Ren Anshu's Translation (Excerpt) is a compulsory course for senior two students in Jiangsu Education Press.

Master Tai, Sima Qian, who is willing to help you, pays tribute to you again. Shao Qing's first step: In the past, it was very kind of you to write to me, teach me to be careful with others and recommend talents. Feelings are sincere, as if complaining that I didn't do what you said, and also echoing the layman's point of view. I didn't. Please allow me to talk about my stubborn and humble ideas. I hope you don't blame me for not replying to you for a long time.

As far as human nature is concerned, there is no one who is not greedy for life and hates death and misses his parents, wife and children. As for those who are excited by justice and axioms, this is not the case, because they have to. Unfortunately, I lost my parents in my early years, and I have no brothers and am alone. As for how I treat my wife and children, can Shao Qing see it? Moreover, the brave may not die of honor, but the cowardly who advocate morality can encourage themselves not to be humiliated anytime and anywhere. Although I am timid and want to live my own life, I know how to sacrifice my life for righteousness, so why not accept the insult of being tied by a rope! Besides, people like handmaids and concubines can commit suicide (without being humiliated). What do I have to do? The reason why I drag out an ignoble existence is that I would rather be imprisoned in prison like dirt, because my wish has not been fully realized, I am ashamed to die in obscurity, and my literary talent cannot be revealed to future generations.

In ancient times, there were countless people with wealth and status, but their names were all buried. Only outstanding people are praised by future generations. King Wen interpreted the Book of Changes when he was in prison. Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Period in poverty. Qu Yuan wrote Li Sao after he was exiled. Zuo Qiuming wrote Mandarin after he became blind. Sun Bin's kneecap was cut off and Sun Tzu's Art of War was compiled. Lv Buwei was demoted to Shu, and Lv Chunqiu was spread all over the world. Han Fei was imprisoned in the State of Qin and wrote Difficult Talks and Lonely Anger. As for the Book of Songs, there are 300 articles, most of which were written by sages to express their feelings. These writers felt depressed and uncomfortable in their hearts, and their ideas were not accepted by people at that time, so they described their experiences and let future generations know themselves. For example, Zuo Qiuming is blind and Sun Bin has a broken leg. After all, he cannot be used by the world. So he went home and wrote a book to express his resentment, hoping to leave words to express his thoughts.

I'm overreaching. Recently, I pinned my wish on useless words, collected the lost literature in the world, roughly researched the actions of historical figures, observed their process from beginning to end, and investigated the laws of their success, failure and rise and fall. From Xuanyuan Huangdi to now, I have written ten tables, twelve biographies, eight chapters, thirty aristocratic families and seventy biographies. I also want to use it to explore the law of heaven and personnel, understand the historical development process from ancient times to the present, and achieve the theory of one family. It's been drafted, but it's not finished yet, so it's a disaster. I'm sorry I didn't write it. I'd rather be castrated than look angry. I really want to finish this book, (temporarily) hide it in a famous mountain, (later) pass it on to like-minded people, and make it popular in metropolis, so that I can make up for the humiliation I suffered in prison before, even if I was killed 10 thousand times, I will regret where I went! However, these words can only be said to knowledgeable people, and it is hard to say to outsiders.

Moreover, it is not easy to live in a guilty situation. Being humble, there are many criticisms and accusations. I suffered this disaster because I spoke to the emperor (carelessly), and I was laughed at by my neighbors, so that my ancestors were humiliated. How can I have the face to sweep my parents' graves again? Even after another hundred generations, it will only be more humiliating! So my mind is full of pain, and I am always in a trance at home, as if I have lost something and I don't know where to go when I go out. Every time I think about this great shame, I don't sweat or get wet! As a junior minister in the palace, how can you leave the palace and live in seclusion in the cave? So I had to go with the flow and conform to the ethos of the times to express my inner grief and indignation. Now Shao Qing teaches me to recommend talented people. Isn't this against my private wishes? Although I (also) want to dress myself up and whitewash myself with beautiful words, it's not good for the world and I can't win people's trust. This can only lead to insult. In short, on the day of death, there will be a conclusion about right and wrong. This letter can't express my meaning in detail, just talk about some solid and simple ideas. Greetings to you again.