Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru, Chapter 21
Lian Po was an outstanding general of Zhao. In the sixteenth year of King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Po served as the grand general of Zhao and attacked Qi, defeating the Qi army utterly, capturing Yangjin, and was appointed Senior Minister, becoming famous among the feudal lords for his courage. Lin Xiangru was a man of Zhao, a retainer of Miao Xian, the chief eunuch of Zhao.
During the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao, the He family jade disc of Chu was obtained. King Zhao of Qin heard of this and sent a letter to the King of Zhao, offering to exchange fifteen cities for the jade disc. The King of Zhao consulted with the Grand General Lian Po and the other ministers: giving the jade to Qin risked not receiving the cities and being deceived in vain; not giving it risked Qin attacking. The plan was undecided, and no one suitable could be found to send as an envoy to reply. The chief eunuch Miao Xian said, "My retainer Lin Xiangru can be sent." The King of Zhao asked, "How do you know he is capable?" Miao Xian replied, "I once committed a crime and privately planned to flee to Yan. My retainer Lin Xiangru stopped me, saying, 'How do you know the King of Yan will take you in?' I told him, 'I once followed the King to meet the King of Yan at the border, and the King of Yan privately grasped my hand and said, "I wish to be friends." Because of this I know him, so I planned to go to him.' Lin Xiangru said to me, 'At that time Zhao was strong and Yan weak, and you were favored by the King of Zhao, so the King of Yan wanted to befriend you. Now you are fleeing Zhao to go to Yan; Yan fears Zhao, and given the circumstances, they will certainly not dare to take you in, but will instead bind you and send you back to Zhao. You would do better to bare your upper body, prostrate yourself on the executioner's block, and beg for forgiveness; perhaps you may be lucky enough to escape punishment.' I followed his plan, and the King graciously pardoned me. I privately consider this man a brave man with wisdom and strategy, and he should be suitable for an embassy." So the King of Zhao summoned Lin Xiangru and asked him, "King of Qin offers fifteen cities for my jade disc; should I give it to him?" Lin Xiangru said, "Qin is strong and Zhao is weak; we cannot refuse." The King of Zhao said, "If he takes my jade and does not give me the cities, what then?" Lin Xiangru said, "If Qin offers cities for the jade and Zhao does not give it, Zhao is in the wrong. If Zhao gives the jade and Qin does not give Zhao the cities, Qin is in the wrong. Comparing these two courses, it is better to consent and let Qin bear the blame for the wrong." The King of Zhao said, "Who can be sent as envoy?" Lin Xiangru said, "If the King truly has no suitable person, I am willing to bear the jade and go as envoy. If the cities are ceded to Zhao, I will leave the jade in Qin; if the cities are not ceded, I guarantee to bring the jade intact back to Zhao." The King of Zhao then sent Lin Xiangru bearing the jade west to Qin.
The King of Qin received Lin Xiangru in the Zhang Terrace. Lin Xiangru presented the jade disc to the King of Qin. The King of Qin was overjoyed and passed the jade to his concubines and attendants to view, and all shouted, "Long live the King!" Lin Xiangru saw that the King of Qin had no intention of compensating Zhao with cities, so he stepped forward and said, "The jade has a flaw; allow me to point it out to the King." The King of Qin handed the jade to him, and Lin Xiangru took it, stepped back a few paces, stood still, leaned against a pillar, his hair bristling with anger, and said to the King of Qin, "The King desired this jade and sent a letter to the King of Zhao. The King of Zhao summoned all his ministers to discuss it. They all said, 'Qin is greedy, relying on its strength, and uses empty words to demand the jade; the compensatory cities will likely not be obtained.' The result of the discussion was not to give the jade to Qin. But I thought that even among ordinary people, they do not deceive each other, let alone a great state! Moreover, to offend the favor of mighty Qin for the sake of a jade disc is inappropriate. So the King of Zhao fasted for five days, sent me bearing the jade, and presented the state letter in the court. Why was this done? It was to honor the majesty of a great state and show respect. Now I have arrived, and the King received me in an ordinary terrace hall with extremely arrogant ceremony. After receiving the jade, you passed it to the concubines to view, to mock me. I see that the King has no intention of compensating the King of Zhao with cities, so I have taken the jade back. If the King insists on forcing me, my head and the jade will together shatter against this pillar!" Lin Xiangru held the jade, glancing at the pillar, as if to dash it against it. The King of Qin, afraid he would break the jade, apologized to him, earnestly begged him not to do so, summoned the relevant officials to examine the map, and pointed out the fifteen cities from here to there to be ceded to Zhao. Lin Xiangru estimated that the King of Qin was only pretending to cede the cities by deceit, and that in reality they could not be obtained, so he said to the King of Qin, "The He family jade is the recognized treasure of the world. The King of Zhao, in fear, dared not withhold it. When the King of Zhao sent the jade, he fasted for five days. Now the King should also fast for five days, set up the ceremony of the Nine Attendants in the court, and only then will I dare to present the jade." The King of Qin, reckoning that this matter could not be forcibly taken in the end, agreed to fast for five days and lodged Lin Xiangru in the Guangcheng Guesthouse. Lin Xiangru estimated that although the King of Qin had agreed to fast, he would certainly break his word and not compensate Zhao with the cities, so he sent one of his attendants, dressed in coarse clothes, carrying the jade in his bosom, to flee by a small path and return the jade to Zhao.
After the King of Qin had fasted for five days, he set up the ceremony of the Nine Attendants in the court and summoned the Zhao envoy Lin Xiangru. When Lin Xiangru arrived, he said to the King of Qin, "Since Duke Mu of Qin, more than twenty rulers have succeeded, but none has ever kept faith. I truly feared being deceived by the King and failing Zhao, so I had someone take the jade back; it has already reached Zhao by a small path. Moreover, Qin is strong and Zhao is weak; if the King sends a single envoy to Zhao, Zhao will immediately bring the jade. Now, with the strength of Qin, if you first cede fifteen cities to Zhao, would Zhao dare keep the jade and offend the King? I know the crime of deceiving the King deserves death, and I beg to submit to the punishment of the boiling cauldron; I only ask the King and his ministers to consider this matter carefully." The King of Qin and his ministers looked at each other in dismay and uttered sounds of anger. Some of the attendants wanted to drag Lin Xiangru away, but the King of Qin then said, "Now killing Lin Xiangru will ultimately not get the jade, but will instead sever the friendly relations between Qin and Zhao. It is better to treat him well on this occasion and let him return to Zhao. Would the King of Zhao deceive Qin for the sake of a jade disc?" So he received Lin Xiangru in the court, completed the ceremony, and sent him back to Zhao.
After Lin Xiangru returned to Zhao, the King of Zhao considered him a worthy minister, who, on an embassy to a feudal state, had not suffered humiliation, and appointed him Senior Grand Master. Qin did not give the cities to Zhao, and Zhao likewise never gave the jade to Qin.
After this, Qin attacked Zhao and captured Shicheng. The following year, they again attacked Zhao and killed twenty thousand men.
The King of Qin sent an envoy to inform the King of Zhao that he wished to hold a friendly meeting with him at Mianchi, outside the Xihe region. The King of Zhao was afraid of Qin and wanted to decline. Lian Po and Lin Xiangru discussed the matter and said, "If Your Majesty does not go, it will make Zhao appear both weak and cowardly." So the King of Zhao went, with Lin Xiangru accompanying him. Lian Po escorted them to the border and bid the king farewell, saying, "Your Majesty, on this journey, I estimate that the travel time and the completion of the meeting ceremonies, including the return, will not exceed thirty days. If you have not returned within thirty days, please allow me to establish the crown prince as king, in order to cut off Qin’s designs." The king agreed to this, and he met with the King of Qin at Mianchi.
When the King of Qin was drinking freely, he said, "I have heard privately that the King of Zhao is fond of music. Please play the se." The King of Zhao then played the se. The Qin court scribe stepped forward and wrote: "On such-and-such a day in such-and-such a month and year, the King of Qin and the King of Zhao drank together, and the King of Qin ordered the King of Zhao to play the se." Lin Xiangru stepped forward and said, "The King of Zhao has heard privately that the King of Qin is skilled in playing the music of Qin lands. Allow me to present a fou jar to the King of Qin, for mutual entertainment." The King of Qin was angered and would not agree. Thereupon Lin Xiangru stepped forward, presented the fou, and knelt to request that the King of Qin strike it. The King of Qin refused to strike the fou. Lin Xiangru said, "Within five paces, I, Lin Xiangru, beg to splatter the blood from my neck onto Your Majesty!" The attendants beside the King of Qin wanted to kill Lin Xiangru with their swords, but Lin Xiangru glared at them and shouted, causing them all to fall back in fear. Then the King of Qin, very displeased, struck the fou once. Lin Xiangru turned and summoned the Zhao court scribe to write: "On such-and-such a day in such-and-such a month and year, the King of Qin struck the fou for the King of Zhao." The Qin ministers said, "Let us present fifteen cities of Zhao as a gift to the King of Qin." Lin Xiangru also said, "Let us present the Qin capital Xianyang as a gift to the King of Zhao." Until the banquet ended, the King of Qin was never able to gain the upper hand over Zhao. Zhao also deployed a large army to guard against Qin, and Qin dared not act rashly.
After the Mianchi meeting ended and they returned to Zhao, because Lin Xiangru had rendered great service, he was appointed chief minister, ranking above Lian Po. Lian Po said, "I am a great general of Zhao, with great accomplishments in storming cities and fighting in the field, while Lin Xiangru has only achieved merit through a few words, yet his position is above mine. Moreover, Lin Xiangru was originally of humble birth. I am ashamed and cannot bear to be ranked below him." He openly declared, "If I encounter Lin Xiangru, I will humiliate him." When Lin Xiangru heard of this, he refused to meet him. Every time Lin Xiangru attended court, he often claimed illness and was unwilling to contend with Lian Po over the order of precedence. After some time, when Lin Xiangru went out and saw Lian Po from afar, he turned his carriage aside to avoid him. Then his retainers together remonstrated with him, saying: "The reason we left our families to serve you is only out of admiration for your noble character. Now you and Lian Po hold equal rank. General Lian spreads harsh words, yet you are afraid and hide from him, showing excessive fear. Even ordinary men would be ashamed of this, let alone one who is a general or minister! We are incompetent; please allow us to take our leave and go." Lin Xiangru firmly detained them and said, "In your view, which is more fearsome, General Lian or the King of Qin?" The retainers replied, "General Lian is not as fearsome as the King of Qin." Lin Xiangru said, "With the might of the King of Qin, I dared to rebuke him in court and humiliate his ministers. Though I am dull-witted, am I only afraid of General Lian? I consider that the reason the powerful Qin does not dare to attack Zhao is solely because the two of us are here. Now if two tigers fight, it is certain that both will not survive. The reason I act this way is that I put the nation’s urgent concerns first and personal grievances afterward." When Lian Po heard these words, he bared his upper body, carried a switch of thorny branches on his back, and, guided by a retainer, came to Lin Xiangru’s gate to apologize. He said, "I am a coarse and lowly man, unaware that you, General, had been so magnanimous!" The two finally reconciled and became friends sworn to live and die together.
In that year, Lian Po attacked Qi to the east and defeated one of Qi’s armies. Two years later, Lian Po again attacked Qi’s city of Ji and captured it. Three years after that, Lian Po attacked Wei’s cities of Fangling and Anyang and captured them. Four years later, Lin Xiangru led an army to attack Qi and advanced as far as Pingyi before stopping. The following year, Zhao She defeated the Qin army below the city of Yanyu.
Zhao She was a minor official in the field tax department of Zhao. When collecting taxes, the lord of Pingyuan’s household refused to pay. Zhao She enforced the law and executed nine of the lord’s stewards who were in charge. The lord of Pingyuan was furious and wanted to kill Zhao She. Zhao She took the opportunity to admonish him, saying: "You are a noble son of Zhao. If you now indulge your household and do not obey the public laws, then the laws will be weakened. If the laws are weakened, the state will decline. If the state declines, the feudal lords will invade. If they invade, there will be no Zhao left. Where then could you preserve such wealth and honor? With your high status, if you uphold the law, superiors and inferiors will be treated fairly. With fairness, the state will be strong. With strength, Zhao will be secure. And as a noble relative of Zhao, could you be looked down upon by the world?" The lord of Pingyuan considered him worthy and recommended him to the King of Zhao. The king appointed him to manage the state’s taxes. The taxes became very fair and reasonable, the people grew prosperous, and the state treasury was well supplied.
When Qin attacked Han, its army encamped at Yanyu. King Huiwen of Zhao summoned Lian Po and asked, "Can we go to the rescue?" Lian Po replied, "The road is distant, perilous, and narrow—it is very difficult to rescue." The king then summoned Yue Yi to ask about the matter, and Yue Yi’s answer was the same as Lian Po’s. The king then summoned Zhao She and inquired. Zhao She replied, "That road is distant, perilous, and narrow—like two rats fighting in a hole; the general who is courageous will win." The king then ordered Zhao She to serve as general and go to rescue Han.
When the army had left Handan by thirty li, Zhao She issued an order to the troops: "Anyone who comes forward with military advice will be executed." The Qin army was encamped west of Wu’an. The Qin soldiers raised war cries and drilled their troops, so that the roof tiles of Wu’an were all shaken. One reconnaissance officer said to rescue Wu’an immediately, and Zhao She had him beheaded. Zhao She strengthened his fortifications, stayed put for twenty-eight days without moving, and further reinforced his barriers. When a Qin spy entered the Zhao camp, Zhao She entertained him with fine food and then sent him off. The spy reported to the Qin general, who was greatly delighted and said: "When an army leaves the capital by thirty li and does not advance, but instead reinforces its barriers, Yanyu is no longer Zhao territory." After Zhao She had sent off the Qin spy, he packed up his armor and marched rapidly, covering the distance in two days and one night. He ordered his skilled archers to encamp fifty li from Yanyu. When the camp fortifications were completed, the Qin forces heard of this and came in full armor. The soldier Xu Li requested to present military advice. Zhao She said, "Bring him in." Xu Li said, "The Qin forces did not expect the Zhao army to arrive here. Their coming is fierce and urgent. General, you must concentrate your forces and thicken your formations to await them. Otherwise, you will surely be defeated." Zhao She said, "Allow me to accept your instruction." Xu Li said, "Please let me submit to execution by the axe." Zhao She said, "Wait until we return to Handan to receive the order." Xu Li again requested to speak, saying, "Those who first occupy the northern hill will win; those who arrive later will be defeated." Zhao She agreed and immediately sent out ten thousand men to race there. The Qin army arrived later and struggled to climb the hill but could not succeed. Zhao She commanded his troops to attack them and routed the Qin army. The Qin forces scattered and fled, thus lifting the siege of Yanyu, and the Zhao army returned.
King Huiwen of Zhao bestowed upon Zhao She the title of Lord of Mafu and appointed Xu Li as Commander of the State. Zhao She thus became equal in rank to Lian Po and Lin Xiangru.
Four years later, King Huiwen of Zhao died, and his son, King Xiaocheng, succeeded to the throne. In the seventh year of King Xiaocheng of Zhao, the Qin army and the Zhao army were locked in a stalemate at Changping. At that time, Zhao She had already died, and Lin Xiangru was gravely ill. Zhao sent Lian Po to lead the army to attack the Qin forces. The Qin army defeated the Zhao forces several times, so the Zhao troops reinforced their fortifications and refused to engage. The Qin army repeatedly challenged them, but Lian Po would not respond. The King of Zhao listened to the words of Qin spies. The Qin spies spread rumors, saying, "What Qin fears is only Ma Fu Jun Zhao She's son, Zhao Kuo, serving as general." The King of Zhao then appointed Zhao Kuo as general to replace Lian Po. Lin Xiangru said, "Your Majesty appoints Zhao Kuo based on his reputation, which is like gluing the tuning pegs of a zither to play it. Zhao Kuo can only read the military books his father left behind; he does not understand adapting to changing circumstances." The King of Zhao did not listen and still made Zhao Kuo the general.
Zhao Kuo had studied military strategy since childhood and discussed military affairs, believing no one in the world could match him. He once discussed military matters with his father, Zhao She, who could not refute him but did not think highly of him. Zhao Kuo's mother asked Zhao She the reason, and Zhao She said, "War is a matter of life and death, but Zhao Kuo speaks of it too lightly. If Zhao does not make Zhao Kuo a general, that is fine, but if he must be made a general, the one who will cause the Zhao army's destruction is Zhao Kuo." When Zhao Kuo was about to set out, his mother submitted a letter to the King of Zhao, saying, "Zhao Kuo cannot be made a general." The King of Zhao said, "Why?" She replied, "In the past, I served his father. When he was a general, he personally offered food to dozens of those who ate with him, and treated hundreds as friends. The gifts from Your Majesty and the royal clan he distributed entirely to the officers and scholars of the army. From the day he received his appointment, he did not concern himself with family matters. Now, Zhao Kuo, as soon as he becomes a general, sits facing east to receive audiences, and no officer dares to look up at him. The gold and silk Your Majesty bestows, he takes home and stores away, and daily he looks for convenient fields and houses, buying whatever he can. How does Your Majesty think he compares to his father? Their intentions are different. I hope Your Majesty will not send him." The King of Zhao said, "Set aside this matter; I have already decided." Zhao Kuo's mother then said, "If Your Majesty ultimately sends him, and he proves unworthy, may I be spared from punishment by association?" The King of Zhao agreed.
After Zhao Kuo replaced Lian Po, he completely changed all the existing rules and regulations, dismissed and reassigned the officers. The Qin general Bai Qi, upon hearing this, sent out elite troops, pretended to retreat in defeat, but cut off the Zhao army's supply routes, splitting the Zhao forces into two parts, causing the soldiers to become disheartened and scattered. For over forty days, the army lacked food. Zhao Kuo led his elite soldiers in a personal assault, but the Qin army shot and killed him with arrows. Zhao Kuo's army was utterly defeated, and several hundred thousand soldiers surrendered to Qin, who buried them all alive. Zhao's total losses, before and after, amounted to four hundred fifty thousand men. The following year, the Qin army besieged Handan, which lasted for over a year, and Zhao was barely able to survive. It was only with the rescue of Chu, Wei, and other feudal lords that the siege of Handan was lifted. The King of Zhao, because Zhao Kuo's mother had spoken beforehand, ultimately did not execute her.
Five years after the lifting of the siege of Handan, Yan, following the plan of Li Fu, said, "The able-bodied men of Zhao have all died at Changping, and their orphans have not yet grown up," and then dispatched troops to attack Zhao. Zhao sent Lian Po to lead the army to meet them, inflicting a great defeat on the Yan army at Hao, killing Li Fu, and then besieging Yan. Yan ceded five cities to sue for peace, and Zhao agreed. The King of Zhao enfeoffed Lian Po at Weiwen, giving him the title of Lord Xinping, and made him acting Chancellor.
When Lian Po was dismissed from his post at Changping and returned to Handan, he had lost his influence, and all his former retainers left. When he was again appointed as general, the retainers all returned. Lian Po said, "Retainers, please withdraw!" A retainer said, "Alas! How late you have come to understand this! All the world associates through market transactions. When you have power, we follow you; when you have no power, we leave. This is simply the natural order. What is there to resent?" After six years, Zhao sent Lian Po to attack the Wei city of Fanyang, and he captured it.
King Xiaocheng of Zhao died, and his son, King Daoxiang, succeeded him. He sent Yue Cheng to replace Lian Po. Lian Po was furious, attacked Yue Cheng, and Yue Cheng fled. Lian Po then fled to Daliang in Wei. The following year, Zhao appointed Li Mu as general to attack Yan, capturing Wusui and Fangcheng.
Lian Po lived in Daliang for a long time, but Wei could not trust or employ him. Zhao, troubled repeatedly by Qin troops, wished to have Lian Po again, and Lian Po also wished to be employed by Zhao again. The King of Zhao sent an envoy to see if Lian Po could still be used. Lian Po's enemy, Guo Kai, gave the envoy a large amount of gold to slander Lian Po. When the Zhao envoy saw Lian Po, Lian Po, for this occasion, ate one dou of rice and ten jin of meat in a single meal, put on armor, and mounted a horse to show he could still serve. The Zhao envoy returned and reported to the King of Zhao, saying, "General Lian is old, but he can still eat well. However, while sitting with me, he had three bowel movements in a short time." The King of Zhao, believing Lian Po was old, did not summon him.
Chu, hearing that Lian Po was in Wei, secretly sent someone to welcome him. Once Lian Po became a general of Chu, he achieved no military merit, saying, "I wish to command the soldiers of Zhao." Lian Po ultimately died at Shouchun.
Li Mu was an outstanding general on the northern borders of Zhao. He was stationed for a long time in Dai Commandery at Yanmen to defend against the Xiongnu. He had the authority to appoint officials as circumstances required, and the market taxes were all collected into the general's headquarters as expenses for the soldiers. Each day, he slaughtered several cattle to feast his troops, practiced archery and horsemanship, carefully managed the beacon towers, sent out many spies, and treated his soldiers generously. He established regulations, saying, "If the Xiongnu invade and plunder, quickly enter the fortifications and gather in the livestock. Anyone who dares to capture prisoners will be executed." Whenever the Xiongnu invaded, the beacon towers would carefully give warning, and the soldiers would immediately enter the fortifications and gather in, not daring to engage. This continued for several years without any losses. However, the Xiongnu considered Li Mu cowardly, and even the Zhao border soldiers thought their general was a coward. The King of Zhao reprimanded Li Mu, but Li Mu continued as before. The King of Zhao was very angry, recalled him, and sent someone else to command the army.
After more than a year, whenever the Xiongnu came to raid, the Zhao army would engage them. They engaged many times but suffered repeated defeats and heavy losses, so the border regions could not engage in farming or herding. The King of Zhao then asked Li Mu to come back. Li Mu shut his gate and refused to go out, insisting he was ill. The King of Zhao then forcibly appointed him again to lead the troops. Li Mu said, "If Your Majesty insists on using me, let me act as before, and then I will dare to accept the command." The King of Zhao agreed.
When Li Mu arrived at the border, he followed his old regulations. For several years, the Xiongnu gained nothing. They still considered Li Mu cowardly. The border soldiers, receiving daily rewards without having to fight, all wished for a battle. Then Li Mu selected one thousand three hundred war chariots, thirteen thousand war horses, fifty thousand elite soldiers, and one hundred thousand archers, and organized them all for training and warfare. Afterward, he let the livestock graze in great numbers, and the people filled the hills and fields. When small Xiongnu raiding parties invaded, Li Mu pretended to retreat, abandoning several thousand people to the Xiongnu. The Chanyu, hearing of this, led a large force to invade. Li Mu set up many unusual formations, spread out his left and right wings to envelop and attack them, and inflicted a great defeat, killing over one hundred thousand Xiongnu cavalry. He annihilated the Danlan, defeated the Donghu, and subdued the Linhu, and the Chanyu fled. For the next ten years or more, the Xiongnu did not dare to approach the border cities of Zhao.
In the first year of King Daoxiang of Zhao, Lian Po had already fled to Wei. Zhao sent Li Mu to attack Yan, capturing Wusui and Fangcheng. Two years later, Pang Nuan defeated the Yan army and killed Ju Xin. After another seven years, the Qin army defeated and killed the Zhao general Hu Zhe at Wusui, beheading one hundred thousand men. Zhao then appointed Li Mu as Grand General. He attacked the Qin army at Yian, inflicted a major defeat on them, and drove away the Qin general Huan Yi. Li Mu was enfeoffed as Lord of Wu'an. Three years later, the Qin army attacked Fanwu; Li Mu defeated them and repelled the forces of Han and Wei to the south.
In the seventh year of King Qian of Zhao, Qin sent Wang Jian to attack Zhao. Zhao dispatched Li Mu and Sima Shang to resist the Qin army. Qin lavished gold upon Guo Kai, a favorite minister of the Zhao king, and employed a stratagem of sowing discord, claiming that Li Mu and Sima Shang intended to rebel. The Zhao king then sent Zhao Cong and the Qi general Yan Ju to replace Li Mu. Li Mu refused to accept the command, so the Zhao king had him secretly arrested and killed. Sima Shang was dismissed from his post. Three months later, Wang Jian took the opportunity to launch a fierce assault on Zhao, inflicting a major defeat, killing Zhao Cong, and capturing King Qian of Zhao together with the Zhao general Yan Ju. Thus Zhao was destroyed.
The Grand Historian says: To know that death is inevitable and yet still act—this must require great courage. Death itself is not difficult; what is difficult is how one handles it. When Lin Xiangru held the He family jade disk and glared at the pillar, and when he shouted at the attendants of the King of Qin, the situation at that moment meant that at worst he would be killed. Yet some men, due to cowardice and timidity, dared not act. Lin Xiangru, once he stirred up his courage, caused his might to spread to enemy states. After returning, he was able to yield to Lian Po, and his reputation became heavier than Mount Tai. In matters of wisdom and bravery, it can be said that he possessed both!
Pure and upright, awe-inspiring; heroic spirit blazing fiercely. Each exhausted his loyalty and righteous duty; they alternately vied for supremacy. The jade disk was taken on a mission and returned; the meeting at Mianchi brought friendly accord. Bearing thorns on his back, he knew guilt and fear; bending his pride, he honored the capable. Securing the borders and devising strategies—these were the achievements of Lian Po and Li Mu.