第七章

    陈牧：寡人闻，王者以天为贵，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，所谓天者，非苍苍莽莽之天也，君人者以百姓为天。百姓与之则安，辅之则强，非之则危，背之则亡。《诗》云：‘人而无良，相怨一方。’民yuan其上，不遂亡者，未之有也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i heard，kings treated the heavens as a noble thing，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，it is not the sky in the ordinary sense，rather， the king treated the people as heaven，the people follow him， then the country will be stable，people assist him， the country will be strong，people do not support him， and the country is in danger，people betray him， and the country will go to ruin，if people resent each other，and the king did not handle it well，the country is doomed to decline。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人欲知，何为君子？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，所谓君子者，言必忠信，而心不怨，仁义在身，而色不伐，思虑通明，而辞不专，笃行信道，自强不息，油然若将可越，而终不可及者，此君子也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，what kind of person is a gentleman？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，there are some criteria as a gentleman，they have made loyalty and faith creed，they do not plain about difficulties，they practice benevolence and righteousness，and they will not be placent about it，they understand the truth，but their rhetoric is not tough，they hold on to their beliefs，and the effort will not stop，as if people can surpass them，but in the end it could not be pared with them，such a person is a gentleman。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：今南羌降而复叛，寡人当如何处之？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，南羌恃其险远，不服久矣。虽今日破之，明日复反耳。今大王倾国东征以事强齐，彼知官势内虚，其叛亦速。若殄尽遗类以除后患，既非仁者之情，且又不可仓卒也。夫用兵之道，攻心为上，攻城为下，心战为上，兵战为下，愿大王法诸葛擒孟获，服其心而已。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：today， the qiang in the south have betrayed again，how do i handle this？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，the qiang in the south has always been unconvinced by us，because they have a rugged geographical location，even if we beat them，they will also betray again，now， you are leading most of the army in the battle against the qi kingdom，they know that our rear is weak，so， they will soon start a rebellion，if we slaughter them to end it，that is contrary to humanity，and in a hurry，war is an art，psychological offensive is the preferred method of warfare，direct conflict is a strategy of last resort，i hope you get their hearts，just like zhu ge liang subdued meng huo。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人欲大修宴台于孟津，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，昔大禹欲拯天下之大患，故先卑其宫室，俭其衣食；勾践欲广其御儿之疆，亦约其身以及家，俭其家以施国；汉之文、景欲恢弘祖业，故割意于百金之台，昭俭于弋绨之服；霍去病中才之将，犹以匈奴未灭，不治第宅。明恤远者略近，事外者简内也。今建始之前，足用列朝会；崇华之后，足用序内官；北邙、颖川，足用展游宴。若且先成象魏，修城池，其馀一切须丰年，专以勤耕农为务，习戎备为事，则民充兵强而寇戎宾服矣。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人当为卿罢之。chen mu：i wanted to build a palace in mengjin to host a banquet，sir， what do you think？xiao fan：i think，previously， king yu wanted to save the world，so he lived in a humble house，and he eats and dresses very simply，gou jian wanted to expand his territory，so he is also very frugal，in order to supplement the national use，the emperors of the han dynasty did the same in order to make the country strong，huo qu bing once said，the huns have not yet been destroyed，so he was reluctant to start a family，if you want to build merit， then you have to stick to frugality，besides， the old building was big enough for you to hold meetings and banquets，if you want to build a palace， you have to wait until the country is rich，therefore， you have to be diligent in handling government affairs，you need to pay attention to agricultural production，you should keep developing military power，only in this way will the country bee rich and strong，and foreign countries will follow you。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人愿闻，刑罚之道，先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，圣人因天讨而作五刑。大刑用甲兵，次用斧钺；中刑用刀锯，次用钻凿；薄刑用鞭扑。大者陈诸原野，小者致之市朝。鞭扑无弛于家，刑罚无废于国，征伐无偃于天下；但用之有本末，行之有次第尔。历观前史，善用则治，不善用则乱。在乎无私绝滥，不在乎宽之与峻。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，what is the true meaning of criminal law？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，the holy king formulated the criminal law according to the way of heaven，the end of criminal law is a military strike，the serious penalty is execution，the ordinary criminal law is flogging，the ultimate punishment is imposed on the outskirts，severe punishment is imposed in public，ordinary punishments are imposed at home，criminal law is the foundation of the rule of law，it is prudent for you to use it，and you have to follow the procedure，according to the lessons of the past，if you use it well，the country will be well governed，if you use it badly，then the country will fall into chaos，the true meaning of criminal law is fairness and justice，and not whether it itself is harsh or not。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人欲知，君子之所守，先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，君子慎独，不欺暗室，卑以自牧，含章可贞，大丈夫立于天地之间，当养天地浩然正气，行光明磊落之事，克己，慎独，守心，明性。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，what a gentleman insists on all his life？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，the gentleman is cautious and independent，they do not cheat on their wives，they are very humble and self-disciplined，they are low-key and have good moral character，as a gentleman， we live between heaven and earth，we should cultivate our own good character，and do things in an upright manner，only by doing this will you bee a gentleman。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人欲知，何为顺政？何为逆政？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，上之所为，人之所瞻也，夫释己教人，是谓逆政，正己教人，是谓顺政，故人君先正其身，然后乃行其教令，身不正则令不从，令不从则生变乱。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，what is a good policy and what is a bad policy？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，what the king did， people watched，it is bad policy to demand only others and not oneself，it is good policy that can lead by example，therefore， the king must lead by example if he wants to pursue his policies，if not， then people will not follow him，it can even lead to chaos in the country。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：今许昌宫年久失修，寡人欲营之，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，大王奉太祖武皇帝开拓之大业，守惠文皇帝克终之元绪，诚宜思齐往古圣贤之善治，总观季世放荡之恶政。曩使唐懿、僖二宗，不废高祖之法度，太宗之恭俭，太祖虽有神武之才，于何所施，而大王何由处斯尊哉！今楚、蜀未定，军旅在外，诸所缮治，愿大王务从约节。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：in xuchang， the palace has been damaged，i want to fix it，sir，what do you think？xiao fan：i think，you inherited the legacy of your father and your brother，you should learn from the ancient holy kings，at the same time， you should learn from the lessons of recent times，the emperors at the end of the tang dynasty were mediocre，if they are diligent in handling government affairs，and insist on frugality，like their ancestors，then， your father cannot succeed，and you will not have the status you are now，moreover， the state of chu and the state of shu have not yet been pacified，military and government expenditures are significant，i hope you stick to frugality。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。