陈牧：寡人征隐士姚兴而不至，盖沽名钓誉之辈尔，先生以为如何？

萧凡：臣以为，自古明王、圣主，必有不宾之士。伯夷、叔齐不食周粟，周党、严光不受汉禄，亦各有志焉，岂可疑一人，以疑天下哉！

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。

chenmu：iwouldliketoaskyaoxingtocomeoutandwork，butherejectedme，ithinkheishypocriticalanddeceitfultome，sirwhatdoyouthink？

xiaofan：ithink，eventheholykingwillhavepeoplewhodonotsubmittohim，boyiandshuqididnoteatthegrainofthezhoudynasty，zhoudangandyanguangdidnotacceptsubsidiesfromthehandynasty，everyonehashisownchoicesandpersistence，youdon‘tneedtoforceit，besides，youcan‘tdoubttheworldbecauseofoneperson。

chenmu:sirisright，iwaswrong。

陈牧：今东北战事胶着，二将意见相左，李晟欲攻易县，马隆欲攻渤海，寡人当如何处置，先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为当先下渤海，易县闻李晟欲攻之，日夜为备，方自忧，必不能救援，马隆兵趋渤海，出不意而至，其必惊扰，吾攻之一日，必克。拔渤海，则易县孤，与齐隔绝，必复亡去，所谓‘击一而得二’者也。若先攻易县，不能卒下，顿兵坚城，死伤必多。纵能拔之，其引军还奔渤海，并兵合势，观人虚实。吾深入敌地，后无转输，旬月之间，不战而困矣，愿大王勿疑。

陈牧：先生之言甚善，寡人意决矣，兵发渤海。

chenmu：thesituationinthenortheastisnotclearnow，andtheopinionsofthetwogeneralsareconflicting，lishengwantedtoattackyicounty，andmalongwantedtoattackbohai，sirtaughtmewhattodo？

xiaofan：ithinkweshouldattackthebohaifirst，whenyixianheardthatlishengwasgoingtoattackit，hewoulddefinitelybebusystrengtheninghisdefenses，therefore，itisimpossibletorescuethebohaiandthereisnochance，atthistime，malonetooktheopportunitytosneakintothebohai，inthemidstofchaositwillsurelybeconqueredbyus，oncethebohaiseawasconquered，thenyicountybecameanisolatedorphan，therefore，thedefendersofyicountywilldefinitelyescape，accordingtothisplan，wewillconquertwocountiesatthesametime，ifyouattackyicountyfirstandcannotconqueritinashorttime，thenourcasualtiesmustbeveryserious，evenifitwasconquered，itwouldruntothebohaiseatojointhelocaldefenders，andwearedeepintheenemyterritoryandthereisnotenoughfood，inlessthanamonth，wewillbeinaseriouscrisis，hopeyoudon‘thesitateanymore。

chenmu:sirisright，ialreadyhadadecisioninmind，attackthebohaifirst。

陈牧：寡人闻，不出户庭，无咎。何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，乱之所生也，则言语为之阶。君不密则失臣，臣不密则失身，机事不密则害成。是以君子慎密而不出也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

chenmu：i‘veheardthatthere‘snofaultfornotwalkingoutofthehouse，howtounderstand？sirtaughtme。

xiaofan：ithink，muchoftheconfusionarisesbecauseofinappropriatespeech，ifthekingdoesnotkeepsecrets，thenhewilllosehisministers，iftheministerdoesnotkeepitsecret，thenhislifewillbelost，ifimportantthingsarenotkeptsecret，thentheywillnotsucceed，therefore，agentlemanistokeepitasecretuntilthingsaredone。

chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。