陈牧:敢问先生,何为信之道?
萧凡:臣以为,信者,人君之大宝也。国保于民,民保于信。非信无以使民,非民无以守国。是故古之王者不欺四海,霸者不欺四邻,善为国者不欺其民,善为家者不欺其亲。不善者反之:欺上不信下,下不信上,上下离心,以至于败。所利不能药其所伤,所获不能补其所亡,岂不哀哉!
陈牧:先生之言是也,寡人谨受教。
chenmu:iwanttoknowthetruemeaningofintegrity,sirtaughtme。
xiaofan:ithink,integrityistheking‘streasure,thestabilityofthecountryliesinthewillofthepeople,thestabilityofthepeople‘sheartsandmindsliesintheintegrityofthecountry,ifthecountryisdishonest,itlosesthesupportofthepeople,withoutthesupportofthepeople,thecountrycannotbedefended,therefore,theancientkingsdidnotdeceivetheworld,theemperordoesnotdeceivethesmallcountriesaroundhim,thosewhoaregoodatgoverningthecountrydonotdeceivethepeople,peoplewhoaregoodatmanagingtheirfamiliesdonotdeceivetheirlovedones,onthecontrary,thecountryandthepeoplewillbeopposedandcentrifuged,whichwillfurtherleadtothedestructionofthecountryandthefamily,intheend,itwastoolatetomakeamends,it‘saverysadthingtogettothatpoint。
chenmu:sirisright,irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧:今内侍触法,寡人欲宥之,可乎?先生以为如何?
萧凡:臣以为,夫治无小,乱无大。法不立,诛不必,虽有十内侍,无益也。法立,诛必,失十内侍,无害也。
陈牧:先生之言是也,寡人知过矣。
chenmu:nowmyattendanthasbrokenthelaw,andiwanttokeephim,sirwhatdoyouthink?
xiaofan:ithink,therearenosmallthingsingoverningthecountry,everythingisimportant,thelawwasestablishedbutcouldnotbeenforced,evenifyouhavealotofsquires,it‘snotgoodforthecountry,ifthelawcanbeenforced,evenifyouloseafewsquires,thereisnothingtoloseforthecountry。
chenmu:sirisright,iwaswrong。
陈牧:国家养士,所谓何哉?先生教我。
萧凡:臣以为,君王之养士,以为民也。《易》曰:“圣人养士,以及万民。”夫士者,其德足以敦化正俗,其才足以顿纲振纪,其明足以烛微虑远,其强足以结仁固义。大则利天下,小则利一国。是以君王丰禄以富之,隆爵以尊之。养士以利天下,盖为万民耳。
陈牧:先生之言是也,寡人受教矣。
chenmu:whatisthepurposeofthestateincultivatingtalents,sirtaughtme。
xiaofan:ithink,kingsandsaintscultivatetalentsforthewell-beingofthepeopleoftheworld,theirvirtuescanimprovethesocialatmosphere,theirtalentscanimprovethelevelofnationalgovernance,theirwisdomcantakeintoaccountthefutureandthepresent,theycanspreadbenevolencetotheworld,someofthemcanbenefittheworld,otherscanbenefitacountry,thereforethekinggavethemhightreatmentandtitlesforthebenefitoftheworldandthepeople。
chenmu:sirisright,iacceptyourteachings。
陈牧:寡人未尝不纳谏也,然下臣内怀奸诈,为之奈何?先生教我。
萧凡:臣以为,昔战国孟尝君纳谏,苟其言之善也,虽怀诈谖之心,犹将用之,况尽忠无私以事其上者乎!《诗》云:“采葑采菲,无以下体。”愿大王舍其私而用其公,用其长而容其短。
陈牧:先生之言是也,寡人谨受教。
chenmu:iwasabletotaketheminister‘sadvice,butsomeofthemaretreacherous,sirtaughtmewhattodo?
xiaofan:ithink,mengchangjun‘sapproachisworthlearningfromyou,ifotherssayitright,evenifheisabadperson,hewilltaketheiradvice,moreover,mostpeopleareloyalanduprightpeople,eveniftheyhavesomeminorproblems,youhavetotaketheirrightadviceforthecountry,youhavetolearntousethestrengthsofothersandtoleratetheirweaknesses。
chenmu:sirisright,irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。