OF THE TAO EXEMPLIFIED IN HISTORY 29 



Kao by name, who had come inspired by the command of 

 the Baron of Cheng to welcome the weary troops of Ts'in by an 

 offering of 12 oxen. The three commanders were alarmed 

 and deliberated saying they had marched several thousand 

 li to a surprise attack on a people, but before they had 

 reached their objective, people were aware of their purpose, 

 and so were prepared : the surprise therefore would be in- 

 possible. They withdrew the troops and departed. 



Just then Duke Wen of Ts'in fell sick and died; but 

 before the burial had taken place, Hsien Chen spoke to the 

 young king, Hsiang Kung, saying, "My former Prince, in 

 days gone by, was friendly with Duke Mu, as is well known 

 to everybody and none of the Feudal Lords but was aware 

 of it. But here we find that even ere our dead King is 

 buried, he (Mu) does not offer his condolences nor ask permis- 

 sion to pass over our territory. This is because he sees our 

 King is dead and despises our new King, I beg for authority 

 to attack him. ' ' This being granted Hsien Chen called up the 

 army and meeting the forces of Ts'in at Yao routed them. 

 He captured their three commanders and led them captive. 

 On hearing these tidings Duke Mu put on sack-cloth and 

 wailed in the temple as he related the events to the people. 

 Lao Tzu says : 



TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND YET APPEAR NOT 

 TO KNOW IS THE SUPERIOR WAY. TO HAVE NO 

 KNOWLEDGE AND YET GIVE THE APPEARANCE 

 OF KNOWING IS AN INFERIOR ART. 



(41) In the choice of a ivife don't be led away by the 

 senses. — After the death of the empress of Ch'i the King 

 desired to wed a new empress. The matter still pending he 

 took counsel with the ministerial bod} 7 . Duke Hsiieh wish- 

 ing to fall in with the purpose of the King sent a present of 

 ten maidens to him, adorning one of them. One morning 

 enquiring where the beautiful maid was, and advising the 

 King to make her his consort, the king of Ch'i was greatly 

 delighted, and highly honoured the duke Hsiieh. Thus when 

 the master purpose and desires are given outward expression 

 to the servants they have a handle for controlling the master. 

 Just as Lao Tzu says : 



PLUG UP THE SENSE AVENUES, CLOSE UP THE 

 DOOR OF DESIRES. DO NOT LET THE BODY 

 BELABOUR ITSELF WITH THESE. 



(42) Another case of Newton and the sands. The world 

 is only at the threshold of knowledge (H. G. Wells). — Lu Ao, 

 a man haughty and proud, went touring towards the North 



