Zhuo Xiangwang asked Pang Juan, "Does one who rules a state also act for his country?" Pang Juan said, "Have you not heard of Yu Fu the physician?" When the illness is already formed, it must be cured; ghosts and gods will avoid him. When King Chu presided over court for the sake of his troops, he appointed people as Yao did: he did not appoint relatives but necessarily those who were capable. In treating illness, he did not employ those he loved but necessarily the old physicians. When King Chu heard that an ailment had taken hold in the evening, he would certainly await Yu Fu." Zhuo Xiangwang said, "Well said." Pang Juan said, "Have you forgotten, Your Majesty?" In the past, Yi Yin healed the Shang dynasty, Tai Gong healed King Wu of Zhou, Bai Li healed Qin, Shen Piao healed Ying, Yuan Ji healed Jin, Fan Li healed Yue, and Guan Zhong healed Qi, and thus five states became dominant. Their virtue was the same, yet their methods differed in detail." Zhuo Xiangwang said: "I would like to hear about those details." Pang Juan said, "Have you not heard of King Wenwang of Wei's question to Bian Que?" He asked: "Among your three brothers, who is the most skilled as a physician?" Bian Que said, "My eldest brother is the best, my second brother is next, and Bian Que is the least skilled." King Wenwang of Wei asked: "May I hear about it?" Bian Que said, "My eldest brother observes the spirit of an illness; he removes it before symptoms appear, so his reputation does not extend beyond our home. My second brother treats illnesses when they are still at the hairline stage, so his fame does not go beyond the neighborhood. As for Bian Que, I cut into blood vessels, prescribe potent medicine, and operate on the flesh; thus, my name becomes known among the feudal lords." King Wenwang of Wei said: "Well said." "If Guan Zi had practiced medicine according to Bian Que's methods, could Duke Huan have nearly achieved his dominance!" All of these deal with illnesses before they become apparent, treating them without recognition and eliminating them before symptoms form. When such great achievements are realized, those below regard it as natural. Therefore, a skilled physician transforms the illness, while an unskilled one causes failure; even if fortunate enough to survive, the patient will suffer lingering wounds and impaired limbs. Zhuo Xiangwang said: "Well said. Although I may not be able to avoid injury, who could add even the weight of a single autumn hair upon me?"