三守 The Three Principles to Uphold
人主有三守。三守完，则国安身荣；三守不完，则国危身殆。A ruler has three principles to uphold. If these three principles are fully adhered to, the state will be secure and the ruler will enjoy honor. If not, the state will be in danger and the ruler's life will be at risk.
何谓三守？人臣有议当途之失，用事之过，举臣之情。What are these three principles? Courtiers may discuss the mistakes of those in power, the faults of those handling affairs, and expose the real situations of other courtiers.
人主不心藏而漏之近习能人，使人臣之欲有言者，不敢不下适近习能人之心，而乃上以闻人主。If the ruler fails to keep these matters confidential in his heart and reveals them to his favored and capable attendants, then those courtiers who wish to speak up will feel compelled to first satisfy the wishes of these favored and capable attendants before presenting their views to the ruler.
然则端言直道之人不得见，而忠直日疏。As a result, those who speak frankly and follow the right path will not be able to meet the ruler, and the loyal and upright ones will become increasingly alienated.
爱人，不独利也，待誉而后利之；When the ruler shows affection for someone, he should not directly confer benefits. Instead, he should wait for praise for that person before doing so.
憎人不独害也，待非而后害之。When he dislikes someone, he should not directly harm that person. Instead, he should wait for condemnation of that person before taking action.
然则人主无威而重在左右矣。Otherwise, the ruler will lose his authority and power will be concentrated in the hands of his entourage.
恶自治之劳惮，使群臣辐凑之变，因传柄移藉，使杀生之机，夺予之要在大臣，如是者侵。If the ruler detests the toil and trouble of governing on his own, allowing the complex changes that occur when courtiers gather around, and thus transfers power and influence, enabling ministers to hold the power of life-and-death decisions and the key to giving and taking, this is an encroachment.
此谓三守不完。三守不完，则劫杀之征也。These situations indicate that the three principles are not fully adhered to. When the three principles are not fully adhered to, it is a sign of impending usurpation and assassination.
凡劫有三：有明劫，有事劫，有刑劫。Generally, there are three types of usurpation: open usurpation, usurpation through affairs, and usurpation through punishment.
人臣有大臣之尊，外操国要以资群臣，使外内之事非己不得行。A courtier with the status of a high-ranking official may externally control the key affairs of the state to support other courtiers, ensuring that both internal and external affairs cannot be carried out without his approval.
虽有贤良，逆者必有祸，而顺者必有福。Even if there are virtuous and capable people, those who oppose the powerful minister will surely suffer misfortune, while those who comply will surely gain blessings.
然则群臣直莫敢忠主忧国以争社稷之利害。Consequently, the ministers dare not be loyal to the ruler and worry about the country to strive for the interests of the state.
人主虽贤，不能独计，而人臣有不敢忠主，则国为亡国矣。此谓国无臣。Although the ruler is wise, he cannot make plans alone. If the ministers dare not be loyal to the ruler, then the state will perish. This is what is meant by a state having no loyal ministers.
国无臣者，岂郎中虚而朝臣少哉？When it is said that a state has no loyal ministers, does it mean that there are no attendants in the palace or few court officials?
群臣持禄养交，行私道而不效公忠，此谓明劫。It is that the ministers merely hold their positions for emoluments, foster personal connections, pursue private interests instead of showing public loyalty. This is called open usurpation.
鬻宠擅权，矫外以胜内，险言祸福得失之形，以阿主之好恶。Some ministers sell the ruler's favor, seize power, feign external support to gain internal control, and use alarming words to describe the situations of fortune, misfortune, gain and loss, in order to pander to the ruler's likes and dislikes.
人主听之，卑身轻国以资之，事败与主分其祸，而功成则臣独专之。If the ruler listens to them, he may humble himself and neglect the state to support them. When things fail, they will share the blame with the ruler, but when things succeed, the ministers will monopolize the credit.
诸用事之人，壹心同辞以语其美，则主言恶者必不信矣。此谓事劫。All those in power unanimously and with the same words praise the ministers. Then the ruler will surely not believe those who speak ill of them. This is called usurpation through affairs.
至于守司囹圄，禁制刑罚，人臣擅之，此谓刑劫。As for those in charge of prisons and the power to enforce punishments, if the ministers monopolize these, this is called usurpation through punishment.
三守不完，则三劫者起；三守完，则三劫者止。If the three principles to uphold are not well-maintained, the three types of usurpation will occur. If the three principles are well-maintained, the three types of usurpation will be stopped.
三劫止塞，则王矣。When the three types of usurpation are completely stopped, the ruler can achieve supremacy.
