77 Rui Liangfu to King Li about Duke Rong

A4.30

After King Yi died, his son King Li Hu succeeded to the throne. King Li reigned for 30 years. He was greedy for wealth and was close to Duke Rong Yi. The minister Rui Liangfu advised King Li, "Is the royal family going to decline? Duke Rong Yi loves to accumulate wealth but does not know that a disaster is coming. Wealth is produced by all things and carried by heaven and earth, but he wants to take it for himself, there are too many harms. He wants to obtain all things in heaven and earth, how can he take it all for himself? He has angered too many people, and he does not guard against disasters. If the King being taught in such a way, how can the he rule for a long time? The one who rules should guide wealth and distribute it from top to bottom. Even if you do your best for everything in the world, you still have to be nervous every day and worry about causing dissatisfaction. Therefore, the Song sings: ‘Remembering Hou Ji’s literary virtues, his outstanding achievements are worthy of heaven, and the people of the world are kept safe, and all of them take him as a perfect example.’ Daya the Grand Elegance says: ‘To make benevolence widely shown, and the Zhou Dynasty is carried on going.’ Doesn’t this mean that one should give away wealth and watch out for disasters? That is why the Zhou Dynasty has continued to this day. Now the king is learning to accumulate wealth, how would it be possible? An ordinary person who accumulates wealth is still called a thief, and if the king does this, there must be very few people willing to submit to him. If Duke Rong is given an important position, the Zhou Dynasty will surely decline. " King Li did not listen to his advice, and finally appointed Duke Rong as a minister to manage state affairs.

夷王崩，子厉王胡立。厉王即位三十年，好利，近荣夷公。大夫芮良夫谏厉王曰：“王室其将卑乎？夫荣公好专利而不知大难。夫利，百物之所生也，天地之所载也，而有专之，其害多矣。天地百物皆将取焉，何可专也？所怒甚多，而不备大难。以是教王，王其能久乎？夫王人者，将导利而布之上下者也。使神人百物无不得极，犹日怵惕惧怨之来也。故颂曰‘思文后稷，克配彼天，立我蒸民，莫匪尔极’。大雅曰‘陈锡载周’。是不布利而惧难乎，故能载周以至于今。今王学专利，其可乎？匹夫专利，犹谓之盗，王而行之，其归鲜矣。荣公若用，周必败也。”厉王不听，卒以荣公为卿士，用事。