1
廉頗者，趙之良將也。 趙惠文王十六年，廉頗為趙將伐齊，大破之，取陽晉，拜為上卿，以勇氣聞於諸侯。 藺相如者，趙人也，為趙宦者令繆賢舍人。
Lian Po was a distinguished general of Zhao. In the sixteenth year of King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Po served as Zhao's general and attacked Qi. He routed them and took Yangjin, was appointed upper minister, and his bravery became renowned among the feudal lords. Lin Xiangru was a man of Zhao who served as retainer to Miao Xian, the eunuch director of Zhao.
2
趙惠文王時，得楚和氏璧。 秦昭王聞之，使人遺趙王書，願以十五城請易璧。 趙王與大將軍廉頗諸大臣謀：欲予秦，秦城恐不可得，徒見欺； 欲勿予，即患秦兵之來。 計未定，求人可使報秦者，未得。 宦者令繆賢曰：「臣舍人藺相如可使。」 王問：「何以知之？」 對曰：「臣嘗有罪，竊計欲亡走燕，臣舍人相如止臣，曰：『君何以知燕王？』 臣語曰：『臣嘗從大王與燕王會境上，燕王私握臣手，曰「願結友」。 以此知之，故欲往。』 相如謂臣曰：『夫趙彊而燕弱，而君幸於趙王，故燕王欲結於君。 今君乃亡趙走燕，燕畏趙，其勢必不敢留君，而束君歸趙矣。 君不如肉袒伏斧質請罪，則幸得脫矣。』 臣從其計，大王亦幸赦臣。 臣竊以為其人勇士，有智謀，宜可使。」 於是王召見，問藺相如曰：「秦王以十五城請易寡人之璧，可予不？」 相如曰：「秦彊而趙弱，不可不許。」 王曰：「取吾璧，不予我城，柰何？」 相如曰：「秦以城求璧而趙不許，曲在趙。 趙予璧而秦不予趙城，曲在秦。 均之二策，寧許以負秦曲。」 王曰：「誰可使者？」 相如曰：「王必無人，臣願奉璧往使。 城入趙而璧留秦； 城不入，臣請完璧歸趙。」 趙王於是遂遣相如奉璧西入秦。
During King Huiwen of Zhao's reign, Zhao acquired the He family jade disc from Chu. When King Zhaoxiang of Qin heard of it, he sent a messenger to the king of Zhao offering fifteen cities in exchange for the jade disc. The king of Zhao consulted with Grand General Lian Po and the other ministers: if they gave the bi to Qin, they feared they could not obtain Qin's cities and would only be deceived; If they refused to hand it over, they feared Qin would send troops. Unable to settle on a plan, they looked for someone who could go answer Qin, but found no one suitable. The eunuch director Miao Xian said, "My retainer Lin Xiangru is fit to be sent." The king asked, "How do you know?" He replied, "I once committed an offense and secretly planned to flee to Yan. My retainer Xiangru stopped me and asked, 'How do you know the king of Yan? I told him that I had once accompanied Your Majesty to meet the king of Yan at the border, and that the king of Yan privately grasped my hand and said, 'I wish to form a friendship.' That was how I knew him, and so I wished to go. Xiangru told me, 'Zhao is strong and Yan is weak. You are favored by the king of Zhao, and therefore the king of Yan wishes to form an alliance with you. Now if you flee Zhao and go to Yan, Yan will fear Zhao and certainly will not dare keep you. It will bind you and return you to Zhao. You would do better to bare your torso and prostrate yourself on the executioner's block to plead guilty; then perhaps you may escape. I followed his plan, and the great king graciously pardoned me. I privately consider this man a brave warrior with wisdom and strategy, fit to be sent." The king summoned Lin Xiangru and asked, "The king of Qin is offering fifteen cities for my jade. Should I send it?" Xiangru said: "Qin is strong and Zhao is weak; we have no choice but to agree." The king said, "What if he takes my jade and gives me no cities?" Xiangru said: "If Qin seeks the bi with cities, but Zhao does not agree, the fault lies with Zhao. If Zhao gives the bi, but Qin does not give Zhao the cities, the fault lies with Qin. If we weigh the two courses, it is better to agree and lay the blame on Qin." The king said: "Who can be sent?" Xiangru said, "If Your Majesty has no one else, I am willing to carry the jade as your envoy. If the cities are delivered to Zhao, the jade may remain in Qin; if the cities do not enter, I ask to return the bi intact to Zhao." The king of Zhao thereupon sent Xiangru west into Qin carrying the bi.
3
秦王坐章臺見相如，相如奉璧奏秦王。 秦王大喜，傳以示美人及左右，左右皆呼萬歲。 相如視秦王無意償趙城，乃前曰：「璧有瑕，請指示王。」 王授璧，相如因持璧卻立，倚柱，怒髪上沖冠，謂秦王曰：「大王欲得璧，使人發書至趙王，趙王悉召群臣議，皆曰『秦貪，負其彊，以空言求璧，償城恐不可得』。 議不欲予秦璧。 臣以為布衣之交尚不相欺，況大國乎！ 且以一璧之故逆彊秦之驩，不可。 於是趙王乃齋戒五日，使臣奉璧，拜送書於庭。 何者？ 嚴大國之威以修敬也。 今臣至，大王見臣列觀，禮節甚倨； 得璧，傳之美人，以戲弄臣。 臣觀大王無意償趙王城邑，故臣復取璧。 大王必欲急臣，臣頭今與璧俱碎於柱矣！」 相如持其璧睨柱，欲以擊柱。 秦王恐其破璧，乃辭謝固請，召有司案圖，指從此以往十五都予趙。 相如度秦王特以詐詳為予趙城，實不可得，乃謂秦王曰：「和氏璧，天下所共傳寶也，趙王恐，不敢不獻。 趙王送璧時，齋戒五日，今大王亦宜齋戒五日，設九賓於廷，臣乃敢上璧。」 秦王度之，終不可彊奪，遂許齋五日，舍相如廣成傳。 相如度秦王雖齋，決負約不償城，乃使其從者衣褐，懷其璧，從徑道亡，歸璧于趙。
The king of Qin received Xiangru seated at Zhangtai, and Xiangru presented the jade disc to him. The king of Qin was delighted. He passed the jade among his consorts and attendants, and they all cried, "Long live!" Seeing that the king of Qin had no intention of repaying Zhao with cities, Xiangru stepped forward and said: "There is a flaw in the bi; please let me show Your Majesty." The king handed the jade back. Xiangru took it, stepped backward until he stood against a pillar, his hair bristling with anger as if it would lift his cap, and said to the king of Qin, "Your Majesty wanted this jade and sent a letter to the king of Zhao. The king of Zhao gathered all his ministers to discuss it, and they said, 'Qin is greedy and trusts in its power. It wants the jade on empty promises; the cities will surely never be delivered. So they advised against giving the jade to Qin. But I thought: even common friends do not deceive one another, much less great states. Moreover, it would not do to offend mighty Qin's goodwill over a single bi. The king of Zhao therefore fasted and purified himself for five days, entrusted me with the jade, and bowed in his court as he sent the letter. Why is that? He did this to honor the dignity of a great state and show proper respect. Now that I have arrived, Your Majesty has received me in an outer gallery with very arrogant ritual; Once you had the jade, you passed it to your consorts as if to make sport of me. I saw that Your Majesty had no intention of compensating Zhao with cities, so I took the jade back. If Your Majesty must press me, my head will now be smashed together with the bi against this pillar!" Xiangru clutched the jade and fixed his eyes on the pillar, ready to smash it there. The king of Qin, afraid he would shatter the jade, apologized and begged him to stop. He called for officials to spread out a map and pointed to fifteen cities that would be given to Zhao. Xiangru judged that the King of Qin was only pretending to offer Zhao cities and that in truth they could not be obtained. He then said to the King of Qin: "The He Shi bi is a treasure transmitted throughout the world. The King of Zhao was afraid and had no choice but to present it. When the king of Zhao sent the jade, he fasted and purified himself for five days. Your Majesty should likewise fast for five days and arrange the full nine-guest ceremony in court; only then will I dare present the jade." The king of Qin considered the matter and realized he could not seize the jade by force. He agreed to fast for five days and lodged Xiangru at the Guangcheng guesthouse. Xiangru judged that even after fasting, the king of Qin would break the agreement and refuse to hand over the cities. He therefore had an attendant dress in coarse clothes, hide the jade, escape by a side road, and carry it back to Zhao.
4
秦王齋五日後，乃設九賓禮於廷，引趙使者藺相如。 相如至，謂秦王曰：「秦自繆公以來二十餘君，未嘗有堅明約束者也。 臣誠恐見欺於王而負趙，故令人持璧歸，閒至趙矣。 且秦彊而趙弱，大王遣一介之使至趙，趙立奉璧來。 今以秦之彊而先割十五都予趙，趙豈敢留璧而得罪於大王乎？ 臣知欺大王之罪當誅，臣請就湯鑊，唯大王與群臣孰計議之。」 秦王與群臣相視而嘻。 左右或欲引相如去，秦王因曰：「今殺相如，終不能得璧也，而絕秦趙之驩，不如因而厚遇之，使歸趙，趙王豈以一璧之故欺秦邪！」 卒廷見相如，畢禮而歸之。
After fasting for five days, the king of Qin arranged the nine-guest ceremony in court and summoned Lin Xiangru, the Zhao envoy. Xiangru came before him and said, "From Duke Mu down through more than twenty Qin rulers, not one has kept agreements firmly and openly. I feared that Your Majesty would deceive me and that I would fail Zhao, so I sent someone to carry the jade back. It has already reached Zhao by a hidden route. Besides, Qin is strong and Zhao weak. If Your Majesty sends even a single envoy to Zhao, Zhao will present the jade at once. With Qin's power, if you first cede fifteen cities to Zhao, how would Zhao dare keep the jade and offend Your Majesty? I know that deceiving Your Majesty is a crime worthy of death. I ask to submit to the boiling cauldron; I only ask Your Majesty and your ministers to consider the matter carefully." The king of Qin and his ministers exchanged glances and laughed. Some attendants wished to lead Xiangru away, but the king of Qin said: "Now if we kill Xiangru, in the end we cannot obtain the bi, and we would cut off Qin and Zhao's friendship. Better to treat him generously on this occasion and send him back to Zhao. Would the king of Zhao for one bi's sake deceive Qin?" In the end, he granted Xiangru a formal court audience, completed the ceremony, and sent him back.
5
相如既歸，趙王以為賢大夫使不辱於諸侯，拜相如為上大夫。 秦亦不以城予趙，趙亦終不予秦璧。
When Xiangru had returned, the king of Zhao considered him a worthy envoy who had not disgraced Zhao among the feudal lords, and appointed him upper grandee. Qin never gave Zhao the cities, and Zhao never gave Qin the jade.
6
其後秦伐趙，拔石城。 明年，復攻趙，殺二萬人。
Later, Qin attacked Zhao and captured Shicheng. The following year, Qin attacked Zhao again, killing twenty thousand men.
7
秦王使使者告趙王，欲與王為好會於西河外澠池。 趙王畏秦，欲毋行。 廉頗、藺相如計曰：「王不行，示趙弱且怯也。」 趙王遂行，相如從。 廉頗送至境，與王訣曰：「王行，度道里會遇之禮畢，還，不過三十日。 三十日不還，則請立太子為王。 以絕秦望。」 王許之，遂與秦王會澠池。 秦王飲酒酣，曰：「寡人竊聞趙王好音，請奏瑟。」 趙王鼓瑟。 秦御史前書曰「某年月日，秦王與趙王會飲，令趙王鼓瑟」。 藺相如前曰：「趙王竊聞秦王善為秦聲，請奏盆缻秦王，以相娛樂。」 秦王怒，不許。 於是相如前進缻，因跪請秦王。 秦王不肯擊缻。 相如曰：「五步之內，相如請得以頸血濺大王矣！」 左右欲刃相如，相如張目叱之，左右皆靡。 於是秦王不懌，為一擊缻。 相如顧召趙御史書曰「某年月日，秦王為趙王擊缻」。 秦之群臣曰：「請以趙十五城為秦王壽」。 藺相如亦曰：「請以秦之咸陽為趙王壽。」 秦王竟酒，終不能加勝於趙。 趙亦盛設兵以待秦，秦不敢動。
The Qin king sent an envoy to inform the Zhao king, proposing a friendly summit meeting at Mianchi Pool outside the west river. The Zhao king feared Qin and wanted to decline. Lian Po and Lin Xiangru counseled, "If the king does not go, it will show Zhao as weak and cowardly." So the Zhao king went, accompanied by Xiangru. Lian Po escorted him to the border and bade farewell, saying, "Your Majesty is going. Considering the distance and the protocol of the meeting, you should return within thirty days at most. If Your Majesty does not return in thirty days, I beg you to establish the crown prince as king. This will dash Qin's hopes." The king agreed, and thus met with the Qin king at Mianchi Pool. The Qin king, drunk on wine, said: 'I hear the Zhao king loves music. Please play the zither.' The Zhao king played the zither. The Qin scribe stepped forward and recorded: 'On such-and-such date, the Qin king and Zhao king met and drank together, commanding the Zhao king to play the zither.' Lin Xiangru stepped forward and said: 'The Zhao king hears that the Qin king is skilled in Qin music. Please strike the chime stones for the Qin king to provide mutual entertainment.' The Qin king flew into a rage and refused. Thus, Xiangru stepped forward with the chime stones and knelt to request the Qin king. The Qin king refused to strike the chime stones. Xiangru said: 'Within five paces, I beg to spatter Your Majesty with the blood from my neck!' The attendants wanted to stab Xiangru, but Xiangru glared and berated them, and the attendants all retreated in fear. Thus, the Qin king, displeased, reluctantly struck the chime stones once. Xiangru turned and summoned the Zhao scribe to record: 'On such-and-such date, the Qin king struck the chime stones for the Zhao king.' Qin's ministers said: 'Please offer fifteen Zhao cities in congratulations to the Qin king.' Lin Xiangru also said: 'Please offer Qin's Xianyang in congratulations to the Zhao king.' The Qin king finished the wine, but ultimately could gain no advantage over Zhao. Zhao also massed troops in readiness for Qin, and Qin dared not make a move.
8
既罷歸國，以相如功大，拜為上卿，位在廉頗之右。 廉頗曰：「我為趙將，有攻城野戰之大功，而藺相如徒以口舌為勞，而位居我上，且相如素賤人，吾羞，不忍為之下。」 宣言曰：「我見相如，必辱之。」 相如聞，不肯與會。 相如每朝時，常稱病，不欲與廉頗爭列。 已而相如出，望見廉頗，相如引車避匿。 於是舍人相與諫曰：「臣所以去親戚而事君者，徒慕君之高義也。 今君與廉頗同列，廉君宣惡言而君畏匿之，恐懼殊甚，且庸人尚羞之，況於將相乎！ 臣等不肖，請辭去。」 藺相如固止之，曰：「公之視廉將軍孰與秦王？」 曰：「不若也。」 相如曰：「夫以秦王之威，而相如廷叱之，辱其群臣，相如雖駑，獨畏廉將軍哉？ 顧吾念之，彊秦之所以不敢加兵於趙者，徒以吾兩人在也。 今兩虎共鬬，其勢不俱生。 吾所以為此者，以先國家之急而後私讎也。」 廉頗聞之，肉袒負荊，因賓客至藺相如門謝罪。 曰：「鄙賤之人，不知將軍寬之至此也。」 卒相與驩，為刎頸之交。
After the banquet ended, they returned home, and Xiangru was appointed upper minister because of his great merit, ranking above Lian Po. Lian Po said, "I am Zhao's general, with great merit from attacking cities and fighting in the field, while Lin Xiangru has only labored with words and still ranks above me. Moreover, Xiangru was originally a lowly person. I am ashamed and cannot bear to be beneath him." He declared, "When I see Xiangru, I will certainly humiliate him." Xiangru heard this and refused to meet with him. Whenever court was held, Xiangru would often claim illness, not wishing to contend in rank with Lian Po. Soon after, when Xiangru went out and spotted Lian Po from afar, he steered his carriage aside to avoid him. Thus, his retainers together admonished him: "We who left our families to serve you did so only because we admired your noble righteousness. Now you and Lian Po hold the same rank, yet he proclaims vile words, and you fearfully hide from him. Your fear is extreme! Even common people would be ashamed of this, how much more generals and ministers! We are unworthy and request to take our leave." Lin Xiangru firmly stopped them and said, "Gentlemen, in your view, how does General Lian compare to the Qin king?" They replied, "He is not as formidable." Xiangru said, "With all the Qin king's power, I berated him in his own court and humiliated his ministers. Though I am lowly, would I alone fear General Lian? But I consider this: the only reason mighty Qin dares not attack Zhao is that we two men are here. Now if two tigers fight, they cannot both survive. The reason I do this is to put the nation's crisis before private grudges." When Lian Po heard this, he bared his torso and bore thorns on his back, and went by way of a guest to Lin Xiangru's gate to apologize. He said, "I, a low and vulgar man, never knew the general's generosity went so far." In the end they were reconciled and became friends who would die for each other.
9
是歲，廉頗東攻齊，破其一軍。 居二年，廉頗復伐齊幾，拔之。 後三年，廉頗攻魏之防陵、安陽，拔之。 後四年，藺相如將而攻齊，至平邑而罷。 其明年，趙奢破秦軍閼與下。
That year, Lian Po attacked Qi to the east and defeated one of their armies. Two years later, Lian Po again attacked the Qi city of Ji and captured it. Three years later, Lian Po attacked Wei's Fangling and Anyang and captured them. Four years later, Lin Xiangru led troops to attack Qi, reaching Pingyi before halting. The following year Zhao She defeated the Qin army at Eyu.
10
趙奢者，趙之田部吏也。 收租稅而平原君家不肯出趙，奢以法治之，殺平原君用事者九人。 平原君怒，將殺奢。 奢因說曰：「君於趙為貴公子，今縱君家而不奉公則法削，法削則國弱，國弱則諸侯加兵，諸侯加兵是無趙也，君安得有此富乎？ 以君之貴，奉公如法則上下平，上下平則國彊，國彊則趙固，而君為貴戚，豈輕於天下邪？」 平原君以為賢，言之於王。 王用之治國賦，國賦大平，民富而府庫實。
Zhao She was a tax collector in Zhao. While collecting taxes, he found that Lord Pingyuan's household refused to pay out to the state; Zhao She enforced the law against them and executed nine of Lord Pingyuan's influential retainers. Lord Pingyuan was furious and wanted to kill him. Zhao She then persuaded him: "You are a noble lord in Zhao. If you indulge your household and do not serve the public, the law will be weakened. Weakened law means a weak state, and a weak state invites attacks from other lords. When other lords attack, Zhao will perish. How then could you maintain your wealth? With your noble status, if you serve the public according to the law, high and low will be equal. Equality between high and low means a strong state, and a strong state secures Zhao. As a noble relative, would you be insignificant in the world?" Lord Pingyuan considered him worthy and recommended him to the king. The king employed him to manage state revenues; the revenues were brought into excellent order, the people grew rich, and the treasuries were filled.
11
秦伐韓，軍於閼與。 王召廉頗而問曰：「可救不？」 對曰：「道遠險狹，難救。」 又召樂乘而問焉，樂乘對如廉頗言。 又召問趙奢，奢對曰：「其道遠險狹，譬之猶兩鼠鬬於穴中，將勇者勝。」 王乃令趙奢將，救之。
Qin attacked Han and positioned their army at Eyu. The king summoned Lian Po and asked: 'Can we save them?' He replied, "The road is long and treacherous. It would be difficult to save them." He then summoned Yue Cheng and asked him the same question. Yue Cheng replied just as Lian Po had. Then he summoned Zhao She and asked him. Zhao She replied, "The road is long and treacherous, like two rats fighting in a hole: the braver general will win." The king then ordered Zhao She to lead troops and save them.
12
兵去邯鄲三十里，而令軍中曰：「有以軍事諫者死。」 秦軍軍武安西，秦軍鼓譟勒兵，武安屋瓦盡振。 軍中候有一人言急救武安，趙奢立斬之。 堅壁，留二十八日不行，復益增壘。 秦閒來入，趙奢善食而遣之。 閒以報秦將，秦將大喜曰：「夫去國三十里而軍不行，乃增壘，閼與非趙地也。」 趙奢既已遣秦閒，卷甲而趨之，二日一夜至，今善射者去閼與五十里而軍。 軍壘成，秦人聞之，悉甲而至。 軍士許歷請以軍事諫，趙奢曰：「內之。」 許歷曰：「秦人不意趙師至此，其來氣盛，將軍必厚集其陣以待之。 不然，必敗。」 趙奢曰：「請受令。」 許歷曰：「請就鈇質之誅。」 趙奢曰：「胥後令邯鄲。」 許歷復請諫，曰：「先據北山上者勝，後至者敗。」 趙奢許諾，即發萬人趨之。 秦兵後至，爭山不得上，趙奢縱兵擊之，大破秦軍。 秦軍解而走，遂解閼與之圍而歸。
The troops had marched thirty li from Handan when he ordered the army, "Anyone who offers military advice will be executed." The Qin army camped west of Wuan. The Qin troops beat their drums, roared battle cries, and prepared for battle, causing all the roof tiles in Wuan to shake. When one army scout urged an immediate rescue of Wuan, Zhao She had him beheaded on the spot. He strengthened the defensive walls and remained there twenty-eight days without advancing, further reinforcing the fortifications. A Qin spy came to infiltrate, but Zhao She fed him well and sent him on his way. The spy reported back to the Qin general, who was greatly delighted and said, "They have marched thirty li from their capital yet do not advance. They are just reinforcing fortifications. Eyu is not even Zhao territory!" Once Zhao She had sent the Qin spy away, he had his troops roll up their armor and march swiftly. They arrived in two days and one night, and he ordered the best archers to camp fifty li from Eyu. Once the fortifications were complete, the Qin forces heard of it and advanced with all their troops in full armor. Soldier Xu Li requested to offer military advice. Zhao She said: 'Bring him in.' Xu Li said: 'The Qin did not expect Zhao troops to arrive here. They come with high morale and spirit. General, you must concentrate your forces densely to meet them. Otherwise, we will surely be defeated.' Zhao She said: "I accept your command." Xu Li said: 'Please have me executed for offering unsolicited advice.' Zhao She said: "Wait until after the battle; then we will settle it at Handan." Xu Li again requested to offer advice: 'Whoever occupies the north mountain summit first will win; those who arrive later will be defeated.' Zhao She agreed and immediately dispatched ten thousand men to hurry there. The Qin troops arrived later and fought to ascend the mountain but could not. Zhao She unleashed his troops to attack them and routed the Qin army. The Qin army retreated in defeat, thus lifting the siege of Eyu and withdrawing.
13
趙惠文王賜奢號為馬服君，以許歷為國尉。 趙奢於是與廉頗、藺相如同位。
King Huiwen of Zhao gave the title Lord Ma Fu to Zhao She and made Xu Li state defender. Thus, Zhao She held the same rank as Lian Po and Lin Xiangru.
14
後四年，趙惠文王卒，子孝成王立。 七年，秦與趙兵相距長平，時趙奢已死，而藺相如病甐，趙使廉頗將攻秦，秦數敗趙軍，趙軍固壁不戰。 秦數挑戰，廉頗不肯。 趙王信秦之閒。 秦之閒言曰：「秦之所惡，獨畏馬服君趙奢之子趙括為將耳。」 趙王因以括為將，代廉頗。 藺相如曰：「王以名使括，若膠柱而鼓瑟耳。 括徒能讀其父書傳，不知合變也。」 趙王不聽，遂將之。
Four years later King Huiwen of Zhao died, and his son King Xiaocheng ascended the throne. In the seventh year, Qin and Zhao confronted each other at Changping. Zhao She was already dead, and Lin Xiangru was gravely ill. Zhao put Lian Po in command against Qin, but after Qin defeated the Zhao army several times, Lian Po fortified his camp and refused battle. Qin repeatedly issued challenges, but Lian Po refused to engage. The Zhao king believed Qin's spies. Qin's spies spread word: 'What Qin truly fears is only that Lord Ma Fu's son, Zhao Kuo, might be appointed general.' The Zhao king therefore appointed Zhao Kuo as general to replace Lian Po. Lin Xiangru said, "Your Majesty is appointing Zhao Kuo based on reputation alone. It is like gluing the pegs of a zither and trying to play it. Zhao Kuo can only recite his father's books and commentaries by rote. He does not know how to adapt to changing circumstances." The Zhao king would not listen and appointed him general anyway.
15
趙括自少時學兵法，言兵事，以天下莫能當。 嘗與其父奢言兵事，奢不能難，然不謂善。 括母問奢其故，奢曰：「兵，死地也，而括易言之。 使趙不將括即已，若必將之，破趙軍者必括也。」 及括將行，其母上書言於王曰：「括不可使將。」 王曰：「何以？」 對曰：「始妾事其父，時為將，身所奉飯飲而進食者以十數，所友者以百數，大王及宗室所賞賜者盡以予軍吏士大夫，受命之日，不問家事。 今括一旦為將，東向而朝，軍吏無敢仰視之者，王所賜金帛，歸藏於家，而日視便利田宅可買者買之。 王以為何如其父？ 父子異心，願王勿遣。」 王曰：「母置之，吾已決矣。」 括母因曰：「王終遣之，即有如不稱，妾得無隨坐乎？」 王許諾。
From a young age, Zhao Kuo studied military strategy and spoke of military affairs, believing no one in the world could match him. He often discussed military affairs with his father Zhao She, who could not refute him, but did not consider it good. Zhao Kuo's mother asked Zhao She for the reason. He said, "War is a matter of life and death, yet Zhao Kuo speaks of it lightly. If Zhao does not appoint Zhao Kuo as general, fine. But if they must appoint him, the one who destroys Zhao's army will certainly be Zhao Kuo himself." When Zhao Kuo was about to depart, his mother submitted a letter to the king saying, "Zhao Kuo cannot be made a general." The king asked, "Why?" She replied, "When I first served his father as general, he personally brought food and drink to feed dozens of men, befriended hundreds, and gave all the king's and royal family's rewards to army officers and gentlemen. On the day he received orders, he never asked about family matters. Now Zhao Kuo suddenly becomes general, faces east to receive court visits, and army officers do not dare look up at him. He takes the king's rewards of gold and silk, returns home to store them, and daily looks for profitable fields and houses to buy. In your opinion, how does he compare to his father? Father and son have different hearts. I beg you not to send him." The king said, "Mother, let it go. I have already decided." Zhao Kuo's mother then said, "If the king insists on sending him, and if he proves unworthy, may I not be implicated?" The king promised.
16
趙括既代廉頗，悉更約束，易置軍吏。 秦將白起聞之，縱奇兵，詳敗走，而絕其糧道，分斷其軍為二，士卒離心。 四十餘日，軍餓，趙括出銳卒自博戰，秦軍射殺趙括。 括軍敗，數十萬之眾遂降秦，秦悉阬之。 趙前後所亡凡四十五萬。 明年，秦兵遂圍邯鄲，歲餘，幾不得脫。 賴楚、魏諸侯來救，乃得解邯鄲之圍。 趙王亦以括母先言，竟不誅也。
Once Zhao Kuo replaced Lian Po, he changed all the regulations and replaced the army officers. Qin general Bai Qi heard this and unleashed surprise troops. He pretended to be defeated and fled, cut their grain supply routes, and divided their army into two. The soldiers' morale collapsed. After forty-plus days, the army was starving. Zhao Kuo led elite troops out to fight personally, and the Qin army shot and killed Zhao Kuo. Zhao Kuo's army was defeated, and the several hundred thousand troops surrendered to Qin. Qin buried them all alive. Altogether, Zhao lost four hundred fifty thousand men. The next year, Qin troops surrounded Handan. After more than a year, the city nearly fell. Thanks to Chu and Wei lords coming to their rescue, they were able to lift the siege of Handan. The Zhao king, because of Zhao Kuo's mother's earlier warning, ultimately did not execute her.
17
自邯鄲圍解五年，而燕用栗腹之謀，曰「趙壯者盡於長平，其孤未壯」，舉兵擊趙。 趙使廉頗將，擊，大破燕軍於鄗，殺栗腹，遂圍燕。 燕割五城請和，乃聽之。 趙以尉文封廉頗為信平君，為假相國。
Five years after the siege of Handan was lifted, Yan adopted Li Fu's counsel: "Zhao's fighting men were spent at Changping, and their orphaned sons are not yet grown." Yan then raised troops to attack Zhao. Zhao sent Lian Po as general. He attacked, routed the Yan army at Hao, killed Li Fu, and surrounded Yan. Yan ceded five cities and requested peace, and Zhao accepted. Zhao enfeoffed Lian Po at Weiwen as Lord Xinping and appointed him acting chancellor.
18
廉頗之免長平歸也，失勢之時，故客盡去。 及復用為將，客又復至。 廉頗曰：「客退矣！」 客曰：「吁！ 君何見之晚也？ 夫天下以市道交，君有勢，我則從君，君無勢則去，此固其理也，有何怨乎？」 居六年，趙使廉頗伐魏之繁陽，拔之。
When Lian Po was dismissed from Changping and returned home, during his time out of power, all his old guests left him. When he was restored to command, the retainers came back as well. Lian Po said: "Guests, withdraw!" The guest said: 'Alas! Why do you only realize this now? The world associates like the marketplace. When you have power, I follow you. When you have no power, I leave. This is simply the principle of things. Why resent it?' Six years later, Zhao sent Lian Po to attack Wei's Fanyang and captured it.
19
趙孝成王卒，子悼襄王立，使樂乘代廉頗。 廉頗怒，攻樂乘，樂乘走。 廉頗遂奔魏之大梁。 其明年，趙乃以李牧為將而攻燕，拔武遂、方城。
Zhao Xiao Cheng Wang died, and his son King Dao Xiang ascended the throne. He sent Yue Cheng to replace Lian Po. Lian Po was furious and attacked Yue Cheng, who fled. Lian Po fled to Daliang in Wei. The next year, Zhao appointed Li Mu as general to attack Yan, capturing Wu Sui and Fang Cheng.
20
廉頗居梁久之，魏不能信用。 趙以數困於秦兵，趙王思復得廉頗，廉頗亦思復用於趙。 趙王使使者視廉頗尚可用否。 廉頗之仇郭開多與使者金，令毀之。 趙使者既見廉頗，廉頗為之一飯斗米，肉十斤，被甲上馬，以示尚可用。 趙使還報王曰：「廉將軍雖老，尚善飯，然與臣坐，頃之三遺矢矣。」 趙王以為老，遂不召。
Lian Po lived in Liang for a long time, but Wei could not find employment for him. Zhao was repeatedly troubled by Qin troops. The Zhao king longed to have Lian Po again, and Lian Po also longed to be employed by Zhao once more. The Zhao king sent an envoy to see if Lian Po was still usable. Lian Po's enemy Guo Kai gave much gold to the envoy and ordered him to slander Lian Po. The Zhao envoy, having seen Lian Po, watched as Lian Po ate a dou of rice and ten jin of meat in one meal, then donned his armor and mounted his horse, to show he was still usable. The Zhao envoy returned and reported to the king, "General Lian is old, but he still eats well. However, while sitting with me, within a short while he relieved himself three times." The Zhao king considered him too old and did not summon him.
21
楚聞廉頗在魏，陰使人迎之。 廉頗一為楚將，無功，曰：「我思用趙人。」 廉頗卒死于壽春。
Chu heard Lian Po was in Wei and secretly sent people to welcome him. Lian Po served for a time as a Chu general but accomplished nothing. He said, "I miss commanding men of Zhao." Lian Po finally died at Shouchun.
22
李牧者，趙之北邊良將也。 常居代鴈門，備匈奴。 以便宜置吏，市租皆輸入莫府，為士卒費。 日擊數牛饗士，習射騎，謹烽火，多閒諜，厚遇戰士。 為約曰：「匈奴即入盜，急入收保，有敢捕虜者斬。」 匈奴每入，烽火謹，輒入收保，不敢戰。 如是數歲，亦不亡失。 然匈奴以李牧為怯，雖趙邊兵亦以為吾將怯。 趙王讓李牧，李牧如故。 趙王怒，召之，使他人代將。
Li Mu was one of Zhao's finest generals on the northern frontier. He often resided in Dai and Yanmen, preparing against the Xiongnu. He appointed officials as needed and had all market rents enter the commander's residence to fund the soldiers' expenses. Daily he slaughtered several oxen to feast the soldiers, practiced archery and riding, was careful with beacon fires, employed many secret spies, and generously treated the warriors. He made a rule: 'When the Xiongnu enter to raid, urgently gather and protect the people. Anyone who dares capture captives will be executed.' Whenever the Xiongnu entered, the beacon fires were carefully lit, and the people gathered for protection without daring to fight. This continued for years, with no losses or defeats. However, the Xiongnu considered Li Mu cowardly, and even Zhao's border troops thought their general was cowardly. The Zhao king rebuked Li Mu, but Li Mu continued as before. The Zhao king grew angry, summoned him back, and had someone else replace him as general.
23
歲餘，匈奴每來，出戰。 出戰，數不利，失亡多，邊不得田畜。 復請李牧。 牧杜門不出，固稱疾。 趙王乃復彊起使將兵。 牧曰：「王必用臣，臣如前，乃敢奉令。」 王許之。
Over a year, whenever the Xiongnu came, they went out to fight. When they went out to fight, they were repeatedly defeated, with heavy losses. The border regions could no longer farm or herd. They again requested Li Mu. Li Mu shut his door and refused to come out, firmly claiming illness. The Zhao king then strongly insisted on raising him to lead troops again. Li Mu said: 'If the king insists on employing me, then I must be allowed to act as before; only then will I dare accept the command.' The king agreed.
24
李牧至，如故約。 匈奴數歲無所得。 終以為怯。 邊士日得賞賜而不用，皆願一戰。 於是乃具選車得千三百乘，選騎得萬三千匹，百金之士五萬人，彀者十萬人，悉勒習戰。 大縱畜牧，人民滿野。 匈奴小入，詳北不勝，以數千人委之。 單于聞之，大率眾來入。 李牧多為奇陳，張左右翼擊之，大破殺匈奴十餘萬騎。 滅襜襤，破東胡，降林胡，單于奔走。 其後十餘歲，匈奴不敢近趙邊城。
When Li Mu arrived, he followed the old agreement. For years the Xiongnu gained nothing. They ultimately considered him cowardly. The border soldiers received daily rewards but were not used in battle, so all wished for one fight. He then assembled 1,300 chariots, 13,000 cavalry horses, 50,000 elite soldiers valued at a hundred gold each, and 100,000 archers, drilling them all for battle. He sent livestock out in great numbers and let the people fill the fields. When a small Xiongnu force crossed the border, he pretended to flee north in defeat and left several thousand men behind for them to capture. Hearing this, the Chanyu led a large force into Zhao. Li Mu deployed numerous surprise formations, extended his left and right wings, and struck, crushing the Xiongnu and killing more than one hundred thousand cavalry. He destroyed the Chanlan, defeated the Donghu, compelled the Linhu to surrender, and sent the Chanyu fleeing. For over ten years thereafter, the Xiongnu dared not approach Zhao's border cities.
25
趙悼襄王元年，廉頗既亡入魏，趙使李牧攻燕，拔武遂、方城。 居二年，龐煖破燕軍，殺劇辛。 後七年，秦破殺趙將扈輒於武遂，斬首十萬。 趙乃以李牧為大將軍，擊秦軍於宜安，大破秦軍，走秦將桓齮。 封李牧為武安君。 居三年，秦攻番吾，李牧擊破秦軍，南距韓、魏。
In the first year of Zhao King Dao Xiang, after Lian Po had fled to Wei, Zhao sent Li Mu to attack Yan and captured Wu Sui and Fang Cheng. Two years later, Pang Nuan defeated Yan's army and killed Ju Xin. Seven years later, Qin defeated and killed Zhao general Hu Zhe at Wu Sui, taking ten thousand heads. Zhao then appointed Li Mu as grand general. He attacked the Qin army at Yi An, routed them, and put Qin general Huan Yi to flight. Li Mu was enfeoffed as Lord Wu An. Three years later, Qin attacked Fan Wu. Li Mu struck and defeated the Qin army, confronting Han and Wei to the south.
26
趙王遷七年，秦使王翦攻趙，趙使李牧、司馬尚御之。 秦多與趙王寵臣郭開金，為反閒，言李牧、司馬尚欲反。 趙王乃使趙蔥及齊將顏聚代李牧。 李牧不受命，趙使人微捕得李牧，斬之。 廢司馬尚。 後三月，王翦因急擊趙，大破殺趙蔥，虜趙王遷及其將顏聚，遂滅趙。
In the seventh year of Zhao King Qian, Qin sent Wang Jian to attack Zhao. Zhao sent Li Mu and Sima Shang to defend against him. Qin gave much gold to Zhao king's favorite minister Guo Kai to act as a reverse spy, claiming that Li Mu and Sima Shang wished to rebel. The Zhao king then sent Zhao Cong and Qi general Yan Ju to replace Li Mu. Li Mu refused the orders. Zhao sent people to secretly arrest and behead him. Sima Shang was dismissed. Three months later, Wang Jian urgently attacked Zhao, routed and killed Zhao Cong, captured King Qian of Zhao and his general Yan Ju, thus destroying Zhao.
27
太史公曰：知死必勇，非死者難也，處死者難。 方藺相如引璧睨柱，及叱秦王左右，勢不過誅，然士或怯懦而不敢發。 相如一奮其氣，威信敵國，退而讓頗，名重太山，其處智勇，可謂兼之矣！
The Grand Historian said: To know death is certain and still be brave does not mean that dying is hard; what is hard is standing firm when death is before you. When Lin Xiangru drew the jade to himself, glared at the pillar, and rebuked the king of Qin's attendants, the worst he faced was execution. Yet many men are timid and dare not act. Xiangru once summoned his courage, overawed an enemy state and won its trust; later he stepped back and yielded to Lian Po, and his name became weightier than Mount Tai. In wisdom and courage alike, he may be said to have possessed both.