出師表

The work opens with a solemn address to a newly enthroned ruler, set against the fractured landscape of a divided empire. The speaker mourns the untimely death of his predecessor and the precarious state of the realm, where resources are thin and danger looms on every frontier. Yet he also praises the steadfast officials who continue to serve with unwavering loyalty.

From his modest beginnings in a remote village, the author now stands as a trusted minister, offering candid counsel. He urges the sovereign to listen to honest advice, reward merit, and punish misconduct uniformly, so that the court and the provinces act as one body. With measured strategy and sincere devotion, he pledges to marshal the forces at hand and restore order, while reminding the ruler of the moral duty to honor the late emperor’s vision.