Mencius once followed Confucius' example by traveling to various states, persuading their rulers to implement benevolent governance.
When Mencius arrived in the state of Wei, he met with King Hui of Wei. The king said, "I have truly done my utmost in governing the state. When there was a famine in Henei, I relocated the people of Henei to Hedong and transported grain to Henei for relief. When a famine struck Hedong, I did the same. I have observed the rulers of neighboring states, and none of them have been as dedicated to governance as I am. Yet, the population of neighboring states has not decreased, nor has the population of our Wei state increased. Why is this?"
Mencius replied, "Your Majesty is fond of war, so let me use war as an analogy. On the battlefield, when the war drums sound and the order to advance is given, as soon as the two sides clash with weapons, some soldiers throw away their armor and weapons and flee. Some run a hundred paces before stopping, while others run only fifty paces before stopping. Can those who ran fifty paces rightly mock those who ran a hundred paces?"
King Hui said: "No. It's just that he didn't run a hundred paces, but it's still running away."
Mencius said, "Since Your Majesty understands this principle, do not expect your people to be more numerous than those of neighboring states. If military conscription and forced labor do not interfere with the farming season, the people will produce more grain than they can eat; if fine-mesh nets are not used to fish in ponds and rivers, there will be more fish and turtles than they can consume; if trees are felled according to the proper season, there will be more timber than they can use. With an abundance of grain, fish, turtles, and timber, the people will have no worries about supporting the living or burying the dead. Once the people are free from such concerns, the foundation for benevolent governance can be laid."
If common people have five mu of land and plant mulberry trees, those over fifty can all wear silk; if they raise poultry and livestock at the right times without missing their breeding seasons, those over seventy can all eat meat; if they have a hundred mu of farmland and cultivate it without delaying the farming seasons, a family of several people will not go hungry; if schools are run properly and the people are taught the principles of filial piety and respect for elders, the elderly with graying hair will not have to carry heavy loads on the road themselves. If this can be achieved, the whole world can be unified.
King Hui of Wei only wanted to enrich the state and strengthen its military to dominate the feudal lords, but Mencius only spoke to him about benevolence and righteousness, so King Hui found him too pedantic.
When he arrived in the state of Qi, he met King Xuan of Qi, who appointed him as a guest minister
Mencius said: "Confucius's disciples did not discuss hegemony, only the principles of benevolent governance, the kingly way, and bringing peace to the world."
King Xuan of Qi said, "Can I also practice benevolent governance?"
Mencius said, "Of course you can. The fact that you couldn't bear to see an ox killed and set it free shows that you have a benevolent heart. In fact, practicing benevolent governance is not difficult—it's not a matter of ability, but a matter of willingness to do it."
King Xuan of Qi asked, "Then how can benevolent governance be implemented?"
Mencius said, "It is very simple. You already have a heart of benevolence toward animals, so how much more so toward people? Just apply this benevolent heart to your people, do not disturb them with war, lighten their burdens, and educate them with benevolence, righteousness, and ritual propriety. The people will naturally maintain order between young and old, love one another, live in peace and contentment, and the state can become orderly and gradually prosperous and strong."
However, King Xuan of Qi was solely focused on becoming the hegemon of all the feudal states. Although he felt that Mencius's words were very reasonable, he did not adopt his advice. He appointed Sun Bin, Tian Ji, and others to defeat the powerful state of Wei. Later, when Qi conquered Yan in a victorious campaign, King Xuan proudly told Mencius that he had crushed Yan in less than fifty days, surely with heaven's help. Mencius, knowing that the king, fresh from victory, would not listen to any warnings, said nothing. Other feudal states, fearing that a powerful Qi would threaten their own territories, planned to form an alliance to rescue Yan. Alarmed and uncertain upon hearing this news, King Xuan went back to Mencius for advice. Mencius suggested, "Before the other states take action, you should quickly install a virtuous ruler for the people of Yan, then withdraw your troops and return to Qi." But King Xuan was reluctant and could not make a decision. Just then, the people of Yan crowned Crown Prince Ping as their king and rose in rebellion against Qi. King Xuan deeply regretted not following Mencius's advice, but his ministers insisted that it was not the king's fault.
Mencius served as a guest minister in the state of Qi, enjoying the salary of a senior official, but his proposals were never adopted by the King of Qi. Seeing that Qi could not implement the true Way, and that King Xuan was surrounded by petty individuals, Mencius realized he would eventually be marginalized if he stayed, so he resigned from his position and left Qi.
Mencius also visited small states like Teng and Song, but was not given important positions in either. Traveling among the various feudal states, he sometimes led a retinue of several hundred people and rode in dozens of carriages, a scale that already surpassed Confucius in his day. The feudal lords all treated him with courtesy, yet none were willing to adopt his proposals.
At that time, various feudal states, in their quest for hegemony, implemented reforms to enrich their nations and strengthen their armies, recruiting skilled warriors and strategists; the states of Chu and Wei both employed Wu Qi, while Qi used Sun Bin and Tian Ji, each achieving a period of great power. Against this backdrop, Mencius traveled everywhere advocating for benevolent governance, extolling the virtuous rule of Yao, Shun, and the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, and promoting the idea that the people are more important than the ruler—ideas that the rulers of the various states naturally could not accept.
Mencius began traveling to various states at the age of 44 to promote benevolent governance, but faced repeated setbacks everywhere; at 62, he ended his travels, returned to his hometown to compile the Book of Songs, taught and wrote books, expounded on Confucius's thoughts and doctrines, and left behind the enduring masterpiece Mencius.