1
平原君趙勝者，趙之諸公子也。 諸子中勝最賢，喜賓客，賓客蓋至者數千人。 平原君相趙惠文王及孝成王，三去相，三復位，封於東武城。
Lord Pingyuan, whose name was Zhao Sheng, was one of the noble princes of Zhao. Among the princes, Sheng was considered the most worthy. He delighted in hospitality, and the guests who flocked to him numbered in the thousands. Lord Pingyuan served as Chancellor to Kings Huiwen and Xiaocheng of Zhao. Three times he stepped down from the chancellorship, and three times he was restored to his post. He was eventually enfeoffed at Dongwu City.
2
平原君家樓臨民家。 民家有躄者，槃散行汲。 平原君美人居樓上，臨見，大笑之。 明日，躄者至平原君門，請曰：「臣聞君之喜士，士不遠千里而至者，以君能貴士而賤妾也。 臣不幸有罷癃之病，而君之後宮臨而笑臣，臣願得笑臣者頭。」 平原君笑應曰：「諾。」 躄者去，平原君笑曰：「觀此豎子，乃欲以一笑之故殺吾美人，不亦甚乎！」 終不殺。 居歲餘，賓客門下舍人稍稍引去者過半。 平原君怪之，曰：「勝所以待諸君者未嘗敢失禮，而去者何多也？」 門下一人前對曰：「以君之不殺笑躄者，以君為愛色而賤士，士即去耳。」 於是平原君乃斬笑躄者美人頭，自造門進躄者，因謝焉。 其後門下乃復稍稍來。 是時齊有孟嘗，魏有信陵，楚有春申，故爭相傾以待士。
Lord Pingyuan’s residence featured a tower that overlooked the homes of commoners. In one of those homes lived a crippled man who walked with great difficulty whenever he went to draw water. One of Lord Pingyuan’s concubines, looking down from the tower, saw him and burst into laughter. The next day, the crippled man came to Lord Pingyuan's gate and made this request: "I have heard that Your Lordship delights in worthy men. Worthy men travel thousands of li without hesitation to reach you, because you honor the worthy and humble the unworthy. It is my misfortune to suffer from this debilitating ailment. Yet one of your lordship's concubines looked down and mocked me. I wish to have the head of the one who laughed at me." Lord Pingyuan laughed and replied, "Very well." The crippled man departed, and Lord Pingyuan laughed, saying: "Look at this wretch! He wants to kill my beautiful concubine just because of a single laugh. Is this not going too far!" In the end, however, he could not bring himself to kill her. After about a year, more than half of the retainers and guests in his household had gradually drifted away. Lord Pingyuan was puzzled and said: "I, Sheng, have never dared to treat you gentlemen discourteously. Why have so many departed?" One of his retainers stepped forward and replied: "Because Your Lordship did not kill the concubine who laughed at the cripple, they think you value beauty over worth. The worthy men have departed." Thereupon, Lord Pingyuan had the concubine who had laughed at the cripple beheaded. He personally went to the man's door to present the head and offer his apologies. Afterward, his retainers gradually began to return to him. At that time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Wei had Lord Xinling, and Chu had Lord Chunshen; all of them vied with one another to attract and maintain worthy men.
3
秦之圍邯鄲，趙使平原君求救，合從於楚，約與食客門下有勇力文武備具者二十人偕。 平原君曰：「使文能取勝，則善矣。 文不能取勝，則歃血於華屋之下，必得定從而還。 士不外索，取於食客門下足矣。」 得十九人，餘無可取者，無以滿二十人。 門下有毛遂者，前，自贊於平原君曰：「遂聞君將合從於楚，約與食客門下二十人偕，不外索。 今少一人，願君即以遂備員而行矣。」 平原君曰：「先生處勝之門下幾年於此矣？」 毛遂曰：「三年於此矣。」 平原君曰：「夫賢士之處世也，譬若錐之處囊中，其末立見。 今先生處勝之門下三年於此矣，左右未有所稱誦，勝未有所聞，是先生無所有也。 先生不能，先生留。」 毛遂曰：「臣乃今日請處囊中耳。 使遂蚤得處囊中，乃穎脫而出，非特其末見而已。」 平原君竟與毛遂偕。 十九人相與目笑之而未廢也。
When Qin besieged Handan, Zhao sent Lord Pingyuan to seek aid and form an alliance with Chu. He planned to take twenty of his retainers who were accomplished in both civil and military arts. Lord Pingyuan said: "If diplomacy can secure victory, that would be excellent. If diplomacy fails to secure victory, then we shall take a blood oath beneath their grand hall, for I am determined to return only after the alliance is sealed. We need not search for worthy men elsewhere; those among my own retainers will be sufficient." He found nineteen men, but among the rest, none were worthy of selection, and so he could not fill the twentieth position. Among his retainers was a man named Mao Sui. He stepped forward and recommended himself to Lord Pingyuan, saying: "I, Sui, have heard that Your Lordship will establish a vertical alliance with Chu, bringing along twenty of your retainers and seeking none from outside. Now that you are short one man, I hope your lordship will permit me to fill that vacancy and accompany you." Lord Pingyuan said: "Sir, how many years have you been dwelling in my household?" Mao Sui replied: "Three years now." Lord Pingyuan said: "Truly, when a worthy man dwells in the world, it is like an awl placed in a bag—its point immediately becomes visible. You have been in my household for three years now, yet I have never heard any of my attendants praise you, nor have I seen any proof of your ability. This suggests you have no particular talent. Since you lack the necessary merit, sir, you should stay behind." Mao Sui replied: "Your servant is only today requesting to be placed in the bag. Had I been placed in the bag sooner, the point of my awl would have pierced through completely, rather than just showing its tip!" In the end, Lord Pingyuan allowed Mao Sui to accompany him. The nineteen other men exchanged amused glances, but they did not openly reject him.
4
毛遂比至楚，與十九人論議，十九人皆服。 平原君與楚合從，言其利害，日出而言之，日中不決。 十九人謂毛遂曰：「先生上。」 毛遂按劍歷階而上，謂平原君曰：「從之利害，兩言而決耳。 今日出而言從，日中不決，何也？」 楚王謂平原君曰：「客何為者也？」 平原君曰：「是勝之舍人也。」 楚王叱曰：「胡不下！ 吾乃與而君言，汝何為者也！」 毛遂按劍而前曰：「王之所以叱遂者，以楚國之眾也。 今十步之內，王不得恃楚國之眾也，王之命縣於遂手。 吾君在前，叱者何也？ 且遂聞湯以七十里之地王天下，文王以百里之壤而臣諸侯，豈其士卒眾多哉，誠能據其勢而奮其威。 今楚地方五千里，持戟百萬，此霸王之資也。 以楚之彊，天下弗能當。 白起，小豎子耳，率數萬之眾，興師以與楚戰，一戰而舉鄢郢，再戰而燒夷陵，三戰而辱王之先人。 此百世之怨而趙之所羞，而王弗知惡焉。 合從者為楚，非為趙也。 吾君在前，叱者何也？」 楚王曰：「唯唯，誠若先生之言，謹奉社稷而以從。」 毛遂曰：「從定乎？」 楚王曰：「定矣。」 毛遂謂楚王之左右曰：「取雞狗馬之血來。」 毛遂奉銅槃而跪進之楚王曰：「王當歃血而定從，次者吾君，次者遂。」 遂定從於殿上。 毛遂左手持槃血而右手招十九人曰：「公相與歃此血於堂下。 公等錄錄，所謂因人成事者也。」
By the time they reached Chu, Mao Sui had debated with the nineteen others, and they were all won over by his reasoning. Lord Pingyuan discussed the merits and risks of the alliance with the King of Chu; though they began their talks at sunrise, by noon they had still reached no decision. The nineteen others said to Mao Sui: "Sir, you go up." Mao Sui, gripping his sword, ascended the steps one by one and said to Lord Pingyuan: "The advantages and disadvantages of this alliance can be decided in two sentences. We began speaking of the alliance at sunrise, yet by noon we have reached no decision. Why is this?" The King of Chu said to Lord Pingyuan: "Who is this guest?" Lord Pingyuan replied: "He is one of my retainers." The King of Chu rebuked him: "Why don't you get down! I am speaking with your lord. What business do you have here!" Mao Sui advanced, gripping his sword, and said: "Your Majesty rebukes me because of Chu's great multitude. Within these ten paces, Your Majesty cannot rely on the strength of Chu’s armies. Your life hangs by my hand alone. My lord is standing before you. What reason have you to scold me? Furthermore, I have heard that Tang ruled the world with only seventy li of land, and King Wen made the lords his subjects with but a hundred li. It was not because their soldiers were numerous, but because they understood how to wield their position and exert their authority. Today, Chu spans five thousand li and commands a million spears; these are the resources of a true hegemon. With the strength of Chu, no one in the world should be able to withstand you. Yet Bai Qi, that mere upstart, led only a few tens of thousands to wage war against Chu. In his first battle, he took Yan and Ying; in his second, he burned Yiling; and in his third, he brought disgrace upon Your Majesty’s ancestors! This is a grievance that should last a hundred generations and a shame that even Zhao feels on your behalf, yet Your Majesty does not seem to feel the sting of it. This alliance is for the benefit of Chu, not merely for Zhao. My lord stands before you. Why do you rebuke me?" The King of Chu said: "Yes, yes—if what you say is true, I shall respectfully offer my state altars and join the alliance." Mao Sui said: "Is the alliance settled?" The King of Chu said: "It is settled." Mao Sui said to the attendants of the King of Chu: "Bring the blood of chicken, dog, and horse." Mao Sui held the bronze basin, knelt, and presented it to the King of Chu, saying: "Your Majesty should be the first to shed blood and settle the alliance; next my lord; next I, Sui." Thus, the alliance was settled right there in the hall. Mao Sui held the basin of blood in his left hand and with his right beckoned the nineteen men, saying: "Gentlemen, come down together and shed this blood in the hall below. You gentlemen are merely mediocre; you are what is known as those who only achieve things by riding on the coat-tails of others."
5
平原君已定從而歸，歸至於趙，曰：「勝不敢復相士。 勝相士多者千人，寡者百數，自以為不失天下之士，今乃於毛先生而失之也。 毛先生一至楚，而使趙重於九鼎大呂。 毛先生以三寸之舌，彊於百萬之師。 勝不敢復相士。」 遂以為上客。
Lord Pingyuan had already settled the alliance and returned. When he reached Zhao, he said: "Sheng dares no longer judge the worth of men. I have judged many men—thousands at most, hundreds at least—and I believed I had never failed to recognize a man of worth. Yet today, in the case of Master Mao, I failed. With a single mission to Chu, Master Mao has given Zhao the weight of the Nine Tripods and the Great Bell. His three-inch tongue has proved stronger than an army of a million men. I shall never again presume to judge the worth of men." He then made Mao Sui a guest of the highest rank.
6
平原君既返趙，楚使春申君將兵赴救趙，魏信陵君亦矯奪晉鄙軍往救趙，皆未至。 秦急圍邯鄲，邯鄲急，且降，平原君甚患之。 邯鄲傳舍吏子李同說平原君曰：「君不憂趙亡邪？」 平原君曰：「趙亡則勝為虜，何為不憂乎？」 李同曰：「邯鄲之民，炊骨易子而食，可謂急矣，而君之後宮以百數，婢妾被綺縠，餘粱肉，而民褐衣不完，糟糠不厭。 民困兵盡，或剡木為矛矢，而君器物鐘磬自若。 使秦破趙，君安得有此？ 使趙得全，君何患無有？ 今君誠能令夫人以下編於士卒之閒，分功而作，家之所有盡散以饗士，士方其危苦之時，易德耳。」 於是平原君從之，得敢死之士三千人。 李同遂與三千人赴秦軍，秦軍為之卻三十里。 亦會楚、魏救至，秦兵遂罷，邯鄲復存。 李同戰死，封其父為李侯。
After Lord Pingyuan returned to Zhao, Chu dispatched Lord Chunshen with troops to relieve Zhao, and Lord Xinling of Wei seized Jin Bi’s army by forged order and marched to Zhao’s rescue, but neither force had yet arrived. Qin tightened its siege of Handan until the city was desperate and nearly ready to surrender, leaving Lord Pingyuan deeply troubled. Li Tong, the son of a relay-station officer in Handan, advised Lord Pingyuan, saying: "My lord, do you not worry that Zhao will perish?" Lord Pingyuan said: "If Zhao perishes, then Sheng will become a captive—how could I not worry?" Li Tong said: "The people of Handan are cooking bones and trading children for food—this can truly be called desperate. Yet Your Lordship's rear palace numbers in the hundreds, your concubines are clothed in silk and satin, and you have surplus fine grain and meat. Meanwhile, the people wear incomplete coarse garments and are not sated even with bran and husks. The people are starving, and the troops are spent—some even have to sharpen wood for spears and arrows—yet your lordship's fine vessels and chimes remain as they were in times of peace. If Qin breaks Zhao, how will you still possess any of these things? If Zhao survives intact, what need you fear lacking? If you could truly order your ladies to join the ranks of the soldiers and share in their labors, and distribute all your household possessions to feast the troops, they would be deeply moved by your virtue in this time of peril." Lord Pingyuan accepted the advice and found three thousand men willing to risk death. Li Tong took these three thousand men straight against the Qin army, and the Qin withdrew thirty li before them. At the same time, the relief forces from Chu and Wei arrived, so Qin lifted the siege and Handan was preserved. Li Tong died in the fighting, and his father was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Li in his honor.
7
虞卿欲以信陵君之存邯鄲為平原君請封。 公孫龍聞之，夜駕見平原君曰：「龍聞虞卿欲以信陵君之存邯鄲為君請封，有之乎？」 平原君曰：「然。」 龍曰：「此甚不可。 且王舉君而相趙者，非以君之智能為趙國無有也。 割東武城而封君者，非以君為有功也，而以國人無勳，乃以君為親戚故也。 君受相印不辭無能，割地不言無功者，亦自以為親戚故也。 今信陵君存邯鄲而請封，是親戚受城而國人計功也。 此甚不可。 且虞卿操其兩權，事成，操右券以責； 事不成，以虛名德君。 君必勿聽也。」 平原君遂不聽虞卿。
Yu Qing wished to use the fact that Lord Xinling had saved Handan as a reason to request a further enfeoffment for Lord Pingyuan. When Gongsun Long heard this, he drove through the night to see Lord Pingyuan and said: "Long has heard that Yu Qing wishes to use Lord Xinling's saving of Handan to request an enfeoffment for Your Lordship—is this so?" Lord Pingyuan said: "It is so." Gongsun Long said: "This is quite unacceptable. Moreover, when the King raised you to be Chancellor of Zhao, it was not because your intelligence and ability were unique in the land. When he partitioned Dongwu City to enfeoff you, it was not because of your great merit, nor because the people had no achievements, but simply because you are his kinsman. You accepted the Chancellor's seal without demurring about your lack of ability, and received the fief without speaking of your lack of merit, likewise because you considered yourself a kinsman. Now that Lord Xinling has saved Handan and you seek an enfeoffment, it would be a kinsman receiving a city while the people are left to count the actual merit of others. This is completely unacceptable. Moreover, Yu Qing holds both options: if the affair succeeds, he holds the winning tally to demand payment from you. If the plan fails, he will have merely used a hollow reputation to indebt you to him. You must not listen to him." Lord Pingyuan therefore disregarded Yu Qing’s advice.
8
平原君以趙孝成王十五年卒。 子孫代，後竟與趙俱亡。
Lord Pingyuan died in the fifteenth year of the reign of King Xiaocheng of Zhao. His descendants succeeded him, but in the end they perished along with the state of Zhao.
9
平原君厚待公孫龍。 公孫龍善為堅白之辯，及鄒衍過趙言至道，乃絀公孫龍。
Lord Pingyuan received Gongsun Long with generous favor. Gongsun Long was skilled in the sophistry of 'the hard and the white,' but when Zou Yan passed through Zhao and spoke of the Great Way, Lord Pingyuan dismissed Gongsun Long.
10
虞卿者，游說之士也。 躡蹻檐簦說趙孝成王。 一見，賜黃金百鎰，白璧一雙； 再見，為趙上卿，故號為虞卿。
Yu Qing was a wandering political strategist. In straw sandals, with an umbrella slung over his shoulder, he went to persuade King Xiaocheng of Zhao. At first sight, he was granted a hundred yi of gold and a pair of white jade discs. After his second meeting, he was made a high minister of Zhao, and thus became known as Yu Qing.
11
秦趙戰於長平，趙不勝，亡一都尉。 趙王召樓昌與虞卿曰：「軍戰不勝，尉復死，寡人使束甲而趨之，何如？」 樓昌曰：「無益也，不如發重使為媾。」 虞卿曰：「昌言媾者，以為不媾軍必破也。 而制媾者在秦。 且王之論秦也，欲破趙之軍乎，不邪？」 王曰：「秦不遺餘力矣，必且欲破趙軍。」 虞卿曰：「王聽臣，發使出重寶以附楚、魏，楚、魏欲得王之重寶，必內吾使。 趙使入楚、魏，秦必疑天下之合從，且必恐。 如此，則媾乃可為也。」 趙王不聽，與平陽君為媾，發鄭朱入秦。 秦內之。 趙王召虞卿曰：「寡人使平陽君為媾於秦，秦已內鄭朱矣，卿之為奚如？」 虞卿對曰：「王不得媾，軍必破矣。 天下賀戰者皆在秦矣。 鄭朱，貴人也，入秦，秦王與應侯必顯重以示天下。 楚、魏以趙為媾，必不救王。 秦知天下不救王，則媾不可得成也。」 應侯果顯鄭朱以示天下賀戰勝者，終不肯媾。 長平大敗，遂圍邯鄲，為天下笑。
When Qin and Zhao fought at Changping, Zhao was not victorious and lost a chief commandant. The King of Zhao summoned Lou Chang and Yu Qing and said: "Our army was defeated in battle and the commandant has again died. I wish to don armor and rush to the attack—what do you think?" Lou Chang said: "It will do no good. It would be better to send a high-ranking envoy to sue for peace." Yu Qing said: "When Chang speaks of peace, it is because he thinks that if we do not make peace the army will certainly be destroyed. However, the power to decide on peace lies with Qin. Moreover, when Your Majesty discusses Qin, do you wish to destroy Zhao's army, or not?" The king said: "Qin is exerting itself without sparing any strength; it will certainly wish to destroy Zhao's army." Yu Qing said: "If Your Majesty will heed me, send out envoys bearing heavy treasures to win over Chu and Wei. Chu and Wei, wishing to obtain Your Majesty's heavy treasures, will certainly welcome our envoys. If Zhao sends envoys to Chu and Wei, Qin will suspect that a coalition is forming against them and will surely be filled with dread. In this way, peace might actually be achieved." The King of Zhao did not listen; instead, he followed Lord Pingyang's advice to seek peace and sent Zheng Zhu to Qin. Qin received him. The King of Zhao summoned Yu Qing and said: "I sent Lord Pingyang to sue for peace with Qin. Qin has already welcomed Zheng Zhu—what do you make of this?" Yu Qing replied: "Your Majesty will not obtain peace; the army will certainly be destroyed. All those in the world who celebrate military victories are now gathering in Qin. Zheng Zhu is a man of high status; when he enters Qin, the King of Qin and the Marquis of Ying will surely treat him with great visible honor to show the world. When Chu and Wei see that Zhao is suing for peace, they will surely not come to Your Majesty's rescue. Once Qin knows that the world will not rescue you, they will never agree to peace." The Marquis of Ying did indeed parade Zheng Zhu before the world as proof that Zhao had come to congratulate Qin on its victory, and in the end he refused to conclude peace. After the catastrophic defeat at Changping, Qin then besieged Handan, making Zhao the laughingstock of the world.
12
秦既解邯鄲圍，而趙王入朝，使趙郝約事於秦，割六縣而媾。 虞卿謂趙王曰：「秦之攻王也，倦而歸乎？ 王以其力尚能進，愛王而弗攻乎？」 王曰：「秦之攻我也，不遺餘力矣，必以倦而歸也。」 虞卿曰：「秦以其力攻其所不能取，倦而歸，王又以其力之所不能取以送之，是助秦自攻也。 來年秦復攻王，王無救矣。」 王以虞卿之言趙郝。 趙郝曰：「虞卿誠能盡秦力之所至乎？ 誠知秦力之所不能進，此彈丸之地弗予，令秦來年復攻王，王得無割其內而媾乎？」 王曰：「請聽子割，子能必使來年秦之不復攻我乎？」 趙郝對曰：「此非臣之所敢任也。 他日三晉之交於秦，相善也。 今秦善韓、魏而攻王，王之所以事秦必不如韓、魏也。 今臣為足下解負親之攻，開關通幣，齊交韓、魏，至來年而王獨取饱於秦，此王之所以事秦必在韓、魏之後也。 此非臣之所敢任也。」
After Qin lifted the siege of Handan and the King of Zhao entered their court, he sent Zhao Hao to negotiate a treaty with Qin, agreeing to cede six counties in exchange for peace. Yu Qing said to the King of Zhao: "When Qin attacked Your Majesty, did it return because it was weary? Or did Your Majesty think its strength could still advance, that it loved you and would not attack?" The king said: "When Qin attacked me, it spared no strength; it must have returned because it was weary." Yu Qing said: "Qin used its strength to attack what it could not take, then returned weary; yet Your Majesty now gives it what its strength could not take. This is helping Qin attack yourself. When Qin attacks Your Majesty again next year, there will be no one to come to your rescue." The King told Zhao Hao what Yu Qing had said. Zhao Hao said: "Can Yu Qing truly exhaust all the extent of Qin's strength? If we truly know that Qin's strength cannot advance, and we do not give this pellet-sized territory, yet Qin attacks Your Majesty again next year—will Your Majesty not have to cede interior lands to obtain peace?" The king said: "Please hear me on ceding territory: can you guarantee that next year Qin will not attack us again?" Zhao Hao replied: "This is not something your servant dares to take responsibility for. In former days, the relations between the three Jin states and Qin were friendly, and they treated each other well. Now that Qin is friendly with Han and Wei but attacks Your Majesty, it must be because the way you serve Qin is not as satisfactory as how Han and Wei serve them. Now I have managed to relieve the pressure of Qin's attack for you, opened the passes for trade, and secured ties with Han and Wei. Yet if by next year Your Majesty alone suffers the brunt of Qin's aggression, it will surely be because you lag behind Han and Wei in your service to Qin. This is a responsibility I do not dare to take upon myself."
13
王以告虞卿。 虞卿對曰：「郝言『不媾，來年秦復攻王，王得無割其內而媾乎』。 今媾，郝又以不能必秦之不復攻也。 今雖割六城，何益！ 來年復攻，又割其力之所不能取而媾，此自盡之術也，不如無媾。 秦雖善攻，不能取六縣； 趙雖不能守，終不失六城。 秦倦而歸，兵必罷。 我以六城收天下以攻罷秦，是我失之於天下而取償於秦也。 吾國尚利，孰與坐而割地，自弱以彊秦哉？ 今郝曰『秦善韓、魏而攻趙者，必（以為韓魏不救趙也而王之軍必孤有以）王之事秦不如韓、魏也』，是使王歲以六城事秦也，即坐而城盡。 來年秦復求割地，王將與之乎？ 弗與，是棄前功而挑秦禍也； 與之，則無地而給之。 語曰『彊者善攻，弱者不能守』。 今坐而聽秦，秦兵不獘而多得地，是彊秦而弱趙也。 以益彊之秦而割愈弱之趙，其計故不止矣。 且王之地有盡而秦之求無已，以有盡之地而給無已之求，其勢必無趙矣。」
The King reported this to Yu Qing. Yu Qing replied: "Hao says that if we do not make peace, next year Qin will attack Your Majesty again, and you will have to cede interior lands to obtain peace. Even if we make peace now, Hao cannot guarantee that Qin will not attack us again. Even if we give up six cities now, what will it gain us? If they attack again next year, and you again cede what they could not take by force just to get peace, this is a policy of self-destruction. It would be better to have no peace at all. Qin may be skilled at attack, but it cannot seize those six counties. Even if Zhao cannot hold out, we will not have lost those six cities by our own hand. When Qin grows weary and returns home, their troops will surely be exhausted. If I use those six cities to win over the world and then attack the exhausted Qin, I may have 'lost' them to the world, but I will be compensated at Qin's expense. Our state would still come out ahead. How can that compare with sitting idle while we cut away our own land, weakening ourselves and strengthening Qin? Hao now says, “Qin is friendly with Han and Wei but attacks Zhao because Your Majesty serves Qin less well than Han and Wei do.” That would make Your Majesty serve Qin with six cities every year until, sitting still, every city was gone. When Qin asks for land again next year, will Your Majesty give it then as well? If you refuse, you throw away all the benefit already bought and invite Qin’s anger. If you keep giving, eventually you will have no more land to give. As the saying goes: "The strong are good at attacking; the weak cannot defend." If we now sit idly and submit to Qin, they will gain vast territories without even wearying their troops. This only serves to strengthen Qin while further weakening Zhao. When we cede land from an ever-weakening Zhao to an increasingly powerful Qin, their predatory ambitions will surely never cease. Moreover, Your Majesty's lands are finite, while Qin's demands are insatiable. To satisfy boundless greed with limited territory is a course that must inevitably lead to the end of Zhao."
14
趙王計未定，樓緩從秦來，趙王與樓緩計之，曰：「予秦地（何）如毋予，孰吉？」 緩辭讓曰：「此非臣之所能知也。」 王曰：「雖然，試言公之私。」 樓緩對曰：「王亦聞夫公甫文伯母乎？ 公甫文伯仕於魯，病死，女子為自殺於房中者二人。 其母聞之，弗哭也。 其相室曰：『焉有子死而弗哭者乎？』 其母曰：『孔子，賢人也，逐於魯，而是人不隨也。 今死而婦人為之自殺者二人，若是者必其於長者薄而於婦人厚也。』 故從母言之，是為賢母； 從妻言之，是必不免為妒妻。 故其言一也，言者異則人心變矣。 今臣新從秦來而言勿予，則非計也； 言予之，恐王以臣為為秦也：故不敢對。 使臣得為大王計，不如予之。」 王曰：「諾。」
King Zhao's plans were not yet decided when Lou Huan arrived from Qin. The king consulted with Lou Huan, asking: "Which is better—to cede territory to Qin or not to cede it?" Lou Huan politely declined, saying: "This is not something this minister can presume to know." The king said: "Nevertheless, try telling me your personal opinion." Lou Huan replied: "Has Your Majesty also heard about the mother of Gongfu Wenbo? When Gongfu Wenbo, who served in Lu, died of an illness, two of his women committed suicide in his private chambers. When his mother heard of this, she did not shed a single tear. Her chamberlain said: "How can there be a mother who does not weep when her son dies?" His mother said: "Confucius was a worthy man, exiled from Lu, yet this man did not follow him. Now he is dead, and two women have killed themselves for him; a man like this must have been cold toward his elders and overly indulgent toward women. Seen through his mother’s words, she was a worthy mother; But if viewed from the perspective of a wife, she would inevitably be seen as a jealous one. Thus, the words may be the same, but when the speaker differs, the effect on the human heart changes entirely. Now I have just arrived from Qin; if I advise against ceding territory, it would not be proper strategy; but if I advise giving it, I fear Your Majesty will think I am acting on Qin’s behalf. For that reason I dare not answer. If I may offer my counsel to Your Majesty, it would be better to simply give them the land." The king said: "Very well."
15
虞卿聞之，入見王曰：「此飾說也，王慎勿予！」 樓緩聞之，往見王。 王又以虞卿之言告樓緩。 樓緩對曰：「不然。 虞卿得其一，不得其二。 夫秦趙構難而天下皆說，何也？ 曰『吾且因彊而乘弱矣』。 今趙兵困於秦，天下之賀戰勝者則必盡在於秦矣。 故不如亟割地為和，以疑天下而慰秦之心。 不然，天下將因秦之（彊）怒，乘趙之獘，瓜分之。 趙且亡，何秦之圖乎？ 故曰虞卿得其一，不得其二。 願王以此決之，勿復計也。」
When Yu Qing heard this, he went in to see the king and said: "This is deceptive talk! Your Majesty must be careful not to cede territory!" When Lou Huan heard of this, he went to see the King. The King again shared Yu Qing's arguments with Lou Huan. Lou Huan replied: "Not so. Yu Qing has grasped one side of the matter, but he misses the other. When Qin and Zhao become embroiled in conflict, why is the whole world pleased? They say: 'I shall use my strength to take advantage of their weakness. Now that Zhao’s armies are trapped by Qin, all those in the world who follow the victor will surely side with Qin. Therefore, it would be better to cede territory immediately for peace, both to sow doubt among the other states and to satisfy Qin’s current ambitions. Otherwise, the world will take advantage of Qin’s righteous fury and Zhao’s state of exhaustion to carve us up like a melon. Zhao will soon perish—what will Qin gain from that? Therefore, I say that Yu Qing has grasped one aspect of the situation, but he remains blind to the other. I hope Your Majesty will decide based on this and not deliberate any further."
16
虞卿聞之，往見王曰：「危哉樓子之所以為秦者，是愈疑天下，而何慰秦之心哉？ 獨不言其示天下弱乎？ 且臣言勿予者，非固勿予而已也。 秦索六城於王，而王以六城賂齊。 齊，秦之深讎也，得王之六城，并力西擊秦，齊之聽王，不待辭之畢也。 則是王失之於齊而取償於秦也。 而齊、趙之深讎可以報矣，而示天下有能為也。 王以此發聲，兵未窺於境，臣見秦之重賂至趙而反媾於王也。 從秦為媾，韓、魏聞之，必盡重王； 重王，必出重寶以先於王。 則是王一舉而結三國之親，而與秦易道也。」 趙王曰：「善。」 則使虞卿東見齊王，與之謀秦。 虞卿未返，秦使者已在趙矣。 樓緩聞之，亡去。 趙於是封虞卿以一城。
When Yu Qing heard this, he went to see the king, saying: "How dangerous! The way Lou Zi acts for Qin only increases the world's suspicions. How can this soothe Qin's heart? Does he say nothing of how this will display weakness before the world? Furthermore, when I advised against ceding territory to Qin, it was not merely for the sake of refusing them. Qin demands six cities from Your Majesty, but I suggest you use those six cities to entice Qi instead. Qi is Qin’s most bitter enemy. If they are offered Your Majesty’s six cities to join forces in an attack on Qin from the west, they will agree to Your Majesty’s proposal before the words have even left your mouth. In this way, Your Majesty may lose territory to Qi, but you will be amply compensated at Qin’s expense. Then the deep grievances of Qi and Zhao can be avenged, and you will have shown the world that you are a man of true capability. Once Your Majesty sends out such a declaration, before any army has even peered across the border, I expect Qin’s rich bribes to reach Zhao and Qin to return seeking peace with Your Majesty. If you seek peace by allying with Qin, when Han and Wei hear of it, they will surely hold Your Majesty in the highest regard. To honor Your Majesty, they will certainly send their most precious treasures to reach you before anyone else does. Thus, with a single stroke, Your Majesty will have secured the friendship of three states and completely transformed your relationship with Qin." The King of Zhao said, "Excellent." He then sent Yu Qing east to meet with the King of Qi and plot against Qin. But before Yu Qing could even return, an envoy from Qin had already arrived in Zhao. When Lou Huan learned of it, he fled Zhao. Thereupon, Zhao enfeoffed Yu Qing with a city.
17
居頃之，而魏請為從。 趙孝成王召虞卿謀。 過平原君，平原君曰：「願卿之論從也。」 虞卿入見王。 王曰：「魏請為從。」 對曰：「魏過。」 王曰：「寡人固未之許。」 對曰：「王過。」 王曰：「魏請從，卿曰魏過，寡人未之許，又曰寡人過，然則從終不可乎？」 對曰：「臣聞小國之與大國從事也，有利則大國受其福，有敗則小國受其禍。 今魏以小國請其禍，而王以大國辭其福，臣故曰王過，魏亦過。 竊以為從便。」 王曰：「善。」 乃合魏為從。
After a short while, Wei requested to form a vertical alliance. King Xiaocheng of Zhao called Yu Qing in to discuss the matter. Passing by Lord Pingyuan's residence, Lord Pingyuan said: "I hope you will argue in favor of the alliance." Yu Qing went in to see the King. The king said: "Wei requests to form a vertical alliance." Yu Qing replied: "Wei is mistaken." The king said: "I certainly have not permitted it." Yu Qing replied: "Your Majesty is mistaken." The king said: "Wei requests a vertical alliance. You say Wei is wrong. I have not permitted it, yet you say I am wrong. Then is a vertical alliance finally impossible?" Yu Qing replied: "I have heard that when small states deal with large states, if there is profit then the large state receives the blessing; if there is defeat then the small state receives the calamity. Now Wei, as a small state, is inviting calamity upon itself by seeking this alliance, while Your Majesty, as a great state, is rejecting a blessing by refusing it. Therefore, I say that both Your Majesty and Wei are mistaken. I humbly believe that forming the alliance is the more advantageous course." The king said: "Excellent." Zhao then joined with Wei in a vertical alliance.
18
虞卿既以魏齊之故，不重萬戶侯卿相之印，與魏齊閒行，卒去趙，困於梁。 魏齊已死，不得意，乃著書，上採春秋，下觀近世，曰節義、稱號、揣摩、政謀，凡八篇。 以刺譏國家得失，世傳之曰虞氏春秋。
Because of his friendship with Wei Qi, Yu Qing set aside the seal of a marquis of ten thousand households and the rank of high minister. He traveled in secret with Wei Qi and eventually left Zhao, only to find himself in dire straits in Liang. After Wei Qi died and Yu Qing found no other way to fulfill his ambitions, he began to write. Drawing inspiration from the *Spring and Autumn Annals* of old and observing the events of the modern world, he composed eight chapters on topics such as 'Integrity and Duty,' 'Appellations,' 'Assessment,' and 'Political Strategy.' His work critiqued the successes and failures of states, and it has been handed down to the world as the Yu Family Spring and Autumn Annals.
19
太史公曰：平原君，翩翩濁世之佳公子也，然未睹大體。 鄙語曰「利令智昏」，平原君貪馮亭邪說，使趙陷長平兵四十餘萬眾，邯鄲幾亡。 虞卿料事揣情，為趙畫策，何其工也！ 及不忍魏齊，卒困於大梁，庸夫且知其不可，況賢人乎？ 然虞卿非窮愁，亦不能著書以自見於後世云。
The Grand Historian says: Lord Pingyuan was a graceful nobleman in a muddy age, but he failed to grasp the larger design of affairs. The common saying has it, “Profit darkens wisdom.” Lord Pingyuan, tempted by Feng Ting’s crooked argument, led Zhao into the loss of more than four hundred thousand soldiers at Changping and nearly brought Handan to ruin. Yu Qing assessed situations and gauged feelings, devising strategies for Zhao—how skillful he was! Later, because he could not bring himself to abandon Wei Qi, he was trapped in distress at Daliang. Even an ordinary man would know this was wrong; how much more a man of worth? Yet, had Yu Qing not known such poverty and sorrow, he might never have written the book that made his name known to all later generations.