1
穰侯魏冉者，秦昭王母宣太后弟也。 其先楚人，姓羋氏。
Wei Ran, Marquis of Rang, was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Xuan, mother of King Zhao of Qin. His forebears were Chu people of the Mi clan.
2
秦武王卒，無子，立其弟為昭王。 昭王母故號為羋八子，及昭王即位，羋八子號為宣太后。 宣太后非武王母。 武王母號曰惠文后，先武王死。 宣太后二弟：其異父長弟曰穰侯，姓魏氏，名冉； 同父弟曰羋戎，為華陽君。 而昭王同母弟曰高陵君、涇陽君。 而魏冉最賢，自惠王、武王時任職用事。 武王卒，諸弟爭立，唯魏冉力為能立昭王。 昭王即位，以冉為將軍，衛咸陽。 誅季君之亂，而逐武王后出之魏，昭王諸兄弟不善者皆滅之，威振秦國。 昭王少，宣太后自治，任魏冉為政。
When King Wu of Qin died without heirs, his younger brother ascended as King Zhao. King Zhao's mother was formerly known as Lady Mi the Eighth. When King Zhao ascended the throne, Lady Mi the Eighth was elevated to Empress Dowager Xuan. Empress Dowager Xuan was not King Wu's mother. King Wu's mother was honored as Empress Huiwen and predeceased him. Empress Dowager Xuan had two younger brothers: her elder half-brother from a different father was called Marquis of Rang, surnamed Wei, named Ran; Her younger uterine brother was Mi Rong, who became Lord of Huayang. King Zhao's uterine younger brothers were titled Lord of Gaoling and Lord of Jingyang. Wei Ran was the most capable among them. He held office and conducted affairs since the reigns of King Hui and King Wu. When King Wu died, his younger brothers vied for the throne. Only Wei Ran wielded sufficient power to establish King Zhao. When King Zhao ascended the throne, he appointed Ran as general to defend Xianyang. He executed Ji Jun's rebellion, banished King Wu's empress to Wei, and eliminated all of King Zhao's disloyal brothers. His authority shook the state of Qin. Since King Zhao was young, Empress Dowager Xuan ruled personally and entrusted Wei Ran with conducting political affairs.
3
昭王七年，樗里子死，而使涇陽君質於齊。 趙人樓緩來相秦，趙不利，乃使仇液之秦，請以魏冉為秦相。 仇液將行，其客宋公謂液曰：「秦不聽公，樓緩必怨公。 公不若謂樓緩曰『請為公毋急秦』。 秦王見趙請相魏冉之不急，且不聽公。 公言而事不成，以德樓子； 事成，魏冉故德公矣。」 於是仇液從之。 而秦果免樓緩而魏冉相秦。
In the seventh year of King Zhao, Shu Lizi died, and Lord Jingyang was dispatched as hostage to Qi. The Zhao man Lou Huan came to serve as chancellor of Qin. This disadvantaged Zhao, so they dispatched Qiu Ye to Qin to petition for Wei Ran to become chancellor of Qin. As Qiu Ye was about to depart, his guest Song Gong advised him, "If Qin does not listen to you, Lou Huan will certainly resent you." You should tell Lou Huan: 'Please do not hurry Qin on my behalf.' The King of Qin perceived that Zhao's petition to appoint Wei Ran as chancellor was not pressing, and moreover would not heed you. You have not yet finished speaking, but by your merit, Lou Huan; When affairs succeed, Wei Ran will owe you a debt of gratitude.' Then Qiu Ye complied. Qin indeed dismissed Lou Huan and appointed Wei Ran as chancellor of Qin.
4
欲誅呂禮，禮出奔齊。 昭王十四年，魏冉舉白起，使代向壽將而攻韓、魏，敗之伊闕，斬首二十四萬，虜魏將公孫喜。 明年，又取楚之宛、葉。 魏冉謝病免相，以客卿壽燭為相。 其明年，燭免，復相冉，乃封魏冉於穰，復益封陶，號曰穰侯。
He sought to execute Lu Li, but Li fled to Qi. In the fourteenth year of King Zhao, Wei Ran recommended Bai Qi to replace Xiang Shou as general and attack Han and Wei, defeating them at Yiguan, beheading two hundred and forty thousand, and capturing the Wei general Gongsun Xi. The following year, he attacked and seized Chu's Wan and Ye. Wei Ran pleaded illness and resigned as chancellor, recommending his guest minister Shou Zhu to replace him as chancellor. The following year, Zhu was dismissed and Ran became chancellor once more. Then Wei Ran was enfeoffed with Rang, his fief was further increased by Tao, and he was titled Marquis of Rang.
5
穰侯封四歲，為秦將攻魏。 魏獻河東方四百里。 拔魏之河內，取城大小六十餘。 昭王十九年，秦稱西帝，齊稱東帝。 月餘，呂禮來，而齊、秦各復歸帝為王。 魏冉復相秦，六歲而免。 免二歲，復相秦。 四歲，而使白起拔楚之郢，秦置南郡。 乃封白起為武安君。 白起者，穰侯之所任舉也，相善。 於是穰侯之富，富於王室。
Four years after being enfeoffed as Marquis of Rang, he served as Qin's general and attacked Wei. Wei surrendered four hundred square li of land east of the Yellow River. He seized Wei's territory north of the Yellow River, taking more than sixty cities of various sizes. In the nineteenth year of King Zhao, Qin styled itself Western Emperor, and Qi as Eastern Emperor. More than a month later, Lu Li arrived, and Qi and Qin each reverted from Emperor to King. Wei Ran became chancellor of Qin once more, serving six years before being dismissed. After two years' dismissal, he became chancellor of Qin once more. After four years, he dispatched Bai Qi to seize Chu's Ying, and Qin established the Nangun commandery. Thereupon Bai Qi was enfeoffed as Lord of Wu'an. Bai Qi was one whom the Marquis of Rang had recommended and employed; they were on good terms. Thus the Marquis of Rang's wealth surpassed that of the royal house.
6
昭王三十二年，穰侯為相國，將兵攻魏，走芒卯，入北宅，遂圍大梁。 梁大夫須賈說穰侯曰：「臣聞魏之長吏謂魏王曰：『昔梁惠王伐趙，戰勝三梁，拔邯鄲； 趙氏不割，而邯鄲復歸。 齊人攻衛，拔故國，殺子良； 衛人不割，而故地復反。 衛、趙之所以國全兵勁而地不并於諸侯者，以其能忍難而重出地也。 宋、中山數伐割地，而國隨以亡。 臣以為衛、趙可法，而宋、中山可為戒也。 秦，貪戾之國也，而毋親。 蠶食魏氏，又盡晉國，戰勝暴子，割八縣，地未畢入，兵復出矣。 夫秦何厭之有哉！ 今又走芒卯，入北宅，此非敢攻梁也，且劫王以求多割地。 王必勿聽也。 今王背楚、趙而講秦，楚、趙怒而去王，與王爭事秦，秦必受之。 秦挾楚、趙之兵以復攻梁，則國求無亡不可得也。 願王之必無講也。 王若欲講，少割而有質； 不然，必見欺。』 此臣之所聞於魏也，願君［王］之以是慮事也。 《周書》曰『惟命不于常』，此言幸之不可數也。 夫戰勝暴子，割八縣，此非兵力之精也，又非計之工也，天幸為多矣。 今又走芒卯，入北宅，以攻大梁，是以天幸自為常也。 智者不然。 臣聞魏氏悉其百縣勝甲以上戍大梁，臣以為不下三十萬。 以三十萬之眾守梁七仞之城，臣以為湯、武復生，不易攻也。 夫輕背楚、趙之兵，陵七仞之城，戰三十萬之眾，而志必舉之，臣以為自天地始分以至于今，未嘗有者也。 攻而不拔，秦兵必罷，陶邑必亡，則前功必棄矣。 今魏氏方疑，可以少割收也。 願君逮楚、趙之兵未至於梁，亟以少割收魏。 魏方疑而得以少割為利，必欲之，則君得所欲矣。 楚、趙怒於魏之先己也，必爭事秦，從以此散，而君後擇焉。 且君之得地豈必以兵哉！ 邦晉國，秦兵不攻，而魏必效絳安邑。 又為陶開兩道，幾盡故宋，衛必效單父。 秦兵可全，而君制之，何索而不得，何為而不成！ 願君熟慮之而無行危。」 穰侯曰：「善。」 乃罷梁圍。
In the thirty-second year of King Zhao, the Marquis of Rang, serving as prime minister, led troops to attack Wei, routed Mang Mao, entered Beizhai, and thereupon besieged Daliang. Xu Jia, grand master of Liang, advised the Marquis of Rang: "Your servant has heard Wei's high officials tell King Wei: 'Formerly King Hui of Liang attacked Zhao, won a battle at San Liang, and pulled back the siege of Handan; The Zhao clan refused to cede land, so Handan was besieged once more. Qi attacked Wei, withdrew from Guguo, and killed Zi Liang; Wei refused to cede land, so their former territory was besieged once more. The reason Wei and Zhao survive as intact states with vigorous armies and lands not annexed by the feudal lords is that they are able to endure hardship and cede territory generously. Song and Zhongshan were repeatedly attacked for ceding land, and their states perished in consequence. Your servant considers Wei and Zhao worthy of emulation, while Song and Zhongshan serve as cautionary examples. Qin is a rapacious and violent state with no kin relations. It nibbles away at the Wei clan, moreover exhausting the state of Jin. Though we win battles and expose the enemy dead, ceding eight counties, the land is not yet fully occupied before fresh troops emerge. What satiety does Qin have! Now it has routed Mang Mao once more and entered Beizhai—this is not daring to attack Liang, but rather coercing the king to cede much land. The king will certainly not heed. If Your Majesty now abandons Chu and Zhao to negotiate with Qin, Chu and Zhao will grow angry and desert Your Majesty, contending with you to serve Qin, and Qin will certainly accept them. If Qin seizes Chu and Zhao's troops to attack Liang once more, then the state will seek not to perish but it will be impossible to obtain. I wish Your Majesty will certainly not negotiate. If the king wishes to discuss peace, make a small concession and take hostages; If not, you will certainly be deceived.' This is what your servant has heard from Wei. I wish you to consider affairs accordingly. The Zhou Book says 'The mandate rests not in constancy'—this speaks of good fortune not being countable. As for winning battles and exposing the dead, ceding eight counties—this is not the refinement of military strength, nor the excellence of strategy; heaven's favor has been abundant. Now to rout Mang Mao once more, enter Beizhai, and attack Daliang—this takes heaven's favor as a constant. The wise do not act thus. Your servant has heard that the Wei clan has mobilized all its hundred counties' finest armored troops and above to garrison Daliang. Your servant thinks there are not less than three hundred thousand. To defend Liang's seven-ren-high walls with three hundred thousand troops—your servant thinks that even if Tang and Wu were revived, they would not easily attack it. To lightly abandon Chu and Zhao's troops, scale seven-ren walls, battle three hundred thousand multitudes, yet resolve to certainly capture it—your servant thinks that from when heaven and earth first divided until now, there has never been such a thing. If the attack fails to capture it, Qin troops will certainly be exhausted, Tao city will certainly perish, and then all previous merits will certainly be abandoned. Now the Wei clan is just wavering—one can obtain much by ceding little. I wish my lord to hasten and make a small territorial concession to win over Wei before Chu and Zhao's troops arrive at Liang. Wei is just wavering, wondering if a small concession can bring advantage, but they certainly desire it—thus my lord will obtain what he wishes. Chu and Zhao will be angry that Wei has gotten ahead of them, and will certainly vie to serve Qin. From this they will disperse, and my lord can afterward choose among them. Moreover, must my lord's acquisition of land necessarily be through troops! If you annex the Jin state without Qin troops attacking, Wei will certainly cede Jiang and Anyi. If you open two roads for Tao and nearly exhaust the former Song territories, Wei will certainly cede Shanfu. Qin troops can be preserved whole while my lord controls them—what is there to seek that cannot be obtained, what to do that cannot be accomplished! I wish my lord to deliberate carefully and not pursue danger.' The Marquis of Rang declared: 'Excellent.' Thereupon he lifted the siege of Liang.
7
明年，魏背秦，與齊從親。 秦使穰侯伐魏，斬首四萬，走魏將暴鳶，得魏三縣。 穰侯益封。
The following year, Wei betrayed Qin and formed close ties with Qi. Qin dispatched the Marquis of Rang to attack Wei, beheading forty thousand, routing the Wei general Bao Yuan, and seizing three Wei counties. The Marquis of Rang's fief was further increased.
8
明年，穰侯與白起客卿胡陽復攻趙、韓、魏，破芒卯於華陽下，斬首十萬，取魏之卷、蔡陽、長社，趙氏觀津。 且與趙觀津，益趙以兵，伐齊。 齊襄王懼，使蘇代為齊陰遺穰侯書曰：「臣聞往來者言曰『秦將益趙甲四萬以伐齊』，臣竊必之敝邑之王曰『秦王明而熟於計，穰侯智而習於事，必不益趙甲四萬以伐齊』。 是何也？ 夫三晉之相與也，秦之深讎也。 百相背也，百相欺也，不為不信，不為無行。 今破齊以肥趙。 趙，秦之深讎，不利於秦。 此一也。 秦之謀者，必曰『破齊，獘晉、楚，而後制晉、楚之勝』。 夫齊，罷國也，以天下攻齊，如以千鈞之弩決潰癕也，必死，安能獘晉、楚？ 此二也。 秦少出兵，則晉、楚不信也； 多出兵，則晉、楚為制於秦。 齊恐，不走秦，必走晉、楚。 此三也。 秦割齊以啖晉、楚，晉、楚案之以兵，秦反受敵。 此四也。 是晉、楚以秦謀齊，以齊謀秦也，何晉、楚之智而秦、齊之愚？ 此五也。 故得安邑以善事之，亦必無患矣。 秦有安邑，韓氏必無上黨矣。 取天下之腸胃，與出兵而懼其不反也，孰利？ 臣故曰秦王明而熟於計，穰侯智而習於事，必不益趙甲四萬以代齊矣。」 於是穰侯不行，引兵而歸。
The following year, the Marquis of Rang together with Bai Qi and guest minister Hu Yang again attacked Zhao, Han, and Wei, defeating Mang Mao below Huayang, beheading one hundred thousand, and seizing Wei's Juan, Caiyang, and Changshe, as well as Zhao's Guanjin. Moreover, he returned Guanjin to Zhao, augmented Zhao with troops, and attacked Qi. King Xiang of Qi grew fearful and had Su Dai secretly send a letter to the Marquis of Rang on Qi's behalf: 'Your servant has heard travelers say, "Qin will provide Zhao with forty thousand suits of armor to attack Qi." Your servant secretly assures my king: "The King of Qin is clear-headed and skilled in planning, the Marquis of Rang is intelligent and experienced in affairs—they will certainly not provide Zhao with forty thousand suits of armor to attack Qi."' Why is this? The alliance of the Three Jin states is Qin's deepest enmity. A hundred times they turn their backs on each other, a hundred times they deceive each other—not that they are faithless, not that they lack conduct. Now destroying Qi to fatten Zhao. Zhao is Qin's deepest enmity; this is disadvantageous to Qin. This is the first reason. Qin's strategists will certainly say: 'Destroy Qi, exhaust Jin and Chu, and then control the victories of Jin and Chu.' Now Qi is an exhausted state. To attack Qi with the whole world is like using a thousand-jun crossbow to burst a festering boil—it will certainly die, but how can it exhaust Jin and Chu? This is the second reason. If Qin sends few troops, then Jin and Chu will not trust us; If many troops are sent out, then Jin and Chu will be controlled by Qin. Qi, in fear, will not flee to Qin but will certainly go to Jin and Chu. This is the third reason. Qin carves up Qi to feed Jin and Chu, but Jin and Chu press with troops, and Qin instead receives enemies. This is the fourth reason. This means Jin and Chu use Qin to plot against Qi, and use Qi to plot against Qin. Why are Jin and Chu so intelligent while Qin and Qi so foolish? This is the fifth reason. Therefore, if you obtain Anyi and serve it well, there will certainly be no calamity. If Qin has Anyi, the Han clan will certainly lose Shangdang. Taking the world's vital organs compared to sending troops and fearing they won't return—which is more profitable? Your servant therefore says: King Zhao of Qin is enlightened and versed in strategy, the Marquis of Rang is intelligent and experienced in affairs—they will certainly not augment Zhao's armored troops by forty thousand to replace Qi.' Thereupon the Marquis of Rang did not proceed but led his troops back.
9
昭王三十六年，相國穰侯言客卿灶，欲伐齊取剛、壽，以廣其陶邑。 於是魏人范睢自謂張祿先生，譏穰侯之伐齊，乃越三晉以攻齊也，以此時奸說秦昭王。 昭王於是用范睢。 范睢言宣太后專制，穰侯擅權於諸侯，涇陽君、高陵君之屬太侈，富於王室。 於是秦昭王悟，乃免相國，令涇陽之屬皆出關，就封邑。 穰侯出關，輜車千乘有餘。 穰侯卒於陶，而因葬焉。 秦復收陶為郡。
In the thirty-sixth year of King Zhao, the chancellor Marquis of Rang recommended his guest minister Zao, desiring to attack Qi and take Gang and Shou to expand his fief at Tao. Thereupon the Wei man Fan Ju called himself Master Zhanglu and ridiculed the Marquis of Rang's attack on Qi, saying it was crossing the Three Jin to attack Qi. At this time he craftily advised King Zhao of Qin. King Zhao thereupon employed Fan Ju. Fan Ju spoke of Empress Dowager Xuan monopolizing authority, the Marquis of Rang usurping power among the feudal lords, and the likes of Lord Jingyang and Lord Gaoling being too extravagant and wealthier than the royal house. Thereupon King Zhao of Qin was enlightened. He dismissed the chancellor and ordered the likes of Jingyang to all leave the passes and go to their fiefs. When the Marquis of Rang left the pass, he had more than a thousand baggage wagons. The Marquis of Rang died at Tao and was buried there. Qin reclaimed Tao as a commandery.
10
太史公曰：穰侯，昭王親舅也。 而秦所以東益地，弱諸侯，嘗稱帝於天下，天下皆西鄉稽首者，穰侯之功也。 及其貴極富溢，一夫開說，身折勢奪而以憂死，況於羈旅之臣乎！
The Grand Historian remarks: The Marquis of Rang was King Zhao's own maternal uncle. The reason Qin expanded eastward, weakened the feudal lords, once styled itself emperor in the world, and made all under heaven face west and bow their heads—these were the Marquis of Rang's merits. When he reached the pinnacle of nobility and overflowing wealth, one man's words opened the way, his body broken and power seized, dying of worry—how much more so for a minister who is but a sojourner!