Jiezi Chapter

Zhuge Liang

The journey of a husband and gentleman is to cultivate one's morality through tranquility and to cultivate one's virtue through frugality. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching goal. .Study requires tranquility, and talent requires study. Without learning, one cannot expand one’s talents; without ambition, one cannot achieve learning; if one is lascivious, one cannot stimulate one’s energy; if one is impetuous, one cannot cure one’s nature. Years keep pace with the times, and thoughts fade with the day. Then it became withered, and many people did not take on the world. They stayed in the poor house with sorrow, how could they come back!

Previously set an example as a teacher

Zhuge Liang

The minister said brightly: The late emperor started a business Not even half a day later, the middle road collapsed; today it is three points lower, Yizhou is exhausted, and this is the autumn of sincerity's survival. However, the ministers of the bodyguard are tireless in their internal affairs, while those who are loyal and lofty ideals forget about themselves externally. This is because I want to repay the special treatment of the late Emperor to His Majesty. It is sincerely appropriate to open up the Holy Ting to honor the legacy of the late emperor and to magnify the spirit of lofty ideals; it is not appropriate to belittle oneself, to use metaphors that are unjust, and to block the road of loyalty and remonstrance. In the palace and in the mansion, they are all integrated; there should be no similarities or differences in terms of punishments and punishments: if there are those who commit crimes and are loyal and good, they should be handed over to an official to discuss their punishments and rewards, so as to show your Majesty's rule of peace; it is not suitable to be partial and make different laws inside and outside. also. The ministers, Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, etc. are all good and honest, with pure intentions and loyal intentions. Therefore, the late emperor simply removed them and left them to Your Majesty: I foolishly thought that the matters in the palace were not big or small, so I consulted them carefully and then implemented them. , it will surely make up for the shortcomings and bring about widespread benefits. The general Xiang Chong was of good character and well-versed in military affairs. He tried it out in the past and the late emperor called him "Neng". He recommended Chong as the superintendent by the consensus of the public. He thought that things in the camp were not big or small, so he took them into consideration. It will be able to make the formation harmonious, and the good and the bad will be found. Being close to virtuous ministers and staying away from villains is why the early Han Dynasty prospered; being close to villains and being distant from virtuous ministers is why the Han Dynasty has declined since then. When the late Emperor was here, every time he discussed this matter with his ministers, he would always sigh and hate Huan and Ling! Shizhong, Shangshu, Changshi, and the army are all ministers who have passed away on the occasion of Zhenliang’s death. I hope Your Majesty will love them and trust them, so that the Han Dynasty will be prosperous. You can count on it.

I am a commoner, working hard in Nanyang, trying to survive in troubled times, and not seeking to be heard by the princes. The late emperor did not think that his ministers were despicable, and he was in vain. He paid three visits to his ministers in the thatched cottage, and consulted them about the affairs of the world. He was so grateful that he allowed the late emperor to drive away. Later, when the army was overthrown, he was appointed to the position when the army was defeated, and he was ordered to be in danger: You have been here for twenty-one years. The late emperor was cautious in informing his ministers, so he sent his ministers important information when he was about to die. Since receiving the order, I have been worried day and night, fearing that the entrustment would not be effective and would damage the late emperor's wisdom. Therefore, I crossed Lu in the fifth month and reached a barren depth. Now that the south has been secured, and the armor and troops are sufficient, it is time to reward the three armies, and to the north to secure the central plains, to exhaust the common people and the dull, to eliminate the traitors, to revive the Han Dynasty, and to return to the old capital: This is why I repay the late emperor and serve your majesty loyally. As for considering profits and losses, and giving good advice, then you, yi, yun, etc. are all responsible. May your Majesty ask his ministers to bring the thief back to life, and if it fails, he will be punished, so as to report the spirit of the late emperor. If there is no word of revival, blame You, Yi, Yun, etc., to show his slowness. It is also advisable for Your Majesty to make your own plans, consult the good people, listen to the elegant words, and follow the late emperor's edict deeply. I am extremely grateful! Now I should stay away from you, crying in front of my face, not knowing what I mean.

Later came out as a teacher

Zhuge Liang

The first emperor was worried about the conflict between the Han Dynasty and the traitors, and the royal family was not in peace, so he asked his ministers to fight against the thieves. Based on the wisdom of the late emperor, the talents of ministers were measured. Therefore, knowing that ministers are capable of defeating thieves will only weaken the enemy's strength. However, if the thieves are not defeated, the royal industry will also perish. If he just sits there and waits for death, who can attack him? This is why I entrust my ministers with no doubts. On the day when I was ordered, I could not sleep well, and my food was not tasty. I thought about the northern expedition, so it was better to go south first. Therefore, I crossed Lu in the fifth month, went deep into the barren area, and ate by the sun. ——I am not without pity for myself: I don’t care about the king’s career and can’t be content with the capital of Shu, so I can’t fulfill the late emperor’s wishes at the risk of danger. But those who discussed it said it was not a plan. Nowadays, the thieves are tired from the west and are busy in the east. The art of war is to "take advantage of the labor": this is the time to advance. I would like to state the matter as follows:

The Emperor Gao Ming merged with the sun and the moon, and his advisers were deeply involved. , Sit down and control the world: This minister has not yet solved one thing. Liu Yao and Wang Lang, each based in the prefectures and counties, discussed the plan of peace and quiet, and attracted the saints. They were full of doubts and troubles. They did not fight this year and did not conquer next year, so that Sun Ce became powerful and merged with Jiangdong. What is the future of this minister? Solution two. Cao Cao's wisdom and plan were second to none. His use of troops was similar to that of Sun and Wu. However, he was trapped in Nanyang, in danger of Wuchao, in danger of Qilian, forced in Liyang, almost defeated Beishan, and almost died in Tongguan, and then pretended to be settled for a while. Er; the situation is that the minister is weak in talent, but he wants to make sure that he is not in danger: this minister has three unsolved problems. Cao Cao failed to attack Changba five times, and failed to cross Chaohu. He appointed Li Fu, but Li Fu tried his best, and appointed Xiahou, but Xiahou was defeated. Every time the late emperor said that Cao Cao was capable, he still failed like this. How can he win with a crossbow? This minister's question is not clear. Four.

When I arrived in Hanzhong, I lost Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong, etc., and drove more than 70 generals from Changtun. Cong Sou, Qing Qiang, and more than a thousand scattered cavalry and armed cavalry, all within a few decades, the elites from all four directions were gathered together, which is not owned by one state; if it takes several years, two-thirds will be lost. ——Why should we seek enemies? This minister has five unsolved problems. Nowadays, the people are exhausted and the army is exhausted, but things cannot stop; things cannot stop, so the labor and expenses of living and traveling are equal. It is not as good as the present picture. If you want to use the land of a state to fight against the thieves for a long time: this minister has six unsolved problems.

Those who find it difficult to calm down are things. In the past, the first emperor was defeated by Chu. At this time, Cao Cao raised his hand and said that the world was settled. ——Then the late emperor connected with Wu and Yue in the east, Ba and Shu in the west, raised his troops to march north, and the Marquis of Xia was appointed leader: This was a miscalculation, and the Han Dynasty was about to succeed. ——Then Wu Geng broke the alliance, Guan Yu was defeated, Zigui fell into disgrace, and Cao Pi became emperor: everything is like this and it is difficult to reverse it. The minister devoted himself to death and died; as for success or failure, it is not the minister's wisdom that can reverse it.