Edit2 - Of the Laws

[dukealien]

edit2;

“Master,” asked his thoughtful student,
“why is Silver Ocean higher
at some places than at others?
Here it overtops a sea-wall,
but, a few li back, its churning
stopped six bu below.  Can it be
that sea-level is not truly
just the same at every place?

“Is our world askew, oh Master,
under Ninefold Heaven, tilting
west, or north, or to the South?”

“Fool!” his master said, but sagely,
“What makes you believe a wall men
built is level as an ocean?
Some who build, skimp, stopping lower
than they’re bidden, and yet others
build too high because they pocket
money for each stone they lay.

“If all men would do exactly
as the Son of Heaven orders
in his wisdom, Middle Kingdom
would not suffer flood or famine.”
But, so saying, Master winked.

I like the presumably Chinese distance measures in this one, instead of the fathoms and leagues
I don’t know if it was your intention, but there’s a Mexican wall echo because of the times!

Well, I guess that interpretation had to come.

@Knot - Thanks for directing attention to S2, which was indeed problematic.  Your other suggestions were interesting, but laziness prevented their being worked into the semi-Hiawatha meter.  I do see a problem with "pocket" which, while not so idiomatic as the wonderfully evocative Britishism "trouser" as a verb for taking ill-gotten money, may not work for traditional Chinese dress.  Where did they keep their strings of cash, anyway?

Thanks to all!