第二十章

    陈牧：寡人闻，秦穆公其国小处僻而霸，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，其国虽小，而其志大；处虽僻，而其政中。其举果，其谋和，其令不偷，亲举五羖大夫于系缧之中，与之语，三日而授之政。以此取之，虽王可也，何况霸哉。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i heard，previously， the territory of the qin kingdom was very small，but in the end， it began to dominate，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，its territory is small， but its ambitions are great，its location is not good，but its politics are clear，the state of qin was very decisive in implementing its policies，its strategy can be implemented，its officials did their best to carry out the decrees，after the king of qin selected talents， he would immediately appoint them，through this， king qin can conquer the world， let alone hegemony。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人闻，钟子期死，伯牙破琴绝弦，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，其终身不复鼓琴，以为世无足为鼓琴者，非独鼓琴若此也，贤者亦然。虽有贤者，而无以接之，贤者奚由尽忠哉！骥不自至千里者，待伯乐而后至也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i heard，when zhong died， boya destroyed his piano and decided not to play it again，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，he decided not to play the piano again for the rest of his life，because no one deserves him to play the piano，they are confidants，the same goes for talent，you get talent，if you treat them not according to etiquette，then you will not gain their loyalty，horses do not gallop，because they are waiting for the real owner。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人愿闻，圣王何以治天下？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，圣王之所以治天下者有五，贵德，贵贵，贵老，敬长，慈幼。此五者，圣王之所以定天下也，所谓贵德，为其近于圣也。所谓贵贵，为其近于君也。所谓贵老，为其近于亲也。所谓敬长，为其近于兄也。所谓慈幼，为其近于弟也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，how the holy king governs the country？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，the holy king rules the world，they followed five points，respect ethical people，respect for prestigious people，respect the elderly，respect elders，love and care for children，the holy king can stabilize the world，it depends on these points，why respect ethical people？because they are close to the saints，why respect prestigious people？because they are close to kings，why respect the elderly，because they are close to their loved ones，why respect elders，because they are close to their families，why love children，because they are close to brothers。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人闻，治国之本，在于务农，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，一日不再食则饥，岁终不制衣则寒，故以务农立国，以足食为政，古今之通理也，天生圣人为天下主，凡一毫便于农者，必极力行之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i heard，agriculture is the foundation of the country，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，if the person does not eat for a day，they will be hungry，if the person does not wear clothes， they get cold，therefore， agriculture is the foundation of the country，the first thing to govern is to get people to have enough food，this has been done since ancient times，the duty of the holy king is to nurture the people，as long as it is beneficial to the people， he will do his best to do it。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人闻，小大之狱，虽不能察，必以情，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，凡听讼理狱，必原父子之亲，立君臣之义，权轻重之序，测浅深之量。悉其聪明，致其忠爱，疑则与众共之。疑则从轻者，所以重之也，复加之以三讯，众所善，然后断之。是以为法，参之人情，故舜命咎繇曰，汝作士，惟刑之恤。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i heard，not every court case can be heard，however， you must insist on fairness and justice in the case for which you are responsible，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，when you review a case，you must consider the relationship between the characters， the importance level， the order in which they appear，you have to use your talents to handle this，you should be fair and just and humane，if you can not make a decision， then you discuss it with other people，if you have doubts， then you first set a light punishment，this is prudence in the law，then， you review the case a few more times，after everyone agrees， you make a decision，the true meaning of the law is fairness， justice and human。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人欲起两仪殿，为慰中宫，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，天生民而树之君，使司牧之，非以兆民之命，穷一人之欲也。唐氏失德，大晋受之，苍生引领，庶几息肩。是以太祖高皇帝身衣大布，居无重茵，后妃不衣锦绮，乘舆马不食粟，爱民故也。大王践阼以来，已作殿观十馀所，加之军旅数兴，馈运不息，饥馑、疾疫，死亡相继，而益思营缮，岂为民父母之意乎！今楚王雄霸于南方，蜀王倔强于巴蜀，石氏败类奄有辽东，大王释此不忧，乃更为中宫作殿，岂目前之所急乎！陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：i want to build a new palace for my mother，sir， what do you think？xiao fan：i think，the duty of a king is to nurture the people，instead of overusing labor to satisfy desires，the tang dynasty lost the world， and the jin dynasty inherited it，it guides and stabilizes the world，therefore， your father was thrifty and simple in life，because your father loved the people，since you became king， you have built many palaces，however， the war never ended，the people are still in cold and hunger，what you do cannot be explained to the world，besides， the king of chu dominates the south，and the king of shu did not submit to you，you did not express concern about this，you are busy building palaces，this is not your first priority。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。陈牧：范隆比寡人于桀纣，吾欲杀之，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，范隆为先帝所知，受命之初，即引置门下，尽忠竭虑，知无不言。臣等窃禄偷安，每见之未尝不发愧。今所言虽狂直，愿大王容之。因谏诤而斩列卿，其如后世何！臣窃以为不妥。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：van long regarded me as the king of the dead country，therefore，i wanted to kill him，sir， what do you think？xiao fan：i think，van long is someone your father values very much，your father appointed him as the first auxiliary minister，and he does his best to work for your family，as soon as he finds a problem， he will definitely raise it，we are lazy and timid pared to him，we are very ashamed of that，the questions he posed were pointed，but i hope you will tolerate him，because someone gives you an opinion， you will kill him，then you will not be able to set an example for future generations，i do not approve of you doing this。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。陈牧：寡人愿闻，孝子何以事亲？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，孝子之事亲，居则致其敬，养则致其乐，病则致其忧，丧则致其哀，祭则致其严，五者备矣，然后能事亲。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：i want to know，how a son is filial to his parents？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，he should do five things，first， respect parents，second， make parents happy，third， they have to express concern when parents are sick，fourth， they express their grief when parents die，fifth， when sacrificing parents， they must be solemn。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。