English Original
Ji An served during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 24). He was widely respected for his integrity, justice, and courage to speak truth to power. He focused on practical results over minor formalities, governing his prefecture with quiet efficiency and perfect order. This success led to his promotion to a central government post overseeing the appointment and dismissal of local officials.
Once, Emperor Wu proclaimed his intention to implement Confucian policies of benevolence and justice for the people's benefit. Before the emperor could finish, Ji An bluntly interrupted, questioning the need for such pronouncements when the emperor's own actions were driven by greed and avarice. The emperor, visibly angered, abruptly ended the audience. The court officials feared for Ji An's safety, and later, Emperor Wu privately remarked that Ji An was rather rude and too straightforward.
Consequently, Ji An's career stalled. While he remained in his post, two formerly junior officials, Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang, were continuously promoted, eventually becoming Prime Minister and Imperial Censor respectively. One day, Ji An remarked to Emperor Wu that the emperor's way of using ministers was "like piling up firewood—the latecomers surpass the old-timers." Emperor Wu, recognizing the complaint, turned to his other ministers and said, "It's true one should never stop learning. See how Ji An's remarks grow increasingly indiscreet?"
This story is recorded in The Historical Records. The phrase "the latecomers surpass the old-timers" is now used by later generations to mean that successors can excel their predecessors, a meaning quite different from Ji An's original, more critical implication.
中文翻译
汲黯生活在西汉汉武帝时期。他因正直、公正和敢于直言而受人尊敬。他为人做官不拘小节，讲究实际效果。虽然他行事低调，却能将所管辖的郡县治理得井井有条。因此，朝廷将他从东海郡太守调任至中央，担任主管地方官员任免的官职。
有一次，汉武帝表示要推行儒家的仁政，造福百姓。皇帝的话音刚落，汲黯便说皇帝无需这样讲。汲黯说，皇帝内心如此贪婪，何必费心假装实施仁政呢？这话让皇帝一时语塞。汉武帝顿时脸色大变，宣布退朝。满朝文武官员都紧张得屏住呼吸，生怕汲黯因此招来灾祸。回宫后，汉武帝对身边的人说，汲黯未免太粗鲁、太直率了。
因此，汲黯再也没有得到晋升。当他担任主管地方官员任免的官职时，公孙弘和张汤都还是地位低微的小官。后来，他们不断得到提拔。公孙弘当上了丞相，张汤成了御史大夫。然而，汲黯的官职却原封不动。一天，汲黯对汉武帝说，陛下使用大臣就像堆柴火一样，意思是后来者居上。汉武帝当然听出汲黯是在抱怨。于是，他转向其他大臣说：“人确实不能不学习。你们看，汲黯说话越来越放肆了。”
这个故事出自《史记》。后人用成语“后来居上”来表示后人可以超过前人，这与汲黯当初说“后来者居上”时的原意大不相同。