Ji's net and Luo's pliers(吉網羅鉗)
There was a famous minister in China's Tang
Dynasty. His name was Li Linfu. There is a story about him recorded in history
books.
He entered the central government system of
the Tang Dynasty by currying favour with some powerful ministers. With his
flexible mind and cunning character, he was promoted and later became the Prime
Minister of the Tang Dynasty.
He often framed some upright ministers, and
there were two officials in the central government at that time who were his
confidants.
He ordered these two officials to do many
bad things. Their names were Ji Wen and Luo Xishi.
In order to ensure the integrity of
officials in the central government, to catch those who are corrupt and play
with the law, and to prevent some unscrupulous officials from harming the
interests of the country and the people, the kings of the Tang Dynasty set up a
position.
The main task of this position is to
monitor the behaviour of officials within the capital. Their duties include
investigating whether officials have committed crimes and all matters relating
to their detention in prison after committing crimes.
This position should be held by a very
upright person, but Li Linfu allowed his two confidants to take it.
According to historical records, once when
Ji Wen was investigating a case, he arrested more than 60 people at once. He
used cruel methods to force these people to confess their crimes.
Li Linfu used these two people to deal with
the upright ministers and those who had their own power. The officials at that
time were very afraid of these two people. People said that Ji Wen had a big
net, and if someone was caught in his net, that person would definitely not be
able to escape. Luo Xishi has a big pair of pliers. If you get caught in his
pliers, you will lose your freedom.
The literal translation of this idiom is
Ji's net and Luo's pliers.
It is used to describe some very bad
officials who use false accusations and cruel means to deal with the people
they want to harm.
Dear friends, what are your feelings or
thoughts after listening to this story?
If you were an official at that time, would
you dare to resist these evil forces? Would you be able to maintain your
integrity in a chaotic era?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
吉網羅鉗(Ji's net and Luo's pliers)
中國的唐王朝有一個著名的大臣，他的名字是李林甫，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
他靠著巴結一些有權勢的大臣進入了唐王朝的中央政府的體系內，他憑藉著自己的靈活的頭腦與狡猾的性格不斷的升職，他後來成為唐王朝的宰相。
他常常誣陷一些正直的大臣，當時的中央政府內有兩個官員是他的親信。
他命令這兩個官員做了很多壞事，這兩個官員的名字叫做吉溫與羅希奭。
唐王朝的國王為了確保中央政府內的官員們的清廉，為了揪出那些貪污與玩弄法律的官員為了避免一些不肖的官員損害到國家與人民的利益而設置了一個職位。
這個職位的主要工作內容是負責監督首都內的官員們的行為。他們的工作職掌包含了調查官員們是否犯罪與官員犯罪後被羈押到監獄的所有事宜。
這的職位應該要讓很正直的人來擔任，但是李林甫卻讓他的這兩個親信擔任這個職務。
根據歷史書中記載，有一次，吉溫在調查一個案件的時候，一次就抓了60幾個人，他用殘酷的手法迫使這些人承認自己犯罪。
李林甫利用這兩個人去對付那些正直的大臣與那些自己的權力的人，當時的官員們都很恐懼這兩個人，人們說，吉溫有一張大網子，如果有人被他的網子網住了，這個人就絕對不可能逃脫。羅希奭有一隻大鉗子，如果你被他的鉗子夾住了，你就失去自由。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是吉氏的網子與羅氏的鉗子。
這句成語被用來形容一些很壞的官員，這些官員通過誣陷與殘忍的手段去對付他們所要加害的人。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你如果是那個年代的官員，你敢抵抗這些邪惡的勢力嗎?你能夠在一個混亂的時代中還能夠聰明地保持自己的正直嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為資治通鑒-卷215-唐紀31-天寶四年
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