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一曰── |
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贤者之事也，虽贵不苟为，虽听不自阿，必中理然后动，必当义然后举，此忠臣之行也。贤主之所说，而不肖主虽不肖其说，非恶其声也。人主虽不肖，其说忠臣之声与贤主同，行其实则与贤主有异。异，故其功名祸福亦异。异，故子胥见说于阖闾而恶乎夫差，比干生而恶于商、死而见说乎周。 |
| | It is the conduct of a virtuous person: though honored, he does not act recklessly; though listened to, he does not flatter himself. He acts only when it accords with reason, and undertakes actions only when they are in accordance with righteousness. This is the behavior of a loyal minister. What virtuous rulers like to hear, unworthy rulers may also find pleasing, even though they are unworthy; it is not that they dislike the words themselves. Although a ruler may be unworthy, his appreciation of the words of loyal ministers is the same as that of a virtuous ruler; however, in acting upon them, he differs from a virtuous ruler. Because they differ, their achievements, fame, misfortunes, and blessings also differ. Because they differ, Wu Zixu was favored by Helü but disliked by Fuchai; Bi Gan was hated in life by the Shang dynasty and yet honored after his death by the Zhou dynasty.
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武王至殷郊，系堕。五人御于前，莫肯之为，曰：“吾所以事君者非系也。”武王左释白羽，右释黄钺，勉而自为系。孔子闻之曰：“此五人者之所以为王者佐也，不肖主之所弗安也。”故天子有不胜细民者，天下有不胜千乘者。 |
| | King Wu arrived at the outskirts of Yin, where he tethered his horse. Five attendants stood before him, but none was willing to do it, saying: "What we have done to serve our lord is not merely tethering a horse." King Wu released the white feather in his left hand and the yellow halberd in his right, and with encouragement he tethered the horse himself. Confucius heard of this and said: "These five men are thus assistants to a king, but unworthy rulers would not feel at ease with them." Therefore, there are emperors who cannot overcome commoners, and in the world there are those who cannot prevail over rulers of a thousand chariots.
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秦缪公见戎由余，说而欲留之，由余不肯。缪公以告蹇叔。蹇叔曰：“君以告内史廖。”内史廖对曰：“戎人不达于五音与五味，君不若遗之。”缪公以女乐二八人与良宰遗之。戎王喜，迷惑大乱，饮酒，昼夜不休。由余骤谏而不听，因怒而归缪公也。蹇叔非不能为内史廖之所为也，其义不行也。缪公能令人臣时立其正义，故雪淆之耻，而西至河雍也。 |
| | King Mu of Qin met Rong Youyu, was pleased with him and wished to keep him, but Youyu did not agree. King Mu informed Jian Shu about this. Jian Shu said: "The king should consult Neishi Liao." Neishi Liao replied: "The Rong people do not understand the five musical tones or the five flavors. The king might as well give them to them." King Mu gave him sixteen female musicians and a skilled butcher as gifts. The Rong king was pleased, became confused and greatly disordered, drinking day and night without rest. Youyu repeatedly advised him but was not heeded; thus, in anger, he returned to King Mu. Jian Shu was not incapable of doing what Neishi Liao did; it was simply that his principles could not be put into practice. King Mu was able to ensure that his ministers upheld righteousness at the right time, which is why he avenged the disgrace of Yao and extended his influence as far west as He Yong.
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秦缪公相百里奚，晋使叔虎、齐使东郭蹇如秦，公孙枝请见之。公曰：“请见客，子之事欤？”对曰：“非也。”“相国使子乎？”对曰：“不也。”公曰：“然则子事非子之事也。秦国僻陋戎夷，事服其任，人事其事，犹惧为诸侯笑。今子为非子之事，退，将论而罪。”公孙枝出，自敷于百里氏。百里奚请之。公曰：“此所闻于相国欤。枝无罪奚请？有罪奚请焉？”百里奚归，辞公孙枝。公孙枝徙，自敷于街。百里奚令吏行其罪。定分官，此古人之所以为法也。今缪公乡之矣，其霸西戎，岂不宜哉？ |
| | King Mu of Qin appointed Bai Li Xi as his prime minister. When the Jin state sent Shu Hu and the Qi state sent Dongguo Jian to Qin, Gongsun Zhi requested an audience with them. The king asked: "Requesting an audience with the guests—this is your duty?" He replied: "No, it is not." The king asked: "Then was the prime minister who sent you?" He replied: "No, it was not." The king said: "Then this matter is not something you should be involved in. Qin state, remote and uncultured like the Rong and Yi tribes, must fulfill its duties in governance and have each person attend to their own responsibilities; otherwise, it still fears being laughed at by the feudal lords. Now you are attending to matters that do not concern you. Step back—you will be punished for this." Gongsun Zhi left and personally reported the matter to Bai Li Xi. Bai Li Xi made a request on his behalf. The king said: "This is something I have heard from the prime minister." Why should Gongsun Zhi, who has committed no crime, require my request? If he has committed a crime, why would I need to make the request for him?" Bai Li Xi returned and apologized to Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi moved away and personally reported the matter in the marketplace. Bai Li Xi ordered the officials to carry out his punishment. Establishing defined responsibilities and offices—this is how ancient people established laws. Now King Mu has followed this principle; thus, his hegemony over the western Rong tribes was well deserved, was it not?
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晋文公将伐邺，赵衰言所以胜邺之术，文公用之，果胜。还，将行赏。衰曰：“君将赏其本乎？赏其末乎？赏其末则骑乘者存，赏其本则臣闻之郤子虎。”文公召郤子虎曰：“衰言所以胜邺，邺既胜，将赏之，曰：‘盖闻之于子虎，请赏子虎。’”子虎曰：“言之易，行之难。臣言之者也。”公曰：“子无辞。”郤子虎不敢固辞，乃受矣。凡行赏欲其博也，博则多助。今虎非亲言者也，而赏犹及之，此疏远者之所以尽能竭智者也。晋文公亡久矣，归而因大乱之馀，犹能以霸，其由此欤？ |
| | Duke Wen of Jin was about to attack Ye. Zhao Cui advised the strategy for defeating Ye, and Duke Wen followed it; as a result, he indeed achieved victory. He returned and was about to bestow rewards. Zhao Cui said: "Will the lord reward those who provided the original idea?" Or will he reward those who carried it out?" If the lord rewards those who carried it out, then the riders and attendants would be rewarded; if he rewards those who provided the original idea, then I have heard of the strategy from Xizi Hu. Duke Wen summoned Xizi Hu and said: "Zhao Cui explained the reason for our victory over Ye. Now that we have conquered Ye, I am about to reward him, but he said, 'I heard this strategy from you, Master Xizi. Please reward Master Xizi.'" Xizi Hu said: "It is easy to speak of a plan, but difficult to carry it out." "I was the one who merely spoke of it." The duke said: "You must not refuse." Xizi Hu did not dare to persist in his refusal and thus accepted the reward. In bestowing rewards, one should aim for breadth; the broader the distribution, the more assistance one will receive. Now Xizi Hu was not the one who personally proposed the strategy, yet he is still rewarded—this is why those who are distant or estranged will still strive to contribute their abilities and exhaust their wisdom. Duke Wen of Jin had been in exile for a long time, and upon his return he found the state still reeling from great disorder. And yet he was still able to achieve hegemony—was it not precisely because of this?
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