管晏列傳

Guan Zhong, whose personal name was Yiwu, was a man of Yingshang. In his youth he often spent time with Bao Shuya, and Bao Shu recognized his ability. Guan Zhong was poor and frequently took advantage of Bao Shu in their dealings, yet Bao Shu always treated him well and never raised the matter. In time, Bao Shu entered the service of Prince Xiaobai of Qi, while Guan Zhong served Prince Jiu. When Xiaobai was installed as Duke Huan, Prince Jiu was killed and Guan Zhong was imprisoned. Bao Shu then recommended Guan Zhong. Once employed, Guan Zhong took charge of Qi's government. Duke Huan of Qi rose to hegemony, convened the lords nine times, and brought order to All-Under-Heaven — all through Guan Zhong's counsel.

Guan Zhong said: "When I was poor, I once went into trade with Bao Shu and took the larger share of the profits. Bao Shu did not consider me greedy — he knew I was poor. I once made plans for Bao Shu that only left him worse off. Bao Shu did not consider me foolish — he knew that circumstances can be favorable or not. I was three times appointed to office and three times dismissed by the ruler. Bao Shu did not consider me unworthy — he knew I had not met the right moment. I fought in three battles and fled three times. Bao Shu did not consider me a coward — he knew I had an aged mother. When Prince Jiu was defeated, Shao Hu died for him, while I submitted to imprisonment and disgrace. Bao Shu did not consider me shameless — he knew that I felt no shame over small proprieties, only shame that my name and achievements had not yet shone across All-Under-Heaven. Those who gave me life were my parents; the one who understood me was Bao Shu."

After Bao Shu recommended Guan Zhong, he placed himself beneath him. His descendants received hereditary stipends in Qi, holding fiefs for more than ten generations and always serving as distinguished ministers. All-Under-Heaven did not so much praise Guan Zhong's ability as praise Bao Shu's capacity for knowing men.

Once Guan Zhong was appointed chief minister of Qi, he took that small state on the seacoast and opened trade, accumulated wealth, enriched the state and strengthened its armies, aligning policy with the people's own preferences. Hence his famous dictum: "When the granaries are full, men learn propriety; when they have enough food and clothing, they learn honor and shame. When those above observe proper measure, the six bonds of kinship hold firm. If the four cardinal virtues are not upheld, the state will perish. Issue orders like water flowing from its source — let commands follow the people's hearts." His principles were simple and easy to carry out. What the people desired, he gave them; what they rejected, he abolished.

In governance, he excelled at turning misfortune into advantage and converting defeat into achievement. He valued the art of leverage and was careful in weighing options. When Duke Huan, truly angry at Lady Shao Ji, marched south and attacked Cai, Guan Zhong seized the opportunity to campaign against Chu, demanding why they had not sent the ritual rush-wrapping as tribute to the Zhou royal house. When Duke Huan truly marched north against the Shanrong, Guan Zhong used the occasion to order Yan to revive the governance of the Duke of Shao. At the Ke assembly, when Duke Huan wished to go back on his agreement with Cao Mo, Guan Zhong held him to it, and the lords rallied to Qi as a result. Hence it is said: "To know that giving is the means of taking — that is the treasure of statecraft."

Guan Zhong's wealth rivaled that of the ducal house. He had the Three Returns and the reversed altar-stand — yet the people of Qi did not consider him extravagant. After Guan Zhong died, Qi continued to follow his policies and remained constantly powerful among the lords. More than a hundred years later came Yan Ying.

Yan Pingzhong, whose name was Ying, was a man of Yiwei in Lai. He served Duke Ling, Duke Zhuang, and Duke Jing of Qi, and was valued in Qi for his frugality and vigorous conduct. As chief minister of Qi, he did not eat two meat dishes at a meal, and his concubines did not wear silk. At court, when the ruler addressed him on a matter, he spoke forthright words; when he was not addressed, he demonstrated forthright conduct. When the state had the Way, he carried out his orders faithfully; when it lacked the Way, he weighed them against principle. Through this he maintained his renown among the lords across three reigns.

Yue Shifu was a worthy man held in chains. Yan Ying went out, encountered him on the road, unhitched his left trace-horse to ransom him, and took him home in his carriage. Without a word of greeting, Yan Ying went inside. After a long time, Yue Shifu asked to sever their relationship. Yan Ying was startled. He straightened his cap and robes, apologized, and said: "Though I am not a humane man, I freed you from hardship — why do you seek to break with me so quickly?" Shifu said: "Not so. I have heard that a gentleman suffers disregard from those who do not know him but finds fulfillment with those who do. While I was in chains, they did not know me. But you, sir, awakened to my worth and ransomed me — that makes you one who knows me. To know me and yet show no courtesy is surely worse than remaining in chains." Yan Ying then invited him in and treated him as his most honored guest.

When Yan Ying was chief minister of Qi, he went out, and his charioteer's wife peeked through the gate to watch her husband. Her husband, driving the minister's carriage, held the great canopy aloft and whipped the four-horse team, swelling with self-satisfaction. When he returned home, his wife asked to leave him. He asked why. She said: "Yan Ying is not even six feet tall, yet he serves as chief minister of Qi and his name is known among all the lords. Today when I watched him go out, his thoughts ran deep and he constantly carried himself with humility. You are eight feet tall, yet you are merely a man's driver — and you act as though that were quite enough. That is why I wish to leave." After that, the husband restrained himself and became self-effacing. Yan Ying found the change strange and asked about it. The charioteer told him the truth. Yan Ying recommended him for appointment as a senior minister.

The Grand Historian says: I have read the Guanzi chapters "Shepherding the People," "Mountain Heights," "Riding the Horse," "Light and Heavy," and "Nine Treasuries," as well as the Yanzi Chunqiu — how detailed their words are! Having seen their writings, I wished to observe their actual deeds, and so I arranged this biography. As for their books, the world has many copies, so I will not discuss them here but rather record their lesser-known episodes.

Guan Zhong is universally called a worthy minister, yet Confucius belittled him. Was it because, with the Way of Zhou in decline and Duke Huan already capable, Guan Zhong did not urge him toward true kingship but stopped at hegemony? The saying goes: "Encourage his virtues, correct his faults, and so ruler and minister may be close." Does this not describe Guan Zhong?

When Yan Ying threw himself upon the corpse of Duke Zhuang and wept, completing the rites of mourning before departing — was this not what is meant by "to see what is right and not act on it is cowardice"? And his remonstrances, confronting the ruler to his face — is this not what is meant by "in office, think only of giving your utmost loyalty; in retirement, think only of mending faults"? If Yan Ying were alive today, I would gladly serve as his whip-bearer — that is how much I admire him.