Zi Gong asked about politics. Confucius said, "Food and soldiers are sufficient, and the people believe in it." Zi Gong said, "I have to go, which comes first?" Said, "Go and be a soldier." Zi Gong said, "I'm leaving. What is the first? " Say, "Go and eat. There has been death since ancient times, and the people have no faith. "
Translation:
Zi Gong asked how to govern political affairs. Confucius said, "With sufficient food and armaments, ordinary people's families will trust the government." Zi Gong said, "If you have to remove one item, which of these three items should you remove?" Confucius said, "Apart from armaments." Zi Gong asked again, "If you had to remove one item, which of these two items would you remove?" Confucius said, "In addition to grain. Because since ancient times, no one can avoid death. No food, just hunger, but a country will collapse if it can't gain the trust of ordinary people. "
Honest story
The establishment of Yan Shu's reputation
Yan Shu, a poet in the Northern Song Dynasty, is famous for his honesty. At the age of fourteen, he was recommended to the emperor and became a child prodigy. The emperor summoned him and asked him to take the exam at the same time with more than 1000 Jinshi. As a result, Yan Shu found that she had just practiced the exam ten days ago, so she truthfully reported to Zhenzong and asked to change other topics. Song Zhenzong appreciated Yan Shu's honesty very much and named him "fellow scholar". When Yan Shu takes office, the world is at peace. Therefore, Beijing officials, large and small, often go to the suburbs or hold various banquets in restaurants and teahouses in the city. Yan Shu was poor and had no money to go out to eat, drink and have fun, so she had to read and write articles with her brothers at home. One day, Zhenzong promoted Yan Shu as the official of the East Palace who assisted the prince in his studies. Ministers were surprised and didn't understand why Zhenzong made such a decision. Zhenzong said, "Recently, the ministers often play and have banquets. Only Yan Shu studies behind closed doors, so she is cautious in self-esteem and is the best candidate for the East Palace official. " Yan Shu thanked him and said, "I am actually a person who likes to play and eat, but my family is poor." If I had money, I would have taken part in the banquet tour. " These two things made Yan Shu establish prestige in front of ministers, and Song Zhenzong trusted him more.