卖官鬻爵 Selling offices and titles
Explanation
卖官鬻爵指统治阶级出卖官职以获取钱财，形容政治腐败，官场黑暗。
Selling officials and titles refers to the practice of the ruling class selling offices to gain wealth. It describes political corruption and the darkness of officialdom.
Origin Story
话说汉灵帝时期，朝廷腐败不堪，宦官专权，内外勾结，大肆搜刮民脂民膏。灵帝为了满足个人享乐，竟公然卖官鬻爵，只要有钱，无论德才，都能买到官职。一时间，朝堂之上乌烟瘴气，奸臣当道，忠良蒙冤。各地豪强地主也纷纷效仿，地方官员更是变本加厉，横征暴敛，百姓民不聊生。一时间，天下大乱，民怨沸腾，最终酿成了黄巾起义这般的惨剧。这便是卖官鬻爵的恶果，它不仅掏空了国库，更重要的是摧毁了国家的统治基础，加速了王朝的灭亡。
During the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, the court was riddled with corruption, eunuchs seized power and were entangled with internal and external administration to plunder the people. To satisfy his personal pleasures, Emperor Ling openly sold offices and titles. Whoever had money, regardless of whether they were competent or not, could buy an office. At once, the court was filled with smoke and haze, unscrupulous ministers ruled, and loyal officers suffered injustice. The rich and powerful of various regions followed suit, and local officials were even more ruthless in extorting the people. The people could no longer live. There followed a general disorder, the people's anger boiled over, and it eventually led to such terrible events as the Yellow Turban Rebellion. These were the evil consequences of selling offices and titles. Not only was the treasury emptied, but also the foundation of the country's governance was destroyed, accelerating the demise of the dynasty.
Usage
用于形容政治腐败，官场黑暗，统治者为了钱财而出卖官职的行为。
It is used to describe political corruption, the darkness of officialdom, and the behavior of rulers selling officials for money.
Examples
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东汉末年，朝廷腐败，宦官专权，卖官鬻爵，朝政混乱不堪。
Dōnghàn mònián, cháoting fǔbài, huànguān zhuānquán, màiguān yùjué, cháozhèng hǔnluàn bùkān.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the court was corrupt, eunuchs held power, officials were sold, and the government was in chaos.
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历史上，一些腐朽的王朝，常常因为卖官鬻爵而导致国力衰弱，最终走向灭亡。
Lìshǐ shàng, yīxiē fǔxiǔ de wángcháo, chángcháng yīnwèi màiguān yùjué ér dǎozhì guólì shuāiruò, zuìzhōng zǒuxiàng mièwáng．
Throughout history, some decaying dynasties have often led to national weakness and eventual demise because of selling positions and titles.