Hereditary House of Yan Shaogong, Fourth

The Duke of Shao, named Shi, shared the same surname as the Zhou royal house, being of the Ji clan. After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang tyrant Zhou, he enfeoffed the Duke of Shao at Northern Yan.

During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, the Duke of Shao served as one of the Three Dukes: from the west of Shan, the Duke of Shao governed; from the east of Shan, the Duke of Zhou governed. King Cheng was young, and the Duke of Zhou acted as regent, managing state affairs and assuming the throne's authority. The Duke of Shao harbored doubts about this, so the Duke of Zhou wrote the "Jun Shi." The Duke of Shao, named Shi, was displeased with the Duke of Zhou. The Duke of Zhou then explained, saying: "In the time of Tang, there was Yi Yin, who could communicate with the High Heaven; in the time of Tai Wu, there were Yi Zhi and Chen Hu, who could communicate with the Supreme Emperor, and Wu Xian governed the royal house; in the time of Zu Yi, there was Wu Xian; in the time of Wu Ding, there was Gan Ban: it was by relying on these worthy ministers that the Yin dynasty was peacefully governed." Only then did the Duke of Shao become pleased.

The Duke of Shao governed the western regions and was greatly beloved by the common people. When the Duke of Shao toured the villages, there was a pear tree, and he would settle cases and handle government affairs under it. From feudal lords to commoners, each obtained his proper place, and no one was neglected in his duties. After the Duke of Shao died, the people missed his governance and cherished the pear tree, not daring to cut it down. They sang and recited about it, composing the poem "The Sweet Pear Tree."

Nine generations after the Duke of Shao came Marquis Hui. Marquis Hui of Yan was contemporary with the period when King Li of Zhou fled to Zhi and the Gonghe regency.

Marquis Hui died, and his son, Marquis Xi, succeeded him. In this year, King Xuan of Zhou had just ascended the throne. In the twenty-first year of Marquis Xi, Duke Huan of Zheng was first enfeoffed at Zheng. In the thirty-sixth year, Marquis Xi died, and his son, Marquis Qing, succeeded him.

In the twentieth year of Marquis Qing, King You of Zhou, given to debauchery and misrule, was killed by the Quanrong barbarians. Qin was first listed among the feudal lords.

In the twenty-fourth year, Marquis Qing died, and his son, Marquis Ai, succeeded him. Marquis Ai reigned for two years and then died, and his son, Marquis Zheng, succeeded him. Marquis Zheng reigned for thirty-six years and then died, and his son, Marquis Mu, succeeded him.

In the seventh year of Marquis Mu, it was the first year of Duke Yin of Lu. In the eighteenth year, he died, and his son, Marquis Xuan, succeeded him. Marquis Xuan reigned for thirteen years and then died, and his son, Marquis Huan, succeeded him. Marquis Huan reigned for seven years and then died, and his son, Duke Zhuang, succeeded him.

In the twelfth year of Duke Zhuang, Duke Huan of Qi first became hegemon. In the sixteenth year, Yan, together with Song and Wei, attacked King Hui of Zhou. King Hui fled to Wen, and they installed King Hui's younger brother, Tui, as king of Zhou. In the seventeenth year, Zheng arrested Yan Zhongfu and escorted King Hui back to Zhou. In the twenty-seventh year, the Shanrong invaded our state. Duke Huan of Qi rescued Yan and then marched north to attack the Shanrong before returning. The ruler of Yan escorted Duke Huan of Qi beyond the borders of Yan. Duke Huan then ceded to Yan the territory that the Yan ruler had reached, ordering Yan to jointly offer tribute to the Son of Heaven of Zhou, just as the duties during the Chengzhou period; he also ordered Yan to restore and clarify the laws of the Duke of Shao. In the thirty-third year, Duke Zhuang died, and his son, Duke Xiang, succeeded him.

In the twenty-sixth year of Duke Xiang, Duke Wen of Jin held the covenant at Jiantu and became hegemon. In the thirty-first year, the Qin army was defeated at Yao. In the thirty-seventh year, Duke Mu of Qin died. In the fortieth year, Duke Xiang died, and Duke Huan succeeded him.

Duke Huan reigned for sixteen years and then died, and Duke Xuan succeeded him. Duke Xuan reigned for fifteen years and then died, and Duke Zhao succeeded him. Duke Zhao reigned for thirteen years and then died, and Duke Wu succeeded him. In this year, Jin eliminated the three Xi ministers.

Duke Wu reigned for nineteen years and then died, and Duke Wen succeeded him. Duke Wen reigned for six years and then died, and Duke Yi succeeded him. In the first year of Duke Yi, Cui Zhu of Qi assassinated his ruler, Duke Zhuang of Qi. In the fourth year, Duke Yi died, and his son, Duke Hui, succeeded him.

In the first year of Duke Hui, Gao Zhi of Qi came to seek refuge. In the sixth year, Duke Hui had many favored concubines. Duke Hui wanted to remove the various grandees and install his favored Ji Song's son. The grandees jointly killed Ji Song. Duke Hui, afraid, fled to Qi. In the fourth year, Gao Yan of Qi went to Jin, requesting to jointly attack Yan and escort the ruler of Yan back. Duke Ping of Jin agreed, and together with Qi, they attacked Yan and escorted Duke Hui back. After Duke Hui returned to Yan, he died. Yan installed Duke Dao.

Duke Dao reigned for seven years and then died, and Duke Gong succeeded him. Duke Gong reigned for five years and then died, and Duke Ping succeeded him. The house of Jin declined, and the six ministers began to grow powerful. In the eighteenth year of Duke Ping, King Helü of Wu broke through Chu and entered Ying. In the nineteenth year, Duke Ping died, and Duke Jian succeeded him. Duke Jian reigned for twelve years and then died, and Duke Xian succeeded him. Zhao Yang of Jin besieged the Fan and Zhonghang clans at Chaoge. In the twelfth year of Duke Xian, Tian Chang of Qi assassinated his ruler, Duke Jian of Qi. In the fourteenth year, Confucius died. In the twenty-eighth year, Duke Xian died, and Duke Xiao succeeded him.

In the twelfth year of Duke Xiao, Han, Wei, and Zhao eliminated the Zhi Bo and divided his lands. The three Jin states grew strong.

In the fifteenth year, Duke Xiao died, and Duke Cheng succeeded him. Duke Cheng reigned for sixteen years and then died, and Duke Min succeeded him. Duke Min reigned for thirty-one years and then died, and Duke Xi succeeded him. In this year, the three Jin states were listed among the feudal lords.

In the thirtieth year of Duke Xi, Yan defeated Qi at Linying. Duke Xi died, and Duke Huan succeeded him. Duke Huan reigned for eleven years and then died, and Duke Wen succeeded him. In this year, Duke Xian of Qin died. Qin grew even stronger.

In the nineteenth year of Duke Wen, King Wei of Qi died. In the twenty-eighth year, Su Qin first came to pay a visit and lobbied Duke Wen. Duke Wen gave him chariots, horses, gold, and silk, and sent him to Zhao. Marquis Su of Zhao employed him. Thus, Su Qin united the six states and became the leader of the Vertical Alliance. King Hui of Qin gave his daughter in marriage to the crown prince of Yan.

In the twenty-ninth year, Duke Wen died, and the crown prince succeeded him. This was King Yi.

As soon as King Yi ascended the throne, King Xuan of Qi, taking advantage of Yan's mourning, attacked our state and seized ten cities. Su Qin lobbied Qi, causing Qi to return the ten cities to Yan. In the tenth year, the ruler of Yan proclaimed himself king. Su Qin had an illicit affair with the wife of Duke Wen of Yan. Fearing execution, he lobbied King Yi to send him as a spy to Qi, intending to throw Qi into chaos. King Yi reigned for twelve years and then died, and his son, King Kuai of Yan, succeeded him.

After King Kuai of Yan ascended the throne, the people of Qi killed Su Qin. While Su Qin was in Yan, he had formed a marriage alliance with the Yan prime minister, Zi Zhi, and Su Dai associated with Zi Zhi. After Su Qin died, King Xuan of Qi employed Su Dai again. In the third year of King Kuai of Yan, Yan, together with Chu and the three Jin states, attacked Qin but returned without victory. Zi Zhi served as prime minister of Yan, holding a position of high honor and great power, acting arbitrarily. Su Dai, as an envoy from Qi, visited Yan. King Kuai asked, "How is the King of Qi?" Su Dai replied, "He will surely not become hegemon." King Kuai said, "Why?" Su Dai answered, "Because he does not trust his ministers." Su Dai wanted to provoke King Kuai to honor Zi Zhi. Consequently, King Kuai placed great trust in Zi Zhi. Zi Zhi then gave Su Dai a hundred yi of gold and let him use it as he pleased.

Lu Mao Shou said to King Kuai, "It would be better to yield the state to Prime Minister Zi Zhi. People say that Yao was a worthy man because he yielded the empire to Xu You. Xu You did not accept it, so Yao gained the reputation of yielding the empire without actually losing it. Now if Your Majesty yields the state to Zi Zhi, Zi Zhi will surely not dare to accept it, and Your Majesty's actions will be the same as Yao's." King Kuai then entrusted the state to Zi Zhi, and Zi Zhi became even more honored. Someone said, "Yu recommended Yi but subsequently employed Qi's followers as officials. When he grew old, he thought Qi was not capable of governing the empire, so he passed the empire to Yi. Soon after, Qi and his partisans attacked Yi and seized the empire. The people of the world said that Yu in name passed the empire to Yi but in reality allowed Qi to take it himself. Now Your Majesty says you entrust the state to Zi Zhi, yet all officials are none other than the crown prince's men. This is entrusting the state to Zi Zhi in name but in reality having the crown prince wield power." King Kuai then recalled the seals of all officials drawing three hundred shi of grain or more and handed them all to Zi Zhi. Zi Zhi faced south and exercised the king's authority, while King Kuai, growing old, no longer attended to state affairs, instead acting as a minister. All major state affairs were decided by Zi Zhi.

In the third year, the state fell into great chaos, and the common people were terrified. General Shi Bei plotted with Crown Prince Ping to attack Zi Zhi. The various generals said to King Min of Qi: "Take this opportunity to attack; you will surely be able to break Yan." The King of Qi therefore sent a message to Crown Prince Ping of Yan, saying: "I have heard of the prince's righteousness, that you intend to set aside private interests and establish public justice, to rectify the relations between ruler and minister, and to clarify the positions of father and son. My state is small and insufficient to serve as the vanguard. Nevertheless, I will follow the prince's commands." The prince then gathered his faction and assembled his troops. General Shi Bei surrounded the palace and attacked Zi Zhi, but could not overcome him. General Shi Bei and the common people instead turned against Crown Prince Ping. General Shi Bei was killed in battle, and his body was displayed in public. Thus the turmoil continued for several months, with tens of thousands dead. Everyone was terrified, and the people became alienated and disaffected. Men Ke said to the King of Qi: "Now is the time to attack Yan; this is the opportunity of King Wen and King Wu when they attacked Zhou. Do not let it slip away." The King of Qi then ordered Zhang Zi to lead the troops of the five capitals, along with the forces from the northern borders, to attack Yan. The Yan soldiers did not engage in battle, and the city gates were not closed. King Kuai of Yan died, and the Qi army achieved a great victory. Two years after the death of Zi Zhi of Yan, the people of Yan jointly established Crown Prince Ping, who became King Zhao of Yan.

King Zhao of Yan ascended the throne after Yan had been broken. He humbled himself and used generous gifts to attract worthy men. He said to Guo Wei: "Qi took advantage of our internal disorder to launch a sneak attack and break Yan. I deeply know that Yan is weak and its strength insufficient to take revenge. However, if I could truly obtain a worthy man to govern the state together with me, so as to wash away the shame of the former king, this is my wish. Sir, if you see any worthy man available, I will personally serve him." Guo Wei said: "If the king truly wishes to attract worthy men, let him begin with Guo Wei. How much more, then, would those more worthy than I be willing to come from a thousand li away!" Thus King Zhao built a new palace for Guo Wei and treated him like a teacher. Yue Yi came from Wei, Zou Yan came from Qi, Ju Xin came from Zhao, and worthy men vied to flock to Yan. The king mourned the dead, comforted the orphans, and shared hardships and joys with the people.

In the twenty-eighth year, Yan became wealthy and abundant. The soldiers were eager to fight and did not fear war. So the king made Yue Yi the supreme general, and together with Qin, Chu, and the three Jin states, they plotted to attack Qi. The Qi army was defeated, and King Min of Qi fled into exile. The Yan army alone pursued the routed troops, entered Linzi, seized all of Qi's treasures, and burned the palaces and ancestral temples of Qi. Among Qi's cities, only Liao, Ju, and Jimo were not taken; all the rest fell into Yan's possession, lasting for six years.

In the thirty-third year of King Zhao of Yan, he died, and his son King Hui ascended the throne.

When King Hui was crown prince, he had been on bad terms with Yue Yi. After he ascended the throne, he suspected Yue Yi and sent Qi Jie to replace him as general. Yue Yi fled to Zhao. Tian Dan of Qi, relying on the city of Jimo, defeated the Yan army. Qi Jie died in battle, the Yan army withdrew, and Qi recovered all its former cities. King Min of Qi died in Ju, and his son was established as King Xiang.

Seven years later, King Hui of Yan died. Han, Wei, and Chu jointly attacked Yan. King Wu Cheng of Yan ascended the throne.

In the seventh year of King Wu Cheng, Tian Dan of Qi attacked our state and captured Zhongyang. In the thirteenth year, Qin defeated the Zhao army of over four hundred thousand men at Changping. In the fourteenth year, King Wu Cheng died, and his son King Xiao ascended the throne.

In the first year of King Xiao, the Qin army that had besieged Handan lifted the siege and departed. In the third year, he died, and his son, the present king, Xi, ascended the throne.

Now, in the fourth year of King Xi of Yan, King Zhao of Qin died. The King of Yan sent his prime minister, Li Fu, to conclude a friendly alliance with Zhao, using five hundred gold pieces to host a feast for the King of Zhao. After returning, Li Fu reported to the King of Yan, saying: "The able-bodied men around the King of Zhao all died in the Battle of Changping, and their orphans have not yet grown up. Zhao can be attacked." The King of Yan summoned the lord of Changguo, Yue Jian, and asked his opinion. Yue Jian replied: "Zhao is a state surrounded on four sides, and its people are familiar with military affairs. It cannot be attacked." The King of Yan said: "I will use five times their forces to attack them." Yue Jian replied: "It will not work." The King of Yan grew angry, and all the ministers considered the attack feasible. In the end, he mobilized two armies with two thousand chariots. Li Fu led an army to attack Hao, and Qing Qin attacked Dai. Only the great official Jiang Qu said to the King of Yan: "Having just opened the borders and concluded an alliance, and having feasted the ruler of that state with five hundred gold pieces, for the envoy to return and then attack them is inauspicious. The campaign will not succeed." The King of Yan did not listen, but personally led a separate army to follow. Jiang Qu grabbed the king's sash to stop him, saying: "The king must not go personally; if he goes, it will not succeed." The King of Yan kicked him away. Jiang Qu wept, saying: "I am not doing this for myself, but for the king!" When the Yan army reached Songzi, Zhao sent Lian Po to lead an army. He defeated Li Fu at Hao and defeated Qing Qin at Dai. Yue Jian fled to Zhao. Lian Po pursued the Yan army for over five hundred li and besieged the capital of Yan. The people of Yan begged for peace, but the people of Zhao would not agree. They insisted that Jiang Qu must conduct the negotiations. Yan appointed Jiang Qu as prime minister to conduct the peace talks. Zhao accepted Jiang Qu's plea and lifted the siege of Yan.

In the sixth year of King Xi of Yan, Qin destroyed the Eastern Zhou and established the Sanchuan Commandery. In the seventh year, Qin captured thirty-seven cities of Zhao, including Yuci, and established the Taiyuan Commandery. In the ninth year, King Zheng of Qin had just ascended the throne. In the tenth year, Zhao sent Lian Po to lead an army to attack Fanyang and captured it. King Xiao Cheng of Zhao died, and King Dao Xiang ascended the throne. He sent Yue Cheng to replace Lian Po. Lian Po did not obey, attacked Yue Cheng, and Yue Cheng fled. Lian Po fled to Daliang. In the twelfth year, Zhao sent Li Mu to attack Yan, capturing Wusui and Fangcheng. Ju Xin had previously lived in Zhao and was on good terms with Pang Nuan, but later fled to Yan. The King of Yan, seeing that Zhao had been repeatedly besieged by Qin and that Lian Po had left, sent Pang Nuan to lead an army, intending to take advantage of Zhao's exhaustion to attack it. He consulted Ju Xin, who said: "Pang Nuan is easy to deal with." The King of Yan sent Ju Xin to lead an army to attack Zhao. Zhao sent Pang Nuan to counterattack, capturing twenty thousand Yan soldiers and killing Ju Xin. Qin captured twenty cities of Wei and established the Dong Commandery. In the nineteenth year, Qin captured nine cities of Zhao, including Ye. King Dao Xiang of Zhao died. In the twenty-third year, Crown Prince Dan went to Qin as a hostage but fled back to Yan. In the twenty-fifth year, Qin captured An, the king of Han, and destroyed Han, establishing the Yingchuan Commandery. In the twenty-seventh year, Qin captured Qian, the king of Zhao, and destroyed Zhao. Prince Jia of Zhao established himself as the King of Dai.

The King of Yan, seeing that Qin was about to destroy the six states, and that the Qin army had reached the Yi River, knew that disaster was about to befall Yan. Crown Prince Dan secretly supported twenty strong men and sent Jing Ke to present the map of Dukang to Qin, taking the opportunity to assassinate the King of Qin. The King of Qin discovered the plot, killed Jing Ke, and sent General Wang Jian to attack Yan. In the twenty-ninth year, the Qin army captured the Yan capital of Ji. The King of Yan fled and moved to Liaodong, where he killed Crown Prince Dan and offered his head to Qin. In the thirtieth year, Qin destroyed Wei.

In the thirty-third year, the Qin army captured Liaodong, captured King Xi of Yan, and ultimately destroyed Yan. That same year, the Qin general Wang Ben also captured King Jia of Dai.

The Grand Historian says: Shao Gong Shi can truly be called benevolent! Even the sweet pear tree is remembered and longed for, how much more so the man himself? Yan was situated near the Man and Mo tribes, and internally it was interwoven with Qi and Jin, struggling to survive among powerful states. It was the weakest and was nearly destroyed many times. Yet the sacrifices to its altars of soil and grain continued for eight or nine hundred years, and among the states of the Ji clan, it alone was the last to be destroyed. Was this not the achievement of Shao Gong?

Shao Gong served as a minister, governing from the dividing line of Shaan. People cherished his virtue, and even the sweet pear tree was remembered. Duke Zhuang of Yan saw off the hegemon; Duke Hui of Yan doted on his favorite concubine. Duke Wen of Yan followed Zhao; Su Qin displayed his eloquence. King Yi had just ascended the throne when King Xuan of Qi bullied us. King Kuai of Yan was without the Way, yielding his throne to Zi Zhi. King Zhao treated worthy men with courtesy, seeking revenge against Linzi of Qi. The plan of Dukang did not succeed, and in the end, Yan was destroyed.