The source of this sentence is: Zhuge Liang's "Teacher's Watch" in Han Dynasty.
The original text of this article is like this:
Before the first emperor started his business, the middle road collapsed. Today he scored three points, and Yizhou was exhausted. This is a crucial autumn. But the guards worked tirelessly at home, and those who were loyal to their ambitions forgot to be outside, covering up the special experience of the former emperor and wanting to report to your majesty. Sincerely, it is advisable to open a holy court, with the honor of the late emperor and the spirit of the people. It is not advisable to belittle yourself, quote wrong words, and block the way of advice from loyal ministers.
In the palace, everything is one; It is not appropriate to judge whether it is the same or different. If there are criminals who are honest and kind, they should be rewarded by this department to show your majesty's understanding, and you should not favor one over the other, making the internal and external laws different.
Shi Zhong, Assistant Minister Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, etc. , are honest and sincere, are based on the advice of the first emperor left your majesty. Fools think that everything in the palace, big or small, should be discussed, and then implemented, which will make up for the vacancy and make a lot of profits.
General Xiang Chong, good character, good military. He tried it in the past, and the first emperor called it energy, which was supervised by the public. Fools think that knowing the situation of the camp and consulting them will definitely make the front line harmonious, and the advantages and disadvantages will be found.
Pro-sages, far villains, this first Han is so prosperous; You little people, far from being wise ministers, have been so depressed in the Han Dynasty ever since. When the late Emperor was around, every time I talked to the minister about it, I always sighed and hated Yu Huan and Ling. Shi Zhong, Shang Shu, Chang Shi, joined the army. I know that I am the minister of Zhenliang's death sacrifice. I hope your majesty personally believes that the Han Dynasty is prosperous, and I can wait.
I was dressed in cloth and devoted myself to Nanyang. I risked my life in troubled times and didn't ask Wen Da to be a vassal. The first emperor didn't treat his ministers with meanness, and his accusation was self-defeating. He took care of his ministers in the thatched cottage and was grateful for what had happened in this world, so he promised the first emperor to drive him away. After the boat capsized, I was appointed as the defeated army and was ordered to face danger. I have been here for twenty years.
The first emperor knew that I was cautious, so he sent me to be a minister in case of collapse. Since taking office, he has been sighing all night, fearing that the entrustment will not work, which will hurt the understanding of the first emperor; So crossing the Luzhou River in May, nothing grows. Now that the south is settled, there is enough armor. Authorized by the three armies, the north settled in the central plains, the arrogance was completely destroyed, the traitors were completely eliminated, and the Han Dynasty was revived, still in the old capital. The minister was therefore loyal to His Majesty and the first emperor. As for profit and loss, if you keep your word, you will be willing to do so.
May your majesty entrust the effect of bringing the dead back to life to the minister, and if it doesn't work, punish the minister severely and tell the spirit of the first emperor. If there are no words to promote virtue, blame you for being slow to show its blame; Your majesty also requires himself, seeks advice from others, treats others with courtesy, and pursues the posthumous edict of the first emperor. I am very grateful. Stay away from it today, crying, I don't know what to say.
This article is translated into vernacular as follows:
The first emperor died in the middle of his great career. Now that the world is divided into three countries, we Shu Han people are exhausted and the people's livelihood is depressed. This is really a critical moment for the country. However, the guards and courtiers among them are diligent and tireless, while the loyal and ambitious soldiers on the battlefield are desperate. This is their special gratitude to their ancestors, and they want to repay your majesty. Your majesty, you really should listen to other people's opinions widely, so as to carry forward the virtues left by the late emperor and inspire the aspirations of people with lofty ideals. Don't underestimate yourself too much, and use inappropriate metaphors to block the way of suggestions.
The palace and the imperial court are a whole, and rewards and punishments should not be different. If there are people who commit crimes and do good deeds faithfully, they should all be handed over to the competent officials to evaluate their rewards and punishments, so as to show your majesty's fair and strict governance, and there can be no favoritism and selfishness, which makes the reward and punishment methods in the palace and the court different.
Shi Zhong, assistant minister Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others, all of whom are kind and upright people, have loyal aspirations and hearts, so the first emperor chose them to assist your majesty. I think everything in the palace, big or small, can be put forward and then implemented, which will certainly make up for the shortcomings and omissions and gain a lot of benefits.
General Xiang Chong is honest, kind and proficient in military affairs. When he was appointed, the first emperor praised his talent, so everyone talked about it and recommended him as the head of the central government. I think, if everything in the army is discussed with him, it will definitely make the army unite as one, and everyone with ulterior motives will get his place.
Being close to virtuous officials and alienating villains are the reasons for the prosperity of the Western Han Dynasty. Being close to villains and alienating virtuous officials are the reasons for the decline of the Eastern Han Dynasty. When the first emperor was alive, whenever he told me these things, Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling never felt sad and sorry. Shi Zhong, Shang Shu, Chang Shi and joining the army are loyal ministers who can serve the country with their lives. I hope your majesty will get close to them and trust them, so the revival of the Han dynasty is just around the corner.
I was originally a common people, working as a farmer in Nanyang. I just wanted to save my life in troubled times, but I didn't expect to make a name for myself among the princes. The first emperor didn't wronged himself because of my humble position and short knowledge. He visited me in my cottage three times. Ask me what I think of the major events of the current situation, which makes me moved, work hard and promise to run for the late emperor. I have encountered failure, accepted the task when I failed, and pursued my mission between crisis and hardship. It has been 21 years since then.
My late emperor knew that I was cautious and entrusted the affairs of state to me before he died. Ever since I accepted the news of my death, I have been sighing sadly every morning and evening, fearing that what my late emperor entrusted to me could not be completed, which would undermine my understanding, so I crossed the Lushui River in May and went deep into sparsely populated places. Now that the south has been pacified and the troops and equipment are sufficient, we should encourage and lead the whole army to the north to pacify the Central Plains, hoping to exhaust my mediocre talents, eradicate the enemy of all evils, restore the inheritance of the Han family and return to my old capital. This is my duty to repay my late emperor and serve your majesty. As for handling affairs, it is the responsibility of Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others to consider the reasons, make some changes and make loyal suggestions without reservation.
I hope your majesty can entrust me with the task of punishing Cao Wei and restoring the Han Dynasty. If I fail, I will punish my sins to comfort the spirit of my late emperor. If there is no proposal to revitalize Shengde, punish Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others for neglecting to expose them; Your majesty should also plan, solicit and demand a good way to govern the country, adopt correct remarks, and deeply remember the teachings left by the late emperor. I can't thank you enough
Today, I want to bid farewell to your majesty's long journey. In the face of such performance, I can't help but burst into tears and don't know what to say.
It may be difficult to understand the meaning only by reading the article, so it is better to understand it in combination with the creative background of the article at that time:
In 223 AD (the first year of Jianxing), Liu Bei died of illness and entrusted Liu Chan to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang implemented a series of political and economic measures, which made the territory of Shu and Han prosperous. In order to achieve national reunification, Zhuge Liang decided to attack Wei in the north in order to seize Chang 'an of Wei in 227 AD (the fifth year of Jianxing). Before he left, he wrote a letter to his master, the "model".
Having said that, let's appreciate and comment on this article together:
With sincere words and in view of the situation at that time, "Example" repeatedly advised Liu Chan to carry on the legacy of his late master Liu Bei, open a shrine, reward and punish strictly, and stay away from his relatives, so as to complete the great cause of "revitalizing the Han Dynasty", showing Zhuge Liang's strong will to "set the Central Plains in the north" and his unswerving character of loyalty to Shu Han.
The first part analyzes the political situation that can't be slackened at that time, and expounds the necessity and urgency of opening a temple, practicing both inside and outside, and approaching the sages, hoping that the latter will do its best to quickly change the passive situation confined to the southwest corner; In the second half, reviewing the life experience and remembering the ancestors' "three visits to the thatched cottage" shows that the Northern Expedition is determined to win.
In the first half, the situation is reasonable and the brushwork is magnificent. In the first section of the table, the suggestion of "opening a holy meeting" is put forward to the late Lord, but from the situation, it can play a deterrent role and stimulate the feelings of inheritance. At the beginning of the article, it is said that "before the first emperor started his business, the middle road collapsed", which deeply hurt Liu Bei's ambition to die first, and profoundly warned future generations to inherit his father's footsteps, taking the statement of remembering the achievements of the first emperor as the introduction, and then quoting the full text with "Today's Three Points". It is still unknown who will die. Frankly speaking, "Yizhou is exhausted", its own conditions are very poor, land is scarce, and people are poor and barren; Then he shouted: "This is the autumn of life and death!" This is very dangerous. If we don't save the country, there will be a tragic situation in which the country is ruined, the brushwork is steep and the brushwork is vigorous. In the case of highlighting the situation, the cushion is "the minister of security is unremitting inward, and the loyal minister forgets his body outside." They don't forget the kindness of their ancestors, change their loyalty to their masters, and still have the strength and hope to turn the corner. On this basis, the author puts forward some suggestions, such as "opening a saint", "inheriting virtue with the honor of the former emperor, and aiming at lofty ideals with benevolent people", and warns us not to "belittle ourselves, lead false meanings, and block the way of remonstration with loyalty". From the perspective of national survival and loyalty to the former emperors, people feel sorry and can't help thinking. If the epitaph only states the meaning of expressing opinions in general, then it is obvious that Shao will not be too touched by a groggy monarch.
The second part of the statement, from describing his life experience to the significance of attacking Wei, further shows his determination to "revive the Han Dynasty and return to the old capital", and is also generous, profound and touching. From man to himself, the literary situation is ups and downs. From the first part to the second part of the admonition book, the sketch suddenly started from "I am the minister of cloth" and found another way. Describe your own situation in the past 21 years and elaborate on the special experience of the first emperor. First, I took care of the thatched cottage and made it work. Second, when it was overthrown, I made it a prime minister, changed it from a commoner to a very important official, and changed it from a devout hermit to the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces. The narrative in this section seems to be scattered and not closely related to the context. In fact, it is out of context, clear and dense. This is because. First, looking back on the extraordinary experience of twenty-one years, I show gratitude and gratitude, which shows that the above words are pure advice and make the latter feel comfortable. Second, live up to the extraordinary experience of the late emperor, and serve as an example for the late emperor not to forget the legacy of his ancestors, thus further inspiring his efforts. Third, the extraordinary course of 21 years shows that starting a business is difficult, and you can't give up halfway, let alone give up all your previous efforts. Fourth, the example of the first emperor was not written by Kong Ming's "meanness". His accusation was self-defeating. He was concerned about the thatched cottage, regardless of the size of the matter. When he was defeated and in danger, he was still entrusted with an important task. It can be seen that he is meritocratic and meritocratic, calling the latter to follow the example of the first emperor. Fifth, it shows that you have been loyal and wise to SHEN WOO for 2 1 year, and will be loyal as always in the future, and spare no effort to make the late master entrust the thief with the heavy responsibility, so as to avoid being trusted and ruining the overall situation because you led the northern expedition and entered the customs. Zhuge Liang's narrative touched the heart of my late master, and he was willing to accept what he said before. It was also a confession when he left, and there was really deep sadness. The article changed from a suggestion to a self-narrative life, which opened the pen and ink and made the writing more ups and downs and more impressive.
Tell the story with great promise and push it to a climax. After twenty-one years of suffering, the table continues to describe Bai Di's feelings and work after entrusting orphans, so as to show his determination to settle in the Central Plains in the north. The previous comments, suggestions and lyricism have all reached this step, and the characteristics of the model are completely clear. Tracing back to the story of entrusting orphans, this paper explains the historical roots of this mentoring relationship. "Since I was appointed, I have been worried and sighed every night, for fear that entrustment would not work, thus hurting the understanding of the first emperor." This explains the ideological basis of this apprenticeship. "The filter through May is barren. Today, the South has decided ",pointing out the material preparation for this beginning. On the basis of fully describing the conditions, it is put forward that "the three armies will reward each other, the north will set the Central Plains, the traitors will be eliminated in the turbid waves, the Han Dynasty will be revived, and the old capital will be returned". The police are brilliant. At this point, the "model" got off and went straight to the point. The previous suggestion is to ensure that you have the conditions to start a business, and the middle narrative is to explain that you have the conditions to start a business. At this point, the two lines are unified. Putting forward that you want to start a career is like a ripe melon, full of pregnancy.
Because this article is a memorial, the content is that Zhuge Liang stated his opinions and put forward the idea of improving politics before attacking Wei, so the full text is mainly discussed. Because Zhuge Liang wanted Liu Chan to know the difficulty of starting a business and inspire him to finish the unfinished business of his late emperor, this paper also described his own life experience, the reasons for following his late emperor and the process of making his country successful. And because Zhuge Liang is infinitely loyal to Liu and his son, treating each other with kindness and courage, his words are full of ardent expectations. The full text is both emotional and emotional. Specifically, the first part focuses on understanding and reasoning, and the second part focuses on emotion. Generally speaking, it is mainly about discussion, and narrative and lyric blend. The whole article comes from the author's heart, with profound analysis, full of true feelings and touching feelings.
The most striking feature of the language of this article is frankness and simplicity, showing sincere and loyal feelings. The predecessors especially pointed out that in the space of more than 600 words, "the late emperor" was mentioned thirteen times and "Your Majesty" seven times. The thoughts of "reporting to the late emperor" and "being loyal to your majesty" run through the whole paper, always remembering the late emperor's "legacy" and "testamentary edict", thinking of the late emperor everywhere, expecting him to complete the unfinished great cause of "reviving the Han Dynasty". The full text does not rely on flowery rhetoric or ancient allusions, and every sentence does not lose the status of a courtier, which is also very suitable for the tone of the elders. Qiu Weiping of the Qing Dynasty said, "When the marquis of Wu was in China, he witnessed the ancestors listening to the little people, who were either difficult to speak or delirious. When you leave school, urge him to speak bitter words. " Qu Yuan wrote Li Sao when he was slandered and exiled, so he adopted a subtle and illusory expression. Zhuge Liang's situation is contrary to Qu Yuan's, but the emotional characteristics of the model are consistent with the patriotic feelings expressed, and the straightforward and simple language form is consistent with the ideological content of the article. This article is mostly written in four sentences, and there are some neat and steady parallel sentences and antithetical sentences, such as "I am tireless in guarding the minister's home, but I forget my loyalty at home", "I put all my eggs in one basket in troubled times, and I don't want Wen Da to be a vassal" and "I am in danger after defeat", which reflects the trend of the times when parallel prose began to rise in the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Finally, I think it is necessary to introduce the author of this article:
Zhuge Liang (18 1-234), a native of Yang Du, Xuzhou (now yinan county, Linyi City, Shandong Province), was a prime minister in Shu and Han Dynasties, an outstanding politician, strategist, essayist and calligrapher. When he was alive, he was named Hou of Wuxiang, and after his death, he pursued loyalty to Hou of Wuxiang. The Eastern Jin regime made him the King of Wuxing. Zhuge Liang devoted himself to the Shu-Han regime until he died. Representative prose works include An Example and A Book of Commandments. He once invented the wooden ox, the flying horse, the Kongming lantern and so on, and transformed the crossbow, called Zhuge Lian crossbow, which can hit all targets with one crossbow. He died in Wuzhangyuan (now Qishan, Baoji) in 234. Zhuge Liang was highly respected in later generations, becoming a model of loyal ministers and the embodiment of wisdom. Chengdu, Baoji, Hanzhong, Nanyang and other places have Wuhou Temple, and Du Fu wrote Shu Xiang to praise Zhuge Liang.