The Book of Lord Shang

The appearance of gold means the disappearance of grain, and the appearance of grain means the disappearance of gold. If products are cheap — those who occupy themselves with agriculture being many, and buyers being few — farmers will be in hard straits and wickedness will be encouraged, so that the army will be weak and the state will certainly be dismembered and come to extinction.

For every ounce of gold appearing within its borders, twelve piculs of grain will disappear abroad; but for every twelve piculs of grain appearing within its borders, one ounce of gold will disappear abroad (667). If a country favours the appearance of gold within its borders, then gold and grain will both disappear, granary and treasury will both be empty, and the state will be weak. But if a country favours the appearance of grain within its borders, then gold and grain will both appear, granary and treasury will both be filled, and the state will be strong.

p.205 A strong country knows thirteen figures (668): the number of granaries within its borders, the number of able-bodied men and of women, the number of old and of weak people, the number of officials and of officers, the number of those making a livelihood by talking, the number of useful people (669), the number of horses and of oxen, the quantity of fodder and of straw. If he who wishes to make his country strong, *13b does not know these thirteen figures, though his geographical position may be favourable and the population numerous, his state will become weaker and weaker, until it is dismembered.

A country where there are no dissatisfied people is called a strong country. When the army is mobilized for an offensive, rank is given according to military merit, and reliance being placed upon the military, victory is certain.

When the army is in reserve and agriculture is pursued, rank is given according to the production of grain, and reliance being placed upon farming, the country will be rich. If in military enterprises the enemy is conquered and if, when the army is in reserve, the country becomes rich, then it attains supremacy.