陈牧：楚霸王项羽，世之英雄也，然兵败于垓下，自刎于乌江，折于刘邦之手，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为汉高祖，山东之匹夫也，无有咫尺之土，十室之聚，然能任天下之智力，举大体而不苛，故王天下，莫之能御也。项羽，楚之世将，有重于民，横行天下，然而卒死东城者，何也？有一范增不能用，意忌多疑，不信大臣故也。宽则得众用，贤则多功，信则人归之，愿大王鉴之。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：theoverlordxiangyuwasagreathero，buthewasdefeatedandcommittedsuicide，intheend，helosttoliubang，andiwasveryconfusedaboutthis，sirtaughtmewhy？

xiaofan：ithink，liubangisagrassdwellerinshandongwhohasnothing，buthewasgoodatappointingthewisdomofothers，andheonlyfocusesonthegeneralthingsandisnotharsh，therefore，hecanwintheworld，andnoonecancomparewithhim。xiangyu‘sfamilywasallhonorablegeneralsofthechustate，hewasvaluedbythepeopleandwonnumerousvictories，butwhatwasthereasonheendedupfailing？hehadacounselorfanzeng，butcouldnotappointhim，hewassuspiciousanddidnottrustothers，that‘stherootcause，bybeingtolerantofothers，youcangettheirsupport，appointtheirwisdomandyouwillbeabletobuildmerit，givethemtrustandtheywillsurrendertoyou，ihopeyoulearnfromthat。

chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人以信义治天下，而臣民不信，何也？先生教我。

萧凡：臣以为，欲人之信己，则微言而笃行之，笃行之，则用日久，用日久，则事著明，事著明，则有目者莫不见也，有耳者莫不闻也，其可诬乎？故根深而枝叶茂，行久而名誉远。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。

chenmu：igovernthecountrywithsincerityandrighteousness，butthepeopledonotbelieve，sirtaughtmewhy？

xiaofan：ithink，ifyouwantotherstobelieveyou，youhavetobeconsistentwithyourwordsanddeeds，andkeeptryingtodoit，overtime，theresultswillslowlyemerge，peoplehaveearsandeyesandtheywilldistinguishbetweentrueandfalse，soyoudon‘tgetawaywithit，therootsofthetreegrowdeeper，andtheleaveswillflourish，onlyifyoupersistindoingthisforalongtimecanyougetthehonor。

chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：寡人欲以信义布天下，可乎？先生以为如何？

萧凡：臣以为大王圣明，夫信由上而结者也。故君以信训其臣，则臣以信忠其君；父以信诲其子，则子以信孝其父；夫以信先其妇，则妇以信顺其夫。上秉常以化下，下服常而应上。其不化者，百未有一也。夫为人上，竭至诚，开信以待下，则怀信者欢然而乐进，不信者赧然而回意矣。

陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。

chenmu：iwanttospreadintegrityandrighteousnesstotheworld，sirwhatdoyouthink？

xiaofan：ithinkit‘swiseforyoutodothat，thepromotionofthismatteristostartwithyou，thekingtreatshisministerswithintegrity，thentheministerswouldshowloyaltytotheking，thefathereducateshissonwithintegrity，thenthesonwillbefilialtotheparents，ifthehusbandtreatshiswifewithintegrity，thenthewifewillbesubmissivetohim，ifthekingwantstoeducatetheworld，hemustsetanexampleforthepeoplehimself，thekingtreatsotherswithintegrityandsincerity，peopleallovertheworldwillfollowyourexample，eveninsincerepeoplewillslowlychange。

chenmu:sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。

陈牧：今党项、契丹交媾，寡人欲杀其使者，可乎？先生以为如何？

萧凡：臣以为，党项与我素无怨雠，为契丹所使耳。今杀一人，结怨一国，非计也。放之必悦，不复为契丹用矣，愿大王察之。

陈牧：先生之言甚善，寡人谨受教。