"Sir, the Emperor is higher than the heavens. Why do you say the people are more important, and the ruler is less so?"
The young scholar patiently explained, "Er Gouzi, if an emperor had no one around him, would he still be an emperor?"
The boy named Er Gouzi scratched his head.
"If there's no one left, being an emperor would be pointless. It wouldn't matter what you called him then."
"That's right. Without the people, an emperor doesn't really exist."
"Sir, that seems to make sense."
"That's why the people are what's most important—even more important than the Emperor himself."
Er Gouzi's eyes lit up.
The thought that he was more noble than the legendary supreme sovereign made him quite pleased with himself.
The young scholar continued, "We just need to live our lives well. Now, I'm going to teach you how to weave straw hats. You can sell one for three copper coins."
Hearing this, all the children immediately sat up straight.
