《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪十八》
我自己思量，如果尊奉陛下的诏令出塞，率兵远袭羌人，用尽天子的精兵，将车马、甲胄散落在山野之中，即使立不下尺寸之功，也能苟且避免嫌疑，过后还能不负责任，不受指责。
臣愚以为不便。臣窃自惟念：奉诏出塞，引军远击，穷天子之精兵，散车甲于山野，虽亡尺寸之功。
I thought to myself that if I were to obey your imperial edict to lead troops far away to attack the Qiang, using up all the天子empress’s crack troops and scattering chariots, horses, and armor all over the mountains and fields, even if I failed to achieve any results at all, I would still be able to avoid suspicion temporarily and evade blame and censure in the future.