《三略》之上略|《三略》之上略 (3）《三略》之上略(3）

世能祖祖，鲜能下下。祖祖为亲，下下为君。下下者，务耕桑，不夺其时；薄赋敛，不匮其财；罕徭役，不使其劳，则国富而家娱，然后选士以司牧之。

白话文：
世人多能以礼祭祀祖先，却少有以礼爱护下民的。尊祀祖辈，只是敬亲；爱护下民，才是为君之道。爱护民众的君主，重视农桑，不违农时，减轻赋税，不匮竭民众财货；减少徭役，不使民力劳困，能够做到这些，国家殷富，民众安乐，然后再选拔贤士去管理民众。
英译文：
Through the ages rulers managed to venerate their ancestors with the proper ceremonies, but few were able to treat the people as they should have been treated. Those who venerate their ancestors foster proper familial connections, but those who treat the people as they should be treated become rulers. To treat the people as they should be treated means concentrating on agriculture and sericulture and not disturbing the people during their vital seasonal occupations. It means keeping taxes and impositions to a minimum, not exhausting their wealth. If you impose few labor services, if you do not cause the people to be overly labored, then the state will be prosperous and the families will enjoy pleasure. Only thereafter should you select officers to control and supervise them.

夫所谓士者，英雄也。故曰罗其英雄，则敌国穷。英雄者，国之干；庶民者，国之本。得其干，收其本，则政行而无怨。

白话文：
所谓的“士”，就是那些才智杰出之人。所以说，将敌国有才智之人网罗过来，敌国缺少了谋划管理之人，自然而然要走向衰败。英雄豪杰，使国家的主干；平民百姓，是国家的根本。笼络了主干，获得了根本，政令施行畅通，民无怨言。
英译文：
【《三略》之上略|《三略》之上略 (3）】Now what are termed “officers” are men of character and valor. Thus it is said, Draw in their men of character and valor and the enemy’s state will be impoverished.” These valiant men are the trunk of a state. The common people are its root. If you have the trunk and secure the root, the measures of government will be implemented without resentment.