A very important momentum for a ruler found this legist minister of Qi 齊 during the Warring States period 戰國時代: wisdom and moral are not enough for a ruler to govern his evil ministers, but only power and ability (shi 勢) enable him to take control of his officials. These are the real instrument for the not-moving ruler to make his state wealthy and powerful. Only small parts of his book Shenzi 慎子 are preserved.

民雜
民雜處而各有所能．所能者不同．此民之情也．大君者．太上也．兼畜下者也．下之所能不同．而皆上之用也． 是 以 大 君 因 民 之 能 為 資 ． 盡 包 而 畜 之 ． 無 能 去 取 焉 ．是 故 不 設 一 方 以 求 於 人 ． 故 所 求 者 無 不 足 也 ． 大 君 不 擇其 下 ． 故 足 ． 不 擇 其 下 ． 則 易 為 下 矣 ． 易 為 下 則 莫 不 容． 莫 不 容 故 多 下 ． 多 下 之 謂 太 上 ． 君 臣 之 道 ． 臣 事 事 而君 無 事 ． 君 逸 樂 而 臣 任 勞 ． 臣 盡 智 力 以 善 其 事 ． 而 君 無與 焉 ． 仰 成 而 巳 ． 故 事 無 不 治 ． 治 之 正 道 然 也 ． 人 君 自任 ． 而 務 為 善 以 先 下 ． 則 是 代 下 負 任 蒙 勞 也 ． 臣 反 逸 矣． 故 曰 ． 君 人 者 ． 好 為 善 以 先 下 ． 則 下 不 敢 與 君 爭 為 善以 先 君 矣 ． 皆 私 其 所 知 以 自 覆 掩 ． 有 過 ． 則 臣 反 責 君 ．逆 亂 之 道 也 ． 君 之 智 ． 未 必 最 賢 於 眾 也 ． 以 未 最 賢 而 欲以 善 盡 被 下 ． 則 不 贍 矣 ． 若 使 君 之 智 最 賢 ． 以 一 君 而 盡贍 下 則 勞 ． 勞 則 有 倦 ． 倦 則 衰 ． 衰 則 復 反 於 不 贍 之 道 也． 是 以 人 君 自 任 而 躬 事 ． 則 臣 不 事 事 ． 是 君 臣 易 位 也 ．謂 之 倒 逆 ． 倒 逆 則 亂 矣 ． 人 君 苟 任 臣 而 勿 自 躬 ． 則 臣 皆事 事 矣 ． 是 君 臣 之 順 ． 治 亂 之 分 ． 不 可 不 察 也 ．
Fragments:
故治國無其法則亂．守法而不變則衰．有法而行私．謂之不法．以力役法者百姓也．以死守法者有司也．以道變法者君長也．
君明臣直．國之福也．父慈子孝．夫信妻貞．家之福也．故比干忠而不能存殷．申生孝而不能安晉．是皆有忠臣孝子而國家滅亂者．何也．無明君賢父以聽之．故孝子不生慈父之家．忠臣不生聖君之國．
An enlightened ruler and upright ministers are the good fortune of a state. A benevolent father and a filial son, a trustworthy husband and a honest wife are the good fortune of a family. In old times, Bi Gan, although being a loyal person, was not able to save the Shang Dynasty. And although Master Shen was filial, he could not bring peace to the state of Jin. Why were such loyal subjects and filial sons not able to save their country and family destruction? Because there was no enlightened ruler or wise father that respected their words. A son, how filious he could be, is not able to create a benevolent father, and a minister, how loyal he ever could be, will not be able to make his ruler a sage.
法者．所以齊天下之動．至公大定之制也．故智者不得越法而肆謀．辯者不得越法而肆議．士不得背法而有名．臣不得背法而有功．我喜可抑．我忿可窒．我法不可離也．骨肉可刑．親戚可滅．至法不可闕也．
The standards are a measurement to equalize all activities under Heaven, they are the rules that are made by the highest public institution by a great fixation order. Therefore, the wisest man can not overtake the official standards and make plans for himself, the most wickest man can not overtake the official standards and make decisions for himself; no noble man can make himself a name by offending the standards, and no subject can earn merits by offending the standards. Bones and flesh can be destroyed by punishment, parents and relatives can be killed by punishment, but the highest standards can not be missed.