21 Nine, Nine, Nine, Nine

A2.4

Yu, together with Yi and Houji, followed Emperor Shun's order and sent princes and officials to enlist the people to regulate the water and soil in the world. They cut down trees through the mountains, built roads, and made signs to mark the mountains and rivers. Yu felt bad that his father Gun was punished and died for the failure to control the floods, so he was restless in mind and kept himself busy all the time. For thirteen years, he did not dare to go into his home even if he had passed by the door. Yu's food and clothing were very simple, but the sacrifices he offered to his ancestors and gods were abundant; Yu's house was very simple, but he did not hesitate to spend on building canals and digging ditches. He drove a chariot while on flat land, rode a boat when on waterways, used wooden sleds when on muddy ground, and wore spiked shoes when climbing the mountains. His left hand was for measurements and his right hand was for regulations, and he adjusted his activities according to the seasons, and he set up nine states, built nine roads, fixed nine lakes, and dug through nine mountains. Yu ordered Yi to give people rice grains and teach them how to plant the seeds in low-lying and humid places. He also ordered Houji to provide the people with essential foods to satisfy their hunger. Whenever  there was a shortage of food, Yu transferred food from the areas with a surplus to supplement the areas with a shortage, so the food was balanced among different areas. Yu also set the standards for tribute according to different conditions in various places, as well as the traffic conditions in the mountains and rivers.

禹乃遂与益、后稷奉帝命，命诸侯百姓兴人徒以傅土，行山表木，定高山大川。禹伤先人父鲧功之不成受诛，乃劳身焦思，居外十三年，过家门不敢入。薄衣食，致孝于鬼神。卑宫室，致费于沟淢。陆行乘车，水行乘船，泥行乘橇，山行乘檋。左准绳，右规矩，载四时，以开九州，通九道，陂九泽，度九山。令益予众庶稻，可种卑湿。命后稷予众庶难得之食。食少，调有余相给，以均诸侯。禹乃行相地宜所有以贡，及山川之便利。