胡惟庸养猴子却不曾想猴子是他自己
《明朝那些事儿》（二十五）
一、胡惟庸在家里养了几十只猴子，经过专业训练，又给这些猴子穿上衣服，俨然一个杂技团。有客来时，胡丞相一拍手，这些猴子就会端茶行酒，还能拜跪、作揖，更能吹竹笛，时人称它们为"孙慧郎"。
1. Hu Weiyong kept dozens of monkeys at home, professionally trained and dressed in clothes, resembling a circus troupe. When guests arrived, Chancellor Hu would clap his hands, and these monkeys would serve tea and wine, kneel in reverence, bow with folded hands, and even play bamboo flutes. Contemporaries called them "Sun Huilang" (literally "Master Monkey").
二、历史上著名的郑庄公，一直不为其母亲所喜爱，他的弟弟也仗着母亲的溺爱，向他提出种种不合理的要求，而郑庄公总是满足他，直到最后，他的弟弟企图谋反，郑庄公才出兵将之灭掉。
2. The historically famous Duke Zhuang of Zheng was never favored by his mother. His younger brother, relying on their mother's doting, made various unreasonable demands, which Duke Zhuang always accommodated—until finally, when his brother attempted rebellion, Duke Zhuang sent troops to crush him.
三、后人往往以为郑庄公仁至义尽，传为美谈，可是也有人指出，郑庄公是真正的伪君子，是想要他弟弟的命，才纵容他的不法。
3. Later generations often believed Duke Zhuang of Zheng acted with utmost benevolence and righteousness, passing it down as a praiseworthy tale. However, some have pointed out that he was a true hypocrite who tolerated his brother's unlawful behavior precisely because he wanted his brother's life.
四、朱元璋甘愿忍受胡惟庸的专横，让这个跳梁小丑尽情表演，套用围棋里的一句话来形容就是"不为小利，必有大谋"，因为他的目标对手是延续了上千年的丞相制度。
4. Zhu Yuanzhang willingly endured Hu Weiyong's tyranny, allowing this clown to perform freely. To paraphrase a Go proverb: "Ignore small advantages to pursue greater gains." His real target was the centuries-old institution of the Chancellor.
五、胡惟庸应对朱元璋的对策是有足够的人与他站在同一边，所谓法不责众。
5. Hu Weiyong's strategy to counter Zhu Yuanzhang was to ensure enough people stood on his side, operating under the notion that "the law cannot punish everyone."
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