Seizing or helping

The general, with his attendants, reached the hermitage of the Taoist sage. He took off his sword and shoes and handed them to a trusted soldier, received the tray of offerings, drew a breath and looked at the vast heaven and earth, then asked to enter and pay his respects. A young attendant went in to announce him and came out to invite the general in.
The general presented his offerings, knelt and bowed to the old sage, then joined his palms and said:

• Master, throughout my life as a general governing this frontier region, I have succeeded because of your subtle and profound teachings. The frontier has been held firm and my service to the court has grown in lustre. Next year I may be summoned back to the capital for a new promotion and remain in the capital for good, but I want to achieve a great feat before returning to the capital.
  Master, the neighbouring country has harassed our border many times, but I have put them down and crushed them. They fear my skill, so for a long time they have not dared to make any further move. If I return to court, they may raise troops and strike back. I would like to ask your opinion: should I send my army to attack first, seize their capital, abolish that dynasty and annex that kingdom as a province of our own country? That way the borders would be secure for a long time, and I would earn a great merit.
  The sage shook his head and said:
• You want peace, yet you would create scenes of bloodshed and severed heads, and afterwards there will be disorder again. With your present strength you can attack and seize them, but ten years from now a country bordering them on the other side will attack across. It would be better to leave them intact, to act as a barrier protecting you. If the other side attacks, they will be attacked first, and you will have time to prepare. The best strategy is to help the neighbouring country in all things, in culture, economy and morality, and bind the friendship closely. Help them sincerely, and especially help their people to believe in wrongdoing and merit, cause and effect, to avoid evil and do good. Gradually their country will grow strong as a hedge for you, which is more beneficial than conquering them. If you do as I say, your family's blessings will shine brightly for a very long time.

The general pondered, then bowed to the sage and said:

• I am grateful to you, Master. This strategy is truly marvellous.

The general withdrew and went down the mountain with his attendants.

The sage went out to the yard and sat on a rock. The young attendant joined his palms and asked:

• Master, I remember that yesterday too several people came up to ask about taking what belonged to others, for very noble-sounding reasons. You advised them all to help rather than seize, so that they would gain more.
  The sage said:
• I tell you truly, child. Why take what belongs to others and lose one's virtue? The district chief wanted to take another man's wife, on the grounds that as his concubine she would be happier. I advised him to help them be happy instead, and not to take her for himself, or he would meet calamity, and later beget a rebellious son who would squander the whole fortune. Another landlord wanted to seize the neighbouring village's field, on the grounds that they planted rice with poor yield. I advised him to help them grow it with better yield rather than seize their field, or else his grandson would fall to his death on that field.
  Out of greed, people create evil karma, not knowing that what profits them today will harm them tomorrow. ☀️

May what the sage said help us awaken to many better things.