洋猩說故事 Talovich Tells Stories

Today we’re going back 25 centuries to listen to Yen Ying (578 – 500 bce). That’s a big jump, but human nature hasn’t changed, so good, bad, or indifferent, you can always learn from earlier people, all you have to do is listen.

We’ve met Yen Ying before, in Episodes 17, 18, and 39, so you can figure that, like Confucius, I’m a fan of Yen Ying.

19 and a half minutes

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齊景公年齡到了，他跟晏子說，想找祝（巫）幫他做儀式求福。晏子教他怎麼辦，對兩千五百年後的我們還是很有效。

本猩應該算晏迷吧，我們在十七、十八、卅九回講過他的故事，今天再來一回吧！

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During the Warring States period, fame and fortune awaited those who were clever enough to convince a ruler to accept their ideas and policies; many who failed to please the ruler were killed. The most famous of these ‘influencers’ were Chang/Zhang Yi and Su Ch’in/Qin, who had studied together under the Ghost Valley Master. In around 310bce, Chang Yi was broke and beaten in Chu in the south, but managed to turn his situation around with his wits.


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戰國說客張儀與蘇秦一起跟鬼谷先生學術。西元前三一〇年左右，張儀去說楚懷王，不怕沒錢，只怕沒舌頭。楚懷王的兩個寵妾，南后與鄭袖，怕張儀出餿主意。

十五分鐘


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There are always more than one way to reach an objective. The West, and especially the United States, usually resorts to force. China prefers to manipulate the situation so that objectives can be achieved with minimum force.
Today’s story takes us to 515bce in Chu, in southern China, where King Chao/Zhao’s prime minister was Nang Wa; Po Hsiwan/Bo Xiwan was an effective commander; Yen Chiangshih/ Yan Jiangshi and Fei Wuchi/ Wuji were also at the top level of the government. Fei wanted to remove Po. Don’t try this at home.

24 minutes

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楚昭王時，囊瓦、伯郤宛、鄢將師、費無極執政。郤宛打敗吳，戰功赫赫，昭王獨寵，費無極就眼紅，西元前五一五年借刀殺人。

二十三分半

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Around 600 bce, King Chuang/Zhuang of Chu was the most powerful king in the land. He was ably advised by Sunsu Ao, who greatly improved irrigation and battle strategy. At court there was also the Performer Meng, who was a master of persuasion.

20 minutes


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孫叔敖(630 – 593 bce）為令尹（宰相）水利、兵法貢獻很大，所以楚莊王成霸主。樂師優孟，知道怎麼含蓄開導霸王。

十九分鐘

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In Episode 42, we told the story of how Ts’ao Kui of Lu defeated Ch’i (684 bce). In Episode 43, we told about events leading up to the ascension of Huan to the throne of Ch’i (686 bce). Today we are telling why Huan had a chance to ascend to the throne: the previous ruler Hsiang / Xiang had a really messy relationship with his sister, which caused problems and had consequences.

25 and a half minutes

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齊襄公與妹妹姜氏通。姜氏遠嫁魯桓公，問題並沒有解決。公子彭生在車上殺桓公，留下陰影，八年後遇到連稱、管至父作亂，弒襄公立公孫無知。

左傳文筆精簡極致。莊公八年（西元前前六八六年）的記錄：
齊侯使連稱，管至父，戍葵丘，瓜時而往，曰：「及瓜而代。」期戍，公問不至。請代，弗許。故謀作亂。
僖公之母弟曰，夷仲年，生公孫無知，有寵於僖公，衣服禮秩如適，襄公絀之。二人因之以作亂。
連稱有從妹在公宮，無寵。使間公，曰：「捷，吾以女為夫人。」
冬，十二月，齊侯游于姑棼，遂田于貝丘。見大豕，從者曰：「公子彭生也。」
公怒，曰：「彭生敢見！」射之，豕人立而啼。公懼，隊于車，傷足喪屨。反誅屨於徒人費，弗得，鞭之，見血。走出，遇賊于門，劫而束之。
費曰：「我奚御哉！」袒而示之背，信之。費請先入，伏公而出，鬥死于門中。
石之紛如死于階下。遂入，殺孟陽于床。曰：「非君也，不類。」
見公之足于戶下，遂弒之，而立無知。

全篇作亂的故事，兩百九十七個字交代清楚，沒有贅字。

二十四分鐘
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