Chapter 7 Monarchs and ministers learn from the sixth

In the third year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers: "The emperor and his ministers share the same safety and security. If the master accepts loyalty and advice, and the ministers speak out, then the emperor and his ministers agree with each other, which is the most important thing in ancient times. If the emperor is virtuous, the ministers will not rectify it, and the desire will not be perilous." , can not be obtained. The king lost his country, and the ministers could not keep their family alone. As Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was tyrannical, the ministers were under the jaws, and the order was not heard of, and then they perished. Yu Shiji and others searched and killed. Far away, I and Qing may be careless, and nothing will be scoffed at by future generations!"

In the fourth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong discussed the Sui Dynasty.Wei Zheng said to him: "I was in the Sui Dynasty. I heard that there were hair thefts. Emperor Yang ordered Yu Shicheng to arrest them. However, there were suspicions. They tortured and looted more than 2,000 people who took the thieves in vain, and ordered them to be executed on the same day. Zhang Yuanji, the chancellor of Dali, was surprised and tried to find out what happened. There were six or seven people who, on the day of the theft, were banned from other places first, and then released only after they were released. Looking for, out of 2,000 people, only nine of them are not clear. If the officials are knowledgeable, four out of the nine are not thieves. There is a minister, Emperor Yang, who has ordered execution, so he does not perform the performance, and kills them." Taizong said. "It's not that Yangdi has no way, and his ministers are not dedicated. They have to remonstrate with each other, and they don't avoid being slaughtered. How can they only flatter and flatter and seek praise? How can they be undefeated? I rely on the public and others to assist each other, so Make the prison empty. May the public and others be good at the beginning and end, and be as it is today!"

In the sixth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers: "I heard that Zhou and Qin Chu won the world, and their affairs were the same. However, Zhou only did good deeds and accumulated merits, so he was able to protect the foundation of the eight hundred. Qin is full of extravagance and lust. It is good to punish, but it will be destroyed in two generations. Is it not that the blessings of the good will be extended, and the evil will not last forever? I also heard that Jie and Emperor Zhou also regarded it as humiliating to compare them with each other; It is proud to compare it with the emperor. This is also a deep shame for the emperor.

Every time I take this matter as a warning, I am often afraid that I will not be caught, and I will be laughed at by others. " Wei Zheng said to him: "I heard that Duke Ai of Lu said to Confucius: "If someone is forgetful, he will forget his wife when he moves his house." 'Confucius said: ’ There are also those who are more forgetful than this. Qiu saw that the kings of Jie and Zhou forgot their own bodies. May your Majesty take this into consideration, so that future generations will not laugh. " In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong summoned his courtiers to give a banquet in Liangyi Hall with Gao Changping. Arrogance is for self-defense, and loyalty is for self-righteousness. Reject evil and sycophants, use virtuousness, and do not judge a gentleman with the words of a villain, and guard it carefully, and the common people are almost at peace." Wei Zhengjin said:

"The minister observed that in ancient times, the emperors set aside chaos and started a business. They must be cautious, adopt humble opinions, and follow the words of loyalty. When the world is safe, porcelain will be full of desires, happy to flatter, and evil to be heard. Zhang Zifang, the plan of the King of Han The ministers, and Gao Zu as the son of heaven, will abolish the son-in-law and establish the concubine. Zifang said: "Today's affairs cannot be disputed by words." In the end, I dare not speak again. Moreover, the prosperity of your majesty's merits and virtues is based on the ancestors of the Han Dynasty. He is not accurate. He has been on the throne for ten or five years, and Shengde has been honored, and now Gaochang has been flattened. He has repeatedly cared about safety and danger, and Fang wants to accept Zhongliang and open the way of speaking out. The world is very fortunate.

In the past, Duke Huan of Qi had a drink with Guan Zhong, Bao Shuya, and Ning Qi. Duke Huan called Shuya and said, "Has Qi Qi lived for a widow?" ’ Shu Ya got up with the cup and said: ‘May Gong Wuwang go out when he is in Ju, when Guan Zhongwuwang is bound to Lu, and when Ning Qi Wuwang gets off the ox cart. Duke Huan avoided the table and thanked him, saying: "If the widow and the two senior officers can never forget the words of the master, then the country will not be in danger!" '" Taizong called Zheng and said: "When I dare not forget the commoner clothes, I must not forget my uncle Ya as a human being. "

In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, he specially entered Wei Zheng and said: The minister heard that the emperor is the head of state, and the minister is the thigh and arm. They are in harmony with each other and form a whole body. Whether the body is unprepared, there is no adult.However, although the head is high, he must have enough resources to form a body; although the king is wise, he must use his thighs to govern. "Rituals" says: "The people regard the ruler as their heart, and the ruler regards the people as their body. If the heart is strong, the body will be comfortable, and the heart will be respectful." Yun: "The head of state is bright! The thighs are good!

The concubine is healthy! ""The head of state is so conglomerate!The thighs are lazy!Everything is down! "However, it is unheard of to abandon the thighs and shoulders and let the mind alone, which is concrete and reasonable. When a husband, a monarch, and his ministers meet, it has been a dilemma since ancient times.Throwing stones into water is a combination of thousands of years, and throwing stones into water happens all the time.Those who are able to open the way of the most public, apply for the use of the world, devote themselves to their hearts and minds, and exhaust their thighs and arms outside, are as harmonious as salted plums, and as solid as gold and stone.

In the past, when King Wen of the Zhou Dynasty traveled in the ruins of Fenghuang, he untied his socks and looked at the left and right envoys, so he tied them himself. Is it true that Zhou Wen's dynasty was all handsome, and there were no gentlemen in the era of sages?But knowing and not knowing, being polite and not being polite!It is Yi Yin, the concubine of Xin; Han Xin, the death of Xiang's family.Yin Tang paid tribute, established the king's business in Nanchao, the Han ancestor ascended the altar, and became emperor in Gaixia.If Xia Jie did not abandon Yi Yin, Xiang Yu would show favor to Han Xin, would he rather lose a country that has already been established, and be a perishing captive?Youweizi, flesh and blood, received Mao soil in Song Dynasty; Jizi, a good minister, Chen "Hong Fan" in Zhou Dynasty, Zhongni called him benevolent, there is no one who is wrong. "Book of Rites" stated: "Lu Mu Gong asked Yu Zisi, saying: 'Because of the old king's rebellion, the ancients?" The ceremony of obedience. Today's gentleman, if you enter, you will be on your knees, and if you retreat, you will be in the abyss. It is not good to be the leader of the army, so why is there such a ceremony of anti-obedience?" Qi Jinggong asked Yanzi Said: "How do loyal ministers behave like a king?" Yanzi said to him: "If you are in trouble, you will not die, and if you die, you will not be sent away." Why?" Yanzi said: "Speaking is useful, and life is free from difficulties. Why should I die? Admonish and accept, and I will never die. How can I send you off? If words are not useful, and you die when you are in trouble, it is a false death. It is a deceitful loyalty to remonstrate without accepting it, and to send it away after death." "Chunqiu Zuo Shi Zhuan" said: "Cui Zhu killed Qi Zhuanggong, Yan Zi stood outside Cui's gate, and the man said: 'Is he dead?' Said: "Is it true that I am alone! I am dead?" Said:

'All right? ’ Said: ‘My crime is too great!I die?Therefore, if the king dies for the country, he will die; if he dies for the country, he will die.If one dies for one's own sake, one dies for one's own sake, who would dare to let it go without intimacy? The door opened and entered, pillowed on the corpse's buttocks and cried, cheered, and jumped out three times. " Mencius said: "The emperor regards his ministers as brothers and feet, and the ministers regard him as his heart; the emperor regards his ministers as dogs and horses, and the ministers regard him as a countryman; the emperor regards his ministers as dung, and the ministers regard him as an enemy." The festival is due to the thickness of the favor, but whoever is the master of others, can he be rude?

Taking a peek at the officials in the court, those who are the chief cardinal's sender, whether they are adjacent to the Qin and Jin Dynasties, or their careers and economics, and they make meritorious deeds are all chosen at the moment.Although the appointment is heavy, if the trust is not firm, people may doubt themselves.If a person is self-doubting, he will be stubborn.If the heart is stubborn, the righteousness will not be established.If integrity is not established, fame and teaching will not flourish.Famous religion is not prosperous, but it can be used to consolidate the foundation of peace and protect the seven hundred jobs, which is not yet possible.It is also heard that the country cherishes the meritorious officials, and does not remember the old evils. Fang Qianqian has nothing to do with it.However, if you are more lenient than major matters, anxious about small crimes, and temporarily blamed, you will have a heart of love and hatred, and you cannot be in politics.The monarch strictly prohibits it, and the ministers may violate it. What's more, if the source is opened up, there will be a lot of damage below. If the river is blocked and collapsed, there will be many injuries.This is where you open up one source, and there will be a hundred changes in the next generation, and there will be no chaos. "Book of Rites" says: "Love and know its evil, hate and know its good." If you hate but don't know its good, then the good will be afraid; "Poetry" says: "A gentleman is like anger, and the chaos is frustrating." However, the anger of the ancients will be used to punish evil, and today's power and punishment, so adultery.This is not the heart of Tang and Yu, nor is it the matter of Yu and Tang. Said: "If you caress me, you will be queen, if you abuse me, you will have revenge." Xunqingzi said: "The king is the boat, and the people are the water. Water is the reason why the boat is carried, and it is also why the boat is overturned." Therefore Confucius said: "When a fish loses water, it will If you die, the water will lose the fish, and the fish will still be water." Therefore, Tang and Yu trembled and were careful every day.Why doesn't Anke think deeply?Encore didn't think about it? Husband appoints ministers to the general, and responsible ministers to small things. This is the routine of the country and the way of governance.Now entrusted with duties, the important ministers will be ignored and the junior ministers will be ignored; as for things, the junior ministers will be trusted and the ministers will be suspicious.Believe in what is light, doubt what is important, and seek the ultimate cure, how can you get it?And the government is expensive and persistent, not seeking repeated changes.Today, small ministers are blamed for the general, or the ministers are blamed for small things.The job is not the position, the punishment is not the innocent, if you want him to be selfless, ask him to do his best, isn't it difficult?Small ministers should not entrust major affairs, and ministers should not accuse petty crimes.Appoint a high-ranking official, ask him to be careful, and the official with a knife and a pen, follow the order and follow the wind, dance with words and play tricks, and the crime will be done.If you tell yourself, you think that your heart is innocent; if you don't speak, you think that all the crimes are true.Advancing and retreating is the only way to go, if you can't understand yourself, you can only seek to avoid disaster.If the minister refuses to avoid it, treachery will arise.When treachery arises, falsehood becomes vulgar.If it is corrected into vulgarity, it cannot be cured. He also appoints ministers and wants them to do their best. If each official has something to avoid and say nothing, it will be endless. If you can lift the person, why bother with the old.If it's not his job, what's more important than alienation.If you don't treat them with integrity, why should you be responsible for their loyalty and forgiveness!Although the minister may lose something, the king will not gain it.If the superior does not trust the subordinate, he must think that the subordinate cannot be trusted.If there must be no credibility at the bottom, then there is also suspicion at the top. "Rituals" said: "If the superiors are suspicious, the people will be confused. If the subordinates are difficult to know, the emperor will be tired." If the superiors and the superiors doubt each other, it is impossible to say that it will be governed.Today's ministers are far away in one side, and those who gossip three times and do not vote, the ministers are thinking about it, but they have not seen him.Husband, with the vastness of the world, among the scholars and common people, how can there be no one or two trustworthy people?If you believe in it, there is nothing wrong with it, but if you doubt it, there is no one who can be trusted. Is it too much for a single minister?Husband made friends with a mediocre man, promised each other with his body, and would never change after death.If the ruler is Yao and Shun, and the subjects are Ji and Qi, how can they change their minds when they encounter small things, and change their minds when they see small benefits!Although this is not clear about the establishment of loyalty, it is also caused by the unbelief of the upper hand and the treatment of it too lightly.Is it true that the king envoys the ministers with courtesy, and the ministers serve the king with loyalty!With your majesty's sageness and today's achievements, if you can sincerely seek the talents of the time, and if the upper and lower are united, then the three emperors can be chased and the fourth can be chased, and the five emperors can be bowed to the sixth.Xia, Yin, Zhou, Han, how many husbands are there! " Emperor Taizong deeply appreciated it. In the sixteenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong asked Tejin Wei Zheng and said: "I restrain myself in politics and look up to the pioneers. As for accumulating virtue, accumulating benevolence, making great achievements, and making great profits, the four are often regarded as the first, and I encourage myself a little bit. Seeing myself, I don’t know what I’m doing, how good or bad it is?” Zheng said to him: "Virtue, benevolence, meritorious service, and benefit, Your Majesty should do both. However, it is Your Majesty's merit to bring peace to the interior and eliminate the Rong and Di. Most of them are utilitarian, but only virtue and benevolence, may your Majesty continue to strive for self-improvement, and it will surely be achieved.” In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers: "Since ancient times, the master who created the first, as for the descendants, why are there so many chaos?" Sikong Fang Xuanling said: "This is the young master who grew up in a deep palace. Safety and danger, so there is a lot of chaos in politics." Taizong said: "Public will is pushed beyond the master, and I blame the ministers. Many of the sons and daughters of husbands and ministers have no talent, so they take advantage of their grandfather's shadow to serve as high-ranking officials. It is better not to cultivate morality and righteousness, but to be extravagant. The master is young and weak, and the ministers are not talented. How can there be no chaos if it is upside down but not supported? Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty recorded Yu Wenshu's achievements in the feudal domain, promoted him to a high position, and did not think of repaying him, but turned his back on the rebellion. Is this not the fault of my ministers? Waiting to abstain from Xu's children, so that there will be no mistakes, that is, the celebration of the family and the country." Taizong said: "Huaji and Xuangan, that is, the descendants of Sui ministers who have been deeply favored, all rebelled. Why?" Cen Wenwen said to him. : "A gentleman is able to cherish De Heen, a person who is mysterious, transforming, and a villain. The ancients valued the gentleman and despised the villain." Taizong said: "Of course."