Overview
Xiang Shou was an official.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Works and attributed material
- Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Su Dai (蘇代) · Direct quotation
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment Qin esteemed him and Chu treated him generously · Mode historian-judgment
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 71Biographies of Shu Lizi and Gan Mao · 29 passages
秦使向壽平宜陽，而使樗里子、甘茂伐魏皮氏。
Qin dispatched Xiang Shou to pacify Yiyang, while sending Shu Lizi and Gan Mao to attack Wei's Pishi.
向壽者，宣太后外族也，而與昭王少相長，故任用。
Xiang Shou was from Empress Dowager Xuan's extended family. He had grown up alongside King Zhao from childhood, which is why he was employed.
向壽如楚，楚聞秦之貴向壽，而厚事向壽。
Xiang Shou went to Chu. Chu, learning that Qin esteemed Xiang Shou, treated him with great generosity.
向壽為秦守宜陽，將以伐韓。
Xiang Shou guarded Yiyang for Qin, preparing to attack Han.
韓公仲使蘇代謂向壽曰：「禽困覆車。
Han's Gong Zhong sent Su Dai to address Xiang Shou: 'A trapped bird overturns the cart.
公破韓，辱公仲，公仲收國復事秦，自以為必可以封。
If you defeat Han and humiliate Gong Zhong, Gong Zhong will rally the state to serve Qin once more, believing he will certainly be enfeoffed.
今公與楚解口地，封小令尹以杜陽。
Suppose my lord now cedes the land of Koudi to Chu and enfeoffs the Lesser Lingyin with Duyang.
願公孰慮之也。」
I wish you to deliberate carefully on this.'
向壽曰：「吾合秦楚非以當韓也，子為壽謁之公仲，曰秦韓之交可合也。」
Xiang Shou declared: 'I unite Qin and Chu not to oppose Han. For my sake, report to Gong Zhong that the alliance between Qin and Han can be restored.'
蘇代對曰：「願有謁於公。
Su Dai replied: 'I wish to make a report to you.
王之愛習公也，不如公孫奭；
The king's affection and familiarity with you is not as great as with Gongsun Shi;
其智能公也，不如甘茂。
In intelligence and ability, my lord does not equal Gan Mao.
今二人者皆不得親於秦事，而公獨與王主斷於國者何？
Now those two men are not allowed to participate in Qin affairs, yet my lord alone with the king decides matters of state—why is this?
今秦楚爭彊而公黨於楚，是與公孫奭、甘茂同道也，公何以異之？
Now Qin and Chu contend for supremacy, yet my lord favors Chu—this is the same path as Gongsun Shi and Gan Mao. How are you different from them?
人皆言楚之善變也，而公必亡之，是自為責也。
Everyone says that Chu is fickle, yet my lord is determined to rely on it; this brings blame upon yourself.
公不如與王謀其變也，善韓以備楚，如此則無患矣。
My lord should plan for change with the king, befriend Han to prepare against Chu—in this way there will be no calamity.
韓，公之讎也。
Han is my lord's enemy.
今公言善韓以備楚，是外舉不僻讎也。」
Now my lord speaks well of Han to prepare against Chu; abroad, this means recommending someone without avoiding your enemy.'
向壽曰：「然，吾甚欲韓合。」
Xiang Shou declared: 'Indeed, I very much wish to unite with Han.'
對曰：「甘茂許公仲以武遂，反宜陽之民，今公徒收之，甚難。」
He replied: 'Gan Mao promised Gong Zhong Wusui and the return of Yiyang's people. Now my lord alone seeks to collect it—this is very difficult.'
向壽曰：「然則奈何？
Xiang Shou asked: 'Then what is to be done?
對曰：「公奚不以秦為韓求潁川於楚？
He replied: 'Why does my lord not seek Yingchuan from Chu for Han on Qin's behalf?
公求而得之，是令行於楚而以其地德韓也。
If my lord seeks it and obtains it, your command has carried weight in Chu and you confer the land as a favor to Han.
公求而不得，是韓楚之怨不解而交走秦也。
If my lord seeks it but does not obtain it, the resentment between Han and Chu will remain unresolved, and both sides will hasten toward Qin.
秦楚爭彊，而公徐過楚以收韓，此利於秦。」
As Qin and Chu contend for supremacy, my lord can leisurely pass through Chu to win Han—this benefits Qin.'
向壽曰：「柰何？」
Xiang Shou asked: 'How so?'
今公取宜陽以為功，收楚韓以安之，而誅齊魏之罪，是以公孫奭、甘茂無事也。」
Now my lord can take Yiyang as merit, win over Chu and Han to secure it, and punish Qi and Wei's crimes—this renders Gongsun Shi and Gan Mao without affairs.'
向壽、公孫奭爭之，不能得。
Xiang Shou and Gongsun Shi argued against it but could not prevail.
向壽、公孫奭由此怨，讒甘茂。
Xiang Shou and Gongsun Shi therefore resented him and slandered Gan Mao.