Sima Guang wrote to Luoyang on April 17

Style: Historical Author: Stay away from Jing KeWords: 1133Update Time: 24/01/18 09:44:01
I heard that if the root is solid, it will be less prosperous, and if the source is turbid, the flow will be turbid. In the past, Emperor Renzong promoted his ministers to the Admonition Court. When he first came to the palace, he said that there are three virtues of a ruler: benevolence, Ming, and martial arts; and three ways of governing: appointing an official, trusting with rewards, and punishing with certainty. When Emperor Yingzong was Emperor Yingzong, I once entered a map of the past years, and the following preface said: "The way of a ruler is one, and his virtues are three." His ambition is also the same as that of Renzong. The new Emperor Daxing ascended the throne and promoted his ministers to the position of Yushi Zhongcheng. When he first came to the palace, he spoke about the importance of cultivating one's mind and governing the country. His ambition was also to serve the Yingzong. Today, heaven has brought disaster. The Daxing Emperor is about to abandon the world. His Majesty the Emperor has newly inherited the throne. The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are listening to thousands of people. The Empress Dowager is assisting the military and the country. They don’t know that the ministers are stupid. , I sincerely dedicate myself to the importance of self-cultivation and governing the country, and my ambition is just like that of an emperor who is doing great things. Therefore, I have carefully observed the actions of the past and present, spent my whole life thinking about it, and questioned the mottoes of the sages and sages. The way to control chaos, safety, and survival is based on this and cannot be changed. This is what the leader of the district has said for many years. Those who do not know my ministers will regard them as the source of knowledge about the world.

The source of order, chaos, safety, and survival lies in the heart of the king. Benevolence, Ming, and Wu are what originate from the inside, and they are what are applied to the outside when employing people, rewarding merit, and punishing sins. Those who come from within, although there are thick and thin, many and few, are gifted from heaven. However, if you are eager to learn, you will know what you should follow, and if you practice hard, you will become brighter and newer every day. When giving to the outside world, if you give it properly, it will ensure its order, security, and survival. If you don't give it properly, it will lead to chaos, danger, and death. It is up to you to do it yourself. Therefore, being able to act depends on the supreme understanding. Therefore, being able to understand depends on the supreme justice. Therefore, a wise king makes good use of people, visits distant places, and distinguishes the special ones. A person with high moral character is a virtuous person, and a person with knowledge and courage can show his ability. The virtuous do not need to be capable, and the capable do not need to be virtuous. Everyone should be given positions and responsibilities according to their strengths. If you have merit, you will be rewarded, if you are guilty, you will be punished. If the person is a capable person, he will use it even though he is an expert. If he is a mediocre person, he will be abandoned even if he is close to you. Rewards must be encouraged, punishments must be punished, rewards should not be given with joy, punishments should not be angered, rewards should not be greater than what you love, and punishments should not be heavier than what you hate, and you must share the same likes and dislikes with the people of the country. So in ancient times, people were honored in the court, shared with the scholars, punished in the market, and abandoned with the banquet. Is it inappropriate to do this? The minister said: The reason why you can do it lies in the supreme understanding; the reason why you can understand it lies in the supreme justice.

In the past, Duke Huan of Qi set up a shooting hook and made Guan Zhong the prime minister. Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty knew that people were good at envoys, but if they were not talented enough, they would abandon them even if they were pleased with them. If they were talented, they would use them even if they were traffickers, drunkards, dead generals, and garrison soldiers. This is why they can conquer the world with common people. Princess Guantao asked for a husband for her son, but Emperor Ming refused and instead gave her tens of millions of dollars. Lang, he is a lowly official, but I still cherish him, how much more is he a noble one? Therefore, the rule of Yongping is still called it. Emperor Gaozu of the Song Dynasty was very filial to Empress Dowager Xiao. The Empress Dowager wanted to appoint Zidaolian as the governor of Yangzhou, but Emperor Gaozu refused because of his greed and stupidity. Therefore, his achievements were the highest in the Southern Dynasties. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty killed Jiancheng and Yuanji, and used their officials as Wei Zhenggong, Wang Gui, etc., which was no different from Fang and Du, and the death was effective. Empress Dowager Zheng was very conscientious in Xuanzong's affairs. She asked her uncle Zheng Guang about political affairs, but she couldn't do it right, so she dismissed him from Fangzhen. Therefore, people at that time praised him and called him "Little Taizong". This is also a fair way to employ people. Han Zhaohou cherished his sacrifice and did not give gifts to those who had no merit; the emperor of the Han Dynasty deeply resented Yong Chi, but never forgot his merits; the Taizu of the Wei Dynasty deserved rewards for his meritorious service, and did not hesitate to give away a lot of gold. Zhang, so those who got the crimson color at that time felt proud. This is a fair reward for merit. Yanniu killed Meng Bing, Zhong Ren, and Li Shusun Zhaozi. Zhaozi counted their crimes and killed them. Confucius was good at them and did not work hard. Ding Gong escaped from Han Gaozu in E. Gaozu thought he was disloyal and had him beheaded. Princess Longlu, the sister of Emperor Wu, died and belonged to her son, Lord Zhaoping. Lord Zhaoping killed someone, and Emperor Wu executed him with tears streaming down his face. The jester of Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty caught a robber official and fell from his horse. Emperor Ming killed him with his staff. Xuanzong said to the musicians: "You cherish Luo and Cheng Yi, and I cherish the Emperor Taizong's method." This is a fair punishment. I will briefly mention these few, thinking that they are clear and valid, and the rest will be published in your majesty’s books for testing, so that I know that what I said is not fallacious.

I am a foolish person who cannot fully understand the affairs of the world. I have recently submitted an imperial edict and begged for an edict to open the way for my words. On May 3rd, the fourth year of Zhiping, I went to the palace to record the documents and submit them, begging Your Majesty to pay attention and take a look.



All I can say is that once the angle of looking at something is off, it is really off.

Originally, historically, there was definitely no problem with this submission.

But now because of Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji, it has become very problematic.