Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers, "Before Yang Di pacified the capital, there was not a yard full of beautiful women and exotic atmosphere in the palace. Emperor Yang Di was still dissatisfied and crusaded against things. He used all his strength to wage war, and the people were miserable, which led to their demise. I saw all this with my own eyes. Therefore, I work tirelessly from morning till night, just hoping to be clean and quiet, and make the world safe. In this way, we can stop corvee, harvest food and live and work in peace and contentment. Governing the country is like planting trees. Only when the foundation is unshakable will it flourish. The emperor can be quiet, how can people not live and work in peace and contentment?

Original text:

(Tang) Emperor Taizong said to the courtiers: "In the past, the capital was flat, there were few beautiful women in the palace, and there was no dissatisfaction in the courtyard. Yang-ti's intentions are still unfinished, and he does not seek merit. His belligerence and people's poverty led to his demise. This is what I saw. So, I work hard at night, but I want to be clean, so there is nothing in the world. As a result, the corvee is not prosperous, and the crops are abundant in one year, and the people are happy. Governing a country is like planting a tree. Roots do not shake, branches and leaves flourish. If it can be clean, how can the people be uneasy? "