历史故事：周处除三害

【明慧学校】“周处除三害”是中国历史上一个很有名的故事。周处是晋代义举阳羡（今江苏宜兴）人，少年时就失去父教。周处不拘小节，性情凶悍粗鲁，恣意妄为，简直成了乡中一害，乡亲们都十分怕他，总是躲得远远的，不愿和他交往。

久而久之，周处也知道自己为乡亲们所憎恶，便有了悔改之意。他见乡亲们大多愁眉不展，闷闷不乐，心里觉得奇怪，便问道：“如今天下太平，风调雨顺，五谷丰登，事事都如人意，为甚么还郁郁不乐呢？”父老们答道：“现今地方上有三害未除，哪里能快乐得起来呢？”周处问道：“是哪三害？”父老答道：“南山上的白额猛虎随意伤人，为一害；长桥下的河中蛟龙常伤人畜，又是一害；至于第三害……”说到此处，父老们有些犹豫，但还是说了出来：“恐怕要算是你了。”

周处听罢此言，沉默良久，最后他决然说道：“这三害我都能除去！”

周处身带利器，孤身进山搜寻白额猛虎，与猛虎一番拼搏，终于杀死了这只伤人性命的猛兽。接著他又奋身投入河中，去搏杀那只蛟龙。蛟龙在水中或沉或浮，一连三日三夜，毫不知倦。而周处比蛟龙更勇猛，他与蛟龙恶战三日三夜，终于将蛟龙斩杀。

周处三日不归，乡亲们以为他已经死了。想到地方上一下子三害俱去，从此可以太平无事，乡亲们都高兴的互相庆贺，欢喜雀跃。这时候，周处正好归来，眼见乡亲们的高兴情景，才明白自己被大家痛恨到了何等地步，顿时大受刺激，这也更加坚定了他改过自新、从新做人的决心。

周处决心已定，立即付诸行动。他了解到吴中大将陆逊的孙子陆机、陆云很有才学，便专程前去拜访，想拜他们为师。周处只见到了陆云，将自己的情况如实相告，问陆云：“我很想改过自新，但是年纪已经大了，不知是否来得及？”陆云鼓励周处道：“古人贵朝闻夕改，君前途尚可。且患志之不立，何忧名之不彰！”

陆云的一番话极大的教育、鼓励了周处，他从中领悟了有志者事竟成的深刻道理。从此，周处刻苦读书，好学上进。他勤学而有文思，又十分注重自身修养，养成了良好的品德。仅一年，他的名声就大大的不同以往，以至于州、府的官员都举荐他出来做官。

此后，周处为官三十余年。在任时，他克尽职守，很有政绩，如在新平任太守时，与少数民族关系相处得很好；当广汉太守时，为官清廉，处理了不少数十年留存下来的积案；当御史中丞后，他秉公执法，不阿附权贵，他的刚正不阿，自然是难以见容于恶势力。

后来，少数民族首领齐万年造反，朝中想加害于周处的权贵故意推荐他去征讨。有人知道那些朝臣们的险恶用心，规劝周处推辞掉这个差使，周处坚决说道：“忠孝岂能两全，既然辞别亲人，服务于朝廷，父母亲哪里还能把儿子仅仅当作自己的私有之物呢？今天是我献身的时候了！”最后周处由于恶人的陷害，战死疆场，以身殉国。

周处勇于改过，忠于国事，由一个地方恶少转变为忠臣良将，给后人以很大的启发。他的故事说明，一个人做错了事，但只要立志改过，从善如流，是有光明前途的，有志者事竟成，只要下定决心，踏踏实实的去做。

Historical story: Zhou Chu Eliminates the Three Menaces

"Zhou Chu eliminates the three menaces" is a famous story in Chinese history. Zhou Chu is a youth who lost his father, and thus was rather ill-bred. Zhou Chu is brash, fierce and willful; he was simply a menace to his township. His fellow villagers all feared him, always hid from him and were unwilling to associate with him.
Gradually, Zhou Chu knew of his fellow villagers’ detest for him and had intentions to repent. He saw his fellow villagers mostly looking worried and depressed. He felt sorry for them and he asked: "There is peace throughout the country, good weather, bumper harvests. Everyone has his heart’s desires. But why are they so depressed?"
The village elders reply: "The people of this town face the three menaces. How can we enjoy what we have?"

Zhou Chu asks: "What are the three menaces?" The elder replies: "On Nanshan, a fierce tiger eats people at will; that is the first menace. In the Long Bridge River, a serpent often attacks livestock; that is the second menace. As for the third menace,... ... " The elders somewhat hesitates, but still said: "Perhaps that had to be you."

Zhou Chu listened to the elders and was silent for a long time. Finally he made up his mind, "The three menaces, I can overcome them!"

The next week, Zhou Chu took his weapons and entered Nanshan alone. He searched for the tiger and finally killed this first menace. He then went over to the river to slay the serpent. The serpent was able to sinks in the water or floats. Zhou Chu had to fight continually for three days and nights. But Zhou Chu is fiercer than the serpent and he finally cuts the serpent, killing it.

When Zhou Chu failed to return on the third night, the fellow villagers thought he already died. They thought that the three menaces were all gone at the same time. Peace would reign from this time on. The fellow villagers were all happy. Mutually congratulations and delighted cries for joy were in the air. At this moment, Zhou Chu returned and saw with his own eyes how the fellow villagers rejoiced. Only then did he understand how hated he was by everybody. It saddened him greatly but a steely resolve grew in him and strengthened his determination to turn over a new leaf.

Zhou Chu's determination to reform himself and change his ways paid off. As one who was loyal to the country and was an official. He was killed by rebels when he was sent to quell them by other court officials who wanted to get rid of him. However, his ability to give up his evil was and become virtuous remained inspirational. His story explained that even after a person has made a mistake but as long as he resolved to reform, accepted good advice readily, he will have the ability to turn over a new leaf.