I want what I want.
Yueyang Tower
In the spring of Li Qing's fourth year, Teng was demoted as the prefect of Yuezhou. In the second year, the political affairs were smooth, the people were happy, and all kinds of things that should be done but not done were set up. So (Teng) rebuilt Yueyang Tower, expanded the scale of the original building, carved poems of celebrities and modern people in the Tang Dynasty on it, and (and) entrusted me to write an article to describe it. In my opinion, all the beautiful scenery of Yuezhou is on Dongting Lake. Dongting Lake connects the distant mountains and breathes the Yangtze River. The waves are mighty and boundless. In the morning and evening (within one day), the weather changes endlessly. This is the magnificent scene of Yueyang Tower, which has been described in detail by predecessors. Even so, most of the officials and frustrated poets who were relegated and transferred to the northern martial arts and the southern Xiaoxiang gathered here. How can the feeling caused by seeing natural scenery not be different? Just like the continuous rain, it didn't clear up for a month, the cold wind roared, the turbid waves rushed to the sky, the sun and stars hid their brilliance, and the mountains disappeared; Businessmen and passengers couldn't move forward, the mast fell and the oars broke; In the evening, the sky is dark, and the momentum of evil wind and turbid waves is like the roar of tigers and apes. When (businessmen and tourists) board this building, they will be homesick when they leave the country, worried about speaking ill of (others) and afraid of criticizing (others). All they can see are depressed and neglected scenes, and they will be extremely sad. When the spring breeze is warm and sunny, the lake is calm and there are no stormy waves. The sky is green and boundless. Seagulls on the sandbar sometimes fly and sometimes stop, and beautiful fish swim freely; The flowers and plants on the shore and on the small continent are very lush and green. Sometimes the smoke disappears completely, the bright moonlight pours away, the fluctuating light flashes golden light, and the quiet moon image sinks into the jade in the water. Fishing songs ring in mutual echo, and this kind of fun is endless! When you climb this building, you will feel open-minded, happy, forget all honors and disgraces, and enjoy drinking wine in the breeze. Alas! I have explored the mind of ancient virtuous people, which may be different from the above two kinds of mood. Why? Don't be happy or sad because of foreign things (good or bad) and yourself (gain or loss). Be an official in the court and worry about its people; Secluded and worried about his monarch. This is also worried about entering the court as an official, resigning and living in seclusion. Even so, when can we be happy? They must say, "worry about the world first, and then enjoy it." Alas! If there is no such person, then who am I with? September 2006 15.
Chen She family
Chen Sheng, a native of Yangcheng, is called She. Guangwu is from Yang Xia, and his name is Uncle. When Chen She was young, he was hired to farm with others. Once, he stopped farming and went to the high ground by the field (rest). He sighed and hated for a long time because of disappointment, and said, "If anyone has money, don't forget each other." The hired man smiled and replied, "You are hired to farm the land. Where did you get rich? " Chen Sheng sighed and said, "Alas, how do sparrows know the swan's ambition!" In July of the first year of Qin Ershi, the court recruited poor people to stay in Yuyang, and 900 people stopped in osawa Township. Chen Sheng and Guangwu were both incorporated into the Guard and served as the captain of the Guard. It coincided with the heavy rain and the road was impassable. It is estimated that the deadline for guarding the border has been postponed. If you are late, you will be beheaded according to the law. Chen Sheng discussed with Guangwu and said, "Now it is death to flee, and so is the uprising. It's also death, and it's for national affairs, okay? " Chen Sheng said, "People all over the world have suffered from Qin for a long time. I heard that Qin Ershi, the youngest son, should not be a monarch, but his eldest son, Fu Su. Because of Fu Su's repeated exhortation, the emperor sent him to lead troops out of the customs. Now some people hear that he is innocent and junior killed him. Most people heard that he was clever, but they didn't know that he was dead. Xiang Yan, the general of Chu State, has repeatedly made meritorious military service and cared for soldiers. The Chu people love him very much. Some people think he is dead, others think he has escaped. Now, if we pretend that our people are a team claiming to be sons Fu Su and General Xiang Yan, and set out for the world, there should be many people responding. " Guangwu thinks what he said is right. Go to divination. The fortune teller knew their intention and said, "Everything you want to do can be successful, and you can make contributions. But have you asked ghosts and gods? " Bobby Chen and Guangwu are very happy. They thought about the diviner and said, "This is to teach us to subdue everyone first." Just (use) vermilion (silk) and put it in the belly of fish caught by others. After the soldiers bought the fish and cooked it, they found the words written on silk in the belly of the fish, so they naturally blamed it. Chen Sheng also secretly sent Guangwu to a temple in the jungle next to the station. After dark, he held a bonfire and pretended to be a jack-o'-lantern. He screamed with a fox, "Chu Xing, Chen Wangsheng." The soldiers were in a panic at night. The next day, the soldiers talked about it everywhere, pointing at each other and gesturing to Bobby Chen with their eyes. Guangwu always cares about his foot soldiers, and the soldiers are more willing to obey Guangwu's orders. One day, two officers escorting the guards were drunk. Guangwu deliberately said many times that he wanted to escape, which made the officers very angry and made them insult him to anger the soldiers. That officer really whipped Guangwu. The officer drew his sword (to kill Guangwu), and Guangwu jumped up, grabbed the sword and killed the officer. Chen Sheng helped him and killed two officers together. Chen Sheng and Guangwu telephoned their subordinates and ordered them to say, "You were caught in the rain, which delayed the time of guarding the border. If you miss it, you will be beheaded. Even if they can only be exempted from execution, six or seven out of ten people died because they were guarding the border. Besides, it's okay for a strong man not to die. If he dies, he will do great things. Will princes have natural noble species? " Everyone who belongs to it says, "obey your orders." So he pretended to be the team of Fu Su and Xiang Yan, and obeyed the wishes of the people. Showing your right arm (as a sign of the uprising) is called big out. Build a platform (out of earth) and swear to sacrifice the heads of (two) captains to heaven. Bobby Chen became a general and Guangwu became a captain. The insurgents first captured osawa Township, retreated from osawa Township and attacked Qixian County. After the capture of Qixian, he led troops to capture the east of Qixian and attacked Luo, Zhou, Zhe, Qiao and other places, all of which were captured. During the March, the soldiers were gathered along the road. In Chen county, there are six or seven hundred chariots, more than one thousand cavalry and tens of thousands of infantry. When attacking Chen county, the county magistrate and the county magistrate were not in the city, and only the officials guarding the city fought the rebels in the hole in the gate. The insurgents could not be defeated (for a while), and the guarding city was killed (soon). The insurgents entered the city and occupied Chen County. A few days later, it was ordered to convene a meeting between township government officials and local celebrities to discuss. Township officials and prestigious people all said, "General, you personally wore solid armor and held sharp weapons to crusade against the tyrant's evil deeds, destroy the tyrannical Qin Dynasty and rebuild the State of Chu. In terms of contribution, you should be the king. " Chen Sheng became king, with the title "Zhang Chu", which means "Zhang Da Chu State". At this time, in the Qin Dynasty, the people oppressed by officials in various counties and counties punished the local governor and killed them in response to Chen She.
Preface to seeing Ma Sheng off to Dongyang
When I was a child, I especially liked studying. The family is poor and can't get books to read. They often borrow books from people who have books, copy them by hand, and return them on an agreed date. Even if the weather is very cold, the water in the inkstone turns into hard ice, and my fingers can't bend and straighten, and I keep copying books. After the transcription, I ran to deliver it, not daring to exceed the agreed time limit slightly. So people lend me books, so I can read all kinds of books. As an adult, I admire the theory of sages more, but I'm worried that I can't communicate with knowledgeable teachers and prestigious people. Once I ran a hundred miles, holding a scripture in my hand, and asked the local moral and learned predecessors for advice. The old man is highly respected, and the students (who asked him for advice) crowded his room. (He) didn't soften his words at all, and his face softened. I stood beside him and waited on him, asking questions, asking truth and leaning down for advice. Sometimes I will be reprimanded by my predecessors. My expression is more respectful and my manners are more thoughtful. I dare not say a word to defend it. Ask him when he is happy. So although I am stupid, I can finally gain something. When I was studying with my teacher, I carried a book box and dragged my shoes in the deep mountains and canyons. The cold wind blows hard in winter, and the skin on my feet is broken because of the cold and dryness, but I don't know it. Back to school, my limbs were stiff and I couldn't move. The orderly washed it with hot water (for me), wrapped it in a quilt and kept it warm for a long time. Staying in a hotel, the innkeeper provides two meals a day, and there is nothing fresh, fat and delicious. The other students who live with me are wearing gorgeous clothes, hats decorated with red headbands and jewels, jade rings made of white jade hanging around their waist, treasure knives hanging on the left and sachets hanging on the right. They look radiant, like immortals. I was dressed in rags among them, but I was not jealous. Because there are enough happy things in my heart, I don't feel that food and clothing are not as good as people. I study very hard, and that's about it.
Cao Gui debate
In the spring of the tenth year of Duke Zhuang of Lu, the Qi army was ready to attack the state of Lu, and Duke Zhuang of Lu wanted to fight. Cao Gui asked to meet Duke Zhuang of Lu. His fellow countryman said, "People in power will plan this by themselves. Why do you participate?" Cao Gui said: "People in power are short-sighted, so they can't think ahead." So he went to appear before Duke Zhuang of Lu. Cao Gui asked, "Why do you want to fight with Qi?" Duke Zhuang of Lu said: "I dare not save food and clothing for health, but I must give it to people around me." Cao Gui replied: "This kind of small kindness can't reach the people, and the people won't listen to you." Duke Zhuang of Lu said, "I never dare to make a false report or exaggerate about the pigs, cows, sheep, jade articles and silks used for sacrifice. I must tell God the truth. " Cao Gui said, "This is only a small contribution. It cannot convince the gods. The gods will not bless you. " Duke Zhuang of Lu said, "Even if we can't see all the situations clearly, we should deal with them according to the facts." Cao Gui said: "This is a matter of doing one's duty. This kind of situation can be played. If you fight, please allow me to go with you. " Duke Zhuang of Lu and Cao Gui rode in the same car and fought against the Qi army in the ladle. As soon as Zhuang Gong goes into battle, he will beat gongs and drums. Cao Gui said, "Not now." After the Qi army beat the drums three times, Cao Gui said, "You can beat the drums and move forward." The Qi army was defeated. Zhuang Zhengyi wanted to order the pursuit and said, "Not yet." Get off to check the car prints of Qi Jun, get on the bus and look at Qi Jun with a crossbar, and then say, "You can pursue." So he chased the qi army. After defeating Qi, Duke Zhuang of Lu asked why he won. Cao Gui replied, "Fighting depends on courage. Drumming for the first time can boost morale; After the March of the second drum, the morale of the soldiers was low; By the time the drum was played for the third time, the morale was completely exhausted. Their morale was low and our morale was high, so we beat them. It is difficult for a big country like Qi to predict its military actions. I'm afraid there will be an ambush. I saw that their wheel prints were chaotic and their flags fell, so I chased them. "
Zou Ji satirized the King of Qi.
Zou Ji is more than eight feet tall and has a beautiful figure. One morning, Zou Ji put on his coat and hat and said to his wife in the mirror, "Who is more beautiful than Xu Gong in the north of the city?" His wife said, "You are more beautiful. How can Gong compare with you? " Duke Xu in the north of the city is a handsome man of Qi. Zou Ji didn't believe that he would be more beautiful than Xu Gong, so he asked his concubine, "Who is more beautiful than Xu Gong?" My concubine said, How can you compare with me? The next day, a guest came from outside. Qi Zou sat chatting with him. Zou Ji asked him, "Who is more beautiful than Xu Gong?" The guest said, "Xu Gong is not as beautiful as you." The next day, Xugong came. Zou Ji looked at it carefully and felt that he was not as good as Xu Hongmei. Looking at myself in the mirror, I feel far less than (Xu Hongmei). After lying down at night and thinking about it, she said, "My wife thinks I'm beautiful and partial to me." I think I am beautiful because I am afraid of me; The guests think I'm beautiful and want something from me. "
So Zou Ji visited Qi Weiwang in the imperial court and said, "I really know that I am not as good as Xu Hongmei. But my wife is partial to me, my concubine is afraid of me, and my guests want something from me. They all think I am more beautiful than Xu Hongmei. Today, the territory of Qi is thousands of miles and there are 120 cities. There are no concubines and attendants in the palace who don't spoil you. No minister in the DPRK is afraid of you, and the people of the whole country don't want anything from you: from this point of view, your majesty, you have been deeply deceived! "
Qi Weiwang said, "Good!" So I ordered: "all officials and people can give excellent rewards to those who accuse me of my mistakes face to face;" If you suggest me in writing, I will be given a medium reward; If you can criticize and discuss my mistakes in public, if they can reach my ears, you will be rewarded with inferior rewards. "As soon as the order came out, many ministers came to remonstrate, and there were as many people in the courtyard in front of the palace as in the market; A few months later, occasionally someone came to remonstrate; After a full year, even if someone wants to remonstrate, there is nothing to say.
Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei and other countries came to the State of Qi to appear before the King of Qi. This is the so-called imperial victory over other countries.
Get lost in public
The bus board made a ladder for Chu, and when it is finished, it will be used to attack Song. When Mozi heard about it, he set out from Shandong and walked for ten days and nights. When he arrived, he went to see the loser. The loser said, "Sir, do you have any suggestions?" Mozi said, "There are people who insult me in the north. I hope to kill him with your strength. " The losing game is not happy. Mozi said, "Please let me give you your daughter as a reward for killing people." The loser said, "I advocate benevolence and never kill anyone." Mozi stood up, bowed twice and said, "Please allow me to say a few words to you. I heard in the north that you built a ladder, which will be used to attack the state of Song. What was the crime of Song State? Chu has abundant land, but lacks population. It is unwise to compete for the remaining land at the expense of the insufficient population. It is not kind to attack Song without guilt; Knowing that this is wrong but not defending it is not loyalty; You can't say that you are strong if you work hard but can't get results; You speak out bravely and refuse to help me kill (humiliate me) one person, but you are willing to kill many people (to attack the Song State for Chu). You can't say that you understand analogies. " The failed bid was persuaded. Mozi said, "But why not stop?" The loser said, "No, I have already told the king of Chu." Mozi said, "Why don't you introduce me to the King of Chu?" The loser said, "All right." Mozi went to visit the king of Chu and said, "Now there is a man here who abandoned his beautifully decorated car, but his neighbor has an old car but wants to steal it;" Abandon your gorgeous clothes, but neighbors want to steal coarse clothes; Give up your own good meal, and neighbors want to steal it when they have bad meals. What kind of person is this? " The king of Chu said, "(this person) will have the disease of stealing the country. Mozi said, "Chu is 5,000 Li in Fiona Fang and Song is 500 Li in Fiona Fang." . It's like a beautifully decorated car compared with a broken car. Chu has a cloud dream in osawa, rhinoceros and elk are everywhere, and there are so many fish, turtles and giant salamanders in the Yangtze River and Hanjiang River. As people say, Song State is a place without pheasants, rabbits and giant salamanders. It's like a good meal and a good dish compared with inferior food. There are pine trees, catalpa bungeana, Huang Mu, nanmu and camphor trees in Chu, and there are no redundant trees in Song. It seems that gorgeous clothes are compared with rough clothes. I think the officials sent by the king to attack the Song State, just like those who were stolen. "The king said," good! Even so, if the bus board makes me a ladder, I will certainly capture the Song State. "So I call the public lost. Mozi took off his clothes to simulate the city wall and used wooden slips as siege equipment. The clever tactics of siege were used many times by the public losing board, and Mozi resisted many times. The siege equipment of the bus plate is used up, and Mozi has more than enough ways to resist it. The loser gave in, but said, "I know how to deal with you." I won't talk about it. "Mozi also said," I know the method you used to deal with me, so I won't say it. " The king of Chu asked him why. Mozi said: "The meaning of losing is just to kill me. "Kill me, no one kept the song kingdom, you can attack. And my disciple Bird Slip Li and more than 300 people have been waiting for the invasion of Chu State on the wall of Song State with my guarded equipment. Even if you kill me, you can't finish it (Song Guo defenders). " The king of Chu said, "All right. I will not attack Song State. "
Be born at hardship, die at peace and happiness
Shun was selected from ploughing fields, from plasterers, from fish and salt dealers, Guan Yiwu was released and appointed from prison officials, Sun Shuaio was promoted from the secluded seaside, and Prissy was redeemed and reused from the slave market. Therefore, if God wants to hand over the heavy responsibility to this man, he must first make his heart ache, make his bones and muscles tired, make him hungry and emaciated, make him poor and do things in a mess, so as to shock his heart, hone his character and increase his talents that he did not have in the past. People often make mistakes in order to correct them later; Confusion is blocked, then you can work hard; Show it on your face, express it in your voice, and then you can understand it. A country will often perish if there is no minister to enforce the law, no sage to assist the monarch, and no hostile country or foreign invasion abroad. In this way, we can know that hardship and disaster can make people (or countries) survive, and comfort and pleasure can make people (or countries) decline.
I want what I want.
Mencius said, "Fish is what I want, and bear's paw is what I want. If these two things can't be obtained at the same time, then (I) will give up fish and choose bear's paw. Life is what I want, and morality is what I want. If these two things can't be achieved at the same time, then give up life and choose morality. Life is what I want, but I want something more important than life, so I don't drag out an ignoble existence; I hate death, but there are some things that I hate more than death, so I don't avoid some disasters. If what people pursue is not beyond life, then what can't be used for survival? If nothing is more hateful than death, then what can't be used to avoid disaster? You can survive in some way, but some people don't need it. You can avoid disaster in some way, but some people don't adopt it. It is because what they seek is more precious than life, and what they hate is something more disgusting than death. Not only smart people have this nature, everyone has it, and only smart people can't lose it. A bowl of rice, a bowl of soup, you can live if you eat it, and starve if you can't eat it. But hungry passers-by refused to accept impolite shouting for others to eat; Beggars are unwilling to accept kicking others for dinner. What good is it for me to accept a generous salary without knowing whether it is in line with etiquette? Do the poor people I know appreciate me because of the splendor of the house and the service of wives and concubines? In the past (some people would rather die than accept (a bean soup for a meal), but now (some people) accept it for the prosperity of the house; In the past (some people would rather die than accept it), now (some people) serve wives but accept it; In the past (some people would rather die than accept it), now (some people) appreciate themselves for the poor people they know but accept. Shouldn't this practice stop? This practice is called losing people's hearts. "