第二十一章

    陈牧：前，周宣位为征镇，握强兵，召之不入，何故反也？寡人甚惑焉，先生何以教我？萧凡：臣以为，周宣虽死，天下尚有直言之士。宣见寇贼滋蔓，欲移镇以纾国难，执政不悦，兴兵讨之，宣死未逾时，而石亭沦没。若谓之反，不亦诬乎！危而不持，当与天下共受其责，非但宣也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：previously， when zhou xuan was a local general，he manded a powerful army，the central government asked him to return to capital，but he refused and rebelled，i"m confused about that，sir taught me why？xiao fan：i think，although zhou xuan died，there are still honest and brave people in the world，zhou xuan saw that there were many thieves in the place，so， he wanted to cross the border to fight them，those in power are unhappy about this，therefore， the central government sent the army to fight zhou xuan，after zhou xuan was killed， shiting was occupied by enemy forces，you say he rebelled， which is ridiculous，if people are not as responsible，then the country will be in crisis，everyone in the world is guilty， not just zhou xuan。chen mu：sir is right，i accept your teachings。陈牧：今参佐多避事自逸，寡人甚忧之，先生何以教我？萧凡：臣以为，洛中承平之时，朝士以小心恭恪为凡俗，以偃蹇倨肆为优雅，流风相染，以至败国。今僚属皆承昔时余弊，养望自高，是前车已覆而后车又将寻之也。请自今临使称疾者，皆免官。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：now， officials are reluctant to take responsibility，i am very concerned about that，sir taught me what to do？xiao fan：i think，in the previous luoyang peace era， caution became their habit，they make arrogance a fashion，that led to people following suit，thus， the country began to decline，today， some officials retain that habit，they speak highly of themselves，and do not do things，this will repeat the previous error，if this happens again， you should remove them。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept you。陈牧：自问鼎中原始，制《丙寅格》以赏功，今甚为不便，寡人甚忧之，先生何以教我？萧凡：臣以为，昔梁王篡逆，惠皇失位，诸侯起兵讨之，故厚赏以怀向义之心。今功无大小，皆以格断，乃至金紫佩士卒之身，符策委仆隶之门，非所以重m器，正纪纲也，请大王诏一切停之！陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：since i dominated the central plains，i instituted the bingyin law to reward those who have meritorious service，however， it is no longer applicable today，i am very concerned about that，sir taught me what to do？xiao fan：i think，previously， king liang rebelled，because the emperor was deposed，the princes raised troops against the king of liang，we introduced that law to gain greater support，today， the standard of reward is the same， regardless of the merit，this led to a clutter of officials，the official also lost its true value，i hope you will be able to correct the situation in order to restore order。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept you。陈牧：寡人愿闻，安得贤士而与处焉？先生何以教我？萧凡：臣以为，夫珠玉无足，去此数千里，而所以能来者，人好之也；今士有足而不来者，此是吾王求之不切也，愿大王勉之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：i want to know，how do i get support from talent，sir taught me what to do？xiao fan：i think，jewelry has no legs，but it can go thousands of miles away，why？because people love it，today， virtuous people have legs， but they do not want to e，because your desire to find talent is not strong enough，i hope you keep up the good work。chen mu：sir is right，i respectfully accept you。陈牧：寡人有何所好？请先生直言。萧凡：臣以为，古者所好者四，而王所好者三，古者好马，王亦好马；古者好味，王亦好味；古者好色，王亦好色；古者好士，王独不好士，是以异也。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：what are my hobbies，please tell me the facts，sir。xiao fan：i think，the ancient kings had four hobbies，rather， you have three hobbies，the king loves horses，you also love horses，the king loves to eat，you love to eat too，the king loves women，you also love women，kings love talent，however，you are not，it is your difference。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。陈牧：彭城刘隗才思敏捷，寡人甚悦之，吾欲以之为军师祭酒，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，军兴以来，处事不用律令，竞作新意，临事立制，朝作夕改，至于主者不敢任法，每辄关谘，非为政之体也。愚谓凡为驳议者，皆当引律令、经传，不得直以情言，无所依准，以亏旧典。若开塞随宜，权道制物，此是人君之所得行，非臣子所宜专用也，臣窃以为不妥。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：liu kui is very talented，i admire him very much，i would like to appoint him as a military staff officer，sir， what do you think？xiao fan：i think，since the war， personnel appointments and dismissals have often not followed the rules and procedures，you often make ad hoc decisions based on your feelings，moreover， there are frequent changes，therefore， the petent authorities do not dare to act in accordance with the rules and regulations，this is not the right process to govern the country，as an advisory minister，his remendations should be based on rules and regulations and laws，instead of just thinking about personal feelings，this violates the fairness of the system，as a king， you may be able to do this，but it is not suitable for the relevant authorities to do so。chen mu：sir is right，i was wrong。陈牧：今北方大定，兵精粮足，寡人欲用兵于辽东，以绝后患，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为可矣，晋室之乱，非上无道而下怨叛也，由宗室争权，自相鱼肉，遂使诸侯乘隙，毒流天下。今辽东既遭石氏苛政，咸思晋德，人思自奋，大王诚能命将出师，统之以复辽东，郡国豪杰，必有望风响应者矣。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人意决矣。chen mu：today， the north has been pacified，our army is well trained，and we have plenty of supplies，therefore， i want to start a war against liaodong，in order to eliminate the threat from the rear，sir，what do you think？xiao fan：i think，i think so too，the chaos of the country is due to the struggle between brothers for power，it is not a failure of state policy，nor is it the betrayal of the generals，seeing this， the local princes took the opportunity to expand their sphere of influence，today， shi wang implements harsh policies in liaodong，therefore， people miss the jin kingdom and want to return to us，if you can send a general to launch an expedition to liaodong，as soon as our army advances there， then their nobles and heroes will submit to us。chen mu：sir is right，i have already made my decision。陈牧：今用事辽东，谋算庙攻，寡人胜算几何？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，辽东去岁大水，人不粒食，石俊积粟百万，不能赈赡，刑政苛酷，赋役殷烦，忠贤内离，夷狄外叛。人皆知其将亡，而俊意气自若，曾无惧心，方更置立台阁，布列百官，自谓汉高、魏武不足比也，大王勿忧也。陈牧：先生之言是也，石氏真可擒也，寡人无忧矣。chen mu：now， we are about to attack liaodong，strategically， what are our odds？sir taught me。xiao fan：i think，last year， there were floods in eastern liaoning，the people there are starving，shi jun has millions of grain，but he did not provide relief，and his punishment was harsh，his taxes are heavy，therefore， both loyalists and talents left him，the foreign races also betrayed him，it is known that he will soon lead to demise，however， shi jun is still as conceited as ever，he was unaware of the crisis，he overused labor，and a lot of officials were appointed，he thought he was more powerful than emperor wei and emperor han，so， you don"t have to worry about him。chen mu：sir is right，he really deserved to be captured，i"m not worried anymore。