傳遞愛 消失球 隱形鍊 つなぐ道

📖傳遞愛的小黃傘  https://gemini.google.com/share/473302c3642b

📖消失的紅球：第11局的大冒險  https://gemini.google.com/share/0b5979274c83

📖守護阿瑪納的隱形長鍊  https://gemini.google.com/share/91b8d89fc6fa

📖あかりと、いのちと、つなぐ道  https://gemini.google.com/share/99f1116e4b9f

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.

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."

The Gold Trap

 

很久以前，齊國的齊桓公想要擴張國土，讓齊國成為最強大的國家。他與聰明的謀士管仲站在地圖前，目光落在了鄰近的衡山國。衡山國雖然不大，但他們製造的兵器與精密機械是全天下最先進的。齊桓公問道：「我們該如何征服這個擁有最強武器的國家呢？」管仲微微一笑，指著地圖說：「大王，我們不需要動用一兵一卒，只要利用他們的專長，就能讓他們主動歸附。」

Long ago, Duke Huan of Qi desired to expand his territory and make Qi the most powerful state. He stood before a map with his wise advisor Guan Zhong, their gaze falling upon the neighboring state of Hengshan. Although Hengshan was small, its weapons and sophisticated machinery were the most advanced in the world. Duke Huan asked, "How can we conquer this nation with the most powerful weapons?" Guan Zhong smiled slightly, pointing to the map, and said, "Your Majesty, we don't need to use a single soldier. We can simply leverage their expertise to win their submission."

管仲提出的計劃非常奇特。他建議齊桓公派出商人，以平常十倍的高價收購衡山國的機械。管仲對齊桓公說：「我們要讓全天下都知道，齊國願意花重金買下每一台衡山國製造的機器。當財富源源不絕地流向衡山國時，誘惑就會成為我們最強大的武器。」齊桓公聽完後點了點頭，決定採納這個大膽的「經濟戰」策略。

Guan Zhong's plan was quite unique. He suggested that Duke Huan send merchants to purchase Hengshan's machinery at ten times the normal price. Guan Zhong told Duke Huan, "We must let the whole world know that Qi is willing to spend a fortune to buy every machine made in Hengshan. When wealth flows continuously to Hengshan, temptation will become our most powerful weapon." Duke Huan nodded after hearing this and decided to adopt this bold "economic warfare" strategy.

消息傳到了衡山國，國王昭王簡直不敢相信自己的耳朵。齊國商人的馬車拉著一箱箱閃亮的黃金來到城門下，只為了換取幾台織布機和水利設備。昭王看著滿屋子的黃金，對身邊的大臣韓大夫大笑說：「齊國人真是瘋了！既然他們願意花這麼多錢，我們就應該全力生產機器。只要有了這些錢，我們什麼買不到？」

When the news reached Hengshan, King Zhao could hardly believe his ears. Merchants from the State of Qi arrived at the city gates in carts laden with chests of gleaming gold, seeking only a few looms and irrigation equipment. King Zhao, gazing at the room overflowing with gold, laughed loudly at his minister, Han Dafu, saying, "The people of Qi are truly insane! Since they're willing to spend so much money, we should focus all our efforts on producing machines. With this money, what can't we buy?"

很快地，衡山國發生了巨大的變化。昭王下令所有的農夫放下鋤頭，全部進工廠學習製造機械。他對負責生產的工匠「鑄」說：「別管那些稻田了，只要多造出一台機器，你就能得到一整年的口糧！」鑄看著手中的鐵錘，雖然覺得不安，但想到高額的工錢，便立刻賣力地敲打起來。衡山國的田地漸漸荒蕪，雜草長得比人還高。

Soon, Hengshan underwent a dramatic transformation. King Zhao ordered all farmers to lay down their hoes and enter factories to learn how to manufacture machinery. He told the craftsman "Zhu," who was in charge of production, "Forget about the rice paddies; just build one more machine, and you'll have enough food for a whole year!" Zhu, though uneasy about the hammer in his hand, immediately began to work diligently, thinking of the high wages. The fields of Hengshan gradually became barren, overgrown with weeds taller than a person.

看到齊國如此瘋狂，其他國家的商人也紛紛跟風。他們擔心好東西都被齊國買光了，於是也帶著大量的錢財來到衡山國搶購。衡山國的機器價格又翻了幾倍，全國上下都沉浸在發大財的喜悅中。兩個來自不同國家的商人甚至在街頭為了爭奪一台最新型的起重機而爭吵不休。

Seeing Qi's frenzy, merchants from other states followed suit. Fearing that Qi would buy up all the good goods, they too arrived in Hengshan with vast sums of money to snap up bargains. The price of machinery in Hengshan State skyrocketed, and the entire nation was immersed in the joy of making a fortune. Two merchants from different countries even argued in the street over a single, state-of-the-art crane.

然而，在大家都在搶購機械時，管仲卻在齊國秘密進行另一項計劃。他派出特使，在高處巡視齊國滿滿的糧倉。齊桓公看著堆積如山的穀物，對管仲說：「我們已經悄悄買下了周邊各國所有的剩餘糧食。現在，時機成熟了嗎？」管仲回答：「是的，大王。衡山國雖然擁有最多的黃金和最精良的武器，但他們的胃卻是空的。」

However, while everyone was scrambling to buy machinery, Guan Zhong was secretly carrying out another plan in Qi State. He sent a special envoy to inspect Qi's overflowing granaries from a high vantage point. Looking at the mountains of grain, Duke Huan of Qi said to Guan Zhong, "We have quietly bought up all the surplus grain from the surrounding states. Is the time ripe?" Guan Zhong replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Although Hengshan State possesses the most gold and the finest weapons, their stomachs are empty."

到了第十七個月，齊國突然宣佈斷絕與衡山國的一切貿易往來，並關閉邊境。齊桓公對他的將軍「勇」下令：「帶領軍隊駐守邊疆，不准一顆糧食流向衡山國，但也不要發動進攻。」將軍勇領命而去。一夕之間，衡山國最依賴的客戶消失了，他們手中的機器和黃金突然變成了無法填飽肚子的廢鐵。

In the seventeenth month, Qi State suddenly announced the severing of all trade with Hengshan State and closed its borders. Duke Huan of Qi ordered his general, Yong, "Lead the army to guard the border, forbidding a single grain from flowing to Hengshan State, but do not launch an attack." General Yong obeyed the order and departed. Overnight, Hengshan Kingdom's most relied-upon customer vanished; their machines and gold suddenly became useless scrap metal, unable to fill their stomachs.

災難降臨了。衡山國的人民發現，即便他們手握重金，卻買不到一碗粥。昭王看著餐桌上稀稀落落的食物，焦急地問韓大夫：「為什麼我們的糧倉是空的？難道那些金子不能變出米來嗎？」韓大夫無奈地跪在地上，顫抖著說：「大王，大家都在造機器，田地早乾枯了，齊國又封鎖了道路，我們無處買糧啊！」

Disaster struck. The people of Hengshan discovered that even with their vast wealth, they couldn't buy a bowl of porridge. King Zhao, looking at the sparse food on the table, anxiously asked the Han official, "Why are our granaries empty? Can't that gold turn into rice?" The Han official knelt helplessly on the ground, trembling, and said, "Your Majesty, everyone is busy building machines; the fields have long since dried up, and Qi has blocked the roads. We have nowhere to buy grain!"

城裡的百姓生活更加艱難。韓大夫走在街道上，看到一位抱著孩子的母親。母親哭著對他說：「大人，我們的武器能抵擋敵人，卻不能抵擋飢餓。請救救我的孩子吧！」韓大夫看著周圍那些冰冷而昂貴的機械，心中充滿了悲哀。雖然衡山國擁有最強大的兵器，但士兵們因為飢餓，連舉起長矛的力氣都沒有了。

Life became even more difficult for the people in the city. The Han official walked the streets and saw a mother holding her child. The mother cried to him, "Sir, our weapons can defend against enemies, but they cannot defend against hunger. Please save my child!" The Han official looked at the cold, expensive machinery around him, his heart filled with sorrow. Although Hengshan Kingdom possessed the most powerful weapons, the soldiers, due to hunger, didn't even have the strength to lift their spears.

最終，在齊國與魯國軍隊的壓力下，毫無還手之力的衡山國只能選擇歸附齊國。齊桓公親自接見了垂頭喪氣的昭王。齊桓公遞給昭王一碗熱騰騰的白米飯，語重心長地說：「真正的強大，不在於你有多少金子或多精良的機械，而在於你是否能讓百姓生活自給自足，不被慾望控制了生存的命脈。」這場經濟戰，齊國大獲全勝，而衡山國則學到了最深刻的一課。

Ultimately, under pressure from the armies of Qi and Lu, the powerless Hengshan State had no choice but to submit to Qi. Duke Huan of Qi personally received the dejected King Zhao. Duke Huan handed King Zhao a bowl of steaming white rice and said earnestly, "True strength does not lie in how much gold you have or how sophisticated your machinery is, but in whether you can enable your people to live self-sufficiently and not let their desires control their very life." In this economic war, Qi won a great victory, while Hengshan State learned a profound lesson.

Long ago, Duke Huan of Qi desired to expand his territory and make Qi the most powerful state. He stood before a map with his wise advisor Guan Zhong, their gaze falling upon the neighboring state of Hengshan. Although Hengshan was small, its weapons and sophisticated machinery were the most advanced in the world. Duke Huan asked, "How can we conquer this nation with the most powerful weapons?" Guan Zhong smiled slightly, pointing to the map, and said, "Your Majesty, we don't need to use a single soldier. We can simply leverage their expertise to win their submission."

Guan Zhong's plan was quite unique. He suggested that Duke Huan send merchants to purchase Hengshan's machinery at ten times the normal price. Guan Zhong told Duke Huan, "We must let the whole world know that Qi is willing to spend a fortune to buy every machine made in Hengshan. When wealth flows continuously to Hengshan, temptation will become our most powerful weapon." Duke Huan nodded after hearing this and decided to adopt this bold "economic warfare" strategy.

When the news reached Hengshan, King Zhao could hardly believe his ears. Merchants from the State of Qi arrived at the city gates in carts laden with chests of gleaming gold, seeking only a few looms and irrigation equipment. King Zhao, gazing at the room overflowing with gold, laughed loudly at his minister, Han Dafu, saying, "The people of Qi are truly insane! Since they're willing to spend so much money, we should focus all our efforts on producing machines. With this money, what can't we buy?"

Soon, Hengshan underwent a dramatic transformation. King Zhao ordered all farmers to lay down their hoes and enter factories to learn how to manufacture machinery. He told the craftsman "Zhu," who was in charge of production, "Forget about the rice paddies; just build one more machine, and you'll have enough food for a whole year!" Zhu, though uneasy about the hammer in his hand, immediately began to work diligently, thinking of the high wages. The fields of Hengshan gradually became barren, overgrown with weeds taller than a person.

Seeing Qi's frenzy, merchants from other states followed suit. Fearing that Qi would buy up all the good goods, they too arrived in Hengshan with vast sums of money to snap up bargains. The price of machinery in Hengshan State skyrocketed, and the entire nation was immersed in the joy of making a fortune. Two merchants from different countries even argued in the street over a single, state-of-the-art crane.

However, while everyone was scrambling to buy machinery, Guan Zhong was secretly carrying out another plan in Qi State. He sent a special envoy to inspect Qi's overflowing granaries from a high vantage point. Looking at the mountains of grain, Duke Huan of Qi said to Guan Zhong, "We have quietly bought up all the surplus grain from the surrounding states. Is the time ripe?" Guan Zhong replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Although Hengshan State possesses the most gold and the finest weapons, their stomachs are empty."

In the seventeenth month, Qi State suddenly announced the severing of all trade with Hengshan State and closed its borders. Duke Huan of Qi ordered his general, Yong, "Lead the army to guard the border, forbidding a single grain from flowing to Hengshan State, but do not launch an attack." General Yong obeyed the order and departed. Overnight, Hengshan Kingdom's most relied-upon customer vanished; their machines and gold suddenly became useless scrap metal, unable to fill their stomachs.

Disaster struck. The people of Hengshan discovered that even with their vast wealth, they couldn't buy a bowl of porridge. King Zhao, looking at the sparse food on the table, anxiously asked the Han official, "Why are our granaries empty? Can't that gold turn into rice?" The Han official knelt helplessly on the ground, trembling, and said, "Your Majesty, everyone is busy building machines; the fields have long since dried up, and Qi has blocked the roads. We have nowhere to buy grain!"

Life became even more difficult for the people in the city. The Han official walked the streets and saw a mother holding her child. The mother cried to him, "Sir, our weapons can defend against enemies, but they cannot defend against hunger. Please save my child!" The Han official looked at the cold, expensive machinery around him, his heart filled with sorrow. Although Hengshan Kingdom possessed the most powerful weapons, the soldiers, due to hunger, didn't even have the strength to lift their spears.

Ultimately, under pressure from the armies of Qi and Lu, the powerless Hengshan State had no choice but to submit to Qi. Duke Huan of Qi personally received the dejected King Zhao. Duke Huan handed King Zhao a bowl of steaming white rice and said earnestly, "True strength does not lie in how much gold you have or how sophisticated your machinery is, but in whether you can enable your people to live self-sufficiently and not let their desires control their very life." In this economic war, Qi won a great victory, while Hengshan State learned a profound lesson.