Translation

On the ninth day of autumn in the eighth month of the ninth year of Tang Gaozu's Wude reign (626), Taizong Li Shimin ascended the throne as emperor in the Xiande Hall of the East Palace. At the beginning, Emperor Gaozu wanted to strengthen the power of the royal family to shock the world, so Emperor Gaozu's uncles, brothers, distant uncles, and their children, even young children and children, were all named kings. There were dozens of such kings.

Taizong asked the ministers in a gentle tone: "Would it be beneficial to the country to make all the children of the royal family kings?" Feng Deyi replied: "In the past, only princes and their brothers could be made kings. Others In order to promote harmony among the nine clans, the royal family members were not granted the title of king. Since the Han Dynasty, there have not been as many royal titles as there are today.

I am afraid that they both respected the titles and gave them a large number of servants. "I can't show justice to the world." Taizong said, "It makes sense. As the emperor, I should provide for the people. How can I work hard for the people to support my own clan?" Only a few meritorious officials were demoted to county officials and their titles were not reduced.

On November Bingwu (21st), Taizong and his ministers discussed the issue of banning bandits. Some people asked for severe punishment to stop theft. Taizong laughed at him and said: "The reason why people become bandits is because there are many taxes and heavy labor, the officials are greedy and extort, and the people are hungry and cold, so they can't care about their integrity.

I want to give up luxury and save money, reduce corvee and reduce taxes, and choose upright officials so that the people will have enough food and clothing. Then the people will naturally stop stealing, so there is no need to impose severe punishments and laws! "After a few years, the world will be peaceful. The road is not picked up, the outer gate is not closed, and the traveling merchants dare to sleep in the wild.

Taizong once said to his ministers: "The monarch relies on the country, and the country relies on the people. Exploiting the people to serve the monarch is like cutting one's own flesh to fill one's stomach. When the stomach is full, oneself will die." , the monarch is rich, but the country is destroyed. Therefore, the monarch's worries do not come from the outside, but often come from himself.

If the desire is strong, the expenses will be high. If the expenses are high, the taxes on the people will be heavy. If the taxes are heavy, the people will be miserable. If the people are miserable, the country will be in danger, and if the country is in danger, the king will perish. I often think about this problem, so I dare not indulge my desires." When Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty heard about the name of Zhang Xuansu who had joined the army in Jingzhou, he summoned him and asked him. He asked about the ways of governing a country.

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Deciding the complex affairs of the country with one person's intelligence, even if the gains and losses are equal, there will be many mistakes and disadvantages. If the ministers are flattering and the emperor is deceived, what are you waiting for if the country is not destroyed? If your Majesty can really choose your ministers carefully! , appoint them to handle state affairs respectively, sit on the throne quietly and peacefully, examine the successes and failures of the ministers and deacons, and use them to punish and reward. Why worry that the country cannot be well governed?"

Taizong! He admired what he said very much and promoted him to the position of Shi Yushi. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was worried that many officials would accept bribes, so he secretly arranged for people around him to try to pay bribes. Taizong wanted to kill a Lingshi who was in charge of the guard after he accepted a piece of silk. Pei Ju, Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, advised him: "As an official, accepting bribes should be punished with death."

Your Majesty Sending someone to him and inducing him to accept a bribe is a frame-up and makes people break the law. I am afraid it is not in line with Confucius's ancient teaching of 'guide with morality and regulate with etiquette.'" Taizong was very happy after hearing this and summoned the five civil and military officials. The ministers above grade told them: "As an official, Pei Ju will argue hard according to reason and will not obey just because he is in front of me. If everything is like this, why worry about the country not being able to achieve great governance?"

Historian Sima Guang commented Said: There is an ancient saying: "If a monarch is discerning, his subordinates will be more outspoken." Pei Ju was a flattering minister in the Sui Dynasty, but he was very loyal in the Tang Dynasty. It was not that his nature had changed. The monarch did not want to hear his own faults. Then loyalty turns into flattery, and the monarch likes to listen to straightforward advice, then flattery turns into loyalty. It can be seen from this that the monarch is like a watch that measures shadows, and his ministers are like shadows. When the watch moves, the shadows also move.