Records of Zhou, Vol. 3
It began in the year xinchou and ended in the year guihai, a total of twenty-three years.
First Year of King Shenjing of Zhou (xinchou, 320 BCE)
1. Wei again reduced its title of nobility, calling itself a lord.
2. King Wei of Qi died, and his son King Xuan, Tian Pijiang, ascended the throne.
Second Year of King Shenjing of Zhou (renyin, 319 BCE)
1. Qin attacked Wei and captured the city of Yan.
2. King Hui of Wei died, and his son King Xiang ascended the throne. Mencius, after an audience with King Xiang of Wei, came out and said to others: "Looking at him from afar, he did not appear like a ruler; approaching him, I saw nothing awe-inspiring. He suddenly asked me: 'How can the world be settled?' I replied: 'When the world is unified, it will be settled.' 'Who can unify the world?' I replied: 'A ruler who does not delight in killing can unify the world.' 'Who will follow him?' I replied: 'No one in the world will not follow him. Does Your Majesty know about rice seedlings? During the seventh and eighth months, if there is a drought, the seedlings wither. Suddenly, the sky darkens with clouds, and a downpour falls, then the seedlings flourish again. Like this, who can stop it?'"
Third Year of King Shenjing of Zhou (guimao, 318 BCE)
1. Chu, Zhao, Wei, Han, and Yan allied to attack Qin, advancing to the Hangu Pass. The Qin forces sallied forth to meet them, and the armies of the five states all fled in defeat.
2. Song began to call itself king.
Fourth Year of King Shenjing of Zhou (jiashen, 317 BCE)
1. Qin defeated the Han army at Xiuyu, beheading eighty thousand men, and captured the Han generals Xuan and Shencha at Zhuoze. The various feudal lords were shocked and terrified.
2. A high official of Qi, vying for favor with Su Qin, sent an assassin to stab Su Qin, killing him.
3. Zhang Yi persuaded King Xiang of Wei, saying: "Wei's territory is less than a thousand li square, and its soldiers do not exceed three hundred thousand. The land is flat on all sides, without the barrier of famous mountains or great rivers, and its borders adjoin Chu, Han, Qi, and Zhao. The soldiers guarding the border posts and fortresses are no fewer than one hundred thousand. Wei's terrain is inherently a battlefield. The feudal lords agreed on a vertical alliance, swore an oath by the Huan River, and bound themselves as brothers to strengthen each other. Now, brothers born of the same parents still fight and kill each other over money and property, and you want to rely on the schemes left by the fickle Su Qin? It is obvious that this cannot succeed. If Your Majesty does not serve Qin, Qin will send troops to attack the area south of the Yellow River, occupy Juanyan and Suanzao, threaten Wei, and seize Yangjin. Then Zhao cannot move south; if Zhao cannot move south, Wei cannot move north; if Wei cannot move north, the path of the vertical alliance is cut off. If the path of the vertical alliance is cut off, then it is impossible for Your Majesty's state to avoid danger. Therefore, I hope Your Majesty will carefully consider your plan. Allow me to resign and leave." King Wei then abandoned the vertical alliance and, through Zhang Yi, sought peace with Qin. Zhang Yi returned to Qin and again became its chancellor.
Fifth Year of King Shenjing of Zhou (yisi, 316 BCE)
1. Ba and Shu attacked each other, and both appealed to Qin for help. King Hui of Qin wanted to attack Shu, but considered the roads dangerous and narrow, making it difficult to reach, and also feared that Han would invade, so he hesitated. Sima Cuo requested to attack Shu. Zhang Yi said: "It would be better to attack Han." King Hui of Qin said: "Let me hear your reasoning." Zhang Yi said: "Be friendly with Wei, treat Chu well, send troops to Sanchuan, capture Xincheng and Yiyang, advance to the outskirts of Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou, seize the Nine Tripods, take control of the maps and household registers, and, holding the Son of Heaven hostage, issue commands to the world. No one in the world will dare to disobey. This is the enterprise of a king. I have heard that one contends for fame in the court and for profit in the marketplace. Now Sanchuan and the Zhou house are the court and marketplace of the world, yet Your Majesty does not contend for them but instead contends for the land of the Rong and Di. This is too far from the kingly enterprise!" Sima Cuo said: "Not so. I have heard that one who wishes to enrich his state must expand his territory; one who wishes to strengthen his army must enrich his people; one who wishes to become king must widely spread his virtue. When these three conditions are fulfilled, the kingly enterprise follows naturally. Now Your Majesty's territory is small and your people poor, so I hope you will begin with what is easy. Shu is a remote state in the west, and the leader of the Rong and Di. It suffers internal turmoil like that of Jie and Zhou. Attacking it with Qin's army is like letting wolves and jackals chase sheep. Gaining its land is enough to expand our borders; taking its wealth is enough to enrich our people. Without harming the people, we can subdue it through military action. Taking one state without the world considering us cruel, and gaining all its benefits without the world considering us greedy, we achieve both fame and substance in one move, and gain the reputation of stopping violence and curbing disorder. If we attack Han, and hold the Son of Heaven hostage, this brings an evil reputation. Moreover, it may not be profitable, and we will bear the name of unrighteousness, attacking what the world does not wish to attack. This is dangerous! Let me explain the reason. The Zhou house is the ancestral lord of the feudal lords; Qi is Han's ally. Zhou knows it will lose the Nine Tripods, and Han knows it will lose Sanchuan. The two states will unite in their plans, rely on Qi and Zhao, and seek peace with Chu and Wei. If Zhou gives the Nine Tripods to Chu, and Han gives its land to Wei, Your Majesty cannot stop them. This is what I call dangerous. It is safer to attack Shu." King Hui of Qin adopted Sima Cuo's plan and sent troops to attack Shu. In the tenth month, they captured Shu. They demoted the King of Shu to the rank of marquis and sent Chen Zhuang to be the chancellor of Shu. After Shu submitted to Qin, Qin thereby became stronger and richer, and looked down upon the other feudal lords.
2. After Su Qin died, his younger brothers Su Dai and Su Li also became prominent among the feudal lords through their persuasive speeches. The chancellor of Yan, Zi Zhi, married into Su Qin's family and wanted to seize power in Yan. After Su Dai returned from a mission to Qi, King Kuai of Yan asked him: "Can the King of Qi become hegemon?" Su Dai replied: "No." The king said: "What is the reason?" He replied: "Because he does not trust his ministers." Thereupon, King Kuai entrusted all affairs to Zi Zhi. Lu Mao Shou said to the king of Yan: "People say Yao was wise because he could yield the world to another. Now, if Your Majesty yields the state to Zi Zhi, Your Majesty will have the same reputation as Yao." King Kuai then entrusted the state to Zi Zhi, and Zi Zhi's power became immense. Another man said: "Yu recommended Yi but had Qi's partisans appointed as officials. When Yu grew old and considered Qi incapable of governing the world, he passed the world to Yi. Qi and his partisans attacked Yi and seized the world. People of the world say that Yu, in name, passed the world to Yi but in reality allowed Qi to take it for himself. Now, Your Majesty says you have entrusted the state to Zi Zhi, but all officials are none other than the crown prince's men. This is, in name, entrusting the state to Zi Zhi but in reality allowing the crown prince to hold power." King Kuai then recalled the seals of office and turned over all officials receiving stipends of three hundred measures of grain or more to Zi Zhi's appointment. Zi Zhi faced south and exercised the king's power. Kuai, being old, no longer handled state affairs and instead became a subject. All major state matters were decided by Zi Zhi.
Sixth Year of King Shenjing of Zhou (bingwu, 315 BCE)
1. King Shenjing died, and his son King Nan, Ji Yan, ascended the throne.
First Year of King Nan of Zhou (dingwei, 314 BCE)
1. The Qin people invaded Yiqu and captured twenty-five cities.
2. The Wei people rebelled against Qin. The Qin people attacked Wei, captured Quwo, and drove its inhabitants back to Wei. They also defeated Han at Anmen, and the crown prince of Han, Cang, went to Qin as a hostage to sue for peace.
3. Zi Zhi of Yan had been king for three years, and great disorder broke out in the state. General Shi Bei and Crown Prince Ji Ping plotted to attack Zi Zhi. The King of Qi sent a message to the crown prince of Yan, saying: "I have heard that the crown prince intends to rectify the proper order between ruler and minister and clarify the positions of father and son. Though my state is small, I will fully follow the crown prince's commands." The crown prince then gathered his partisans and assembled the people, and sent Shi Bei to attack Zi Zhi, but he did not succeed. Shi Bei then turned and attacked the crown prince. The two sides fought for several months, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, and the people were terrified. The King of Qi ordered Zhang Zi to lead the troops of the five capitals and, relying on the people of the northern border, to attack Yan. The Yan soldiers did not fight, and the city gates were not closed. The Qi people captured Zi Zhi and had him chopped into mincemeat, and then killed King Kuai of Yan.
King Xuan of Qi asked Mencius, “Some advise me not to annex Yan, others urge me to do so. For a state of ten thousand war chariots to attack another of equal size and conquer it within fifty days—this could not be achieved by human effort alone. If I do not take it, Heaven will surely send disaster. What do you think of annexing it?” Mencius replied, “If annexing it pleases the people of Yan, then annex it. In ancient times, someone did this—King Wu of Zhou. If annexing it does not please the people of Yan, then do not annex it. In ancient times, someone did this—King Wen of Zhou. When a state of ten thousand war chariots attacks another of equal size, and the people greet your army with baskets of food and jugs of drink, could it be for any other reason than to escape from fire and water? If the water grows deeper and the fire hotter, then the people will turn to another.”
The feudal lords plotted to rescue Yan. King Xuan said to Mencius, “Many lords are planning to attack me. What should I do?” Mencius replied, “I have heard of one who, with a territory of only seventy li square, could bring benevolent rule to the world—that was Tang. I have never heard of one with a territory of a thousand li square being afraid of others. The ‘Book of Documents’ says: ‘We await our ruler; when he comes, we will be delivered.’ Now Yan has been oppressing its people. When you, O King, went to punish it, the people believed you would rescue them from fire and water, so they greeted your army with baskets of food and jugs of drink. If you kill their fathers and elder brothers, imprison their sons and younger brothers, destroy their ancestral temples, and carry off their precious vessels—how can this be acceptable? The world already fears Qi’s strength. Now, if you expand your territory without practicing benevolent government, you will only invite the armies of the world to attack you. Issue an urgent order: release the captured old and young, stop moving the precious vessels, consult with the people of Yan to establish a ruler for them, and then withdraw. In this way, you may still prevent the feudal lords from sending troops.” King Xuan did not heed this advice.
Soon after, the people of Yan rebelled. King Xuan said, “I feel greatly ashamed before Mencius.” Chen Jia said, “Let Your Majesty not worry.” He then went to see Mencius and asked, “What kind of man was the Duke of Zhou?” Mencius said, “A sage of antiquity.” Chen Jia asked, “The Duke of Zhou sent Guanshu to oversee the former Shang territories, but Guanshu led the Shang people in rebellion. Did the Duke of Zhou know he would rebel and still send him?” Mencius said, “He did not know.” Chen Jia said, “Then even sages make mistakes?” Mencius replied, “The Duke of Zhou was the younger brother; Guanshu was the elder brother. Was not the Duke of Zhou’s error reasonable and natural? Moreover, the noble men of old corrected their mistakes when they made them; the noble men of today let their mistakes continue. The mistakes of the ancient noble men were like eclipses of the sun or moon—everyone could see them. When they corrected them, all the people looked up to them. The noble men of today not only let their mistakes continue but also find excuses for them!”
King Nan of Zhou, second year (, 313 BCE)
1 The Qin commander of the Right, Ying Ji, attacked Zhao. He captured the city of Li and took the Zhao general Zhuang Bao prisoner.
The King of Qin wished to attack Qi, but was concerned about the alliance between Qi and Chu. He therefore sent Zhang Yi to Chu to persuade King Huai of Chu, saying, “If Your Majesty truly follows my advice, breaks off relations with Qi, and closes the border passes, I am willing to offer six hundred li of territory in Shangyu and have Qin women become your concubines. Qin and Chu will intermarry and become brother states forever.” King Huai of Chu was delighted and agreed. All his ministers offered congratulations, except Chen Zhen, who expressed mourning. The King angrily said, “Without mobilizing a single soldier, I gain six hundred li of land. Why do you mourn?” Chen Zhen replied, “It is not so. In my view, the land of Shangyu cannot be obtained, and Qi and Qin will instead unite. Once Qi and Qin unite, disaster will surely come!” The King said, “What do you mean?” Chen Zhen answered, “Why does Qin value Chu? Because Chu has Qi as an ally. Now if you close the border and break the alliance with Qi, Chu will be isolated. How could Qin covet an isolated state and give it six hundred li of Shangyu for nothing? When Zhang Yi returns to Qin, he will certainly betray Your Majesty. Thus, to the north you will have severed relations with Qi, and to the west you will bring trouble from Qin. The armies of both states will surely arrive together. For Your Majesty’s sake, it would be better to secretly ally with Qi while outwardly pretending to break off relations, and send a man to follow Zhang Yi. If he actually gives us the land, then break with Qi—it will not be too late.” The King said, “I hope you will shut your mouth and say no more, and wait for me to obtain the land!” He then granted Zhang Yi the prime minister’s seal and richly rewarded him. After that, he closed the border passes, broke the alliance with Qi, and sent a general to accompany Zhang Yi to Qin.
Zhang Yi pretended to fall from his chariot and did not attend court for three months. When the King of Chu heard of this, he said, “Does Zhang Yi think I have not broken with Qi thoroughly enough?” He therefore sent a brave warrior, Song Yi, borrowing a tally from Song, to go north and curse the King of Qi. The King of Qi was enraged and humbled himself to serve Qin. Qi and Qin thus became allied. Only then did Zhang Yi appear at court and say to the Chu envoy, “Why have you not gone to receive the land? From such-and-such a place to such-and-such a place, six li across.” The envoy was furious and returned to report to the King of Chu. The King of Chu was enraged and wanted to send troops to attack Qin. Chen Zhen said, “May I now speak? Attacking Qin is not as good as giving Qin a large city as a gift, then joining forces with Qin to attack Qi. In this way, though we lose land to Qin, we can compensate it from Qi. Now that Your Majesty has broken with Qi and then blames Qin for its deception, this will only cause Qin and Qi to unite and bring the armies of the world against you. Your state will surely suffer severe damage!” The King did not listen and sent Qu Gai to lead an army against Qin. Qin also mobilized troops, sending the Chief of the Left, Ying Zhang, to meet them.
King Nan of Zhou, third year (, 312 BCE)
1 In spring, the Qin and Chu armies fought at Danyang. The Chu army was utterly defeated, with eighty thousand armored soldiers beheaded. Qu Gai and over seventy nobles, including marquises and holders of the zhiguì jade, were captured. Qin then took the entire Han Commandery. The King of Chu mobilized all remaining troops and again attacked Qin, fighting at Lantian, where the Chu army was again heavily defeated. Han and Wei, hearing of Chu’s distress, attacked southward and reached Deng. When the Chu people heard of this, they withdrew their army, ceded two cities to Qin, and sued for peace.
2 The people of Yan jointly established Prince Ping, known as King Zhao of Yan. King Zhao ascended the throne after Yan had been broken. He mourned the dead, comforted orphans, shared hardships with the people, and humbled himself with generous gifts to attract worthy men. He said to Guo Wei, “Qi took advantage of our internal strife to attack and break Yan. I know well that Yan is weak and lacks strength to avenge this. But if I could truly obtain a worthy man to rule the state with me and wash away the shame of my former kings, that would be my wish. Sir, whom do you consider worthy? I am willing to serve him personally!” Guo Wei said, “In antiquity, a ruler sent a eunuch with a thousand gold pieces to seek a thousand-li horse. The horse was already dead, but the eunuch bought its head for five hundred gold pieces. The ruler was furious. The eunuch said, ‘If you buy a dead horse, how much more a living one? A thousand-li horse will soon arrive.’ Within a year, three such horses were brought. Now if Your Majesty truly wishes to attract worthy men, begin with me. How could those more worthy than I resent traveling a thousand li to come?” King Zhao of Yan then renovated a palace for Guo Wei and treated him as a teacher. Worthy men then rushed to Yan. Yue Yi came from Wei, and Ju Xin came from Zhao. King Zhao appointed Yue Yi as a lesser minister and entrusted him with state affairs.
3 King Xuanhui of Han died. His son, King Xiang of Han, named Cang, succeeded him.
King Nan of Zhou, fourth year (, 311 BCE)
1 The prime minister of Shu killed the Marquis of Shu.
King Hui of Qin sent an envoy to inform King Huai of Chu, requesting to exchange the territory beyond Wu Pass for the Qianzhong region. The King of Chu said, "I am unwilling to exchange territory; I hope to obtain Zhang Yi, and then I will present the Qianzhong region." When Zhang Yi heard this, he requested to go to Qin. King Hui of Qin said, "Chu wants to tear you into a thousand pieces; how can you go?" Zhang Yi said, "Qin is strong, Chu is weak, and with Your Majesty present, Chu should not dare to do anything to me. Moreover, I have a good relationship with Jin Shang, the favored minister of the Chu king, and Jin Shang can serve Zheng Xiu, the favored concubine of the Chu king. Whatever Zheng Xiu says, the Chu king never fails to heed." So he went to Chu. The King of Chu imprisoned Zhang Yi and prepared to kill him. Jin Shang said to Zheng Xiu, "The Qin king greatly favors Zhang Yi and is preparing to ransom him with the six counties of Shangyong and beautiful women. The Chu king values the land and respects Qin, so the Qin beauties will surely be favored, and you, madam, will be neglected." Thereupon, Zheng Xiu wept day and night before the Chu king, saying, "Each minister serves his own lord. Now if Zhang Yi is killed, Qin will surely be greatly angered. I beg to let us, mother and son, move south of the Yangtze, so as not to be butchered like fish by Qin!" The Chu king then pardoned Zhang Yi and treated him with great courtesy. Zhang Yi took the opportunity to persuade the Chu king, saying, "Those who advocate the Vertical Alliance are no different from driving a flock of sheep to attack a fierce tiger; that they cannot prevail is obvious. Now if Your Majesty does not serve Qin, Qin will coerce Han and drive Wei to attack Chu, and then Chu will be in danger. Qin, in the west, has Ba and Shu; it builds ships and stores grain, sailing down the Min River, traveling over five hundred li in a day, reaching Han Pass in less than ten days. Once Han Pass is endangered, then from the eastern borders, all must defend their cities, and Qianzhong and Wu Commandery will no longer belong to Your Majesty. If Qin sends troops out of Wu Pass, then the northern routes of Chu will be cut off. The danger of Qin attacking Chu will come within three months, while Chu must wait over half a year for aid from the other states. Relying on the rescue of weak states while forgetting the calamity from strong Qin—this is what I worry about for Your Majesty. If Your Majesty truly heeds my advice, I beg to let Qin and Chu be brothers forever and never attack each other again." The King of Chu, having already obtained Zhang Yi and being reluctant to give up the Qianzhong region, then agreed to Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi then went to Han and persuaded the King of Han, saying, "The terrain of Han is perilous, and the people dwell in the mountains. The grains produced are nothing but beans or wheat, and the state has no two years' reserve of food. Its existing soldiers do not exceed two hundred thousand. Qin, however, has over a million armored soldiers. When the soldiers of the states east of the mountains don armor and helmets to join battle, the Qin soldiers cast aside their armor and rush at the enemy bare-chested, holding heads in their left hands and dragging captured prisoners under their right arms. Using soldiers as brave as Meng Ben and Wu Huo to attack a weak state that refuses to submit is no different from hanging a thousand-jun weight over a bird's egg; there is certainly no chance of survival. If Your Majesty does not serve Qin, Qin will send troops to occupy Yiyang and block Chenggao, and then your territory will be divided. The palaces of Hongtai and the parks of Sanglin will no longer be yours. For Your Majesty's sake, it is better to serve Qin and attack Chu, thereby transferring the calamity and pleasing Qin; there is no more advantageous plan than this." The King of Han agreed.
Zhang Yi returned to report, and King Hui of Qin enfeoffed him with six cities, granting him the title of Lord Wu Xin. He then sent him east to persuade the King of Qi, saying, "Those who advocate the Vertical Alliance will surely say to Your Majesty, 'Qi is shielded by the three Jin states, with vast territory, a large population, strong troops, and brave soldiers. Even if there were a hundred Qins, they could do nothing to Qi.' Your Majesty thinks they are right but does not consider the actual situation. Now Qin and Chu have exchanged brides and grooms and become brothers. Han has offered Yiyang, Wei has offered the lands beyond the River, and the King of Zhao has come to court, ceding Hejian to serve Qin. If Your Majesty does not serve Qin, Qin will drive Han and Wei to attack the southern regions of Qi, deploy the full strength of Zhao's army, cross the Qing River, and head straight for Bo Pass, and then Linzi and Jimo will no longer be yours! Once the state is attacked, even if you wish to serve Qin, it will be impossible!" The King of Qi agreed with Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi left Qi and went west to persuade the King of Zhao, saying, "Your Majesty led the feudal lords of the world to reject Qin, and for fifteen years, the Qin army dared not leave Hangu Pass. Your Majesty's authority extended east of the mountains, and our state was greatly afraid—repairing armor, sharpening weapons, striving to farm, storing grain, living in anxious fear, not daring to act rashly, all because Your Majesty intended to censure and punish us. Now, relying on Your Majesty's strength, Qin has already conquered Ba and Shu, annexed Hanzhong, surrounded the two Zhou, and held the ford at Baima. Though Qin is remote, its anger and long-held resentment are deep. Now Qin has sent its weary troops to camp at Mianchi, preparing to cross the Yellow River, traverse the Zhang River, occupy Fanwu, and gather before the walls of Handan, hoping to engage the Zhao army on a jiazi day, following the precedent of King Wu of Zhou's campaign against Zhou. I have respectfully sent an envoy to inform Your Majesty's attendants first. Now Chu and Qin have become brothers; Han and Wei call themselves eastern vassals; Qi has offered its fish and salt lands—this is like cutting off Zhao's right shoulder. With the right shoulder cut off, yet fighting with others, losing allies and standing alone, is it possible to avoid danger? Now Qin has dispatched three generals: one army will block the Wu Road, notify Qi to cross the Qing River and camp east of Handan; one army will camp at Chenggao, driving Han and Wei's forces to camp beyond the River; and one army will camp at Mianchi, agreeing that the four states will unite to attack Zhao. Once Zhao submits, it will surely be divided among the four states. I privately consider for Your Majesty that it is better to meet the King of Qin in person, make a verbal agreement, and become brothers forever." The King of Zhao agreed.
Zhang Yi then went north to Yan and persuaded the King of Yan, saying, "Now the King of Zhao has come to court and ceded Hejian to serve Qin. If Your Majesty does not serve Qin, Qin will send troops from Yunzhong and Jiuyuan, driving Zhao to attack Yan, and then the Yi River and the Great Wall will no longer be yours. Moreover, Qi and Zhao are now to Qin like commanderies and counties, not daring to lightly send troops to attack other states. Now if Your Majesty serves Qin, you can forever avoid the calamities from Qi and Zhao." The King of Yan requested to cede the five cities at the end of Changshan to sue for peace.
Zhang Yi returned to report, but before he reached Xianyang, King Hui of Qin died, and his son, King Wu of Qin, succeeded. From the time he was crown prince, King Wu of Qin had not liked Zhang Yi. After he ascended the throne, many ministers spoke ill of Zhang Yi. When the feudal lords heard that there was discord between Zhang Yi and the Qin king, they all betrayed the Horizontal Alliance and revived the Vertical Alliance.
Fifth year of King Nan of Zhou (Xinhai, 310 BCE)
Zhang Yi advised King Wu of Qin: “For Your Majesty’s consideration, if upheaval arises in the eastern states, then you can seize more territory. I have heard that the King of Qi deeply hates me, and wherever I reside, Qi will surely attack. I beg to let my worthless self go to Wei; Qi will certainly attack Wei. When Qi and Wei are locked in war and cannot disengage, Your Majesty can take the opportunity to attack Han, enter the Three Rivers region, seize the Son of Heaven of Zhou, and gain control of the world’s maps and household registers—this is the path to imperial power.” King Wu agreed. The King of Qi indeed attacked Wei, and the King of Wei was terrified. Zhang Yi said: “Your Majesty need not worry. Allow me to make Qi withdraw its troops.” He then sent a retainer to Chu, and through Chu’s envoy spoke to the King of Qi: “Your Majesty has gone too far in your treatment of Zhang Yi while he was in Qin!” The King of Qi said: “Why do you say that?” The Chu envoy replied: “Zhang Yi’s departure from Qin was planned with the King of Qin, intending to make Qi and Wei attack each other, so that Qin could seize the Three Rivers region. Now Your Majesty has indeed attacked Wei—this is to exhaust your own state internally, attack your ally externally, and allow Zhang Yi to gain trust with the King of Qin.” The King of Qi then withdrew his troops and returned home. Zhang Yi served as Chancellor of Wei for one year. In summer, the fifth month, Zhang Yi died.
Zhang Yi and Su Qin both used the strategies of vertical and horizontal alliances to lobby the feudal lords and gained wealth and honor. All under heaven vied to admire and imitate them. There was also a man from Wei named Gongsun Yan, styled Xishou, who also became famous through persuasive debate. Others like Su Dai, Su Li, Zhou Zui, and Lou Huan, numerous and widespread across the world, devoted themselves to contending with sophistry and deceit—countless in number. Among them, Zhang Yi, Su Qin, and Gongsun Yan were the most renowned.
The Mencius comments: Someone asked: “Are Zhang Yi and Gongsun Yan not truly great men? When they are angry, the feudal lords tremble; when they are at rest, the world is at peace.” Mencius said: “How can they be considered great men? A gentleman establishes himself in the most upright position under heaven, walks the most bright and correct path under heaven. When his ambition is achieved, he walks the Way together with the people; when his ambition is not achieved, he alone upholds his principles. Wealth and honor cannot make him licentious, poverty and lowliness cannot make him change, power and force cannot make him yield—only this is called a great man.”
Yang Xiong’s Model Sayings states: Someone asked: “Zhang Yi and Su Qin studied the strategies of Guiguzi, using the rhetoric of vertical and horizontal alliances to stabilize the Central States for over ten years—is that so?” The reply: “They were men of deception. The sage detested them.” The question: “What about reading Confucius’s books but acting like Zhang Yi and Su Qin?” The reply: “This is like a phoenix’s call but with the feathers of a fierce bird—utterly discordant!” The question: “Then did Zigong not do similar things?” The reply: “Zigong was ashamed when the world was in chaos and he could not rescue it. Zhang Yi and Su Qin were ashamed when they could not gain wealth and honor through persuasion.” Someone said: “Zhang Yi and Su Qin probably had ability—did their actions not follow some principle?” The reply: “In ancient times, even Emperor Yao found it difficult to employ talent; it is not merely a matter of ability. Ability, ability—it is not what we call ability.”
2 King Wu of Qin sent Gan Mao to execute Chen Zhuang, the Chancellor of Shu.
3 King Wu of Qin met with King Wei of Wei at Linjin.
4 King Wuling of Zhao married Wu Guang’s daughter Meng Yao, doted on her, and established her as Queen Hui. She gave birth to a son, Zhao He.
In the sixth year of King Nan of Zhou (Renzi year, 309 BCE):
1 Qin began to establish the office of Chancellor, appointing Shuli Ji as the Right Chancellor.
In the seventh year of King Nan of Zhou (Guichou year, 308 BCE):
1 Qin and Wei met at Yingcheng.
2 King Wu of Qin sent Gan Mao to ally with Wei to attack Han, with Xiang Shou as his deputy. When Gan Mao reached Wei, he sent Xiang Shou back to report to the King of Qin: “Wei has followed my advice, but I hope Your Majesty will not attack Han!” The King of Qin met Gan Mao at Xirang and asked him why. Gan Mao replied: “Yiyang is a large county, in fact equivalent to a commandery. Now Your Majesty must cross multiple dangerous barriers and march a thousand li to attack it—this is very difficult. In Lu, there was a man with the same name as Zeng Shen who committed murder. Someone told Zeng Shen’s mother, and she continued weaving calmly. When a third person came to tell her, she dropped her shuttle, jumped off the loom, and fled over the wall. My worth is not as great as Zeng Shen’s, and Your Majesty’s trust in me is less than that of Zeng Shen’s mother. Moreover, those who suspect me will number more than three—I fear Your Majesty will also drop the shuttle like Zeng’s mother. When Marquis Wen of Wei sent Yue Yang to attack Zhongshan, it took three years to conquer. Upon his return, when rewards were discussed, Marquis Wen showed him a chest full of letters slandering Yue Yang. Yue Yang bowed twice and kowtowed, saying: ‘This is not my achievement, but Your Lordship’s strength.’ Now I am a minister dwelling in Qin. If Shuli Zi and Gongsun Shi bring slanders about Han, Your Majesty will surely believe them, and thus Your Majesty will have deceived the King of Wei, and I will suffer the resentment of Gongzhong Chi.” The King of Qin said: “I will not listen to them. Let me make an oath with you.” So they swore an oath at Xirang. In autumn, Gan Mao and Chang Feng led troops to attack Yiyang.
In the eighth year of King Nan of Zhou (Jiayin year, 307 BCE):
1 Gan Mao attacked Yiyang but could not capture it after five months. Shuli Zi and Gongsun Shi indeed argued against the campaign. The King of Qin summoned Gan Mao, intending to withdraw. Gan Mao said: “The oath at Xirang still stands.” The King of Qin said: “Indeed, it does.” So he mobilized all available troops to reinforce Gan Mao. They beheaded sixty thousand men and finally captured Yiyang. Gongzhong Chi of Han came to Qin to apologize and sue for peace.
2 King Wu of Qin loved games of strength. The strongmen Ren Bi, Wu Huo, and Meng Shuo all attained high office. In autumn, the eighth month, King Wu of Qin and Meng Shuo lifted a cauldron; exerting too much force, his blood vessels burst, and he died. Meng Shuo was executed along with his clan. King Wu of Qin had no sons. His half-brother Ying Ji was a hostage in Yan. The people of Qin welcomed him back and established him as ruler—this was King Zhaoxiang of Qin. King Zhaoxiang of Qin’s mother was Mi Bazi, a woman of Chu, later known as Empress Dowager Xuan.
King Wuling of Zhao campaigned northward against the state of Zhongshan, reaching the city of Fangzi, then proceeded to the region of Dai, going north as far as Wuqiong, west to the Yellow River, and ascending the summit of Mount Huanghua. He discussed with Fei Yi the plan to teach the people to wear Hu clothing and learn horseback archery, saying: “What fools laugh at, the wise perceive clearly. Even if the whole world mocks me, I will surely possess the lands of the Hu and Zhongshan!” Thereupon he donned Hu clothing. The people of the state were greatly displeased, and Prince Cheng feigned illness and did not attend court. The King of Zhao sent a messenger to invite him, saying: “At home, one obeys one’s parents; in the state, one obeys the ruler. Now I have issued an edict to change our attire, yet you, noble uncle, do not wear it; I fear the world will criticize me. Governing a state has its constant principles, with benefiting the people as the foundation; administering affairs has its rules, with orders being carried out and prohibitions obeyed as paramount. Cultivating virtue begins with the lowly, but implementing orders begins with the esteemed to gain trust. Therefore, I hope to rely on your righteousness, noble uncle, to complete the achievement of Hu clothing and horseback archery.” Prince Cheng twice bowed and knocked his head, saying: “I have heard that the Central Plains are where the sages implement their teachings, where rites and music are applied, the place distant states come to observe and pay homage, and the model for barbarian tribes to learn from. Now Your Majesty casts these aside to wear the clothing of distant Hu, altering ancient traditions and opposing the people’s will; I beg Your Majesty to carefully consider this!” The messenger returned and reported. The King of Zhao personally went to see him, saying: “To our east we have Qi and Zhongshan, to the north Yan and Donghu, to the west Loufan, Qin, and the borders of Han. Without the equipment of horseback archery, how can we defend ourselves? Formerly, Zhongshan relied on Qi’s strong troops to invade and encroach upon our lands, plunder our people, and divert water to besiege the city of Hao; were it not for the protection of the spirits of the altars, Hao would have fallen, and our former lords felt deep shame over this. Thus, I change our attire and learn horseback archery to guard against calamities from the four borders and avenge the aggression of Zhongshan. Yet you, noble uncle, cling to Central Plains customs, detest the reputation of changing attire, and forget the shame of the Hao incident—this is not what I had hoped for.” Prince Cheng obeyed the command, and the King of Zhao bestowed Hu clothing upon him; on the next day, he wore it to court. Thereupon, the King of Zhao issued the order for wearing Hu clothing and recruited men to practice horseback archery.
In the ninth year of King Nan of Zhou (, 306 BCE):
1 King Zhaoxiang of Qin sent Xiang Shou to pacify Yiyang, and also sent Chuzi and Gan Mao to attack Wei. Gan Mao advised the King of Qin to return Wusui to Han. Xiang Shou and Gongsun Shi argued against this but could not stop it; therefore, they harbored resentment and slandered Gan Mao. Gan Mao, greatly frightened, ceased the attack on Puhan of Wei and fled. Chuzi made peace with Wei and withdrew his troops. Gan Mao fled to Qi.
2 King Wuling of Zhao campaigned against Zhongshan, reaching Ningjia; westward he campaigned against the Hu, reaching Yuzhong. The King of Linhu presented horses. After returning, the King of Zhao sent Lou Huan to Qin, Chou Ye to Han, Wang Ben to Chu, Fu Ding to Wei, and Zhao Jue to Qi. The Dai Chancellor Zhao Gu managed Hu affairs and mobilized Hu troops.
1 King Huai of Chu formed a vertical alliance with the King of Qi and the King of Han.
In the tenth year of King Nan of Zhou (, 305 BCE):
1 A comet appeared.
2 King Wuling of Zhao attacked Zhongshan, capturing Danqiu, Shuangyang, and Hongzhi Pass, as well as Hao, Shiyi, Fenglong, and Dongyuan. Zhongshan offered four cities to sue for peace.
3 The half-brother of Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin was the Marquis of Rang, Wei Ran; her full brother was the Lord of Huayang, Mi Rong. The half-brothers of King Zhaoxiang of Qin were the Lord of Gaoling and the Lord of Jingyang. Wei Ran was the most capable; since the reigns of King Hui and King Wu of Qin, he had held office and administered state affairs. After King Wu of Qin died, his brothers vied for the succession, and only Wei Ran had the ability to support King Zhaoxiang. After King Zhaoxiang ascended the throne, he appointed Wei Ran as general to guard Xianyang. That year, the shuchang Ying Zhuang, along with great officers and princes, plotted rebellion; Wei Ran executed them. Queen Huiwen died a bad death, and Queen Dowager Daowu was expelled from Qin and returned to Wei. All the brothers of King Zhaoxiang who were unfriendly, Wei Ran eliminated them. King Zhaoxiang was young; Queen Dowager Xuan personally managed state affairs, appointing Wei Ran to oversee government, and his authority shook the entire state of Qin.
In the eleventh year of King Nan of Zhou (, 304 BCE):
1 King Zhaoxiang of Qin met with King Huai of Chu at Huangji. Qin returned the territory of Shangyong to Chu.
In the twelfth year of King Nan of Zhou (, 303 BCE):
1 A comet appeared.
2 Qin captured Puhan, Jinyang, and Fengling from Wei, and also captured Wusui from Han.
3 Because Chu had abandoned the vertical alliance, Qi, Han, and Wei united their armies to attack Chu. King Huai of Chu sent Crown Prince Xiong Heng to Qin as a hostage to request aid. The Qin guest-minister Tong led troops to rescue Chu, and the armies of Qi, Han, and Wei withdrew.
4 Duke Ping of Lu died; his son, Duke Min of Lu, named Jia, succeeded.
In the thirteenth year of King Nan of Zhou (, 302 BCE):
1 King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Xiang of Wei, and Crown Prince Ying of Han met at Linjin. The Crown Prince of Han went to Xianyang and then returned. Qin also returned Puhan to Wei.
2 A great officer of Qin privately quarreled with the Crown Prince of Chu; the Crown Prince killed him and fled back to Chu.
In the fourteenth year of King Nan of Zhou (, 301 BCE):
1 A total solar eclipse occurred.
2 The Qin people captured Rang of Han. The Shu commandery governor Ning Hui rebelled against Qin; Sima Cuo of Qin went and executed him.
3 The Qin shuchang Huan, joined by the armies of Han, Wei, and Qi, attacked Chu, defeated the Chu army at Chongqiu, killed the Chu general Tang Mei, and then occupied Chongqiu.
4 The King of Zhao attacked Zhongshan; the ruler of Zhongshan fled to Qi.
5 King Xuan of Qi died; his son, King Min of Qi, named Tiandi, succeeded.
In the fifteenth year of King Nan of Zhou (, 300 BCE):
1 The Qin prince, Lord of Jingyang, went to Qi as a hostage.
2 The Qin prince, Lord of Huayang, attacked Chu, heavily defeated the Chu army, decapitated thirty thousand men, killed the Chu general Jing Que, and occupied Xiangcheng of Chu. The King of Chu, in fear, sent his crown prince to Qi as a hostage to sue for peace.
3 Chuzi Ji of Qin died; the Zhao native Lou Huan was appointed as Chancellor.
4 King Wuling of Zhao favored his younger son Zhao He and wished to establish him as ruler while he himself was still alive.
In the sixteenth year of King Nan of Zhou (, 299 BCE):
1 In summer, on the day wushen in the fifth month, King Wuling of Zhao held a grand court assembly in the Eastern Palace and abdicated the throne to Zhao He. After Zhao He performed the ancestral temple rites, he came out to administer state affairs; the great officers all became his ministers. Fei Yi served as Chancellor and also acted as the King of Zhao’s tutor. King Wuling of Zhao styled himself “Lord Father.” The Lord Father wished for his son to govern the state while he himself, wearing Hu clothing, led the shi and great officers to campaign northwest into Hu territory. He planned to descend from Yunzhong and Jiuyuan to attack Xianyang, so he disguised himself as an envoy and entered Qin, intending to observe Qin’s terrain and the character of the King of Qin. The King of Qin did not notice him, but later, struck by his unusual stature and imposing demeanor, unlike that of a subject, sent men to pursue him. The Lord Father had already escaped through the pass. Upon careful inquiry, Qin realized it was the Lord Father. The Qin people were greatly alarmed.
2 The King of Qi and the King of Wei met in Han.
3 The Qin forces attacked Chu, capturing eight cities. The King of Qin sent a letter to the King of Chu, saying: “In former days, I made a covenant with Your Majesty as brothers, swore alliance at Huangji, and the Crown Prince came to Qin as a hostage. Our relations were very cordial. But the Crown Prince insulted and murdered my high minister and fled without offering an apology. Truly I could not restrain my anger and dispatched troops to invade your border. Now I hear that Your Majesty has sent the Crown Prince as a hostage to Qi to seek peace. Qin and Chu share a border and have intermarried in mutual goodwill. If relations between Qin and Chu are not harmonious now, we cannot command the other lords. I wish to meet Your Majesty at Wuguan, make a personal agreement, and part after swearing an oath—this is my desire!” The King of Chu was greatly troubled by this. He wished to go but feared being deceived; he wished not to go but feared Qin would be even more enraged. Zhao Sui said: “Do not go. Simply strengthen the defenses and that is all! Qin is a land of tigers and wolves; it harbors the intent to swallow up the other lords—it cannot be trusted!” The King’s son, Zilan, urged the King of Chu to go, and so the King of Chu entered Qin. The King of Qin ordered a general to impersonate the King of Qin, ambushed troops at Wuguan, and as soon as the King of Chu arrived, closed the pass and seized him, taking him westward together to Xianyang. There he was made to pay court at the Zhangtai Palace, with the ceremonies of a vassal lord, and was coerced into ceding the commanderies of Wu and Qianzhong. The King of Chu wished to swear the oath first, while the King of Qin wished to obtain the territory first. The King of Chu said in anger: “Qin has deceived me and now forces me to cede territory!” So he refused, and the men of Qin detained him. The great ministers of Chu were deeply worried and consulted among themselves, saying: “Our sovereign is in Qin and cannot return; he is being coerced to cede territory. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince is a hostage in Qi. If Qi and Qin conspire together, then Chu will be ruined.” They wished to install one of the king’s other sons who remained in the state. Zhao Sui said: “Both the sovereign and the Crown Prince are trapped among the other lords. Now to defy the sovereign’s command and set up one of his lesser sons—this is not fitting!” So they feigned the death of the King of Chu and sent a funeral notice to Qi. King Min of Qi summoned his ministers to discuss the matter. Someone said: “It would be better to detain the Crown Prince and demand from Chu the lands north of the Huai River.” The Prime Minister of Qi said: “That will not do. If Yingdu sets up a new king, then we will be left holding an empty hostage and committing an unjust act before all under Heaven.” The other person said: “That is not so. If Yingdu sets up a new king, we can take the opportunity to make a deal with that new king, saying: ‘Give us the lands east of the Xia, and we will kill the Crown Prince for you. Otherwise, we will join with Qin, Han, and Wei to install him together.’” In the end, King Min adopted the Prime Minister’s plan and sent the Crown Prince of Chu back. The men of Chu set him up as king.
4 The King of Qin heard that Lord Mengchang was worthy and sent Lord Jingyang to Qi as a hostage to invite Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang came to Qin, and the King of Qin appointed him Chancellor.
In the seventeenth year of King Nan of Zhou (Gui Hai, 298 BCE):
1 Someone said to the King of Qin: “If Lord Mengchang serves as Chancellor of Qin, he will surely consider Qi first and only then Qin. Qin is in danger!” The King of Qin then replaced him with Lou Huan as Chancellor, imprisoned Lord Mengchang, and wished to kill him. Lord Mengchang sent someone to seek help from the king’s favored concubine. The concubine said: “I wish to obtain your white fox-fur cloak.” Lord Mengchang had a white fox-fur cloak, but he had already presented it to the King of Qin and could not fulfill the concubine’s request. Among his retainers was one skilled in dog-like thievery, who entered Qin’s treasury, stole the white fox-fur cloak, and presented it to the concubine. The concubine then spoke to the King of Qin on Lord Mengchang’s behalf, and the king released him. Later, the King of Qin regretted this and sent men to pursue him. Lord Mengchang reached the Hangu Pass. The pass law stipulated that travelers were only allowed through at cockcrow. It was still early, and the pursuers were about to arrive. Among his retainers was one skilled in imitating a rooster’s crow; when the wild roosters heard his call, they all crowed in response. Lord Mengchang was thus able to escape and return to his state.
2 The men of Chu reported to Qin, saying: “Relying on the spirits of the altars, Chu already has a new king!” The King of Qin was greatly enraged, sent troops out through Wuguan to attack Chu, beheaded fifty thousand men, and captured sixteen cities.
3 The King of Zhao enfeoffed his younger brother, Zhao Sheng, as Lord Pingyuan. Lord Pingyuan was fond of scholars, and his retainers often numbered in the thousands. There was a man named Gongsun Long, skilled in the debates of “hardness and whiteness” and “identity and difference.” Lord Pingyuan treated him as a guest. Kong Chuan came from Lu to Zhao and debated with Gongsun Long about “Cang having three ears.” Gongsun Long’s analysis was extremely incisive. Kong Chuan did not respond, and soon took his leave. The next day, he again visited Lord Pingyuan. Lord Pingyuan said: “Yesterday, Gongsun Long’s words were indeed very eloquent. What does the Master think?” Kong Chuan replied: “Yes. He almost made it possible for Cang to have three ears. Nevertheless, it is actually impossible! I venture to ask you: Now, saying three ears is difficult and actually wrong; saying two ears is easy and actually correct. I do not know whether you would follow the easy and correct statement, or the difficult and erroneous one?” Lord Pingyuan could not answer. The next day, Lord Pingyuan said to Gongsun Long: “You must no longer debate with Kong Zichuan! This man’s principles surpass his words; your words surpass your principles. When words surpass principles, one will ultimately be defeated.”
Zou Yan of Qi passed through Zhao, and Lord Pingyuan had him debate with Gongsun Long about the proposition “a white horse is not a horse.” Zou Yan said: “No. What is called debate is to distinguish different categories so that they do not interfere with each other, and to arrange different viewpoints so that they do not confuse each other. It is to express one’s intent and clarify the meaning, to explain what is being pointed to, so that everyone can understand—not to strive to confuse each other. Thus, the victor does not lose what he upholds, and the defeated obtains what he seeks. Only in such a manner can debate be carried out. As for using elaborate rhetoric to borrow from each other, using ornate words to attack each other, using clever analogies to shift positions, leading others so that they cannot grasp one’s original intent—this harms the great Way. That sort of entanglement and contention, where people compete in speaking and only stop after the final word, cannot but harm the gentleman. I do not engage in such things.” All those present said he spoke well. From then on, Gongsun Long was discredited.
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