魏武侯与诸大夫浮于西河
Marquis Wu of Wei Were Playing by Water in the Xihe River with His High-ranking Court Officials
【原文】
魏武侯与诸大夫浮于西河，称曰广河山之险，岂不亦信固哉！ ”王 (钟)[错]侍（王）[座]，曰广此晋国之所以强也。若善修之，则簕王之业 具矣。”吴起对曰吾君之言，危国之道也；而子又附之，是危也。”武侯 忿然曰广子之言有说乎？”吴起对曰河山之险，信不足保也，是伯王之业，不从此也。昔者苗之居，左彭蠡之波，右有洞庭之水，文山在其南，而衡山在其北。恃此险也，为政不善，而禹放逐之。夫夏桀之国，左天门之阴，而右天溪之 阳，庐、睾在其北，伊、洛出其南。有此险也，然为政不善，而汤伐之。殷纣之国，左孟门而右漳、釜，前带河，后被山。有此险也，然为政不善，而 武王伐之。且君亲从臣而胜降城，城非不高也，人民非不众也，然而可 得并者，政恶故也。从是观之，地形险阻，奚足以覇王矣！”武侯曰善, 吾乃今日闻圣人之言也。西河之政，专委之子矣。”
【今译】
魏武侯与各位大臣一起在西河上乘船游玩，他赞叹道我们的河 山，形势险阻，难道不是非常巩固的吗？”王错陪坐在一旁说这就是晋 国之所以强大的原因啊。如果善于修治它们，就能够成就统一天下或 称霸诸侯的大业了。”吴起回答说我们国君所说的是导致国家危亡的 道路，而您又附和这些话，这是让我们的国家陷入双重危亡。”魏武候气 愤地说广你的话有什么根据吗？”吴起回答说：“河山的险阻的确不足以 保卫国家，况且一统天下或者成就霸业并不是因为这个。从前，三苗所 在的地方，左边有彭蠡湖，右边有洞庭湖，文山在它南面，衡山在它北面。倚仗着这些险阻，不好好地治理国家，因而烏流放了他们。再说夏 桀的王国，左边是天门山的北侧，右边是天溪的北岸，庐山、睾山在它北 面，伊水、洛水流经它的南面。有这么多险阻，却不能好好处理国事，因 而湯讨伐他。商时的王国，左边是孟门山，右边是漳水和釜水，前面有 黄河穿过，后面靠着太行山。有这么多险阻，却不能好好处理国事，因 而武王征伐他,况且大王亲自和我一起攻克过别国的城邑，它们的城 墙并非不高，百姓并非不众多，然而我们却能够兼并它们，是因为它们 政治险恶的缘故。由此看来，地形险阻怎能足以一统天下或成就霸业 呢？”魏武候说：“说得好。我今天才听到圣人的言论啊！治理西河的任 务就专门委托给您了。”
Marquis Wu of the state of Wei were playing by water in the Xehi River with his high-ranking court officials. The marquis said with self-satisfaction, “With the protection of our dangerous rivers and mountains, isn’t our state safe enough?” Wang Cuo was sitting beside the marquis and he said，“That’s why the three states used to belong to the state of Jin have become very powerful and strong. If we can maintain them successfully, you will be qualified to unify the world and become King or at least become Lord-protector, ” Wu Qi replied, “The words of His Majesty will lead our state to the verge of destruction. You supported his points. This will put our state into double danger. ” Marquis Wu was irritated and said angrily，“Is your argument warranted?” Wu Qi replied，“Natural strategic barriers such as dangerous rivers or mountains are surely not enough to ensure the safety of a state. Moreover, unifying the world to become King or establishing one of the most powerful states to become Lord-protector is never exclusively based on such strategic barriers. Previously, the territory of the Sanmiao people had the Pengli Lake on the left side, the Dongting Lake on the right, Mount Wen in the south and Mount Heng in the north. Although they had these strategic places, they did not manage government affairs successfully. So Yu exiled their ruler. As for the kingdom of Jie of the Xia Dynasty，it had the northern slope of Mount Tianmen on the left side and the northern bank of the Tianxi River on the right. In addition， Mount Lu and Mount Gao were in the north, and the Yishui River and the Luoshui River used to flow across its southern part. Despite these strategic places, Jie did not manage government affairs successfully. So Tang attacked him. As for the kingdom of Zhou'of the Shang Dynasty，it had Mount Mengmen on the left side, the Zhangshui River and the Fushui River on the right side. The Yellow River flew across it in the south，and Mount Taihang was in the north. Although based on such strategic places Zhou could not manage government affairs successfully. So King Wu attacked him. Besides, Your Majesty has joined me in attacking and occupying some enemy towns and cities in person. It is not that their protective walls were not tall enough, or that they didn’t have enough people to defend them. We annexed them because they didn’t follow the right policies. From this point of view，how can you rely on strategic places exclusively in order to unify the world and become KingTor establish one of the most powerful states and become Lord-protector?" Marquis Wu said, ‘‘Very good! I haven’t heard the words of a sage till today! I am going to appoint you to administer the area of Xihe, ”