The Disappearance of Green Seedlings, the Allure of the White Fox

很久以前，齊國是一個強大而富庶的國家。齊桓公坐位在朝堂之上，心中思考著如何讓周邊的國家臣服，而不必動用一兵一卒。他身旁的謀臣管仲正輕聲訴說著一個大膽而精妙的計畫。管仲不談兵器，也不談城牆，他談論的是代國深山裡那種珍貴的白狐皮。

Long ago, the State of Qi was a powerful and wealthy nation. Duke Huan of Qi sat in his court, pondering how to subjugate neighboring states without resorting to force. Beside him, his strategist Guan Zhong was quietly outlining a bold and ingenious plan. Guan Zhong didn't discuss weapons or city walls; he spoke of the precious white fox pelts from the deep mountains of the State of Dai.

「代國盛產白狐，但他們生活清苦，主要依靠耕種維持生計。」管仲從袖中取出一張柔軟如雪的白狐皮，遞給齊桓公，「大王，我們若以千金高價收購這些狐皮，代國的命運就會掌握在我們手中。這不是戰爭，這是一場名為『貿易』的博弈。」

"The State of Dai is rich in white foxes, but they live a meager life, relying mainly on farming for their livelihood." Guan Zhong took a snow-white fox pelt from his sleeve and handed it to Duke Huan. "Your Majesty, if we purchase these pelts at a price of a thousand gold pieces, the fate of the State of Dai will be in our hands. This is not war; it is a game called 'trade.'"

消息很快傳到了代國。代國國君奕王坐在宮殿裡，驚訝地聽著使者蜚的報告。齊國人竟然願意出五倍、甚至十倍的價格收購白狐皮。奕王看著手中的黃金，雙眼發亮。他認為這是上天賜予代國致富的機會，只要有了錢，代國就能買到任何東西。

The news quickly reached the State of Dai. King Yi of Dai sat in his palace, listening in astonishment to the report from the messenger Fei. The people of Qi were willing to pay five, even ten times the price, for white fox pelts. King Yi's eyes gleamed as he looked at the gold in his hand. He believed this was a divinely granted opportunity for the Dai Kingdom to become wealthy; with money, Dai could buy anything.

奕王下達了一道嚴厲的命令：全國百姓放下鋤頭，進入深山捕捉白狐。農夫農哥看著家中的農具，又看著年幼的兒子凱。為了那令人眩目的賞金，農哥收起了沉重的犁頭，拿起獵弓，帶著凱走向了充滿迷霧的高山，將肥沃的田地留給了野草。

King Yi issued a stern order: all the people of the kingdom were to lay down their hoes and venture into the mountains to hunt white foxes. Farmer Nongge looked at his farming tools, then at his young son Kai. For the dazzling reward, Nongge put away his heavy plow, picked up his hunting bow, and led Kai into the misty mountains, leaving his fertile fields to the wild grass.

兩年的時間轉瞬即逝。代國的國庫確實堆滿了齊國送來的金幣。奕王每天與使者蜚一起巡視金庫，幻想著代國將成為天下最富有的國家。然而，他沒注意到，國內的糧倉已經空空如也，因為已經整整兩年沒有人播種稻穀了。

Two years passed in the blink of an eye. The Dai Kingdom's treasury was indeed overflowing with gold coins sent by the Qi Kingdom. King Yi inspected the treasury daily with his envoy Fei, dreaming that Dai would become the richest country in the world. However, he failed to notice that the kingdom's granaries were empty, for no one had planted rice for two whole years.

代國的森林裡再也找不到白狐的蹤跡，而田野間也只剩下枯萎的草莖。農哥和凱疲憊地坐在荒廢的家門口，肚子餓得咕咕叫。他們手裡握著金幣，卻發現市場上根本買不到糧食。齊國早已停止供應糧食，並嚴密封鎖了邊境，金幣在飢餓面前變得毫無價值。

The white foxes were no longer found in the forests of Dai, and only withered grass remained in the fields. Nongge and Kai sat wearily at the door of their abandoned home, their stomachs growling with hunger. They held gold coins in their hands, only to find that they couldn't buy any grain in the market. The State of Qi had long since stopped supplying grain and tightly sealed its borders; gold coins were worthless in the face of hunger.

就在代國最虛弱的時候，鄰近的離枝國看準了機會。離枝國的將軍祝率領軍隊越過邊境。由於長期缺乏糧食，代國的士兵們連長矛都舉不起來，更別提上陣殺敵。祝將軍看著那些面黃肌瘦的守軍，冷笑著揮動手中的利劍，大軍勢如破竹。

Just when the State of Dai was at its weakest, the neighboring State of Lizhi seized the opportunity. General Zhu of Lizhi led his army across the border. Due to the prolonged lack of food, the soldiers of Dai couldn't even lift their spears, let alone fight. General Zhu, looking at the emaciated defenders, coldly swung his sword, and his army swept through the enemy lines.

奕王在絕望中走下寶座，他在逃難的人群中撞見了憔悴的農哥。農哥跪在地上，哭訴著家中已經沒有一粒米。奕王看著自己滿手的金飾，這才意識到，他用國家的生存根基——農業，換取了一堆不能吃的虛華皮毛。

King Yi, in despair, abdicated his throne. Among the fleeing crowds, he encountered a haggard farmer named Nongge. Nongge knelt on the ground, weeping that his family had no rice left. Looking at his own hands adorned with gold jewelry, King Yi realized that he had traded the very foundation of his nation's survival—agriculture—for a pile of inedible, superficial luxury.

為了不讓百姓餓死，也為了躲避離枝國的侵略，奕王最終只能請求齊國的保護，將代國併入齊國的版圖。齊桓公與管仲再次並肩站在高台上，看著遠處代國的子民緩緩走入齊國領土尋求庇護。管仲的經濟戰取得了完全的勝利。

To prevent the people from starving and to escape the invasion of the Li Zhi state, King Yi ultimately had no choice but to request the protection of the Qi state, annexing the Dai state into Qi's territory. Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong once again stood side-by-side on the high platform, watching the people of Dai slowly walk into Qi territory seeking refuge. Guan Zhong's economic strategy had achieved a complete victory.

齊國接管代國後，管仲下令分發糧食，並要求所有人重回田野。農哥帶著凱，再次握住了那把久違的鋤頭。當第一抹新綠從泥土中鑽出時，凱終於明白，比起昂貴的白狐皮，這些能填飽肚子的青苗才是最珍貴的寶藏。

After Qi took over Dai, Guan Zhong ordered the distribution of grain and demanded that everyone return to the fields. Farmer Ge, with Kai in tow, once again grasped that long-unused hoe. When the first sprouts of green emerged from the soil, Kai finally understood that these seedlings, capable of filling their stomachs, were the most precious treasure, far more valuable than expensive white fox pelts.