Mozi
 
Mozi, also called Mo Di (470 – 391 BC), lived in the State of Song during the Warring States Period. He served as a very high-ranking official of the Song state. Mo Di devoted much effort to writing and editing. He was also deeply involved in Taoist cultivation. He promoted a simple and thrifty lifestyle. He wrote ten books during his lifetime. He was later called Mozi, a special name to honor his position in history.
 
One day, Mozi heard some bad news: the State of Chu was planning to launch a war against the State of Song. He was very concerned because Song was no match against Chu. If a war broke out, Song would absolutely be conquered by Chu. Mozi felt he had a responsibility to safeguard Song's future, and he decided to travel to Chu to try to persuade the King of Chu to give up the thought of war.
 
After a seven-day journey, Mozi arrived in Chu. He first met with Gongshu Ban, a talented expert in charge of making ladders to attack fortresses. Mozi said to Gongshu Ban, "You are making ladders for the State of Chu to attack Song, but what did the State of Song do wrong to deserve this? The State of Chu has vast and fertile land, but the people in Song do not have enough land to even meet their basic needs. Robbing Song, a poor state, to increase the already-rich Chu is not a wise move. Song has not really done anything to offend Chu. Attacking Song is not morally justified. You know the situation perfectly. If you choose not to tell your king, you are not truly loyal to him. If you told him but he does not listen, I would say you are not determined enough and not very persuasive."
 
Gongshu Ban told him that the King's mind was not easily changed. And it was hard for Gongshu Ban to retract his own suggestion to attack the State of Song. Mozi realized that he must meet with the King of Chu in person and talk him out of the plan to initiate war. When Mozi finally met the King, he did not bring up his intention right away. Instead, he made an analogy, saying, "If a rich man abandons his expensive horse wagon in order to steal his poor neighbor's broken trolley; if he does not wear his own elegant attire, but prefers instead to steal a shirt from the poor neighbor; if he overlooks his own delicious seafood and steak and steals his poor neighbor's food made from chaff and wild vegetables, what kind of man is he, Your Majesty?"
 
The King answered, "If such a man exists, I think he must be mad."
 
Mozi then said, "The State of Chu is full of the best produce and animals. For example, the huge elk population in Yunmeng swamp and fish and turtles in the Yangtze River are abundant. Chu is the richest kingdom in the world. Look at our State of Song – it is so poor that the hunters cannot even find a quail, a carp, or even a rabbit. The contrast is exactly like the comparison of fish and steak versus chaff and wild vegetables. Your state is covered with lush forests, but the Song does not even have tall trees; it is just like comparing elegant attire with a shirt. I heard that Your Majesty was planning to attack Song. Isn't that a crazy thing to do?"
 
The King of Chu said, "What you have said is very good. But Gongshu Ban has prepared the ladders to attack fortresses, and he said we could certainly conquer Song."
 
Sensing a slight hope, Mozi asked to see Gongshu Ban again. When he arrived, Mozi took off his robe and laid it on a table, pretending it was the fortress of Song, and he removed his headband and pretended it was the soldiers and weapons of Song. Gongshu Ban then went on to play a war game with Mozi at the table. After nine rounds of war games, Gongshu Ban could not find a way to break Mozi's defense. Gongshu Ban was frantic while Mozi still had tricks up his sleeves.
 
Gongshu Ban said, "I know of a way to break Song's defense, but I am not revealing it." Mozi answered, "I also know what attack method you have in mind, but I am not revealing it either." The King of Chu was very curious and asked Mozi what was going on. Mozi said, "Gongshu Ban meant to kill me, so the State of Song could be conquered. But he has no idea that my student, Qin Huali, and his 300 soldiers are waiting in the fortress of Song to repel your attack with defensive weapons and my tactics. Even if you kill me, Song's defense remains intact and Chu will not succeed." The King of Chu was convinced by Mozi and gave up the war plan.
 
Mozi used logic to persuade the King of Chu, and used simulation to shockingly convince Gongshu Ban. Mozi is loyal to the country and has both wisdom and bravery. However when Mozi was 82 years old, he made an insightful observation, "I have experienced all kinds of things in the world, and I have come to know a great deal. People's fortunes, honors, and positions are all temporary. I have seen enough of this earthly life, and I have decided to leave the chaos of society and follow Deity Chi Songzi to travel around the world." He settled in Mount Zhoudi and concentrated on cultivating the Tao.
 
When a deity saw his diligent devotion in cultivation, he gave Mozi a silk book with cultivation secrets and recipes for making medicinal pills using herbs. He also gave Mozi books that explained Taoist principles and the theory of Yin and Yang. A total of 25 volumes of books were given to Mozi. The deity told Mozi, "You have very good inborn quality for cultivation and a high intellect; after you study these books you can become a deity. You do not need another master."
 
During the Warring States Period, all kingdoms were at war with each other. If Mozi wanted, he could have provided his King with invaluable advice and enjoyed huge rewards and honor for life. But he had no interest in the human life and was determined to cultivate the Tao. Eventually, he became a deity.
 
From a historical view, everything in the world is but an illusion. Only after one transcends the material world can one see the truth of the universe.
 
(Based on Records of the Taiping Era)
 
墨子
 
墨子名叫翟，是战国时代宋国人，任宋国的大夫。他平时编撰著述经学典籍，更勤于道家方术的修炼，提倡勤俭节约。曾写了十篇文章，号称墨子。
 
墨子听闻楚国要攻打宋国的消息，忧心忡忡，深知宋国国力远不如楚国，一旦战争爆发，宋国必将被楚国征服。他以国家的安危为己任，决心去楚国说服楚王放弃攻打宋国的想法。经过七天七夜的长途跋涉，终于到了楚国，并见到了制造攻城云梯的能工巧匠公输般。墨子劝说道：“你为楚国造了云梯攻打宋国，宋国有什么罪过呢？楚国土地广阔肥沃，宋国的老百姓却没有足够的地种，索取宋国的不足去增加富裕的楚国，这是不聪明的做法。宋国没有罪你却要去攻打它，这是不仁义的做法。你明明知道这种做法不对而不去劝告楚王，这是你对楚王不忠诚。劝告了却没有收效，说明你的态度还不坚定，没有很强的说服力。”
 
公输般表示楚王的决定是不容易更改的，自己建议攻打宋国的事话已出口，要收回也很难啊。墨子听了公输般的诉说，觉的要想平息这场还未开始的战争，必须要直接见到楚王才能得以化解。当墨子见到楚王后，没有直接说出自己的意图，而是给楚王做了一个比喻：“现在有这么一个人，扔掉自己华丽的马车却要去偷邻居的一辆破车；放著自己的锦锻袍服不穿，却要去盗取邻居一件短衫；放著自己家的鱼肉不吃，却要去偷邻居的粗糠野菜，大王您说这是个什么人呢？”
 
楚王说，“要真有这么个人，我看他一定是个疯子。”
 
墨子说：“楚国有湖北湖南云梦泽盛产的麋鹿，有长江汉水盛产的鱼、龟，是天下最富足的国家。而宋国连山鸡、鲋鱼和野兔都没有，这就像把鱼肉和糠菜相比一样。楚国盛产杞树、桑树、梓树和豫章树，而宋国连几丈高的树都没有，这就像锦锻袍服和短衫相比一样。我听说大王打算攻打宋国，这不和您说的那个疯子一样了吗？”
 
楚王说：“你说得很好。但是公输般已经为我造好了云梯，他说一定能攻下宋国。”
 
墨子见有回旋的余地，于是要求再见一下公输般，待公输般来后，墨子把自己的衣带放在桌子上假设是宋国的都城，摘下头巾假设是宋国守城的士兵和武器，公输般闻此境况，也毫不犹豫的和墨子一较高低，他用自己的战术在桌上和墨子周旋，总共变换了九次，都被墨子挡住了。公输般已经无计可施的时候，墨子防守的策略还绰绰有余。
 
公输般说：“现在我已经知道怎么攻破你了，但是我不说。”墨子说：“我也知道你将用什么方法攻我，我也不说。”楚王问是怎么回事，墨子说，“公输般的意思是只要杀了我，宋国就守不住了。然而他不知道，我的弟子禽滑厘等三百人，早就带著我布置的守城武器和战术在宋国都城上等待楚国的进攻呢。就是把我杀了，宋国的防御武器和战术仍然存在，楚国也不可能取胜！”楚王只好改弦易辙，不再攻打宋国。
 
墨子用道理说服了楚王，现场模拟让公输般大惊失色，他对国家忠肝义胆，智勇双全，这样一位杰出的英才却在八十二岁那一年，感叹的说：“世间的事我已经全经历过，也全知道了，一个人的福禄、荣誉和官位不是永远不变的，我已看透了世间的一切，将离开纷杂的尘世，去追随能吞云吐雾呼石成羊的神仙赤松子漫游去了！”后来墨子进了周狄山，专心致志于道术的修炼。
 
神灵见墨子修道之心非常虔诚，就授给他写著修道要诀的绢书和用朱草的花配制药丸的秘方，以及道教的法则戒律和阴阳五行变化的经书，一共二十五篇，并对墨子说：“你本来就有仙风道骨，又聪慧通灵，得到我给你的这些东西后就能成仙，不需要再拜师学道了。”
 
战国时期，纷争混乱，以墨子的智慧如若助君王一臂之力，必定有享不尽的荣华富贵，可他对此毫无眷恋，一心向道，凭借著自己的毅力，终于修成神仙。
 
用历史的眼光来看，人世间万物都是虚幻的，只有超脱出来，才能领略宇宙的真相。
 

（资料来源《太平广记》）