| Elimination of Strength:...: |
The appearance of gold means the disappearance of grain, and the appearance of grain means the disappearance of gold. If products are cheap - those who occupy themselves with agriculture being many, and buyers being few - farmers will be in hard straits and wickedness will be encouraged, so that the army will be weak and the state will certainly be dismembered and come to extinction. For every ounce of gold appearing within its borders, twelve piculs of grain will disappear abroad; but for every twelve piculs of grain appearing within its borders, one ounce of gold will disappear abroad. If a country favours the appearance of gold within its borders, then gold and grain will both disappear, granary and treasury will both be empty, and the state will be weak. But if a country favours the appearance of grain within its borders, then gold and grain will both appear, granary and treasury will both be filled, and the state will be strong. |
