Never forget the past and be the teacher of the future.

Eat a meal and gain wisdom.

When you see a virtuous person, you should reflect on your thoughts, and when you see an unworthy person, you should reflect on yourself.

Choose the good ones and follow them, and change the bad ones.

Change it if it exists, and encourage it if it doesn’t.

Take the essence and the dross.

Using copper as a mirror, you can straighten your clothes, using ancient times as a mirror, you can see the ups and downs, using people as a mirror, you can know the gains and losses.

The people of Qin have no time to mourn for themselves, and later generations will mourn. It means that future generations will mourn and not take note of it, which will also make future generations mourn for future generations.

A few short stories about Wei Zheng

Wei Zheng, whose courtesy name is Xuancheng. Politician in the early Tang Dynasty. A native of Julu (now part of Hebei Province). When he was young, he was lonely and poor. He once became a Taoist monk. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, he joined the Wagang Army. Li Mi was defeated and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. After returning to Tang Dynasty, he followed Li Jiancheng and washed horses for the prince. After Taizong ascended the throne, he was appointed as an admonishment official. Later he served as secretary and supervisor, participated in government affairs, and was granted the title of Duke Zheng. Wei Zheng and Li Shimin were a rare pair of monarchs and ministers in feudal society: Wei Zheng dared to give direct advice and repeatedly contradicted Taizong, but Taizong actually tolerated Wei Zheng's "offenses" and most of his words were adopted. Therefore, they are called ideal kings and ministers.

(1)

After the Xuanwumen Incident, someone reported to Qin King Li Shimin that there was an official in the East Palace named Wei Zheng who had participated in the uprising army of Li Mi and Dou Jiande. After Dou Jiande failed, Wei Zheng went to Chang'an and worked under Prince Jiancheng, and even persuaded Prince Jiancheng to kill the King of Qin.

After hearing this, King Qin immediately sent someone to find Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng met the King of Qin, and the King of Qin asked him with a straight face: "Why are you sowing discord among our brothers?"

When the ministers on the left and right heard the King of Qin's question, they thought it was a plot. Wei Zheng's old accounts made everyone sweat for Wei Zheng. But Wei Zheng looked calm and replied calmly: "It's a pity that the prince didn't listen to me at that time. Otherwise, this kind of thing would not have happened."

After hearing this, King Qin felt that Wei Zheng He spoke straightforwardly and was very courageous. Instead of blaming Wei Zheng, he said kindly: "This is already in the past, so there is no need to mention it again."

(2)

Yes Once, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty asked Wei Zheng: "Why are some wise and some foolish in history?"

Wei Zheng said: "Listen more to opinions from all sides, and you will be wise. If you listen to one side, you will be foolish (the classical saying is 'Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; if you listen to one side, you will be dark')." He also cited the examples of Yao, Shun, Emperor Qin II, Emperor Wu of Liang, and Emperor Yang of Sui in history, and said: "Those who govern the world. If the ruler can adopt the following advice, then his subordinates will be able to reach his goal, and his cronies will not be able to deceive him even if they want to."

Tang Taizong nodded and said, "How good you are!"

Another day, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty finished reading the collected works of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty and said to his left and right ministers: "I think Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty is a man of profound knowledge and understands that Yao and Shun are good and Jie and Zhou are bad. , why is it so ridiculous?"

Wei Zheng said: "An emperor can't just rely on intelligence and knowledge, he should also listen to the opinions of his ministers with an open mind. Emperor Sui Yang thought he was talented and arrogant. In the words of Yao and Shun, what he did was the deeds of Jie and Zhou, and in the end he was confused and brought about his own destruction."

(3)

One day, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty got a majestic and handsome bird. He let the kite jump on his arm, and when he was enjoying himself, Wei Zheng came in. Taizong was afraid of Wei Zheng's comments and couldn't avoid it, so he hurriedly hid the kite in his arms. All this had been seen by Wei Zheng long ago. When he reported official business, he deliberately chattered endlessly to delay time. Taizong did not dare to take out the kite, but the kite was suffocated to death in his arms.

(4)

Once, when Wei Zheng was in court, he had a heated argument with Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty really couldn't bear to listen and wanted to have a fit, but he was afraid of losing his good reputation for accepting opinions in front of the ministers, so he had to hold it back.

After retiring from the court, he returned to the inner palace with a lot of anger, met his wife, Empress Changsun, and said angrily: "One day, I will kill this country bumpkin!"

Empress Changsun It was rare to see Taizong get so angry and asked him: "I wonder which one your Majesty wants to kill?"

Tang Taizong said: "It's not that Wei Zheng! He always insults him in front of everyone. I, I really can't bear it!"

After hearing this, Empress Changsun returned to her inner room without saying a word, changed into a court dress, and bowed to Taizong.

Tang Taizong asked in surprise: "What are you doing?"

Queen Changsun said: "I heard that only a wise emperor has upright ministers. Now Wei Zheng is so upright. It just shows your Majesty's wisdom, how can I not congratulate your Majesty!"

These words were like a basin of cool water, extinguishing Taizong's anger.

In 643 AD, Wei Zheng, who was outspoken and dared to remonstrate, died of illness. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was very sad. He said with tears: "If a person uses copper as a mirror, he can see whether his clothes and hats are well-dressed; if he uses history as a mirror, he can see the reasons for the rise and fall of a country; if he uses people as a mirror, he can see whether he is well-dressed. Did you do it right? Once Wei Zheng died, I lost a good mirror."

"If you use copper as a mirror, you can straighten your clothes;

If you use ancient times as a mirror, you can know. Ups and downs;

You can know gains and losses by using people as a mirror.

If Wei Zheng dies, I will die as a mirror!”

This can be said to be a mirror of Wei Zheng’s life. Best comment on value.