陈牧：寡人闻，政有三品，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为其有三，王者之政化之，霸者之政威之，强国之政胁之。夫此三者各有所施，而化之为贵矣。夫化之不变。而后威之，威之不变，而后胁之，胁之不变，而后刑之。夫至于刑者，则非王者之所贵也。是以圣王先德教而后刑罚，立荣耳止而明防禁，崇礼义之。节以示之，贱货利之弊以变之，修近理内，政橛机之礼，壹妃匹之际，则下莫不慕义理之荣，而恶贪乱之耻，其所由致之者，化之使然也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

chenmu：i‘veheardthatpoliticshasthreelevels，sirtaughtmewhatthatwas？

xiaofan：ithinktherearethreekindsofit，theholykinggovernsthecountrybyadvocatingindoctrination，overlordsgovernthecountrywithgreatemphasisonpower，powerfulcountrieshandlepoliticalaffairsthroughcoercion，thefirstoptionisthemostvaluable，therefore，firstindoctrination，secondtoshowstrength，thirdiscoercionandfinallypunishment，theholykinghadnochoicebuttousethepunishment，therefore，theholykingadvocatedindoctrination，ifthereisnoeffect，thepenaltyisused，letpeopleknowabouthonoranddisgraceandwhatisforbidden，promoteetiquetteandrighteousnesstopeople，handlepoliticalaffairsdiligentlyandadvocateacorrectviewofmoney，then，everyoneintheworldwillyearnforsuchasocietyandbeashamedofdoingevil，luxuryandgreed，thisisthesituationinwhichtheholykingadvocatesindoctrination。

chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人愿闻，人君何以平治天下？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，人君欲平治天下而垂荣名者，必尊贤而下士。《易》曰：自上下下，其道大光。又曰：以贵礼下，大得民也。明王之施德而下下也，将怀远而致近也。朝无贤人，犹鸿鹄之无羽翼也，虽有千里之望，犹不能致其意之所欲至矣。是故绝江海者托于船，致远道者托于乘，欲霸王者托于贤。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：iwanttoknowhowtheholykinggovernsthecountry？sirtaughtme。

xiaofan：ithink，ifthekingwantstogovernthecountrywellandleavehisnameinhistory，hemustbehumbleandrespectfulofthetalents，treatotherswithhumility，andthefuturecanbesmooth，evenifyouarenoble，youmustrespectthetalents，onlyinthiswaycanwegetpeople‘ssupport，theholykingpromotedindoctrinationwithalowposture，evenifthegoalisfaraway，itwilleventuallybeachieved，thecountryhasnotalents，justlikeabirdhaslostitswings，thenyoucan‘tgettowhereyouwanttogo，therefore，ifyouwanttocrossthesea，youneedtohaveaboat，ifyouwanttoreachfaraway，youneedameansoftransportation，ifyouwanttobecomeaholykingandoverlord，youneedthesupportoftalents。

chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人闻，王臣蹇蹇，匪躬之故，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，人臣之所以蹇蹇为难而谏其君者，非为身也，将欲以匡君之过，矫君之失也。君有过失者，危亡之萌也；见君之过失而不谏，是轻君之危亡也。夫轻君之危亡者，忠臣不忍为也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：iheardthatloyalistsmadesuggestionswithintegrity，theydothisnotfortheirownsake，howtounderstand？sirtaughtme。

xiaofan：ithink，thereasonwhyloyalsubjectsarenotafraidofdifficultiesandmakesuggestionswithintegrity，thatistocorrecttheking‘sfaults，andnotfortheirownsake，thekingmadeamistakewhichwasthebeginningofthedanger，itwouldbeirresponsibletoseeakingmakeamistakeandnottocorrectit，andasaloyalservant，hecouldnotbeartoseethekingindanger。

chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人闻，君子慎独，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，存亡祸福，其要在身。圣人重诫，敬慎所忽。《中庸》曰：莫见夫隐，莫显乎微，胡君子能慎其独也。谚曰：诫无垢，思无辱。夫不诫不思，而以存身全国者，亦难矣。《诗》曰：战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。此之谓也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教矣。

chenmu：ihaveheardthatgentlemenarealsocautiouswhentheyarealone，sirtaughtmewhy？