陈牧：东汉风俗之美，他朝莫比，忠臣名将多如璀璨，何以亡哉？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，国将亡，必多制。明王之政，谨择忠贤而任之，凡中外之臣，有功则赏，有罪则诛，无所阿私，法制不烦而天下大治。所以然者何哉？执其本故也。及其衰也，百官之任不能择人，而禁令益多，防闲益密，有功者以阂文不赏，为奸者以巧法免诛，上下劳扰而天下大乱。所以然者何哉？逐其末故也。孝灵之时，刺史、二千石贪如豺虎，暴殄焌民，而朝廷方守三互之禁。以今视之，岂不适足为笑而深可为戒哉！纵有诸葛孔明，周公瑾何益也！
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人受教矣。
chenmu：thesocialatmosphereoftheeasternhandynastywasmuchbetterthanthatofotherdynasties，andithasalargenumberofloyalistsandfamousgenerals，whyiteventuallywenttoextinction？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，beforethefallofthecountry，theremustbealotofcumbersomedecrees，theholykingcarefullyselectedthesagesandappointedthemtogovernthecountry，theholykingtreatsallministersselflesslyandfairly，rewardthosewhohavemeritandpunishthosewhomakemistakes，thelawsarenotharshbutthecountryiswellgoverned，that‘sbecausetheyfoundtherootoftheproblem，whenthestateisindecline，itspoliciesaretheopposite，villainsdisruptthelaw，andtheyarenotpunished，therefore，thegentlemanretreatedandtheworldwasinchaos，that‘sbecausetheyignorethenatureoftheproblem，attheendoftheeasternhandynasty，officialsweregreedyandcorrupt，andmutilatethepeople，thegovernmentstilladherestoharshdecrees，fromthecurrentpointofview，itsdecreesareridiculousandworthyofreflection，evenifithadministerslikezhugeliangandzhouyu，thegreathandynastycouldnotbesaved。
chenmu：sirisright，iacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：寡人欲作灵苑，可乎？先生以为如何？
萧凡：臣以为，先帝之制，左开鸿池，右作上林，不奢不约，以合礼中。今猥规郊城之地以为苑囿，坏沃衍，废田园，驱居民，畜禽兽，殆非保赤子之义。今城外之苑已有五六，可以逞情意，顺四节也。愿大王追夏禹卑宫、太宗露台之意，以慰下民之劳。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。
chenmu：iwanttobuildthespiritgardentohunt，sirwhatdoyouthink？
xiaofan：ithink，yourfatherhasbuilthongchiandshanglin，itsscaleisnotextravagantandnotshabbyjustright，nowyoudestroyfarmlandandhousesandbreedanimalstobuildhuntinggroundsinthecountryside，thisisnotasignoflovingthepeople，thecurrentspiritgardenisenoughforyoutohuntandplayeveryyear，ihopeyouwillemulatethefrugalwilloftheholykingtoappeasethepeopleandtobeconsiderateoftheirhardships。
chenmu：sirisright，iwaswrong。
陈牧：寡人欲取士以诗词文章，可乎？先生以为如何？
萧凡：臣以为，魏晋以来，崇尚文词，忽君人之大道，好雕虫之艺。下之从上，遂成风俗。江左、齐、梁、隋、唐，其弊弥甚，世俗以此相高，朝廷据兹擢士。禄利之路既开，爱尚之情愈笃。于是闾里童昏，贵游总草，未窥六甲，先制五言。至如羲皇、舜、禹之典，伊、傅、周、孔之说，不复关心，何尝入耳。以傲诞为清虚，以缘情为勋绩，指儒素为古拙，用词赋为君子。故文笔日繁，其政日乱，良由弃大圣之轨模，构无用以为用也，愿大王退浮薄、奖实用，则天下幸甚。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：iwanttoselecttalentsthroughpoetryandarticles，sirwhatdoyouthink？
xiaofan：ithink，sincetheweiandjindynasties，peoplehavebeenadvocatingpoetryandarticlesforalongtime，peopleignorethetruthofgoverningthecountryandvaluesuchsmallthings，andthiscustomistop-downgoingthroughfivedynasties，it‘sthesamefromthegovernmenttotheprivatesector，andithasgraduallybecomeacustom，afterfivedynasties，itsdrawbackshavebeenveryserious，butpeoplearestillproudofitandignorethetraditionalclassics，theyseeabsurdityandinactionasapoliticalachievement，treatpragmatismandsimplicityasstupidity，andadvocatpoetryandarticlesasthestandardofagentleman，therefore，themorecomplexthearticle，themorechaoticthepolitics，thisisbecausetheyabandontheirpoliticalrootsandpursueuselessthings，ihopeyourewardpracticalityanddiscouragepompousness，thentheworldbenefitsfromthis。
chenmu：sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：寡人近来为政如何？先生直言。
萧凡：臣以为，大王顷来酒色过度，肆意游猎，荒废朝政，非圣主明王所为也，且天下未靖，岂是宴乐之时？愿大王以社稷为重，恭事上帝，子爱下民，省嗜欲，远谄佞，未明求夜，日旰忘食，则古之明王何以加之哉！
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。