陈牧：何以知人之性，先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，人之性莫难察焉。美恶既殊，情貌不一，有温良而为诈者，有外恭而内欺者，有外勇而内怯者，有尽力而不忠者。然知人之道有七焉：一曰，间之以是非而观其志；二曰，穷之以辞辩而观其变；三曰，咨之以计谋而观其识；四曰，告之以祸难而观其勇；五曰，醉之以酒而观其性；六曰，临之以利而观其廉；七曰，期之以事而观其信。以此差可知之。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：howtounderstandhumannature？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，humannatureishardtoguess，everyoneisdifferent，somepeopleseemdocileandkind，buttheyaretreacherous，somepeoplelookbravebutareactuallyverycowardly，somepeopleareverycapableofworkingbutdisloyal，buttherearesevencriteriaforknowingaperson，first，lethimhandletheaffairstoobservehisambitions，second，arguewithhimtoobservehischanges，third，askhimforstrategiestotesthisabilities，fourth，tellhimaboutourdifficultiestoseeifheisbrave，fifth，gethimdrunktotoobservehisnature，sixth，givehimbenefitstoobservewhetherheisincorruptible，seventh，makeanappointmentwithhimtoobservehisintegrity，intheseways，humannaturecanbeunderstood。
chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：寡人愿闻，何以别将材？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为将材有九，道之以德，齐之以礼，而知其饥寒，察其劳苦，此之谓仁将。事无苟免，不为利挠，有死之荣，无生之辱，此之谓义将。贵而不骄，胜而不恃，贤而能下，刚而能忍，此之谓礼将。奇变莫测，动应多端，转祸为福，临危制胜，此之谓智将。进有厚赏，退有严刑，赏不逾时，刑不择贵，此之谓信将。足轻戎马，气盖千夫，善固疆埸，长於剑戟，此之谓步将。登高履险，驰射如飞，进则先行，退则後殿，此之谓骑将。气凌三军，志轻强虏，怯於小战，勇於大敌，此之谓猛将。见贤若不及，从谏如流，宽而能强，勇而多计，此之谓大将。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。
chenmu：iwanttoknowhowtounderstandtheabilitiesofageneral？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，thepersoncanbedividedintonineaccordingtotheirabilities，suchapersonwhogovernsthearmywithvirtueandetiquetteandcanunderstandthehungerandcoldandhardshipofthesoldiersisabenevolentgeneral，daretotakeresponsibility，donotcovetprofits，andregardhonoranddisgraceveryseriously，suchapersonisarighteousgeneral，honorablebutnotproud，victoriousbutnotlightenemies，capablebutabletolistentotheopinionsofothers，strongbuttolerant，suchapersonisageneralwithetiquette，therearemanystrategies，andtheyareveryaccurate，theycanturnstrangethingsintogoodthings，andtheycanwinincrises，andsuchpeoplearewisegenerals，therearerewardsforadvancing，punishmentsforretreating，anddealingwiththemaccordingtotherules，nothumanfeelings，andsuchapersonisafaithfulgeneral，thepersonwhoisverygoodatinfantrycombatisthegeneraloftheinfantry，thepersonwhoisverygoodatcavalrycombatisthegeneralofthecavalryarmy，thosewhohavegreatpersonalforceandcandeterthewholearmyarefiercegenerals，suchapersonwhocanaccepttheopinionsofothersandistolerantandstrategicisamarshal。
chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：寡人愿闻，何为将之器，先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为将之器，其用大小不同。若乃察其奸，伺其祸，为众所服，此十夫之将。夙兴夜寐，言词密察，此百夫之将。直而有虑，勇而能斗，此千夫之将。外貌桓桓，中情烈烈，知人勤劳，悉人饥寒，此万夫之将。进贤进能，日慎一日，诚信宽大，闲於理乱，此十万人之将。仁爱洽於下，信义服邻国，上知天文，中察人事，下识地理，四海之内，视如室家，此天下之将。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。
chenmu：iwouldliketoknowthedivisionofthegeneral‘scommandingability，sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithinkeverygeneral‘scommandingabilityisdifferent，suchapersonwhocanseethedetailsandsmallthingsandistrustedbythesoldiersisthesquadleader，suchapersonwhoworksveryhardandisverymeticulousisacompanycommander，suchpeoplewhoarehonestandstrategic，braveandeffectivearetheregimentalcommanders，lookingordinary，stronginheart，andknowingthehardshipsofothers，suchapersonisateacher，suchapersonwhoisverycautious，honestandtolerant，andgoodatcalmingchaosisacommander，treathissubordinateswithbenevolence，neighborsadmirehisfaithfulness，understandastronomicalgeographyandhumanities，suchapersonisamarshal。
chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。