陈牧：将军马隆兵围高唐，诸将劝其宜急攻之，寡人当如何处之？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，军势有宜缓以克敌，有宜急而取之。若彼我势均，且有强援，虑腹背之患者，须急攻之，以速大利。如其我强彼弱，外无救援，力足制之者，当羁縻守之，以待其弊。兵法十围五攻，此之谓也。今齐军虽弱，然众未离心，且凭险拒守，上下同心。攻守势倍，军之常法。若其促攻，不过数旬，克之必矣，但恐伤吾士众，当持久以取之耳。

陈牧：先生之言甚善，寡人即刻飞书。

chenmu：nowgeneralmaloneisbesieginggaotang，thegeneralsadvisedmetogivetheorderforageneralattack，howshouldihandlethis？sirtaughtme。

xiaofan：ithink，somewarsrequireslowingdowntheoffensiveandsomeneedingtospeeduptheoffensive，differentscenariosareadoptedindifferentsituationsbuttheyservethesamepurpose，ifthetwosidesaresimilarinstrengthandtheenemymayalsohavereinforcements，theninordertopreventbeingcaughtbetweentwosides，weneedtospeeduptheoffensive，ifwearestrongerthantheenemyandtheyhavenoreinforcements，thenweshouldbesiegethemandconsumethemtodeath，that‘swhattheartofwarsays，althoughtheqiarmyisnowweak，buttheyoccupiedthestrongholdandmoralehadnotyetbeenreduced，ifwelaunchanoffensivenowinlessthanamonth，wecanovercomeit，buti‘mafraidourlossescouldbeenormous，soisuggestyoufightaprotractedbattle，thatismoreappropriate。

chenmu：sirisright，iimmediatelygavethemilitaryorder。

陈牧：寡人闻，大乱之后，必有易治之势，寡人当如何治之？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，当以仁义相厉，我有公心焉，则士民不敢念其私矣；我有平心焉，则士民不敢行其险矣；我有俭心焉，士民不敢放其奢矣。此躬行之所征者也。教有道，禁不义，而身以先之，忠仁为上，勤以守之，其成虽迟，君子之德也。谲诈以御其下，欺其民而取其心，虽有立成之功，至德之所不贵也。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

chenmu：iheard，itiseasytogovernafterchaos，howshouldigovernthecountryatthistime？sirtaughtme。

xiaofan：ithink，youshouldadvocatebenevolenceandrighteousnessintheworld，aslongasyouhandlegovernmentaffairsjustlyandfairly，thenthepeoplewillnotbeselfishandtreacherous，aslongasyouadvocatefrugalityandsetanexample，thenpeoplewillnotbeextravagant，thisistheresultofyouleadingbyexample，educatetheworldwithbenevolenceandjustice，andsetanexample，promotebenevolenceandloyaltyanddiligentlypursueit，althoughthepaceofgovernancewillbeslower，thecountrywillbecomebetter，ifyouusetreacherousmeanstogovernthecountryanddeceivethepeople，eveniftheeconomycanberestoredassoonaspossible，thefoundationsofthecountrywillbeunstable。

chenmu：sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：今御史往陇西检覆群牧，得隐匿马二万馀匹，寡人甚怒，吾欲斩太仆卿及诸监官，可乎？先生以为如何？

萧凡：臣以为，人命至重，大王奈何以畜产之故，杀千有馀人，岂不冤滥乎？臣敢以死请大王丐千馀人命，付之大理寺候审。

陈牧：寡人之不明，以至于此乎！多所活宥，赖有先生忠言耳。

chenmu：theemissarywenttolongxitocheckontheherds，morethan20，000horseswerefoundhidden，iwasshockedandangryaboutthis，therefore，iwanttoputalltherelevantofficialstodeath，sirwhatdoyouthink？

xiaofan：ithinkhumanlifeisprecious，howcanyoukillmorethanathousandpeoplebecauseoflivestock？i‘mafraidtherewillbepeoplewhohavebeenwronged，iwanttousemylifeasaguarantee，iaskyoutosendthesepeopletothecourtofjusticefortrial。

chenmu：ididn‘texpectmetofaintsomuch，theysurvivedbecauseofyourhonestyandfaithfulness。