霸形

While Duke Huan sat in audience with Guan Zhong and Xi Peng, a pair of wild geese flew overhead. The Duke sighed: 'Those geese travel south in season and north in season, going wherever they wish across the four directions — is it not because of their wings that they can convey their will throughout the realm?' Guan Zhong refused to answer. When pressed, he said: 'My lord has the heart of a hegemon king, but I am not a hegemon king's minister.' The Duke persisted, and Guan Zhong laid out the foundation: 'The people of Qi are your foundation. They fear hunger — so lighten the taxes. They fear death — so ease the punishments. They are worn by labor — so act only in proper season.' The Duke accepted, issuing decrees from the Grand Temple: tax one hundredth of the harvest, do not punish orphans, release fishing nets in season, inspect the passes but levy no tolls.

Later, Song attacked Qi and the Di tribes attacked Xing and Wei, but Duke Huan did not rescue them, instead feigning illness and indulging in music and feasting. Guan Zhong said: 'This is what I call sorrow, not pleasure. Those who spoke of pleasure among the bells and chimes in ancient times did not mean this. They spoke and their words became commands throughout the realm; they dwelled among the bells and had no worry about threats on four sides. Now my lord speaks but his commands do not reach the realm; he dwells among the bells yet faces threats on four sides.' The Duke was chastened and dismantled the music. He then sealed Qi in Yuanling, Xing in Yiyi, and Wei in Chuqiu — establishing displaced states in new territories. He confronted Chu at Zhaoling, compelling it to cease its aggression against Song and Zheng, and achieved hegemony through a combination of military presence and diplomatic skill.