陈牧：寡人读史，见商臣多奔于周，何也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，商王悖逆，沈于酒德，辟远箕子，爰近姑与息，妲己为政，赏罚无方，不用法式，杀三不辜，民大不服，守法之臣，是以出奔周国，愿大王鉴之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：When I read history，I found that the ministers of the Shang Dynasty all submitted to the Zhou Dynasty，Sir taught me why？xiao fan：I think，The Shang King was brutal and drunk，He alienated the gentleman，And he used to be close to villains，His harem interfered in politics，In terms of rewards and punishments， he does not follow the rules and regulations，but according to his own wishes，He killed the virtuous，So， people no longer support him，Because of this， the ministers all submitted to the Zhou Dynasty，I hope you learn from it。chen mu：Sir is right，I accept your teachings。陈牧：寡人读史，观苻坚，圣主也，何以亡也？先生教我。萧凡：臣以为，夫有功不赏，有罪不诛，虽尧、舜不能为治，况他人乎！秦王坚每得反者辄宥之，使其臣狃于为逆，行险徼幸，虽力屈被擒，犹不忧死，乱何自而息哉！《书》曰，威克厥爱，允济；爱克厥威，允罔功。《诗》云，毋纵诡随，以谨罔极；式遏寇虐，无俾作慝，今坚违之，能无亡乎？陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：When I read history，I found Fu Jian to be a good king，However， his country went to extinction，Sir taught me why？xiao fan：I think，If you do not reward those who have merit， you do not punish those who are guilty，Even if you are as wise as Yao Shun，The country will also not be able to be well governed，Fu Jian often forgave betrayers，That led the ministers to dare to betray him，Because even if they were captured，Fu Jian will also forgive them，Therefore， it is certain that the country is thrown into chaos，If you have clear rewards and punishments，Then the country will be stable，Otherwise， the country will be in turmoil，Fu Jian did the opposite，It is certain that his country perished。chen mu：Sir is right，I accept your teachings。陈牧：今契丹衰弱，寡人欲再伐西域，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，西域荒远，得其民不可使，得其地不可食，汉武征之，得不补失。今劳师万里之外，以踵汉氏之过举，臣窃惜之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：Today， the strength of the Khitan has weakened，I want to take the opportunity to attack the Western Regions，Sir， what do you think？xiao fan：I think，The Western Regions are far away and desolate，Even if you occupy the Western Regions，The local people will not support you，And their land yields are low，Previously， Emperor Wudi of Han had done the same thing，The results were not ideal，If you will make the same mistake as him，I would regret that。chen mu：Sir is right，I was wrong。陈牧：今四方略定，唯东南一隅，未沾王化，寡人欲自将讨之，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，昔纣为无道，三仁在朝，武王犹为之旋师。今楚虽微弱，未有大恶。周胤、沈阳皆江表明将，楚王贤能，君臣辑睦，内外同心。以臣观之，未可图也。愿大王且案兵积谷，以待其衅。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教矣。chen mu：Today， I have pacified most of the world，Only the southeast has not yet returned to me，I will direct the army to attack it，Sir， what do you think？xiao fan：I think，In the past， King Shang was very cruel，But there were still sages in the imperial court，Because of this， King Zhou gave up attacking the Shang Dynasty，Although the State of Chu is weak，There are no internal conflicts，Zhou Yin and Shenyang are famous contemporary generals，King Chu is wise and talented，They are united internally，In my opinion， the timing is not ideal，I want you to be able to train the army and prepare the logistics，Then， you wait for contradictions to arise within them。chen mu：Sir is right，I respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：今有人奏言，不当专任尚书，先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，大王以至公理天下，今任裴玄、卢坦，非为勋旧，以其有才行也。有人妄事毁谤，止欲离间大王君臣尔。昔蜀后主昏弱，齐文宣狂悖，然国称治者，以任诸葛亮、杨遵彦不猜之故也。大王今任裴玄等，亦复如法。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。chen mu：Nowadays， some people advise me not to rely too much on the prime minister，Sir， what do you think？xiao fan：I think，You insist on fairness and justice in governing the world，You appointed Pei Xuan and Lu Tan as prime ministers because of their talents， not connections，Nowadays， there are people who slander them，The aim is to divide your relationship with the ministers，Previously， the king of Shu was faint，But the country is well governed，Because he appointed Zhuge Liang and trusted him，You should emulate him。chen mu：Sir is right，I respectfully accept your teachings。陈牧：今天时已至，寡人欲伐楚，可乎？先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为不可，今伐楚有三难：天道不顺，一也；楚国无衅，二也；我数战兵疲，民有畏敌之心，三也。群臣言楚不可伐者，皆直臣也，愿大王听之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：Now， the time has come，I want to march south to the country of Chu，Sir，what do you think？xiao fan：I think，I do not approve of you doing this，Now there are three difficulties in attacking the State of Chu，first，The timing is not ideal，second，There are no contradictions within the State of Chu，third，We have been through a lot of wars，The soldiers were tired and people were afraid of war，Besides， the ministers do not approve of you starting this war，I hope you will take their advice。chen mu：Sir is right，I accept your teachings。陈牧：刘兰讨蝗，经秋冬不能灭，寡人欲罪之，先生以为如何？萧凡：臣以为，灾降自天，非人力所能除，此由大王之失政所致也，兰何罪乎？大王当修德改政，上慰天心，下顺民意，差可解过。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。chen mu：Liu Lan has been fighting locust plagues for two quarters，But no results have been achieved，I want to punish him，Sir， what do you think？xiao fan：I think，It is a natural disaster，Human power is limited，Because your national policy is unreasonable，Heaven warns you through the plague of locusts，I hope you correct your mistakes in terms of policy，And you have to be strict with yourself，You should obey the will of the people and God，Only then can you save your mistakes，Only in this way can you be forgiven by God and the people。chen mu：Sir is right，I was wrong。陈牧：寡人欲伐楚久矣，然大臣皆不欲也，先生何以教我？萧凡：臣以为，天地之生万物，圣王之治天下，皆因其自然而顺之，故功无不成。是以黄帝服牛乘马，因其性也；禹浚九川，障九泽，因其势也；后稷播殖百谷，因其时也；汤、武帅天下而攻桀、纣，因其心也。皆有因则成，无因则败。今朝野之人皆言楚不可伐，大王独决意行之，臣不知大王何所因也。《书》曰，天聪明自我民聪明。天犹因民，而况人乎！知足不辱，知止不殆。自古穷兵极武，未有不亡者也，愿大王鉴之。陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。chen mu：I have wanted to attack the State of Chu for a long time，But the ministers advised me not to do so，Sir， what do you think？xiao fan：I think，All things are born between heaven and earth，The Holy King rules the world，Their success is due to following natural trends，According to the characteristics of the animals， the Yellow Emperor chose oxen and horses as mounts，King Yu dredged rivers according to the terrain，Hou Ji choosed crops to cultivate according to the season，Tang Wu led the army to attack the Jie Zhou， obeying the wishes of the people，They all follow the natural trend，Today， the ministers are opposed to your attack on the State of Chu，Only you yourself insist on doing this，It is not clear to me what your basis is？Heaven will follow natural trends，Not to mention people，You should know how to be content， not greedy，In the past， most of the demise of nations was due to excessive waging of war，I hope you learn from it。chen mu：Sir is right，I accept your teachings。