Kung Shu Pan made for Ch’u the cloud-ladder, an engine of war; when it was finished, it was to be used to attack Sung. Motse heard of it and set out from Ch’i; he travelled ten days and ten nights and reached Ying, and saw Kung Shu Pan. Kung Shu Pan said: “What are your commands, Master?” Motse said: “In the north there is one who has insulted me; I wish to borrow your hand to kill him.” Kung Shu Pan was displeased. Motse said: “I offer ten pieces of gold.” Kung Shu Pan said: “My righteousness is not to kill men.” Motse rose and bowed twice, and said: “Allow me to explain. I heard in the north that you were making ladders to attack Sung. What crime has Sung committed? The land of Ching has more land than it needs and too few people; to kill the people it lacks in order to contend for the land it has in excess cannot be called wise. To attack Sung, which is without crime, cannot be called benevolent. To know this and not to contend cannot be called loyal. To contend and not to succeed cannot be called strong. To hold it righteous not to kill a few and yet to kill many cannot be called understanding of kinds.” Kung Shu Pan submitted. Motse said: “Then will you not stop?” Kung Shu Pan said: “I cannot. I have already spoken of it to the king.” Motse said: “Why not present me to the king?” Kung Shu Pan said: “So be it.”

Motse saw the king and said: “Suppose here is a man who, leaving his own decorated carriage, covets the worn-out cart of his neighbour; leaving his own embroidered silks, covets the short coarse coat of his neighbour; leaving his own millet and meat, covets the chaff and dregs of his neighbour. What kind of man is he?” The king said: “He must have the disease of thieving.” Motse said: “The land of Ching is five thousand li square, and Sung is five hundred li square: this is like the decorated carriage and the worn-out cart. Ching has Yün Meng, full of rhinoceros, wild buffalo, elk and deer; the fish, turtles, great tortoises and alligators of the Chiang and the Han are the richest in the world; while Sung is what is called a land without pheasants, hares, foxes or badgers: this is like millet and meat and chaff and dregs. Ching has tall pines, figured catalpas, pien, nan and yü-chang trees; Sung has no tall trees: this is like embroidered silks and a short coarse coat. In these three matters I judge that the attack of Ch’u on Sung is of the same kind.” The king said: “Well said! Nevertheless, Kung Shu Pan has made the cloud-ladder for me, and I shall surely take Sung.”

Then they met Kung Shu Pan. Motse unfastened his belt and made of it a city wall, and used tablets as engines. Kung Shu Pan nine times set up his contrivances for attacking a city, and nine times Motse repelled him. Kung Shu Pan’s engines of attack were exhausted, but Motse’s defence had more than enough. Kung Shu Pan was at a loss, and said: “I know how to oppose you, but I will not say it.” Motse also said: “I know how you would oppose me, but I will not say it.” The king of Ch’u asked the reason. Motse said: “Kung Shu’s idea is only to kill me. If I am killed, Sung cannot be defended, and can be attacked. But my disciples, Ch’in Ku Li and the others, three hundred men, already hold my instruments of defence and are on the walls of Sung awaiting the invaders from Ch’u. Even if you kill me, you cannot put an end to them.” The king of Ch’u said: “Excellent! I ask that we do not attack Sung.”

Motse returned, and passing through Sung, it rained, and he took shelter in the gateway of the lane; but the keeper of the gate would not admit him. Therefore it is said: he who works in the realm of the spirit, the multitude do not know his merit; he who contends in the open, the multitude know it.