Editor
In the second year of Qiande in Song Dynasty (964): Zhao Pu was appointed prime minister and was granted the title of King of Han in Jin Dynasty.
Residence: residence.
For: responsible.
Chengsuan’s direction: future plans.
Taizong: refers to Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi, who succeeded Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin as emperor.
Yizu: refers to the emperor who founded the country.
Introduction
When King Pu of Zhao Han was the prime minister, when Taizu came to the throne, he could count the few micro deeds or the homes of meritorious officials, which was unpredictable. One day it snowed heavily, and at night, I knocked on Zhao Pumen. Pu came out urgently. He was afraid to greet you and asked: "The night has been very cold. Why did your Majesty come out?" The emperor said: "I can't sleep. There are other people's houses outside the bed, so I came to see you." : "Your Majesty, the world is small. At this time of the Southern and Northern Expeditions, I would like to hear what is planned." The emperor said: "I want to go to Taiyuan." Pu was silent for a long time, and said: "This is not what I know." The emperor said. When asked why, Pu said: "Taiyuan is on the northwest and northwest sides. If we attack them in one fell swoop, I will be the only one responsible for the troubles on both sides. Why not stay here until we can flatten the other countries." The emperor smiled and said, "That's what I mean. , I will give you a special test." Then we decided on the plan for Jiangnan.
Since Taizu conquered the world, he summoned the generals to ask: "Since the Tang Dynasty, in the past few decades, emperors have changed their surnames and wars have continued. What is the reason? I want to calm down the war in the world. What is the way to build a country for the long term?" Pu Ri said: "The rule of law is too important, the king is weak and the ministers are strong. If you seize the power, control the money and grain, and recruit the elite soldiers, the world will be in peace." Before he finished speaking, The previous day: "Please don't say anything more, I have already given you the order." In the late dynasty, I had a drink with my old friends Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and others, and the previous day said: "Life is like the passing of a white colt, and you are rich and noble. It is just a matter of hoarding a lot of money and silk to entertain yourself so that your descendants will not be in poverty. Why don't you release your military power, choose a good land and house, and focus on the long-term inheritance of your descendants? There will be many singers and dancers, and they will drink and have fun together for the rest of their lives. The emperor and his ministers asked, "Isn't it good for both the superiors and the inferiors to live in harmony?" They all bowed to the sun again: "Your Majesty, I am thinking of this, the so-called life and death are all sick, please release the military power." , all of them were dismissed from office and given generous rewards, and all the meritorious officials ended up doing well.
When King Zhao Han served the ancestors, there were ministers who had made meritorious service and should be moved to the official position. . Pu Jian thought of it and said: "Punishment is used to punish crimes, and rewards are used to reward merit. This is the passage between ancient and modern times." Moreover, punishments and rewards, the punishments and rewards in the world are not the punishments and rewards of Your Majesty, so how can you focus on joy and anger? "The emperor was very angry. When he got up, Pu followed suit. When he entered the palace, he stood at the gate of the palace and stayed there for a long time. When he went to Qiang, he could play it. If Pu wanted to remove someone as a certain official, it was not in line with Taizu's wishes, so he did not use it. Tomorrow , Played it again, but didn't use it. Tomorrow, it was played again. Taizu was angry, and the piece was broken and fell to the ground. .
When King Zhao Han was the prime minister, every time the court encountered a major event, he would make a big decision before he returned to the throne. Then he would urgently close the door, open the suitcase, take a book and read it. At sunrise the next day, the matter was decided. After Pu passed away, his family began to open the box to see him, and in Chapter 20 of the Analects of Confucius, he said: "Pu, a scholar from Shandong, is the only one who can." Read "The Analects of Confucius!" Taizong was suspicious and told Pu. Pu said: "I really don't know books, but I can read "The Analects of Confucius" to help Yi Zu ④ determine the world, so I only used half of it, and the other half can assist Your Majesty. "The superior's intention is relieved, and the soldiers look forward to it.
(Selected from "Guijian of Words and Actions", with changes)
Translation
King Zhao Pu of Han became the prime minister. Tai Zu had just ascended the throne and went out incognito for many private visits, sometimes visiting the homes of heroes. One day, it snowed heavily at night, and the emperor knocked on Zhao Pu's door. Zhao Pu hurried out, knelt down to greet him, and asked: "It's cold in the night, why did your majesty come out." ?" The emperor said: "I can't sleep. Outside the bed, there are other people's homes, so I came to see you.
Zhao Pu said: "Does Your Majesty think the world is small? Now is the time to go south and north. I hope to hear your future plans." The emperor said, "I want to attack Taiyuan." Zhao Pu didn't speak for a long time and said, "This is beyond my ability to understand." "The emperor asked the reason, and Zhao Pu said: "Taiyuan blocks the west and north sides. If we capture Taiyuan in one fell swoop, we will have to deal with the troubles on both sides alone. Why not wait for the peace of the other countries (and then attack again)? Taiyuan). Taizu smiled and said, "That's exactly what I think. I'm just testing you." "So the decision was made to attack Jiangnan.
After Taizu gained the world, he summoned Zhao Pu and asked: "Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, in the past few decades, the emperor's generals have changed ten surnames. What's the reason? I want to stop the war in the world and establish long-term peace and stability for the country. Is there any way?" Zhao Pu said: "The power of the governor of the feudal town is too heavy. The king is weak and the ministers are strong. Only by gradually reducing their power, controlling their money and food, and withdrawing their troops will the world naturally become stable. Before he finished speaking, the emperor said: "Stop talking, I already understand." "The emperor took advantage of the late dynasty to drink with veteran generals Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and others. When the wine was at its most enjoyable, Song Taizu said: "Life is like a horse passing through a gap. The wealth you seek is not too much. Accumulate some gold and silver: entertain yourself more so that your descendants will not be poor. Why don't you abolish military power, choose good land and houses as your son's long-term career, and raise more singers and dancers to drink and have fun every day to spend your life. Isn't it great that there is no suspicion between the monarch and his ministers, and that everyone is at peace with each other? Shi Shouxin and others bowed twice and said, "Your Majesty cares about us so much. This is what we call resurrecting the dead and growing flesh from the bones!" On the second day, they all excused themselves as sick and begged to be relieved of military power. Taizu of the Song Dynasty agreed and allowed them to go home and retire as casual officials. The rewards given to them were also very generous, and many of the meritorious officials died happily.
When Zhao Pu was assisting Taizu, there was a minister who should be promoted for his meritorious service. Taizu had always disliked his behavior and disapproved of his promotion. Zhao Pu resolutely pleaded for him and said: "The criminal law is used to punish crimes, and rewards are used to reward those who have made meritorious services. This is the same truth throughout the ages. Moreover, punishments and rewards are for the world, not for Your Majesty personally." How can you arbitrarily impose punishments and rewards based on your own joy and anger?" Taizu became even more angry, got up and left, Zhao Pu followed closely behind him, Taizu entered the palace, Zhao Pu stood at the entrance of the palace, and a long time passed. Don't leave. Taizu came to his senses and approved his memorial. Zhao Pu wanted to appoint someone as a certain official, but it was not in line with Taizu's wishes, so Taizu refused to accept it. The next day, Zhao Pu presented another memorial, but Taizu did not accept it again. The memorial was presented again the next day. Taizu was so angry that he took the memorial, tore it up and threw it on the ground. Zhao Pu's expression remained unchanged. He slowly picked up the memorial and went home, repaired it, and presented it again the next day. Only then did Taizu wake up and accept the memorial. I listened to his opinion, and that person turned out to be competent.
Zhao Pu became prime minister. Whenever the court encountered major events and made important decisions, as soon as he returned home, he immediately closed the door, unpacked books, and read all day long. Even his family could not guess who he was. What to read. It will be easy to handle government affairs the next day. Later, after his death, his family opened the box and looked at it. It turned out to be twenty chapters of The Analects of Confucius. Taizong wanted to appoint him as prime minister, but someone framed him and said, "Zhao Pu, a scholar from Shandong, can only read the Analects of Confucius!" Taizong was suspicious and told Zhao Pu about this. Zhao Pu said: "I really don't know how to read. I can only read a book of "The Analects" to help the late emperor stabilize the world. I only used half of it and the other half can assist your majesty." Taizong's doubts were eliminated and he was finally appointed as prime minister.