晉太宗宣武帝實錄25
陳牧：今李晟破易縣，拔河間，進圍平原，其挾勝利之威，克之不難也，然頓兵城下，連月而不能下，何也？先生教我。
蕭凡：臣以為，圍城必缺，所以開其生路也，而將軍李晟言：城拔，皆坑之。蓋許之以必死，將卒是以固守。且城固而糧多，攻之則士卒傷，守之則曠日持久。今頓兵堅城之下，攻必死之虜，非良計也，大王當令開圍一角，守將見圍解，勢必自出，出則意散，易破之道也。
陳牧：先生之言甚善，寡人當即刻飛書。
chenmu：NowLiShenghadconqueredYiCountyandHejian，ItshouldnotbedifficultforhimtotakeadvantageofthevictorytobesiegePlainCounty，Buthedidn『tconqueritformonths，Sirtaughtmewhy？
xiaofan：Ithink，Whenattackingacity，youmustleaveonesidetoallowtheenemytoescape，GeneralLiShenghadpreviouslysaidthathewouldkilleveryone，Therefore，theenemy『swilltoresistisverystrong，Theirdefenseswerestrongandtheyhadplentyoffood，Wewillsufferalotofcasualtieswhenwelaunchanattack，Ifyoujustfenceitaroundandforceittosurrender，itwilltakealongtime，Neitherattacknorsiegeisanidealstrategy，Youshouldopenonesidetolettheenemyescape，Whentheyrunawayandrelax，youattackagain，Onlyinthiswaycanweachieveaperfectvictory。
chenmu:Sirisright，Iimmediatelygavetheorder。
陳牧：近聞廬陵、蘭陵二公造次，寡人當如何處之？先生教我。
蕭凡：臣以為，大王富有四海，尊貴無匹，豈不能容一兄一弟，而使人羅織害之乎！昔廬陵公付兵權與大王，匹馬還朝，蘭陵公義釋大王於孟津，累日不食，天下仰慕，海內所知，此恩何可忘？此情何可卻？奈何以小人之言而疑之乎？豈不涼薄乎？願大王釋猜忌之心，追思太祖之遺志，則天下幸甚！
陳牧：先生勿復言，寡人羞愧難當。
chenmu：RecentlyIheardthattheDukeofLanlingandtheDukeofLulingweregoingtorebel，WhatshouldIdoaboutit，Sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：Ithinkyouaretherichestandmosthonorablepersonintheworld，Whycan『tyoutolerateyourbrothers，Andyouwanttoharmthem，Inthepast，theDukeofLulinghandedoverthearmytoyouandreturnedtothecentralgovernmentalone，Previously，theDukeofLanlingdidnoteatforseveraldaysinordertogotoMengjintoreleaseyou，Thewholeworldknowsandadmiresthem，Howcanyouforgettheirkindnessandaffection？Howcanyoudoubtthembecauseofsomeoneelse『srumors？It『sreallytooruthlesstodothat，Iwantyoutoputyourdoubtsasideandthinkaboutyourfather『swords，Thentheworldisbetterbecauseofit。
chenmu:Sirdon『tsayitagain，I『malreadyashamedofthis。
陳牧：寡人聞言行，君子之樞機，何也？先生教我。
蕭凡：臣以為，君子出其言善，則千里之外應之，出其言不善，則千里之外違之，況其邇者乎？言行，君子之樞機，樞機之發，榮辱之主也，言行，君子之所以動天地也，可不慎乎？
陳牧：先生之言是也，寡人謹受教。
chenmu：Ihaveheardthatwordsanddeedsareanimportantmediumforgentlementohandletheiraffairs，Sirtaughtmewhy？
xiaofan：Ithink，Thewordsofagentlemanaregood，andthenpeoplethousandsofmilesawaywillalsosensethem，Thewordsofgentlemenareevil，andthenpeoplethousandsofmilesawaywillalsodisobeythem，Andwhataboutotherthings，Thewordsanddeedsofagentlemanarethemediumthroughwhichhehandlesaffairs，anditisrelatedtohonoranddisgrace，Gentlemenmoveheavenandearthwiththeirwordsanddeeds，Sotheyhavetobecautious。
chenmu:Sirisright，Irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陳牧：寡人聞，《易》云：亢龍有悔，何也？先生教我。
蕭凡：臣以為，貴而無位，高而無民，賢人在下位而無輔，是以動而有悔也，願大王察之。
陳牧：先生之言是也，寡人謹受教。
chenmu：I『veheardthatdragonsflytoohighthenitwillregretit，Sirtaughtmewhy？
xiaofan：Ithink，Toohonorable，thenthereisnoplace，Standtoohigh，thentherewillbenopeoplefollowingyou，Thesagesareatthebottom，sotheycan『thelpyou，Sothedragonwillregretittoo，Ihopeyoucanlearnfromit。
chenmu:Sirisright，Irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陳牧：知人之事，自古為難，王者為官擇人，不可造次，先生以為然否？
蕭凡：臣以為然也，大王每行一事，則為天下所觀；出一言，則為天下所聽。用得正人，為善者皆勸；誤用惡人，不善者競進。賞當其勞，無功者自退；罰當其罪，為惡者戒懼。故知賞罰不可輕行，用人彌須慎擇，故考績黜陟，察其善惡，今欲求人，必須審訪其行。若知其善，然後用之，差可濟事。
陳牧：先生之言是也，寡人謹受教。
chenmu：Itisverydifficulttounderstandaperson，Thekingneedsmorecautioninselectingtalentsforthecountry，Sirthoughtso？
xiaofan：Ithinkso，Everythingyoudowillbeseenbythewholeworld，Everythingyousaywillbeheardbythewholeworld，Appointingpeopleofintegritywillattractalotofgoodpeople，Appointthewicked，thenthevillainwillappear，Rewardthosewhohavemeritthennoonewillobjecttothis，Punishtheoffenderthentheothervillainswillbecarefultorestrain，Therefore，rewardsandpunishmentshavetobecautious，Theappointmentoftalentsshouldalsobecarefullychosen，Nowifyouwanttoselectatalent，youmustexaminehismeritsandcharacter，Aftermanyexpeditions，thenyouappointhimagain，Onlyinthiswaycanthesagesbeselected。
chenmu:Sirisright，Irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陳牧：今諫議大夫方詡為官數月，劾奏常侍、大臣、郡守等數十人，百官側目，號為苛刻，寡人當如何處之？先生教我。
蕭凡：臣以為，法禁者，俗之堤防；刑罰者，民之銜轡。今州曰任郡，郡曰任縣，更相委遠，百姓怨窮；以苟容為賢，盡節為愚。方詡所舉，臧罪非一，大臣恐為其所奏，遂加誣罪，大王當佑之，以嘉其直臣之氣。
陳牧：先生之言是也，寡人謹受教。
chenmu：Nowfangxuanhasonlybeenanofficialforafewmonths，andhehasimpeacheddozensofattendants，ministers，andmayors，Theministerswereterrifiedandsaidhewasharsh，WhatshouldIdoaboutit？Sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：Ithink，Thelawisaleveethatprotectscustomsandpeople，Atpresent，localofficialscolludeandshieldeachotherveryseriously，Andtreatlazypeopleastalents，andhard-workingpeopleasstupid，Thismadethepeoplepoorandresentful，FangXue『simpeachmentisbasicallytrue，Theministerswantedtoescapepunishmentbyslanderinghim，Youshouldprotectandrewardhimbecauseofhisintegrityandjustice。
chenmu:Sirisright，Irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陳牧：近來多有災異，五州大水，寡人甚憂之，先生何以教我？
蕭凡：臣以為，海內頗有災異，朝廷修政，太官減膳，珍玩不御，蓋以德禳災也。然安定太守，遠獻大珠以求幸媚，非忠臣所為也，大王當封之以還。
陳牧：先生之言是也，寡人謹受教。
chenmu：Therehavebeenalotofdisasterslately，Andfloodinghasoccurredinallfivestates，I『mveryworriedaboutthat，Sirtaughtmewhattodo？
xiaofan：Ithinktherehavebeenalotofdisasterslately，Soyouhavetobediligentinhandlinggovernmentaffairs，Reducewasteandplay，Onlyinthiswaycandisastersbereduced，ButthemayorofAndingofferedyoutreasuresforpromotion，Thisisnotwhatloyalistsshoulddo，Therefore，youshouldreturnthethingstohim。
chenmu：Sirisright，Irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。