Chapter 1
King Wen of Zhou prepared to go hunting. After performing a divination, the Grand Historian Bian said, "Your hunt on the north bank of the Wei River will yield a great harvest. What you will capture is not a dragon, not a patterned tiger, not a fierce tiger, nor a bear, but a talent equivalent to a prince or marquis. He is a teacher sent by heaven to assist you in prospering your cause and bestowing blessings upon your descendants."
King Wen asked, "Is the divination result truly so auspicious?"
Historian Bian replied, "My distant ancestor Shi Chou once performed a divination for Yu and obtained Gao Yao. The omen then was similar to today's."
King Wen therefore observed a three-day fast, then mounted his hunting chariot and horses and went hunting on the north bank of the Wei River. There he finally saw Tai Gong sitting by the riverside covered with a type of grass and fishing.
King Wen approached to greet and inquire, "Do you enjoy fishing, sir?"
Tai Gong replied, "I have heard that the virtuous man takes pleasure in fulfilling his aspirations, while the ordinary man takes pleasure in doing his own tasks well. Now I am fishing, and it is similar to this principle. I do not truly enjoy fishing."
King Wen asked, "What is the similarity between the two?"
Tai Gong replied, "Fishing is analogous to human affairs and involves three tactics. Offering generous salaries to attract talent is like using bait to catch fish; paying large sums of money to recruit fearless warriors is also like using bait to catch fish; and offering official positions to recruit talent is similarly like using bait to catch fish. Whenever one goes fishing, the aim is to catch fish. The principle behind it is profound, and from it, one can discern greater truths."
King Wen said, "I would like to hear these profound truths."
Tai Gong replied, "Deep is the source of water, and the flow is uninterrupted. Uninterrupted flow sustains fish, which is a natural principle. Deep are the roots of a tree, and its branches and leaves flourish. Flourishing branches and leaves produce fruit, which is also a natural principle. When the virtuous man and another are in harmony, they can cooperate intimately, and intimate cooperation leads to successful endeavors, which is again a natural principle. Words and responses are used to conceal one's true intentions, but speaking the truth is the best thing. Now I speak only the truth, without any concealment, and I am afraid it may offend you."
King Wen said, "Only those possessed of benevolence can accept frank advice without resenting the truth. How could I be offended?"
Tai Gong said, "Fine fishing lines with visible bait attract small fish; moderate fishing lines with fragrant bait attract medium-sized fish; coarse and long fishing lines with abundant bait attract big fish. Fish that are greedy for fragrant bait will be caught by the fishing line; people who desire the salaries of their rulers will obey their rulers. Therefore, using fragrant bait to catch fish results in fish being available for cooking; using titles and salaries to attract talent results in talent being fully utilized; taking a family as the foundation to acquire a country results in the country being possessed; and taking a country as the foundation to acquire the world results in the world being conquered. Alas! Vast is the land and long is the dynasty, but what it accumulates will ultimately dissipate like smoke and clouds. Obscure and silent preparations will result in its brilliance shining in all directions. Subtle! The moral influence of the sage lies in uniquely and subtly winning over people's hearts. Joyful! What the sage contemplates is to establish various methods to win people's hearts, so that everyone in the world finds their place."
King Wen asked, "What measures should be established to win the hearts of the people?"
Tai Gong replied, "The world is not the possession of a single individual but belongs to all people. Those who can share the benefits of the world with all people can obtain the world; those who monopolize the benefits of the world will lose it. Heaven has four seasons, and the earth has wealth. Sharing them with people is benevolence. Where benevolence is found, the people of the world will rally. Saving people from death, resolving their hardships, eliminating their calamities, and rescuing them from crises is beneficence. Where beneficence is found, the people of the world will rally. Sharing joys, sorrows, likes, and dislikes with people is righteousness. Where righteousness is found, the people of the world will compete to rally. People universally hate death and cherish life, welcome beneficence, and pursue interests. Those who seek the interests of the people of the world embody the way of the king. Where the way of the king is found, the people of the world will rally."
King Wen bowed and thanked him again, saying, "What you have said is excellent. How dare I not accept the will of heaven!"
Thus, he invited Tai Gong onto his hunting chariot and returned to the capital together, where he appointed him as his teacher.
