1
樂毅者，其先祖曰樂羊。 樂羊為魏文侯將，伐取中山，魏文侯封樂羊以靈壽。 樂羊死，葬於靈壽，其後子孫因家焉。 中山復國，至趙武靈王時復滅中山，而樂氏後有樂毅。
Yue Yi's ancestor was called Yue Yang. Yue Yang was a general under Marquis Wen of Wei. After he attacked and captured Zhongshan, Marquis Wen enfeoffed him at Lingshou. Yue Yang died and was buried at Lingshou, and his descendants thereafter made their home there. Zhongshan was restored as a state, until Zhao Wu Ling Wang's time when Zhongshan was again extinguished, and the Yue clan later had Yue Yi.
2
樂毅賢，好兵，趙人舉之。 及武靈王有沙丘之亂，乃去趙適魏。 聞燕昭王以子之之亂而齊大敗燕，燕昭王怨齊，未嘗一日而忘報齊也。 燕國小，辟遠，力不能制，於是屈身下士，先禮郭隗以招賢者。 樂毅於是為魏昭王使於燕，燕王以客禮待之。 樂毅辭讓，遂委質為臣，燕昭王以為亞卿，久之。
Yue Yi was worthy and fond of military affairs, the people of Zhao recommended him. When King Wuling of Zhao had the Shaqiu rebellion, Yue Yi left Zhao and went to Wei. Yue Yi heard that King Zhao of Yan, because of the Zi Zhi rebellion, had been greatly defeated by Qi; King Zhao of Yan resented Qi and never for a single day forgot to avenge Qi. Yan was small and remote, its strength could not control matters, thus he humbled himself and treated scholars with respect, first honoring Guo Wei to attract worthy men. Yue Yi thus served as envoy from Wei Zhao Wang to Yan, the Yan king treated him with guest courtesy. Yue Yi declined modestly, then submitted his pledge and became a minister; King Zhao of Yan made him vice minister, and he served in that capacity for a long time.
3
當是時，齊湣王彊，南敗楚相唐眛於重丘，西摧三晉於觀津，遂與三晉擊秦，助趙滅中山，破宋，廣地千餘里。 與秦昭王爭重為帝，已而復歸之。 諸侯皆欲背秦而服於齊。 湣王自矜，百姓弗堪。 於是燕昭王問伐齊之事。 樂毅對曰：「齊，霸國之餘業也，地大人眾，未易獨攻也。 王必欲伐之，莫如與趙及楚、魏。」 於是使樂毅約趙惠文王，別使連楚、魏，令趙嚪說秦以伐齊之利。 諸侯害齊湣王之驕暴，皆爭合從與燕伐齊。 樂毅還報，燕昭王悉起兵，使樂毅為上將軍，趙惠文王以相國印授樂毅。 樂毅於是并護趙、楚、韓、魏、燕之兵以伐齊，破之濟西。 諸侯兵罷歸，而燕軍樂毅獨追，至于臨菑。 齊湣王之敗濟西，亡走，保於莒。 樂毅獨留徇齊，齊皆城守。 樂毅攻入臨菑，盡取齊寶財物祭器輸之燕。 燕昭王大說，親至濟上勞軍，行賞饗士，封樂毅於昌國，號為昌國君。 於是燕昭王收齊鹵獲以歸，而使樂毅復以兵平齊城之不下者。
At the time, King Min of Qi was at the height of his power. He defeated the Chu chancellor Tang Mei at Chongqiu in the south, crushed the Three Jin at Guanjin in the west, joined the Three Jin in attacking Qin, helped Zhao destroy Zhongshan, defeated Song, and expanded his territory by more than a thousand li. He even rivaled King Zhao of Qin for imperial precedence, though he later gave up the imperial title. The feudal lords all wished to turn from Qin and submit to Qi. Min Wang was arrogant, the common people could not bear it. King Zhao of Yan therefore asked how Qi might be attacked. Yue Yi replied, "Qi is heir to the power of a hegemon state. Its territory is broad, its population large, and it will not be easy to attack alone. If Your Majesty is determined to attack, the best course is to ally with Zhao, Chu, and Wei." Thus, he sent Yue Yi to make alliance with King Huiwen of Zhao, separately sent envoys to connect with Chu and Wei, ordered Zhao Yan to persuade Qin of the advantages of attacking Qi. The lords all resented King Min of Qi's arrogant cruelty and hastened to join Yan in an alliance against Qi. Yue Yi returned and reported. King Zhao of Yan mobilized the whole army and appointed him Supreme General, while King Huiwen of Zhao granted him the chancellor's seal. Yue Yi took combined command of the armies of Zhao, Chu, Han, Wei, and Yan, attacked Qi, and defeated it west of the Ji River. The feudal lords' troops withdrew and returned, yet Yan's army under Yue Yi alone pursued, reaching Linzi. Defeated west of the Ji River, King Min of Qi fled to Ju for refuge. Yue Yi stayed behind to continue the campaign through Qi, whose forces withdrew behind city walls. Yue Yi stormed Linzi, seized Qi's treasures, wealth, and ritual vessels, and carried them off to Yan. King Zhao of Yan was delighted. He went in person to the Ji River to reward the army, distributed honors and feasted the troops, enfeoffed Yue Yi at Changguo, and gave him the title Lord of Changguo. King Zhao of Yan then returned with the spoils from Qi, leaving Yue Yi with troops to subdue the remaining Qi cities.
4
樂毅留徇齊五歲，下齊七十餘城，皆為郡縣以屬燕，唯獨莒、即墨未服。 會燕昭王死，子立為燕惠王。 惠王自為太子時嘗不快於樂毅，及即位，齊之田單聞之，乃縱反閒於燕，曰：「齊城不下者兩城耳。 然所以不早拔者，聞樂毅與燕新王有隙，欲連兵且留齊，南面而王齊。 齊之所患，唯恐他將之來。」 於是燕惠王固已疑樂毅，得齊反閒，乃使騎劫代將，而召樂毅。 樂毅知燕惠王之不善代之，畏誅，遂西降趙。 趙封樂毅於觀津，號曰望諸君。 尊寵樂毅以警動於燕、齊。
Yue Yi remained campaigning in Qi five years, took seventy plus Qi cities, all made into commanderies and counties belonging to Yan, only Ju and Jimo remained unsubdued. It happened that King Zhao of Yan died, his son ascended as King Hui of Yan. King Hui of Yan, when he was crown prince, had once been displeased with Yue Yi; when he took the throne, Tian Dan of Qi heard of this and spread counter-rumors in Yan, saying: "Of Qi's cities that have not fallen, there are only two. The only reason those cities have not fallen already is that they hear Yue Yi is estranged from Yan's new king and means to keep the allied armies in Qi, face south, and become king there. The only thing Qi fears is the arrival of another general." Thus, King Hui of Yan was already suspicious of Yue Yi, got Qi's reverse rumors, then sent Qi Jie to replace the general, and summoned Yue Yi. Yue Yi understood that King Hui of Yan meant him ill by replacing him. Fearing execution, he went west and submitted to Zhao. Zhao enfeoffed Yue Yi at Guanjin and gave him the title Lord Wangzhu. Zhao treated Yue Yi with honor and favor, using him to alarm both Yan and Qi.
5
齊田單後與騎劫戰，果設詐誑燕軍，遂破騎劫於即墨下，而轉戰逐燕，北至河上，盡復得齊城，而迎襄王於莒，入于臨菑。
Later, Qi's Tian Dan fought Qi Jie and set a trap to deceive the Yan army. He defeated Qi Jie below Jimo, turned the battle around, and drove Yan north to the river. He recovered all Qi cities, welcomed King Xiang at Ju, and entered Linzi.
6
燕惠王後悔使騎劫代樂毅，以故破軍亡將失齊； 又怨樂毅之降趙，恐趙用樂毅而乘燕之獘以伐燕。 燕惠王乃使人讓樂毅，且謝之曰：「先王舉國而委將軍，將軍為燕破齊，報先王之讎，天下莫不震動，寡人豈敢一日而忘將軍之功哉！ 會先王棄群臣，寡人新即位，左右誤寡人。 寡人之使騎劫代將軍，為將軍久暴露於外，故召將軍且休，計事。 將軍過聽，以與寡人有隙，遂捐燕歸趙。 將軍自為計則可矣，而亦何以報先王之所以遇將軍之意乎？」 樂毅報遺燕惠王書曰：
King Hui of Yan later regretted sending Qi Jie to replace Yue Yi, for the decision had ruined the army, cost him his generals, and lost Yan its gains in Qi; Again resented Yue Yi's surrender to Zhao, feared Zhao would use Yue Yi and take advantage of Yan's defeat to attack Yan. King Hui of Yan then sent someone both to reproach Yue Yi and to apologize: "The former king entrusted the whole state to you. You defeated Qi for Yan and avenged his wrongs, until all under Heaven was shaken. How could I dare forget your merit for even one day! But the former king had just passed from us, I had only newly taken the throne, and my attendants misled me. I sent Qi Jie to replace you only because you had long been exposed in the field; I meant to recall you for rest and consultation. You heard wrongly, believed there was a rift between us, and abandoned Yan for Zhao. You may look to your own safety, but how does this repay the former king's treatment of you?" Yue Yi replied by sending King Hui of Yan a letter saying:
7
臣不佞，不能奉承王命，以順左右之心，恐傷先王之明，有害足下之義，故遁逃走趙。 今足下使人數之以罪，臣恐侍御者不察先王之所以畜幸臣之理，又不白臣之所以事先王之心，故敢以書對。
Your minister is not talented, could not accept Your Majesty's command, to comply with the hearts of those around you, feared harming the former king's wisdom, harming Your Majesty's righteousness, thus fled and went to Zhao. Now Your Majesty sends people to enumerate my crimes, your minister fears the attendants do not examine the former king's reasons for nurturing and favoring your minister, and do not understand your minister's heart in serving the former king, thus dares to respond with a letter.
8
臣聞賢聖之君不以祿私親，其功多者賞之，其能當者處之。 故察能而授官者，成功之君也； 論行而結交者，立名之士也。 臣竊觀先王之舉也，見有高世主之心，故假節於魏，以身得察於燕。 先王過舉，廁之賓客之中，立之群臣之上，不謀父兄，以為亞卿。 臣竊不自知，自以為奉令承教，可幸無罪，故受令而不辭。
Your minister has heard that worthy sage lords do not favor relatives with salary, those with much merit they reward, those whose ability matches they place. Thus, those who examine ability and grant office are successful lords; Those who discuss conduct and form friendships are scholars who establish names. I privately observed the former king's conduct and saw in him the mind of a ruler who surpassed his age. For that reason I borrowed credentials from Wei and presented myself for service in Yan. The former king over-elevated, placed him among the guests, established him above the ministers, did not consult father and brothers, made him vice minister. Your minister secretly did not know himself, thought receiving orders and accepting teachings, might fortunately be without crime, thus accepted orders without declining.
9
先王命之曰：「我有積怨深怒於齊，不量輕弱，而欲以齊為事。」 臣曰：「夫齊，霸國之餘業而最勝之遺事也。 練於兵甲，習於戰攻。 王若欲伐之，必與天下圖之。 與天下圖之，莫若結於趙。 且又淮北、宋地，楚魏之所欲也，趙若許而約四國攻之，齊可大破也。」 先王以為然，具符節南使臣於趙。 顧反命，起兵擊齊。 以天之道，先王之靈，河北之地隨先王而舉之濟上。 濟上之軍受命擊齊，大敗齊人。 輕卒銳兵，長驅至國。 齊王遁而走莒，僅以身免； 珠玉財寶車甲珍器盡收入于燕。 齊器設於寧臺，大呂陳於元英，故鼎反乎磿室，薊丘之植植於汶篁，自五伯已來，功未有及先王者也。 先王以為慊於志，故裂地而封之，使得比小國諸侯。 臣竊不自知，自以為奉命承教，可幸無罪，是以受命不辭。
The former king told me, "I bear old resentment and deep anger toward Qi. Though my strength is slight, I wish to make Qi my great undertaking." I replied, "Qi is heir to a hegemon's power and to the legacy of great victories. Trained in armor and weapons, practiced in battle and attack. If Your Majesty wishes to attack it, must plan with the world. If we are to plan this with the wider world, nothing is better than securing Zhao. Moreover, Chu and Wei covet the lands north of the Huai and the lands of Song. If Zhao agrees, and we form a four-state pact to attack Qi, it can be crushed." The former king considered it right, prepared credentials and south sent your minister to Zhao. Turned back and reported, raised troops to attack Qi. By Heaven's Way and the former king's spirit, the lands north of the River rallied to him, and the campaign rose on the banks of the Ji. The army on the Ji River received its orders, attacked Qi, and inflicted a great defeat. Light troops sharp weapons, long drove to the capital. The Qi king fled and went to Ju, barely escaped with his life; Pearls, jade, treasures, chariots, armor, and precious vessels all flowed into Yan. Qi vessels set up at Ning Terrace, Da Lu displayed at Yuan Ying, ancient tripods returned to Ao chamber, Jiqiu's plants planted at Wen Huang, since the five hegemons, merit has not equaled the former king. The former king considered it satisfying to his ambitions, thus split land and enfeoffed him, allowing him to compare to small state feudal lords. Your minister secretly did not know himself, thought receiving orders accepting teachings, might fortunately be without crime, thus accepted orders without declining.
10
臣聞賢聖之君，功立而不廢，故著於春秋； 蚤知之士，名成而不毀，故稱於後世。 若先王之報怨雪恥，夷萬乘之彊國，收八百歲之蓄積，及至棄群臣之日，餘教未衰，執政任事之臣，修法令，慎庶孽，施及乎萌隸，皆可以教後世。
Your minister has heard that worthy sage lords establish merit and do not abandon it, thus are recorded in the Spring and Autumn; Early knowing scholars establish names and do not destroy them, thus are praised in later generations. As for the former king, he avenged his resentment and washed away shame, leveled a mighty state of ten thousand chariots, and seized the accumulated stores of eight hundred years. Even on the day he left his ministers behind, his remaining teachings had not declined: the ministers in charge of government handled affairs, maintained laws and commands, carefully managed the many collateral descendants, and extended order down to the common servants. All this can instruct later generations.
11
臣聞之，善作者不必善成，善始者不必善終。 昔伍子胥說聽於闔閭，而吳王遠跡至郢； 夫差弗是也，賜之鴟夷而浮之江。 吳王不寤先論之可以立功，故沈子胥而不悔； 子胥不蚤見主之不同量，是以至於入江而不化。
I have heard that those who are good at opening an enterprise are not always good at completing it, and those who begin well do not always end well. Formerly wuzi Xu's persuasion was listened to by He Lu, and the Wu king went far to Ying; Fu Cha was not like this, granted him a leather bag and floated him on the river. King Fuchai of Wu failed to understand that earlier counsel could have secured his achievement, and so he drowned Zixu without remorse; Zi Xu did not early see that his lord had different capacities, thus came to entering the river and not dissolving.
12
夫免身立功，以明先王之跡，臣之上計也。 離毀辱之誹謗，墮先王之名，臣之所大恐也。 臨不測之罪，以幸為利，義之所不敢出也。
Escaping the body and establishing merit, to clarify the former king's traces, is your minister's highest plan. Separating from slander and humiliation, destroying the former king's name, is what your minister greatly fears. To face arbitrary punishment and count mere survival as a gain is something righteousness will not permit me to do.
13
臣聞古之君子，交絕不出惡聲； 忠臣去國，不絜其名。 臣雖不佞，數奉教於君子矣。 恐侍御者之親左右之說，不察疏遠之行，故敢獻書以聞，唯君王之留意焉。
Your minister has heard that ancient gentlemen, when friendships end, do not issue evil sounds; Loyal ministers leaving their states do not purify their names. Your minister though not talented, has several times received teachings from gentlemen. Fearing the attendants' favoring the words of those close by, not examining distant conduct, thus dares to offer this letter to report, only Your Majesty's attention.
14
於是燕王復以樂毅子樂閒為昌國君； 而樂毅往來復通燕，燕、趙以為客卿。 樂毅卒於趙。
Thus, the Yan king again made Yue Yi's son Yue Xian the Changguo Jun; And Yue Yi came and went again communicating with Yan, Yan and Zhao made him guest minister. Yue Yi died in Zhao.
15
樂閒居燕三十餘年，燕王喜用其相栗腹之計，欲攻趙，而問昌國君樂閒。 樂閒曰：「趙，四戰之國也，其民習兵，伐之不可。」 燕王不聽，遂伐趙。 趙使廉頗擊之，大破栗腹之軍於鄗，禽栗腹、樂乘。 樂乘者，樂閒之宗也。 於是樂閒奔趙，趙遂圍燕。 燕重割地以與趙和，趙乃解而去。
Yue Xian dwelt in Yan for more than thirty years; King Xi of Yan employed his chancellor Li Fu's plan, wished to attack Zhao, and questioned Lord of Changguo Yue Xian. Yue Xian said, "Zhao is a state exposed to war on all four sides, and its people are used to fighting. An attack will not succeed." The Yan king did not listen, thus attacked Zhao. Zhao sent Lian Po to attack them, greatly broke Li Fu's army at Hao, captured Li Fu and Yue Cheng. Yue Cheng was Yue Xian's clan relative. Thus, Yue Xian fled to Zhao, Zhao then surrounded Yan. Yan heavily cut land to make peace with Zhao, Zhao then withdrew and left.
16
燕王恨不用樂閒，樂閒既在趙，乃遺樂閒書曰：「紂之時，箕子不用，犯諫不怠，以冀其聽； 商容不達，身祇辱焉，以冀其變。 及民志不入，獄囚自出，然後二子退隱。 故紂負桀暴之累，二子不失忠聖之名。 何者？ 其憂患之盡矣。 今寡人雖愚，不若紂之暴也； 燕民雖亂，不若殷民之甚也。 室有語，不相盡，以告鄰里。 二者，寡人不為君取也。」
The king of Yan regretted not having listened to Yue Xian. Since Yue Xian was now in Zhao, he sent him a letter: "In the time of Zhou, Jizi was not used, yet he kept remonstrating at personal risk, hoping Zhou would listen; Shang Rong was ignored, yet he endured humiliation in hope that Zhou would change. Only when the people would no longer submit and prisoners were walking out of the jails on their own did the two men withdraw into seclusion. Thus, Zhou carried the infamy of Jie's tyranny, while those two men kept their reputations as loyal sages. Why? Their worries and sufferings were exhausted. Now though I am foolish, not like Zhou's tyranny; Yan people though chaotic, not like Yin people's extremity. Words spoken within the household, before they have been fully shared among kin, should not be carried off and told to the neighbors. These two courses are not ones I would choose for you."
17
樂閒、樂乘怨燕不聽其計，二人卒留趙。 趙封樂乘為武襄君。
Yue Xian and Yue Cheng resented Yan not listening to their plans, the two finally stayed in Zhao. Zhao enfeoffed Yue Cheng as Lord Wuxiang.
18
其明年，樂乘、廉頗為趙圍燕，燕重禮以和，乃解。 後五歲，趙孝成王卒。 襄王使樂乘代廉頗。 廉頗攻樂乘，樂乘走，廉頗亡入魏。 其後十六年而秦滅趙。
The next year, Yue Cheng and Lian Po for Zhao surrounded Yan, Yan heavily bestowed gifts to make peace, then withdrew. Five years afterward, King Xiaocheng of Zhao died. King Xiang appointed Yue Cheng to take Lian Po's place. Lian Po attacked Yue Cheng, Yue Cheng fled, Lian Po fled and entered Wei. Thereafter, sixteen years passed, and Qin extinguished Zhao.
19
其後二十餘年，高帝過趙，問：「樂毅有後世乎？」 對曰：「有樂叔。」 高帝封之樂卿，號曰華成君。 華成君，樂毅之孫也。 而樂氏之族有樂瑕公、樂臣公，趙且為秦所滅，亡之齊高密。 樂臣公善修黃帝、老子之言，顯聞於齊，稱賢師。
Thereafter, more than twenty years later, Gao Di passed through Zhao and asked: 'Does Yue Yi have descendants?' Replied: 'There is Yue Shu.' Gao Di enfeoffed him as Yue Qing, numbered as Hua Cheng Jun. Hua Cheng Jun was Yue Yi's grandson. And the Yue clan had Yue Xiagong, Yue Chengong, Zhao was about to be extinguished by Qin, fled to Qi Gaomi. Yue Chengong was expert in the teachings of Huangdi and Laozi. He became well known in Qi and was regarded as a worthy teacher.
20
太史公曰：始齊之蒯通及主父偃讀樂毅之報燕王書，未嘗不廢書而泣也。 樂臣公學黃帝、老子，其本師號曰河上丈人，不知其所出。 河上丈人教安期生，安期生教毛翕公，毛翕公教樂瑕公，樂瑕公教樂臣公，樂臣公教蓋公。 蓋公教於齊高密、膠西，為曹相國師。
The Grand Historian said: Whenever Kuai Tong of Qi and Zhufu Yan first read Yue Yi's reply to the king of Yan, they would lay the text aside and weep. Yue Chengong studied Huangdi and Laozi. His original teacher was known as the Elder on the River, though his origins are unknown. The Elder on the River taught An Qisheng; An Qisheng taught Mao Xigong; Mao Xigong taught Yue Xiagong; Yue Xiagong taught Yue Chengong; and Yue Chengong taught Gai Gong. Gai Gong taught in Qi Gaomi and Jiaoxi, was Cao Xiangguo's teacher.