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 fearless honesty. He focused on practical results rather than minor formalities in both personal conduct and official duties. Though his governance was not flashy, he maintained perfect order in the Donghai Prefecture. Impressed, the imperial court promoted him to a central government position overseeing the appointment and dismissal of local officials.
Once, Emperor Wu announced his intention to implement the Confucian policies of benevolence and justice for the people's benefit. Before the emperor could finish, Ji An interjected that such declarations were unnecessary. He bluntly questioned why the emperor would pretend to uphold benevolence and justice when he was inwardly greedy and avaricious. Stunned into silence, Emperor Wu abruptly dismissed the assembly. The court officials held their breath, fearing Ji An had doomed himself. Later, the emperor remarked to his attendants that Ji An was rather rude and too straightforward.
Consequently, Ji An received no further promotions. When he held his central post, both Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang were low-ranking, insignificant officials. Over time, they were continuously promoted—Gongsun Hong became Prime Minister, and Zhang Tang rose to Imperial Censor—while Ji An's position remained unchanged. One day, Ji An told Emperor Wu that his method of employing ministers was "like piling up firewood: the latecomers surpass the old-timers." The emperor understood this as a complaint. Turning to his other ministers, Emperor Wu said, "Indeed, one should never cease learning. Look, Ji An's remarks grow increasingly indiscreet."
This story originates from Records of the Grand Historian. Later generations adopted the phrase "the latecomers surpass the old-timers" to mean that successors can excel their predecessors, a meaning quite different from Ji An's original, critical implication.
中文翻译
汲黯生活在西汉汉武帝时期。他因正直、公正和敢于直言而备受尊敬。在个人行为和为官之道上，他不拘小节，注重实际效果。虽然他治理地方时并不张扬，却能将他管辖的东海郡治理得井井有条。因此，朝廷将他从东海郡太守提拔到中央，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。汉武帝话还没说完，汲黯就说皇帝没必要说这些。汲黯直言，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。汉武帝突然脸色大变，宣布退朝。在场的文武官员都紧张得屏住呼吸，生怕汲黯因此惹来灾祸。回宫后，汉武帝对身边的人说，汲黯有点太粗鲁、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。有一天，汲黯对汉武帝说，皇帝使用大臣的方式就像堆柴火一样，意思是后来者居上。汉武帝当然看得出汲黯是在抱怨。于是，他转向其他大臣说：“真是学无止境啊。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。