Lian Po is an excellent general under Zhao. In the 16th year of Zhao Huiwen, Lian Po served as general Zhao, attacked Qi, defeated Qi, seized Jin Yang and became Shangqing. Therefore, Lian Po is famous for being brave and good at fighting.
Lin Xiangru, a native of Zhao, is a guest of Miao Xian, the eunuch leader of Zhao.
When Zhao Huiwen became king, Zhao got the harmony of Chu. Hearing about this, Qin wrote a letter saying that he was willing to give fifteen cities to Zhao and asked for a bride price. Zhao Wang discussed with General Lian Po and many ministers: He wanted to give this treasure jade to the State of Qin, but he was cheated for fear that he would not get Qin Cheng. I don't want to give it, but I'm afraid Chi will call. I can't make up my mind. I want to find someone who can be sent to reply to Qin, but I can't find him.
Miao Xian, the eunuch leader, said, "Lin Xiangru, a guest of my family, can be an envoy." Wang Zhao asked, "What makes you know that he can be a special envoy?" Miao Xian replied: "I once committed a crime and privately planned to flee to Yan State. My doorman Lin Xiangru stopped me and said,' What makes you know that Prince Yan Xihui will take you in?' I told him that I had followed the king to meet the prince at the border. The prince privately held my hand and said,' I would like to make friends'. I got to know him from this, so I planned to go to him. Lin Xiangru said to me,' Now that Zhao is strong and weak, you are favored by the prince of Zhao, and the prince of Yan wants to make friends with you. Now that you have fled from Zhao to Yan, the prince of Yan is afraid of Zhao. In this case, the prince dare not take you in, but will tie you up and send you back to Zhao. Why not lie bare-chested and bare-armed, confess your sins on the axe, and you will be pardoned by the king of Zhao. I followed his advice, but fortunately the king forgave me. Personally, I think Lin Xiangru is a brave and resourceful man, so he should be able to go abroad. "
So the king of Zhao summoned Lin Xiangru and asked him, "The king of Qin wants to exchange fifteen cities for my treasure. Can he have it? " Lin Xiangru said: "Qin Qiang and Zhao Wei had to agree to his request." Wang Zhao said, "What if you take my treasure and don't give it to my city?" Lin Xiangru said: "The king of Qin traded the city for jade, but Zhao refused, and it was Zhao who lost; Zhao gave it to Qin Bi, but he didn't. The fault is Qin. Comparing these two countermeasures, I would rather agree to Qin's request and let him bear the responsibility of indefensible. " Wang Zhao asked, "Who can be sent?" Lin Xiangru replied, "Your Majesty really can't find anyone, so I want to go to Qin with He Shibi. When the city was given to Zhao, Bi was left in the State of Qin. Beijing will not give it to Zhao, and I promise to return He Shibi to Zhao intact. " The prince of Zhao sent Lin Xiangru with Tracy to enter the State of Qin.
The king of Qin sat in Zhang Taiyan Palace to meet Lin Xiangru. Lin Xiangru holding choi, and dedicated to the king of Qin. The king of Qin was very happy. He handed his color to his concubines and attendants, and all the officials cheered "Long live". When Lin Xiangru saw that the King of Qin had no intention of giving the city to Zhao, he came forward and said, "There is something wrong with the city wall. Please let me show it to the king. " The king of Qin handed Choi to Lin Xiangru. Lin Xiangru stepped back and stood with his back against the post, angry and erect, as if to button up his hat. He said to the king of Qin, "Your Majesty wanted this piece of jade, so he wrote a letter to the king of Zhao. The king of Zhao called all his ministers to discuss, saying,' Qin is greedy and relies on his strength. If he wants to win the jade with empty words, he may not be able to pay for the city of Zhao.' I won't give it to Qin and Cui. However, I don't think the communication between civilians will deceive each other, let alone the communication between big countries! And because of a piece of jade, the powerful state of Qin is unhappy and should not. So the prince of Zhao fasted for five days and sent me to guard Hebi, worship the court and present my credentials in person. Why is this? To respect the prestige of a big country. Now, when I came to Qin, the king met me at the general's office, and the etiquette was very arrogant; After I got this jade, I passed it on to my concubines to tease me. I think the king didn't mean to compensate Zhao 15 cities, so he took it back. The king must persecute me, and my head will be hit on the post with Cui! "
Lin Xiangru holding and choi, squints at the pillar, is about to hit the pillar. The king of Qin, afraid that he had smashed Choi, apologized euphemistically, firmly begged him not to smash Choi, and summoned the officials in charge to look at the map, pointing out that 15 cities from here to there would be included in Zhao.
Lin Xiangru estimated that the king of Qin just pretended to give the city to Zhao by fraudulent means, but he couldn't get it himself, so he said to the king of Qin, "He Shibi is a universally recognized treasure, and the king of Zhao is afraid to give it away. The prince of Zhao was sent away and fasted for five days. Now it's time for the king to fast for five days and set up a ceremony of' nine guests' in the imperial court, so that I dare to offer the jade. " The king of Qin estimated that this situation could not be forcibly taken after all, so he promised to fast for five days and put Lin Xiangru in Guangcheng Hotel. Lin Xiangru estimated that although the king of Qin promised to fast, he would certainly break his word and not compensate Zhao for the city, so he sent his followers to wear coarse clothes and carry the jade on their backs, and fled through the path and sent them back to Zhao.
Five days after the King of Qin fasted, he held a ceremony of "nine guests" in the imperial court and invited Zhao to make Lin Xiangru. When Lin Xiangru arrived, he said to the king of Qin, "Since Qin Mugong, none of the more than twenty monarchs of Qin has kept his promise. I was really afraid of being cheated by the king, and I was sorry for Zhao, so I sent someone back with jade and went to Zhao by the path. Besides, Qin Qiang and Zhao Wei. If the king sends a small envoy to Zhao, Zhao will immediately send someone to take the city wall. Now, with the strength of Qin, we will cut fifteen cities to Zhao first. How dare Zhao offend the king by guarding the wall? I know that the crime of deceiving the king should be put to death, and I ask Tang Yong to punish it. I hope the king and ministers will discuss this matter carefully. "
The king of Qin and his ministers looked at each other and gave a wry smile. Some attendants want to drag Lin Xiangru out of court. The King of Qin said, "If you kill Lin Xiangru now, you won't get the Peace Prize after all. On the contrary, you will sever the friendly relationship between Qin and Zhao. Take this opportunity to treat him well and let him go back to Zhao. Will Zhao Wang cheat Qin because of a piece of jade? " I finally met Lin Xiangru in the imperial court, completed the meeting etiquette and sent him back to Zhao.
After Lin Xiangru returned to China, the Prince of Zhao thought that he was a capable doctor, and he was appointed as a doctor when he was sent to vassal states, and he was not humiliated.
After that, Qin did not give Zhao the city, and Zhao did not give him Choi.
Later, Qin Jun attacked Zhao and occupied Shicheng. The next year, he attacked Zhao State and killed 20,000 people in Zhao State. The king of Qin sent messengers to tell the king of Zhao that he planned to make up with him and meet him in Mianchi outside Xihe River. The prince of Zhao was afraid of Qin and couldn't think of going. Lian Po and Lin Xiangru discussed and said, "If the King doesn't go, it will appear that Zhao is weak and timid." So the prince of Zhao, accompanied by Lin Xiangru, set out for the meeting. When Lian Po saw him off to the border, he said goodbye to the Prince of Zhao: "Your Majesty, it is estimated that he will return to China in less than 30 days. If the king doesn't come back in 30 days, please allow me to make the prince king and threaten Zhao Zhinian by breaking Qin. " The prince of Zhao agreed to Lian Po's suggestion and met the king of Qin in Mianchi.
The king of Qin was very happy and said, "I heard privately that the king of Zhao likes music. Ask him to play the piano! " The prince of Zhao played the harp. Historians of the State of Qin stood up and wrote: "On a certain day, a certain month, the king of Qin and the king of Zhao joined hands to drink and ordered the king of Zhao to play the piano." Lin Xiangru stepped forward and said, "Wang Zhao has heard privately that he is good at playing Qin Le. Please allow me to present a pot to the king of Qin for dinner! " The king of Qin was angry and refused to knock. At this time, Lin Xiangru came forward to offer tiles, and knelt down and asked the king of Qin to knock. The king of Qin refused to hit the tile. Lin Xiangru said, "If the King refuses to knock, I can spill blood from my neck on him within five steps!" The attendants around the king of Qin tried to kill Lin Xiangru with a knife. Lin Xiangru glared at them and shouted at them. They were all scared away. So the king of Qin was very unhappy and knocked the tile for the king of Zhao. Lin Xiangru called the officials of Zhao back and wrote: "On a certain day, a certain month, a certain year, the king of Qin beat the king of Zhao." The ministers of the state of Qin said, "Please use the fifteen cities of Zhao to celebrate the birthday of the king of Qin." Lin Xiangru also said: "Please give Xianyang, the capital of Qin State, to Zhao Wang for his birthday."
Until the end of the banquet, the king of Qin never got the upper hand of Zhao. There are a large number of troops on the border between Zhao and Qin Jun to guard against the invasion, and they dare not make a move.
After Mianchi's meeting, he returned to Zhao. Because of Lin Xiangru's great contribution, Wang Zhao appointed him Shangqing, ranking above Lian Po.
Lian Po said: "As a general of Zhao, I have made great contributions in siege and field operations, while Lin Xiangru, though only a few words, is above me. Besides, Lin Xiangru is a humble person, and I am ashamed and unwilling to be under him! " Threatened: "I must insult Lin Xiangru when I see him." Lin Xiangru refused to meet him after hearing these words. He often pretends to be ill when he goes to court, and he doesn't want to compete with Lian Po for ranking. After a while, Lin Xiangru went out and saw Lian Po in the distance, so he turned around to avoid it.
In this case, the guests advised him together: "We left our parents and brothers to serve you because we admire your noble character. Now that you are in the same position as Lian Po, General Lian has spread some bad words, but you are afraid of him and avoid him. You are too scared. Mediocre people are ashamed of this situation, let alone their relatives! We really have no talent, please allow us to leave! " Lin Xiangru resolutely kept them, saying, "Do you think even the generals are better than the king of Qin?" The doorman replied, "(Even the general) is not as good as the king of Qin." Lin Xiangru said, "With the prestige of the King of Qin, I, Lin Xiangru, dare to scold him and humiliate his courtiers in the Qin court. If you can be humble, why are you afraid of General Lian? But I thought of such a problem: the powerful state of Qin did not dare to invade Zhao easily, just because of the two of us! If two tigers fight now, they won't both survive. The reason why I do this is to put the urgency of the country first and personal hatred second! "
Hearing this, Lian Po took off his clothes, put Vitex negundo on his back, and led him to Lin Xiangru's house, where he pleaded guilty through the door. He said, "I am a humble person. I really didn't know that the general tolerated me to this extent!" "
The two finally reconciled and became friends who vowed to live and die together.
Chen Qingbiao's Translation
Chen Yan, a courtier, said: My courtier suffered misfortune because of his bad fate. Just half a year after his birth, my dear father died unfortunately. After four years, my uncle forced my mother to remarry. My grandmother Liu pitied me for losing my father and being sick since childhood, and raised me alone. Servants often get sick when they are young, and they can't walk when they are nine. Lonely and helpless until marriage. He had neither an uncle nor a brother, and his family was poor and fat until he gave birth to a son very late. There are no close relatives outside, and there are no doormen at home. Living alone, only my body and shadow comfort each other every day. Liu is very ill and stays in bed all the year round. I provided her with food and medicine and never left her.
By the time the Jin Dynasty was established, I had been politically civilized. Some time ago, Tai Shoukui recommended his lieutenants as scholars, and later, Ci recommended his lieutenants as scholars. Because no one took care of my grandmother, I refused and didn't obey. The imperial court made a special decree and appointed me as a doctor. Soon after, it was entrusted by the state and appointed me as a horse washer. A man of humble origin and status like me can serve the prince, which is really beyond my sacrifice to serve the court. I will report the above difficulties and refuse to take office. However, the imperial edict was urgent and strict, accusing me of evading orders and deliberately neglecting. The county magistrate urged me to hit the road at once; There is an urgent need for state officials to come to the door to urge. I really want to obey the emperor's will and serve my country at once, but my grandmother Liu's illness is getting worse every day; I want to obey my own affairs for a while, but I can't report my complaints. I'm in a dilemma. I'm in an awkward position.
I feel that the holy dynasty ruled the world with filial piety, and all the old people are still pitifully raised, not to mention my sense of loneliness is more serious. Besides, when I was young, I was an official of Shu Han, a doctor and a book doctor. I wanted to have a good career, but I didn't want to show off my honor and integrity. Now I am a humble prisoner of national subjugation. I am too humble to mention. Thanks to my promotion and generous life, how dare I hesitate to have other plans? However, my grandmother Liu Ruxi was dying because of the sunset on Mount Xi. I can't live without my grandmother today, and my grandmother can't live without my care for the rest of her life. Our grandparents and grandchildren depend on each other and take care of each other. It is precisely because of these that I really can't bear to leave my grandmother for a long trip. I am 44 years old and my grandmother is 96 years old. I still have a long way to go before your majesty, but the days when I can honor grandma Liu are numbered. I am pregnant with the crow feeding back, so please allow me to fulfill my wish to support my grandmother.
My bitterness was witnessed by not only the people of Shu and the officials of Yizhou and Liangzhou, but also the gods of heaven and earth. I hope your majesty will pity my sincere ignorance, satisfy my humble wish, and let grandma Liu Can be lucky to save the rest of her life. I live at the cost of my life. When I die, I will make a wreath to repay your kindness. My liegeman, I respectfully submit this form for Wenda with the same awe as cattle and horses.
Translation of Ten Thoughts on Emperor Taizong
I heard that if a tree wants to grow tall, it must be firmly rooted; If you want the river to flow far away, you must dredge the source; To make the country stable, we must accumulate its morality. Although I am stupid, I want the river to flow far and long, but I want the tree to grow tall and not morally deep, but I want the stability of the country, let alone a wise man like your majesty. The monarch holds the heavy power of the throne and is in the highest position between heaven and earth. He doesn't consider danger when he is at ease, and uses frugality to eliminate luxury. It's like cutting down the roots and asking them to flourish, blocking the water source and hoping that the water will flow forever.
All emperors, burdened with the great fate of heaven, did a lot of things well from the beginning, but it is very likely that few people can carry them through to the end. Is it difficult to take the world easily and keep it? Generally speaking, in deep worries, we should try our best to treat our deputies sincerely, and then indulge ourselves and treat everyone arrogantly after success; Do our best to make Hu and Yue, so isolated from distant places, become one. Treat people with arrogance, even flesh and blood relatives can become irrelevant people. Although they were supervised by severe punishment and threatened by prestige, as a result, everyone just wanted to get rid of crime and punishment, but they didn't let go of benevolence, and the surface was smooth and they were not convinced. Resentment lies not in size, but in people. The relationship between the people and the emperor is like water and a boat. ) water can carry a boat and overturn it, so be careful.
If you can really do it: when you see something that interests you, you think you should be content to be alert to yourself; When the palace is about to be completed, it is necessary to think about enough is enough to make the people peaceful; Think of the heights that are too cold, don't forget modesty and strengthen moral cultivation; I'm afraid I'm complacent, so I think the reason why rivers and seas are so huge is because I can live under all rivers; When hunting for fun, we should think that the old saying "hunting three times a year" is the limit; When you are worried about your laziness, think of caution from beginning to end; If you are afraid that your eyes and ears will be blocked or covered, you should think of accepting the following opinions with an open mind; Worried about evil people around me, I thought of being honest and repelling evil people; When giving favors, we should think that there is no improper return because of preference; Punishment involves thinking about not abusing punishment because of anger: summing up these ten thoughts, expanding the cultivation of these nine virtues, selecting and appointing talents, and selecting talents to adopt. Wise men do their best, brave men do their best, benevolent people do their best, loyal ministers do their best, civil servants and military commanders reuse them, and (the emperor) hangs down his clothes to fight and rule the world.
The translation of "frugal training to show health"
I was born in a poor family, and I inherited it from generation to generation with innocence. I don't like luxury by nature. Growing up, my elders dressed me in gorgeous clothes decorated with gold and silver, and I always threw them away shyly. At the age of twenty, I was listed in the family name (Jinshi). I heard about the wedding banquet, but only (I) didn't wear flowers. In the same year, I said, "(Flowers) are given by the king, and you can't violate them (don't wear them)." I just inserted a flower (on the brim of my hat). I (always) want clothes (only) to keep out the cold, food (only) to fill my stomach, and I dare not (intentionally) dress dirty and torn () against the secular nature, (indicating that I am different from ordinary people) and seek fame. Just follow my nature.
Many people regard extravagance and waste as glory, and I regard frugality and simplicity as my inner virtue. Others laugh at my stubbornness and ignorance. I didn't regard it as a defect and answered them, "Confucius said,' I would rather be stubborn and ignorant than proud. "He also said,' Few people make mistakes because of thrift.' He also said:' Scholars are interested in the truth, but they are ashamed of not eating well, not wearing well, and living worse than others. It's not worth talking to (him). The ancients regarded thrift as a virtue, but now people ridicule it for it, which is considered to be a defect. Hey, (really) strange! "
In recent years, the atmosphere is particularly extravagant and wasteful. Most policemen wear scholar's clothes, while farmers wear shoes made of silk. I remember that when my father was the judge of the Ministry of Pastoral Affairs during the reign of the saints, guests came and arranged the banquet without hesitation, but sometimes they poured (wine) three times, sometimes five times, not more than seven times at most. Wine is bought from the market. Fruits are limited to pears, chestnuts, dates and persimmons. Dried meat, meat sauce, vegetable soup, tableware porcelain and lacquerware are limited to snacks. At that time, the literati were all like this, and they didn't laugh at criticism. At that time, there were many parties, polite hospitality, little food and deep feelings. Recently, in the scholar-bureaucrat family, wine (if) is not (according to) the method of making wine (brewing) in the palace, fruits and snacks (if) are not precious and exotic goods in the distance, food (if) is not (very) diverse, and tableware (if) is not (set) all over the table, so (just) I dare not date or entertain guests and friends. It often takes months to prepare for a date before you dare to send an invitation. If someone doesn't do this, people will refute him and think that he has never seen the world and is reluctant to spend money. Therefore, there are fewer people who don't follow the customs. Alas, the atmosphere has deteriorated into this. Although powerful people can't stop it, can they have the heart to encourage this bad atmosphere?
I also heard that once upon a time, Li Wenjing was the prime minister and built a house at Fengqiumen. In front of the hall, only (a horse) can turn around. Some people say it is too narrow. (Li Wenjing) Gong said with a smile: "This house is to be passed on to future generations. The hall here as the prime minister (I am) is indeed (yes) narrow, but (but in the future) the hall used for praying and giving gifts (for my descendants) is already very spacious. " When Lu Gong was an remonstrator in politics, the real Sect summoned him urgently and later found him in a pub. After Duke Lu entered the palace, Shinzon asked him where he came from, and he answered Shinzon truthfully. The emperor said, "You (official position) belong to Qing Wang Guan. Why are you drinking in the pub? " (He) replied: "My family is poor, and the guests came. I didn't bring utensils, snacks or fruit, so I went to the pub to invite the guests to drink." The emperor respected (Duke Lu) more and more because he didn't hide it. When Zhang Wenjie became prime minister (at that time), he enjoyed his life, just like when he was a judge of Heyang Festival (before). Someone close to him advised him: "You are getting a lot of salary now, but you enjoy your life (frugality) like this." Although you know (yourself) is really (honest and frugal), (but) outsiders are very (to you). Gong (Zhang Wenjie) sighed and said, "My salary today (so much), even if the whole family (wears) silks and satins and (eats) expensive food, I'm afraid it can't be done? "But human nature, from thrift to luxury (is) easy (is), from luxury to thrift (is) difficult (is). How can we enjoy today's (high) salary for a long time? How can I stay healthy for a long time? (If) one day (I was dismissed from office or died of illness, which is not the same as it is now), people in my family have been used to living in luxury for a long time and can't be frugal immediately, (at that time) they will be hungry and cold (because of all their luxuries), then (whether) I am a (big) official or not, I am alive or dead, (the living standard at home is the same) Alas, a moral person.
Yu Sun said: "Thrift is the * * (characteristic) of all kinds of good morals; Luxury (the greatest sin among all kinds of evils). " It is said that people with good moral character all come from thrift. If you are frugal, you will be less greedy. People in position (if) they are not so greedy, they will not be enslaved and bound by foreign things, and they can take the upright road. People without status (if) have less greed, they can restrain themselves, save money, avoid crime and enrich their families. So: "frugality (is the * * * (characteristic) of all kinds of goodness." Luxury will lead to more greed. People in power (if) are greedy, they will covet wealth, do not take the right path, and (finally) lead to disaster; People who have no status (if) have more greed, they will take from many sources, waste at will, and (finally) lose their families and lives. Therefore, officials (if extravagant) will inevitably take bribes and steal other people's property (if ordinary people, if extravagant) in rural areas. So: "luxury (is all kinds of) sin (middle) is big (sin)."
In ancient times, when Gao's father lived on gruel, Meng Zixuan concluded that his descendants must be outstanding people. Ji Wenzi (before and after) assisted the three kings. The little wife didn't wear silk, and the horse didn't feed the millet. Celebrities think (he) is loyal (in the office). Guan Zhong (uses) carved tableware, red hat belt, bucket arch carved with mountains (inside the house), and short columns painted with algae on the beams (luxurious life). Confucius looked down on him and criticized his lack of knowledge. Uncle (at home) hosted a banquet, knowing that he was (inevitably) going to suffer, and sure enough, he arrived (Wen Zi died, son of Wen Zi) Gong (when) and Gong Yincai fled abroad. He used to eat and drink (spend) 10 thousand copper coins a day until his grandson (this generation) died of extravagance and extravagance. Shi Chong lavished money and finally died on the execution ground. In recent years, Clayton's luxury ranks first among contemporary people, but people don't criticize him for his great achievements. His descendants (but his) inherited his family style (and luxury), and now most of them are poor. There are (still) many other cases where thrift has established a (good) reputation and luxury has failed, so we won't list them one by one. Here are some people to teach you. You should not only express yourself (frugality), but also teach your children and grandchildren (frugality) to let them know the styles and customs of their predecessors.