King Hui of Liang I · Passage 05 / 07 · 孟子 1A.5
Mencius 1A.5: a hundred li can rule if benevolence is real
When King Hui asks how to erase military shame, Mencius redirects the question to benevolent government: durable power grows from light burdens.
梁惠王曰：「晉國，天下莫強焉，叟之所知也。及寡人之身，東敗於齊，長子死焉；西喪地於秦七百里；南辱於楚。寡人恥之，願比死者壹洒之，如之何則可？」孟子對曰：「地方百里，而可以王。王如施仁政於民，省刑罰，薄稅斂，深耕易耨；壯者以暇日修其孝悌忠信，入以事其父兄，出以事其長上；可使制梃以撻秦楚之堅甲利兵矣。彼奪其民時，使不得耕耨以養其父母。父母凍餓，兄弟妻子離散。彼陷溺其民，王往而征之，夫誰與王敵？故曰：『仁者無敵。』王請勿疑。」
King Hui of Liang said, 'There was not in the nation a stronger State than Jin, as you, venerable Sir, know. But since it descended to me, on the east we have been defeated by Qi, and then my eldest son perished; on the west we have lost seven hundred li of territory to Qin; and on the south we have sustained disgrace at the hands of Chu. I have brought shame on my departed predecessors, and wish on their account to wipe it away, once for all. What course is to be pursued to accomplish this?' Mencius replied, 'With a territory which is only a hundred li square, it is possible to attain to the royal dignity. If Your Majesty will indeed dispense a benevolent government to the people, being sparing in the use of punishments and fines, and making the taxes and levies light, so causing that the fields shall be ploughed deep, and the weeding of them be carefully attended to, and that the strong-bodied, during their days of leisure, shall cultivate their filial piety, fraternal respectfulness, sincerity, and truthfulness, serving thereby, at home, their fathers and elder brothers, and, abroad, their elders and superiors, you will then have a people who can be employed, with sticks which they have prepared, to oppose the strong mail and sharp weapons of the troops of Qin and Chu. The rulers of those States rob their people of their time, so that they cannot plough and weed their fields, in order to support their parents. Their parents suffer from cold and hunger. Brothers, wives, and children are separated and scattered abroad. Those rulers, as it were, drive their people into pit-falls, or drown them. Your Majesty will go to punish them. In such a case, who will oppose your Majesty? In accordance with this is the saying, "The benevolent has no enemy." I beg your Majesty not to doubt what I say.'
Priority note
A human-edited reading layer
Central question
Why does Mencius answer a question about revenge and military shame with benevolent government?
Direct answer
Because he thinks lasting strength depends less on the will to retaliate than on whether the people are secure enough to stand with you. Once livelihood and moral order are settled, opposing force loses its base.
First principle
Security is not only a military variable. It depends on whether society can still produce, nourish families, and generate durable public support.
Why it matters
This passage turns humane government into strategic strength and fits search intent around 'the benevolent has no enemy' and the relation between morality and power.
Further reading
What this passage is doing
This is passage 5 of 7 in King Hui of Liang I. The cleanest entry point is "There was not in the nation a stronger…". In context, it works as part of Mencius's argument about profit, humane rule, and the livelihood of the people and can be read alongside Four beginnings / four sprouts, Humane government / kingly way.
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King Hui of Liang I concentrates on profit versus righteousness, public livelihood, and the opening conditions of humane rule.
Related principles
Citation note
Do not quote only 'the benevolent has no enemy.' The preceding chain of light punishments, light taxes, cultivation, and moral education explains why that claim is not sentimental rhetoric.