陈牧：今蜀王剑指关中，寡人欲大发兵以讨之，可乎？先生以为如何？

萧凡：臣以为，关中不足加大兵耳。大王出自西州，少为将帅，闲习军事。蜀王膏粱子弟，生处京师，坐不窥堂，并无军旅之才，临锋决敌，非大王之俦也。且其御下不严，尊卑无序，若恃众怙力，将各棋峙以观成败，不肯同心共胆，与其进退也。且蜀地承平日久，民不习战；关陇顷遭羌寇，士民皆能挟弓而斗，天下所畏也，而大王拥之以为爪牙，譬犹驱虎兕以赴犬羊，鼓烈风以扫枯叶，谁敢御之！无事征兵以惊天下，使患役之民相聚为非，弃德恃众，自亏威重也，且征西将军田征，指划分明，已拒陈仓，差可御敌，且蜀王非诸葛武侯之匹也，无能为也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：nowthekingofshuinvadedguanzhong，soiwanttosendtroopstofighthim，sir，whatdoyouthink？

xiaofan：idon‘tthinkyouneedtosendtoomanytroops，youwereborninguanzhongandlivedinthearmysinceyouwereachild，thekingofshuwasborninthecapitalandlivedaluxuriouslife，hehadnomilitaryprowessoractualcombatexperience，hedoesn‘tdeservetobeyouropponent，moreover，thepeaceoftheshukingdomwastoolongtobefamiliarwithwar，therearesomanywarsinguanzhongthatthepeoplecanparticipateinthefighting，withthemasyourbacking，youareinvincible，ifthereisnolarge-scalewar，youwillrecruitalargenumberofsoldiers，doingsowillmakethepeopleafraidanddamageyourprestige，besides，generaltianzhenghadalreadydrawnupabattleplan，hehadreachedchencangandstrengtheneditsdefensiveforces，thekingofshudidnothavetheabilityofzhugeliang，sohecouldnotwin。

chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：今西城宗贼甚盛，各拥众不附，若楚王因之，祸必至矣。寡人欲征兵，恐不能集，先生何以教我？

萧凡：臣以为，众不附者，仁不足也；附而不治者，义不足也。苟仁义之道行，百姓归之如水之趣下，何患征兵之不集乎？其宗贼多贪暴，骄而无谋，为下所患，若使人示之以利，必以众来。大王诛其无道，抚而用之，一州之人有乐存之心，闻大王威德，必襁负而至矣。兵集众附，南据上庸，北守安阳，西城可传檄而定。楚王虽至，无能为也。

陈牧：先生之言甚善，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：today，therebelsinthexichengarestrong，andtheydisobeymymanagement，ifthekingofchutooktheopportunitytointervene，thenitwillbeagainstus，iwantedtorecruitsoldiersfromthere，andiwasafraiditwouldn‘tgowell，sirtaughtmewhattodo？

xiaofan：ithink，thereasonwhytheydon‘tsubmittoyouisthatyourbenevolenceandrighteousnesshavenotdoneenough，ifyoudowellenoughthenthepeoplewillbewillingtosubmittoyou，andrecruitingsoldierswillgoverysmoothly，therebelsaremostlygreedy，arrogantandoftenbullytheweak，ifyougivethemfavorsthentheywillturntoyou，thenyoukillthenumberonewhodoesevilandappeasetheothers，everyoneherewillappreciateandwelcomeyou，thenyoutaketheopportunitytooccupyshangyonginthesouthandanyanginthenorth，thenthexichengwillcomeunderyourcontrol，evenifthekingofchuarrived，hewouldnotbeabletochangethestatusquo。

chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人喜谏言，恒恐上不称天心，下为百姓所怨，常内自省也，然大臣不谏者，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，此乃大王威严所至耳，但思正人匡谏，欲令耳目外通，下无怨滞，所以每有谏者，纵不合王心，亦当含容，若即嗔责，人怀战惧，谁肯更言。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：ilikeitwhenpeoplegivemeadvice，iamafraidthatgodandthepeoplewillcomplain，therefore，ioftenreacttomyself，butveryfewpeoplehavebeengivingmeadvicelately，sirtaughtmewhy？

xiaofan：ithinkthereasonisthatyou‘retakingittooseriously，soothersareafraidtomakesuggestions，ifyouwantsomeonetogiveyouadvice，thegoalistokeeptheinformationflowingandfreefrompeoplecomplaining，thenyouhavetobetolerantofpeoplewhogiveyouadvice，eveniftheyspeakinabadtone，otherwise，theywillbeafraidtospeakoutoffear。

chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。