The royal axe — the sovereign's authority — is not an instrument forged in a single generation; it is built upon deep virtue and the elevation of the outstanding. The Dao has four fundamental principles of inquiry: first is Heaven, second is Earth, third is Humanity, and fourth is Fate. In assessing people, there are five levels of those who will come to serve: first, those who surpass you a hundredfold (伯己); second, those who surpass you tenfold (什己); third, those who are your equal (若己); fourth, menial servants (廝役); fifth, common laborers (徒隸).

What is called Heaven refers to the inherent nature and feeling of all things; what is called Earth refers to that which is constant and never departs; what is called Humanity refers to those who hate death and love life; what is called Fate refers to that which ultimately rests in the hands of the ruler.

The ruler is the one who upholds divine clarity; divine clarity takes people as its foundation; people take the virtuous and the sage as their foundation; the virtuous and the sage take broad selection as their foundation; broad selection takes the five levels of talent as its foundation.

Therefore: if one faces north and serves with full deference, those who surpass you a hundredfold will come. If one hastens forward before resting and asks questions before falling silent, those who surpass you tenfold will come. If one moves as others move, those who are your equal will come. If one leans on a table and holds a staff, issuing commands with a gesture, menial servants will come. If one speaks with pleasure or scolds with harshness, common laborers will come.

Thus: an emperor dwells with his teachers; a king dwells with his friends; a ruler on the path to ruin dwells with his followers alone.

One whose virtue reaches ten thousand people is called Jun (雋 — the outstanding); one whose virtue reaches a thousand is called Hao (豪 — the heroic); one whose virtue reaches a hundred is called Ying (英 — the excellent). Virtuous influence is like sound — no echo has ever been heard to exceed the voice that produced it.

The noble possess knowledge; the wealthy possess wealth; the poor possess only their persons. If trust and covenant do not align, no undertaking will succeed. Without death there is no life; without severance there is no completion. Measure merit and reward accordingly; weigh virtue before speaking. When the royal authority rests here — who could cause confusion in the camp?