Volume 5 Zhou Records 5

起屠維赤奮若，盡旃蒙大荒落，凡十七年。

From Tuju Chifenruo through Zhanmeng Dahuangluo—seventeen years in all.

1楚以左徒黃歇侍太子完為質於秦。

1. Chu sent Left Steward Huang Xie to attend Crown Prince Wan, who was held hostage in Qin.

2秦置南陽郡。

2. Qin established the Nanyang commandery.

3〔韓〕( 秦) 、魏、楚共伐燕秦) 魏楚共伐燕據《史記·秦本紀》、《燕世家》、《韓世家》及《六國年表》改。。

3. [Han]( Qin) Qin)¹ "Wei and Chu jointly attacked Yan"—revised per "Basic Annals of Qin," "House of Yan," "House of Han," and "Tables of the Six States" in Records of the Grand Historian. .

4燕惠王薨，子武成王立。

4. King Hui of Yan died; his son King Wucheng succeeded.

1趙藺相如伐齊，至平邑。----

1. Zhao's Lin Xiangru attacked Qi and reached Pingyi.

2趙田部吏趙奢收租稅，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，將殺之。趙奢曰：「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，是無趙也，君安得有此富乎？以君之貴，奉公如法則上下平，上下平則國強，國強則趙固，而君為貴戚，豈輕於天下邪！」平原君以為賢，言之於王。王使治國賦，國賦大平，民富而府庫實。

2. Zhao She, a clerk in Zhao's field-revenue office, went to collect taxes; Lord Pingyuan's household refused to pay. Zhao She enforced the law and executed nine of Lord Pingyuan's stewards. Lord Pingyuan was furious and meant to kill him. Zhao She said: "My lord, you are a great prince of Zhao. If you indulge your household and refuse to serve the public interest, the law loses force; when the law loses force the state grows weak; when the state grows weak the feudal lords will march against us—and Zhao will cease to exist. How then will you keep this wealth? With your rank, if you serve the public and uphold the law, high and low will be equal; when high and low are equal the state grows strong; when the state grows strong Zhao stands firm—and you, a royal kinsman, would you not stand foremost under Heaven?" Lord Pingyuan judged him worthy and recommended him to the king. The king put him in charge of state revenue; the levies were brought fully to order, the people prospered, and the treasuries filled.

1秦伐趙，圍閼與。趙王召廉頗、樂乘而問之曰：「可救否？」皆曰：「道遠險狹，難救。」問趙奢，趙奢對曰：「道遠險狹，譬猶兩鼠斗於穴中，將勇者勝。」王乃令趙奢將兵救之。去邯鄲三十里而止，令軍中曰：「有以軍事諫者死！」

1. Qin attacked Zhao and besieged Yuyu. The king of Zhao summoned Lian Po and Yue Cheng and asked, "Can we relieve it?" Both said, "The road is long and the passes narrow and dangerous—it cannot be relieved." He asked Zhao She. Zhao She answered, "The road is long and the passes dangerous—it is like two rats fighting in a burrow; whichever commander is bolder will win." The king then ordered Zhao She to take command and march to the relief. Thirty li from Handan he halted and proclaimed to the army: "Anyone who counsels me on military affairs—death!"

秦師軍武安西，鼓噪勒兵，武安屋瓦盡振。趙軍中候有一人言急救武安，趙奢立斬之。堅〔壁〕( 璧) 〔留〕二十八日不行璧) 〔留〕二十八日不行章校「十二行本『璧』作『壁』；乙十一行本同；孔本同。十二行本『二』上有『留』字；乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校同。」《史記·廉頗藺相如列傳》同，據補改。，復益增壘。秦間入趙軍，趙奢善食而遣之。間以報秦將，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〕間，卷甲而趨，一日一夜而至，去閼與五十里而軍，軍壘成。秦師聞之，悉甲而往。趙軍士許歷請以軍事諫，趙奢進之。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：「請受教！」許歷請刑，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。秦師後至，爭山不得上；趙奢縱兵擊秦師，秦師大敗，解閼與而還。趙王封奢為馬服君，與廉、藺同位；以許歷為國尉。----

The Qin army camped west of Wu'an, drumming and shouting as they drilled; the roof-tiles of Wu'an shook with the noise. A scout in the Zhao army urged an immediate relief of Wu'an; Zhao She had him executed on the spot. He fortified [walls]( jade) jade)² [stayed] twenty-eight days without advancing—Zhang's collation: the twelve-line edition reads "wall" for "jade"; the Y eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees. In the twelve-line edition the character "stay" appears above "two"; the Y eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees; Tuizhai's collation agrees." The "Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru" in Records of the Grand Historian agrees; "stay" added and revised accordingly. , and further strengthened the ramparts. A Qin spy entered the Zhao camp; Zhao She feasted him generously and sent him off. The spy reported to the Qin commander, who was delighted and said, "They marched thirty li from home and then stopped; now they pile up ramparts—Yuyu will never be Zhao's again!" , struck camp and marched at speed, reaching the field in one day and one night³ , and pitched camp fifty li from Yuyu with the fortifications already complete. When the Qin army heard of it, they marched out in full armor. A Zhao soldier named Xu Li asked leave to counsel on military matters; Zhao She admitted him. “. They come in high spirits. You must mass your formations and hold them ready;⁴ otherwise you are sure to lose." Zhao She said: "I accept your teaching!" Xu Li asked to be punished; Zhao She said: "When we are back at Handan." Xu Li pressed his counsel again: "Whoever seizes North Hill first wins; whoever comes late loses." Zhao She agreed and at once sent ten thousand men to seize it. The Qin army arrived later and fought for the hill but could not climb it; Zhao She unleashed his troops on the Qin army; Qin was routed, lifted the siege of Yuyu, and withdrew. The king of Zhao enfeoffed She as Lord of Mafu, ranking him with Lian Po and Lin Xiangru; and appointed Xu Li National Commandant.

2穰侯言客卿灶於秦王，使伐齊，取剛、壽以廣其陶邑。

2. The Marquis of Rang recommended Guest-Minister Zao to the king of Qin and had him attack Qi, seizing Gang and Shou to enlarge his Tao fief.

初，魏人范睢從中大夫須賈使於齊，齊襄王聞其辯口，私賜之金及牛、酒。須賈以為睢以國陰事告齊也，歸而告其相魏齊。魏齊怒，笞擊范睢，折脅，摺齒。睢佯死，卷以貴，置廁中，使客醉者更溺之，以懲後，令無妄言者。范睢謂守者曰：「〔公〕能出我，我必有厚謝。」守者乃請棄簀中死人。魏齊醉，曰：「可矣。」范睢得出。魏齊悔，復召求之。魏人鄭安平〔聞之，乃〕遂操范睢亡匿，更名姓曰張祿。

Earlier, Fan Ju of Wei had accompanied Grandee Xu Jia on a mission to Qi. King Xiang of Qi, hearing how sharp his tongue was, privately gave him gold, cattle, and wine. Xu Jia believed Ju had betrayed Wei secrets to Qi; on his return he denounced him to Chancellor Wei Qi. Wei Qi flew into a rage, had Fan Ju beaten with the staff, broke his ribs, and knocked out his teeth. Ju played dead. They wrapped him in a mat, dumped him in a latrine, and had a drunken guest urinate on him as a warning—so no one would dare speak out of turn again. , I will reward you handsomely."⁵ The guard then asked permission to throw away the corpse in the mat. Wei Qi, drunk, said, "Very well." Fan Ju got out. Wei Qi sobered, regretted it, and sent men to hunt for him again. , changed his name to Zhang Lu, and went into hiding.⁶

秦謁者王稽使於魏，范睢夜見王稽。稽潛載與俱歸，薦之於王，王見之於離宮。睢佯為不知永巷而入其中，王來而宦者怒逐之，曰：「王至。」范睢謬曰：「秦安得王！秦獨有太后、穰侯耳！」王微聞其言，乃屏左右，跽而請曰：「先生何以幸教寡人？」對曰：「唯唯。」如是者三。王曰：「先生卒不幸教寡人邪？」范睢曰：「非敢然也！臣，羈旅之臣也，交疏於王；而所願陳者皆匡君之事。處人骨肉之間，願效愚忠而未知王之心也，此所以王三問而不敢對者也。臣知今日言之於前，明日伏誅於後，然臣不敢避也。且死者，人之所必不免也，苟可以少有補於秦而死，此臣之所大願也。獨恐臣死之後，天下杜口裹足，莫肯鄉秦耳！」王跽曰：「先生，是何言也！今者寡人得見先生，是天以寡人溷先生，而存先王之宗廟也。事無大小，上及太后，下至大臣，願先生悉以教寡人，無疑寡人也！」范雎拜，王亦拜。范睢曰：「以秦國之大，士卒之勇，以治諸侯，譬若走韓盧而博蹇兔也。而閉關十五年，不敢窺兵於山東者，是穰侯為秦謀不忠，而大王之計亦有所失也。」王跽曰：「寡人願聞失計！」然左右多竊聽者，范睢未敢言內，先言外事，以觀王之府仰。因進曰：「夫穰侯越韓、魏而攻齊剛、壽，非計也。齊湣王南攻楚，破軍殺將，再闢地千里，而齊尺寸之地無得焉者，豈不欲得地哉？形勢不能有也。諸侯見齊之罷敝，起兵而伐齊，大破之，齊幾於亡，以其伐楚而肥韓、魏也。今王不如遠交而近攻，得寸則王之寸也，得尺亦王之尺也。今夫韓、魏，中國之處，而天下之樞也。王若〔欲〕( 用) 霸用) 霸章校「十二行本『用』作『欲』；乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校同。」《史記·范睢列傳》同，據改。，必親中國以為天下樞，以威楚、趙，楚強則附趙，趙強則附楚，楚、趙皆附，齊必懼矣，齊附則韓、魏因可虜也。」王曰：「善。」乃以范雎為客卿，與謀兵事。

Wang Ji, an usher of Qin, was on mission to Wei; Fan Ju came to him by night. Ji smuggled him back to Qin, recommended him to the king, and the king received him at a detached palace. Ju feigned ignorance of court protocol and walked into the inner corridor. When the king arrived, a eunuch furiously drove him out, crying, "The king comes!" Fan Ju played the fool: "Since when does Qin have a king? Qin has only the Queen Dowager and the Marquis of Rang!" The king caught a hint of his meaning, dismissed his attendants, knelt, and said, "Sir, what have you to teach me?" He answered, "Yes, yes." Three times he said only that. The king said, "Sir, will you not teach me after all?" Fan Ju said, "It is not that I refuse! I am a wanderer in a strange land, barely known to Your Majesty; yet what I wish to speak of are matters to set the ruler straight. I stand among Your Majesty's own kin and wish to offer my poor loyalty, but I do not yet know your heart—that is why you asked three times and I did not dare answer. I know that if I speak today, tomorrow I may lie dead—but I dare not hold back. Death is what no one ultimately escapes; if by dying I can do even a little good for Qin, that is my deepest wish. I only fear that after I die, men everywhere will seal their lips and bind their feet, and none will dare turn toward Qin!" The king knelt and cried, "Sir, what words are these! That I may meet you now is Heaven's way of pairing us so that the temples of my forefathers may endure. Matters great and small, from the Queen Dowager down to the lowest minister—I beg you teach me all, and doubt me no longer!" Fan Ju bowed; the king bowed in return. Fan Ju said: "With Qin's vast territory and its soldiers' valor, to deal with the feudal lords is like setting the Han Lu hound on a crippled hare. Yet for fifteen years you have shut the passes and not dared to march east of the mountains—because the Marquis of Rang has not served Qin faithfully, and Your Majesty's own strategy has gone astray." The king knelt and said, "Tell me where my strategy has failed!" But many attendants were listening in secret; Fan Ju dared not speak of court intrigues and began with foreign affairs, watching the king's expression. He went on: "For the Marquis of Rang to bypass Han and Wei and attack Gang and Shou in Qi is no strategy at all. King Min of Qi attacked Chu in the south, shattered its armies, killed its generals, and twice carved out a thousand li of territory—yet Qi gained not an inch of ground. Was it that he did not want land? Circumstance would not let him keep it. The feudal lords saw Qi worn down and marched against it, crushing Qi nearly to extinction—because its war on Chu had only fattened Han and Wei. Your Majesty would do better to befriend the distant and strike the near: every inch you take is yours, every foot is yours. Han and Wei hold the heartland—the hinge on which the world turns. If Your Majesty wishes [to] ( use) use)⁷ exercise hegemony—Zhang’s collation: in the twelve-line edition “use” reads “wish”; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong’s edition agrees; Tuizhai’s collation agrees.” The “Biography of Fan Ju” in the Records agrees—emended accordingly. , you must hold the central states close as the pivot of all under Heaven and overawe Chu and Zhao—if Chu grows strong, win Zhao; if Zhao grows strong, win Chu; once Chu and Zhao are both won, Qi will surely fear you; once Qi submits, Han and Wei can be reduced at your pleasure.” The king said: “Excellent.” He then made Fan Ju a guest minister and took counsel with him on military matters.

1秦中更胡傷攻趙閼與，不〔能〕拔。

1. Hu Shang, a middle officer of Qin, attacked Zhao at Yanyu but could not take it.

1秦王用范睢之謀，使五大夫綰伐魏，拔懷。

1. The king of Qin followed Fan Sui’s counsel, sent the fifth-rank grandee Wei against Wei, and seized Huai.

1秦悼太子質於魏而卒。

1. Crown Prince Dao of Qin, who was a hostage in Wei, died there.

1〔夏〕，秦拔魏邢丘、〔懷〕。范睢日益親，用事，因承間說王曰：「臣居山東時，聞齊之有孟嘗君，不聞有王；聞秦有太后、穰侯、〔高陵、華陽、涇陽〕，不聞有王。夫擅國之謂王，能利害之謂王，制殺生之謂王。今太后擅行不顧，穰侯出使不報，華陽、涇陽等擊斷無諱，高陵進退不請，四貴備而國不危者，未之有也。為此四貴者下，乃所謂無王也。穰侯使者操王之重，決制於諸侯，剖符於天下，征敵伐國，莫敢不聽；戰勝攻取則利歸於陶，戰敗則結怨於百姓而禍歸於社稷。臣又聞之，木實繁者披其枝，披其枝者傷其心；大其都者危其國，尊其臣者卑其主。淖齒管齊，射王股，擢王筋，懸之於廟梁，宿昔而死。李兌管趙，囚主父於沙丘，百日而餓死。今臣觀四貴之用事，此亦淖齒、李兌之類也。夫三代之所以亡國者，君專授政於臣，縱酒弋獵。其所授者妒賢疾能，御下蔽上以成其私，不為主計，而主不覺悟，故失其國，今自有秩以上至諸大吏，下及王左右，無非相國之人者，見王獨立於朝，臣竊為王恐，萬世之後有秦國者，非王子孫也！」王以為然。於是廢太后，逐穰侯、高陵、華陽、涇陽君於關外，以范睢為丞相，封為應侯。

.⁸ Fan Sui grew ever closer and held real power; seizing an opening he said to the king: “When I lived east of the passes, I heard of Lord Mengchang in Qi—I never heard of a king; —I never heard of a king.⁹ He who monopolizes the state is called king; he who can benefit and harm is called king; he who controls life and death is called king. Today the queen dowager acts as she pleases without regard for anyone; Marquis Rang goes abroad on missions without reporting back; Huayang, Jingyang, and the rest pass judgment and execute without restraint; Gaoling comes and goes without permission—when the four nobles are all in power yet the state is not in peril, there has never been such a thing. To serve under these four nobles is what people call having no king at all. Marquis Rang’s envoys wield Your Majesty’s authority, decide policy among the feudal lords, issue credentials throughout the realm, and campaign against enemies—none dares disobey; when campaigns succeed, the profit goes to Tao; when they fail, the people bear the hatred and the altars of state bear the disaster. I have also heard that when a tree’s fruit is heavy, its branches break; when its branches break, its trunk is harmed; enlarge the capital and you endanger the state; exalt the minister and you humble the sovereign. Nao Chi dominated Qi, shot the king in the thigh, drew out his sinews, hung him from a temple beam, and he was dead by the next morning. Li Dui dominated Zhao, imprisoned King Wuling at Shaqiu, and after a hundred days he starved to death. Now, seeing how the four nobles wield power, they are cut from the same cloth as Nao Chi and Li Dui. The Three Dynasties lost their realms because their rulers handed all power to ministers and gave themselves to wine, archery, and hunting. Those they empowered envied the worthy and hated talent; they controlled subordinates and deceived the ruler above to serve themselves, never planning for the sovereign’s sake, while the sovereign never woke to it—hence they lost their realms. Today from ranked officials up to the great ministers, down to those at Your Majesty’s side, all are the chancellor’s men. I see Your Majesty standing alone in court and privately tremble for you—in ages to come, whoever holds Qin will not be Your Majesty’s own sons and grandsons!” The king agreed. He then deposed the queen dowager, expelled Marquis Rang and the lords of Gaoling, Huayang, and Jingyang beyond the passes, made Fan Sui chancellor, and enfeoffed him as Lord Ying.

魏王使須賈聘於秦，應侯敝衣間步而往見之。須賈驚曰：「范叔固無恙乎！」留坐飲食，取一綈袍贈之。遂為須賈御而至相府，曰：「我為君先入通於相君。」須賈怪其久不出，問於門下，門下曰：「無范叔。鄉者吾相張君也。」須賈知見欺，乃膝行入謝罪。應侯坐，責讓之，且曰：「爾所以得不死者，以綈袍戀戀尚有故人之意耳！」乃大供具，請諸侯賓客；坐須賈於堂下，置莝、豆其前而馬食之，使歸告魏王曰：「速斬魏齊頭來！不然，且屠大梁！」須賈還，以告魏齊。魏齊奔趙，匿於平原君家。----

The king of Wei sent Xu Jia on a diplomatic mission to Qin; Lord Ying, in ragged clothes, took a back path on foot to meet him. Xu Jia exclaimed in surprise: “Uncle Fan—are you truly all right!” He had him stay to eat and drink, took a silk robe, and gave it to him. He then drove Xu Jia’s carriage to the chancellor’s residence and said: “I will go in ahead and announce you to the chancellor.” Xu Jia wondered why he was gone so long; he asked the gate retainers, and one said: “There is no Uncle Fan. The man just now was our chancellor, Lord Zhang.” Xu Jia knew he had been tricked and crawled in on his knees to beg forgiveness. Lord Ying sat and rebuked him, adding: “The only reason you are not dead is that in giving the silk robe you still showed some feeling for an old friend!” He then laid out a great feast and invited the lords and their guests; seated Xu Jia below the hall, set fodder and beans before him while horses ate, and sent him back to tell the king of Wei: “Send Wei Qi’s head at once! If not, we shall sack Daliang!” Xu Jia returned and reported this to Wei Qi. Wei Qi fled to Zhao and hid in Lord Pingyuan’s household.

2趙惠文王薨，子孝成王丹立；以平原君為相。

2. King Huiwen of Zhao died; his son King Xiaocheng, Dan, ascended the throne; and Lord Pingyuan was made chancellor.

1〔冬，十月〕，秦宣太后薨。〔秋〕，九月，穰侯出之陶案：時秦己用《顓頊曆》，以亥月為年首。。

1. [In the tenth month of winter] Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin died. Note: By then Qin already used the Zhuanxu calendar, taking the month of hai as the start of the year.¹⁰

::臣光曰：穰侯援立昭王，除其災害，薦白起為將，南取鄢、郢，東屬地於齊，使天下諸侯稽首而事秦。秦益強大者，穰侯之功也。雖其專恣驕貪足以賈禍，亦未至盡如范睢之言。若睢者，亦非能為秦忠謀，直欲得穰侯之處，故搤其吭而奪之耳。遂使秦王絕母子之義，失舅甥之恩。要之，睢真傾危之士哉！----

:: Master Guang says: Marquis Rang helped enthrone King Zhao, delivered him from disaster, recommended Bai Qi as general, seized Yan and Ying in the south, attached territory in the east to Qi, and made the lords of all under Heaven bow their heads in serving Qin. That Qin grew ever stronger was Marquis Rang’s achievement. Though his monopoly of power, arrogance, and greed were enough to court disaster, matters had not yet reached everything Fan Sui alleged. As for Sui, he too could not truly plan for Qin’s good—he simply wanted Marquis Rang’s place, so he seized him by the throat and tore it away. He thereby made the king of Qin sever the bond between mother and son and forfeit the grace between uncle and nephew. In short, Sui was truly a man who overturns states!

2秦王以子安國君為太子。----

2. The king of Qin made his son Lord Anguo crown prince.

3秦伐趙，取三城。趙王新立，太后用事，〔秦急攻之〕。求救於齊，齊人曰：「必以長安君為質。」太后不〔肯〕( 可) 可) 據《史記·趙世家》、《戰國策·趙策四》及帛書《戰國縱橫家書》改。。齊師不出，大臣強諫。太后明謂左右曰：「復言長安君為質者，老婦必唾其面！」左師觸龍〔言〕願見太后，太后盛氣而胥之。〔左師公〕入，( 左師公) 徐趨而坐左師公) 徐趨而坐此行舊本標點為「太后盛氣而胥之入。左師公徐趨而坐」，今以「之」字為斷，「左師公」三字應置於「入」字之前。按：《史記》、《戰國策》及帛書《戰國縱橫家書》標點本均以「之」字為斷。。自謝曰：「老臣病足，〔曾不能疾走〕，不得見久矣，竊自恕，而恐太后體之有所苦也，故願望見太后。」太后曰：「老婦恃輦而行。」曰：「食得毋衰乎？」曰：「恃粥耳。」太后不和之色稍解。左師公曰：「老臣賤息舒祺最少，不肖，而臣衰，竊憐愛之。願得補黑衣之缺，以衛王宮，昧死以聞！」太后曰：「〔敬〕諾。年幾何矣？」對曰：「十五歲矣。雖少，願及未填溝壑而託之。」太后曰：「丈夫亦愛〔憐〕少子乎？」對曰：「甚於婦人。」太后笑曰：「婦人異甚。」對曰：「老臣竊以為媼之愛燕后賢於長安君。」太后曰：「君過矣！不若長安君之甚。」左師公曰：「父母愛其子，則為之計深遠。媼之送燕后也，持其踵而泣，念其遠也，亦哀之矣。已行，非不思也，祭祀則祝之曰：『必勿使反！』豈非為之計長久，為子孫相繼為王也哉？」太后曰：「然。」左師公曰：「今三世以前，至於趙王之子孫為侯者，其繼有在者乎？」曰：「無有。」曰：「〔微獨趙，諸侯有在者乎？」曰：「老婦不聞也。」曰〕此段為觸龍為加強說服力，而二次詢問趙太后之語。：「此其近者禍及身，遠者及其子孫。豈人主之子侯則不善哉？位尊而無功，奉厚而無勞，而挾重器多也。今媼尊長安君之位，而封之以膏腴之地，多與之重器，而不及今令有功於國。一旦山陵崩，長安君何以自託於趙哉？〔老臣以媼為長安君之計短也，故以為愛之不若燕后〕。」太后曰：「諾，恣君之所使之！」於是為長安君約車百乘質於齊。齊師乃出，秦師退。----

3. Qin attacked Zhao and seized three cities. .¹¹ Zhao asked Qi for aid; the men of Qi said: “You must send Lord Chang’an as a hostage.” The queen dowager would not [agree] ( consent) consent) emended per the “House of Zhao” in the Records, “Zhao Stratagem IV” in the Intrigues, and the silk manuscript “Writings of the Warring States Coalitionists.” . Qi’s army did not march out; the great ministers remonstrated forcefully. The queen dowager said plainly to those beside her: “Whoever again speaks of sending Lord Chang’an as hostage—I, this old woman, will spit in his face!” ; the queen dowager came forth in full fury to receive him.¹² [The left mentor] entered, ( the left mentor) the left mentor)¹³ and walked slowly forward and sat down—the old editions punctuate this line as “The queen dowager came forth in full fury to receive him and entered. The left mentor walked slowly forward and sat”; now, breaking at the character zhi, the three characters “left mentor” should be placed before the character ru “entered.” “.”¹⁴ ; it has been long since I could see you, and I excused myself in private, yet I feared Your Majesty’s health might suffer some distress, and therefore wished to see you.”¹⁵ The queen dowager said: “This old woman goes about by carriage.” He said: “Has your appetite held steady?” She said: “Only gruel, that is all.” The queen dowager’s angry expression eased somewhat. The left mentor said: “This old minister’s youngest son Shuqi is unworthy, yet I am old and privately cherish him. I wish he might fill a vacancy among the palace guards to protect the royal palace—I risk death to report this!” “.¹⁶ How old is he?” He replied: “Fifteen. Though he is young, I wish, before I fill the ditch and gully, to place him in your care.” ?”¹⁷ He replied: “More than women do.” The queen dowager laughed and said: “How extraordinary women are!” He replied: “This old servant privately believes Your Majesty loves the Queen of Yan more than Lord Chang’an.” The queen dowager said: “You go too far! My love for Lord Chang’an is greater.” Master Zuo said: “When parents love their children, they plan for them with far sight. When you sent off the Queen of Yan, you held her heel and wept, grieving that she was going so far. After she had gone, you did not cease to think of her; at sacrifice you prayed: ‘Do not let her come back! ’ Was that not planning for her long term—that her line should hold kingship for generations?” The queen dowager said: “That is so.” Master Zuo said: “From three generations back, among the descendants of Zhao kings who were made marquises, does any line still survive?” She said: “None.” He said: “〔Not Zhao alone—among the other states, do any such lines survive?” She said: “I have not heard of any.” This passage is Chulong’s second exchange with the queen dowager of Zhao, added to strengthen his persuasion.¹⁸ : “For those near, disaster strikes in their own day; for those far off, it reaches their descendants. Is it that sons of rulers enfeoffed as marquises are inherently unworthy? Their rank is high yet they have no merit; their income is rich yet they have done no service—and they hold too many tokens of power. Now you have raised Lord Chang’an high, enfeoffed him with rich lands, and lavished on him tokens of power, yet have not made him earn merit for the state while you still can. Once you are gone, how will Lord Chang’an find a footing in Zhao? .”¹⁹ The queen dowager said: “Very well—dispose of him as you see fit!” Thereupon a hundred chariots were mustered and Lord Chang’an was sent as hostage to Qi. Qi’s army then advanced, and Qin’s army withdrew.

4齊安平君田單將趙師以伐燕，取中〔人〕( 陽) 陽) 據胡注改。；又伐韓，取注人。----

4 Tian Dan, Lord of Ping’an of Qi, led Zhao’s army against Yan and took Zhong〔ren〕( yang) yang) amended per Hu’s commentary. ; He also attacked Han and took Zhu.

5齊襄王薨，子建立。建年少，國事皆決於君王后。

5 King Xiang of Qi died; his son Jian succeeded. Jian was young; state affairs were all decided by the king’s queen.

1秦武安君伐韓，拔九城，斬首五萬。----

and beheaded fifty thousand.²⁰

2田單為齊相。

2 Tian Dan became chancellor of Qi.

1秦武安君伐韓，取南陽；攻太行道，絕之。----

1 Qin’s Lord of Martial Peace attacked Han and took Nanyang; he attacked the Taihang route and severed it.

2楚頃襄王疾病。黃歇言於應侯曰：「今楚王疾恐不起，秦不如歸其太子。太子得立，其事秦必重而德相國無窮，是親與國而得儲萬乘也。不歸，則咸陽布衣耳。楚更立君，必不事秦，是失與國而絕萬乘之和，非計也。」應侯以告王。王曰：「令太子之傅先往問疾，反而後圖之。」黃歇與太子謀曰：「秦之留太子，欲以求利也。今太子力未能有以利秦也，而陽文君子二人在中。王若卒大命，太子不在，陽文君子必立為後，太子不得奉宗廟矣。不如亡秦，與使者俱出。臣請止，以死當之！」太子因變服為楚使者御以出關；而黃歇守舍，常為太子謝病。度太子已遠，乃自言於王曰：「楚太子已歸，出遠矣。歇願賜死！」王怒，欲聽之。應侯曰：「歇為人臣，出身以徇其主，太子立，必用歇。不如無罪而歸之，以親楚。」王從之。黃歇至楚三月，秋，頃襄王薨，考烈王即位；以黃歇為相，封以淮北地，號曰春申君。

2 King Qingxiang of Chu fell ill. Huang Xiu said to the Marquis of Ying: “The king of Chu is gravely ill and may not recover; Qin should send his crown prince home. If the crown prince succeeds, his service to Qin will be weighty and his debt to you endless—this binds an ally and secures a future ten-thousand-chariot power. If he is not sent home, he will be no more than a commoner in Xianyang. If Chu enthrones another ruler, he will not serve Qin—you lose an ally and sever a great power’s bond; that is no plan.” The Marquis of Ying reported this to the king. The king said: “Let the crown prince’s tutor go first to inquire after the illness; we shall decide further after he returns.” Huang Xiu plotted with the crown prince: “Qin holds you to extract profit. You are not yet strong enough to profit Qin, yet the two Yangwen lords are at court. If the king dies and you are not there, the Yangwen lords will surely succeed—you will not tend the ancestral temple. Better flee Qin and leave with the envoy. I will stay behind and answer for it with my life!” The crown prince changed clothes and, posing as the Chu envoy’s driver, passed through the border; while Huang Xiu remained in the lodge and regularly excused the crown prince as ill. When he judged the crown prince was far away, he told the king: “The crown prince of Chu has fled; he is already far gone. I beg to be put to death!” The king was angry and wished to have him executed. The Marquis of Ying said: “Xiu, as a minister, risked his life for his lord; when the crown prince succeeds, he will surely employ Xiu. Better acquit him and send him home, to draw Chu close.” The king agreed. Three months after Huang Xiu reached Chu, in autumn King Qingxiang died and King Kaolie succeeded; Huang Xiu was made chancellor, enfeoffed with the lands north of the Huai, and titled Lord Chunshen.

1楚人納〔夏〕州于秦以平。----

.²¹

2〔秦〕武安君伐韓，拔野王。上黨路絕，上黨守馮亭與其民謀曰：「鄭道已絕，秦兵日進，韓不能應，不如以上黨歸趙。趙受我，秦必攻之；趙被秦兵，必親韓。韓、趙為一，則可以當秦矣。」乃遣使者告於趙曰：「韓不能守上黨，入之秦，其吏民皆安〔為〕( 於) 趙於) 趙據《史記·趙世家》改。，不樂為秦。有城市邑十七，願再拜獻之大王。」趙王以告平陽君豹，對曰：「聖人甚禍無故之利。」王曰：「人樂吾德，何謂無故？」對曰：「秦蠶食韓地，中絕，不令相通，固自以為坐而受上黨也。韓氏所以不入於秦者，欲嫁其禍於趙也。秦服其勞而趙受其利，雖強大不能得之於弱小，弱小固能得之於強大乎！豈得謂之非無故哉？不如勿受。」王以告平原君，平原君請受之。王乃使平原君往受地，以萬戶都三封其太守為華陽君，以千戶都三封其縣令為侯，吏民皆益爵三級。馮亭垂涕不見使者，曰：「吾不忍賣主地而食之也！」

and took Yewang.²² The route to Shangdang was cut. Feng Ting, defender of Shangdang, plotted with his people: “The route to the capital is cut; Qin’s troops advance daily and Han cannot help us—better yield Shangdang to Zhao. If Zhao accepts us, Qin will surely attack; when Zhao bears Qin’s assault, it will surely draw close to Han. United, Han and Zhao can withstand Qin.” He sent envoys to Zhao: “Han cannot hold Shangdang and would give it to Qin, but its officials and people would rather be〔at〕( yu) yu)²³ Zhao—amended per the Shiji “Hereditary House of Zhao.” than serve Qin. We have seventeen walled districts and wish to present them humbly to Your Majesty.” The king of Zhao told Lord Pingyang Bao, who replied: “The sage dreads unearned gain above all.” The king said: “They rejoice in my virtue—how is that without cause?” He replied: “Qin has been nibbling Han’s lands, cutting them in two, and surely expected to receive Shangdang without effort. Han did not give it to Qin because it wished to shift the disaster onto Zhao. Qin did the labor yet Zhao takes the profit—can the mighty not take from the weak, yet the weak take from the mighty? How can you call that unearned? Better refuse it.” The king told Lord Pingyuan, who urged acceptance. The king sent Lord Pingyuan to receive the territory, made three commandery governors of ten-thousand-household rank Lords of Huayang, three county magistrates of thousand-household rank marquises, and raised all officials and people three ranks in nobility. Feng Ting wept and would not see the envoys, saying: “I cannot bear to sell my lord’s land and live off the price!”

1秦左庶長王齕攻上黨，拔之。上黨民走趙。趙廉頗軍於長平，以按據上黨民。〔夏，四月〕，王齕因伐趙。趙軍戰數不勝，〔亡〕( 止) 一裨將、四尉止) 一裨將四尉章校「十二行本『止』作『亡』；乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校同。」《史記·虞卿列傳》同，據改。。趙王與樓昌、虞卿謀，樓昌請發重使為媾。虞卿曰：「今制媾者在秦，秦必欲破王之軍矣，雖往請媾，秦將不聽。不如發使以重寶附楚、魏，楚、魏受之，則秦疑天下之合從，媾乃可成也。」王不聽，使鄭朱媾於秦，秦受之。王謂虞卿曰：「秦內鄭朱矣。」對曰：「王必不得媾而軍破矣。何則？天下之賀戰勝者皆在秦矣。夫鄭朱，貴人也，秦王、應侯必顯重之以示天下。天下見王之媾於秦，必不救王。秦知天下之不救王，則媾不可得成矣。」既而秦果顯鄭朱而不與趙媾。

1 Wang He, Qin’s left chief minister, attacked Shangdang and took it. The people of Shangdang fled to Zhao. Lian Po of Zhao encamped at Changping to secure the Shangdang refugees. Wang He then attacked Zhao.²⁴ Zhao’s army fought several times without victory, 〔losing〕( zhi) zhi)²⁵ one lieutenant general and four commandants-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; Tui Zhai’s collation agrees.” The Shiji “Biography of Yu Qing” agrees; amended accordingly. . The king of Zhao consulted with Lou Chang and Yu Qing. Lou Chang asked to send senior envoys to sue for peace. Yu Qing said, “Peace is in Qin's hands now. Qin surely means to destroy Your Majesty's army. Even if you sue for peace, Qin will not listen. Better send envoys with rich gifts to win Chu and Wei. If they accept, Qin will suspect a united front against it, and peace may be won.” The king refused. He sent Zheng Zhu to treat with Qin, and Qin received him. The king said to Yu Qing, “Qin has welcomed Zheng Zhu in.” He replied, “Your Majesty will surely fail to make peace, and the army will be destroyed. Why? Everyone congratulating the victor is already at Qin. Zheng Zhu is a man of rank. The king of Qin and Lord Ying will surely honor him before all under Heaven. When the world sees Your Majesty suing for peace with Qin, none will rescue you. Once Qin knows the world will not help you, peace cannot be had.” Soon Qin did display Zheng Zhu before the world and would not make peace with Zhao.

秦數敗趙兵，廉頗堅壁不出。趙王以頗失亡多而更怯不戰，怒，數讓之。應侯又使人行千金於趙為反間，曰：「秦之所畏，獨畏馬服君之子趙括為將耳！廉頗易與，且降矣！」趙王遂以趙括代頗將。藺相如曰：「王以名使括，若膠柱鼓瑟耳。括徒能讀其父書傳，不知合變也。」王不聽。初，趙括自少時學兵法，以天下莫能當；嘗與其父奢言兵事，奢不能難，然不謂善。括母問其故，奢曰：「兵，死地也，而括易言之。使趙不將括則已；若必將之，破趙軍者必括也。」及括將行，其母上書，言括不可使。王曰：「何以？」對曰：「始妾事其父，時為將，身所奉飯而進食者以十數，所友者以百數，王及宗室所賞賜者，盡以與軍吏士大夫；受命之日，不問家事。今括一旦為將，東鄉而朝，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。王以為如其父，父子異心，願王勿遣！」王曰：「母置之，吾已決矣！」母因曰：「即如有不稱，妾請無隨坐。」趙王許之。

Qin repeatedly defeated Zhao's army. Lian Po held his walls and would not come out. The king of Zhao, seeing Po's heavy losses and growing timidity, would not fight, grew angry, and repeatedly reproached him. Lord Ying also sent agents with a thousand in gold into Zhao as disinformation, saying, “What Qin fears is only Ma-fu's son Zhao Kuo as general! Lian Po is easy to handle, and he is about to surrender!” The king of Zhao then replaced Po with Zhao Kuo as general. Lin Xiangru said, “Your Majesty picks Kuo for his name—it is like gluing the peg and strumming the se. Kuo can only recite his father's books; he does not know how to adapt.” The king would not listen. Earlier, Zhao Kuo had studied war from youth and thought no one under Heaven could match him; he once debated war with his father She. She could not refute him, yet did not call it good. Kuo's mother asked why. She said, “War is the ground of death, yet Kuo speaks of it lightly. If Zhao does not make Kuo general, so be it; if he must be made general, the one who destroys Zhao's army will surely be Kuo.” When Kuo was about to take command, his mother memorialized the throne that Kuo must not be used. The king said, “Why?” She replied, “When I first served his father as general, those to whom he personally brought food numbered in the tens; his friends numbered in the hundreds; whatever the king and the royal house bestowed, he gave entirely to the army's officers and gentlemen; from the day he took command, he did not trouble himself with household affairs. Now Kuo, having suddenly become general, sits facing east to hold court, and no officer dares look up at him; the king's gifts of gold and silk he takes home and hoards; each day he scouts out profitable fields and houses and buys what he can. Your Majesty thinks him like his father, but father and son are not of one mind. I beg Your Majesty not to send him!” The king said, “Madam, leave it—I have decided!” His mother then said, “If things go ill, I ask not to be punished with the clan.” The king of Zhao agreed.

秦王聞括已為趙將，乃陰使武安君為上將軍，而王齕為裨將，令軍中：「有敢泄武安君將者斬！」趙括至軍，悉更約束，易置軍吏，出兵擊秦師。武安君佯敗而走，張二奇兵以劫之。趙括乘勝追造秦壁，壁堅拒不得入；奇兵二萬五千人絕趙軍之後，又五千騎絕趙壁間。趙軍分而為二，糧道絕。武安君出輕兵擊之，趙戰不利，因築壁堅守以待救至。秦王聞趙食道絕，自如河內發民年十五以上悉詣長平，遮絕趙救兵及糧食。齊人、楚人救趙。趙人乏食，請粟於齊，〔齊〕王弗許乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同；退齋校同。據補。。周子曰：「夫趙之於齊、楚，扞蔽也，猶齒之有脣也，脣亡則齒寒；今日亡趙，明日患及齊、楚矣。救趙之務，宜若奉漏甕沃焦釜然。且救趙，高義也；卻秦師，顯名也；義救亡國，威卻強秦。不務為此而愛粟，為國計者過矣！」齊王弗聽。〔秋〕，九月，趙軍食絕四十六日，皆內陰相殺食。急來攻秦壘，欲出為四隊，四，五復之，不能出。趙括自出銳卒搏戰，秦人射殺之。趙師大敗，卒四十萬人皆降。武安君曰：「秦已拔上黨，上黨民不樂為秦而歸趙。趙卒反覆，非盡殺之，恐為亂。」乃挾詐而盡坑殺之，遺其小者二百四十人歸趙。前後斬首虜四十五萬人，趙人大震。

The king of Qin heard Kuo was Zhao's general. He secretly made Lord Wu'an supreme general and Wang He second in command, and ordered the army: “Whoever reveals that Lord Wu'an commands—behead him!” When Zhao Kuo reached the army, he changed all the rules, replaced the officers, and marched out to attack Qin. Lord Wu'an feigned defeat and fled, then set two ambush forces to strike them. Zhao Kuo, pressing the victory, pursued to Qin's ramparts; the walls held firm and he could not enter; twenty-five thousand ambush troops cut Zhao's rear, and five thousand horsemen cut between Zhao and the ramparts. Zhao's army was split in two, and the supply line was cut. Lord Wu'an sent light troops against them. Zhao fought poorly, built ramparts, and held on, waiting for relief. The king of Qin heard Zhao's supplies were cut. He came himself from Henei, drafted every man fifteen and older, and sent them all to Changping to block Zhao's relief and grain. Qi and Chu marched to rescue Zhao. the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;²⁶ Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” .²⁷ Master Zhou said, “Zhao is Qi and Chu's shield, as teeth have lips—when the lips are gone the teeth grow cold; if Zhao falls today, tomorrow Qi and Chu will suffer. To rescue Zhao one ought to act as if pouring from a leaking jar onto a scorched cauldron. To rescue Zhao is high righteousness; to repulse Qin's army is illustrious fame; in righteousness save a dying state, in prestige drive back mighty Qin. to neglect this and begrudge grain is gross error in planning for the state!” The king of Qi would not listen. Zhao's army had no food for forty-six days; within the lines they secretly killed one another for food.²⁸ They urgently attacked Qin's ramparts, trying to break out in four columns; four or five times they tried and could not get out. Zhao Kuo himself led elite troops to fight; Qin shot and killed him. Zhao's army was utterly defeated; four hundred thousand men all surrendered. Lord Wu'an said, “Qin has taken Shangdang, but the people of Shangdang were not glad to be Qin's and returned to Zhao. Zhao's soldiers are treacherous. Unless they are all killed, I fear disorder.” He then used deception and buried them all alive, leaving two hundred forty of the youngest to return to Zhao. In all, heads and captives numbered four hundred fifty thousand; the people of Zhao were greatly shaken.

1〔冬〕，十月，〔秦〕武安君分軍為三，王齕攻趙武安、皮牢，拔之。司馬梗北定太原，盡有上黨地。韓、〔趙恐〕( 魏) ，使蘇代厚幣說應侯曰魏) 使蘇代厚幣說應侯曰章校「十二行本『使』上有『恐』字；乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同；退齋校同。」《史記·白起列傳》作「韓趙恐」，今據《白起列傳》改。案：秦攻者，韓、趙兩國。下文有韓、趙，無魏。：「武安君即圍邯鄲乎？」曰：「然。」蘇代曰：「趙亡則秦王王矣。武安君為三公，君能為之下乎？雖無欲為之下，固不得已矣。秦嘗攻韓，圍邢丘，困上黨，上黨之民皆反為趙，天下樂為秦民之日久矣。今亡趙，北地入燕，東地入齊，南地入韓、魏，則君之所得民無幾何人矣。不如因而割之，無以為武安君功也。」應侯言於秦王曰：「秦兵勞，請許韓、趙之割地以和，且休士卒。」王聽之，割韓垣雍、趙六城以和。〔春〕，正月，皆罷兵。武安君由是與應侯有隙。

Wang He attacked Zhao's Wu'an and Pilao and took them.²⁹ Sima Geng marched north and settled Taiyuan, taking all Shangdang. Han and 〔Zhao in fear〕( Wei) Wei)³⁰ sent Su Dai with rich gifts to persuade Lord Ying—Zhang's collation: “In the twelve-line edition ‘fear’ appears above ‘sent’; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” Shiji “Biography of Bai Qi” reads “Han and Zhao in fear”; emended accordingly per the Bai Qi biography. Note: Qin attacked the two states Han and Zhao. Below mention Han and Zhao, but not Wei. : “Will Lord Wu'an now besiege Handan?” He said, “Yes.” Su Dai said, “If Zhao falls, the king of Qin will be king. Lord Wu'an will be one of the Three Ducal Ministers—can you stand below him? Even if you wish not to, you cannot avoid it. Qin once attacked Han, besieged Xingqiu, and trapped Shangdang; Shangdang's people all turned back to Zhao. The day when the world was glad to be Qin's subjects is long past. If Zhao falls now, the north goes to Yan, the east to Qi, the south to Han and Wei—then the subjects you gain will be few indeed. Better seize the moment and take territory—do not let it become Lord Wu'an's achievement.” Lord Ying told the king of Qin, “Our troops are weary. Let Han and Zhao cede land for peace and rest the army.” The king agreed. Han ceded Yuanyong and Zhao six cities for peace. All armies were stood down.³¹ From this Lord Wu'an bore a grudge against Lord Ying.

趙王將使趙郝約事於秦，割六縣。虞卿謂趙王曰：「秦之攻王也，倦而歸乎？王以其力尚能進，愛王而弗攻乎？」王曰：「秦不遺餘力矣，必以倦而歸也。」虞卿曰：「秦以其力攻其所不能取，倦而歸，王又以其力之所不能取以送之，是助秦自攻也。來年秦攻王，王無救矣。」趙王計未定，樓緩至趙，趙王與之計之。樓緩曰：「虞卿得其一，不得其二。秦、趙構難而天下皆說，何也？曰：『吾且因強而乘弱矣。』今趙不如亟割地為和以疑天下，慰秦之心。不然，天下將因秦之怒，乘趙之敝，瓜分之，趙且亡，何秦之圖乎！」虞卿聞之，復見曰：「危哉樓子之計，是愈疑天下，而何慰秦之心哉？獨不言其示天下弱乎？且臣言勿與者，非固忽與而已也。秦索六城於王，而王以六城賂齊。齊，秦之深仇也，其聽王不待辭之畢也。則是王失之於齊而取償於秦，而示天下有能為也。王以此發聲，兵未窺於境，臣見秦之重賂至趙而反媾於王也。從秦為媾，韓、魏聞之，必盡重王。是王一舉而結三國之親而與秦易道也。」趙王曰：「善。」使虞卿東見齊王，與之謀秦。虞卿未返，秦使者已在趙矣。樓緩聞之，亡去。趙王封虞卿以一城。

The king of Zhao was about to send Zhao Hao to treat with Qin and cede six commanderies. Yu Qing said to the king of Zhao, “When Qin attacked you, did it withdraw because it was weary? Or do you think its strength can still advance, that it loves you and therefore held back?” The king said, “Qin has spared no effort; it must be returning because it is weary.” Yu Qing said, “Qin used its full strength against what it could not take and returns weary; if you now give it what its strength could not win, you help Qin attack yourself. Next year when Qin attacks you, none will save you.” The king of Zhao had not decided. Lou Huan came to Zhao, and the king consulted with him. Lou Huan said, “Yu Qing has one part right and one part wrong. When Qin and Zhao clash, all under Heaven rejoices—why? They say, ‘We can now ride the strong to crush the weak. ’ Zhao should quickly cede land for peace to sow doubt among the powers and soothe Qin. Otherwise the world will follow Qin's wrath, exploit Zhao's weakness, and carve it up—Zhao will soon fall. What use plotting against Qin!” When Yu Qing heard this, he saw the king again and said, “Master Lou's plan is perilous! It will only deepen the world's suspicion—how does it soothe Qin? Does he not see that it shows the world you are weak? When I said not to yield, I did not mean simply to refuse for refusal's sake. Qin demands six cities from you—offer those six cities to Qi instead. Qi is Qin's bitter enemy; it will heed you before you finish speaking. You lose nothing to Qi yet gain leverage over Qin, and show the world you can act. Raise this call, and before Qin's army even reaches your border, I expect rich Qin gifts and a peace offer. If you treat with Qin, Han and Wei will surely honor you greatly when they hear. In one move you bind three states to you and turn Qin aside.” The king of Zhao said, “Well said.” He sent Yu Qing east to see the king of Qi and plot against Qin. Before Yu Qing returned, Qin's envoys were already in Zhao. When Lou Huan heard, he fled. The king of Zhao granted Yu Qing one city.

秦之始伐趙也，魏王問於〔諸〕大夫乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校同。據補。，皆以為秦伐趙，於魏便。孔斌曰：「何謂也？」曰：「勝趙，則吾因而服焉；不勝趙，則可承敝而擊之。」子順曰：「不然。秦自孝公以來，戰未嘗屈，今又屬其良將，何敝之承？」大夫曰：「縱其勝趙，於我何損？鄰之羞，國之福也。」子順曰：「秦，貪暴之國也，勝趙，必復他求，吾恐於時魏受其師也。先人有言：燕雀處屋，子母相哺，呴呴焉相樂也，自以為安矣。灶突炎上，棟宇將焚，燕雀顏不變，不知禍之將及己也。今子不悟趙破患將及己，可以人而同於燕雀乎！」子順者，孔子六世孫也。

the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;³² Kong's edition agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” All held that Qin's attack on Zhao benefited Wei.³³ Kong Bin said, “What do you mean?” They said, “If Zhao falls, we submit to Qin; if not, we can strike the exhausted victor.” Zi Shun said, “No. Since Duke Xiao, Qin has never lost a war; now it has its best generals—what exhaustion can you exploit?” The ministers said, “Even if it defeats Zhao, what harm to us? A neighbor's shame is our state's gain.” Zi Shun said, “Qin is greedy and violent. Victorious over Zhao, it will demand more—I fear Wei will be its next target. The ancients said: swallows and sparrows nest in the eaves, mother and young feeding each other, chirping happily, thinking themselves safe. The chimney catches fire and the roof is about to burn—yet the sparrows' faces do not change; they do not know disaster is upon them. You do not see that when Zhao falls, disaster will reach you—can men be as blind as those sparrows!” Zi Shun was a sixth-generation descendant of Confucius.

初，魏王聞子順賢，遣使者奉黃金束帛，聘以為相。子順謂使者曰：「若王能信用吾道，吾道固為治世也，雖蔬食飲水，吾猶為之。若徒欲制服吾身，委以重祿，吾猶一夫耳，魏王奚少於一夫？」使者固請，子順乃之魏；魏王郊迎以為相。子順改嬖寵之官以事賢才，奪無任之祿以賜有功。諸喪職〔秩〕者咸不悅乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同；退齋校同。據補。，乃造謗言。文咨以告子順。子順曰：「民之不可與慮始久矣！古之善為政者，其初不能無謗。子產相鄭，三年而後謗止；吾先君之相魯，三月而後謗止。今吾為政日新，雖不能及賢，庸知謗乎！」文咨曰：「未識先君之謗何也？」子順曰：「先君相魯，人誦之曰：『麛裘而芾，投之無戾；芾而麛裘，投之無郵。』及三月，政化既成，民又誦曰：『裘衣章甫，實獲我所；章甫裘衣，惠我無私。』」文咨喜曰：「乃今知先生不異乎聖賢矣。」子順相魏凡九月，陳大計輒不用，乃喟然曰：「言不見用，是吾言之不當也。言不當於主，居人之官，食人之祿，是尸利素餐，吾罪深矣！」退而以病致仕。人謂子順曰：「王不用子，子其行乎？」答曰：「行將何之？山東之國，將並於秦。秦為不義，義所不入。」遂寢於家。新垣固請子順曰：「賢者所在，必興化致治。今子相魏，未聞異政而即自退，意者志不得乎，何去之速也？」子順曰；「以無異政，所以自退也。且死病無良醫。今秦有吞食天下之心，以義事之，固不獲安；救亡不暇，何化之興！昔伊摯在夏，呂望在商，而二國不治，豈伊、呂之不欲哉？勢不可也。當今山東之國敝而不振，三晉割地以求安，二周折而入秦，燕、齊、楚已屈服矣。以此觀之，不出二十年，天下其盡為秦乎！」----

Earlier, hearing Zi Shun was worthy, the king of Wei sent envoys with gold and silks to engage him as chancellor. Zi Shun told the envoys, “If the king will truly follow my Way, which is meant to govern the age, I would serve even on vegetables and water. If he only wants to buy my person with rich salary, I am still but one man—does the king of Wei lack men?” The envoys pressed him; Zi Shun then went to Wei; the king of Wei met him outside the city and made him chancellor. Zi Shun replaced favorites' posts with offices for talent and took stipends from the useless to reward the meritorious. the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;³⁴ Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” and spread slander.³⁵ Wen Zi reported this to Zi Shun. Zi Shun said, “The people have never been fit to consult at the start! Ancient good rulers always faced slander at first. Zichan governed Zheng three years before slander ceased; my forebear governed Lu three months before slander ceased. My rule improves daily; though I cannot match the sages, why worry about slander!” Wen Zi said, “What was the slander against your forebear?” Zi Shun said, “When my forebear governed Lu, people sang: ‘Fawn coat and knee covers—throw him out, no blame; knee covers and fawn coat—throw him out, no fault. ’ After three months, when his reforms took hold, the people sang: ‘Fur coat and square cap—he gives us what we need; square cap and fur coat—his bounty is without favoritism." ’” Wen Zi said joyfully, “Now I know you are the equal of the sages.” Zi Shun was chancellor of Wei nine months. Whenever he proposed great plans they were ignored. He sighed: “My counsel goes unused—my words must be unfit. Words unheeded by one's lord, yet holding office and eating salary—that is living on others' labor; my fault is grave!” He withdrew and resigned on grounds of illness. Someone asked Zi Shun, “The king will not use you—will you not leave?” He replied, “Go where? The states east of the mountains will soon be swallowed by Qin. Qin is unjust; the righteous do not go there.” He stayed home. Xin Yuan Gu urged Zi Shun: “Where the worthy serve, good government surely follows. You were chancellor of Wei, yet I hear of no notable reforms before you resigned. Was your will frustrated—why leave so soon?” Zi Shun said; “Precisely because there was no reform—that is why I resigned. A dying man finds no good doctor. Qin means to swallow the world; serving it with righteousness cannot bring peace; survival leaves no room—what talk of reform! Yi Yin served Xia and Lü Wang served Shang, yet neither state was well ruled—was it that they did not wish it? The times made it impossible. Today the eastern states are exhausted; the Three Jin cede land for peace; the two Zhou bend to Qin; Yan, Qi, and Chu have already submitted. By this measure, within twenty years all under Heaven will belong to Qin!"

2秦王欲為應侯必報其仇，聞魏齊在平原君所，乃為好言誘平原君至秦而執之。遣使謂趙王曰：「不得齊首，吾不出王弟於關！」魏齊窮，抵虞卿，虞卿棄相印，與魏齊偕亡。至魏，欲因信陵君以走楚。信陵君意難見之，魏齊怒，自殺。趙王卒取其首以與秦，秦乃歸平原君。〔秋〕，九月，五大夫王陵復將兵伐趙乙十一行本同；孔本同。《史記·白起列傳》作「復發兵」，今不改。，武安君病，不任行。

2 The king of Qin wished to satisfy Lord Ying's revenge. Hearing Wei Qi was with Lord Pingyuan, he lured Lord Pingyuan to Qin with fair words and seized him. He sent envoys to tell the king of Zhao, “Unless I get Qi's head, I will not release your brother from the pass!” Wei Qi, desperate, fled to Yu Qing. Yu Qing abandoned his seal and fled with him. Reaching Wei, they hoped Lord Xinling would help them flee to Chu. Lord Xinling hesitated to receive him. Wei Qi, enraged, killed himself. The king of Zhao finally sent his head to Qin; Qin then released Lord Pingyuan. Senior Grandee Wang Ling again led troops against Zhao³⁶ the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees.” The Shiji “Biography of Bai Qi” reads “again sent troops”; left unchanged here. The Lord of Martial Peace was ill and did not take the field.

1〔春〕，正月，王陵攻邯鄲，少利，益發卒佐陵；陵亡五校。武安君病癒，王欲使代之。武安君曰：「邯鄲實未易攻也；且諸侯之救日至。彼諸侯怨秦之日久矣，秦雖勝於長平，士卒死者過半，國內空，遠絕河山而爭人國都，趙應其內，諸侯攻其外，破秦軍必矣。」王自命不行，乃使應侯請之。武安君終辭疾，不肯行；乃以王齕代王陵。

Wang Ling attacked Handan with little success; more troops were sent to reinforce him;³⁷ Ling lost five companies. Lord Wu'an recovered from illness, and the king wished to have him take his place. Lord Wu'an said, “Handan is truly not easy to attack; moreover, the feudal lords' relief forces arrive daily. Those lords have long resented Qin. Though Qin won at Changping, more than half its soldiers died and the state is hollow within. To march far beyond rivers and mountains to seize another's capital—Zhao will answer from within and the lords from without—Qin's army will surely be destroyed.” The king ordered him in person, but he would not go; he then had Lord Ying entreat him. Lord Wu'an ultimately pleaded illness and refused to march; Wang He was then sent to replace Wang Ling.

趙王使平原君求救於楚，平原君約其門下食客文武備具者二十人與之俱，得十九人，餘無可取者。毛遂自薦於平原君。平原君曰：「夫賢士之處世也，譬若錐之處囊中，其末立見。今先生處勝之門下三年於此矣，左右未有所稱誦，勝未有所聞，是先生無所有也。先生不能，先生留！」毛遂曰：「臣乃今日請處囊中耳！使遂蚤得處囊中，乃穎脫而出，非特其末見而已。」平原君乃與之俱，十九人相與目笑之。平原君至楚，與楚王言合從之利害，日出而言之，日中不決。毛遂按劍歷階而上，謂平原君曰：「從之利害，兩言而決耳！今日出而言，日中不決，何也？」楚王怒叱曰：「胡不下！吾乃與而君言，汝何為者也！」毛遂按劍而前曰：「王之所以叱遂者，以楚國之眾也。今十步之內，王不得恃楚國之眾也！王之命懸於遂手。吾君在前。叱者何也？且遂聞湯以七十里之地王天下，文王以百里之壤而臣諸侯，豈其士卒多哉？誠能據其勢而奮其威也。今楚地方五千里，持戟百萬，此霸王之資也。以楚之強，天下弗能當。白起，小豎子耳，率數萬之眾，興師以與楚戰，一戰而舉鄢、郢，再戰而燒夷陵，三戰而辱王之先人，此百世之怨而趙之所羞，而王弗知惡焉。合從者為楚，非為趙也。吾君在前，叱者何也？」楚王曰：「唯唯，誠若先生之言，謹奉社稷以從。」毛遂曰：「從定乎？」楚王曰：「定矣。」毛遂謂楚王之左右曰：「取雞、狗、馬之血來！」毛遂奉銅盤而跪進之楚王曰：「王當歃血以定從，次者吾君，次者遂。」遂定從於殿上。毛遂左手持盤血則右手招十九人曰：「公相與歃此血於堂下！公等錄錄，所謂因人成事者也。」平原君已定從而歸，至於趙，曰：「勝不敢〔復〕相天下士矣乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同；退齋校同。」《史記·平原君列傳》同，據補。！遂以毛遂為上客。於是楚王使春申君將兵救趙，魏王亦使將軍晉鄙將兵十萬救趙。

The king of Zhao sent Lord Pingyuan to beg Chu for help. Lord Pingyuan picked twenty retainers skilled in both civil and military arts to accompany him; he found nineteen—for the rest, none were worth taking. Mao Sui volunteered himself to Lord Pingyuan. Lord Pingyuan said, “When a worthy man lives in the world, he is like an awl in a bag—its point soon shows. You have been in my household three years now; no one around me has praised you, and I have heard nothing of you—you have nothing to show. If you cannot go, stay behind!” Mao Sui said, “I ask only today to be put in the bag! Had I been in the bag sooner, I would have shed the husk and come forth whole—not merely shown my tip.” Lord Pingyuan then took him along; the nineteen exchanged glances and laughed at him. Lord Pingyuan reached Chu and argued the pros and cons of the vertical alliance to the king of Chu; he spoke from morning until noon without a decision. Mao Sui, hand on his sword, strode up the steps and said to Lord Pingyuan, “The alliance's pros and cons decide in two words! You have talked since morning until noon with no decision—why?” The king of Chu shouted angrily, “Get down! I am speaking with your lord—what are you doing here!” Mao Sui, sword in hand, stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty shouts at me because of Chu's numbers. Within ten paces now, Your Majesty cannot rely on Chu's numbers! Your Majesty's life is in my hand. My lord stands before you. Why shout? Moreover I have heard that Tang ruled all under Heaven from seventy li of land, and King Wen made the lords his subjects from a hundred li—was it because their armies were large? They held their position and exerted their prestige. Chu now holds five thousand li and a million halberd-bearers—this is the stuff of hegemony. With such strength, none under Heaven can withstand Chu. Bai Qi is but a stripling who led tens of thousands against Chu—in one battle he took Yan and Ying, in a second burned Yiling, in a third shamed your forebears. This is a grudge for ages and Zhao's shame, yet Your Majesty does not resent it. The alliance is for Chu, not for Zhao. My lord stands before you—why shout?” The king of Chu said, “Yes, yes—as you say, sir; I respectfully offer the state to join the alliance.” Mao Sui said, “Is the alliance settled?” The king of Chu said, “It is settled.” Mao Sui told the king's attendants, “Bring chicken, dog, and horse blood!” Mao Sui, holding a bronze basin, knelt and presented it to the king, saying, “Your Majesty should swear by blood to seal the alliance; next my lord, next me.” The alliance was sealed in the hall. Mao Sui, basin of blood in his left hand, beckoned the nineteen with his right and said, “You gentlemen, swear with this blood below! You are mediocre men—what people call riding others' success.” “the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;³⁸ Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” !”³⁹ He then made Mao Sui a senior guest. Thereupon the king of Chu sent Lord Chunshen with an army to rescue Zhao, and the king of Wei sent General Jin Bi with a hundred thousand men to rescue Zhao.

秦王使謂魏王曰：「吾攻趙，旦暮且下，諸侯敢救之者，吾已拔趙，必移兵先擊之！」魏王恐，遣人止晉鄙，留兵壁鄴，名為救趙，實挾兩端。又使將軍新垣衍間入邯鄲，因平原君說趙王，欲共尊秦為帝，以卻其兵。齊人魯仲連在邯鄲，聞之，往見新垣衍曰：「彼秦者，棄禮義而上首功之國也。彼即肆然而為帝於天下，則連有蹈東海而死耳，不願為之民也！且梁未睹秦稱帝之害故耳，吾將使秦王烹醢梁王！」新垣衍怏然不悅，曰：「先生惡能使秦王烹醢梁王？」魯仲連曰：「固也，吾將言之。昔者九侯、鄂侯、文王，紂之三公也。九侯有子而好，獻之於紂，紂以為惡，醢九侯；鄂侯爭之強，辯之疾，故脯鄂侯；文王聞之，喟然而歎，故拘之牖里之庫百日，欲令之死。今秦，萬乘之國也；梁，亦萬乘之國也。俱據萬乘之國，各有稱王之名，奈何睹其一戰而勝，欲從而帝之，卒就脯醢之地乎！且秦無已而帝，則將行其天子之禮以號令於天下，則且變易諸侯之大臣，彼將奪其所不肖而與其所賢，奪其所憎而與其所愛，彼又將使其子女讒妾為諸侯妃姬，處梁之宮，梁王安得晏然而已乎！而將軍又何以得故寵乎！」新垣衍起，再拜曰：「吾乃今知先生天下之士也！吾請出，不敢復言帝秦矣！」----

The king of Qin sent word to the king of Wei: “I am attacking Zhao and will take it any day now. Whichever lord dares rescue it—once I have taken Zhao, I will turn my army and strike him first!” The king of Wei was afraid; he sent men to halt Jin Bi and kept the army camped at Ye, in name to rescue Zhao but in fact playing both sides. He also sent General Xin Yuan Yan secretly into Handan; through Lord Pingyuan he urged the king of Zhao to join in honoring Qin as emperor and so drive off its army. Lu Zhonglian of Qi was in Handan; hearing this, he went to see Xin Yuan Yan and said, “Qin is a state that casts aside ritual and righteousness and exalts decapitation counts. If it should brazenly make itself emperor over all under Heaven, I would walk into the eastern sea and die rather than be its subject! Moreover Wei has not yet seen the harm of Qin taking the imperial title; I will make the king of Qin boil and mince the king of Wei!” Xin Yuan Yan, sullen and displeased, said, “How can you, sir, make the king of Qin boil and mince the king of Wei?” Lu Zhonglian said, “Indeed I will explain. Long ago Jiu Hou, E Hou, and King Wen were King Zhou's three highest ministers. Jiu Hou had a beautiful daughter and presented her to King Zhou. Zhou thought her evil and had Jiu Hou minced; E Hou argued fiercely and spoke urgently, so he was made into dried meat; King Wen heard and sighed deeply; he was confined in the granary at Youli for a hundred days, the intent being his death. Qin today is a state of ten thousand chariots; Wei is also a state of ten thousand chariots. Both hold ten-thousand-chariot states and each bears the title of king—how can you, seeing it win one battle, wish to follow and make it emperor, and end on the chopping block! Moreover, if Qin does not stop but becomes emperor, it will perform the Son of Heaven's rites to command the world; it will replace the lords' ministers—take from those they dislike and give to those they favor, take from the hated and give to the loved; it will send its sons, daughters, and slanderous concubines to be the lords' consorts, dwelling in Wei's palace—how can the king of Wei rest easy! And how will you, general, keep your former favor!” Xin Yuan Yan rose and bowed twice, saying, “Only now do I know you are a gentleman of all under Heaven! I beg to withdraw; I dare not speak again of making Qin emperor!"

2燕武成王薨，子孝王立。----

2 King Wu Cheng of Yan died; his son King Xiao succeeded.

3初，魏公子無忌仁而下士，致食客三千人。魏有隱士曰侯嬴，年七十，家貧，為大梁夷門監者。公子置酒大會賓客，坐定，公子從車騎虛左自迎侯生。侯生攝敝衣冠，直上載公子上坐不讓，公子執轡愈恭。侯生又謂公子曰：「臣有客在市屠中，願枉車騎過之。」公子引車入市，侯生下見其客朱亥，睥睨，故久立，與其客語，微察公子，公子色愈和；乃謝客就車，至公子家。公子引侯生坐上坐，遍贊賓客，賓客皆驚。及秦圍趙，趙平原君之夫人，公子無忌之姊也，平原君使者冠蓋相屬於魏，讓公子曰：「勝所以自附於婚姻者，以公子之高義，能急人之困也。今邯鄲旦暮降秦而魏救不至，縱公子輕勝棄之，獨不憐公子姊邪？」公子患之，數請魏王敕晉鄙令救趙，及賓客辯士遊說萬端，王終不聽。公子乃屬賓客，約車騎百餘乘，欲赴斗以死於趙；過夷門，見侯生。侯生曰：「公子勉之矣，老臣不能從！」公子去，行數里，心不快，復還見侯生。侯生笑曰：「臣固知公子之還也！今公子無佗端而欲赴秦軍，譬如以肉投餒虎，何功之有！」公子再拜問計。侯嬴屏人曰：「吾聞晉鄙兵符在王臥內，而如姬最幸，力能竊之。嘗聞公子為如姬報其父仇，如姬欲為公子死無所辭，公子誠一開口，則得虎符，奪晉鄙之兵，北救趙，西卻秦，此五伯之功也。」公子如其言，果得兵符。公子行，侯生曰：「將在外，君令有所不受。有如晉鄙合符而不授兵，復請之，則事危矣。臣客朱亥，其人力士，可與俱。晉鄙若聽，大善；不聽，可使擊之！」於是公子請朱亥與俱。至鄴，晉鄙合符，疑之，舉手視公子曰：「吾擁十萬之眾屯於境上，〔國之重任〕乙十一行本同；孔本同；張校同；退齋校同。」《史記·信陵君列傳》同，據補。。今單車來代之，何如哉？朱亥袖四十斤鐵椎，椎殺晉鄙，公子遂勒兵下令軍中曰：「父子俱在軍中者，父歸；兄弟俱在軍中者，兄歸；獨子無兄弟者，歸養。」得選兵八萬人，將之而進。

3 Earlier, the prince of Wei, Wuji, was benevolent and humble toward gentlemen; he gathered three thousand retainers. Wei had a recluse named Hou Ying, seventy years old and poor, who served as gatekeeper at Daliang's Yimen gate. The prince set out wine and feasted his guests; when all were seated, he left the left seat of his chariot empty and went himself to welcome Hou Ying. Hou Ying straightened his worn cap and coat, climbed straight up and took the prince's seat on the chariot without yielding; the prince held the reins ever more respectfully. Hou Ying also said to the prince, “I have a friend in the butcher's market; I wish you would bend your chariot to pass by him.” The prince drove into the market. Hou Ying went down to see his friend Zhu Hai, glanced sideways, and deliberately stood long talking with his friend while secretly watching the prince; the prince's expression grew ever gentler; then bade his friend farewell and mounted the chariot, and they reached the prince's house. The prince led Hou Ying to the seat of honor and presented him to every guest; all were astonished. When Qin besieged Zhao, Lord Pingyuan's wife was the prince's elder sister. Lord Pingyuan's envoys came in unbroken succession to Wei and reproached the prince: “Sheng joined this marriage because your lofty righteousness rushes to those in distress. Handan will soon fall to Qin yet Wei's rescue has not come. Even if you lightly abandon me, will you not pity your own sister?” The prince was troubled; he repeatedly begged the king of Wei to order Jin Bi to rescue Zhao, and his guests and persuaders argued every way—the king would not listen. The prince then entrusted his household, mustered a hundred-odd chariots, and meant to go fight and die for Zhao; passing Yimen gate, he saw Hou Ying. Hou Ying said, “Exert yourself, prince! This old man cannot follow!” The prince left; after several li his heart was uneasy, and he returned to see Hou Ying again. Hou Ying smiled and said, “I knew all along you would return! You have no other plan yet wish to rush Qin's army—it is like throwing meat to a starving tiger; what achievement is there!” The prince bowed twice and asked for a plan. Hou Ying sent the others away and said, “I hear Jin Bi's army tally is in the king's bedchamber, and Ru Ji is most favored—she can steal it. I hear you once avenged Ru Ji's father for her; she would die for you without hesitation. Speak once and you will get the tiger tally, seize Jin Bi's army, rescue Zhao to the north and repulse Qin to the west—this is hegemonic achievement.” The prince did as he said and indeed obtained the tally. As the prince was leaving, Hou Ying said, “When the general is abroad, some of the ruler's orders need not be obeyed. If Jin Bi matches the tally yet refuses the army and you must request again, the affair will be perilous. My friend Zhu Hai is a strong man; take him with you. If Jin Bi obeys, excellent; if he does not, have him struck down!” The prince then asked Zhu Hai to accompany him. “the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;⁴⁰ Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” .⁴¹ Now you come alone in a single chariot to replace me—what do you think of that?” Zhu Hai concealed a forty-jin iron mace in his sleeve and clubbed Jin Bi to death. The prince then took command and ordered the army: “Where father and son are both in the ranks, let the father go home; where brothers are both in the ranks, let the elder go home; only sons with no brothers—go home to support your parents.” He selected eighty thousand troops and marched forward.

王齕久圍邯鄲不拔，諸侯來救，戰數不利。武安君聞之曰：「王不聽吾計，今何如矣？」王聞之，怒，強起武安君。武安君稱病篤，不肯起。

Wang He had long besieged Handan without success. The allied states came to the rescue, and in several battles he fared poorly. Lord Wu'an heard of it and said, “The king would not heed my plan—how does it stand now?” The king heard of it, grew angry, and forcibly recalled Lord Wu'an. Lord Wu'an claimed he was gravely ill and refused to take command.

1〔冬〕，十月，免武安君為士伍，遷之陰密。十二月，益發卒軍汾城旁。武安君病，未行，諸侯攻王齕，齕數卻，使者日至，王乃使人遣武安君，不得留咸陽中。武安君出咸陽西門十里，至杜郵。王與應侯群臣謀曰：「白起之遷，意尚怏怏有餘言。」王乃使使者賜之劍，武安君遂自殺。秦人憐之，鄉邑皆祭祀焉。

Lord Wu'an was reduced to common rank and banished to Yinmi.⁴² In the twelfth month, more troops were sent to encamp near Fencheng. Lord Wu'an was ill and had not yet left. The allied states attacked Wang He; He was repeatedly driven back, and envoys arrived daily. The king then sent men to dispatch Lord Wu'an and would not let him stay in Xianyang. Lord Wu'an left Xianyang by the west gate, traveled ten li, and reached Duyou. The king consulted with Lord Ying and his ministers, saying, “In banishing Bai Qi, his mind is still resentful and he may yet speak out.” The king then sent an envoy with a sword, and Lord Wu'an killed himself. The people of Qin pitied him; villages and districts everywhere made offerings to him.

魏公子無忌大破秦師於邯鄲下，王齕解邯鄲圍走。鄭安平為趙所困，將二萬人降趙，應侯由是得罪。

Lord Wuji of Wei routed the Qin army below Handan; Wang He lifted the siege and fled. Zheng Anping, trapped by Zhao, surrendered twenty thousand men; Lord Ying thereby fell into disgrace.

公子無忌既存趙，遂不敢歸魏，與賓客留居趙，使將將其軍還魏。趙王與平原君計，以五城封公子。趙王掃除自迎，執主人之禮，引公子就西階。公子側行辭讓，從東階上，自言罪過，以負於魏，無功於趙。趙王與公子飲至暮，口不忍獻五城，以公子退讓也。趙王以鄗為公子湯沐邑。魏亦復以信陵奉公子。公子聞趙有處士毛公隱於博徒，薛公隱於賣漿家，欲見之。兩人不肯見，公子乃間步從之游。平原君聞而非之。公子曰；「吾聞平原君之賢，故背魏而救趙。今平原君所與游，徒豪舉耳，不求士也。以無忌從此兩人游，尚恐其不我欲也，平原君乃以為羞乎？」為裝欲去。平原君免冠謝，乃止。

Lord Wuji, having saved Zhao, dared not return to Wei. He and his retainers stayed in Zhao while he sent a general to lead his army home. The king of Zhao and Lord Pingyuan planned to enfeoff the prince with five cities. The king of Zhao swept the court and went out to meet him, performing the host's rites and leading him toward the western steps. The prince walked sideways in refusal, ascended by the eastern steps, and spoke of his faults—that he had failed Wei and done Zhao no service. The king drank with the prince until evening but could not bring himself to offer the five cities, because of the prince's modest refusal. The king of Zhao made Hao the prince's fief for his upkeep. Wei likewise restored Xiling as the prince's fief. The prince heard that in Zhao the recluse Lord Mao hid among gamblers and Lord Xue hid in a wine-seller's shop, and wished to see them. The two refused to see him; the prince then went on foot in private to join their company. Lord Pingyuan heard of it and disapproved. The prince said; “I heard of Lord Pingyuan's worth, and therefore left Wei to rescue Zhao. Now those Lord Pingyuan keeps company with are merely men of swaggering display; he does not seek true gentlemen. That I, Wuji, should keep company with these two—I still fear they may not want me—yet Lord Pingyuan thinks it shameful?” He packed to leave. Lord Pingyuan doffed his cap and apologized, and the prince stayed.

平原君欲封魯連，使者三返，終不肯受。又以千金為魯連壽，魯連笑曰：「所貴於天下〔之〕士〔者〕，為人排患釋難解紛亂而無取也。即有取〔者〕，是商賈之事也，而連不忍為也！」遂辭平原君而去，終身不復見。----

Lord Pingyuan wished to enfeoff Lu Lian; the envoy came three times, yet he would not accept. “is to remove others' calamities, ease their hardships, and resolve their quarrels without taking reward.⁴³ that is a merchant's business, and Lian cannot bear to do it!”⁴⁴ He then took leave of Lord Pingyuan and departed, and never saw him again.

2秦太子之妃曰華陽夫人，無子；夏姬生子異人。異人質於趙；秦數伐趙，趙人不禮之。異人以庶孽孫質於諸侯，車乘進用不饒，居處困不得意。

2 The crown prince of Qin's consort was Lady Huayang; she had no son; Lady Xia bore a son, Yiren. Yiren was a hostage in Zhao; Qin repeatedly attacked Zhao, and the men of Zhao treated him discourteously. Yiren, a collateral grandson by a concubine serving as hostage abroad, had scant chariots, provisions, and advancement; he lived in hardship and was discontent.

陽翟大賈呂不韋適邯鄲，見之，曰：「此奇貨可居！」乃往見異人，說曰：「吾能大子之門。」異人笑曰：「且自大君之門！」不韋曰：「子不知也，吾門待子門而大。」異人心知所謂，乃引與坐，深語。不韋曰：「秦王老矣。太子愛華陽夫人，夫人無子。子之兄弟二十餘人，子傒有〔承〕( 秦) 國之業秦) 國之業章校「十二行本『秦』作『承』；乙十一行本同；孔本同；退齋校同。」據改。，士倉又輔之。子居中，不甚見幸，久質諸侯。太子即位，子不得爭為嗣矣。」異人曰：「然則奈何？」不韋曰：「能立適嗣者，獨華陽夫人耳。不韋雖貧，請以千金為子西遊，立子為嗣，」異人曰：「必如君策，請得分秦國與君共之。」不韋乃以五百金與異人，令結賓客。復以五百金買奇物玩好，自奉而西，見華陽夫人之姊，而以奇物獻於夫人，因譽子異人之賢，賓客遍天下，常日夜泣思太子及夫人，曰：「異人也以夫人為天！」夫人大喜。不韋因使其姊說夫人曰：「夫以色事人者，色衰則愛馳。今夫人愛而無子，不以繁華時蚤自結於諸子中賢孝者，舉以為適，即色衰愛馳，雖欲開一言，尚可得乎！今子異人賢，而自知中子不得為適，夫人誠以此時拔之，是子異人無國而有國，夫人無子而有子也，則終身有寵於秦矣。」夫人以為然，承間言於太子曰：「子異人絕賢，來往者皆稱譽之。」因泣曰：「妾不幸無子，願得子異人立以為〔嗣〕( 子) 子) 章校「十二行本『子』作『嗣』；乙十一行本同；孔本同。」《史記·呂不韋列傳》同，據改。，以託妾身！」太子許之，與夫人刻玉符，約以為嗣，因厚饋遺異人，而請呂不韋傅之。異人名譽盛於諸侯。

Lü Buwei, a great merchant of Yangzhai, happened to reach Handan. Seeing him, he said, “Here is a rare commodity worth hoarding!” He then went to see Yiren and said, “I can enlarge your household.” Yiren laughed and said, “Better enlarge your own household first!” Buwei said, “You do not understand—my household waits for yours to grow great.” Yiren understood what he meant; he drew him to sit and spoke at length. Buwei said, “The king of Qin is old. The crown prince loves Lady Huayang, and she has no son. You have more than twenty brothers. Zi Xi has 〔the succession to〕( Qin) Qin)⁴⁵ the state's enterprise—Zhang's collation: “In the twelve-line edition ‘Qin’ reads ‘succession’; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees.” emended accordingly. and Shi Cang again assists him. You stand in the middle among them and are not greatly favored; you have long been a hostage abroad. When the crown prince succeeds, you will not be able to contend for the succession.” Yiren said, “Then what is to be done?” Buwei said, “Only Lady Huayang can establish the legitimate heir. Though I am poor, I beg to use a thousand in gold for you to travel west and make you heir.” Yiren said, “If it goes as you plan, I beg to share Qin with you.” Buwei then gave Yiren five hundred in gold to win over retainers. He again used five hundred in gold for rare curios, went west himself, saw Lady Huayang's elder sister, and presented them to the lady. He praised Yiren's worth, saying his retainers were spread across the world and that he wept day and night for the crown prince and the lady, saying, “Yiren too takes you as his heaven!” The lady was greatly pleased. Buwei then had his elder sister persuade the lady, saying, “Those who serve by beauty—when beauty fades, affection runs off. You are loved yet have no son. If you do not, while you are still in your prime, early bind yourself to the worthiest and most filial among the sons and raise him as heir—then when beauty fades and affection runs off, even if you wish to speak, will anyone listen? Yiren is worthy and knows that as a middle son he cannot become heir. If you truly elevate him now, Yiren will have a realm though he has none, and you will have a son though you have none—then you will enjoy favor in Qin for life.” The lady agreed and seized an opportunity to tell the crown prince, “Yiren is surpassingly worthy; everyone praises him.” She wept and said, “Your servant is unlucky and has no son. I wish to have Yiren established as 〔heir〕( son) son) Zhang's collation: “In the twelve-line edition ‘son’ reads ‘heir’; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; Kong's edition agrees.” Shiji “Biography of Lü Buwei” agrees; emended accordingly. and entrust him to me!” The crown prince agreed. He and the lady carved a jade tally and pledged Yiren as heir; they sent rich gifts to Yiren and asked Lü Buwei to tutor him. Yiren's fame spread among the feudal states.

呂不韋娶邯鄲姬絕美者與居，知其有娠，異人從不韋飲，見而請之，不韋佯怒，既而獻之，孕期年而生子政，異人遂以為夫人。邯鄲之圍，趙人欲殺之，異人與不韋行金六百斤予守者，脫亡赴秦軍，遂得歸。異人楚服而見華陽夫人，夫人曰：「吾楚人也，當自子之。」因更其名曰楚。

Lü Buwei married a woman of Handan of surpassing beauty. Knowing she was pregnant, Yiren drank with Buwei, saw her, and asked for her. Buwei feigned anger, then gave her to him. When her term was full she bore Zheng; Yiren made her his principal wife. During the siege of Handan, the men of Zhao wished to kill him. Yiren and Buwei gave six hundred jin of gold to the guards; he escaped to the Qin army and returned home. Yiren wore Chu dress to see Lady Huayang. The lady said, “I am a woman of Chu; I should make you my son.” She thereupon changed his name to Chu.

1秦將軍摎伐韓，取陽城、負黍，斬首四萬。伐趙，取二十餘縣，斬首虜九萬。〔西周君〕( 赧王) 恐赧王) 恐據《史記·周本紀》改，下同。按：此是《通鑑》沿用《帝王世紀》之誤謬。，背秦，與諸侯約從，將天下銳師出伊闕攻秦，令無得通陽城。秦王使將軍摎攻西周，〔西周君〕( 赧王) 入秦，頓首受罪，盡獻其邑三十六，口三萬。秦受其獻，歸〔西周君〕( 赧王) 於周。是歲，赧王崩。----

1 The Qin general Lao attacked Han, took Yangcheng and Fushu, and took forty thousand heads. He attacked Zhao, took more than twenty districts, and killed or captured ninety thousand. 〔The lord of Western Zhou〕( King Nan) King Nan)⁴⁶ was afraid—emended per Shiji “Basic Annals of Zhou”; the same below. , turned against Qin, allied with the feudal lords in a horizontal league, and would lead the world's elite troops out through Yique to attack Qin, ordering that none reach Yangcheng.⁴⁷ The king of Qin sent General Liu to attack Western Zhou. [The Lord of Western Zhou]( King Nan) entered Qin, prostrated himself to accept punishment, and surrendered all thirty-six of his towns and thirty thousand people. Qin accepted his surrender and returned [the Lord of Western Zhou]( King Nan) to Zhou. That year, King Nan died.

2〔楚滅魯，遷魯頃公於莒，為家人，絕祀〕。

.⁴⁸

Footnotes

, Wei, and Chu jointly attacked Yan
[stayed] twenty-eight days without advancing
Once Zhao She had sent the [Qin] spy on his way
Xu Li said: "Qin did not expect the Zhao [army] here
Fan Ju told the guard: "[Sir,] if you can get me out
Zheng Anping of Wei [heard of it and then] took Fan Ju and fled
exercise hegemony
[In summer] Qin seized Xingqiu and [Huai] from Wei
I heard that Qin had the queen dowager and Marquis Rang [Gaoling, Huayang, and Jingyang]
[In autumn], in the ninth month, Marquis Rang was sent out to Tao
The king of Zhao had just ascended the throne; the queen dowager held power, [and Qin pressed the attack hard]
Chunyu Long, the left mentor, [said he] wished to see the queen dowager
and walked slowly forward and sat down
The punctuated editions of the Records, the Intrigues, and the silk manuscript “Writings of the Warring States Coalitionists” all break at the character zhi
He apologized, saying: “This old minister’s feet ail me; [I truly could not walk fast]
The queen dowager said: “[Very well]
The queen dowager said: “Do men also love [and cherish] their youngest sons?
He said〕
〔Your old servant believes your planning for Lord Chang’an is shortsighted; therefore he holds you love him less than the Queen of Yan〕
Qin’s Lord of Martial Peace attacked Han and took nine cities
Chu surrendered 〔Xia〕 Province to Qin to make peace
〔Qin’s〕 Lord of Martial Peace attacked Han
Zhao
〔In summer, the fourth month〕
one lieutenant general and four commandants
The men of Zhao lacked food and asked grain of Qi. The 〔Qi〕 king refused
supplemented accordingly
〔Autumn〕, ninth month
〔Winter〕, tenth month, 〔Qin〕 Lord Wu'an divided the army into three
, sent Su Dai with rich gifts to persuade Lord Ying, saying
〔Spring〕, first month
When Qin first attacked Zhao, the king of Wei asked his 〔various〕 ministers
supplemented accordingly
All who lost office 〔and rank〕 were displeased
supplemented accordingly
〔Autumn〕, ninth month
〔Spring〕, first month
Lord Pingyuan, the alliance settled, returned to Zhao and said, “Sheng dares not 〔again〕 judge the gentlemen of all under Heaven
The Shiji “Biography of Lord Pingyuan” agrees; supplemented accordingly
At Ye, Jin Bi matched the tally, grew suspicious, raised his hand and looked at the prince and said, “I hold a hundred thousand men encamped on the border, 〔the state's heavy charge〕
Shiji “Biography of Lord Xinling” agrees; supplemented accordingly
〔Winter〕, tenth month
He also sent a thousand in gold to honor Lu Lian. Lu Lian laughed and said, “What is prized in the gentlemen of all under Heaven〔之〕〔者〕
To take reward〔者〕
the state's enterprise
was afraid
This is an error in which the Comprehensive Mirror followed the Chronicles of Emperors and Kings
[Chu destroyed Lu, moved Duke Qing of Lu to Ju, made him a commoner, and cut off the sacrifices]

Footnotes

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