The Firewood Trap: Guan Zhong's Energy War

 

 

在遙遠的古代，齊國的宰相管仲正與齊桓公小白在宮殿中對著地圖沈思。齊國雖然強大，但鄰近的萊國與莒國地形險要，易守難攻。管仲指著地圖上的森林，露出了一絲神祕的微笑。他告訴小白，要征服這兩個國家，不需要動用一兵一卒，只需要利用他們最引以為傲的資源——木柴。

In ancient times, Guan Zhong, the prime minister of the State of Qi, was deep in thought with Duke Huan of Qi in the palace, studying a map. Although Qi was powerful, its neighboring states of Lai and Ju were strategically located and easily defensible. Guan Zhong pointed to the forests on the map, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. He told Duke Huan that to conquer these two states, no soldiers were needed; they only needed their most prized resource—firewood.

幾天後，管仲召見了齊國的大商人。他下達了一道驚人的命令：齊國將以市價兩倍的高價，無限量收購萊國與莒國的木柴。他吩咐商人帶著大箱的金幣前往這兩國，大聲宣揚這個消息。管仲叮囑商人，務必讓每個人都知道，木柴在齊國比糧食還要珍貴。

A few days later, Guan Zhong summoned Qi's wealthy merchants. He issued a startling order: Qi would purchase unlimited quantities of firewood from Lai and Ju at twice the market price. He instructed the merchants to travel to these two states with large chests of gold coins and spread the news widely. Guan Zhong emphasized that everyone must know that firewood was more precious than grain in Qi.

消息傳到萊國，國君項王欣喜若狂。他看著臣下呈上來的齊國金幣，心想：「齊國人真是傻子，竟然願意花這麼多錢買隨處可見的木柴！」他立刻下令，全國百姓暫停耕種，全部上山砍柴，換取齊國的黃金。他認為有了這些錢，萊國將會成為最富有的國家。

When the news reached Lai, its ruler, Xiang Yu, was overjoyed. Looking at the gold coins from Qi presented by his ministers, he thought, "The people of Qi are truly fools, willing to spend so much money on firewood that's readily available everywhere!" He immediately ordered the entire nation to cease farming and go up the mountains to cut firewood in exchange for Qi's gold. He believed that with this money, Lai would become the richest country.

在萊國的深山裡，伐木工連叔正帶著兒子陶仔奮力揮動斧頭。周圍的森林裡到處都是鏗鏘的伐木聲。連叔對陶仔說：「孩子，別管那些辛苦的農活了，砍一天柴換來的錢，夠我們買好幾斗米呢！」陶仔點點頭，擦乾汗水，繼續砍向眼前的巨木。

Deep in the mountains of Lai, lumberjack Uncle Lian and his son Tao Zai were vigorously swinging their axes. The surrounding forest echoed with the clanging of logs. Uncle Lian said to Tao Zai, "Son, forget about the hard farm work. The money we earn from chopping firewood all day is enough to buy several bushels of rice!" Tao Zai nodded, wiped his sweat, and continued chopping at the giant tree before him.

隨著時間推移，萊國與莒國的農田逐漸荒廢，雜草長得比人還高。連叔帶著陶仔走過村莊邊緣的土地，陶仔指著生鏽的犁頭問：「爸爸，我們今年真的不種稻子了嗎？」連叔擺擺手，背著滿捆的木材說：「種田太慢了，去齊國賣柴火才是正事！」

As time passed, the farmlands of Lai and Ju gradually fell into disrepair, overgrown with weeds taller than a person. Uncle Lian led Tao Zai across the land at the edge of the village. Tao Zai pointed to the rusty plow and asked, "Dad, are we really not planting rice this year?" Uncle Lian waved his hand, carrying bundles of timber on his back, and said, "Farming is too slow; going to Qi to sell firewood is the right thing to do!"

與此同時，莒國的國君逵王也在他的金庫裡哈哈大笑。他的謀士曾提醒他糧食儲備在下降，但逵王指著堆積如山的木柴說：「我們有這麼多木柴，還怕換不到糧食嗎？讓齊國人繼續燒柴，我們繼續數錢！」他甚至下令將糧倉也改用來存放換回來的財寶。

Meanwhile, King Kui of Ju was laughing heartily in his treasury. His advisors had warned him that grain reserves were dwindling, but King Kui pointed to the mountain of firewood and said, "With so much firewood, are we afraid we won't be able to exchange it for grain? Let the people of Qi continue burning firewood, and we'll continue counting our money!" He even ordered that the granaries be converted to store the treasures they had acquired in exchange.

兩年過去了，管仲見時機成熟，突然下令齊國停止所有木柴收購，並封鎖邊境，禁止糧食外運。小白在宮廷中看著空蕩蕩的貨車，對管仲的計謀佩服不已。管仲淡淡地說：「大王，誘惑的陷阱已經關上，現在只需要等待。」

Two years passed. Seeing that the time was ripe, Guan Zhong suddenly ordered Qi to stop all firewood purchases and sealed the border, prohibiting the export of grain. Xiao Bai, watching the empty carts in the palace, was filled with admiration for Guan Zhong's strategy. Guan Zhong said calmly, "Your Majesty, the trap of temptation has been set; now we only need to wait."

萊、莒兩國瞬間陷入混亂。因為全國都去砍柴，已經兩年沒有收成，糧倉空空如也。米價瘋狂飆升，竟然翻了三十七倍！連叔和陶仔拿著積攢的金幣去集市，卻發現一整袋金幣竟然換不到一小碗糙米。陶仔捂著肚子，餓得臉色蒼白。

The states of Lai and Ju instantly descended into chaos. Because the entire nation had gone to gather firewood, there had been no harvest for two years, and the granaries were empty. Rice prices skyrocketed, increasing thirty-sevenfold! Uncle Lian and Tao Zai took their accumulated gold coins to the market, only to find that a whole bag of coins couldn't even buy a small bowl of coarse rice. Tao Zai clutched his stomach, his face pale with hunger.

飢荒迅速蔓延，兩國的百姓為了生存，紛紛拋棄家園，湧向齊國的邊界。連叔背起簡單的行囊，拉著陶仔的手加入逃難的人潮。他嘆息道：「我們以為自己掌握了財富，卻忘了最根本的糧食才是命脈。」七成的百姓就這樣逃往了齊國。

The famine spread rapidly. To survive, the people of both states abandoned their homes and flocked to the border of Qi. Uncle Lian shouldered a simple bag and, pulling Tao Zai by the hand, joined the fleeing masses. He sighed, "We thought we had wealth, but we forgot that the most fundamental thing—food—is our lifeline." Seventy percent of the people thus fled to Qi.

在二十八個月後，萊國與莒國的土地上只剩下光禿禿的山頭和絕望的王室。項王與逵王終於認清了現實，他們脫下華麗的王袍，來到齊國宮殿前向管仲投降。管仲接過他們的印信，語重心長地說：「治國之道，不可孤注一擲於身外之財，唯有固本培元，才能立於不敗之地。」

Twenty-eight months later, only barren mountains and a desperate royal family remained on the lands of Lai and Ju. Xiang Yu and Kui Wang finally faced reality. They took off their magnificent royal robes and surrendered to Guan Zhong before the Qi palace. Guan Zhong accepted their seals of office and said earnestly, "The way to govern a country is not to gamble everything on external wealth. Only by strengthening the foundation and cultivating the vital elements can one remain invincible."