第三章
陈牧：今四镇兵少，恐不足御守，寡人欲募关中兵万余人诣安西，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，今西域服从，虽或时有小盗窃，旧镇兵足以制之。关中常宜充实，以杜安史之萌。自顷西北寇边，凡在丁壮，征行略尽，岂宜更募骁勇，远资荒服！且一万征人行六千馀里，咸给递驮熟食，道次州县，将何以供！秦、陇之西，户口渐少，凉州已往，沙碛悠然，遣彼居人，如何取济？纵令必克，其获几何？傥稽天诛，无乃甚损！请计所用、所得，校其多少，则知利害。昔唐宗之代，兼爱夷、夏，中外乿安；汉武穷兵远征，虽多克获，而中国疲耗。今论帝王之盛德者，皆归唐宗，不归汉武；况邀功不成者，复何足比议乎，愿大王以天宝为鉴。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：now，anzai has very few soldiers，i fear that they will not be able to withstand the enemy，so， i wanted to recruit soldiers to rescue anzai，sir，what do you think？xiao fan：i think，the western regions have surrendered to you，although there were some minor riots，our army is more than enough to handle things there，instead， guanzhong should maintain enough strength to avoid chaos like an shi，since the war broke out in the northwest， many soldiers have been recruited in guanzhong，it is not appropriate to do this repeatedly，besides， more than 10，000 soldiers went on an expedition to the western regions，we don"t have enough supplies and transportation is not safe，it is difficult to achieve，even if we win， we gain little，after calculations， it does not fit，during the reign of emperor taizong of tang， he treated the people and foreigners equally，as a result， there is peace both inside and outside the country，emperor wu of the han dynasty frequently launched expeditions，although he won the war， the country became poor and exhausted，therefore， people admired emperor taizong of tang more than emperor wudi of han，moreover， the generals just wanted to build merit，they did not take into account the situation in the country，i hope you learn the lessons of the tian bao period。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：山东吏民欲为卿立长生祠，寡人欲顺民意而成之，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣惶恐，臣在山东无它异迹，承蒙大王光宠，臣下位尊已极，是以辖吏欲献谄谀，此事不可长，欲革此风，正本溯源，望自臣始，请大王敕下禁止，以明臣志。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：the people in shandong want to build temples for you，i would like to approve their proposal，sir，what do you think？xiao fan：i am very worried about this，i don"t have a great merit in shandong，because of your appreciation， i have glory and power，they did this to flatter me，we should avoid such things，if you want to change that， you have to deal with it at the root，i should lead by example，i hope you will issue a decree to show my will。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人愿闻，人君为政，何以天降福佑？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，《诗》中有言，靖共尔位，好是正直，神之听之，介尔景福，恤民为德，正直为正，正曲为直，参和为仁，如是，则神听之，介福降之，愿大王鉴之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：i want to know，what i should do？god will bless me，sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，it was said in the books，do your job well，handle government affairs fairly and justly， cherish the people and insist on doing so，only then will god bless you，i hope you learn from this。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人欲知，何以使群臣和谐？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，夫君能尽礼，则臣得竭忠，必在于内外无私，上下相信，上不信，则无以使下，下不信，则无以事上，信之为道大矣，愿大王鉴之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，what should i do to make the courtiers live in harmony？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，if the king treats his ministers according to etiquette，then the ministers would be loyal to the king，therefore， king and ministers must trust each other and be selfless，if there is no trust between them，then government affairs will not be able to carry out normally，it is important to maintain trust，i hope you learn from this。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：皇甫谦好议寡人，寡人欲罪之，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，皇甫谦，勋臣也，其以安定归国，功不细于马隆，是非且当容之。今天下未定，奈何自折羽翼？左迁其为北地太守以警之，差可悔过矣。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：huangfu qian often talked about me，i want to punish him，sir， what do you think？xiao fan：i think，huangfu qian is a person with merit，he handed over anding town to the state，he has no less credit than mallon，you should try to be as tolerant of him as possible，today，the world has not calmed down，it is irrational to tear down your own wings，you can demote him to mayor of northland，through this， he may be able to correct his mistakes。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：诸葛亮何以使廖立垂泣、李严致死，寡人甚惑焉，先生何以教我？萧凡：臣以为，二人非无怨言也，乃孔明用法平故也，夫水至平而邪者取法，鉴至明而丑者忘怒，水鉴之所以能穷物而无怨者，以其无私也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：zhuge liang can make liao li and li yan cry and grieve for him，i am very confused about this，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，they are not without plaints，rather，zhuge liang handled government affairs fairly and justly，if you do things fairly and justly， then evil people will follow you，as long as fairness and justice are achieved， the villain will also forget anger，fairness and justice appease the people and free them from plaining，because it is selfless。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人闻，天生烝民，与之五常之性，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，此乃仁义礼智信是也，盖天降善于万民也，天既与善于民，君当顺之，故下传云，顺人有常之性，则是为君之道也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i heard，heaven and earth gave birth to human beings，and it gives them essential qualities，sir taught me what it is？xiao fan：i think，they are benevolence， justice， etiquette， wisdom and credit，it is a gift from god，god gave it to the people， so you have to go with the flow，the book said that the king is to follow the will of the people。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人愿闻，贤父何以教子？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，贤父之于子也，慈惠以生之，教诲以成之，养其谊，藏其伪，时其节，慎其施。子年七岁以上，父为之择明师，选良友，勿使见恶，少渐之以善，使之早化，愿大王鉴之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，how wise fathers educate their sons？sir taught me how to do it？xiao fan：i think，a wise father treats his son with kindness，and often educates his son，you need to deepen relationship with your son，and get along with him sincerely，depending on the period， you have to adopt different educational methods，when the child reaches the age of seven，you have to choose good teachers and friends for him，only then will the child be guided towards goodness and not evil，i hope you learn from this。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。