E34 君臣密谈，蓄势新法

E34 君臣密谈，蓄势新法
2023.08.09
夏鹏
难度：CSE7
课程导读

上节课我们讲到，王安石获得宋神宗垂青，经过一番等待后终于入朝为官。曾经较为松软的政治基础终于日渐坚固起来。今天这节课，我们将看到获得“越级进言”恩准的王安石，将如何在神宗面前一展雄辩。那么，这对君臣之间谈论了什么？王安石是如何说服皇帝认可自己的主张呢？一起进入今天的课程。

英文原文

"What is the most important thing to do in a government?" asked the Emperor.

"To choose the right policy," answered Wang.

"What do you think of Emperor Taitsung of Tang?" asked the Emperor again, referring to the most beloved emperor of that dynasty.

"Your Majesty should take the Emperors Yao and Shun, and not merely Tang Taitsung as your standard.

The principles of Yao and Shun are really very easy to put into practice.

Because the scholars of the latter days do not really understand them, they think that the standards of such a government are unattainable."

(Yao and Shun were the emperors idealized by Confucius, ruling China in the semi-legendary era of the twenty-third and twenty-second centuries B.C.)

The Emperor said with some satisfaction, but modestly, "You are expecting too much of me. I am afraid I cannot live up to your high expectations."

But then there came a time for Wang Anshih to have a private audience with the Emperor alone, when the other officials had been dismissed.

Here was a great chance for Wang Anshih.

"Sit down," said the Emperor. "I want to have a long talk with you."

His Majesty then began to ask him why two famous emperors, one of them Tang Taitsung, had to secure two famous scholars as their premiers to run the government.

One of the two premiers mentioned was none other than Chuko Liang, probably the most renowned and capable administrator in history.

Again Wang Anshih brought the discussion around to the topic of the legendary emperors of three thousand years ago.

Wang said that he preferred to talk of the able assistants of the emperors Yao and Shun.

"Chuko Liang is not worth talking about in the opinion of the best minds."

Chuko Liang's political genius consisted in proceeding step by step toward a definite goal, which hardly suited the impatient, self-confident wizard of finance.

"Your Majesty," continued Wang, "is now reigning over a vast empire with a huge population.

After a century of peace, with so many scholars all over the land, is it not strange that no worthy men have arisen to assist Your Majesty in the government?

The reason must be that Your Majesty has no decided policy and has not shown confidence in men.

Though there may be great talents living at present, like those who assisted Emperors Yao and Shun, they will soon lay down their office because of obstruction by petty politicians."

"There are petty politicians in every regime," said the Emperor.

"Even in the reigns of Yao and Shun there were the famous Four Evil Monsters." "Exactly," Wang agreed.

"It was because the emperors Yao and Shun knew the four wicked ministers for what they were and had them killed that they were then able to accomplish what they did.

If the four evil ministers had remained at court to carry on their machinations and intrigues, the good and able ministers would have left, too."

生词好句

1.beloved
英 [bɪˈlʌvɪd]美 [bɪˈlʌvɪd]
adj. 受爱戴的

2.put into practice
实践

3.latter days
后世

4.unattainable
英 [ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbl]美 [ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbl]
adj. 不可实现的

5.idealize
英 [aɪˈdɪəlaɪz]美 [aɪˈdiːəlaɪz]
v. 理想化

6.semi-legendary
adj. 半传说的

7.live up to one's high expectations
不能如某人所愿

8.audience
英 [ˈɔːdiəns]美 [ˈɑːdiəns]
n. 观众；（本文）会面

9.dismiss
英 [dɪˈsmɪs]美 [dɪˈsmɪs]
v. 不理会

10.secure
英 [sɪˈkjʊə]美 [səˈkjʊr]
v. 获得（get）

11.assistant
英 [əˈsɪstənt]美 [əˈsɪstənt]
n. 助手

12.consist in
由……组成

13.definite
英 [ˈdefɪnət]美 [ˈdefənət]
adj. 确定的，既定的

14.wizard of
……的魔术师，某人在……特别厉害

15.reign
英 [reɪn]美 [reɪn]
v. 统治（rule）

16.vast
英 [vɑːst]美 [væst]
adj. 广袤的

17.worthy
英 [ˈwɜːði]美 [ˈwɜrːði]
adj. 值得的

18.obstruction
英 [əbˈstrʌkʃn]美 [əbˈstrʌkʃn]
n. 阻碍

19.petty politicians
宵小

20.wicked
英 [ˈwɪkɪd]美 [ˈwɪkɪd]
adj. 邪恶的

21.accomplish
英 [əˈkʌmplɪʃ]美 [əˈkɑːmplɪʃ]
v. 完成

22.machination
英 [ˌmæʃɪˈneɪʃnz]美 [ˌmæʃəˈneɪʃnz]
n. 计谋（scheme）

23.intrigue
英 [ˈɪntriːɡ]美 [ˈɪntriːɡ]
n. 阴谋