chenmu：recently，manyministershavevisitedtheprince，howshouldihandlethis？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，theysimplywenttovisittheprince，it‘snotaboutformingapoliticalparty，butetiquetteishierarchical，onlybyobeyingitwilltherebenoconfusionbetweenthekingandtheministers，althoughthecrownprincewasnoble，hewasalsoacourtieroftheking，onthewintersolstice，theministersvisitedthecrownprinceandpresentedgifts，itdoesnotconformtoetiquetteandrules，youshouldorderthattheybeforbiddentodoso，atthesametime，ihopeyouwillnotlistentorumorstoprotectyourfeelings，onlythenwillthecountrybestable。
chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyou。
陈牧：今少傅卢坦，教导世子不力，寡人欲黜之，可乎？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，卢坦以天挺良才，元勋佐命，为众所疾，以至废弃；愿大王录其大功，忘其小过，弘君王之慈，顾天性之义，迁之小县，观其所为：若能迁善，渐更增益；如或不悛，贬削非晚。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：nowlutandidnotseriouslyteachthecrownprince，therefore，iwanttoremovehim，sirwhatdoyouthink？
xiaofan：ithink，lutanhadgoodtalentsandgreatmerits，otherswerejealousofhimsotheyslanderedhim，evenyou‘regoingtoremovehim，iwantyoutorememberhisgreatexploitsandignorehislittlemistakes，youaretoshowthebenevolenceofthekingandtotakecareofthewillofthepeople，demotehimtocountymagistrateandobservehisactions，ifhedoesagoodjob，yougivehimapromotion，otherwise，it‘snottoolateforyoutodismisshim。
chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyou。
陈牧：汉唐士多而府史少，今掾史百倍于前，减则不济，何也？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，古人委任责成，岁终考其殿最，案不重校，文不繁悉，府史之任，掌要目而已。今之文簿，恒虑覆治，若锻炼不密，则追证百年旧案。故谚云：‘老吏抱案死。’事繁政弊，职此之由也。往者州唯置纲纪，郡置守、丞，县置令而已。其馀具僚则长官自辟，受诏赴任，每州不过数十。今则不然，大小之官，悉由吏部，纤介之迹，皆属考功。省官不如省事，官事不省而望从容，其可得乎！
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：thereweremoreministersthancivilservantsinthehanandtangdynasties，nowithasahundredtimesmorecivilservantsthanbefore，iflayoffsaremade，thentheworkwillnotgowell，i‘mveryworriedaboutthat，sirtaughtmewhattodo？
xiaofan：ithink，theancientsassignedtaskstocivilservantsandusedresultsasacriterionforevaluation，butonlythelastoneisprocessed，casesarenotcorrectedmultipletimesandtherulesarenotcomplicated，thetaskofacivilservantistocommandtheoutline，now，civilservantsareafraidofbeingscrutinized，sotheyhandlecasesverystrictly，thereasonwhygovernmentaffairsarecomplicatedandbusyisprobablybecauseofthis，previously，therewereonlygovernors，mayors，andcountychiefs，andtheyrecruitasmallnumberofsubordinateofficers，butnowallofficialappointmentsaredecidedbythestatedepartment，andallmattersaretobeevaluated，itisbettertoreduceofficialsthantoreducegovernmentaffairs，itisimpossibletosaveyourmindwithoutsimplifyinggovernmentaffairs。
chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyou。
陈牧：寡人闻，天子之职莫大于礼，何也？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，天子之职莫大于礼，礼莫大于分，分莫大于名，何谓礼？纲纪是也，何谓分？君臣是也，何谓名？公、侯、卿大夫是也，是故天子统三公，三公率诸侯，诸侯制卿大夫，然后能上下相保，而国家治安者也。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：iheard，theemperor‘sgreatestdutywastopromoteetiquetteintheworld，sirwhatdoyouthink？
xiaofan：ithink，thefirsttaskofthekingwastoenforcetheliturgy，themostimportantthingintheliturgyistodividestatusandhierarchy，withit，orderbetweenkingsandministerscanbeestablished，thus，thekingwasabletocommandtheprincipalityandhisministers，becauseofthis，thegovernmentcanbeorderlyandthecountrycanbestable。
chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyou。