During the Warring States Period, Fan Ju came to the State of Qin, proposed a strategy of distant friendship and close attack for the King of Qin, and helped the King of Qin drive away Wei Ran, and he himself was appointed as the prime minister by the King of Qin.
Fan Ju, who became the prime minister, recommended his benefactor to King Qin for reuse in order to repay the kindness of others, but unfortunately he didn't expect that he almost killed himself because of the recommendation to his benefactor.
Although King Qin is indeed very dependent on it, feelings are the most unbearable thing, and when the two of them are exhausted, all the previous sins will be recalculated. Fortunately, there was a person who came to Qin State to save him at this time, and this person was Cai Ze.
Cai Ze is a native of Yan State, and when he was young, he traveled around the world to ask famous teachers for advice, and by the way, he sought an official position from the princes, but he has not been reused.
One day, Cai Ze asked Tang Ju to look at him, and asked Tang Ju, I once heard that Mr. Li Dui met and said that he would grasp the power of a country within 100 days, is it true?
Tang Ju nodded when he heard it and told Cai Ze that it was true. Li Dui was the minister of Zhao and the main driver of the Dune Rebellion, and after the death of King Wuling of Zhao, he took control of Zhao.
Cai Ze listened to the music, and then said to Tang Ju, what will happen to people like me?After Tang Ju took a closer look, he ridiculed Cai Ze for being ugly, but he could be a saint.
Cai Ze knew that Tang Ju was joking with himself, so he said that the wealth is what I already have, I just want to know how long this wealth has been. Tang Ju told him that there would be forty-three years from now on.
Cai Ze thanked him and left, and then said to his coachman, I will live a happy life, forty-three years is long enough.
It's a pity that things didn't happen to himHe left Yan to go to Zhao, but was driven out by Zhao. Then he went to Han and Wei, and on the way he encountered robbers who robbed him of his cooking utensils.
Cai Ze had no choice but to come to Qin to try his luck, and this luck came. After arriving in the State of Qin, Cai Ze heard that Zheng Anping and Wang Ji, who were recommended by Fan Ju, the prime minister of Qin, had committed serious crimes, although the King of Qin did not punish him, but he himself was very ashamed.
Cai Ze wanted to seek an official in front of King Qin, so he first asked people to reveal the news to Fan Ju's doorman, and said that Cai Ze, a guest from Yan Kingdom, was very talented. If he saw the King of Qin, he would definitely be able to put Fan Ju in a difficult situation and deprive him of his power.
When Fan Ju's doorman heard the news, he told Fan Ju. Fan Ju thought that he knew a lot of knowledge, and he had never seen someone who dared to be so arrogant in front of him, so he asked Cai Ze to be summoned.
After Cai Ze came, he just gave a gift very casually, which made Fan Ju very unhappy. So he reprimanded him, you threatened to replace me as the prime minister of Qin, is there such a thing?
Cai Ze replied to him, there is indeed such a thing. Fan Ju said Okay, let me hear your opinion.
As soon as Cai Ze heard the disdain on Fan Ju's lips, he sneeredWhy are you so slow to recognize the problem?The four seasons change throughout the year, and it is when each completes its mission that it automatically leaves.
Without waiting for Fan Ju to respond, Cai Ze continued, all parts of a person's body are very strong, is it a person's wish?Fan Ju nodded and said, Yes.
Cai Ze also said, based on benevolence, spreading kindness, aiming at the world, and letting the people of the world support him as the monarch, is this the expectation of a wise person?Fan Ju said, yes.
Cai Ze went on to say, such a high power, a smooth career, a long and healthy life, and there are people who are willing to continue his career after he dies, and his reputation is widely spread, is this just the promotion of the right path, the good thing that the sage said?Fan Ju replied, yes.
At this time, Cai Ze brought out the Shang Yang of the Qin State, the Wu Qi of the Chu State, and the Yue State of Wen, and then asked Fan Ju if he envied their tragic ending.
Fan Ju knew what Cai Ze wanted to saySo he deliberately retorted that although Shang Ying and others had a tragic ending, they made great contributions to the country, and in the end they all died for the sake of righteousness, so even if they died, they would have no regrets.
Cai Ze replied,The monarch is sage, the courtiers are virtuous, this is the great blessing of the world;The ruler is wise, and the courtiers are upright, which is a blessing for a nation;It is a blessing for a family to have a loving father, a filial son, an honest husband, and a faithful wife.
Bigan, Wu Zixu, and Shen Sheng all died for the sake of righteousness, but did they finally keep their country?Why, but because they don't have a holy king, and the whole world hates their king and sympathizes with them.
But if only death can establish a reputation for loyalty, then Weizi cannot be called a benevolent man, Confucius cannot be called a saint, and Guan Zhong cannot be called great.
Don't people expect to save their lives if they want to make great achievements?The existence of one's own life and fame is superior;Fame is preserved but life is not there, this is inferior;If your reputation is tarnished, your life will not be saved, which is inferior.
Hearing this, this was to say Fan Ju's thoughts, and Fan Ju couldn't help but praise.
Cai Ze took the opportunity to say that Shang Ying's loyalty and meritorious work are admirable, but Hong Yao served King Wen of Zhou, and Duke Zhou assisted King Zhou Cheng, isn't it the same?But how does their relationship with the monarch compare?
Fan Ju replied, it is true, Shang Jun and the others are not as good as Zhou Gong them.
Cai Ze said, since this is the case, then how is your lord treating his courtiers and Qin Xiaogong and others?Fan Ju didn't answer well, but said he didn't know.
Cai Ze continued, "Then can your merits surpass that of Shang Ying?"Fan Ju replied, I am naturally inferior.
Cai Ze began to persuade Fan JudaoNow your lord treats his courtiers not as well as Qin Xiaogong and others, and your merits and favor are not as good as Shang Ying and others, but now you are in a high position and wealth, and your wealth is also superior to them. If you don't know where to go, you'll be worse than they are.
As the saying goes,The sun will begin to deflect when it reaches the center, and the moon will begin to wane when it reaches its full. It is the law of nature that when things develop to their peak, they decay.
The sage believed that it was necessary to advance and retreat, and to adapt to the changes of the times. Now that your great revenge has been avenged, your kindness has been repaid, and your merits and riches have been made, but you have no plan to deal with it, I don't think it's right.
Just like animals, they sometimes die not because they can't stay away, but because they are deceived by the bait. Like Su Qin and Zhibo, it was precisely because they were deceived by greed that they finally died.
SoThe sages made rituals to help people control their desires, and only in this way can they ensure that their careers will not be cut off.
When Duke Huan of Qi first became the hegemon, he corrected the world, and the princes also attached themselves to him, but when it came to the Kwaiqiu Alliance, he began to be arrogant, and the princes betrayed him.
The same is true for Wu Wangfucha, as well as Shang Ying, Bai Qi, Wu Qi, Wen Chong and others, all of whom did not end well in the end. Only Fan Li understood this truth, so he left after becoming famous, and finally had a good death.
If you've ever met someone who gambles, you know that sometimes you make big bets and sometimes you make small bets multiple times. The same is true for the country, before you were making big bets, your achievements have reached the peak, and now it is time for the Qin State to make many small bets, if you don't know how to advance or retreat, Shang Ying and others are your end.
I've heard a saying,With water, you can see your own face;Learning from others can see your own good fortune and evil. The book says that you can't stay for a long time after becoming famous.
Besides, with the deeds of Shang Ying and others in front of you, why can't you give up the position of prime minister and give him up to a virtuous person?In this way, your reputation and deeds will be preserved, and you will be able to save your life.
"I Ching" has the hexagram of Kanglong and regret, that is, it means that you can go up and down, you can stretch and not bend, and you can not consciously return.
Fan Ju saidI have heard that if you have desires and do not know how to satisfy them, you will lose them, and if you want to possess them without knowing moderation, you will lose your possession. Thank you for your teachings, and I obey them.
Then Fan Ju invited Cai Ze to take a seat and treat him as a guest.
A few days later, Fan Ju recommended Cai Ze to King Qin. King Qin summoned Cai Ze, liked him very much, and worshiped him as a guest. Fan Ju took the opportunity to retire, and although the King of Qin tried his best to keep him in office, Fan Ju eventually returned to his hometown due to illness.
Cai Ze's later approach was indeed as he himself saidA few months after he became Xiangguo in Qin, someone slandered him, and he was afraid of being killed, so he resigned from Xiangguo due to illness.
Even now, we can see that some people are in this state, they can't go up or down, they are obviously very successful, but the ending is not good, Cai Ze's advice to Fan Ju is somewhat helpful to these people.