We act in accordance with the rules set by
the former Prime Minister(蕭規曹隨)
Among the founding heroes of the Han
Dynasty in China, there was a famous general who was also the second prime
minister of the Han Dynasty. His name is (Cao Can).
His story is recorded in the history books.
The name of the founding king of the Han
Dynasty was (Liu Bang). He appointed a founding hero as his prime minister
whose name was (Xiao He).
In 193 BC (Liu Bang) died, his son
succeeded him and (Xiao He) continued to serve as prime minister.
194 BC. (Xiao He) passed away.
After (Xiao He) passed away, (Cao Can)
served as the second prime minister of the Han Dynasty.
When he took over as prime minister, he
fired some well-spoken and ambitious officials.
He selected some simple and upright people
from all over the country to serve as officials of the central government.
He didn't do anything else after that.
Seeing his actions, the king was very
anxious.
The king and his son were about the same
age, and the king and his son grew up together.
The king asked his son to ask him.
Why have you eaten and drank every day with
officials from various departments since you became the prime minister of the
Han Dynasty? You don't have any reforms and innovations at all.
As a result his son was severely rebuked by
him.
The next day. the king told him at a
meeting.
Why do you blame your son? He asked you
these questions I wanted to know.
If you don't think he's qualified to ask
you these questions, am I qualified?
He respectfully asked the king.
Before I answer your question, please let
me ask you two questions.
Compared with your father, who do you think
is more courageous and who do you think is more decisive?
The king answered.
I think my father is more daring and
decisive than I am.
He asked the king.
Comparing the former prime minister and me,
who do you think is wiser and who do you think is more talented?
The king hesitated for a moment and then
answered.
I think the former Prime Minister is wiser
and more talented than you.
He says.
My opinion is the same as yours.
Your father and former prime minister led
us together to found the Han Dynasty after many wars.
In the more than ten years since the
founding of the Han Dynasty, your father and the former prime minister have
established a fair and effective system and norms after constant adjustment.
I think we should follow the system and
norms that your father and the former Prime Minister established. Our work
focuses on implementing these systems and norms, rather than randomly modifying
them.
After the king heard these words, the king
was silent for a few minutes.
Said the king.
I agree with your opinion, just do as you
say.
This idiom means that future generations
follow the rules set by their predecessors.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
If you became the Prime Minister of a
country, would you make some changes because you wanted to show your power?
Which do you think is more difficult to create a business or maintain a
business?
I hope this story will give you something
new to gain.
蕭規曹隨(We act in accordance with the rules
set by the former Prime Minister)
中國的漢王朝的開國功臣中，有一個著名的將軍，他也是漢王朝的第二任宰相。他的名字叫做(曹參)。
歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
漢王朝的開國國王的名字叫做(劉邦)。他任命一個開國英雄作為他的宰相，這個宰相的名字叫做(蕭何)。
西元前193年(劉邦)逝世，他的兒子繼承他的王位，(蕭何)繼續擔任宰相。
西元前194年。(蕭何)逝世。
(蕭何)過世後，(曹參)擔任漢王朝的第二任宰相。
他接任首相的職位之後，他解僱了一些口才很好而且很有企圖心的官員。
他從全國各地挑選了一些單純又正直的人來擔任中央政府的官員。
接下來他再沒有做其他的任何事。
國王看見他的這些行為，心中非常的焦慮。
國王與他的兒子的年齡相近，國王與他的兒子兩個人從小一起長大。
國王請他的兒子問他。
為何你自從擔任漢王朝的首相後，你每天與各個部門的官員吃飯與喝酒。你完全沒有任何改革與創新。
結果他的兒子受到他的嚴厲的責備。
隔天。國王在一場會議上對他說。
你為何責備你的兒子呢?他問你的這些問題是我所想要知道的。
如果你認為他沒有資格問你這些問題，那麼我有資格嗎?
他很恭敬地問國王。
在我回答你的問題前，請先讓我問你兩個問題。
你跟你的父親相比較，你認為誰更有魄力、你認為誰更有決斷力呢?
國王回答。
我認為我的父親比我更有魄力，比我更有決斷力。
他問國王。
前首相與我兩個人相比較，你認為誰更有智慧、你認為誰更有才幹呢?
國王遲疑了一下然後回答。
我認為前首相比你更有智慧而且更有才幹。
他說。
我的看法也與你相同。
你的父親與前首相帶領著我們一起在經過許多戰爭後創立了漢王朝。
創立漢王朝的這十幾年來，你的父親與前首相經過不斷的調整後已經建立了一套公平有效的制度與規範。
我認為我們我們應該沿用你的父親與前首相的所建立的制度與規範。我們的工作重點是落實這些制度與規範，而不是胡亂地修改。
國王聽完這些話後國王沉默了幾分鐘。
國王說。
我認同你的看法，就照你所說的去執行吧。
這句成語的意思是後人依循前人所訂的規章辦事。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你如果成為一個國家的首相，你會因為想要彰顯自已的權力作出一些改變嗎?你認為創立一個事業與持續維持一個事業哪一個比較困難呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為史記-曹相國世家