The meaning of this sentence is that this is indeed a period of critical survival for the country. It comes from Zhuge Liang's "The Master's Guide". In this article, I have compiled the relevant content, come and take a look!
Translation of "Chu Shi Biao"
The late emperor died before half of the great cause he had started. Now the world is divided into three kingdoms. Our Shu Han country is weak and in a difficult situation. This is really a critical moment for the country's survival. However, the guards and ministers worked tirelessly inside, and the loyal and ambitious soldiers worked tirelessly on the battlefield. This is because they recall the late Emperor's special kindness to them and want to repay you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty, you should listen to the opinions of others widely to carry forward the virtues left by the late emperor and inspire the ambitions of those with lofty ambitions. You should not underestimate yourself too much and quote inappropriate metaphors to block the way of advice and advice.
The palace and the court are originally a whole, and there should be no differences in rewards, punishments, praise and blame. If there are people who violate laws and regulations and do good deeds loyally, they should be handed over to the officials in charge to determine their punishment to show His Majesty's fair and strict governance. There should not be partiality and selfishness that make the palace and the court reward and punish. The methods are different.
Shizhong, Shilang Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others are all kind and honest people with unparalleled ambition and loyalty, so the late emperor selected them to assist His Majesty. I think that they should be consulted on all court affairs, be they big or small, before they are put into execution. This will certainly be able to make up for shortcomings and omissions and bring about a lot of benefits.
General Xiang Chong has a kind and upright character, and is well versed in military affairs. When he was in charge of military affairs, the late Emperor praised his ability, so he was recommended by everyone to be the Military Superintendent. I think that all matters concerning the army should be discussed with him. This will surely help to unite the army and make people with different talents find their proper places.
To be close to virtuous ministers and alienate from villains is the reason for the prosperity of the Western Han Dynasty; to be close to villains and alienate virtuous ministers is the reason for the decline of the Eastern Han Dynasty. When the late Emperor was still alive, whenever he discussed these matters with me, he would not fail to express his heartache and regret for what Emperors Huan and Ling had done. The ministers, ministers, chief historians, and soldiers who joined the army are all loyal and honest ministers who are willing to die to serve the country. I hope that your majesty will get close to them and trust them. Then the revival of the Han Dynasty will be just around the corner.
I was originally a commoner, working as a farmer in Nanyang. I just wanted to survive in troubled times, and I didn’t expect to be famous among the princes. The late Emperor did not feel wronged because of my humble status and short-sightedness, and visited me in my thatched cottage three times. He consulted me for my opinions on major current affairs, which moved me so much that I agreed to serve the late Emperor. Later, when we suffered a defeat, I accepted the mission at the time of the defeat, and carried out my mission in a time of crisis and tribulation. Twenty-one years have passed since then.
The late emperor knew that I was cautious in my work, so he entrusted me with state affairs before his death. Since I accepted the mission, I have been feeling sad day and night, fearing that I might not be able to complete the task entrusted to me, fearing that my sagacity would be damaged. Therefore, I crossed the Lu River in the fifth month, penetrating deep into a sparsely populated area. Now that the south has been pacified and the troops and equipment are sufficient, we should inspire and lead the entire army to march north and pacify the Central Plains. I hope to use my mediocre talents to eradicate the evil and vicious enemies, restore the foundation of the Han Dynasty, and return to the old capital. . This is what I used to repay the kindness of my late Emperor and fulfill my duty to Your Majesty. As for handling affairs with due consideration and discretion as well as making faithful suggestions without reservation, that is the responsibility of Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others.
I hope that your Majesty can entrust me with the task of conquering Cao Wei and reviving the Han Dynasty. If I fail, I will be punished for my sins, so as to comfort the late emperor's spirit in heaven. If there is no suggestion to revitalize the country, then punish Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others for their negligence and expose their faults. Your Majesty should also make plans on your own, solicit and inquire about good ways to govern the country, adopt correct opinions, and deeply commemorate The teachings left by the late emperor before his death. I can't thank you enough.
Today I am about to bid farewell to His Majesty and depart for a long journey. Facing this memorial, I can’t help but burst into tears and don’t know what to say. The writing background of "Chu Shi Biao"
In 223 AD, Liu Bei died of illness and Liu Chan was entrusted to Zhuge Liang. In the spring of 228 AD, Zhuge Liang led his army in the Northern Expedition to Wei in the "Foreign Dispatch". After occupying the three counties of Longyou, the Shu army ended the first Northern Expedition with the defeat of Jieting and Jigu.
In the eleventh month of winter, Zhuge Liang learned that the Wei army Cao Xiu was defeated in his attack on Wu, and that Zhang Jiao was marching eastward, and that Guanzhong was weak. So he wrote the "Later Departure of the Division" and determined to make another northern expedition. He quickly led tens of thousands of troops, took the ancient road, left the pass, and besieged Chencang. Introduction to the author of "Chu Shi Biao"
Zhuge Liang (181-234), courtesy name Kongming and Wolong (also known as Fulong), Han nationality, was born in Yangdu, Langya, Xuzhou (now Yinan County, Linyi City, Shandong), during the Three Kingdoms period Prime Minister of the Shu Han Dynasty, an outstanding politician, strategist, essayist, and calligrapher. He was named Wuxiang Hou when he was alive, and Zhongwu Hou after his death. The Eastern Jin Dynasty regime named him King Wuxing. In order to support the Shu Han regime, Zhuge Liang worked hard and dedicated his life until his death. His representative works of prose include "Chu Shi Biao", "Book of Commandments", etc. He invented the wooden cow and flowing horse, the Kongming lantern, etc., and modified the repeating crossbow, called the Zhuge repeating crossbow, which can fire ten arrows with one crossbow. He died in Wuzhangyuan (now Qishan, Baoji) in 234. Zhuge Liang was greatly respected in later generations and became a model of loyal ministers and the embodiment of wisdom. There are Wuhou Temples in Chengdu, Baoji, Hanzhong, Nanyang and other places, and Du Fu wrote "Prime Minister of Shu" to praise Zhuge Liang.