing more prudent day by day. If one upholds the right way with caution, the whole realm may be obtained.
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The State of Zhao lay in the central plain, a land inhabited by mixed peoples. Its folk were frivolous and hard to command. Its government decrees were ill‑regulated, rewards and punishments lacked credibility, its terrain offered no strategic advantage, and its ruler could not fully mobilize the strength of the people. Zhao already bore…
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Now Qin issues decrees and enforces rewards and punishments, distinguishing clearly between those with merit and those without.
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I have heard that the feudal states secretly favor Yan and side with Wei, ally with Chu and stabilize Qi, win over Han to form the vertical alliance. They intend to march westward to confront the powerful State of Qin, yet I secretly laugh at their attempt.
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The maxim — “Intentional good deeds deserve no reward; unintentional wrongdoings warrant no punishment” — originates from Strange Tales from Liaozhai Studio: The Examination for the Post of City God (Candidate for the City God). It was Song Tao’s answer during his underworld examination.