Volume 4 Zhou Records 4

1

起閼逢困敦，盡著雍困敦，凡二十五年。

From Efayin Gundun through Zhuayong Gundun—twenty-five years in all.

2

1楚懷王亡歸。秦人覺之，遮楚道。懷王從間道走趙。趙主父在代，趙人不敢受。懷王將走魏，秦人追及之，以歸。

1. King Huai of Chu fled homeward. Qin discovered it and blocked the roads to Chu. King Huai took a bypath and fled toward Zhao. The Lord-Father of Zhao was in Dai; the Zhao people dared not shelter him. King Huai was about to flee to Wei when Qin pursuers caught him and brought him back.

3

1楚懷王發病，薨於秦，秦人歸其喪。楚人皆憐之，如悲親戚。諸侯由是不直秦。

1. King Huai of Chu fell ill and died in Qin; Qin sent his coffin home. The Chu people pitied him as they would mourn their own kin. From this the feudal lords ceased to regard Qin as righteous.

4

2齊、韓、魏、趙、宋同擊秦，至鹽氏而還。秦與韓武遂、與魏封陵以和。

2. Qi, Han, Wei, Zhao, and Song jointly attacked Qin, reached Yanshi, and withdrew. Qin made peace with Han at Wusui and with Wei at Fengling.

5

3趙主父行新地，遂出代；西遇樓煩王於西河而致其兵。

3. The Lord-Father of Zhao toured the new territories, then left Dai; going west he met the king of Loufan on the Xi River and absorbed his army.

6

4魏襄王薨，子昭王〔遫〕立。

.¹

7

5韓襄王薨，子釐王咎立。

5. King Xiang of Han died; his son King Xi Jiu succeeded.

8

1秦尉錯伐魏襄城。

1. Qin Vice-Marshal Wei Cuo attacked Xiangcheng in Wei.

9

2趙主父與齊、燕共滅中山，遷其王於膚施。歸，行賞，大赦，置酒，酺五日。

2. The Lord-Father of Zhao, with Qi and Yan, destroyed Zhongshan and relocated its king to Fushi. On his return he rewarded his men, proclaimed a general amnesty, set out wine, and held five days of public revelry.

10

3趙主父封其長子章於代，號曰安陽君。

3. The Lord-Father enfeoffed his eldest son Zhang in Dai as Lord Anyang.

11

安陽君素侈，心不服其弟。主父使田不禮相之。李兌謂肥義曰：「公子章強壯而志驕，黨眾而欲大，田不禮忍殺而驕，二人相得，必有陰謀。夫小人有欲，輕慮淺謀，徒見其利，不顧其害，難必不久矣。子任重而勢大，亂之所始而禍之所集也。子奚不稱疾毋出而傳政於公子成，毋為禍梯，不亦可乎！」肥義曰：「昔者主父以王屬義也，曰：『毋變而度，毋易而慮，堅守一心，以歿而世。』義再拜受命而籍之。今畏不禮之難而忘吾籍，變孰大焉！諺曰：『死者復生，生者不愧。』吾欲全吾言，安得全吾身乎！子則有賜而忠我矣。雖然，吾言已在前矣，終不敢失！」李兌曰：「諾。子勉之矣！吾見子已今年耳。」涕泣而出。

Lord Anyang had long been extravagant and inwardly refused to bow to his younger brother. The Lord-Father appointed Tian Buli as his chief minister. Li Dui said to Fei Yi: "Lord Zhang is strong-bodied and proud in ambition; his faction is large and his desires vast; Tian Buli is ruthless and murderous, proud in temper—the two suit each other. There must be a secret plot afoot. Petty men with desires think lightly and plan shallowly; they see only gain, never harm—disaster cannot be far off. Your burden is heavy and your power great—you stand where disorder begins and calamity gathers. Why not plead illness, stay indoors, and hand power to Lord Cheng? Do not be the ladder by which disaster climbs—is that not better?" Fei Yi said: "Once the Lord-Father entrusted the king to me, saying: 'Do not change your standard; do not shift your plans; hold one heart steadfast, unto death and for generations to come. I bowed twice, accepted the charge, and set it down in writing. Now, fearing Buli's threat and forgetting what I recorded—what betrayal could be greater? A proverb says: 'If the dead could rise again, the living would feel no shame.' I wish to keep my word whole—how can I keep my body whole? You have done me a kindness and been loyal to me. Even so, my pledge stands already—I dare not break it in the end!" Li Dui said: "Very well. Do your utmost, sir! I expect to see you only within this year." He left in tears.

12

李兌數見公子成以備田不禮。肥義謂信期曰：「公子章與田不禮聲善而實惡，內得主而外為暴，矯令以擅一旦之命，不難為也。今吾憂之，夜而忘寐，饑而忘食，盜出入不可以不備乙十一行本同。」《史記·趙世家》同，但不刪亦可。。自今以來，有召王者必見吾面，我將以身先之。無故而後王可入也。信期曰：「善。」

Li Dui repeatedly visited Lord Cheng to prepare against Tian Buli. Fei Yi said to Xin Qi: "Lord Zhang and Tian Buli sound cordial but are in truth at odds; they have backing within and act violently without—forging orders to seize power for a day would not be hard for them. the Y eleven-line edition agrees;"² The "House of Zhao" in Records of the Grand Historian agrees; leaving the character in is also acceptable. . From now on, whoever summons the king must pass me first; I will put my body in the way. Only if there is no cause for alarm may the king enter after." Xin Qi said: "Well said."

13

主父使惠文王朝群臣而自從旁窺之，見其長子累然也，反北面為臣。詘於其弟，心憐之，於是乃欲分趙而王公子章於代，計未決而輟。主父及王游沙丘，異宮，公子章、田不禮以其徒作亂，詐以主父令召王。肥義先入，殺之。高信即與王戰。公子成與李兌自國至，乃起四邑之兵入距難，殺公子章及田不禮，滅其黨。公子成為相，號安平君；李兌為司寇。是時惠文王少，成、兌專政。

The Lord-Father had King Huiwen hold court before the ministers while he watched from the side; he saw his eldest son worn down, bowing north as a subject. Humbled before his younger brother, he pitied him in his heart and wished to split Zhao and make Lord Zhang king in Dai—but the plan was never settled and was abandoned. The Lord-Father and the king were at Sand Hill in separate palaces; Lord Zhang and Tian Buli raised a revolt with their followers, forging the Lord-Father's order to summon the king. Fei Yi went in first and killed him. Gao Xin immediately fought at the king's side. Lord Cheng and Li Dui came from the capital, raised troops from four districts, marched in to suppress the revolt, killed Lord Zhang and Tian Buli, and wiped out their faction. Lord Cheng became chancellor, styled Lord of Anping; Li Dui became Minister of Justice. King Huiwen was still young; Cheng and Dui held sole power.

14

公子章之敗也，往走主父，主父開之。成、兌因圍主父〔宮〕乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同；退齋校同。《史記·趙世家》同，據補。。公子章死，成、兌謀曰：「以章故，圍主父；即解兵，吾屬夷矣！」乃遂圍之，令：「宮中人後出者夷！」宮中人悉出。主父欲出不得，又不得食，探雀鷇而食之。三月餘，餓死沙丘宮。主父定死，乃發喪赴諸侯。主父初以長子章為太子，後得吳娃，愛之，為不出者數歲。生子何，乃廢太子章而立之。吳娃死，愛馳；憐故太子，欲兩王之，猶豫未決，故亂起。

When Lord Zhang was defeated, he fled to the Lord-Father, who admitted him. the Y eleven-line edition agrees;³ Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tuizhai's collation agrees. The "House of Zhao" in Records of the Grand Historian agrees; "palace" added accordingly. . After Lord Zhang died, Cheng and Dui plotted: "We besieged the Lord-Father on Zhang's account; if we disband now, our clans will be wiped out!" They kept the siege and ordered: "Whoever leaves the palace last shall be killed!" Everyone in the palace came out. The Lord-Father could neither get out nor get food; he pulled nestlings from the eaves and ate them. After more than three months he starved to death in Sand Hill Palace. Once his death was certain, they announced mourning to the feudal lords. At first the Lord-Father had made his eldest son Zhang crown prince; later he won the Wu girl, loved her, and for years scarcely left his chambers. She bore a son, He; he deposed Zhang and made He crown prince. When the Wu girl died, his passion waned; pitying the former crown prince, he wished to split the realm between the two; he hesitated and could not decide—so the revolt broke out.

15

4秦樓緩免相，魏冉代之。

4. Qin dismissed Lou Yuan as chancellor; Wei Ran replaced him.

16

1秦敗魏師于解。

1. Qin defeated the Wei army at Xie.

17

1韓公孫喜、魏人伐秦。穰侯薦左更白起於秦王以代向壽將兵，敗魏師、韓師於伊闕，斬首二十四萬級，虜公孫喜，拔五城。秦王以白起為國尉。

1. Gongsun Xi of Han and Wei forces attacked Qin. The Marquis of Rang recommended Left Senior Bai Qi to the king of Qin to replace Xiang Shou as commander; Bai Qi routed the Wei and Han armies at Yique, took two hundred forty thousand heads, captured Gongsun Xi, and seized five cities. The king of Qin appointed Bai Qi National Marshal.

18

2秦王遺楚王書曰：「楚倍秦，秦且率諸侯伐楚，願王之飭士卒，得一樂戰！」楚王患之，乃復與秦和親。

2. The king of Qin wrote the king of Chu: "Chu has betrayed Qin; Qin will soon lead the feudal lords against Chu. Drill your troops, Majesty—we may yet enjoy a good fight!" The king of Chu was alarmed and renewed a marriage alliance with Qin.

19

1楚襄王迎婦於秦。

1. King Xiang of Chu took a bride from Qin.

20

::臣光曰：甚哉秦之無道也，殺其父而劫其子；楚之不競也，忍其父而婚其仇！嗚呼！楚之君誠得其道，臣誠得其人，秦雖強，烏得陵之哉！善乎荀卿論之曰：「夫道，善用之則百里之地可以獨立，不善用之則楚六千里而為仇人役。」故人主不務得道而廣有其勢，是其所以危也。

:: Master Guang said: How lawless Qin is—killing the father and holding the son hostage; how unable to contend is Chu—bearing its father's death and wedding its enemy! Alas! Had the ruler of Chu truly held the Way and his ministers truly held worthy men, however strong Qin was—how could it have lorded over Chu! Xun Qing put it well: "The Way—well used, a domain of a hundred li can stand alone; ill used, Chu's six thousand li become slaves to an enemy." When a ruler does not pursue the Way but only amasses power—that is why he falls into peril.

21

2秦魏冉謝病免，以客卿燭壽為丞相。

2. Wei Ran of Qin resigned on grounds of illness; the guest-minister Zhu Shou became chancellor.

22

1秦伐韓，拔宛。

1. Qin attacked Han and seized Wan.

23

2秦燭壽免。魏冉復為丞相，封於穰與陶，謂之穰侯。又封公子市於宛，公子悝於鄧。

2. Qin dismissed Zhu Shou. Wei Ran again became chancellor, was enfeoffed at Rang and Tao, and was called the Marquis of Rang. He also enfeoffed Lord Shi at Wan and Lord Kui at Deng.

24

1魏入河東地四百里、韓入武遂地二百里于秦。

1. Wei ceded four hundred li in Hedong and Han ceded two hundred li at Wusui to Qin.

25

2魏芒卯始以詐見重。

2. Mang Mao of Wei first won favor through deceit.

26

1秦大良造白起、客卿錯伐魏，至軹，取城大小六十一。

1. Qin Grand Minister Bai Qi and guest-minister Cuo attacked Wei, reached Zhi, and took sixty-one cities large and small.

27

1冬，十月，秦王稱西帝，遣使立齊王為東帝，欲約與共伐趙。蘇代自燕來，齊王曰：「秦使魏冉致帝，子以為何如？」對曰：「願王受之而勿稱也。秦稱之，天下安之，王乃稱之，無後也。秦稱之，天下惡之，王因勿稱，以收天下，此大資也。且伐趙孰與伐桀宋利？今王不如釋帝以收天下之望，發兵以伐桀宋，宋舉則楚、趙、梁、衛皆懼矣。是我以名尊秦而令天下憎之，所謂以卑為尊也。」齊王從之，稱帝二日而復歸之。十二月，呂禮自齊入秦，秦王亦去帝復稱王。

1. In winter, the tenth month, the king of Qin took the title Western Emperor and sent envoys to make the king of Qi Eastern Emperor, proposing a joint attack on Zhao. Su Dai came from Yan; the king of Qi said: "Qin sent Wei Ran to offer the imperial title—what do you think?" He answered: "Accept it, Majesty, but do not proclaim it yourself. Let Qin proclaim it first; if the realm accepts that, then proclaim it yourself—you will not be behindhand. Qin has taken the title and the world hates it—Your Majesty should therefore not take it, to win all under Heaven; this is a great advantage. Moreover, which is more profitable—attacking Zhao or attacking tyrannical Song? Now Your Majesty would do better to yield the imperial title and win the world’s goodwill, march against tyrannical Song—when Song falls, Chu, Zhao, Liang, and Wei will all fear you. That would honor Qin in name and make the world hate us—what they call treating the lowly as supreme.” The king of Qi agreed; he styled himself emperor for two days, then gave the title back. In the twelfth month Lü Li went from Qi to Qin; the king of Qin likewise dropped the imperial title and again styled himself king.

28

2秦攻趙，拔杜陽。

2. Qin attacked Zhao and seized Duyang.

29

1秦攻〔魏〕( 趙) ，拔新垣、曲陽趙) 拔新垣曲陽章校「十二行本『趙』作『魏』；乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同。」《史記·趙世家》同，據改。案：新垣、曲陽皆魏地，非趙地。。

1. Qin attacked [Wei] ( Zhao) Zhao)⁴ took Xinyuan and Quyang—Zhang’s collation: in the twelve-line edition “Zhao” reads “Wei”; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong’s edition agrees; Zhang’s collation agrees.” The “House of Zhao” in the Records agrees—emended accordingly. .⁵

30

1秦司馬錯擊魏河內。魏獻安邑以和，秦出其人歸之魏。

1. Sima Cuo of Qin attacked Henei in Wei. Wei ceded Anyi to make peace; Qin released the inhabitants and sent them back to Wei.

31

2秦敗韓師于夏山。

2. Qin defeated the Han army at Mount Xia.

32

3宋有雀生𪄟於城之陬。史占之，曰：「吉。小而生巨，必霸天下。」宋康王喜，起兵滅滕；伐薛；東敗齊，取五城；南敗楚，取地三百里，西敗魏軍。與齊、魏為敵國，乃愈自信其霸。欲霸之亟成，故射天笞地，斬社稷而焚滅之，以示威服鬼神。為長夜之飲於室中，室中人呼萬歲，則堂上之人應之，堂下之人又應之，門外之人又應之，以至於國中，無敢不呼萬歲者。天下之人謂之「桀宋」。齊湣王起兵伐之，民散，城不守。宋王奔魏，死於溫。

3. In Song a sparrow hatched a hawk at a corner of the city wall. The historiographer divined and said: “Auspicious. The small producing the great—you will surely dominate the realm.” King Kang of Song rejoiced, raised troops, and destroyed Teng; attacked Xue; in the east defeated Qi and took five cities; in the south defeated Chu and took three hundred li of territory; in the west defeated Wei’s army. He made enemies of Qi and Wei and grew ever more confident in his hegemony. Eager to complete his hegemony at once, he shot at Heaven, whipped the earth, destroyed the altars of soil and grain and burned them, to awe spirits and demons. He held all-night revels indoors; when those in the chamber shouted “Long live the king!,” those in the hall echoed; those below echoed again; those outside echoed again—through the whole state none dared not shout “Long live the king!” All under Heaven called him “tyrannical Song.” King Min of Qi marched against him; the people scattered and the cities could not be defended. The king of Song fled to Wei and died at Wen.

33

1秦王會楚王於宛，會趙王於中陽。

1. The king of Qin met the king of Chu at Wan and the king of Zhao at Zhongyang.

34

2秦蒙武擊齊，拔九城。

2. Meng Wu of Qin attacked Qi and seized nine cities.

35

3齊湣王既滅宋而驕，乃南侵楚，西侵三晉，欲并二周，為天子。狐咺正議，斫之檀衢，陳舉直言，殺之東閭。

3. King Min of Qi, after destroying Song, grew arrogant; he invaded Chu in the south and the Three Jins in the west, sought to swallow the two Zhou capitals, and make himself Son of Heaven. Hu Hu spoke forthrightly and was hacked to death at Tan Qu; Chen Ju spoke plainly and was executed at Dong Lü.

36

燕昭王日夜撫循其人，益為富實，乃與樂毅謀伐齊。樂毅曰：「齊，霸國之餘業也。地大人眾，未易獨攻也。王必欲伐之。莫如約趙及楚、魏。」於是使樂毅約趙，別使使者連楚、魏，且令趙啖秦以伐齊之利。諸侯害齊王之驕暴，皆爭合謀與燕伐齊。

King Zhao of Yan day and night cared for his people, made the state ever richer and stronger, and plotted with Yue Yi to attack Qi. Yue Yi said: “Qi retains the legacy of a hegemon state. Its territory is large and its population many—not easy to attack alone. If Your Majesty is determined to attack it, nothing is better than allying with Zhao, Chu, and Wei.” He sent Yue Yi to treat with Zhao, dispatched separate envoys to Chu and Wei, and had Zhao entice Qin with the gains of a campaign against Qi. The feudal lords resented King Min’s arrogance and cruelty; all rushed to ally with Yan against Qi.

37

1燕王悉起兵，以樂毅為上將軍。秦尉斯離帥師與三晉之師會之。趙王以相國印授樂毅，樂毅並將秦、魏、韓、趙之兵以伐齊。齊湣王悉國中之眾以拒之，戰於濟西，齊師大敗。樂毅還秦、韓之師，分魏師以略宋地，部趙師以收河間，身率燕師，長驅逐北。劇辛曰：「齊大而燕小，賴諸侯之助以破其軍，宜及時攻取其邊城以自益，此長久之利也。今過而不攻，以深入為名，無損於齊，無益於燕，而結深怨，後必悔之。」樂毅曰：「齊王伐功矜能，謀不逮下，廢黜賢良，信任諂諛，政令戾虐，百姓怨懟。今軍皆破亡，若因而乘之，其民必叛，禍亂內作，則齊可圖也。若不遂乘之，待彼悔前之非，改過恤下而撫其民，則難慮也。」遂進軍深入。齊人果大亂失度，湣王出走。樂毅入臨淄，取寶物、祭器，輸之於燕。燕王親至濟上勞軍，行賞饗士，封樂毅為昌國君，遂使留徇齊城之未下者。

1. The king of Yan mobilized his entire army and made Yue Yi supreme general. Wei Sili, Qin’s commandant, led his army to join the forces of the Three Jins. The king of Zhao gave Yue Yi the chancellor’s seal; Yue Yi commanded the armies of Qin, Wei, Han, and Zhao against Qi. King Min mobilized every man in Qi to resist; west of the Ji River the Qi army was routed. Yue Yi sent the Qin and Han armies home, detached the Wei force to seize Song lands, assigned the Zhao force to recover Hejian, and himself led the Yan army in a long pursuit north. Ju Xin said: “Qi is great and Yan small; with the lords’ help you broke their army—you should seize border cities at once to strengthen yourselves; that is lasting gain. Now you march past cities without taking them, making a name for deep penetration—no harm to Qi, no gain for Yan, yet you forge deep hatred; you will regret it later.” Yue Yi said: “The king of Qi boasts of his feats and flatters his own talent; his counsel does not reach his subordinates; he dismisses the worthy and trusts sycophants; his edicts are cruel and perverse, and the people murmur in resentment. Now their army is destroyed—press the moment and the people will rebel; turmoil within will make Qi ripe for the taking. If we do not press now, and wait until he repents his faults, reforms, cares for his subordinates, and comforts his people, he will be hard to overcome.” He then drove the army deep into Qi. The people of Qi fell into chaos; King Min fled. Yue Yi entered Linzi, took treasures and ritual vessels, and sent them to Yan. The king of Yan came in person to the Ji to review the troops, rewarded and feasted the army, enfeoffed Yue Yi as lord of Changguo, and left him to reduce the Qi cities still holding out.

38

齊王出亡之衛，衛君辟宮舍之，稱臣而共具。齊王不遜，衛人侵之。齊王去奔鄒、魯，有驕色，鄒、魯弗內，遂走莒。楚使淖齒將兵救齊，因為齊相。淖齒欲與燕分齊地，乃執湣王而數之曰：「千乘、博昌之間，方數百里，雨血沾衣，王知之乎？」曰：「知之。」「贏、博之間，地坼及泉，王知之乎？」曰：「知之。」「有人當闕而哭者，求之不得，去則聞其聲，王知之乎？」曰：「知之。」淖齒曰：「天雨血沾衣者，天以告也；地坼及泉者，地以告也；有人當闕而哭者，人以告也。天、地、人皆告矣，而王不知誡焉，何得無誅！」遂弒王於鼓里。

The king of Qi fled to the state of Wei; its ruler vacated a palace for him, styled himself a minister, and shared his table. The king of Qi was insolent; the men of Wei attacked him. The king of Qi left for Zou and Lu with a proud bearing; neither state would admit him, and he fled to Ju. Chu sent Nao Chi with an army to rescue Qi and made him Qi’s chancellor. Nao Chi wished to divide Qi’s lands with Yan; he seized King Min and recounted his crimes: “Between your thousand-chariot realm and Bochang, over hundreds of li, blood rained and soaked garments—did Your Majesty know?” He said: “I knew it.” “Between Ying and Bo the earth split to the springs—did Your Majesty know?” He said: “I knew it.” “Someone wept at the gate; sought, he could not be found; when you left, you still heard his voice—did Your Majesty know?” He said: “I knew it.” Nao Chi said: “When Heaven rains blood that soaks garments, Heaven is warning you; when the earth splits to the springs, Earth is warning you; when someone weeps at the gate, men are warning you. Heaven, Earth, and men have all warned you, yet Your Majesty would not repent—how can you escape punishment!” He then assassinated the king at Guli.

39

荀子論之曰：國者，天下之利勢也。得道以持之，則大安也，大榮也，積美之源也。不得道以持之，則大危也，大累也，有之不如無之。及其綦也，索為匹夫，不可得也。齊湣、宋獻是也。故用國者義立而王，信立而霸，權謀立而亡。

Xunzi commented: The state is the profit and power of the realm. Held by the Way, it brings great security and great glory—the source of accumulated excellence. Held without the Way, it brings great peril and great burden—better not to have it at all. At the extreme, one cannot even become a common man. King Min of Qi and King Xian of Song are examples. Thus for one who wields a state: establish righteousness and you may become king; establish trust and you may become hegemon; establish schemes of power and you perish.

40

挈國以呼禮義也，而無以害之。行一不義，殺一無罪，而得天下，仁者不為也。擽然扶持心國，且若是其固也。之所與為之者之人，則舉義士也；之所以為布陳於國家刑法者，則舉義法也；主之所極然，帥群臣而首向之者，則舉義志也。如是，則下仰上以義矣，是〔綦〕( 基) 定也基) 定也據《荀子·王霸篇》改，下同。「綦」，極也。。〔綦〕( 基) 定而國定，國定而天下定。故曰：以國濟義，一日而白，湯、武是也。是所謂義立而王也。

Take up the state to proclaim ritual and righteousness, and nothing can harm it. To commit one injustice, kill one innocent man, and win the realm—the benevolent will not do it. Uphold the state wholeheartedly with ardent effort, and it is firm indeed. Those with whom one associates are wholly men of righteousness; the laws and punishments one deploys throughout the state are wholly righteous law; what the ruler aims at utterly, leading his ministers to face first, is wholly righteous purpose. If so, those below look up through righteousness—this is [the foundation] ( foundation) foundation)⁶ established emended per the “King and Hegemon” chapter of Xunzi; the same below. “Utterly” means “to the utmost.” . [Utterly] ( foundation) When the foundation is firm, the state is firm; when the state is firm, the realm is firm. Thus it is said: use the state to fulfill righteousness, and in a day you shine forth—Tang and Wu did so. This is what is called establishing righteousness and becoming king.

41

德雖未至也，義雖未濟也，然而天下之理略奏矣，刑賞已諾信乎天下矣，臣下曉然皆知其可要也。政令已陳，雖睹利敗，不欺其民；約結已定，雖睹利敗，不欺其與。如是，則兵勁城固，敵國畏之；國一綦明，與國信之。雖在僻陋之國，威動天下，五伯是也。是所謂信立而而霸也。

Though virtue is not yet complete and righteousness not yet fulfilled, the principles of the realm are roughly in place; punishments and rewards are pledged and trusted throughout the realm; ministers clearly know what matters. Edicts have been proclaimed; though profit fails, one does not deceive the people; Once covenants are set, even when profit fails, one does not cheat one's allies. Then arms are keen and walls secure, and enemy states fear you; the state is united and utterly clear, and allied states trust it. Though seated in a remote and poor state, their might shook the realm—the Five Hegemons were such. This is what is called establishing trust and achieving hegemony.

42

挈國以呼功利，不務張其義，齊其信，唯利之求；內則不憚詐其民而求小利焉，外則不憚詐其與而求大利焉。內不修正其所以有，然常欲人之有，如是，則臣下百姓莫不以詐心待其上矣。上詐其下，下詐其上，則是上下析也。如是，則敵國輕之，與國疑之，權謀日行而國不免危削，綦之而亡，齊湣、薛公是也。故用強齊，非以修禮義也，非以本政教也，非以一天下也，綿綿常以結引馳外為務。故強，南足以破楚，西足以詘秦，北足以敗燕，中足以舉宋。及以燕、趙起而攻之，若振槁然，而身死國亡，為天下大戮，後世言惡則必稽焉。是無他故焉，唯其不由禮義而由權謀也。

To lead the state in shouting for profit, not striving to spread righteousness or align trust, seeking only gain; inwardly not hesitating to cheat one's people for small gain, outwardly not hesitating to cheat one's allies for great gain. Inwardly not setting right what one already has, yet always coveting what others hold—then ministers and people alike meet their superiors with deceit in heart. Superiors cheat subordinates, subordinates cheat superiors—then above and below are split apart. Then enemy states despise you, allies doubt you, stratagems multiply daily yet the state cannot escape danger and shrinkage, and at the extreme it perishes—King Min of Qi and Lord Xue were such. Thus the use of mighty Qi was not to cultivate rites and righteousness, not to ground government and teaching, not to unify the realm—it constantly made alliance-building and outward campaigning its business. When it was strong, south it could break Chu, west humble Qin, north defeat Yan, and in the center overthrow Song. When Yan and Zhao rose against it, Qi fell like shaken dry stalks—yet its ruler died and its state perished, a great shame under Heaven; later ages naming evil must cite it. There is no other cause—only that it followed not rites and righteousness but plots and schemes.

43

三者，明主之所謹擇也，仁人之所務白也。善擇者制人，不善擇者人制之。

These three courses a wise ruler carefully chooses; a humane man labors to make them clear. Those who choose well control others; those who choose poorly are controlled by others.

44

2樂毅聞〔畫〕( 晝) 邑人王蠋賢晝) 邑人王蠋賢章校「十二行本『晝』作『畫』；乙十一行本同；孔本同；下均同。」據改。，令軍中環〔畫〕( 晝) 邑三十里無入。使人請蠋，蠋謝不往。燕人曰：「不來，吾且屠〔畫〕( 晝) 邑！」蠋曰：「忠臣不事二君，烈女不更二夫。〔齊王不用吾諫，故退而耕於野〕乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同；退齋校同。」據補。。國破君亡，吾不能存，而又欲劫之以兵，吾與其不義而生，不若死！遂經其頸於樹枝，自奮絕脰而死。燕師乘勝長驅，齊城皆望風奔潰。樂毅修整燕軍，禁止侵掠，求齊之逸民，顯而禮之。寬其賦斂，除其暴令，修其舊政案：二字均可。，齊民喜悅。乃遣左軍渡膠東、東萊；前軍循太山以東至海，略琅邪；右軍循河、濟，屯阿、鄄以連魏師；後軍旁北海以撫千乘；中軍據臨淄而鎮齊都。祀桓公、管仲於郊，表賢者之閭，封王蠋之墓。齊人食邑於燕者二十餘君，有爵位於薊者百有餘人。六月之間，下齊七十餘城，皆為郡縣。

2 Yue Yi heard that in 〔Hua〕( the cited text) the cited text) the townsman Wang Zhu was worthy-Zhang's collation: the twelve-line edition reads the cited text as the cited text; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees; below all agree.” amended accordingly. , and ordered the army to encircle 〔Hua〕( the cited text) the town for thirty li, with no one permitted to enter. He sent to invite Zhu; Zhu declined and would not come. The men of Yan said: “If you do not come, we shall slaughter 〔Hua〕( the cited text) the town!” Zhu said: “A loyal minister does not serve two lords; a steadfast woman does not take a second husband. the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;⁷ Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” .⁸ The state is ruined and the lord dead—I could not save them; now you would force me at sword-point. Better die than live without righteousness! He looped a cord about his neck on a branch and, straining, broke his neck and died. Yan armies pressed the victory in long pursuit; Qi cities everywhere fled at the rumor of their coming. Yue Yi disciplined the Yan army, forbade looting, sought out Qi’s displaced people, and honored them with ceremony. Note: both readings are acceptable.⁹ , and the people of Qi rejoiced. He sent the left army across Jiaodong and Donglai; the vanguard followed Mount Tai east to the sea and seized Langye; the right army followed the Yellow River and Ji, encamped at A and Juancheng to join Wei’s army; the rear army skirted the northern sea to secure Qiancheng; the center army held Linzi and secured the Qi capital. He sacrificed to Duke Huan and Guan Zhong in the suburbs, marked the neighborhoods of worthy men, and enfeoffed Wang Zhu’s tomb. More than twenty Qi men held fiefs in Yan; more than a hundred held titles in Ji. Within six months he took more than seventy Qi cities, all made into commanderies and counties.

45

3秦王、魏王、韓王會于京師。

3 The kings of Qin, Wei, and Han met at the capital.

46

1秦、趙會于穰。秦拔魏安城，兵至大梁而還。

1 Qin and Zhao met at Rang. Qin took Wei’s Ancheng, marched to Daliang, and withdrew.

47

2齊淖齒之亂，湣王子法章變名姓為莒太史敫家傭。太史敫女奇法章狀貌，以為非常人，憐而常竊衣食之，因與私通。王孫賈從湣王，失王之處，其母曰：「汝朝出而晚來，則吾倚門而望；汝暮出而不還，則吾倚閭而望。汝今事王，王走，汝不知其處，汝尚何歸焉！」王孫賈乃入市中呼曰：「淖齒亂齊國，殺湣王。欲與我誅之者袒右！」市人從者四百人，與攻淖齒，殺之。於是齊亡臣相與求湣王子，欲立之。法章懼其誅己，久之乃敢自言，遂立以為齊王，保莒城以拒燕，佈告國中曰：「王已立在莒矣！」

2 In the turmoil of Nao Chi in Qi, King Min’s son Fajiu changed his name and worked as a hired hand in the household of Ju’s Grand Historian, Jiao. Jiao’s daughter was struck by Fajiu’s looks, judged him no ordinary man, pitied him and often secretly fed and clothed him, and came to know him intimately. Wangsun Jia had followed King Min and lost track of him. His mother said: “When you went out in the morning and came back late, I leaned on the door and watched; when you went out at dusk and did not return, I leaned on the lane-end and watched. Now you serve the king; the king has fled and you do not know where—where can you still return!” Wangsun Jia went into the market and cried: “Nao Chi threw Qi into turmoil and killed King Min. Who will join me in killing him, bare your right shoulder!” Four hundred marketmen followed; together they attacked Nao Chi and killed him. Then Qi’s exiled ministers together sought King Min’s son, intending to set him on the throne. Fajiu feared they would kill him; only after long delay did he dare reveal himself. They installed him as king of Qi, held Ju to resist Yan, and proclaimed: “The king has been installed at Ju!”

48

3趙王得楚和氏璧，秦昭王欲之，請易以十五城。趙王欲勿與，畏秦強，欲與之，恐見欺。以問藺相如，對曰：「秦以城求璧而王不許，曲在我矣；我與之璧而秦不與我城，則曲在秦。均之二策，寧許以負秦。臣願奉璧而往；使秦城不入，臣請完璧而歸之。」趙王遣之。相如至秦，秦王無意償趙城。相如乃以詐紿秦王，復取璧，遣從者懷之，間行歸趙，而以身待命於秦。秦王以為賢而弗誅，禮而歸之。趙王以相如為上大夫。

3 The king of Zhao obtained Chu’s He Clan jade; King Zhao of Qin wanted it and offered fifteen cities in exchange. The king of Zhao wished to refuse, yet feared Qin’s might; wished to yield it, yet feared being cheated. He asked Lin Xiangru, who answered: “If Qin offers cities for the jade and Your Majesty refuses, the fault is ours; if we give the jade and Qin withholds the cities, the fault is Qin’s. Between the two courses, better agree and put the blame on Qin. I will carry the jade there; if the cities are not delivered, I will return the jade intact.” The king of Zhao sent him. Xiangru reached Qin; the king of Qin had no intention of yielding the cities. Xiangru then deceived the king of Qin, recovered the jade, sent a follower to carry it home by a secret route, and himself remained in Qin to await punishment. The king of Qin judged him worthy and did not punish him, but honored him and sent him home. The king of Zhao made Xiangru a grand master.

49

4衛嗣君薨，子懷君立。嗣君好察微隱，縣令有發褥而席敝者，嗣君聞之，乃賜之席。令大驚，以君為神。又使人過關市，賂之以金，既而召關市，問有客過與汝金，汝回遣之，關市大恐。又愛洩姬，重如耳，而恐其因愛重以壅己也，乃貴薄疑以敵如耳，尊魏妃以偶泄姬，曰：「以是相參也。」

4 Lord Successor of Wei died; his son Lord Huai succeeded. Lord Successor loved to detect minute secrets. A magistrate had worn through his mat by turning his bedding; when Lord Successor heard, he sent him a new mat. The magistrate was terrified and took his lord for a god. He also sent a man through the market gate to bribe the gate officer with gold; then he summoned the officer and asked whether a traveler had given him gold and whether he had returned it—the officer was terrified. He also favored Lady Xie and prized Ru Er, yet feared they might use favor to hem him in; he therefore elevated Bo Yi to rival Ru Er and honored the Wei consort to balance Lady Xie, saying: “Let them check one another."

50

荀子論之曰：成侯、嗣君，聚斂計數之君也，未及取民也。子產，取民者也，未及為政也。管仲，為政者也，未及修禮也。故修禮者王，為政者強，取民者安，聚斂者亡。

Xunzi remarked: Marquis Cheng and Lord Successor were rulers who hoarded wealth and counted accounts—they had not yet learned to win the people. Zi Chan won the people—he had not yet reached true government. Guan Zhong governed—he had not yet reached cultivating rites. Thus those who cultivate rites become kings, those who govern grow strong, those who win the people find security, and those who hoard perish.

51

1秦伐趙，拔兩城。

1 Qin attacked Zhao and took two cities.

52

1秦伐趙，拔石城。

1 Qin attacked Zhao and took Shicheng.

53

2秦穰侯復為丞相。

2 Qin’s Marquis of Rang again became chancellor.

54

3楚欲與齊、韓共伐秦，因欲圖周。王使東周武公謂楚令尹昭子曰：「周不可圖也。」昭子曰：「乃圖周，則無之；雖然，何不可圖？」武公曰：「西周之地，絕長補短，不過百里。名為天下共主，裂其地不足以肥國，得其眾不足以勁兵。雖然，攻之者名為弒君。然而猶有欲攻之者，見祭器在焉故也。夫虎肉臊而兵利身，人猶攻之；若使澤中之麋蒙虎之皮，人之攻之也必萬倍矣。裂楚之地，足以肥國；詘楚之名，足以尊〔主〕( 王) 王) 章校「十二行本『王』作『主』；乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校同。」據改。。今子欲誅殘天下之共主，居三代之傳器，器南，則兵至矣。」於是楚計輟不行。

3 Chu wished to join Qi and Han in attacking Qin, and also meant to scheme against Zhou. The king sent the Martial Lord of Eastern Zhou to tell Chu’s chief minister Zhao: “Zhou cannot be taken by plotting.” Zhao said: “As for plotting against Zhou, there is none of that; even so, why can it not be plotted against?” The Martial Lord said: “Western Zhou’s territory, end to end, does not exceed a hundred li. In name it is lord of all under Heaven, yet carving its land would not enrich a state, nor would gaining its people strengthen an army. Even so, whoever attacks it will be called a regicide. Yet some still wish to attack it—because they see the sacrificial vessels are there. Tiger flesh is rank and its body bristles with weapons, yet men still attack it; If a marsh deer wore a tiger's hide, men would attack it ten thousand times over. Splitting Chu's territory would enrich your state; Humbling Chu's renown would exalt the 〔lord〕( king) king) Zhang's collation: “In the twelve-line edition ‘king’ reads ‘lord’; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” emended accordingly. . Now you would slaughter the lord of all under Heaven, seize the regalia of the Three Dynasties, set them facing south—and armies will come.” Thereupon Chu's plan was dropped and not carried out.

55

1秦白起敗趙軍，斬首二萬，取代光狼城。又使司馬錯發隴西兵，因蜀攻楚黔中，拔之。楚獻漢北及上庸地。

1 Qin's Bai Qi defeated the army of Zhao, beheaded twenty thousand, and took Guanglang. He also had Sima Cuo raise Longxi troops and, via Shu, attack Chu's Qianzhong and take it. Chu yielded the territory north of the Han and Shangyong.

56

1秦白起伐楚，取鄢、鄧、西陵。

1 Qin's Bai Qi attacked Chu and took Yan, Deng, and Xiling.

57

2秦王使使者告趙王，願為好會於河外澠池。趙王欲毋行，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，以絕秦望。」王許之。

2 The king of Qin sent an envoy to the king of Zhao, proposing a friendly meeting at Mianchi beyond the River. The king of Zhao wished not to go. Lian Po and Lin Xiangru advised: “If Your Majesty does not go, it shows Zhao weak and afraid.” The king of Zhao went, and Xiangru went with him. Lian Po escorted him to the border and bade farewell: “When Your Majesty goes, reckon the road and the courtesies of the meeting—your return should take no more than thirty days. If you are not back in thirty days, I ask leave to install the crown prince and cut off Qin's hopes.” The king agreed.

58

會于澠池。〔秦〕王與趙王飲，酒酣，秦王請趙王鼓瑟，趙王鼓之。藺相如復請秦王擊缶，秦王不肯。相如曰：「五步之內，臣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。王不懌，為一擊缶。罷酒，秦終不能有加於趙。趙人亦盛為之備，秦不敢動。

They met at Mianchi. When the wine was warm, the king of Qin asked the king of Zhao to play the se, and the king of Zhao played.¹⁰ Lin Xiangru in turn asked the king of Qin to strike the fou; the king of Qin refused. Xiangru said, “Within five paces I beg leave to splash my blood on Your Majesty!” Attendants moved to kill Xiangru; he glared and shouted them down, and all shrank back. The king was displeased but struck the fou once. When the feast ended, Qin could do Zhao no further harm. The men of Zhao had also made full preparations, and Qin did not dare move.

59

趙王歸國，以藺相如為上卿，位在廉頗之右。廉頗曰：「我為趙將，有攻城野戰之功。藺相如素賤人，徒以口舌而位居我上。吾羞，不忍為之下！」宣言曰：「我見相如，必辱之！」相如聞之，不肯與會；每朝，常稱病，不欲爭列。出而望見，輒引車避匿。其舍人皆以為恥。相如曰：「子視廉將軍孰與秦王？」曰：「不若。」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，強秦〔之〕所以不敢加兵於趙者乙十一行本同；孔本同。」《史記·廉頗藺相如列傳》有，據補。，徒以吾兩人在也。今兩虎共斗，其勢不俱生。吾所以為此者，先國家之急而後私仇也。廉頗聞之，肉袒負荊至門射罪，遂為刎頸之交。

The king of Zhao returned home, made Lin Xiangru senior minister, and ranked him above Lian Po. Lian Po said, “I am Zhao's general. I have merit in storming cities and fighting in the field. Lin Xiangru was always a nobody who ranks above me on words alone. I am ashamed and cannot bear to stand below him!” He declared, “When I see Xiangru I will humiliate him!” Xiangru heard and refused to meet him; at court he often pleaded illness and would not vie for precedence. When he went out and saw him afar, he would turn his carriage aside to avoid him. His retainers all thought this shameful. Xiangru said, “How does General Lian compare with the king of Qin, in your view?” They said, “He does not.” Xiangru said, “Yet with the king of Qin's power I shouted him down in court and shamed his ministers. Slow as I am, would I fear General Lian alone? the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;¹¹ Kong's edition agrees.” is only because the two of us are here.¹² If two tigers fight, both cannot live. I act thus because the state's need comes first and private grudges after. Lian Po heard, bared his breast and bore thorns to Xiangru's door to apologize, and they became sworn friends unto death.

60

3初，燕人攻安平，臨淄市掾田單在安平，使其宗人皆以鐵籠傅車槥。及城潰，人爭門而出，皆以轊折車敗，為燕所禽；獨田單宗人以鐵籠得免，遂奔即墨。是時齊地皆屬燕，獨莒、即墨未下，樂毅及並右軍、前軍以圍莒，左軍、後軍圍即墨。即墨大夫出戰而死。即墨人曰：「安平之戰，田單宗人以鐵籠得全，是多智習兵。」因共立以為將以拒燕。樂毅圍二邑，期年不克，及令解圍，各去城九里而為壘，令曰：「城中民出者勿獲，困者賑之，使即舊業，以鎮新民。」三年而猶未下。或讒之於燕昭王曰：「樂毅智謀過人，伐齊，呼吸之間剋七十餘城。今不下者兩城耳，非其力不能拔，所以三年不攻者，欲久仗兵威以服齊人，南面而王耳。今齊人已服，所以未發者，以其妻子在燕故也。且齊多美女，又將忘其妻子。願王圖之！」昭王於是置酒大會，引言者而讓之曰：「先王舉國以禮賢者，非貪土地以遺子孫也。遭所傳德薄，不能堪命，國人不順。齊為無道，乘孤國之亂以害先王。寡人統位，痛之入骨，故廣延群臣，外招賓客，以求報仇。其有成功者，尚欲與之同共燕國。今樂君親為寡人破齊，夷其宗廟，報塞先仇，齊國固樂君所有，非燕之所得也。樂君若能有齊，與燕並為列國，結歡同好，以抗諸侯之難，燕國之福，寡人之願也。汝何敢言若此！」乃斬之。賜樂毅妻以後服，賜其子以公子之服；輅車乘馬，後屬百兩，遣國相奉而致之樂毅，立樂毅為齊王。樂毅惶恐不受，拜書，以死自誓。由是齊人服其義，諸侯畏其信，莫敢復有謀者。

3 Earlier, when Yan attacked Anping, Tian Dan, a market clerk of Linzi, was there and had his clansmen fit iron cages over their carriage shafts. When the city fell, men fought for the gates; axles snapped and carts broke, and Yan seized them; only Tian Dan's clan, protected by the iron cages, escaped, and he fled to Jimo. By then all Qi belonged to Yan except Ju and Jimo. Yue Yi, with the united right and van armies, besieged Ju; the left and rear armies besieged Jimo. Jimo's commander went out to fight and was killed. The people of Jimo said, “At Anping, Tian Dan's clan survived by iron cages—he is clever and knows war.” They together made him general to resist Yan. Yue Yi besieged the two cities a year without success, then lifted the siege, drew nine li from each wall, and built camps. He decreed: “Let those who leave the cities go free; relieve the distressed; let them return to their trades, to calm the new subjects.” Three years passed and they still had not fallen. Someone slandered him to King Zhao of Yan: “Yue Yi's wit outdoes all men. Attacking Qi, he took more than seventy cities in a breath. Only two cities remain—not that he cannot take them, but he has not attacked for three years because he means to hold his army's prestige until Qi submits, then be king facing south. Qi is already won; he has not declared himself only because his wife and children are in Yan. Moreover Qi has many fair women—he will forget wife and children again. May Your Majesty consider this!” King Zhao then held a great feast, brought forward the accuser, and rebuked him: “The former king devoted the whole state to honor the worthy—not to grab land for his heirs. The virtue he handed down was thin; he could not bear the charge, and the people would not obey. Qi was lawless and seized our orphaned state's disorder to harm the former king. When I took the throne the pain went to the bone; I gathered ministers far and wide and recruited guests from without, seeking revenge. Whoever succeeded, I meant still to share Yan with him. Now Lord Yue has himself broken Qi for me, razed its temples, and settled the old score—Qi rightly belongs to Lord Yue, not to Yan. If Lord Yue can hold Qi and stand with Yan as equal states, joining in friendship to meet the lords' threats—that is Yan's blessing and my wish. How dare you speak thus!” He then had him beheaded. He gave Yue Yi's wife a queen's robes and his son a young lord's dress; a carriage and horses, a hundred coaches behind; he sent the chancellor to present them to Yue Yi and install him as king of Qi. Yue Yi in fear refused, bowed in writing, and pledged his life. Then the men of Qi honored his integrity, the lords feared his loyalty, and none dared plot again.

61

頃之，昭王薨，惠王立。惠王自為太子時，嘗不快於樂毅。田單聞之，乃縱反間於燕，宣言曰：「齊王已死，城之不拔者二耳。樂毅與燕新王有隙，畏誅而不敢歸，以伐齊為名，實欲連兵南面王齊。齊人未附，故且緩攻即墨以待其事。齊人所懼，唯恐他將之來，即墨殘矣。」燕王固已疑樂毅，得齊反間，乃使騎劫代將而召樂毅。樂毅知王不善代之，遂奔趙。燕將士由是憤惋不和。

Soon King Zhao died and King Hui succeeded. As crown prince, King Hui had once been displeased with Yue Yi. Tian Dan heard and sent disinformation into Yan, proclaiming: “The king of Qi is dead; only two cities still hold out. Yue Yi is at odds with Yan's new king; fearing death he dares not return. He attacks Qi in name only, but means to unite his forces and be king of Qi facing south. Qi is not yet won, so he delays the assault on Jimo, waiting for the moment. What Qi fears is only that another general will come—then Jimo will be ruined.” The king of Yan had already doubted Yue Yi; getting Qi's disinformation, he sent Qi Jie to replace him and summoned Yue Yi back. Yue Yi knew the king resented the replacement and fled to Zhao. Yan's officers and men from this were angry, aggrieved, and divided.

62

田單令城中人，食必祭其先祖於庭，飛鳥皆翔舞而下城中。燕人怪之，田單因宣言曰：「當有神師下教我。」有一卒曰：「臣可以為師乎？」因反走。田單起引還，坐東鄉，師事之。卒曰：「臣欺君。」田單曰：「子勿言也。」因師之，每出約束，必稱神師。乃宣言曰：「吾唯懼燕軍之劓所得齊卒，置之前行，即墨敗矣！」燕人聞之，如其言。城中見降者盡劓，皆怒，堅守，唯恐見得。單又縱反間，言：「吾懼燕人掘吾城外塚墓，可為寒心！」燕軍盡掘塚墓，燒死人。齊人從城上望見，皆涕泣，共欲出戰，怒自十倍。田單知士卒之可用，乃身操版、鍤，與士卒分功；妻妾編於行伍之間；盡散飲食饗士。令甲卒皆伏，使老、弱、女子乘城，遣使約降於燕，燕軍皆呼萬歲。田單又收民金得千鎰，令即墨富豪遺燕將，曰：「即降，願無虜掠吾族家。」燕將大喜，許之。燕軍益懈。田單乃收城中，得牛千餘，為絳繒衣，畫以五采龍文，束兵刃於其角，而灌脂束葦於其尾，燒其端，鑿城數十穴，夜縱牛，壯士五千〔人〕隨其後。牛尾熱，怒而奔燕軍。燕軍大驚，視牛皆龍文，所觸盡死傷。而城中鼓噪從之，老弱皆擊銅器為聲，聲動天地。燕軍大駭，敗走。齊人殺騎劫，追亡逐北，所過城邑皆叛燕，復為齊。田單兵日益多，乘勝，燕日敗亡，走至河上，而齊七十餘城皆復焉。乃迎襄王於莒。入臨淄，封田單為安平君。

Tian Dan ordered that whenever the people ate, they sacrifice to their ancestors in the courtyard; birds swooped and danced down into the city. The Yan troops marveled; Tian Dan proclaimed: “A divine teacher is about to descend and instruct me.” A soldier said, “May I be that teacher?” and ran off. Tian Dan rose, brought him back, seated him facing east, and served him as teacher. The soldier said, “I deceived you.” Tian Dan said, “Say no more.” He kept him as teacher; whenever he issued orders he invoked the divine teacher. He then proclaimed: “I fear only that if Yan's army cuts the noses of captured Qi soldiers and puts them in the van, Jimo is lost!” The Yan troops heard it and did as he said. In the city, seeing captured men with their noses cut off, all were enraged and held firm, fearing only capture. Tian Dan again sent disinformation, saying: “I fear Yan will dig up the graves outside our walls—how chilling!” The Yan army dug up every grave and burned the corpses. The men of Qi on the walls saw it, wept, and together wanted to sally out; their rage redoubled ten times over. Tian Dan knew his troops were ready; he himself took mattock and spade and shared their labor; his wife and concubines wove among the ranks; he gave out all food and drink to feast his men. He hid the armored troops, put the old, weak, and women on the walls, sent envoys to negotiate surrender with Yan, and the Yan army shouted “Long live! Tian Dan also collected a thousand yi of gold from the people and had Jimo's wealthy present it to the Yan general, saying: “When we surrender, do not plunder our families and homes.” The Yan general was delighted and agreed. The Yan army grew still more slack. .¹³ Their tails burned hot; enraged, the oxen charged the Yan army. The Yan army panicked; the oxen seemed all dragon-marked, and whatever they struck was killed or wounded. Meanwhile the city drummed and shouted in pursuit; young and old beat bronze vessels until the noise shook heaven and earth. The Yan army was terrified and fled in rout. The men of Qi killed Qi Jie and pursued the fugitives; every city they passed rebelled against Yan and returned to Qi. Tian Dan's army grew daily; pressing the victory, Yan fell back day by day to the river, and more than seventy cities of Qi were restored. He then welcomed King Xiang from Ju. Entering Linzi, he enfeoffed Tian Dan as Lord of Anping.

63

齊王以太史敫之女為後，生太子建。太史敫曰：「女不取媒，因自嫁，非吾種也，汙吾世！」終身不見君王后，君王后亦不以不見故失人子之禮。

The king of Qi took Grand Clerk Ji's daughter as consort; she bore Crown Prince Jian. Grand Clerk Ji said: “My daughter took no matchmaker and married on her own—she is not of my blood; she stains my line!” He never saw the queen in his life; the queen also, though never received, did not fail in a daughter's duty toward him.

64

趙王封樂毅於觀津，尊寵之，以警動於燕、齊。燕惠王乃使人讓樂毅，且謝之曰：「將軍過聽，以與寡人有隙，遂捐燕歸趙。將軍自為計則可矣，而亦何以報先王這所以遇將軍之意乎？」樂毅報書曰：「昔伍子胥說聽於闔閭而吳遠跡至郢；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。夫免自立功以明先王之跡，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。臣聞古之君子，交絕不出惡聲，忠臣去國，不潔其名。臣雖不佞，數奉教於君子矣。唯君王之留意焉！」於是燕王復以樂毅子閒為昌國君，而樂毅往來復通燕，卒於趙，號曰望諸君。

The king of Zhao enfeoffed Yue Yi at Guanjin and honored him lavishly, to warn and stir Yan and Qi. King Hui of Yan sent someone to reproach Yue Yi and also to apologize: “General, you listened too readily, took offense at me, abandoned Yan, and went to Zhao. You may look to your own interest—but how will you repay what the former king meant by how he honored you?” Yue Yi wrote back: “Of old Wu Zixu was heeded by King Helü of Wu, and Wu's armies reached as far as Ying; Fuchai would not have it, gave him the leather sack, and set him adrift on the river. The king of Wu did not see that the earlier counsel could win merit, so he drowned Zixu unrepentant; Zixu did not early see that his lord's measure differed—thus he entered the river and was lost. To escape, win merit, and vindicate the former king's design—that is my best course. To flee slander and disgrace and stain the former king's name—that is what I most fear. To face uncertain punishment and take advantage for profit—right conduct forbids it. I have heard that gentlemen of old, when breaking with someone, spoke no evil; loyal ministers who left a state did not stain their names. Though I am not worthy, I have often been taught by gentlemen. May Your Majesty only bear this in mind!” Thereupon the king of Yan again made Yue Yi's son Xian lord of Chang; Yue Yi resumed contact with Yan; he died in Zhao and was styled Lord Wangzhu.

65

田單相齊，過淄水，有老人涉淄而寒，出水不能行。田單解其裘而衣之。襄王惡之，曰：「田單之施於人，將〔欲〕以取我國乎？不早圖，恐後之變也。」左右顧無人，巖下有貫珠者，襄王呼而問之曰：「汝聞吾言乎？」對曰：「聞之。」王曰：「汝以為何如？」對曰：「王不如因以為己善。王嘉單之善，下令曰：『寡人憂民之飢也，單收而食之；寡人憂民之寒也，單解裘而衣之；寡人憂勞百姓，而單亦憂〔之〕，稱寡人之意。』單有是善而王嘉之，單之善亦王之善也。」王曰：「善。」乃賜單牛酒。後數日，貫珠者復見王曰：「王朝日宜召田單而揖之於庭，口勞之。乃布令求百姓之饑寒者，收穀之。」乃使人聽於閭里，聞大夫之相與語者曰：「田單之愛人，嗟，乃王之教也！」

As chancellor of Qi, Tian Dan was crossing the Zi when an old man waded the river, took cold, and could not walk after coming out. Tian Dan took off his fur coat and put it on him. “?¹⁴ If we do not act early, I fear trouble later.” He looked about—no one was near; below the cliff a pearl-stringer sat. King Xiang called him and asked: “Did you hear what I said?” He answered: “I heard.” The king said: “What do you think?” He answered: “Your Majesty should turn it to your own credit. Praise Tian Dan's goodness and decree: ‘I worry that the people hunger—Tian Dan gathers them and feeds them; I worry that the people are cold—Tian Dan strips off his fur coat and clothes them; , echoing my intent.¹⁵ ’ When Tian Dan does good and Your Majesty praises it, his goodness is Your Majesty's goodness.” The king said: “Well said.” He then gave Tian Dan oxen and wine. Days later the pearl-stringer saw the king again and said: “Your Majesty should summon Tian Dan each morning, bow to him in court, and speak words of comfort. Then proclaim that you seek the hungry and cold among the people and will gather grain for them.” He had men listen in the lanes; they heard officials saying: “Tian Dan's care for the people—ah, that is the king's teaching!"

66

田單任貂勃於王。王有所幸臣九人，欲傷安平君，相與語於王曰：「燕之伐齊之時，楚王使將軍將萬人而佐齊。今國已定而社稷已安矣，何不使使者謝於楚王？」王曰：「左右孰可？」九人之屬曰：「貂勃可。」貂勃使楚，楚王受而觴之，數月不反。九人之屬相與語〔於王〕曰：「夫一人之身而牽留萬乘者，豈不以據勢也哉！且安平君之與王也，君臣無異而上下無別。且其志欲為不善，內撫百姓，外懷戎翟，禮天下之賢士，其志欲有為〔也〕，願王察之乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校云：『為』下有『也』字。」今據補「也」，「之」字不補亦通。！異日，王曰：「召相單而來！」田單免冠、徒跣、肉袒而進，退而請死罪，五日而王曰：「子無罪於寡人。子為子之臣禮，吾為吾之王禮而已矣。」貂勃從楚來，王賜之酒。酒酣，王曰：「召相單而來！」貂勃避席稽首曰：「王上者孰與周文王？」王曰：「吾不若也。」貂勃曰：「然，臣固知王不若也。下者孰與齊桓公？」王曰：「吾不若也。」貂勃曰：「然，臣固知王不若也。然則周文王得呂尚以為太公，齊桓公得管夷吾以為仲父，今王得安平君而獨曰『單』，安得此亡國之言乎！且自天地之辟，民人之始，為人臣之功者，誰有厚於安平君者哉？王不能守王之社稷，燕人興師而襲齊，王走而之城陽之山中，安平君以惴惴即墨三里之城，五里之郭，敝卒七千人，禽其司馬而反千里之齊，安平君之功也。當是之時，舍城陽而自王，天下莫之能止。然而計之於道，歸之於義，以為不可，故棧道木閣而迎王與后於城陽山中，王乃得反，子臨百姓。今國已定，民已安矣，王乃曰『單』，嬰兒之計不為此也。王亟殺此九子者以謝安平君，不然，國其危矣！」乃殺九子而逐其家，益封安平君以夜邑萬戶。

Tian Dan recommended Diao Bo to the king. The king had nine favored ministers who wished to harm Lord Anping; they said to the king: “When Yan attacked Qi, the king of Chu sent a general with ten thousand men to aid Qi. Now the state is settled and the altars secure—why not send an envoy to thank the king of Chu?” The king said: “Who among my attendants will do?” The nine said: “Diao Bo will do.” Diao Bo went to Chu; the king of Chu received and feasted him, and for months he did not return. : “That one man should hold back a state of ten thousand chariots—is it not because he holds power!¹⁶ Moreover, between Lord Anping and Your Majesty there is no difference of minister and lord, nor of high and low. the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;¹⁷ Kong's edition agrees; Tui Zhai's collation says: ‘the cited text’ follows ‘the cited text’.” !”¹⁸ Another day the king said: “Summon Chancellor Tian Dan!” Tian Dan came bareheaded, barefoot, and bare-chested; withdrawing he asked for death. Five days later the king said: “You have done me no wrong. You keep your rites as minister; I keep mine as king—that is all.” Diao Bo returned from Chu, and the king gave him wine. When the wine was warm, the king said: “Summon Chancellor Tian Dan!” Diao Bo left his mat, kowtowed, and said: “Your Majesty above—how do you compare with King Wen of Zhou?” The king said: “I do not.” Diao Bo said: “So; I always knew Your Majesty did not. Below—how do you compare with Duke Huan of Qi?” The king said: “I do not.” Diao Bo said: “So; I always knew Your Majesty did not. Yet King Wen made Lü Shang his Grand Duke, Duke Huan made Guan Yiwu his Uncle-Father—yet Your Majesty has Lord Anping and calls him only ‘Dan’! How can there be such talk of ruin! Moreover, since Heaven and Earth began and men arose, who among ministers has done more than Lord Anping? Your Majesty could not hold the altars; Yan raised troops and struck Qi; you fled to the mountains at Chengyang. Lord Anping, in fear and trembling, with Jimo's three-li walls, five-li suburbs, and seven thousand worn troops, captured their marshal and restored a thousand li of Qi—that is Lord Anping's merit. At that time, had he left Chengyang and made himself king, none under Heaven could have stopped him. Yet he reckoned by the Way and by righteousness, held it wrong, built plank roads and wooden galleries to welcome you and the queen from the Chengyang hills, and only then did you return to rule the people. Now the state is settled and the people secure—yet Your Majesty says only ‘Dan’; not even a child's plan would do this. Your Majesty should quickly kill these nine and apologize to Lord Anping—or the state is in peril!” .¹⁹

67

田單將攻狄，往見魯仲連。魯仲連曰：「將軍攻狄，不能下也。」田單曰：「臣以即墨破亡餘卒破萬乘之燕，復齊之墟，今攻狄而不下，何也？」上車弗謝而去，遂攻狄，三月不克。齊小兒謠曰：「大冠若箕，修劍拄頤。攻狄不能下，壘枯骨成丘。」田單乃懼，問魯仲連曰：「先生謂單不能下狄，請問其說。」魯仲連曰：「將軍之在即墨，坐則織蕢，立則仗鍤，為士卒倡曰：『無可往矣！宗廟亡矣！今日尚矣！歸於何黨矣！』當此之時，將軍有死之心，士卒先無之氣，聞君言莫不揮泣奮臂而欲戰，此所以破燕也。當今將軍東有夜邑之奉，西有淄上之娛，黃金橫帶而騁乎淄、澠之間，有生之樂，無死之心，所以不勝也。」田單曰：「單之有心，先生志之矣。」明日，乃厲氣循城，立於矢石之所，援袍鼓之。狄人乃下。

Tian Dan was about to attack Di and went to see Lu Zhonglian. Lu Zhonglian said: “General, you will not take Di.” Tian Dan said: “With Jimo's broken remnant I broke ten-thousand-chariot Yan and restored Qi's lands—why can I not take Di now?” He mounted his carriage without a word of thanks and left; he attacked Di three months without success. The children of Qi sang: “Cap big as a basket, long sword propping his chin. Cannot take Di—he piles dry bones into hills.” Tian Dan grew afraid and asked Lu Zhonglian: “You said I could not take Di—may I ask why?” Lu Zhonglian said, “At Jimo you sat weaving reed mats and stood leaning on a spade, leading the soldiers in a chant: ‘There is nowhere left to go! The ancestral temples are lost! Today is the end! To which clan can we return! ’ Then you were ready to die and your men had lost heart; at your words every man wept, raised his arms, and burned to fight—that is how Yan was broken. Now you have Ye's revenues in the east and pleasures on the Zi in the west, gold at your belt, galloping between the Zi and the Mian—the joy of living and no will to die. That is why you cannot win.” Tian Dan said, “You have read my heart, sir.” Next day he roused his spirit, circled the wall, stood where arrows and stones fell, and beat the war drum. The Di then surrendered.

68

初，齊湣王既滅宋，欲去孟嘗君。孟嘗君奔魏，魏昭王以為相，與諸侯共伐破齊。湣王死，襄王復國，而孟嘗君中立為諸侯，無所屬。襄王新立，畏孟嘗君，與之連和。孟嘗君卒，諸子爭立，而齊、魏共滅薛，孟嘗君絕嗣。

Earlier, after King Min of Qi destroyed Song, he wished to remove Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang fled to Wei. King Zhao of Wei made him chancellor, and with the other lords he helped smash Qi. King Min died. King Xiang restored Qi, while Lord Mengchang held himself neutral among the lords, belonging to no one. The newly enthroned King Xiang feared Lord Mengchang and allied with him. Lord Mengchang died. His sons fought over the succession; Qi and Wei together destroyed Xue, and his line died out.

69

2〔魯緡公薨，子頃公讎立〕並據赧王四十八年條改「湣」為「緡」。。

Also, per the entry for King Nan's forty-eighth year, emended ‘Min’ to ‘Min (the cited text).’

70

1秦大良造白起伐楚，拔郢，燒夷陵。楚襄王兵散，遂不復戰，東北徙都於陳。秦以郢為南郡，封白起為武安君。

1 Qin's Grand Provisioner Bai Qi attacked Chu, took Ying, and burned Yiling. King Xiang of Chu's army scattered. He fought no more and moved the capital northeast to Chen. Qin made Ying the southern commandery and enfeoffed Bai Qi as Lord Wu'an.

71

1秦武安君定巫、黔中，初置黔中郡。

1 Lord Wu'an of Qin settled Wu and Qianzhong and for the first time established the commandery of Qianzhong.

72

2魏昭王薨，子安釐王〔圉〕立。

.²⁰

73

1秦武安君伐魏，拔兩城。

1 Lord Wu'an of Qin attacked Wei and took two cities.

74

2楚王收東地兵，得十餘萬，復西取江南十五邑。

2 The king of Chu gathered eastern troops, raised more than a hundred thousand men, and again took fifteen districts in Jiangnan.

75

3魏安釐王封其弟無忌為信陵君。

3 King Anxi of Wei enfeoffed his younger brother Wuji as Lord Xinling.

76

秦相國穰侯伐魏。韓暴鳶救魏，穰侯大破之，斬首四萬。暴鳶走啟封。魏納八城以和。穰侯復伐魏，走芒卯，入北宅。〔遂圍大梁〕乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校同。據補。，魏人割溫以和。

Qin's chancellor, the Marquis of Rang, attacked Wei. Han sent Bao Yuan to rescue Wei. The Marquis of Rang routed him and beheaded forty thousand. Bao Yuan fled to Qifeng. Wei yielded eight cities to make peace. The Marquis of Rang again attacked Wei, routed Mang Mao, and entered Beizhai. the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;²¹ Kong's edition agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” the men of Wei ceded Wen to make peace.²²

77

1魏復與齊合從。秦穰侯伐魏，拔四城，斬首四萬。

1 Wei again joined Qi in a horizontal alliance. Qin's Marquis of Rang attacked Wei, took four cities, and beheaded forty thousand.

78

1趙人、魏人伐韓華陽。韓人告急於秦，秦王弗救。韓相國謂陳筮曰：「事急矣！願公雖病，為一宿之行。」陳筮如秦，見穰侯。穰侯曰：「事急乎？故使公來。」陳筮曰：「未急也。」穰侯怒曰：「何也？」陳筮曰：「彼韓急則將變而他從；以未急，故復來耳。」穰侯曰：「請發兵矣。」乃與武安君及客卿胡陽救韓，八日而至，敗魏軍於華陽之下，走芒卯，虜三將，斬首十三萬。武安君又與趙將賈偃戰，沈其卒二萬人於河。魏段干子請割南陽予秦以和。蘇代謂魏王曰：「欲璽者，段干子也；欲地者，秦也。今王使欲地者制璽，欲璽者制地，魏地盡矣！夫以地事秦，猶抱薪救火，薪不盡，火不滅。」王曰：「是則然也。雖然，事始已行，不可更矣！」對曰：「夫博之所以貴梟者，便則食，不便則止。今何王之用智不如用梟也？」魏王不聽，卒以南陽為和，實修武。

1 Zhao and Wei attacked Hua-yang in Han. Han appealed to Qin for aid; the king of Qin did not send help. Han's chancellor said to Chen She, “This is urgent! Though you are ill, I beg you to make an overnight journey.” Chen She went to Qin and saw the Marquis of Rang. The Marquis of Rang said, “Is it urgent? That is why you were sent.” Chen She said, “Not yet.” The Marquis of Rang said angrily, “How so?” Chen She said, “If Han were desperate they would turn elsewhere; because they are not desperate yet, they have come again—that is all.” The Marquis of Rang said, “I will send troops.” He then marched with Lord Wu'an and the guest-minister Hu Yang to rescue Han, arrived in eight days, defeated Wei's army below Hua-yang, routed Mang Mao, captured three generals, and beheaded a hundred thirty thousand. Lord Wu'an again fought Zhao's general Jia Yan and drowned twenty thousand of his men in the river. Wei sent Duan Ganzi to offer Nanyang to Qin for peace. Su Dai said to the king of Wei, “The one who wants the seal is Duan Ganzi; the one who wants the land is Qin. Now you let the one who wants land control the seal and the one who wants the seal control the land—Wei will lose everything! Feeding Qin with land is like carrying firewood to a fire—as long as the wood lasts, the fire will not die.” The king said, “That is true. Still, the matter has already begun and cannot be changed!” He replied, “In gaming the owl token is prized because you play when it helps and stop when it does not. Why does Your Majesty use less sense than an owl token?” The king of Wei would not listen. In the end he ceded Nanyang for peace—in fact Xiuwu.

79

2韓釐王薨，子桓惠王立。

2 King Xi of Han died; his son King Huanhui succeeded.

80

3韓、魏既服於秦，秦王將使武安君與韓、魏伐楚，未行，而楚使者黃歇至，聞之，畏秦乘勝一舉而滅楚也，乃上書曰：「臣聞物至則反，冬、夏是也；致至則危，累棋是也。今大國之地，遍天下有其二垂，此從生民已來，萬乘之地未嘗有也。先王三世不忘接地於齊，以絕從親之要。今王使盛橋守事於韓，盛橋以其地入秦，是王不用甲，不信威，而得百里之地，王可謂能矣！王又舉甲而攻魏，杜大樑之門，舉河內，拔燕、酸棗、虛、桃，入邢，魏之兵雲翔而不敢救，王之功亦多矣！王休甲息眾，二年而後復之，又並蒲、衍、首、垣以臨仁、平丘，黃、濟陽嬰城而魏氏服。王又割濮磨之北，注齊、秦之要，絕楚、趙之脊，天下五合六聚而不敢救，王之威亦單矣！王若能保功守威，絀攻取之心，而肥仁義之地，使無後患，三王不足四，五伯不足六也！王若負人徒之眾，仗兵革之強，乘毀魏之威，而欲以力臣天下之主，臣恐其有後患也。《詩》曰：『靡不有初，鮮克有終。』《易》曰：『狐涉水，濡其尾。』此言始之易，終之難也。昔吳之信越也，從而伐齊，既勝齊人於艾陵，還為越禽於三江之浦。智氏之信韓、魏也，從而伐趙，攻晉陽城，勝有日矣，韓、魏叛之，殺智伯瑤於鑿台之下。今王妒楚之不毀，而忘毀楚之強韓、魏也，臣為王慮而不取也。夫楚國，援也；鄰國，敵也。今王信韓、魏之善王，此正吳之信越也，臣恐韓、魏卑辭除患而實欲欺大國也。何則？王無重世之德於韓、魏而有累世之怨焉。夫韓、魏父子兄弟接踵而死於秦〔者〕將十世矣乙十一行本同；孔本同。」據補。，故韓、魏之不亡，秦社稷之憂也。今王資之與攻楚，不亦過乎！且攻楚將惡出兵？王將借路於仇讎之韓、魏乎？兵出之日而王憂其不反也。王若不借路於仇讎之韓、魏，必攻隨水右壤，此皆廣川、大水、山林、溪谷，不食之地。是王有毀楚之名而無得地之實也。且王攻楚之日，四國必悉起兵以應王。秦、楚之兵構而不離；魏氏將出而攻留、方輿、銍、湖陵、碭、蕭、相，故宋必盡；齊人南面攻楚，泗上必舉。此皆平原四達膏腴之地。如此，則天下之國莫強於齊、魏矣。臣為王慮，莫若善楚。秦、楚合而為一以臨韓，韓必斂手而朝；王施以東山之險，帶以曲河之利，韓必為關內之侯。若是而王以十萬戍鄭，梁氏寒心，許、鄢陵嬰城而上蔡、召陵不往來也。如此，魏亦關內侯矣。王壹善楚而關內兩萬乘之主注地於齊，齊右壤可拱手而取也。王之地一經兩海，要約天下，是燕、趙無齊、楚，齊、楚無燕、趙也。然後危動燕、趙，直搖齊、楚，此四國者不待痛而服矣。王從之，止武安君而謝韓、魏，使黃歇歸，約親於楚。

3 After Han and Wei had submitted to Qin, the king of Qin was about to send Lord Wu'an with Han and Wei against Chu. Before they marched, Chu's envoy Huang Xie arrived. Fearing Qin would ride victory and destroy Chu in one blow, he submitted a memorial: “I have heard that when things reach their limit they reverse—winter and summer are so; when piled to the limit they topple—stacked chess pieces are so. Your great state's lands now span the world and hold two of its quarters—since mankind began, no realm of ten thousand chariots has ever held so much. For three generations your forebears never ceased pressing against Qi, to sever the throat of horizontal alliances. You sent Sheng Qiao to hold affairs in Han, and he brought his territory into Qin—you used no armor, no empty threat, and gained a hundred li of land. You may be called capable! You again raised armies against Wei, shut Daliang's gates, took Henei, seized Yan, Suanzao, Xu, and Tao, entered Xing—Wei's troops swarmed like clouds yet dared not rescue. Your achievements are many! You rested your armies and eased your people; two years later you resumed, united Pu, Yan, Shou, and Yuan to overlook Ren and Pingqiu, and with Huang and Jiyang walled tight Wei submitted. You again cut north of Pu and Mo, struck at Qi and Qin's vital points, severed Chu and Zhao's spine—the world united again and again yet dared not rescue. Your majesty stands alone! If you can preserve your gains and guard your prestige, curb the urge to seize, and enrich the ground of benevolence and righteousness so there are no later troubles, you will outdo the Three Kings and surpass the Five Hegemons! If you rely on your masses, trust in arms, ride the prestige of crushing Wei, and mean to force the world's lords into subjection, I fear later troubles. The Odes say: ‘Nothing lacks a beginning; few reach the end. ’ The Changes say: ‘The fox crosses the water and wets its tail. ’ This means beginnings are easy and endings hard. Once Wu trusted Yue, followed them against Qi, defeated Qi at Ailing, and on the way home was captured by Yue at the mouth of the Three Rivers. The house of Zhi trusted Han and Wei, followed them against Zhao, besieged Jinyang with victory near, then Han and Wei rebelled and killed Zhi Bo Yao below the Zao Terrace. You resent that Chu is not destroyed, yet forget that destroying Chu strengthens Han and Wei. I urge you not to take this course. Chu is a support; neighboring states are enemies. You trust Han and Wei's goodwill—this is Wu trusting Yue again. I fear they speak humbly to remove danger but in truth mean to deceive your great state. Why? You have heaped no kindness on Han and Wei over generations, but heaped grudges over generations. the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;²³ Kong's edition agrees.” therefore as long as Han and Wei do not perish, they are the worry of Qin's altars.²⁴ Now to arm them to attack Chu—is that not going too far! Moreover, attacking Chu—how will you march? Will you borrow a route through Han and Wei, your mortal foes? The day your army marches out you will fear it will not return. If you do not borrow a route through Han and Wei, your foes, you must attack the right bank of the Sui—all broad rivers, great floods, mountains, forests, and ravines, lands that yield no food. Then you will earn the name of destroying Chu but gain no land. Moreover, the day you attack Chu, the four states will surely all raise troops against you. Qin and Chu will be locked in battle and unable to break off; Wei will march out against Liu, Fangyu, Zhi, Huling, Dang, Xiao, and Xiang—the old lands of Song will all be lost; Qi will attack Chu from the north; the lands above the Si will surely fall. These are all level plains with roads in every direction, rich and fertile country. If things go thus, then among the states of the world none will be stronger than Qi and Wei. I have weighed matters for Your Majesty: you had best befriend Chu. If Qin and Chu unite and press Han, Han will surely fold its hands and submit; Deploy the heights of the eastern hills and bind them with the advantage of the winding rivers, and Han will surely become a marquis of the inner domain. Then, if Your Majesty stations a hundred thousand at Zheng, Wei will lose heart; Xu and Yanling will shut their walls; Shangcai and Shaoling will cease their traffic. If so, Wei too will be a marquis of the inner domain. Befriend Chu outright, and when the two ten-thousand-chariot lords within the pass turn their lands toward Qi, you can take Qi's right flank with folded hands. Your lands will span both seas and bind the world by strategic holds; Yan and Zhao will lack Qi and Chu, and Qi and Chu will lack Yan and Zhao. Then alarm Yan and Zhao and shake Qi and Chu directly—these four states will yield without your needing to wound them.” The king accepted this, held back the Lord of Wu'an and made apology to Han and Wei, sent Huang Xie home, and pledged alliance with Chu.

卷4 周紀四

Volume 4 Zhou Records 4

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