Thousand Characters

Chapter 34

[Original text]

The meritorious deeds are solid, and the inscriptions are inscribed on the stele.Fenxi Yiyin, Zuoshi Aheng.

【Note】

Strategies: make plans.Merit: Go into battle and kill the enemy.Mao: lush.Le stele: engraving on the stele.Engraving: engraving on metal.Fenxi: A stream pool on the banks of the Weishui River, near today's Baoji, Shaanxi. It is said that Jiang Ziya once fished here.Yi Yin: Name of person.Yi Yin once assisted Shang Tang to destroy the Xia Dynasty and founded the Shang Dynasty. At the same time, he was also the most famous culinary expert in ancient times and became the ancestor of future chefs.A Heng: Official title in the Shang Dynasty, equivalent to a prime minister.The first two sentences tell us that these civil and military officials can enjoy such generous treatment from generation to generation because some of them went to battle to kill the enemy and defend the security of the country, while others made suggestions for the construction and development of the country.The last two sentences list the historical deeds of some civil servants and military generals. The first ones to appear are Jiang Ziya and Yi Yin.

【Interpretation】

Some of these civil and military officials made suggestions, some went to battle to kill the enemy, and made real achievements. These achievements were recorded in the annals of history and engraved on stone tablets and metals.Jiang Ziya fished on the banks of the Weishui River, and Yi Yin was a cook, but they later helped the emperor achieve great things and were the heroes who pacified the world.

【allusion】

Wang Dan was very grateful to Kou Zhun. Wang Dan was from the Northern Song Dynasty. He and Kou Zhun belonged to the same discipline, and were appointed by the emperor to preside over the Zhongshu Province and the Privy Council respectively.The two are equally knowledgeable and talented, but Kou Zhun often criticizes Wang Dan in front of Song Zhenzong, while Wang Dan often praises Kou Zhun in front of the emperor.Once, an official document signed by the Zhongshu Province presided over by Wang Dan seriously violated Song Zhenzong's will. Kou Zhun, who presided over the Privy Council, seized the handle and reported the mistakes in the official document to Song Zhenzong without reservation.Song Zhenzong was extremely furious about this matter, and he severely punished Wang Dan and his subordinates.Coincidentally, soon, the Privy Council also violated Song Zhenzong's will in an official document to the Ministry of Education.The officials of Zhongshu Province all hoped that Wang Dan could take this opportunity to sue Kou Zhun severely to avenge his punishment.However, things were beyond the expectations of the subordinates. Wang Dan neither gloated nor took the opportunity to retaliate. Instead, he personally pointed out the mistakes in the official document one by one, and ordered his subordinates to return the document to the Privy Council, asking them to correct it. Then send it over as soon as possible, so as not to miss the national event.After Kou Zhun received the rejection, he was very moved.According to the mistakes pointed out by Wang Dan, he carefully revised it himself, and respectfully handed it over to the visitor to take away.Kou Zhun thinks that Wang Dan disregards personal grievances and proceeds from the overall situation, and behaves very magnanimously.After sending off Wang Dan's messenger, the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt, so he immediately took a sedan chair and came to Wang Dan's mansion to thank him. , Now Wang Dan ignores past suspicions, is tolerant and generous, and is a true gentleman.Kou Zhun said, bowing to Wang Dan again and again, expressing deep remorse and gratitude.Wang Dan helped Kou Zhun up, ordered the family to serve tea, and said flatly, we all act according to the order, and no one can avoid occasional negligence.Moreover, even if there is a slight negligence, it is definitely not intentional.As long as the overall situation is the most important thing in everything, and when it is possible to save it, try to correct it as much as possible.On this day, the two had a long talk at the knees.Since then, Wang Dan and Kou Zhun have worked together and assisted the government wholeheartedly, becoming two famous ministers in the Northern Song Dynasty.During the Shang Dynasty, there was a very talented man named Jiang Ziya.King Zhou was fatuous and cruel, and his talents could not be displayed.He often sits alone on a big rock by the Wei River and fishes with a straight hook. What's even more strange is that he not only does not use bait, but also hangs the hook on the water.One day, King Wen of Zhou heard about this incident from his ministers, so he went to visit Jiang Ziya.After some conversation, King Zhou Wen felt that Jiang Ziya was really talented, so he invited him to help him govern the country together.After the death of King Wen of Zhou, Jiang Ziya continued to assist King Wu of Zhou in the crusade against King Zhou of Shang, and finally defeated the cruel King Zhou and established the Zhou Dynasty.Another talented person is Yi Yin, who was an orphan since he was a child and was adopted by a cook in his family.Yi Yin learned from a chef and can cook many delicious dishes.Yi Yin is not only very smart, he cooks well, he is also very talented. Since he is only a chef and cannot display his talents, he talks about the world's major affairs according to the principles of cooking.After hearing what happened to him, Cheng Tang, the king of the Shang Dynasty, felt that this man was definitely not an ordinary person, so he talked to Yi Yin several times to see if Yi Yin was as powerful as people said.After several conversations, King Cheng Tang found that Yi Yin really lived up to his reputation, so he immediately decided to let him be the prime minister of the Shang Dynasty to assist him in handling the government affairs.As long as a person has real talent and learning, even if he is not discovered for a while, he will be discovered one day.It is gold, which will always shine wherever it is placed.

(End of this chapter)