Only Color

Keep in mind

If one is superior to one's elders, one should not ask their age. When meeting a banquet, one should not take orders. When meeting on the road, one should greet the other, but not ask where to go. When attending funerals, one should not express condolences. When serving a gentleman, one should not hold a zither or draw a line on the ground, and one should not move his hands. When sleeping, one should sit and take orders. When serving an archer, one should draw arrows, and when serving a thrower, one should hold arrows. When winning, one should wash and ask for permission, and the same applies to guests. One should not fight or raise a horse. When holding the carriage of the king, one should sit. A servant should wear a sword in his right hand, carry a good rein, extend it to his face, drag the various hats, and let the reins go up, holding the reins before walking. Asking for an audience does not mean asking to leave. In court, one should say "leave", in banquets, one should say "return", and in military service, one should say "stop". When serving a gentleman, if the gentleman yawns, stretches, carries a scepter, cleans the head of the sword, and puts on his shoes, one should ask how early the day is, and even if one asks to leave, one can do so. Those who serve the king should consider before entering, and if not, then consider again; the same applies to those who ask for leave from others and those who work for others. Yes, so the superiors have no resentment, and the subordinates are far from sin. Do not spy on secrets, do not be intimate, do not talk about old times, and do not play with women. As a minister, there is remonstrance without slander, there is loss without anger; praise without flattery, remonstrance without arrogance; if lazy, promote and assist, if abolished, sweep and replace; this is called the service of the state.

Tomorrow's Disaster

The wet nurse of Emperor Wu of Han once committed a crime outside. The emperor wanted to enforce the law, and the wet nurse asked Dongfang Shuo for help. Shuo said, "This is not a matter of argument. If you really want to be saved, you should look back at the emperor many times before leaving and be careful not to say anything! This may be a one in a million hope." When the wet nurse arrived, Shuo was also serving by her side, so he said to her, "You are foolish! Does the emperor still remember the kindness he showed when you were feeding him?" Although the emperor was talented and strong-willed, he also had deep feelings for her, so he felt sad for her and immediately ordered her to be pardoned.

Young man follows the path

The prime minister controls the state expenditures, and he must do so at the end of the year, when all the grains have been harvested. The size of the land used depends on the harvest and loss of the year. The state expenditures are controlled based on the general situation of thirty years, and the expenditures are calculated according to the income, and the number of sacrifices is calculated. In mourning, there is no sacrifice for three years, and only sacrifices to heaven, earth, and the altar of grain are performed. The mourning period is three years. In funerals and sacrifices, if the expenditure is insufficient, it is called excessive; if the expenditure is sufficient, it is called lavish. In sacrifices, do not be extravagant in good years and do not be frugal in bad years. A country without nine years of reserves is called insufficient; without six years of reserves, it is called urgent; without three years of reserves, it is not a country. Three years of farming will ensure one year of food; nine years of farming will ensure three years of food. With thirty years of peace, even if there is a disaster, drought or flood, and the people have no vegetables, then the emperor will eat and celebrate every day.

Hidden Dragons in the Mountains and Seas

May you be peaceful and tranquil

When Xie Ziwei saw Xu Zijiang and his brothers, he said, "There are two dragons in the Pingyu Abyss." When he saw Xu Zizheng in his early twenties, he sighed and said, "A man like Xu Zizheng has the ability to make contributions to the country. He is upright and loyal, like Chen Zhongju; he is good at fighting evil and dismissing unworthy people, like Fan Mengbo."

You are a deserted island in my heart

The prime minister once went to Shitou in the summer to visit Yu Gong. When Yu Gong was making his prediction, the Prime Minister said, "It is better to simplify it in summer." Yu Gong said, "The world does not agree with your prediction."