[Tang] Wei Zhi

When I hear the elders who seek wood, I will strengthen their roots [1]; Those who want to flow far [2] will dig their springs [3]; He who thinks about the security of the country accumulates his virtue and righteousness. The source is not deep, but he sees far away. Roots are not solid, but seek the length of wood. Virtue is not thick, but for the sake of national security. Although I am stupid and I know it is impossible, what is the situation? People should be the most important artifact [4] and the largest territory [5]. Don't think about being prepared for danger in times of peace, and refrain from extravagance and frugality [6]. They also have to cut off their roots for growth, block their source, and want a long stream.

Hundreds of heads of state [7], bearing the destiny [8], those who are good at the beginning will recover, and those who will eventually succeed will be few [9]. Is it easy to take and difficult to stay? Cover Ewing [10], and you will wait wholeheartedly; If you succeed, you will be addicted to pride [1 1]. If you are dedicated, Wuyue [12] will be integrated. Pride, flesh and blood is the right way [13]. Although Dong Zhi used severe punishment [14] and shocked it with anger [15], he finally avoided his position and looked respectful but unconvinced. There is not much resentment, but he is awesome. He should be careful.

The sports car is dying. Can it suddenly shout? If you are a gentleman, if you can see what you want, you will quit willingly; There will be a work [16], and then I want to help people in Zhi Zhi; Humble and self-grazing at high risk [17]; If you are afraid of flooding, you will think of all the rivers under the river [18]; Music disc tour [19], and then think about the degree of three drives [20]; If you are worried about slacking off, start cautiously and end with respect [21]; If you care, you will think modestly and accept it; Fear of evil is thinking of evil [22]; If you add grace, you will think there is no reason to be happy; If you are punished, you will think that there is no excessive punishment because of anger. Generally speaking, these ten thoughts are macro thinking and nine virtues [23]. If you can [24], choose the good and follow it, the wise do their best, the brave do their best, the benevolent benefit widely, and the believers are loyal [25]. Use military and civilian skills to govern. Why bother to think hard and replace Baisi? 〔26〕

—— Selected from The Biography of Wei Zhi in Old Tang Dynasty, a punctuation book by Zhonghua Book Company.

To annotate ...

[1] Repair: making ... stable.

[2] Far: Make ... flow far.

(3) dredge: dredge and dig deep.

[4] Be the master of your own house.

(5) the largest territory: occupying a large area between heaven and earth. The first part of Laozi: "The Tao is big, the sky is big, the land is big, and the king is big. There are four major places in the territory, and Wang is one of them. " In the territory, between heaven and earth.

[6] take: use, ok.

[7] Bai Fan: All of them.

[8] Scene: Big.

[9] K: Yes. G: It means uncertain judgment.

[10] Cover: connecting the preceding with the following, indicating the reason for inference.

[1 1] Pride: look down on others. Things: here refers to people other than yourself.

Wuyue: wuyue.

Road: Passers-by.

[14] Dong: Supervision.

[15] Vibration: same as "earthquake", threat.

Work: construction. It means building a palace or something.

[17] Qian Chong: Modesty. Self-grazing: self-cultivation and self-cultivation.

Below: live below.

[19] Disk Tour: Hunting and Amusement.

[20] Three drives: Hunting three times a year. "The Book of Rites Kings": "If the emperor and minister have nothing to do, then the three fields will be old (hunting)."

[2 1] Respect: Caution.

[22] Hu: Exclusion.

[23] Macro: Make ... bright. Z: this. Nine virtues: loyalty, faithfulness, respect, rigidity, softness, harmony, truthfulness, chastity and obedience.

Jane: Choose.

Believer: An honest man.

[26] Beth: Guan Bai.

In the early days of Emperor Taizong's accession to the throne, because Sui bamboo slips were not far away, he was able to make great efforts to govern. With the development of his career, his life is becoming more and more luxurious, "I love what he says" and "I don't like what he says" This article is one of them. The full text revolves around the theme of "those who think about the security of the country must accumulate their morality and righteousness" and exhort Emperor Taizong to be a politician. When employing people, we should know that people are good at their duties, and Jane can choose good ones; Thrift should be advocated in life, and human resources cannot be easily used. Although these thoughts were based on the consolidation of the Li and Tang dynasties, they objectively enabled the people to recuperate and were conducive to the prosperity of the early Tang Dynasty. Taking "thinking" as a clue, this paper combines the issues to be discussed into a book, which is clear in arts and sciences, rigorous in structure, thorough in argument, forceful and magnificent by using rhetorical devices such as metaphor, parallelism and duality. This is a good argument.

I heard that if trees are required to grow, their roots must be strengthened; If you want the river to flow forever, you must dredge the source; If you want to make the country stable, you must accumulate your own moral righteousness. If the water source is not deep, you want the water to flow forever, but the roots are not firm, but you want the trees to grow. If you don't have deep morality, you want to make the country stable. I know that's impossible, let alone a wise man. The monarch holds the important power of the emperor and is in the supreme position between heaven and earth. He ignored danger in a comfortable environment, gave up luxury and practiced frugality. It's like breaking the roots and letting the trees flourish, blocking the spring and hoping for long running water!

In ancient times, many monarchs did well at first, but few of them persisted. Is it easy to keep the world? Probably when they are heartbroken, they will treat their subordinates sincerely. Once you succeed, you will indulge your lust and look down on others. If they show sincerity, even hostile countries like wuyue can become a whole. If you look down on others, your flesh and blood relatives will be as distant as passers-by Even if you reprimand the people with harsh laws and intimidate them with awe-inspiring anger, the result will only make them beg for survival from punishment, and they will not miss the kindness of the monarch. On the surface, they are respectful, but they are not convinced. Resentment is neither big nor small. It's just the people that are terrible. Man, like water, can carry a boat or overturn it. This should be particularly cautious.

Can you despise driving a galloping carriage with rotten ropes? As a monarch and minister, you can really do it: when you see what you want, you think of contentment to warn yourself; When the building is about to be completed, people think that enough is enough to make people peaceful; Considering the danger of being in a high position at any time, I thought of modesty and strengthening self-cultivation; Afraid of complacency, thinking that Jianghai lives in the lower reaches of all rivers; If you like hunting and entertainment, you will think of a limit of three times a year; Worried about slackness of will, always cautious when thinking of doing things; Worried that you will be deceived, you want to accept the opinions of subordinates with an open mind; Afraid of evil, I want to correct myself and repel evil villains; When Garn was in "People", because he was happy at the moment, he thought of not giving improper rewards; When executing the punishment, I didn't think of abusing the punishment because of anger. If I fully implement the above ten aspects and expand the cultivation of nine virtues, I will certainly get a lot of benefits. If I choose a talented person and appoint him, choose a good opinion and listen to it, then smart people will do their best, brave people will do their best, kind people will give them kindness extensively, and honest people will give them loyalty. All civil servants and military commanders will be appointed. (Gu Weilie)

Analysis:

Ten Thoughts on Emperor Taizong is a poem written by Wei Zhi, a famous prime minister in Tang Dynasty. In this article, Wei Zhi closely follows the principle of "thinking about the security of the country, accumulating its virtue and righteousness", which is an important thought of Anbang in governing the country under the historical conditions at that time. Its theme is to remind Emperor Taizong that if the country wants long-term stability, the king must strive to accumulate virtue and justice, and put forward ten suggestions in detail, such as preparing for danger in times of peace, abstaining from extravagance and saving money.

About the author:

Wei Zhi (580-643)

Wei Zhi (580-643) was born in Guantao (now Hebei). He lost his parents when he was a child, and his family was poor, but he loved reading and neglected his family business. At the end of Sui Dynasty, Wei Zhi was appointed Minister of Yuanbao in Wuyang County (now the northeast of Hebei Province). After Yuanbaosheng County surrendered to Smith, it was appointed by Smith as Marshal House Literature and joined the army.

In the first year of Tang Gaozu Wude (6 18), after Shi Mi failed, Wei Zhi went to the Tang Dynasty with him, but it was useless for a long time. In the second year, Wei Zhi asked him to appease Hebei. After issuing the imperial edict, he took a post station to Liyang (now Xunxian County, Henan Province) and persuaded Shi Biao's Liyang garrison commander Xu Shiqi to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. Soon, Dou Jiande occupied Liyang, and Wei Zhi was also captured. Dou Jiande failed.

After the change of Xuanwumen, Li Shimin didn't blame him for his courage, but also appointed him as an admonition officer, and often introduced him to the court to ask about political gains and losses. Kevin·Z likes to be the master of his bosom friend, and assists him wholeheartedly. He knows everything and never says anything. Coupled with his honest and frank personality, he often fights rationally and never compromises. Once, Emperor Taizong asked Wei Zhi, "What is it?" Wei Zhi replied, "You are smart because you listen to everything, and you are dark because you believe in it. In the past, Qin Ershi lived in the deep palace, but he didn't see the minister. He only trusted eunuch Zhao Gao. He was kept in the dark until the world was in chaos; Emperor Yang Di was partial to the strange, and many counties and counties in the world had fallen, and he didn't know it. " Taizong deeply agreed with this statement.

In the first year of Zhenguan (837), Wei Zhi was promoted to Zuo Cheng as prime minister. At this time, someone told him to promote his relatives to be officials in private, and Emperor Taizong immediately sent suggestion Wen Yanbo to investigate the matter. As a result, there was no evidence. It was a false accusation. However, Emperor Taizong sent someone to tell Wei Zhi: "We should avoid suspicion in the future and don't make such troubles again." Wei Zhi immediately said, "I heard that there is a mutual relationship between the monarch and the minister. The rise and fall of the country is unknown. " Moreover, he asked Emperor Taizong to make himself a good minister, not a loyal minister. Emperor Taizong asked what was the difference between a loyal minister and a good minister. Wei Zhi replied: "It is a good minister to be able to justify himself, to make the monarch a wise monarch, to have a full house of children and grandchildren, and to have no boundaries;" Kill yourself, make the monarch a tyrant, lose his home and country, and become a loyal minister in vain. In this respect, the two are far from each other. " Taizong nodded yes.

In the second year of Zhenguan (628), Wei Zhi was awarded the secretary supervisor, who was in charge of state affairs. Soon, the eldest grandson heard that an official surnamed Zheng had a daughter, only sixteen or seventeen years old, with outstanding talent and unique appearance. He told Emperor Taizong to take her to the palace as a concubine. Emperor Taizong appointed this woman as his concubine. Wei Zhi heard about it. Eating delicacies, we should think that the people are free from hunger and cold; The concubines are full of courtyards, so you should think that the people's families are happy. Now Zheng Min's daughter has been betrothed to Lujia, and your majesty took her into the palace without asking questions. If the rumor goes out, is it for the parents of the people? After hearing this, Emperor Taizong was shocked and immediately felt guilty and decided to take it back. However, Fang and others believe that the promise of the Zheng family is false and insist on the validity of the imperial edict. Lujia also sent people to hand over forms and seals, indicating that although there were wealth exchanges before, they were not engaged. At this time, emperor Taizong with a grain of salt, called Wei Zhi to ask. Wei Zhi said bluntly, "lujia denied this because.

Because Wei Zhi was able to protest face to face, even if Emperor Taizong was furious, he dared to argue face to face and never gave in. Therefore, Emperor Taizong sometimes felt awe of him. Once, Emperor Taizong wanted to go hunting in Qinling for fun, and his luggage was ready, but it was too late to do it. Later, when Kevin·Z asked about it, Emperor Taizong replied with a smile: "I did have this idea at the beginning, but I was afraid." So he quickly dismissed the idea. "On another occasion, Emperor Taizong got a good kite and carried it on his shoulder. He is very proud. But when he saw Wei Zhi coming towards him from a distance, he quickly hid the bird in his arms. Wei Zhi deliberately played for a long time, causing the kite to suffocate in his arms.

In the sixth year of Zhenguan, the ministers invited Taizong to worship Zen on Mount Tai to show merit and national prosperity. Only Wei Zhi objected. Emperor Taizong was surprised and asked Wei Zhi, "Do you think my contribution is not high, my virtue is disrespectful, China is uneasy, my four clothes are worn out to the end, my years are not rich, and my blessings are over?" Wei Zhi replied: "Although your Majesty has the above-mentioned Liu De, since the chaos in the world at the end of Sui Dynasty, the registered permanent residence has not been restored until now, and the warehouse is still empty, but it is too expensive for the people along the way to drive eastbound and ride thousands of miles. Besides, your majesty's meditation will inevitably lead to the gathering of all the people and the squire from afar. Nowadays, the Central Plains area is vast and sparsely populated, and there are many shrubs. The messengers of all peoples will be sprayed. " If the reward is not good, it will not satisfy the desires of these distant people; Exempting from taxes and tariffs is far from being able to repay people's expenses. Why does your majesty want to do such a thing that only seeks fame and does harm to people? Soon, when floods broke out in several States in the Central Plains, the matter of Guan Chan stopped.

In the seventh year of Zhenguan (633), Kevin·Z succeeded Wang Jue as a middle school teaching assistant. At the end of the same year, Huangfu Deshen of Zhongmu County wrote to Taizong: "Building Luoyang Palace will harm the people; Collecting land rent is too much; Women like to comb high, and the palace melts. " Emperor Taizong was furious after receiving the book. He said to the prime ministers: "Deccan wants the country not to serve one person, not to collect land rent, and the rich have no money, which is in line with his wish." He wants to punish Huang Decan for libel. Wei Zhi protested: "Since ancient times, writing books has not been extreme, and it has not touched people's hearts. As the saying goes, saints choose good and follow. Please think about it.

In the tenth year of Zhenguan (636), Wei Zhi was ordered to preside over the compilation of Sui Shu, Zhou Shu, Liang Shu, Shaanxi Shu and Shu Qi (known as the History of the Five Dynasties), which lasted seven years and the manuscripts were completed, including Sui Shu, Liang Shu, Chen Shu and Qi Shu Preface.

In the twelfth year of Zhenguan (638), Wei Zhi saw that Emperor Taizong was getting lazy, lazy in politics and pursuing extravagance, so he played the famous "Ten Gradually, I couldn't resist the last sparse" and listed ten changes in his political attitude from the time he ascended the throne to the present. He also gave Emperor Taizong "Ten Thoughts", that is, "See what he wants, think with satisfaction, think of Zhi Zhi when he is happy, and think modestly and contentedly when he is high."

In the sixteenth year of Zhenguan (642), Wei Zhi was ill in bed, and the messenger sent by Emperor Taizong looked across the road. Wei Zhi lives frugally, and there is no suitable bed at home. Emperor Taizong immediately ordered all the materials to build a small hall for himself and a big house for Zheng Weijian. Soon, Wei Zhi died at home. Emperor Taizong personally mourned and wept bitterly, saying, "My husband can dress himself up with bronze as a mirror; Taking history as a mirror, we can know the rise and fall; Look at a person as a mirror and you will know the gain and loss. I have kept these three mirrors in case I pass by. Now that Wei Zhi is dead, a mirror is dead. "