chenmu：nowtherearesignsofunitybetweenthedangxiangandthekhitans，soiwantedtokillthemessengerofthedangxiang，sirwhatdoyouthink？

xiaofan：ithink，thereisnotmuchhatredbetweenthedangxiangandus，theywereonlyusedbythekhitans，ifyoukillthemessenger，youwillhaveavendettaagainstacountry，thereisnobenefittodoingso，ifyoureleasethemessenger，andthedangxiangwillbegratefultous，thentheircooperationwiththekhitanwentbankrupt，ihopeyouwillconsiderthisapproach。

chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人愿闻，礼之为物何用？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为礼之为物大矣！用之于身，则动静有法而百行备焉；用之于家，则内外有别而九族睦焉；用之于乡，则长幼有伦而俗化美焉；用之于国，则君臣有叙而政治成焉；用之于天下，则诸侯顺服而纪纲正焉。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

chenmu：iwonderwhattheroleofetiquetteis，sirtaughtme。

xiaofan：ithinktheroleofetiquetteistoogreat，useitonyourself，thenthebehaviorwillbecorrectandtherewillbeabasisfordoinganything，useitathome，thenitwilldistinguishbetweenthenearandfarrelativesandbringthefamilyintoharmony，usetotowns，thentheelderlywillberespected，childrenwillbeloved，andthesocialatmospherewillbecomebetter，usetothecountry，thenthekingsandministersareinorderandthecountryiswellgoverned，useitallovertheworld，thenothercountrieswillalsosurrenderandwillnotbeconfused。

chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人今来多有过失，我欲掩之，可乎？先生以为如何？

萧凡：臣以为过者，人之所必不免也，惟圣贤为能知而改之。古之圣王，患其有过而不自知也，故设诽谤之木，置敢谏之鼓，岂畏百姓之闻其过哉！是以仲虺美成汤曰：“改过不吝。”由是观之，则为人君者，固不以无过为贤，而以改过为美也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。

chenmu：i‘vemadealotofmistakeslately，soiwanttocoveritup，sirwhatdoyouthink？

xiaofan：ithinkeveryonemakesmistakes，itisdifficulttoavoidit，onlyasaintwilladmithismistakeandcorrectit，thewisekingsofthepastwereafraidthattheywouldnotrecognizethemiftheyhadmadeamistake，sohesetupplanksanddrumsticksinordertogetotherstoremindhim，sotheyarenotafraidthatotherswillknowthattheyhavemademistakes，aslongasitcanbecorrectedintime，don‘tthinkthatkingsarenotallowedtomakemistakes，itisgoodtocorrectitintime，soyoudon‘tneedtocoveritup。

chenmu:sirisright，iwaswrong。

陈牧：寡人闻，仓廪实而知礼节，衣食足而知荣辱，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，民不足而可治者，自古及今，未之闻也。古之人曰：‘一夫不耕，或受之饥；一女不织，或受之寒。’生之有时而用之无度，则物力必屈。古之治天下，至纤至悉，故其畜积足恃。今背本而趋末者甚众，是天下之大残也！淫侈之俗，日日以长，是天下之大贼也！残、贼公行，莫之或止；大命将泛，莫之振救。生之者甚少而靡之者甚多，天下财产何得不蹶。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：iheard，onlywhenyouhavesavingswillyouknowetiquette，onlywhenyouhaveeatenenoughwillyouknowthehonoranddisgrace，sirtaughtmewhy？

xiaofan：ithink，sinceancienttimes，thepeoplehavenotobeyedthemanagementiftheyhavenotenoughtoeat，theproverbsaysthatifyoudon‘tfarm，youwillbehungryandyouwon‘tweaveclothandyouwillbecold，timeislimitedbutdesireisendless，soitisdifficulttosatisfygreed，inthepast，governingtheworldwassimpleandsimple，savingscanalsomeetpeople‘sneeds，nowmostpeoplegointobusinessandpeoplebecomeextravagantandpromiscuous，thisdisruptssocialstabilityandharmony，it‘shardtostop，whatisproducedcannotsatisfyman‘sdesires，thesituationisworsenowthanyouask。

chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。