Achieving Great Things and Building a Great Cause(立功立業)
There was a famous general in China's Tang Dynasty named Li Jing, whose story is recorded in history books.
Following the collapse of the Han Dynasty, China entered a period of division and unrest known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Stability only began to return in 571 AD with the establishment of the Sui Dynasty by Yang Jian, which unified the country.
Li Jing was born in 571 AD. His grandfather was a minister in the Later Wei Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and his father was mayor of a city under the Sui Dynasty. He therefore grew up in a political family.
Li Jing was tall, strong and intelligent. As well as studying the standard Confucian classics, he also studied many renowned ancient Chinese military treatises.
Li Jing's uncle was a renowned general. After his uncle had shared his practical experience of battle, Li Jing would engage in two-way discussions with him, using some of the viewpoints from the military treatises he had read. His uncle often praised his quick wit and sharp mind.
Li Jing was a man of strong convictions, with lofty ideals and grand aspirations. He once told his family and close friends:
'My life goal is to achieve great things and build a great cause. If I am given the opportunity to serve a leader worthy of my devotion, I will abandon everything I currently possess and follow him. I look forward to fulfilling my life's ideal.'
After reaching adulthood, he followed his father into the central government of the Sui dynasty. His first role was to manage personnel administration in the capital region.
Due to his excellent work performance and family connections, he was well-liked by his superiors and other officials in the capital.
One day, after discussing a matter with him, the then Prime Minister, Yang Su, smiled and patted his chair, saying:
'You are very capable. Keep up the good work! When I transfer to another unit or retire, I believe you will be the best candidate to succeed me. You will be sitting in my chair."
This idiom translates as 'Achieving Great Things and Building a Great Cause'.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts did you gain from this story?
Who has provided you with significant help at work? Is there a dream that you are determined to achieve in your life?
I hope this story offers you some new insights.
立功立業(Achieving Great Things and Building a
Great Cause)
中國的唐王朝有一個著名的將軍，他的名字叫做李靖，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
中國在漢王朝滅亡之後，進入了一個分裂又動亂的五代十國時代，直到西元571年，由楊堅建立的隋王朝統一中國之後，中國境內才又開始恢復安定。
李靖出生於西元571年，他的祖父是五代十國時代的後魏王國的大臣，他的父親則是擔任隋王朝的一座城市的市長，他生長在一個政治世家。
李靖的身材高大且強壯，他非常的聰明，他除了讀主流的儒家的經典書籍之外，他還學習了中國古代的許多著名的兵法書。
李靖的舅舅是當時的一個著名將軍，有好幾次，他的舅舅常常跟他分享自己打仗的實際經驗後，李靖就會運用他所讀過的兵法書中的一些觀點來跟他的舅舅進行雙向的討論，他的舅舅常常讚美他的腦筋很靈活且反應很快。
他是一個很有主見的人，他有崇高的人生與理想有偉大的追求，他曾經對他的親人與好朋友們說。
我的人生目標是建立偉大的功勳與立定偉大的事業，如果有機會，讓我遇到一個值得我跟隨的領導者，那麼我一定會立刻拋下我現在所擁有的一切立刻跟隨他，我期待有機會可以完成我的人生理想。
他成年後跟隨他的父親進入了隋王朝的中央政府內工作，他的第一份工作是擔任管理首都地區的人事行政事務。
因為他的工作表現很好，加上他的家族的關係，他在工作上的直屬長官和另外一些當時在首都內的官員們都非常喜歡他。
有一天，當時在位的名字叫做楊素的宰相在跟他討論完一件事情之後，微笑著拍著自己坐著的椅子對他說。
你非常的優秀，你好好工作，我認為當我轉調到別的單位或者是我退休之後，我認為你會是承接我的職位的最佳人選，你將會坐在我現在坐的這張椅子上。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是建立偉大的功勳與立定偉大的事業。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
誰在你在工作上給過你很多幫助呢?在你這一生中、有沒有那個理想是你一定要達成的呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為舊唐書-卷67-李靖傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E8%88%8A%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B767