八奸 The Eight Ways of Plotting Treachery
凡人臣之所道成奸者有八术：一曰同床，二曰在旁，三曰父兄，四曰养殃，五曰民萌，六曰流行，七曰威强，八曰四方。There are eight ways by which ministers can succeed in plotting treachery: The first is "sharing the bed", the second is "being by the side", the third is "relatives", the fourth is "cultivating disasters", the fifth is "winning the people's hearts", the sixth is "spreading rumors", the seventh is "using force and power", and the eighth is "relying on external forces".
何谓同床？What is meant by "sharing the bed"?
曰：贵夫人，爱孺子，便僻好色，此人主之所惑也。It refers to the noble ladies and beloved concubines, those who are charming and fond of beauty, which are the things that can bewitch the ruler.
托于燕处之虞，乘醉饱之时，而求其所欲，此必听之术也。They take advantage of the ruler's moments of relaxation in the private quarters, when he is drunk and full, and then make requests for what they want. This is a sure-fire way to get their wishes granted.
为人臣者内事之以金玉，使惑其主，此之谓"同床"。A minister, by offering gold, jade and other valuables to these women, makes them influence the ruler. This is called "sharing the bed".
二曰在旁。何谓在旁？The second is "being by the side." What does "being by the side" mean?
曰：优笑侏儒，左右近习，此人主未命而唯唯，未使而诺诺，先意承旨，观貌察色以先主心者也。It refers to jesters, dwarfs, and those attendants close to the ruler. These people will say "yes" even before the ruler gives an order, and will answer affirmatively even before he gives a command. They anticipate the ruler's wishes, observe his facial expressions to fathom his thoughts in advance.
此皆俱进俱退，皆应皆对，一辞同轨以移主心者也。They all advance and retreat together, respond and answer in unison, and use the same words and actions to influence the ruler's mind.
为人臣者内事之以金玉玩好，外为之行不法，使之化其主，此之谓"在旁"。A minister offers gold, jade, and playthings to them on the inside, and conducts illegal activities on their behalf on the outside, thus influencing the ruler. This is what is called "being by the side."
三曰父兄。何谓父兄？The third is "relatives". What is meant by "relatives"?
曰：侧室公子，人主之所亲爱也；大臣廷吏，人主之所与度计也。此皆尽力毕议，人主之所必听也。It refers to the ruler's brothers, sons from concubines, whom the ruler loves and holds dear; and the high-ranking officials and court officials, with whom the ruler discusses plans. All of them strive to offer their full - fledged opinions, which the ruler is bound to heed.
为人臣者事公子侧室以音声子女，收大臣廷吏以辞言，处约言事，事成则进爵益禄，以劝其心，犯其主，此之谓"父兄"。When a minister serves the ruler's sons from concubines and collateral branches with music, beautiful women, and wins over high-ranking officials and court officials with persuasive words, makes agreements with them to discuss matters, and if the matter is accomplished, promotes them and increases their salaries to encourage them to act against the ruler, this is called "plotting through relatives".
四曰养殃。何谓养殃？The fourth is "cultivating disasters". What is "cultivating disasters"?
曰：人主乐美宫室台池，好饰子女狗马以娱其心，此人主之殃也。The ruler takes pleasure in magnificent palaces, terraces and ponds, and likes to adorn his concubines, dogs and horses to amuse himself. These are the disasters that befall the ruler.
为人臣者尽民力以美宫室台池，重赋敛以饰子女狗马，以娱其主而乱其心，从其所欲，而树私利其间，此谓"养殃"。A minister exhausts the people's strength to build magnificent palaces, terraces and ponds, and increases taxes to adorn concubines, dogs and horses. By doing so, he amuses the ruler and confuses his mind, follows the ruler's desires, and meanwhile, plants his own private interests. This is called "cultivating disasters".
五曰民萌。何谓民萌？The fifth is "winning the people's hearts". What is "winning the people's hearts"?
曰：为人臣者散公财以说民人，行小惠以取百姓，使朝廷市井皆劝权誉己，以塞其主而成其所欲，此之谓"民萌"。A minister distributes public wealth to please the people, and practices small favors to win over the commoners, making both the court and the marketplace praise his power and reputation, blocking the ruler's view and achieving his own desires. This is called "winning the people's hearts".
六曰流行。何谓流行？The sixth is "spreading rumors". What is "spreading rumors"?
曰：人主者，固壅其言谈，希于听论议，易移以辩说。 The ruler is often isolated in his speech, seldom listens to discussions, and can be easily swayed by sophistry.
为人臣者求诸候之辩士，养国中之能说者，使之以语其私。A minister seeks eloquent scholars from other states and nurtures persuasive people within his own state, making them speak on his behalf.
为巧文之言，流行之辞，示之以利势，惧之以患害，施属虚辞以坏其主，此之谓"流行"。They use artful words and popular phrases, show the ruler the potential benefits, threaten him with disasters, and use false statements to undermine the ruler. This is called "spreading rumors".
七曰威强。何谓威强？The seventh is "using force and power". What is "using force and power"?
曰：君人者，以群臣百姓为威强者也。群臣百姓之所善，则君善之；非群臣百姓之所善，则君不善之。The ruler should gain his power from the support of his ministers and the common people. What the ministers and the common people approve of, the ruler should approve; what they disapprove of, the ruler should not approve.
为人臣者，聚带剑之客，养必死之士，以彰其威，明为己者必利，不为己者必死，以恐其群臣百姓而行其私，此之谓"威强"。A minister gathers sword-wielding guests and nurtures fearless warriors to show his power, making it clear that those who work for him will surely benefit, and those who don't will surely die. He intimidates the ministers and the common people to pursue his own private ends. This is called "using force and power".
八曰四方。何谓四方？The eighth is "relying on external forces". What is "relying on external forces"?
曰：君人者，国小，则事大国；兵弱，则畏强兵。For a ruler, if his state is small, he has to serve a large state; if his military is weak, he has to fear a powerful military.
大国之所索，小国必听；强兵之所加，弱兵必服。What a large state demands, a small state must obey; where a powerful military attacks, a weak military must submit.
为人臣者，重赋敛，尽府库，虚其国以事大国，而用其威求诱其君；A minister increases taxes, exhausts the national treasury, weakens his own state to serve a large state, and uses the power of the large state to entice his own ruler.
甚者举兵以聚边境而制敛于内，薄者数内大使以震其君，使之恐惧，此之谓"四方"。In extreme cases, he may even mobilize troops to gather at the border and extort the people within the state. In milder cases, he frequently receives foreign envoys to intimidate the ruler, making him fearful. This is called "relying on external forces".
凡此八者，人臣之所以道成奸，世主所以壅劫，失其所有也，不可不察焉。All these eight ways are how ministers plot treachery, and how rulers of the world are isolated, coerced, and lose what they possess. This must not be overlooked.
明君之于内也，娱其色而不行其谒，不使私请。A wise ruler, when dealing with his concubines, enjoys their beauty but does not grant their requests, and does not allow private petitions.
其于左右也，使其身必责其言，不使益辞。Regarding his attendants, he requires them to be accountable for their words and does not allow them to exaggerate.
其于父兄大臣也，听其言也必使以罚任于后，不令妄举。When it comes to his relatives and high-ranking officials, when listening to their words, he must hold them accountable with punishment later if they make mistakes, and does not allow them to make random recommendations.
其于观乐玩好也，必令之有所出，不使擅进擅退，不使群臣虞其意。Regarding his entertainment, palaces and playthings, he must ensure they come from proper sources, does not allow unauthorized addition or reduction, and does not let the ministers guess his intentions.
其于德施也，纵禁财，发坟仓，利于民者，必出于君，不使人臣私其德。Regarding acts of benevolence, when distributing restricted funds or opening granaries, anything that benefits the people must be initiated by the sovereign. Ministers should not be allowed to take credit for such acts of kindness.
其于说议也，称誉者所善，毁疵者所恶，必实其能，察其过，不使群臣相为语。Regarding discussions and comments, whether it is praise or criticism, he must verify the abilities and investigate the faults of the people involved, and does not allow ministers to collude in their words.
其于勇力之士也，军旅之功无逾赏，邑斗之勇无赦罪，不使群臣行私财。Regarding brave warriors, he does not over-reward military achievements, and does not pardon those who show bravado in local brawls, and does not allow ministers to use private wealth for personal gain.
其于诸候之求索也，法则听之，不法则距之。则谓亡君者，非莫有其国也，而有之者，皆非己有也。Regarding requests from other states, if they comply with the law, he listens; if not, he refuses. A ruler is said to be perishing not because he has lost his state, but because what he possesses is no longer truly his.
令臣以外为制于内，则是君人者亡也。听大国为救亡也，而亡亟于不听，故不听。If a ruler allows ministers to use external forces to control internal affairs, then the ruler will perish. Listening to a large state in the hope of avoiding destruction may lead to destruction more quickly than not listening, so he should not listen.
群臣知不听，则不外诸候，诸候知不听，则不受臣之诬其君矣。If the ministers know the ruler will not listen, they will not rely on other states; if other states know the ruler will not listen, they will not accept the ministers' slander of their ruler.
明主之为官职爵禄也，所以进贤材劝有功也。A wise ruler sets up official positions, ranks and salaries to promote talented people and encourage those with achievements.
故曰：贤材者处厚禄任大官；功大者有尊爵受重赏。So it is said that talented people should hold high-paying positions and high-ranking official posts; those with great achievements should have noble titles and receive generous rewards.
官贤者量其能，赋禄者称其功。When appointing officials, their abilities should be measured, and when conferring salaries, they should be commensurate with their achievements.
是以贤者不诬能以事其主，有功者乐进其业，故事成功立。Therefore, the virtuous do not deceive the ruler by feigning abilities and serve their ruler wholeheartedly, and those with achievements are glad to advance their undertakings. Thus, affairs are accomplished and success is achieved.
今则不然，不课贤不肖，不论有功劳，用诸候之重，听左右之谒。Now, however, things are different. Without assessing whether people are worthy or unworthy, and without considering their achievements, the ruler relies on the influence of other feudal lords, listens to the petitions of those close to him.
父兄大臣上请爵禄于上，而下卖之以收财利及以树私党。Relatives and high-ranking ministers request titles and emoluments from the ruler above, and then sell them below to obtain financial benefits and build their own cliques.
故财利多者买官以为贵，有左右之交者请谒以成重。Therefore, those with a lot of money buy official positions to gain status, and those with connections to the ruler's attendants obtain positions through petitions.
功劳之臣不论，官职之迁失谬。是以吏偷官而外交，弃事而亲财。The achievements of meritorious ministers are not considered, and the promotion of official positions is full of mistakes. As a result, officials neglect their duties, engage in external relations, and abandon their work to pursue wealth.
是以贤者懈怠而不劝，有功者隳而简其业，此亡国之风也。Thus, talented people become slack and unmotivated, and those with achievements become lazy and neglect their careers. This is the atmosphere that leads to the downfall of a state.
