陈牧：楚霸王项羽，世之英雄也，然兵败于垓下，自刎于乌江，折于刘邦之手，何也？先生教我。

    萧凡：臣以为汉高祖，山东之匹夫也，无有咫尺之土，十室之聚，然能任天下之智力，举大体而不苛，故王天下，莫之能御也。项羽，楚之世将，有重于民，横行天下，然而卒死东城者，何也？有一范增不能用，意忌多疑，不信大臣故也。宽则得众用，贤则多功，信则人归之，愿大王鉴之。

    陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

    chenmu：theoverlordxiangyuwasagreathero，buthewasdefeatedandcommittedsuicide，intheend，helosttoliubang，andiwasveryconfusedaboutthis，sirtaughtmewhy？

    xiaofan：ithink，liubangisagrassdwellerinshandongwhohasnothing，buthewasgoodatappointingthewisdomofothers，andheonlyfocusesonthegeneralthingsandisnotharsh，therefore，hecanwintheworld，andnoonecancomparewithhim。xiangyu‘sfamilywasallhonorablegeneralsofthechustate，hewasvaluedbythepeopleandwonnumerousvictories，butwhatwasthereasonheendedupfailing？hehadacounselorfanzeng，butcouldnotappointhim，hewassuspiciousanddidnottrustothers，that‘stherootcause，bybeingtolerantofothers，youcangettheirsupport，appointtheirwisdomandyouwillbeabletobuildmerit，givethemtrustandtheywillsurrendertoyou，ihopeyoulearnfromthat。

    chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

    陈牧：寡人以信义治天下，而臣民不信，何也？先生教我。

    萧凡：臣以为，欲人之信己，则微言而笃行之，笃行之，则用日久，用日久，则事著明，事著明，则有目者莫不见也，有耳者莫不闻也，其可诬乎？故根深而枝叶茂，行久而名誉远。

    陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

    chenmu：igovernthecountrywithsincerityandrighteousness，butthepeopledonotbelieve，sirtaughtmewhy？

    xiaofan：ithink，ifyouwantotherstobelieveyou，youhavetobeconsistentwithyourwordsanddeeds，andkeeptryingtodoit，overtime，theresultswillslowlyemerge，peoplehaveearsandeyesandtheywilldistinguishbetweentrueandfalse，soyoudon‘tgetawaywithit，therootsofthetreegrowdeeper，andtheleaveswillflourish，onlyifyoupersistindoingthisforalongtimecanyougetthehonor。

    chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

    陈牧：寡人欲以信义布天下，可乎？先生以为如何？

    萧凡：臣以为大王圣明，夫信由上而结者也。故君以信训其臣，则臣以信忠其君；父以信诲其子，则子以信孝其父；夫以信先其妇，则妇以信顺其夫。上秉常以化下，下服常而应上。其不化者，百未有一也。夫为人上，竭至诚，开信以待下，则怀信者欢然而乐进，不信者赧然而回意矣。

    陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

    chenmu：iwanttospreadintegrityandrighteousnesstotheworld，sirwhatdoyouthink？

    xiaofan：ithinkit‘swiseforyoutodothat，thepromotionofthismatteristostartwithyou，thekingtreatshisministerswithintegrity，thentheministerswouldshowloyaltytotheking，thefathereducateshissonwithintegrity，thenthesonwillbefilialtotheparents，ifthehusbandtreatshiswifewithintegrity，thenthewifewillbesubmissivetohim，ifthekingwantstoeducatetheworld，hemustsetanexampleforthepeoplehimself，thekingtreatsotherswithintegrityandsincerity，peopleallovertheworldwillfollowyourexample，eveninsincerepeoplewillslowlychange。

    chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。

    陈牧：今党项、契丹交媾，寡人欲杀其使者，可乎？先生以为如何？

    萧凡：臣以为，党项与我素无怨雠，为契丹所使耳。今杀一人，结怨一国，非计也。放之必悦，不复为契丹用矣，愿大王察之。

    陈牧：先生之言甚善，寡人谨受教。

    chenmu：nowtherearesignsofunitybetweenthedangxiangandthekhitans，soiwantedtokillthemessengerofthedangxiang，sirwhatdoyouthink？

    xiaofan：ithink，thereisnotmuchhatredbetweenthedangxiangandus，theywereonlyusedbythekhitans，ifyoukillthemessenger，youwillhaveavendettaagainstacountry，thereisnobenefittodoingso，ifyoureleasethemessenger，andthedangxiangwillbegratefultous，thentheircooperationwiththekhitanwentbankrupt，ihopeyouwillconsiderthisapproach。

    chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

    陈牧：寡人愿闻，礼之为物何用？先生教我。

    萧凡：臣以为礼之为物大矣！用之于身，则动静有法而百行备焉；用之于家，则内外有别而九族睦焉；用之于乡，则长幼有伦而俗化美焉；用之于国，则君臣有叙而政治成焉；用之于天下，则诸侯顺服而纪纲正焉。

    陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

    chenmu：iwonderwhattheroleofetiquetteis，sirtaughtme。

    xiaofan：ithinktheroleofetiquetteistoogreat，useitonyourself，thenthebehaviorwillbecorrectandtherewillbeabasisfordoinganything，useitathome，thenitwilldistinguishbetweenthenearandfarrelativesandbringthefamilyintoharmony，usetotowns，thentheelderlywillberespected，childrenwillbeloved，andthesocialatmospherewillbecomebetter，usetothecountry，thenthekingsandministersareinorderandthecountryiswellgoverned，useitallovertheworld，thenothercountrieswillalsosurrenderandwillnotbeconfused。

    chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。

    陈牧：寡人今来多有过失，我欲掩之，可乎？先生以为如何？

    萧凡：臣以为过者，人之所必不免也，惟圣贤为能知而改之。古之圣王，患其有过而不自知也，故设诽谤之木，置敢谏之鼓，岂畏百姓之闻其过哉！是以仲虺美成汤曰：“改过不吝。”由是观之，则为人君者，固不以无过为贤，而以改过为美也。

    陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。

    chenmu：i‘vemadealotofmistakeslately，soiwanttocoveritup，sirwhatdoyouthink？

    xiaofan：ithinkeveryonemakesmistakes，itisdifficulttoavoidit，onlyasaintwilladmithismistakeandcorrectit，thewisekingsofthepastwereafraidthattheywouldnotrecognizethemiftheyhadmadeamistake，sohesetupplanksanddrumsticksinordertogetotherstoremindhim，sotheyarenotafraidthatotherswillknowthattheyhavemademistakes，aslongasitcanbecorrectedintime，don‘tthinkthatkingsarenotallowedtomakemistakes，itisgoodtocorrectitintime，soyoudon‘tneedtocoveritup。

    chenmu:sirisright，iwaswrong。

    陈牧：寡人闻，仓廪实而知礼节，衣食足而知荣辱，何也？先生教我。

    萧凡：臣以为，民不足而可治者，自古及今，未之闻也。古之人曰：‘一夫不耕，或受之饥；一女不织，或受之寒。’生之有时而用之无度，则物力必屈。古之治天下，至纤至悉，故其畜积足恃。今背本而趋末者甚众，是天下之大残也！淫侈之俗，日日以长，是天下之大贼也！残、贼公行，莫之或止；大命将泛，莫之振救。生之者甚少而靡之者甚多，天下财产何得不蹶。

    陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

    chenmu：iheard，onlywhenyouhavesavingswillyouknowetiquette，onlywhenyouhaveeatenenoughwillyouknowthehonoranddisgrace，sirtaughtmewhy？

    xiaofan：ithink，sinceancienttimes，thepeoplehavenotobeyedthemanagementiftheyhavenotenoughtoeat，theproverbsaysthatifyoudon‘tfarm，youwillbehungryandyouwon‘tweaveclothandyouwillbecold，timeislimitedbutdesireisendless，soitisdifficulttosatisfygreed，inthepast，governingtheworldwassimpleandsimple，savingscanalsomeetpeople‘sneeds，nowmostpeoplegointobusinessandpeoplebecomeextravagantandpromiscuous，thisdisruptssocialstabilityandharmony，it‘shardtostop，whatisproducedcannotsatisfyman‘sdesires，thesituationisworsenowthanyouask。

    chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。