Chapter 8 Choose an official seventh

In the first year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong said to Fang Xuanling and others: "The root of governance lies in trial. Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are appointed according to their talents.Therefore, it is said: "Officials are only for talents." 'It goes on again: 'Officials are not necessary, but their people. 'If you get the good ones, even if they are few, it is enough; if you get the bad ones, even if there are many, you will be ridiculed?The ancients also regarded officials as inferior to their talents, compared to making cakes on the painted ground, which cannot be eaten. "Poetry" said: "Kondo, who seeks a husband, is not enough." ’ And Confucius said: ‘How can you be frugal if you don’t take care of official affairs? 'And' the skin of a thousand sheep is not as good as the armpit of a fox. 'This is all contained in the classics and cannot be specified.When it is necessary to merge the provincial officials so that each of them is in charge, it will be governed by doing nothing.

You should think about this reason in detail and determine the position of common officials. "Xuanling and others are the six hundred and forty members of the civil and military general. Taizong followed him, because he said Xuanling said: "From then on, if there are any other types of musicians, if they are better than their peers, they can only be given money and silk. Rewarding one's ability must not exceed the award of official rank, standing shoulder to shoulder with the virtuous gentleman of the husband, sitting and eating together, and sending all the clothes and hats as a shame. "

In the second year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong called Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui and said: "The public is a servant, and you should help me to worry about labor, open your eyes and ears, and seek sages. Compared with Wen Gong and others, there are hundreds of cases every day. This is too busy to read the talisman, how can An Neng help me seek the virtuous? "Because of the edict of Shangshu Province, all the small and minor affairs are paid to the left and right ministers, but those who hear about the injustice and major events are about the servants. In the second year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers: "I keep thinking about the affairs of the people every night, or I can't sleep until midnight. I am afraid that the governor and the governor will be able to support the people. Therefore, I record his name on the screen, sit and lie down and watch it constantly. If there are good deeds, they will also be listed under the name. I live in the deep palace, and I cannot see and hear far away, and the only people I appoint are the governor and the governor. This generation really needs people to rule chaos."

In the second year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong said that the right servant shot Feng Deyi and said: "The foundation of peace is to win people. Recently, I have ordered you to promote talents, and I have recommended them. The world is serious, and you should share my worries and labors. You neither Say, I will send you peace?" Confrontation: "How dare a foolish minister not let himself go, but I have not seen any strange talents and supernatural powers." Taizong said: "The former Ming kings made people like tools, and they all took scholars at that time, and did not borrow talents from them. Different generations. How can we wait for Meng Fu to say, meet Lu Shang, and then become a government? And what generation has no sages, but they don’t know what they have left behind!" De Yi retreated in embarrassment.

In the third year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong called Du Ruhui, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and said: "Compared to the selection of people by the Ministry of Officials, they only choose their words and pens, but they don't know their deeds. After a few years, the evil deeds began to show. Although the punishment was increased, the people have been tortured. The disadvantages. How can we get good people?" Ru Hui said to each other: "The two Hans took people, and they all went to the villages, states and counties to pay them, and then used them, so they were called Toshi at that time. Today, anthologies are collected every year to thousands of people. It’s hard to know the thick words, and the selection of the secretary is only to match his rank. The principle of Quanjian is not perfect, so you can’t get talent.” Taizong will follow the laws of the Han Dynasty, call the state, and meet the heroes. The world seals things, so stop.

In the sixth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong called Wei Zheng and said: "The ancients said that the king must choose someone for his official position, and he can't just make mistakes. If I do something today, it will be seen by the world; if I say a word, it will be listened to by the world. Use a gentleman. If you misuse evil people, those who are not good will compete. Rewards should be rewarded for their labor, and those who have no merit will retreat; punishment should be their crime, and those who do evil should be refrained from fear. Therefore, we know that rewards and punishments should not be taken lightly, and you must choose carefully when you employ people." Zheng Dui said: "Knowing people's affairs has been difficult since ancient times. Therefore, it is difficult to judge people's merits and judge their good and evil. Today, if you want to ask people, you must examine their behavior. If you know their goodness, then use it. If you make this person unable to help, it is just Talent is not enough, it will not cause great harm. Misuse of wicked people, false order to do strong, will do a lot of harm. But in troubled times, people only seek their talents, regardless of their deeds.

In times of peace, it is necessary to have both talents and abilities before they can be appointed. " In the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Ma Zhou, the imperial censor, said: "Those who govern the world are people-oriented. If you want to make the people happy, you can only rely on governors and county magistrates. Since there are many county magistrates, they cannot all be virtuous. If every state gets a good governor, they will be together. Rest in the realm. The world's governors have known the holy will, so your majesty can arch on the rock corridor, and the people will not worry about uneasiness. Since ancient times, the county guards and county magistrates have carefully selected virtuous people. If they want to be promoted to generals, they must first try to Linren, or enter from two thousand stones to become the prime minister, Situ, and Taiwei. The imperial court must not only pay attention to the internal ministers, but the external assassins and county magistrates, so they should be light on their selection. Therefore, the people are not safe, and it is probably because of this.” Taizong said that the courtiers Said: "Assassin, I should choose by myself; the county magistrate ordered the Beijing officials to have five ranks, and each will give one."

In the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Liu Ji, the imperial censor who governed the book, thought that the left and right ministers should be more concise, and said: "I heard that the ministers have many opportunities, and they are actually the foundation of politics. It is difficult to find this choice. It is difficult to grant appointments. Therefore, eight Compared with Wenchang, the second prime minister was under the jurisdiction. When he arrived at Cao Lang, he should be listed as a guest. Gou was not incompetent, and he was ridiculed by stealing. Describe its origin. At the beginning of Zhenguan, there were no orders and servants, and the provincial affairs were complicated at that time, which was twice as many as today. However, Zuocheng Daizhou, Youcheng Weizheng and Xiaoda officials were straightforward in nature, and everything should be elucidated. There is nothing to evade, and His Majesty pretends to be merciful, and naturally abstains from things. Hundreds of bandits are slack, and this is the reason. And Du Zhenglun continued to serve as Youcheng, and he is quite strict. Compared with Gangwei, he did not lift up, and he was in the position of Xunqin. In the office, the merits and strengths are the same. Anyone who is in the official office does not follow justice. Although he wants to be self-improving, he is afraid of slander. Therefore, if the doctor wants to seize it, he can only consult the matter; the minister can not make a decision. Ji Yan, although the case is poor, it is still under the table. There is no limit to the future, and there is no delay in coming. Once the action is taken, it will be involved in the year. Either the purpose is lost, or the reason is avoided. The case has become a matter. Investigate right and wrong; Shangshu uses convenience as a way of serving the public, so don’t say whether it is right or wrong. Tolerate each other, but things bridge the gap. And select the people to give them abilities, no talent can be used, and the heavenly workers can replace them. How can it be arbitrarily added? Ritual rank, or seniority and old age, or chronic illness and mental faintness, is not beneficial to the time, so it should be left for leisure. It is absolutely impossible to interfere with the virtuous way for a long time. To save the disadvantages, it is appropriate to simplify the Shangshu, the left and the right, and the left and right doctors. If you win people together, the natural principles and dimensions are prepared, and you should correct the competition, but stop the stagnation!" Shu Zou, looking for Ji to be the Minister Zuo Cheng.

In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers: "I heard that after peace, there will be great chaos, and after great chaos, there will be peace. After great chaos, it is the luck of peace. Those who can make the world peaceful can only use talents. I don't know the virtuous, and I can't know them all. Day after day, I can't understand the reason of others. Now, if you want to make people proud, what do you do?" Wei Zheng said to him: "He who knows others is wise, and he who knows himself is wise. Knowing others is difficult. , Self-knowledge of sincerity is not easy. And foolish people are all reserved for their ability to defeat good, and they are afraid of the wind of competition, so they should not be allowed to be self-proclaimed."

In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan, he specially entered Wei Zheng and said: The minister heard that the minister who knows him is better than the king, and the son who knows the son is better than the father.If a father cannot know his son, he cannot harmonize his family; if a king cannot know his ministers, he cannot unite all nations.In Xianning, all countries, if one person has celebrations, he must be loyal and good to be the prime minister.Therefore, Yao, Shun, Wen, and Wu are known as the previous records, and it is salty to know people to be wise, the Tuoshi Ying Dynasty, the great achievements of Yuan and Kaiyi, and the radiant beauty of Zhou and Zhao.However, the four mountains, the nine officials, the five ministers, and the ten chaos, are they born in the past, but not in the present?Care about seeking or not, good or bad ears!Why do you say that?The beautiful jade pearl of the husband, the rhinoceros elephant of Kong Cui, the horse of Dayuan, the mastiff of the west journey, or footless, or ruthless, born in the wilderness, thousands of miles away, retranslated and paid tribute, the road is endless, why?It is because of what China likes.What's more, those who serve as officials cherish the honor of the emperor, eat the salary of the emperor, and lead them with righteousness, how can they go and not come?I think that if you are filial to him, you can make him like Zeng Shen and Ziqian; if you are loyal to him, you can make him like Long Pang and Bi Gan; ; If it is honest with it, it can be compared with Boyi and Shuqi.

However, among today's officials, it is rare to be able to achieve outstanding chastity and whiteness.If Xu is loyal to the public, he expects to be far-sighted, each has his own duties, and he must follow his own way; if he is expensive, he will see what he does, if he is rich, he will see what he supports, if he lives, he will see what he likes, and if he is accustomed, he will see what he says. If you are poor, you will see what you don't accept, and if you are cheap, you will see what you don't do; because of their talents, judge what they can do, and use their strengths to cover up their weaknesses; Evil is not strict but self-encouraging, not persuading but self-encouraging.Therefore, "Shuo Yuan" said: "There are six righteousness and six evils in the behavior of people and ministers. If you practice the six righteousness, you will be honored, and if you commit the six evils, you will be humiliated. What are the six righteousness? One is that the bud has not moved, the shape has not been seen, and the opportunity to survive and die is clearly seen. The key to gains and losses is to forbid the Lord before it happens, so that the Lord stands aloof in a place of glory. If this is the case, he is also a holy minister. Its beauty is to save its evil. If this is the case, it is a good minister. The third is to sleep long and sleep at night, and to be unremitting in the talents. , Block it in the middle, cut off its source, turn misfortune into blessing, so that the king will have no worries in the end, such a person, a wise minister. The fifth is to abide by the text and abide by the law, hold official positions, not accept bequests, resign from salary and give gifts, and eat frugally. Those who are like this are also loyal ministers.The sixth is that the family and the country are confused, and what they do is not flattering, dare to offend the strict face of the master, and confront the master's faults, and those who are like this are direct ministers.It is called six positive.What are the six evils?One is to keep officials and be greedy for money, not to do business, to go up and down with the world, and to watch left and right. Those who are like this are also ministers. In other words, with the eyes and ears of the lord, sneaking in with the lord, enjoying the lord, regardless of the consequences, such a person is also a flatterer.The third is internal reality and dangerous deceit, external appearance is small and cautious, clever words and seduction, jealous of good and virtuous, if you want to advance, you will reveal its beauty and hide its evil, if you want to retreat, you will reveal its faults and hide its beauty, so that the Lord rewards and punishes improperly, and commands No, such a person is also a traitor.Fourth, wisdom is enough to cover up wrongdoing, debate is enough to speak out, to separate from flesh and blood relatives internally, and to create chaos in the court externally. Those who do this are also slanderous officials. The fifth is to monopolize power and take advantage of power, to prioritize lightness, to form a private party, to enrich one's family, to be good at correcting the master's order, to be self-esteemed and prominent, and those who are like this are also thieves.The sixth is to flatter the lord by sycophanting evil, trapping the lord in injustice, cliques against others, so as to confuse the lord, make black and white indistinguishable, right and wrong, make the lord's evil spread in the territory, and hear the neighbours, such as this, the minister of the subjugated country .It is called the six evils.A virtuous minister follows the path of the six righteous ones and does not practice the techniques of the six evil ones, so the upper level is safe and the lower level is governed.In life one sees joy, in death one sees thought, this is the art of ministers. ""Book of Rites" said: "The balance is honest, and you can't be deceived by the severity."Shengmo is sincere, and cannot be deceived by straightness.The rules are established sincerely, and Fangyuan cannot be deceived.When a gentleman judges rites, he must not be falsely accused of treachery. "However, it is not difficult to know the hypocrisy of the minister's feelings. We also set up rituals to treat them, enforce the law to guard against them, those who do good will be rewarded, and those who do evil will be punished. Do you dare not match it? Dare you not try your best? The country wants to be loyal and good, but it has been unworthy to retreat for more than ten years. I have only heard his words but not seen his people. Why?What is said is right, but what is done is wrong.What is said is right, it is out of justice, and what is wrong is involved in evil ways.Right and wrong are confused, likes and dislikes attack each other.Although the loved one is guilty, it is not as good as punishment; although the evil is innocent, it is not exempt from punishment.This is what is called love desires life, and evil desires death.Either abandon the great good with small evils, or forget the great merits with small mistakes.This so-called king's reward cannot be sought for nothing, and the king's punishment cannot be forgiven.Rewards are not used to encourage good, punishments are not used to punish evil, but to look at evil and righteousness without confusion, is it possible to get it?If rewards are not alienated, punishments are not relatives, if fairness is the rule, benevolence and righteousness are the yardstick, and things are judged to correct the name, and the name is followed to seek the truth, then there will be no concealment of evil and righteousness, and good and evil will be separated.Then take the truth, don't value its splendor, place it in its thickness, and don't place it in its thinness.If a person loves beauty and does not choose an official for the people, has fair words but no fair truth, loves but does not know its evil, hates and forgets its good, favors selfishness to get close to evil and sycophants, betrays justice and stays away from loyalty, Even if you don't slack off day and night, you will work hard to think hard, and you will seek the truth, but you can't get it. The book is played, and it is very good. In the 21st year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong granted Si Nongqing Li Wei the Minister of the Household Department in Cuiwei Palace. It was time for Fang Xuanling to stay in the capital.There will be people from the capital, Taizong asked: "Xuanling heard that Li Wei worshiped Shangshu, how?" .