During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, there was a man named Dong Fangshuo in the State of Qi. Because I like handed down books and love Confucian classics, I read a hundred books widely. When Dong Fangshuo first arrived in Chang 'an, he went to Chefu to write a letter to the emperor, and * * * used three thousand wooden slips. The bus house sent two people to lift his throne together, just enough to lift it. Emperor Wu read Dong Fangshuo's memorial in the palace. When he needed to stop reading, he marked it there and read it for two months. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ordered the appointment of Dong Fangshuo as a Langguan, who often served beside the emperor. Repeatedly asked him to speak, Emperor Wu never felt unhappy. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty often gave him an imperial edict to eat. After dinner, he held the rest of the meat in his arms and stained his clothes. The emperor gave him silks many times, and he always took them with his hands. He used the money and silk gifts to marry a beautiful young woman in Chang 'an. Most of them abandoned it after a year of marriage and found new lovers. All the money given by the emperor is spent on women. Half the courtiers around the emperor called him "crazy". Emperor Wu listened and said, "If Dong Fangshuo is not an official, how can you compare with him?" Dong Fangshuo recommended his son to be a Langguan, and he was promoted to be a courtier among the attendants. He often places orders and travels. One day, Dong Fangshuo passed by this temple, and Lang Guan said to him, "People think Mr. Wang is crazy." Dong Fangshuo said, "People like me are so-called hermits in the imperial court. People in ancient times lived in seclusion in the mountains. " He often sits at banquets and drinks happily, then climbs on the ground and sings, "Living in seclusion, avoiding the world in the Golden Horse Gate. You can save yourself in seclusion in the palace. Why do you live in seclusion in a mountain hut? " The so-called Golden Horse Gate is the gate of the official department, and there are bronze horses beside the gate, so it is called "Golden Horse Gate".
At that time, the imperial court summoned doctors and gentlemen from Gong Xue to participate in the discussion. Everyone booed Dong Fangshuo and said, "Su Qin and Zhang Yi happened to meet the monarch of a big country. They can live in the position of your prime minister, and their kindness will be passed down to future generations. Now, your old gentleman is studying the alchemy of former Wang Zhiguo, and he is advocating the truth that saints set up the world, and he is familiar with the comments of hundreds of poets, so he can't list them one by one. There are articles and works. If you think a Chinese Odyssey is knowledgeable and wise, you can demonstrate it. However, you have tried your best to serve Emperor Ming Sheng faithfully for decades. The official title is just an assistant minister, and the position is just a guard. So you haven't shown enough? What is the reason? " Dong Fangshuo said, "This is not something you can fully understand. At that time, it was one era, and now it is another. How can it be compared? In the era of Yi Cheung and Su Qin, the Zhou Dynasty was already in decline. Instead of appearing before the Emperor of Zhou, the vassals seized power by force and invaded each other by military means. The world merged into twelve vassal States with equal strength. He who gains a scholar is strong, and he who loses a scholar dies. Therefore, they obeyed the orders of the scholars, making them occupy high positions, and future generations enjoyed prosperity for a long time. This is not the case now. The wise emperor is in charge of the world's political affairs, and the princes are obedient and majestic, connecting the territory outside the four seas into a paradise like a table, which is more stable than an upside-down plate and the world is unified. Every movement is as simple as turning in the palm of your hand. What makes you distinguish between virtuous and not virtuous? Nowadays, due to the breadth of the world and the number of scholars, countless people have tried their best to lobby, just like the spokes gathered in the automobile hub, competing to gather in the capital to make suggestions for the court. Although they strongly advocate morality, they are still trapped by food and clothing, and some even can't find a way to enter the body. If Zhang Yi, Su Qin and I were born together in today's era, how can they expect to be permanent assistants if they can't even get a small official in charge of stories about the old system and old cases? The ancient book says:' There is no disaster in the world, even if there are saints, there is no place to display their talents; Even if there are wise men, there is no place to make achievements. "So, in different times, things will change accordingly. However, how can you not cultivate yourself? "Poetry" says, "Ring the bell in the palace, and the sound can spread to the outside." Crane is singing in the distant depths of Shui Ze, and their voices can reach the sky. If you can cultivate yourself, you still worry about what you won't get glory! Qi Taigong personally practiced benevolence and righteousness for 72 years, and it was not until he met Zhou Wenwang that he was able to carry out his ideas and sealed them in Qi, and his thoughts remained unchanged for 700 years. This is why scholars work tirelessly day and night, study knowledge and publicize their ideas, but they dare not stop. Nowadays, the hermit in the world, though not a temporary job, can be detached and independent, be independent, look at Xu You from a distance, look at Jieyu from a close distance, be resourceful as Fan Li, be more loyal than Wu Zixu, be at peace in the world, cultivate one's morality and be self-sustaining, but have few friends. This is a very common thing. Why do you doubt me? "So the gentlemen answered without saying a word.
In the double railings of Zhang Jian Palace's back pavilion, an animal ran out, shaped like an elk. The news reached the palace, and Emperor Wu went to watch it himself. Ask people around you who are familiar with things and know the classics. No one can know what animal it is. I sent a letter to Dong Fangshuo to read. Dong Fangshuo said, "I know about it. Please give me a good wine and a good meal before I say it. " Emperor Wu said, "Yes." After dinner, Dong Fangshuo said, "There are public fields, fish ponds and reed ponds somewhere. I won't say anything unless your majesty gives them to me." Emperor Wu said, "Yes." So I am willing to say, "This is an animal called Fang. Something came to surrender in the distance, and the fangs appeared first. Its teeth are the same before and after, the same size, and there are no big teeth, so it is called fangs. " Later, after a year or so, the Huns mixed evil king really led 100 thousand people to the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu gave Dong Fangshuo a lot of money.
In old age. On his deathbed, Dong Fangshuo exhorted Emperor Wu to say, "The Book of Songs says,' Flies fly around and land on the fence. A kind gentleman, don't listen to rumors. "There is no peace in the neighboring countries. I hope your majesty will stay away from flatterers and repel their slanders. Emperor Wu said, "Looking back at Dong Fangshuo now, can he just talk?" I am surprised by this. Before long, Dong Fangshuo was really ill. The ancient book says: "A bird is coming, and its sound is particularly miserable;" When people die, they speak kindly. "That's what I mean.
Later, the biography of Dong Fangshuo was also included in the Hanshu of Ban Gu, which proved that he was a historical figure, not a fiction.