To Cheng Lin of Zhaoyi — entrusting a grandnephew's household to him昭義成璘
1That a hundred mouths left alone should not go hungry
報成璘大夫。魯史云。臣一主二。漢書曰。一心可以事百君。則知下有離心。蓋爲上無全德。姪孫僕射夙虧家訓。驟荷國恩。累忝藩方。曾微績效。每於撫俗。略不隨時。恩威豈得並行。寬猛無由相濟。況近關西之賊窟。持山北之兵權。戰伐旣勞。緝綏莫至。固知軍情潰散。物議喧張。大夫名旣超倫。事能從衆。息貔貅之憤怒。慰黎庶之疲羸。實謂有三雋才。誰云犯五不韙。古之所有。今也何疑。遠遣專人。迎取家口。儻或行程齟齬。且令彼處婆娑。如能斷送出來。便與支持發遣。一踦墜屨。猶能牽念舊之心。百口孤孀。何忍見含愁之色。必應慰暖。免至飢寒。倚望所多。諭言無及。彼但勤修政理。佇荷寵榮。不令外盜侵凌。必見大君委寄。冬寒愼爲將息。節級各與安存。悉之。
Word to Grand Master Cheng Lin. The history of Lu says, "The subject is one, the lords are two." The Book of Han says, "With one heart a man may serve a hundred lords." From this one knows that when those below have a departing heart, it is because those above have no whole virtue. My grandnephew the Vice Director early marred the teaching of his house, then suddenly received the kindness of the state and again and again unworthily held a provincial charge, yet he had little to show in the way of achievement. In comforting the people he never moved with the times, so how could kindness and authority go forward together? There was no way for leniency and severity to help each other. Moreover he was near the bandits' den in Guanxi and held the military power north of the mountains. The fighting was hard already, and no settling or soothing reached the people. I know well that the feeling of the army broke up and scattered and that public talk grew loud. Your name, Grand Master, already rises above your peers, and in affairs you can follow the many. You have stilled the rage of the fierce beasts and comforted the worn and weary of the common people. Truly it may be said that you have the three outstanding talents; who would say you had committed the five things that are not right? It was so in the old days, so why doubt it now? I have sent a man from afar for this purpose alone, to fetch the household. If the journey should go awry, let them linger a while where you are; and if you can settle the matter and send them out, then support them and set them on their way. Even a single fallen shoe can draw out a heart that remembers old things. How could one bear to see the sorrow in the faces of a hundred mouths, widowed and alone? You will surely comfort and warm them and keep them from hunger and cold. I lean on this hope greatly, more than my words can tell. For your part, only work diligently at the order of government and wait to receive favor and honor. Do not let the bandits outside trespass and oppress, and you will surely see the great sovereign entrust his charge to you. In the cold of winter take careful care of yourself. Give my greetings to each of the officers of the ranks. Know all of this.