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A guest suffered from *Pi* syndrome (a condition characterized by abdominal masses or fullness), where pathogens accumulated within, latent and unable to descend; external pathogens were repelled and unable to enter. He consulted a physician, who said: "It cannot be treated without purgation." Upon returning and taking the medicine, he experienced violent diarrhea immediately after ingestion. Within less than a day, the previously latent pathogens dispersed completely, and the previously resistant pathogens became soft and unable to sustain themselves. His chest and diaphragm became unobstructed, his breathing opened and facilitated, and he felt remarkably comfortable, as if cured.

However, after a month, the *Pi* syndrome recurred five times, each time requiring purgation. Each purgation brought temporary relief, yet the guest's vital energy (*Qi*) was drawn out three times with just a few words of explanation. His body sweated without exertion, his thighs trembled without walking. While his skin and flesh showed no prior depletion, his interior essence (*Ying*) was empty and depleted, and he did not know its source. Alas! Was it truly indispensable to purge the *Pi* in the heart region? I followed the treatment with purgation, and my medical technique was not flawed, but how could this state of internal depletion occur?

Hearing that there was a skilled physician in the southern part of Chu, he went to consult him. The physician sighed and said: "Do not be surprised by this state of depletion. Your method naturally leads to such depletion. Sit down, let me tell you. Moreover, in the principles of the world, things that feel satisfying to our hearts are not necessarily harmless; if one seeks to avoid harm in the end, one should not expect satisfaction in the beginning. When Yin is latent and Yang is stored, and Qi and Blood fail to circulate, resulting in *Pi*, the burden accumulating in your chest is significant. To strike and remove it requires no more than an instant to eliminate this great burden, which gentle and harmonious substances cannot achieve; one must employ forceful striking and agitation. However, the harmonious Qi of a person is subtle and weak, precarious and easily endangered. Before the work of striking and agitation is completed, your harmonious Qi has already been damaged. From this perspective, every time you felt satisfied, your harmonious Qi was injured. In less than a month, you felt satisfied five times; has not your harmonious Qi been exhausted? Therefore, your body sweats without labor, your thighs tremble without walking, and you feel depleted as if you cannot last till the end. If you wish to remove your *Pi* without harming your harmony, you should rest at home for three months before taking medicine."

The guest returned and rested for three months, purified himself through fasting, and then requested treatment again. The physician said: "Your Qi has slightly recovered." He took the medicine and handed it to him, saying: "Take this. After three months, the illness will subside slightly; after another three months, you will recover slightly; after a full year, you will return to normal. Moreover, do not administer the medicine too hastily." The guest returned and followed this advice. Initially, it made him feel weary and slow, and there were three relapses after three doses. However, daily observation showed no immediate curative effect; comparing over time, the changes differed from month to month and season to season. Ultimately, after a full year, the illness subsided.

The guest visited the physician, bowed twice in gratitude, sat down, and asked for the reason. The physician said: "This is the principle of governing a state, not merely treating disease. Have you not seen how Qin governed its people? They were fierce and disobedient, lazy and neglectful of duties, unrestrained and disrespectful of laws. Since orders were disobeyed and governance unchanged, the people of Qin were indeed in a state of 'blockage' (*Pi*). Shang Yang, seeing this blockage, imposed severe laws and penalties, using execution and slaughter to establish authority. He was fierce, strict, and merciless, showing no leniency, painfully cutting and forcefully weeding them out. Thus, Qin's administration flowed like water poured from a high vessel, reaching all directions, with no one daring to resist, and Qin's 'blockage' became 'satisfyingly cleared.' From Duke Xiao to the Second Emperor, how many times did they experience blockage and satisfaction? The stubborn were broken, the strong were softened, but the people of Qin had lost their joy. Therefore, each instance of harsh policy bringing satisfaction resulted in the loss of joy; accumulating satisfaction without limit left Qin's limbs empty and hollow, possessing only form. As the people's hearts drifted away, the ruler stood isolated above. Thus, when a commoner shouted loudly, various diseases arose within a day. Qin wanted to move its hands, feet, shoulders, and back, but they were paralyzed and did not respond. Therefore, the fall of Qin was the fault of those who sought 'satisfaction.'"

"In ancient times, the people of the Former Kings also once experienced blockage. Did the Former Kings not know that striking and removing it quickly would be swift? It was precisely because it would cause harm in the end that they dared not seek satisfaction in their hearts. Instead, they used gentle and soothing methods to care for them, taught them benevolence and righteousness, and guided them with rites and music; they secretly resolved chaos and removed stagnation. From the outside, it might seem sluggish and tired, but calculating by month and inspecting by year, the customs of the previous year were different from those of the current year. By not striking or fighting, avoiding conflict, they daily removed hostile energies without injuring the people's joy. Thus, governance was accomplished, education spread, and long-term peace was achieved without subsequent troubles. Therefore, the governance of the Three Dynasties required several sages and hundreds of years to shape the customs. Then, it is no wonder that my medicine takes a full year to cure the disease. Hence it is said: 'In the principles of the world, things that satisfy our hearts inevitably cause harm in the long run; if one seeks to avoid harm in the end, one should not expect satisfaction in the heart.' Although so, does this apply only to governing the world?" The guest bowed twice and transmitted this teaching. (From *Collected Works of Vice Minister Zhang*)