第十六章

    陈牧：寡人闻，安者非一日而安也，危者非一日而危也，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，此皆以积渐然，不可不察也。人主之所积，在其取舍。以礼义治之者，积礼义；以刑罚治之者，积刑罚。刑罚积而民怨背，礼义积而民和亲。故世主欲民之善同，而所以使民善者或异。或导之以德教，或驱之以法令。导之以德教，德教洽而民气乐；驱之以法令者，法令极而民风哀。哀乐之感，祸福之应也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i heard，the stability of the world cannot be achieved in a day，the world crisis does not happen in a day，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，it is the result of things accumulating，you have to take this kind of thing seriously，the key to what kings have to do is choice，if you want to govern the country with etiquette，then you have to promote etiquette，if you want to govern the country with the law，then you have to advocate for the law，harsh laws can cause the people to betray you，etiquette governs the country and will get the people to support you，kings wanted the people to support him，however， the way they govern the country is different，some people govern the country with the morality，some people govern the country with the law，the former will bring harmony to society，the latter will make the people suffer，different ways lead to different results，it depends on how you choose。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：近来寡人为政如何？请先生直言。萧凡：臣以为，自顷年以来，朝列纷错，真伪相贸，忠良排坠，信臣被害，而庸臣苟媚，先意承指，各希时趣，遂使清流变浊，忠臣结舌，大王处九天之上，隐百里之室，言出风靡，令行景从。亲洽宠媚之臣，日闻顺意之辞，严刑法以禁直言，黜善士以逆谏口，杯酒造次，死生不保，仕者以退为幸，居者以出为福，诚非所以保光洪绪，熙隆道化也，望大王察之。陈牧：非先生之言，寡人几不悟也，当为卿改之。chen mu：recently， how is my level of governance，please tell me the truth， sir。xiao fan：i think，in recent years， the government has been in chaos，there are many true and false things，loyal and upright ministers were framed，sycophant traitors were appointed to important positions，as a result， the government atmosphere has deteriorated，loyal and upright ministers did not dare to express their opinions，you are in the most noble position，so， they all flatter you，you also gradually lose yourself，and， you begin to value them over loyalists，at the same time， you no longer like to listen to honest speech as much as you used to，ministers make small mistakes， and you punish them，many ministers are no longer willing to tell you the truth，if this continues， the country will be in danger，i hope you corrected it。chen mu：if there is no reminder from you，i will not know the truth，i will correct my mistake for you。陈牧：今北方一统，寡人欲南伐，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，昔有夏多罪而殷汤用师，纣作淫nue而周武授钺。苟无其时，虽复大圣，亦宜养威自保，不可轻动也。今北方初定，不务力农富国，审官任能，明黜陟，慎刑赏，训诸司以德，抚百姓以仁，而听诸将徇名，穷兵黩武，动费万计，士卒调瘁，寇不为衰而我已大病矣，愿大王三思。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：today， the north has been pacified，i want to start a war against the south，sir， what do you think？xiao fan：i think，previously， the xia kingdom was guilty，yin shang launched a war against it，the tyranny of king zhou led to a crusade by king wu，if the time does not e，even the holy king must remain calm，decisions cannot be made rashly，today， the north has just been pacified，you should develop production，you have to pick talented people，you need to improve the national legal system，you have to appease the people and let officials govern the country with morality，if you listened to the opinion of the military to start a war，then our national strength will suffer，and the number of soldiers in our army is not enough，if so， our country will be in danger，i hope you think about it carefully。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。陈牧：寡人甚慕贞观之治，故吾欲闻理国要道，先生何以教我？萧凡：臣以为，理国之要道，在于公平正直，故《尚书》云：无偏无党，王道荡荡。无党无偏，王道平平。又孔子称，举直错诸枉，则民服。今大王所尚，诚足以极政教之源，尽至公之要，囊括区宇，化成天下，愿大王力而行之，则天下幸甚。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：i envy the era of zhenguan，i want to hear the principles of governing the country，sir taught me how to do it？xiao fan：i think，the essence of governance is fairness and justice，the holy king governs the country insisting on fairness and justice，select talented people and remove treacherous people，then the people will follow you，what you promote is the essence of governance，as long as you insist on fairness and justice， then you can govern the world well，i hope you will work hard to practice it，then the whole world will be lucky because of you。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：今万年公主出嫁，寡人欲敕所司资送，倍于先王长公主，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，昔汉明帝欲封其子，帝曰：朕子岂得同于先帝子乎？可半楚、淮阳王，前史以为美谈，天子姊妹为长公主，天子之女为公主，既加长字，良以尊于公主也，情虽有殊，义无等别，若令公主之礼有过长公主，理恐不可，且大王以礼治天下，如此非礼也，实愿大王三思而行。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：now, the princess of wannian will be married，i want to give her a rich dowry，and the specifications are twice as many as the previous eldest princess，sir, what do you think？xiao fan：i think，previously, when emperor hanming canonized his son，he said that the specifications could not exceed those of the previous prince，therefore, it is praised by people，the status of the eldest princess is higher than that of the wannian princess，although you pamper princess wan nian，if the specifications of princess wan nian exceed that of the eldest princess，it will not conform to the norms of etiquette，i hope you think carefully。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。陈牧：寡人有珊瑚树七株，不愧于石崇也，先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，先王之治天下，食肉衣帛，皆有其制。窃谓奢侈之费，甚于天灾。古者人稠地狭，而有储蓄，由于节也。今者土旷人稀，而患不足，由于奢也。欲时人崇俭，当诘其奢。奢不见诘，转相高尚，无有穷极矣！陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：i have seven coral trees，therefore， it is no worse than shi chong"s things，sir， what do you think？xiao fan：i think，the holy king rules the world，their daily necessities are subject to regulations，luxury and waste are worse than natural disasters，previously， there was little land and a large population，but they still have savings，because they insist on frugality，today， there is more land and less population，but we have very little savings，because we are extravagant and wasteful，if you want people to be frugal，then extravagant behavior should be punished，if not， then society will not be better。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。