統治者法則：當他們死後會發生什麼事：英語精讀講義

Rulers are so often related.

統治者之間往往沾親帶故。

Power passes from member to member, 片語搭配

權力在成員之間傳遞，

forming a dynasty.

形成了王朝。

Not just with royalty or dictators, 文法

不僅是王室或獨裁者如此，

but also with representatives in a democracy.

民主制度中的民意代表也是如此。

Families pass power or vie with other families for a turn at the top, 片語搭配

家族傳遞權力，或與其他家族爭奪最高權力，

much more than chance would have.

這絕不僅僅是巧合。

Dynasties seem so natural,

王朝的存在似乎是理所當然的，

you may never have deeply considered them,

你可能從未深思過這個問題，

but you must if you wish to grasp and hold power as long as possible. 片語搭配

但如果你想盡可能長久地掌握權力，就必須深思。

Even if you follow the rules for rulers we have discussed, 文法

即使你遵循了我們討論過的統治者規則：

swaying the keys to power, 文化背景

掌控權力之鑰、

securing the treasure,

守住國庫、

and controlling the court,

控制宮廷，

no man rules forever.

也沒有人能永遠統治。

Dictators with resources abundant and power unchallenged,

即使是擁有豐富資源、權力無可撼動的獨裁者，

still die,

也終將一死；

and representatives must contend with death both literal and political. 講解

民意代表也必須面對生理和政治上的死亡。

But no matter what kind of ruler you are, 文法

但無論你是哪種統治者，

your keys to power value their treasure.

你的權力之鑰看重的是他們的財富。

They keep you in your position not for love of you in particular, 講解

他們讓你保住權位，並不是因為特別愛你，

but for the rewards you provide in general.

而是為了你通常能提供的回報。

But dead rulers can't distribute treasure.

但死去的統治者無法分配財富。

Thus, as your grave approaches,

因此，當死亡臨近時，

your key supporters get nervous.

你的核心支持者會變得緊張。

Your impending death forces your keys to plan for your replacement,

你即將到來的死亡迫使你的權力之鑰為你的繼任者做計畫，

not just to maintain their treasure,

不僅是為了保住他們的財富，

but also because a dead ruler surprise without plans in place 片語搭配

還因為如果統治者突然死亡而沒有任何預案，

will lead to a scramble for power at best 講解

往好了說會引發權力爭奪，

and a bloodbath at worst,

往壞了說會導致血流成河，

leaving many keys on the inside now on the outside after. 慣用語

使得許多原本在權力圈內的權力之鑰日後被排擠出局。

This is why if you happen to be sick, 文法

這就是為什麼如果你碰巧生病了，

keep it secret.

一定要保守秘密。

If your keys even think you might die on them, 慣用語

如果你的權力之鑰甚至認為你可能會死，

they must start planning for the next ruler to avoid this,

他們就必須開始為下一任統治者做計畫以避免這種情況，

which is what makes even a rumor about the ruler's health concerning. 文法

這也是為什麼即使是關於統治者健康的一點謠言都會令人擔憂。

Whispers about your health are a destabilizing poison 慣用語

關於你健康的流言蜚語是一種破壞穩定的毒藥，

in the minds of your key supporters,

深植於你的核心支持者心中，

nearly impossible to remove.

幾乎不可能被清除。

To the keys, your replacement is inevitable anyway,

對權力之鑰來說，你的被取代反正不可避免，

so why not start planning sooner just in case. 片語搭配

那為什麼不早點開始計畫以防萬一呢。

Thus, after a rumor,

因此，在謠言傳出後，

the keys might seem to stay on your side in their actions, 慣用語

權力之鑰在行動上可能看起來還站在你這邊，

but you're already dead in their minds. 慣用語

但你在他們心裡已經是個死人了。

You've lost control and will lose your throne sooner than you like. 文法

你已經失去了控制，並會比你預想的更快失去王座。

But while you can't defend against the reaper 文化背景

但是，雖然你無法抵禦死神，

or extract poison from the minds of your key supporters,

也無法清除核心支持者心中的毒藥，

there is a way to defend your power in this world

還有一種方法可以捍衛你在這個世界的權力，

from rumors of your departure to the next.

以抵禦你要前往另一個世界（死亡）的謠言。

Family. 表達脈絡

家人。

Family is the answer.

家人就是答案。

Dictatorships and democracies have so much family rule

獨裁政體和民主政體都有如此多的家族統治，

because the key supporters want it.

因為核心支持者希望如此。

As your term limit or deathbed approach,

當你的任期結束或臨終之際，

your family is there,

你的家人在那裡，

ready to keep turning the machinery of power, 表達脈絡

準備繼續運轉權力機器，

keep raising the treasure,

繼續增加財富，

keep the keys calm and plot-free.

讓權力之鑰保持平靜且不策劃陰謀。

Sure, warm-hearted rulers may want to give their family advantages

當然，熱心的統治者可能會想給家人帶來好處，

and being the ruler comes with many,

成為統治者也會帶來很多好處，

but the key supporters also want the ruler's family in positions of power

但核心支持者也希望統治者的家人身居高位，

because the family that plots together rules together. 文化背景

因為一起密謀的家族也會一起統治。

Generational power transcending death and term limits.

超越死亡和任期限制的世代權力。

Thus, your keys get to worry less about transitions of power 文法

因此，你的權力之鑰不必太擔心權力過渡，

and you get to worry less about their plans for your replacement.

你也不必太擔心他們更換你的計畫。

While key supporters won't ever simply trust you and your family,

雖然核心支持者永遠不會單純地信任你和你的家人，

the keys can look at the motivating interests of you all,

但權力之鑰可以看到你們所有人的核心利益，

calculating that sticking with your family during a transition 片語動詞

他們算計出，在過渡期間堅持支持你的家人，

gives them better odds of staying on the inside 片語搭配

能讓他們有更大的機率留在權力圈內，

because they know you and your relatives also calculate

因為他們知道，你和你的親屬也在算計，

sticking with the keys during a transition

在過渡期間堅持與權力之鑰站在一起，

gives you better odds of staying on the throne.

能讓你們有更大的機率保住王座。

It's a virtuous cycle formed by calculations that are like trust, 用詞

這是一個由類似於信任的算計所形成的良性循環，

but better.

但比信任更好。

The ruler gets to rule longer,

統治者能統治得更久，

the keys get to worry less,

權力之鑰能減少擔憂，

and everything is smooth because when the king is dead,

一切都很順利，因為當舊王駕崩時，

long live the king. 文化背景

新王萬歲。

So put family in high-ranking military, business, or political positions.

所以，把家人安排在軍隊、企業或政治高位上。

Never mind their qualifications because being family is the qualification. 語氣意圖

別管他們的資質如何，因為是家人就是資質。

They must work with your key supporters

他們必須與你的核心支持者合作，

so they know where the money comes from and how it is distributed. 文法

這樣他們才會知道錢從哪裡來以及如何分配。

Family's relationships with the keys keep everyone calm,

家人與權力之鑰的關係能讓所有人保持平靜，

not just during the transition,

不僅是在過渡期間，

but more importantly for you and your political longevity preceding it.

更重要的是，這也關乎你在過渡期之前的政治壽命。

So even if you have no interest in a spouse

因此，即使你對配偶沒興趣，

and have no love for babies,

也不喜歡孩子，

nonetheless, acquire them.

你仍然需要他們。

Of course, the risk you run with family is they too will overthrow you.

當然，任用家人帶來的風險是，他們也會推翻你。

Many a cunning prince has stabbed his king in the back 講解

許多狡猾的王子都在背後捅過國王一刀，

once confident the keys won't mind. 文法

只要他們確信權力之鑰不會介意。

But nothing is certain.

但世事無絕對。

You can only play the odds, 慣用語

你只能賭一把，

and a ruler without family is more vulnerable to rivals and rumors. 片語搭配

而一個沒有家人的統治者更容易受到對手和謠言的攻擊。

Remember, your keys care about the security of their treasure in general,

記住，你的權力之鑰看重的是他們財富的整體安全，

not you in particular.

而不是特別在乎你。

And for them, a family of rulers is a safer investment. 慣用語

對他們來說，一個統治者家族是更安全的投資。

Thus, possible regicide is the price you pay 慣用語

因此，可能的弒君是你為了換取

for buying the longer and securer reign a family brings,

家族帶來的更長久、更安全的統治所付出的代價，

which is why families are so popular among rulers and their key supporters. 表達脈絡

這就是為什麼家族在統治者及其核心支持者中如此受歡迎。

Family is a tool for maintaining power just like any other. 文法

家人就像其他工具一樣，是維持權力的工具。