So a wise ruler will decide on such a plan for the people’s means of support as to make sure that they can support their parents as well as their wives and children, and that they have enough food in good years, and are saved from starvation in bad. Then he will urge them to do good, and in these circumstances the people will find it easy to follow him.

Therefore an intelligent ruler will regulate the livelihood of the people, so as to make sure that, for those above them, they shall have sufficient wherewith to serve their parents, and, for those below them, sufficient wherewith to support their wives and children; that in good years they shall always be abundantly satisfied, and that in bad years they shall escape the danger of perishing. After this he may urge them, and they will proceed to what is good, for in this case the people will follow after it with ease.

So the living of the people must be so ordered by a clear-sighted lord, that they have enough to serve their father and mother above, and enough to keep their wife and children below. In a glad year their whole life is plenty, and in a bad year they escap

Therefore, in securing the people’s liveli¬hood, an enlightened ruler ensures that they have enough to serve their parents and nurture their wives and children, that everyone has plenty to eat in good years and no one starves in bad years. If you do that, you'll be leading the peo¬ple toward virtue and benevolence, so it will be easy for them to follow you.

Hence an intelligent Prince will so regulate the supplies of his people, that when they look up, they will have enough to serve their parents, and when they look down, they will have what is requisite to feed their wives and children. Thus in years of plenty, they will have sufficient for all and in years of scarcity as much as may save them from death. Then he will lead on the people to the practice of virtue, and they will follow readily.