陈牧：寡人闻，政有三品，何也？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为其有三，王者之政化之，霸者之政威之，强国之政胁之。夫此三者各有所施，而化之为贵矣。夫化之不变。而后威之，威之不变，而后胁之，胁之不变，而后刑之。夫至于刑者，则非王者之所贵也。是以圣王先德教而后刑罚，立荣耳止而明防禁，崇礼义之。节以示之，贱货利之弊以变之，修近理内，政橛机之礼，壹妃匹之际，则下莫不慕义理之荣，而恶贪乱之耻，其所由致之者，化之使然也。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。
chenmu：i‘veheardthatpoliticshasthreelevels，sirtaughtmewhatthatwas？
xiaofan：ithinktherearethreekindsofit，theholykinggovernsthecountrybyadvocatingindoctrination，overlordsgovernthecountrywithgreatemphasisonpower，powerfulcountrieshandlepoliticalaffairsthroughcoercion，thefirstoptionisthemostvaluable，therefore，firstindoctrination，secondtoshowstrength，thirdiscoercionandfinallypunishment，theholykinghadnochoicebuttousethepunishment，therefore，theholykingadvocatedindoctrination，ifthereisnoeffect，thepenaltyisused，letpeopleknowabouthonoranddisgraceandwhatisforbidden，promoteetiquetteandrighteousnesstopeople，handlepoliticalaffairsdiligentlyandadvocateacorrectviewofmoney，then，everyoneintheworldwillyearnforsuchasocietyandbeashamedofdoingevil，luxuryandgreed，thisisthesituationinwhichtheholykingadvocatesindoctrination。
chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：寡人愿闻，人君何以平治天下？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，人君欲平治天下而垂荣名者，必尊贤而下士。《易》曰：自上下下，其道大光。又曰：以贵礼下，大得民也。明王之施德而下下也，将怀远而致近也。朝无贤人，犹鸿鹄之无羽翼也，虽有千里之望，犹不能致其意之所欲至矣。是故绝江海者托于船，致远道者托于乘，欲霸王者托于贤。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：iwanttoknowhowtheholykinggovernsthecountry？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，ifthekingwantstogovernthecountrywellandleavehisnameinhistory，hemustbehumbleandrespectfulofthetalents，treatotherswithhumility，andthefuturecanbesmooth，evenifyouarenoble，youmustrespectthetalents，onlyinthiswaycanwegetpeople‘ssupport，theholykingpromotedindoctrinationwithalowposture，evenifthegoalisfaraway，itwilleventuallybeachieved，thecountryhasnotalents，justlikeabirdhaslostitswings，thenyoucan‘tgettowhereyouwanttogo，therefore，ifyouwanttocrossthesea，youneedtohaveaboat，ifyouwanttoreachfaraway，youneedameansoftransportation，ifyouwanttobecomeaholykingandoverlord，youneedthesupportoftalents。
chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：寡人闻，王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故，何也？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，人臣之所以蹇蹇为难而谏其君者，非为身也，将欲以匡君之过，矫君之失也。君有过失者，危亡之萌也；见君之过失而不谏，是轻君之危亡也。夫轻君之危亡者，忠臣不忍为也。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：iheardthatloyalistsmadesuggestionswithintegrity，theydothisnotfortheirownsake，howtounderstand？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，thereasonwhyloyalsubjectsarenotafraidofdifficultiesandmakesuggestionswithintegrity，thatistocorrecttheking‘sfaults，andnotfortheirownsake，thekingmadeamistakewhichwasthebeginningofthedanger，itwouldbeirresponsibletoseeakingmakeamistakeandnottocorrectit，andasaloyalservant，hecouldnotbeartoseethekingindanger。
chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：寡人闻，君子慎独，何也？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，存亡祸福，其要在身。圣人重诫，敬慎所忽。《中庸》曰：莫见夫隐，莫显乎微，胡君子能慎其独也。谚曰：诫无垢，思无辱。夫不诫不思，而以存身全国者，亦难矣。《诗》曰：战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。此之谓也。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教矣。
chenmu：ihaveheardthatgentlemenarealsocautiouswhentheyarealone，sirtaughtmewhy？
xiaofan：ithink，therootofexistence，death，misfortune，andblessingisinoneself，anddarenotignorethesmallthings，somesmallandhiddenthings，gentlemenalsoattachgreatimportanceto，it‘sallaboutnotregrettingandbeingunashamed，itisonlybydoingsothatonecanpreserveoneselfandone‘scountry，maintainthisattitudeatalltimes，evenwhenyouarealone。
chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：今天象连有异变，寡人甚惧，吾欲责臣下之疏，可乎？先生以为如何？
萧凡：臣以为，大王敬畏鬼神，忧恤黎元，而天气未和，寒暑违节者，咎在群臣不能宣化治职，而以苛刻为俗，百官无相亲之心，吏民无雍雍之志，至于感逆和气，以致天灾。百姓可以德胜，难以力服，《鹿鸣》之诗必言宴乐者，以人神之心洽，然后天气和也。愿陛下垂圣德，缓刑罚，顺时气以调阴阳。
陈牧：先生之言是也，吾知过矣，此乃寡人之不德也。
chenmu：nowtheweatherisveryabnormalandiamveryafraid，thereforeiwanttoblametheministerforhisnegligence，sirwhatdoyouthink？
xiaofan：ithink，youreveretheghostsandgodsandlovethepeople，buttheweatherisunusualandtheseasonischaotic，that‘sbecausetheministerwasderelictinhisduties，ministersarenotinharmonywitheachotherandgovernthecountrytooharshly，thismakespeoplerestlessanduneasyinside，thisprovokedthewrathofgodandsentdownthepunishmentofnaturaldisasters，thepeoplecanbeinspiredbyvirtueratherthanforce，
onlybyobeyingthewillofthepeoplecanwesavethedisaster，ihopeyoumakelawsthatarefairandnotharsh，useyourvirtuetoimpresstheworld。
chenmu:sirisright，iwaswrong。
陈牧：今渭水出宝鼎，郡守献之，寡人当如何处之，先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，祥瑞之降，以应有德；方今政化多僻，何以致兹！且大王诏书，禁人上事言圣，而间者章奏颇多浮词；自今若有过称虚誉，尚书皆宜抑而不省，示不为谄子蚩也。
陈牧：先生之言甚善，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：nowthereisatreasureintheweiriver，andthemayorwantstodedicateittome，whatshouldidoaboutit？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，theappearanceofthetreasureshouldbeinspiredbyvirtue，butnowtherearemanyproblemsinthecountry‘sgovernmentaffairs，sohowdidhedoit？besides，youhavepreviouslyorderedtheprohibitionofthesehypocriticalthings，buttheministers‘documentswerefilledwithpompouspraise，ihopeyouwillaskthemnottodothisinordertoshowthatyou‘renotfainting。
chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：今，日有食之，寡人甚忧之，先生何以教我？
萧凡：臣以为，此乃民冤不能理，吏黠不能禁；而轻用民力，缮修宫宇，出入无节，喜怒过差之故也，愿大王永览前戒，深自引咎，诏群司勉修职事，极言无讳，各言得失，或可消过也。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：nowthereisasolareclipseandiamveryworried，sirtaughtmehowtodealwithit。
xiaofan：ithinkthere‘sareasonforthat，thepeoplehavegrievancesbutarenotdealtwithbythecourts，officialsweretreacherousbutnotpunished，laborwasusedheavilytobuildpalaces，yougoouthuntingalotandhaveashorttemper，that‘saboutit，iwantyoutolearnfromitandcorrectyourmistakes，youhavetomaketheministersdiligentinhandlinggovernmentaffairs，andactivelylistentotheopinionsoftheministers，allowthemtocorrectyourmistakeswithoutblamingthem，inthisway，theheavenscanbetouched。
chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。