奸劫弑臣 Treacherous Minsters, Robbers, and Regicides
凡奸臣皆欲顺人主之心以取亲幸之势者也。All treacherous ministers desire to conform to the ruler's will in order to obtain the power of being close to and favored by the ruler.
是以主有所善，臣从而誉之；主有所憎，臣因而毁之。Therefore, when the ruler has something he likes, the ministers follow suit and praise it; when the ruler has something he hates, the ministers accordingly slander it.
凡人之大体，取舍同者则相是也，取舍异者则相非也。Generally speaking, people tend to approve of those who have the same preferences and rejections, and disapprove of those with different ones.
今人臣之所誉者，人主之所是也，此之谓同取；Now, what the ministers praise is what the ruler approves of, which is called "the same taking";
人臣之所毁者，人主之所非也，此之谓同舍。what the ministers slander is what the ruler disapproves of, which is called "the same discarding".
夫取舍合而相与逆者，未尝闻也。此人臣之所以取信幸之道也。It has never been heard of that people with the same preferences and rejections act contrary to each other. This is the way for ministers to gain trust and favor.
夫奸臣得乘信幸之势以毁誉进退群臣者，人主非有术数以御之也，非参验以审之也。When treacherous ministers can take advantage of the power of being trusted and favored to slander or praise, promote or demote other ministers, it is because the ruler does not have the techniques to control them, nor does he use verification to examine them.
必将以曩之合己信今之言，此幸臣之所以得欺主成私者也。Instead, the ruler will surely believe the current words based on the previous agreement with himself. This is how favored ministers can deceive the ruler and fulfill their private interests.
故主必蔽于上，而臣必重于下矣，此之谓擅主之臣。As a result, the ruler will surely be deceived above, and the ministers will surely gain excessive power below. These are the ministers who usurp the power of the ruler.
国有擅主之臣，则群下不得尽其智力以陈其忠，百官之吏不得奉法以致其功矣。When there are ministers who usurp the power of the ruler in a country, the subordinates will not be able to exert their full intelligence and ability to show their loyalty, and the officials of all ranks will not be able to abide by the law to achieve their merits.
何以明之？夫安利者就之，危害者去之，此人之情也。How can this be made clear? People will approach what is safe and beneficial and stay away from what is harmful and dangerous. This is human nature.
今为臣尽力以致功，竭智以陈忠者，其身困而家贫，父子罹其害；Now, those ministers who exert their efforts to achieve merits and exhaust their wisdom to show loyalty find themselves in difficult situations and their families in poverty, and their fathers and sons suffer harm.
为奸利以弊人主，行财货以事贵重之臣者，身尊家富，父子被其泽：However, those who seek treacherous benefits to deceive the ruler and use wealth to serve powerful and important ministers enjoy high status and wealthy families, and their fathers and sons receive their blessings:
人焉能去安利之道而就危害之处哉？How can people abandon the path of safety and benefit and choose the place of harm and danger?
治国若此其过也，而上欲下之无奸，吏之奉法，其不可得亦明矣。If a country is governed in such a wrong way, and the ruler wants his subordinates to be free from treachery and the officials to abide by the law, it is clearly impossible.
故左右知贞信之不可以得安利也，必曰：Therefore, the attendants around the ruler know that being honest and trustworthy cannot bring safety and benefit, and they will surely say:
"我以忠信事上，积功劳而求安，是犹盲而欲知黑白之情，必不几矣。"If I serve the ruler with loyalty and faithfulness, accumulate merits and seek safety, it is like a blind person trying to distinguish black from white, which is surely hopeless.
若以道化行正理，不趋富贵，事上而求安，是犹聋而欲审清浊之声也，愈不几矣。If one attempts to act in accordance with the principles of the Tao for moral edification, refrains from pursuing wealth and status, and serves the superiors in the hope of attaining security, it is as if a deaf person were trying to discern the clear and muddy sounds. It is even more unattainable.
二者不可以得安，我安能无相比周，蔽主上，为奸私以适重人哉？"Since these two ways cannot bring safety, how can I not collude with others, deceive the ruler, and engage in treacherous and private affairs to please the powerful people?"
此必不顾人主之义矣。其百官之吏亦知方正之不可以得安也，必曰：This surely shows no regard for the righteousness of the ruler. The officials of all ranks also know that being upright and honest cannot bring safety, and they will surely say:
"我以清廉事上而求安，若无规矩而欲为方圆也，必不几矣；"If I serve the ruler with integrity and seek safety, it is like trying to make a square or a circle without a compass and a square - maker, which is surely hopeless.
若以守法不朋党治官而求安，是犹以足搔顶也，愈不几也！If I abide by the law, do not form cliques, and manage my official duties to seek safety, it is like scratching the top of my head with my feet, which is even more hopeless.
二者不可以得安，能无废法行私以适重人哉？"Since these two ways cannot bring safety, how can I not abandon the law and act for private interests to please the powerful people?"
此必不顾君上之法矣。故以私为重人者众，而以法事君者少矣。This surely shows no regard for the ruler's laws. Therefore, many people attach importance to powerful people for their private interests, while few serve the ruler by abiding by the law.
是以主孤于上而臣成党于下，此田成之所以杀简公者也。As a result, the ruler is isolated above, and the ministers form cliques below. This is why Tian Cheng killed Duke Jian.
