as an end in itself, but deemed it to be second in importance to food.
A reading of Huan Kuan's abridgment of these debates reveals that neither side was sincerely concerned with the welfare of the common people, but with keeping them yoked to their bellies and to oppressive traditions. Both sides were arguing in their own way for the continued prosperity of the state and its elite elders, and for keeping the farming class in their place. If the monopolies continued, the LM feared, artisans who make tools, clothes and other necessities would continue to thrive, and the people in general would want to make money. If the monopolies ended, they hoped, more people would take up farming so that there would not be new generations of tradesmen and there would not be throngs of people wanting to become learned men. This is an absurd argument on the face of it, and presumes that if everyone was encouraged to farm, everyone would.
Yang, moreover, disingenuously contended that "The true king should monopolize natural resources, regulate custom barriers and
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