The Biography of Sima Rangju, Fourth

Sima Rangju was a descendant of Tian Wan. During the reign of Duke Jing of Qi, the state of Jin attacked the cities of A and Zhen, while Yan invaded the region along the Yellow River, and the Qi army suffered a major defeat. Duke Jing was deeply troubled by this. Yan Ying then recommended Tian Rangju, saying: "Rangju, though a concubine’s son of the Tian clan, possesses literary talents that can unite the people and military strategies that can intimidate enemies. I hope your majesty will try him." Duke Jing summoned Rangju, discussed military affairs with him, and was greatly pleased. He appointed him as a general to lead the army in resisting the forces of Yan and Jin. Rangju said: "I have always been of low status. Your majesty has elevated me from among the common people and placed me above the high officials. The soldiers are not yet attached to me, and the people do not yet trust me. My position is humble and my authority is slight. I hope to receive a favored minister of your majesty, one respected by the state, to serve as supervisor of the army; only then will it work." Duke Jing agreed and sent Zhuang Jia. After taking leave, Rangju made an appointment with Zhuang Jia, saying: "Meet me at the military gate at noon tomorrow." Rangju first rode to the army camp, set up a sundial, and installed a water clock, waiting for Zhuang Jia. Zhuang Jia, always arrogant and honored, thought that since he was commanding his own army and serving as supervisor, there was no great urgency. Relatives and colleagues saw him off, keeping him for drinks. By noon, Zhuang Jia had not arrived. Rangju then knocked down the sundial, emptied the water clock, entered the camp, inspected the troops, organized the ranks, and announced the regulations. After the regulations were announced, it was evening when Zhuang Jia finally arrived. Rangju said: "Why are you later than the appointed time?" Zhuang Jia apologized: "I was delayed by the farewells of the high officials and relatives." Rangju said: "From the moment a general receives his orders, he should forget his family; when he arrives at the camp to announce regulations, he should forget his relatives; at the critical moment of grasping the drumstick to beat the drum, he should forget his own life. Now the enemy has deeply invaded, the state is in turmoil, the soldiers are exposed to the elements at the borders, the ruler cannot sleep peacefully, his food has no flavor, and the lives of the people hang in your hands. What talk is there of farewells!" He summoned the military judge and asked: "According to military law, what is the penalty for being late to an appointment?" The military judge replied: "The punishment is beheading." Zhuang Jia, terrified, sent a messenger on horseback to report to Duke Jing and plead for his life. The messenger had not yet returned when Rangju beheaded Zhuang Jia and displayed his body to the army. The entire army was shocked and trembling. After a long while, Duke Jing sent an envoy bearing a tally to pardon Zhuang Jia, who galloped into the camp. Rangju said: "When a general is in the army, he may sometimes refuse to accept the ruler’s commands." He asked the military judge: "What does military law say about galloping horses in the camp?" The military judge said: "The punishment is beheading." The envoy was extremely frightened. Rangju said: "The ruler’s envoy cannot be killed." So he killed the envoy’s attendant, cut down the left shaft of the chariot, and killed the left horse, displaying them to the army. He sent the envoy back to report, and only then did the army set out. When the soldiers set up camp, dug wells, built stoves, ate, drank, treated illnesses, and received medical care, Rangju personally visited and comforted them. He distributed all the general’s supplies and grain to the soldiers, sharing the food equally with them. He gave special attention to those who were weak, and only after three days did he reorganize the troops. Those who were ill all requested to follow, competing eagerly to fight for him. When the Jin army heard of this, they withdrew and left. When the Yan army heard of this, they crossed the Yellow River and dispersed their siege. The Qi army then pursued them, recovering all the lost territory, and then led the army back. Before reaching the capital, he disbanded the army, lifted wartime restrictions, and only entered the city after swearing oaths. Duke Jing and the high officials welcomed him in the suburbs, performed the ceremony of comforting the army, and then returned to the palace. After meeting Rangju, Duke Jing honored him as the Grand Marshal. From then on, the Tian clan became increasingly honored in Qi.

Soon, the high officials Bao, Gao, and Guo, among others, grew jealous of him and slandered him before Duke Jing. Duke Jing dismissed Rangju, who then fell ill and died. Tian Qi, Tian Bao, and their followers from then on resented the Gao and Guo clans. Later, when Tian Chang killed Duke Jian of Qi, he exterminated the entire families of Gao and Guo. By the time of Tian He, Tian Chang’s great-grandson, he established himself as King Wei of Qi, used military force to display power, greatly emulating Rangju’s military strategies, and as a result, all the feudal lords came to pay court to Qi.

King Wei of Qi ordered the high officials to study the ancient Sima military methods and appended Rangju’s strategies to them, thus calling it the "Sima Rangju Military Methods."

The Grand Historian says: When I read the "Sima Military Methods," I find them vast and profound. Even the campaigns of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties could not fully realize their essence. As for the text itself, it has some elements of praise. As for Rangju, he merely conducted military campaigns for a small state; how could he have attended to the ritual courtesies of the Sima methods? Since there are already many versions of the "Sima Military Methods," I do not discuss them further, only writing the biography of Rangju.

Yan invaded along the Yellow River, and the Qi army was greatly defeated. Yan Ying recommended Rangju, saying his military prowess could intimidate the enemy. He executed Zhuang Jia to warn the three armies, and the entire army was shocked and vigilant. Our soldiers have already become strong, and those enemy raiders withdrew and held their positions. The military methods emulated Sima, truly relying on the noble and honored relatives.