Records of Zhou, Vol. 4
From the year Jiazi (297 BCE) to the year Wuzi (273 BCE), a total of twenty-five years.
King Nan of Zhou, Part 2
King Nan of Zhou, Year 18 (Jiazi, 297 BCE)
1. King Huai of Chu fled back to Chu. The state of Qin discovered this and blocked all roads leading to Chu. King Huai took a small path to flee to Zhao. The Ruler of Zhao, Zhufu, was at that time in Dai, and the Zhao people dared not receive him. King Huai intended to flee to Wei, but Qin pursuers caught up with him and brought him back to Qin.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 19 (Yichou, 296 BCE)
1. King Huai of Chu fell ill and died in Qin. The Qin people sent his coffin back to Chu. All the people of Chu grieved for him as if mourning their own kin. From this, the various feudal lords all considered Qin’s actions to be wrong.
2. Qi, Han, Wei, Zhao, and Song jointly attacked Qin. They advanced as far as Yanshi and then returned. Qin returned Wusui to Han and Fengling to Wei in order to make peace.
3. The Ruler of Zhao, Zhufu, toured the newly conquered territories and thus set out from Dai. Going west, he encountered the King of Loufan at Xihe and requisitioned his troops.
4. King Xiang of Wei died, and his son, King Zhao (named Su), succeeded him.
5. King Xiang of Han died, and his son, King Xi (named Jiu), succeeded him.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 20 (Bingyin, 295 BCE)
1. A Qin military commander (Wei) named Cuo attacked Xiangcheng in Wei.
2. The Ruler of Zhao, Zhufu, together with Qi and Yan, extinguished the state of Zhongshan and relocated its king to Fushi. After returning, he rewarded merits, granted a general amnesty, held a banquet, and allowed the populace to drink together for five days.
3. The Ruler of Zhao, Zhufu, enfeoffed his eldest son, Zhao Zhang, in Dai with the title of Lord Anyang.
Lord Anyang had long been arrogant and extravagant, and in his heart he resented his younger brother (King Huiwen of Zhao). Zhufu appointed Tian Buli as his chief minister. Li Dui said to Fei Yi: “Lord Zhang is strong in body and arrogant in ambition; he has many partisans and great ambition. Tian Buli is cruel and fond of killing, and also arrogant. These two men together will surely hatch a plot. Once a petty man has desire, he will act rashly and plan superficially, seeing only the benefit and disregarding the harm. Disaster will certainly come soon. You bear heavy responsibility and hold great power; you are the beginning of chaos and the focus of calamity. Why not claim illness and stay at home, handing government affairs to Gongzi Cheng? Do not become a stepping-stone for disaster—would that not be good?” Fei Yi replied: “Formerly, Zhufu entrusted the king to me, saying: ‘Do not change your principles, do not alter your thoughts, hold fast to one mind until your death.’ I bowed twice, accepted the command, and recorded it. Now, to forget that record out of fear of Tian Buli’s rebellion—could there be a greater change than that? A proverb says: ‘If the dead could come back to life, the living should face them without shame.’ I wish to preserve my oath; how could I preserve my body? Your instruction to me is loyal. Nevertheless, my words have already been spoken, and I dare not go back on them!” Li Dui said: “Very well. Do your utmost! I fear I shall only see you this year.” He left in tears.
Li Dui repeatedly visited Gongzi Cheng to guard against Tian Buli. Fei Yi said to Xin Qi: “Lord Zhang and Tian Buli appear good on the surface but are evil within. Inside, they gain the favor of Zhufu; outside, they commit violent acts. Forging commands to seize power for a time—this is not difficult to do. Now I worry about them, forgetting to sleep at night and forgetting to eat when hungry. Thieves coming and going must not go unguarded. From now on, if anyone summons the king, he must first see my face, and I will block him with my body. Only after ensuring there is no trouble may the king enter.” Xin Qi said: “Good.”
Zhufu had King Huiwen receive the officials in court, while he himself watched from the side. He saw his eldest son’s dejected appearance, forced to face north as a subject, suppressed by his younger brother. Zhufu pitied him, and so thought of dividing Zhao to make Lord Zhang king in Dai, but the plan was not finalized before he stopped. Zhufu and King Huiwen went on an excursion to Shaqiu and stayed in separate palaces. Lord Zhang and Tian Buli led their partisans in rebellion, falsely claiming Zhufu’s command to summon King Huiwen. Fei Yi entered first and was killed. Gao Xin immediately fought alongside King Huiwen. Gongzi Cheng and Li Dui rushed from the capital, mobilized troops from four cities, entered to resist the rebellion, killed Lord Zhang and Tian Buli, and exterminated their partisans. Gongzi Cheng became chief minister, titled Lord Anping; Li Dui became Minister of Justice (Sikou). At this time, King Huiwen was young, and Gongzi Cheng and Li Dui monopolized power.
When Lord Zhang was defeated, he fled to Zhufu, who opened the gate and received him. Gongzi Cheng and Li Dui then surrounded Zhufu’s palace. After Lord Zhang died, Gongzi Cheng and Li Dui discussed: “Because of Lord Zhang, we surrounded Zhufu. If we now withdraw, our clans will be exterminated!” So they continued the siege, issuing an order: “Anyone in the palace who comes out late will have their clan exterminated!” All the people in the palace came out. Zhufu wanted to come out but could not, and had nothing to eat. He picked young birds from nests to eat. After more than three months, he starved to death in the Shaqiu Palace. Only when Zhufu was truly dead did they announce his death to the feudal lords. Originally, Zhufu had made Lord Zhang his heir apparent. Later, he obtained Wuwa, doted on her, and for her sake did not leave the palace for several years. After she bore him a son, Zhao He, he deposed Lord Zhang and made Zhao He the heir. After Wuwa died, his favor faded, and he pitied the original heir, wishing to make both kings. He hesitated and did not decide, and thus disaster arose.
4. Lou Huan of Qin was dismissed as chief minister, and Wei Ran replaced him.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 21 (Dingmao, 294 BCE)
1. Qin defeated the Wei army at Jie.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 22 (Wuchen, 293 BCE)
1. Gongsun Xi of Han and men of Wei attacked Qin. The Marquis of Rang, Wei Ran, recommended to the King of Qin the Zuo Geng, Bai Qi, to replace Xiang Shou in commanding the army. Bai Qi defeated the Wei and Han armies at Yique, beheading 240,000 men, capturing Gongsun Xi, and taking five cities. The King of Qin appointed Bai Qi as National Marshal (Guowei).
2. The King of Qin sent a letter to the King of Chu, saying: “Chu has betrayed Qin. Qin will lead the feudal lords to attack Chu. I hope you will prepare your soldiers, and we will have a good battle!” The King of Chu was greatly troubled, and so again made peace and formed a marriage alliance with Qin.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 23 (Jisi, 292 BCE)
1. King Xiang of Chu went to Qin to receive a bride.
Your servant Sima Guang comments: How unrighteous was Qin—killing the father and then seizing the son! How unworthy was Chu—tolerating the murder of a father and yet marrying the murderer! Alas! If the ruler of Chu truly grasped the Way, and his ministers truly obtained the right men, even though Qin was strong, how could it have bullied them? Xunzi’s remark is excellent: “This Way—if one is good at using it, even a territory of a hundred li can stand alone. If one is not good at using it, even a state like Chu with six thousand li of land will be enslaved by its enemy.” Thus, a ruler who does not strive to master the Way but only seeks to expand his power—this is the source of his danger.
2. Wei Ran of Qin resigned on the pretext of illness. Qin employed a guest-official, Zhu Shou, as chief minister.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 24 (Gengwu, 291 BCE)
1. Qin attacked Han and captured Wan.
2. Zhu Shou of Qin was dismissed. Wei Ran again became chief minister and was enfeoffed with Rang and Tao, titled Marquis of Rang. Gongzi Shi was enfeoffed at Wan, and Gongzi Kui at Deng.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 25 (Xinwei, 290 BCE)
1. Wei ceded 400 li of the Hedong region, and Han ceded 200 li of the Wusui region, to Qin.
2. Mang Mao of Wei began to gain prominence through deceitful methods.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 26 (Renshen, 289 BCE)
1. The Great Liangzao of Qin, Bai Qi, and a guest-official named Cuo attacked Wei, advancing to Zhi and capturing 61 cities, large and small.
King Nan of Zhou, Year 27 (Guichou, 288 BCE)
In winter, the tenth month, the King of Qin styled himself the Western Emperor and sent envoys to establish the King of Qi as the Eastern Emperor, intending to agree on a joint attack against Zhao. Su Dai came from Yan. The King of Qi said, “Qin has sent Wei Ran to offer the imperial title. What do you think of this?” Su Dai replied, “I hope Your Majesty will accept the imperial title but not proclaim yourself emperor. If Qin proclaims itself emperor and the world acquiesces, then Your Majesty may proclaim yourself emperor without it being too late. If Qin proclaims itself emperor and the world detests it, then Your Majesty should refrain from doing so, thereby winning the hearts of the people of the world—this is a great asset. Moreover, which is more advantageous: attacking Zhao or attacking Song, which is as tyrannical as Jie? Now Your Majesty would be better off abandoning the imperial title to gather the expectations of the world, then raise troops to attack Jie-like Song. Once Song is conquered, then Chu, Zhao, Liang, and Wei will all be afraid. In this way, we nominally honor Qin while making the world hate it—this is what is called using lowliness to gain honor.” The King of Qi followed Su Dai’s advice. After proclaiming himself emperor for only two days, he renounced the title. In the twelfth month, Lü Li went from Qi to Qin. The King of Qin also renounced the imperial title and reverted to being a king.
Qin attacked Zhao and captured Duyang.
Twenty-eighth year of King Nan of Zhou (Jiaxu, 287 BCE)
Qin attacked Wei and captured Xinyuan and Quyang.
Twenty-ninth year of King Nan of Zhou (Yihai, 286 BCE)
Sima Cuo of Qin attacked the Henei region of Wei. Wei offered Anyi to sue for peace. Qin expelled the people of Anyi back to Wei.
Qin defeated the Han army at Xiashan.
In Song, someone found a small bird giving birth to a large osprey in a corner of the city wall. The court diviner, after casting lots, said, “Auspicious. The small producing the large—this will surely lead to hegemony over the world.” King Kang of Song was delighted, raised troops, and extinguished Teng; attacked Xue; defeated Qi to the east, capturing five cities; defeated Chu to the south, seizing three hundred li of territory; and defeated the Wei army to the west. Song became an enemy of Qi and Wei, and thereby grew even more confident of its hegemony. Eager to achieve hegemony quickly, he shot arrows at heaven, whipped the earth, cut down and burned the altars of the soil and grain, to display that his power could subdue ghosts and spirits. He drank wine all night long in the palace. When the people in the palace shouted “Long live,” those in the hall echoed it, those below the hall echoed it, and those outside the gates echoed it, until it spread throughout the entire capital, with none daring not to shout “Long live.” The people of the world called him “Jie-like Song.” King Min of Qi raised troops to attack him. The people scattered, and the city could not be defended. The King of Song fled to Wei and died in Wen.
Thirtieth year of King Nan of Zhou (Bingzi, 285 BCE)
The King of Qin met with the King of Chu at Wan and with the King of Zhao at Zhongyang.
Meng Wu of Qin attacked Qi and captured nine cities.
After King Min of Qi extinguished Song, he became arrogant. He then invaded Chu to the south and the Three Jin (Han, Zhao, Wei) to the west, intending to annex Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou and become the Son of Heaven himself. Hu Xuan remonstrated frankly and was executed at Tanqu; Chen Ju remonstrated frankly and was killed at Donglü.
King Zhao of Yan, day and night, comforted the people, making the state increasingly prosperous, and then conspired with Yue Yi to attack Qi. Yue Yi said, “Qi is the legacy left by the hegemons. Its territory is vast and its population numerous; it is not easy to attack alone. If Your Majesty must attack it, it would be better to ally with Zhao, as well as Chu and Wei.” Thereupon, he sent Yue Yi to ally with Zhao, and dispatched other envoys to contact Chu and Wei, and also had Zhao entice Qin with the benefits of attacking Qi. The various feudal lords all hated King Min of Qi’s arrogance and tyranny and vied with one another to conspire with Yan to attack Qi.
Thirty-first year of King Nan of Zhou (Dingchou, 284 BCE)
The King of Yan mobilized all his troops and appointed Yue Yi as Supreme General. Si Li, the Qin commandant, led Qin troops to join forces with the armies of the Three Jin. The King of Zhao bestowed the seal of prime minister on Yue Yi. Yue Yi then led the combined forces of Qin, Wei, Han, and Zhao to attack Qi. King Min of Qi conscripted the entire nation’s forces to resist, and they fought west of the Ji River. The Qi army was utterly defeated. Yue Yi sent the Qin and Han armies back, dispatched the Wei army to seize the former territory of Song, deployed the Zhao army to recover the Hejian region, and himself led the Yan army in a long, unopposed pursuit of the routed enemy. Ju Xin said, “Qi is large and Yan is small. We relied on the help of the feudal lords to defeat the Qi army. We should promptly seize Qi’s border towns to strengthen ourselves—this is a long-term benefit. Now, passing through without attacking, under the pretext of a deep invasion, does no harm to Qi and brings no benefit to Yan. Instead, we incur deep enmity, and we will surely regret it later.” Yue Yi said, “The King of Qi boasts of his achievements and relies on his own abilities. He does not heed his subordinates, dismisses worthy and good men, trusts flatterers, and his decrees are tyrannical. The people harbor resentment. Now that the Qi army has been defeated and destroyed, if we press the attack, the Qi people will surely rebel and disorder will arise within. Then Qi can be taken. If we do not seize this opportunity to attack, and wait until they repent their past mistakes, correct their errors, care for the people, and pacify the populace, then they will be difficult to deal with.” Thereupon, they advanced deep into Qi. The Qi people indeed fell into great chaos and lost all order. King Min fled. Yue Yi entered Linzi, seized treasures and sacrificial vessels, and transported them to Yan. The King of Yan personally went to the Ji River to reward the army, distributed gifts and feasted the officers, enfeoffed Yue Yi as Lord of Changguo, and ordered him to remain and subdue the cities of Qi that had not yet surrendered.
The King of Qi fled to Wei. The ruler of Wei vacated his palace for him, acknowledged himself as a subject, and supplied his needs. The King of Qi was discourteous in speech and conduct, so the people of Wei harassed him. The King of Qi left and fled to Zou and Lu, but with an arrogant demeanor, Zou and Lu refused to accept him. He then fled to Ju. Chu sent Nao Chi to lead troops to rescue Qi, and consequently he became the prime minister of Qi. Nao Chi intended to partition Qi’s territory with Yan, so he seized King Min of Qi and enumerated his crimes, saying, “Between Qiancheng and Bochang, for several hundred li, blood rain fell and soaked clothes. Does Your Majesty know this?” The King of Qi said, “I know.” “Between Ying and Bo, the ground split open to the point where springs gushed forth. Does Your Majesty know this?” The King of Qi said, “I know.” “Someone wept at the palace gate. When sought, they could not be found; when left, the sound of weeping was heard. Does Your Majesty know this?” The King of Qi said, “I know.” Nao Chi said, “Heaven sent blood rain to soak clothes—that is Heaven’s warning. The ground split open to the springs—that is Earth’s warning. Someone wept at the palace gate—that is the people’s warning. Heaven, Earth, and the people all warned you, yet Your Majesty did not take heed—how can you avoid being put to death!” Thereupon, he killed King Min of Qi at Guli.
Xunzi commented: The state is the most advantageous position of power in the world. If one holds it with righteousness, it will be extremely stable and extremely glorious, and it is the source of accumulating goodness. If one holds it without righteousness, it will be extremely dangerous and extremely burdensome, and possessing it is worse than not having it. At the extreme, even if one wishes to become a commoner, it is impossible. Such were King Min of Qi and King Xian of Song. Therefore, one who governs a state will be a true king if he establishes righteousness, a hegemon if he establishes trust, and will perish if he establishes power and deceit.
Lead the state by calling for ritual and righteousness, and do not harm it with other things. To commit one unrighteous act or kill one innocent person, even if it could gain the world, a person of benevolence and righteousness would not do it. Firmly hold to ritual and righteousness to cultivate the heart and govern the state, and do so with such steadfastness. Those who work with him are all righteous men; the penal laws he issues and implements throughout the state are all righteous laws; what the ruler vigorously advocates and leads his ministers to first pursue are all righteous aspirations. In this way, the ministers will look up to the ruler based on righteousness, and the foundation is secure. When the foundation is secure, the state is secure; when the state is secure, the world is secure. Therefore it is said: Use the state to achieve righteousness, and in one day it can be made manifest to the world. Such were Tang and Wu. This is what is meant by establishing righteousness and becoming a true king.
Though their virtue had not yet reached its utmost and their righteousness was not yet complete, the principles of the world were generally in place. Punishments, rewards, pledges, and promises were trusted by all under heaven, and subjects clearly knew that their lord could be relied upon. Once orders were issued, even if advantages or disadvantages became apparent, they did not deceive the people. Once alliances were formed, even if advantages or disadvantages became apparent, they did not deceive their allies. In this way, the army was strong, the cities were secure, and enemy states feared them. The state was united and its governance clear, and allied states trusted them. Even if situated in a remote and modest state, they could awe the world. This was the case with the Five Hegemons. This is what is meant by establishing trust to achieve hegemony over the feudal lords.
When a state calls for and pursues profit, does not strive to spread righteousness or align trust, but only seeks gain, internally it does not fear deceiving its own people for petty benefits, and externally it does not fear deceiving its allies for major gains. Internally, it does not manage what it already possesses but constantly desires what others have. In this way, subjects and commoners all use deceitful hearts toward their lord. The lord deceives his subjects, and subjects deceive their lord—this is the separation of the upper and lower ranks. In this way, enemy states despise it, allied states doubt it, schemes and tricks grow daily, and the state inevitably faces danger and decline. At its extreme, it perishes. This was the case with King Min of Qi and Lord Mengchang of Xue. Thus, possessing a powerful Qi was not due to cultivating ritual and righteousness, not due to rectifying government and education, not due to uniting all under heaven, but through continuous efforts at collusion, bribery, and outward expansion as the priority. Therefore, when strong, to the south it could defeat Chu, to the west it could bend Qin, to the north it could defeat Yan, and in the central plains it could seize Song. But when Yan and Zhao rose to attack it, it was like shaking off withered leaves. King Min of Qi died and his state was destroyed, becoming the greatest shame under heaven. Later generations, when speaking of evil deeds, always use him as an example. This had no other reason—it was simply because he did not follow ritual and righteousness but employed schemes and tricks.
These three paths are what the enlightened lord should carefully choose, and what the benevolent man should strive to understand. He who chooses well can control others; he who chooses poorly is controlled by others.
Yue Yi heard that Wang Zhu, a man from Zhouyi, was worthy. He ordered the army not to enter within thirty li of Zhouyi. He sent someone to invite Wang Zhu, but Wang Zhu declined and did not go. The men of Yan said, "If you do not come, we will slaughter Zhouyi!" Wang Zhu said, "A loyal minister does not serve two lords, and a chaste woman does not marry two husbands. The King of Qi did not adopt my remonstrances, so I retired to the countryside to farm. The state is ruined and the lord is dead—I could not save them. Now you want to coerce me with force. I would rather die than live unrighteously!" He then wrapped his neck around a tree branch and, using his own strength, twisted his neck and died. The Yan army took advantage of their victory and drove straight in. The cities of Qi all collapsed like windblown grass. Yue Yi reorganized the Yan army, forbade looting and plundering, sought out reclusive worthy men of Qi, honored them, and treated them with courtesy. He reduced their taxes, abolished Qi's harsh policies, and restored their former practices. The people of Qi were very pleased. He then dispatched the Left Army to cross the Jiaodong and Donglai regions, the Forward Army along the eastern foot of Mount Tai to the sea to take Langye, the Right Army along the Yellow River and Jishui to station at A and Juan to connect with the Wei forces, the Rear Army near the North Sea to pacify Qiansheng, and the Central Army occupied Linzi to garrison the Qi capital. He offered sacrifices at the outskirts to Qi Huan Gong and Guan Zhong, honored the gates of worthy men's villages, and raised Wang Zhu's grave mound high. Over twenty men of Qi received fiefs in Yan, and over a hundred were granted noble ranks in Ji City. Within six months, over seventy cities of Qi were taken and all were established as commanderies and counties.
The King of Qin, the King of Wei, and the King of Han met in the capital.
In the thirty-second year of King Nan of Zhou (wu yin year, 283 BCE), the King of Qin and the King of Zhao met at Rang. Qin took the city of Ancheng from Wei, and its army reached Daliang before withdrawing.
During the rebellion of Nao Chi in Qi, Fa Zhang, the son of King Min of Qi, changed his name and became a servant in the household of the Grand Scribe Jiao of Ju City. The Grand Scribe's daughter found Fa Zhang's appearance unusual, thought he was no ordinary man, pitied him, and often secretly gave him clothes and food, eventually becoming intimate with him. Wangsun Jia had followed King Min of Qi but lost track of the king's whereabouts. His mother said, "You go out in the morning and return in the evening, and I lean at the gate hoping for you. You go out at dusk and do not return, and I lean at the village gate hoping for you. Now you serve the king. The king has fled, and you do not know where he is—what do you come back for?" Wangsun Jia then entered the market and shouted, "Nao Chi has thrown Qi into chaos and killed King Min. Those who wish to join me in punishing him, bare your right arm!" Four hundred men in the market followed him. Together, they attacked and killed Nao Chi. Then the fleeing ministers of Qi jointly sought the son of King Min to establish him as king. Fa Zhang feared they might kill him, and only after a long time dared to reveal his identity. He was then established as the King of Qi, holding Ju City to resist Yan, and proclaimed to the entire state: "The King of Qi is already enthroned in Ju City!"
The King of Zhao obtained the He Shi Bi jade from Chu. King Zhao of Qin wanted it and offered fifteen cities in exchange. The King of Zhao wanted to refuse but feared Qin's power; he wanted to give it but worried about being deceived. He then consulted Lin Xiangru, who replied, "If Qin offers cities for the jade and the king does not agree, our side is in the wrong. If we give the jade to Qin and Qin does not give us the cities, then Qin is in the wrong. Comparing these two options, it is better to agree and let Qin bear the blame. I am willing to go as an envoy with the jade. If Qin does not hand over the cities, I request to return the jade intact to Zhao." The King of Zhao sent him as envoy. When Lin Xiangru arrived in Qin, the King of Qin had no intention of compensating Zhao with cities. Lin Xiangru then used a ruse to deceive the King of Qin, retrieved the jade, and had an attendant carry it back to Zhao by a side road, while he himself remained in Qin to await the consequences. The King of Qin, considering him worthy, did not kill him but treated him with courtesy and sent him back. The King of Zhao appointed Lin Xiangru as Grand Master.
Duke Si of Wei died, and his son Duke Huai of Wei succeeded him. Duke Si of Wei enjoyed observing subtle and hidden matters. A district magistrate had lifted his mat, revealing a worn-out seat. Duke Si heard of this and gave him a new mat. The magistrate was greatly astonished, thinking the ruler was a divine being. He also sent someone through a pass market to bribe the gatekeeper with gold. Shortly after, he summoned the gatekeeper and asked, "When a guest passed through and gave you gold, did you return it?" The gatekeeper was terrified. He also doted on Xie Ji and favored Ru Er but worried about being deceived by his favorites. Thus, he elevated the status of Bo Yi to counterbalance Ru Er and honored Wei Fei to match Xie Ji, saying, "This is how I keep them in check."
Xunzi commented: The Marquis Cheng and Duke Si were rulers who hoarded wealth and excelled at calculation, but they did not reach the level of winning the people's hearts. Zi Chan was a ruler who won the people's hearts, but he did not reach the level of ordering governance. Guan Zhong was a ruler who ordered governance, but he did not reach the level of cultivating ritual and righteousness. Therefore, he who cultivates ritual and righteousness can become a true king; he who orders governance can make the state strong; he who wins the people's hearts can make the state stable; he who hoards wealth will bring the state to ruin.
In the thirty-third year of King Nan of Zhou (ji mao year, 282 BCE), Qin attacked Zhao and took two cities.
In the thirty-fourth year of King Nan of Zhou (geng chen year, 281 BCE), Qin attacked Zhao and took the city of Shi.
Wei Ran, the Marquis of Rang of Qin, again became Chancellor.
Chu wished to ally with Qi and Han to attack Qin, and by taking advantage of this opportunity, to plot against the Zhou royal house. King Nan of Zhou sent the Duke of Eastern Zhou to say to Chu’s prime minister, Zhaozi: “The Zhou royal house cannot be plotted against.” Zhaozi said: “To speak of plotting against the Zhou royal house—in fact, there is no such thing; even so, why can it not be plotted against?” The Duke said: “The territory of Western Zhou, when cut short to make up for the long, is no more than a hundred li square. In name it is the common sovereign of all under Heaven, but to divide its land would not suffice to enrich a state, and to acquire its people would not suffice to strengthen an army. Even so, one who attacks it is in name a regicide. Yet there are still those who wish to attack it, because they see the sacrificial vessels there. Tiger meat is rank and foul, but the tiger’s hide is useful for protection, yet people still hunt it; if you were to cover a marsh deer with a tiger’s hide, people’s attack on it would increase ten thousandfold. To divide Chu’s land would suffice to enrich a state; to defeat Chu’s reputation would suffice to exalt a ruler. Now you wish to execute and harm the common sovereign of all under Heaven, and seize the treasured vessels handed down from three dynasties. If those treasured vessels are transported to the south, then armies will arrive.” Thereupon Chu’s plan was stopped and not carried out.
In the thirty-fifth year of King Nan of Zhou (the xinsi year, 280 BCE):
1. Bai Qi of Qin defeated the Zhao army, beheading twenty thousand men, and seized Guanglang City in the Dai region. He also sent Sima Cuo to mobilize troops from Longxi, pass through Shu to attack Chu’s Qianzhong Commandery, and captured it. Chu ceded the land north of the Han River and Shangyong.
In the thirty-sixth year of King Nan of Zhou (the renwu year, 279 BCE):
1. Bai Qi of Qin attacked Chu, seizing Yan, Deng, and Xiling.
2. The King of Qin sent an envoy to inform the King of Zhao, hoping to hold a friendly meeting at Mianchi, east of the Yellow River. The King of Zhao wished not to go, but Lian Po and Lin Xiangru deliberated, saying: “If Your Majesty does not go, it will show Zhao to be weak and timid.” The King of Zhao then went, with Lin Xiangru accompanying him. Lian Po escorted them to the border and bid the King farewell, saying: “Your Majesty’s journey, estimating the travel time, the completion of the meeting rites, and the return, will not exceed thirty days. If after thirty days you do not return, I beg permission to establish the crown prince as king, to cut off Qin’s designs.” The King of Zhao agreed.
At the Mianchi meeting, the King of Qin and the King of Zhao drank wine. When the wine was flowing freely, the King of Qin asked the King of Zhao to play the se, and the King of Zhao did so. Lin Xiangru also asked the King of Qin to strike the fou, but the King of Qin refused. Lin Xiangru said: “Within five paces, I beg to be able to spatter Your Majesty with the blood from my neck!” The King of Qin’s attendants wished to kill Lin Xiangru, but he glared at them and shouted, and the attendants all shrank back. The King of Qin, very displeased, struck the fou once for him. When the feast ended, Qin was ultimately unable to do any harm to Zhao. The people of Zhao had also made ample preparations, so Qin dared not act rashly.
After the King of Zhao returned to his state, he appointed Lin Xiangru as Senior Minister, ranking above Lian Po. Lian Po said: “I, as a great general of Zhao, have merit in attacking cities and fighting in the field. Lin Xiangru was originally a base man, relying only on the labor of his mouth and tongue, yet his official position is above me. I am ashamed and cannot bear to be beneath him!” He openly declared: “When I see Lin Xiangru, I will surely humiliate him!” When Lin Xiangru heard this, he refused to meet with him; every time he attended court, he often claimed illness, not wishing to contend for precedence. When he went out and saw Lian Po from afar, he turned his carriage to avoid him. His retainers were all ashamed of this. Lin Xiangru said: “How do you consider General Lian compared to the King of Qin?” The retainers said: “He is not as good.” Lin Xiangru said: “With the might of the King of Qin, I, Lin Xiangru, still shouted at him in court and humiliated his ministers. Although I, Lin Xiangru, am dull, would I fear General Lian? It is only that I consider this: the reason powerful Qin dares not use troops against Zhao is solely because we two are here. Now if two tigers fight, the situation will surely not allow both to survive. The reason I act this way is to put the state’s urgent needs first and set private grudges behind.” When Lian Po heard this, he bared his upper body, carried a thorny club on his back, and went to Lin Xiangru’s gate to apologize, and the two became friends unto death.
3. Earlier, when the people of Yan attacked Anping, the market clerk of Linzi, Tian Dan, was in Anping. He had all his clansmen wrap their axle-ends with iron cages. When the city was breached, people rushed to escape through the gates, but all had their axle-ends broken and their vehicles damaged, and were captured by the Yan army. Only Tian Dan’s clansmen, because they had used iron cages to wrap their axle-ends, escaped harm, and so they fled to Jimo. At this time, all of Qi’s territory belonged to Yan, except for Ju and Jimo, which had not fallen. Yue Yi combined the right and front armies to besiege Ju, and the left and rear armies to besiege Jimo. The grandee of Jimo went out to fight and died. The people of Jimo said: “In the battle of Anping, Tian Dan’s clansmen were preserved because of the iron cages. This shows he is resourceful and familiar with military affairs.” So they jointly recommended him as general to resist the Yan army. Yue Yi besieged the two cities for a year without being able to take them. He then ordered the siege lifted, and built camps nine li from each city, giving orders: “Do not capture the people who come out of the city; relieve those in distress, and let them resume their original occupations, to pacify the newly submitted people.” After three years, they still had not taken them. Someone slandered Yue Yi before King Zhao of Yan, saying: “Yue Yi’s wisdom and strategy surpass others. In attacking Qi, in the space of a breath he took over seventy cities. Now only two cities remain untaken. It is not that his strength cannot take them; the reason he has not attacked for three years is that he wishes to long rely on his military might to subdue the people of Qi, and then face south and call himself king. Now the people of Qi have already submitted; the reason he has not acted is because his wife and children are still in Yan. Moreover, the land of Qi abounds in beautiful women; he will forget his wife and children. I hope Your Majesty will consider this!” King Zhao of Yan then set up a grand feast and assembled all his ministers. He pulled out the slanderer and rebuked him, saying: “The former king took the entire state and used it to treat worthy men with courtesy, not because he coveted land to leave to his descendants. When he encountered that the virtue he transmitted was shallow, and he could not bear the Mandate of Heaven, the people were not submissive. Qi, being without the Way, took advantage of our orphaned state’s disorder to harm the former king. I, the orphan, inherited the throne, with pain penetrating to my marrow. Therefore, I widely invited all my ministers and, externally, summoned guests, in order to seek revenge. Those who have achieved success, I wish to share Yan with them. Now Lord Yue has personally defeated Qi for me, leveled their ancestral temples, and avenged the former king’s enmity. Qi was originally Lord Yue’s possession; it is not something Yan can obtain. If Lord Yue can possess Qi and become a feudal lord alongside Yan, forming a friendship to jointly resist the troubles of the other lords, this would be Yan’s blessing and my orphan’s wish. How dare you speak such words!” So he killed him. He bestowed on Yue Yi’s wife the robes of a queen, and on Yue Yi’s son the robes of a prince; he equipped a grand carriage with horses, followed by a hundred chariots, and sent the state’s prime minister bearing them to Yue Yi, establishing him as the King of Qi. Yue Yi, in fear, did not dare accept. He bowed and thanked him in a letter, swearing by death. From then on, the people of Qi admired his righteousness, and the feudal lords feared his trustworthiness, and no one dared to plot further.
Before long, King Zhao of Yan died, and King Hui of Yan succeeded. King Hui, from the time he was crown prince, had been dissatisfied with Yue Yi. Tian Dan, hearing of this, spread a counter-espionage scheme in Yan, publicly saying: “The King of Qi is already dead; only two cities remain untaken. Yue Yi has a rift with the new king of Yan, fears being killed and dares not return, and under the pretext of attacking Qi, actually wishes to combine forces and call himself king south of Qi. The people of Qi have not yet submitted, so he has temporarily slowed the attack on Jimo to wait for an opportunity. What the people of Qi fear is only that another general will come; then Jimo will be finished.” The King of Yan had long suspected Yue Yi; hearing the counter-espionage from Qi, he sent Qi Jie to replace Yue Yi as general, and recalled Yue Yi. Yue Yi knew that the King of Yan did not treat him well and had sent someone to replace him, so he fled to Zhao. From then on, the Yan officers and men were resentful and regretful, and fell into discord.
Tian Dan ordered the people in the city that when they ate, they must first offer sacrifices in their courtyards to their ancestors. Flocks of birds circled and descended into the city. The people of Yan found this strange, and Tian Dan then spread the word, saying, “A divine teacher will come down to instruct me.” One soldier said, “Can I be the divine teacher?” Then he turned and ran away. Tian Dan rose, pulled him back, made him sit facing east, and treated him with the rites of a teacher. The soldier said, “I deceived you.” Tian Dan said, “Do not speak of it.” Then he took him as his teacher. Whenever he issued commands or restrictions, he always claimed it was the will of the divine teacher. He also spread the word, saying, “I only fear that the Yan army will cut off the noses of the captured Qi soldiers and place them in the front ranks—then Jimo will be finished!” When the people of Yan heard this, they did exactly that. The people in the city saw that those who had surrendered had their noses cut off, and they all became enraged, holding the city firm, only fearing capture. Tian Dan then employed a stratagem of sowing discord, saying, “I am afraid that the Yan people will dig up the graves outside our city walls—this chills the heart!” The Yan army then dug up all the graves and burned the corpses. The people of Qi, watching from the city walls, all wept and cried out, vying to go into battle, their anger increased tenfold. Tian Dan knew that the soldiers could now be used, so he personally took up the wooden rammer and iron shovel, sharing the labor with the soldiers; his wives and concubines were enrolled in the ranks; he distributed all the food and drink to reward the soldiers. He ordered the armored soldiers to lie in ambush, let the old, the weak, and the women mount the city walls, and sent envoys to the Yan army to agree to surrender. The Yan army all shouted, “Long live!” Tian Dan also collected private gold, obtaining a thousand yi, and had the wealthy men of Jimo present it to the Yan general, saying, “We are about to surrender; we hope you will not plunder our clans.” The Yan general was overjoyed and agreed. The Yan army grew even more lax. Tian Dan then gathered from within the city over a thousand oxen, draped them in crimson silk, painted with multicolored dragon patterns, bound sharp blades to their horns, and tied reeds soaked in fat to their tails, setting the tips alight. He cut several dozen holes in the city wall, and at night released the oxen, with five thousand elite soldiers following behind. The oxen’s tails burned hot, and the oxen charged furiously into the Yan army. The Yan army was greatly startled; seeing the oxen all bearing dragon patterns, anyone they touched was either wounded or killed. Meanwhile, the people in the city beat drums and shouted as they followed, and the old and weak all struck bronze vessels to make noise, the sound shaking heaven and earth. The Yan army was terrified, defeated, and fled. The people of Qi killed Qi Jie and pursued the fleeing routed troops. Every city they passed through turned against Yan and rejoined Qi. Tian Dan’s forces grew daily, and he pressed the pursuit, the Yan army fleeing daily in defeat until they reached the banks of the Yellow River. More than seventy cities of Qi were all recovered. Then they went to Ju to welcome King Xiang of Qi. When they entered Linzi, Tian Dan was enfeoffed as Lord of Anping.
The King of Qi established the daughter of Grand Scribe Jiao as queen, and she gave birth to Crown Prince Jian. Grand Scribe Jiao said, “A daughter who marries without a matchmaker is not my offspring; she defiles my family’s virtue!” For the rest of his life he would not see the queen, and the queen did not, because of her father’s refusal to see her, neglect the rites of a child.
The King of Zhao enfeoffed Le Yi at Guanjin, treating him with great honor and favor, thereby intimidating Yan and Qi. King Hui of Yan then sent someone to reproach Le Yi, while also apologizing to him, saying, “General, you listened to rumors and believed there was a rift between us, so you abandoned Yan and fled to Zhao. It is permissible for you to act for your own sake, but how will you repay the favor of the former king who knew you?” Le Yi replied in a letter, saying, “In former times, the advice of Wu Zixu was adopted by King Helü of Wu, and Wu’s expedition reached the capital Ying; King Fuchai was not like this, and cast Wu Zixu into the Yangtze River in a leather sack. King Fuchai of Wu did not understand that earlier judgments could be used to establish achievements, so he sank Wu Zixu in the river without regret; Wu Zixu did not foresee early that the capacities of the two rulers differed, and therefore did not change even when cast into the river. To avoid personal harm, to establish achievements and thereby illuminate the merits of the former king—this is my highest plan. To suffer slander and disgrace, to tarnish the former king’s reputation—this is what I most fear. Facing unpredictable great crimes, and still hoping for personal gain through luck, I dare not act in this way from a sense of duty. I have heard that the noble men of old, when breaking off relations, did not speak ill of the other party; loyal ministers, when leaving their state, did not justify their own reputation. Though I am unworthy, I have often received the teachings of noble men. I hope your Majesty will take note!” Then the King of Yan again enfeoffed Le Yi’s son, Le Jian, with the title of Lord of Changguo, while Le Yi himself traveled between Yan and Zhao, promoting friendship between them, and finally died in Zhao, styled Lord Wangzhu.
Tian Dan served as chancellor of Qi. Passing by the Zi River, he saw an old man who, after wading across the Zi, was shivering from cold and could not walk after emerging from the water. Tian Dan took off his own fur coat and put it on him. King Xiang of Qi was displeased by this and said, “Tian Dan bestows favors on people—is he trying to seize my state? If I do not plan against him early, I fear there will be trouble later.” He looked around but saw no one else; at the foot of the steps there was a man stringing beads. The King of Qi called him over and asked, “Did you hear what I said?” The man replied, “I heard it.” The King of Qi said, “What do you think of it?” The man replied, “Your Majesty should rather turn this deed into your own virtue. Your Majesty should commend Tian Dan’s good deed and issue an order, saying: ‘I worry about the hunger of the people, and Tian Dan adopts them and gives them food; I worry about the cold of the people, and Tian Dan takes off his fur coat and puts it on them; I worry about the toil of the people, and Tian Dan also worries about it—this accords with my intentions.’ If Tian Dan has such good deeds and Your Majesty commends him, then Tian Dan’s good deeds become Your Majesty’s good deeds.” The King of Qi said, “Good.” Then he rewarded Tian Dan with beef and wine. A few days later, the man stringing beads again saw the King of Qi and said, “On the day Your Majesty holds court, you should summon Tian Dan in the court, bow to him, and personally comfort him. Then issue an order, seeking among the people those who are hungry and cold, and adopt and relieve them.” The King of Qi also sent people into the lanes of the city to inquire, and they heard the high officials discussing among themselves, saying, “Tian Dan cares for the people—ah, this is all due to the king’s teaching!”
Tian Dan recommended Diao Bo to King Xiang of Qi. King Xiang had nine favored ministers who wanted to slander the Lord of Anping, Tian Dan. Together they said to King Xiang: “When Yan attacked Qi, the King of Chu sent a general with ten thousand troops to aid Qi. Now the state is settled and the altars of soil and grain are secure. Why not send an envoy to thank the King of Chu?” King Xiang said: “Among those around me, who is fit for this task?” The nine men said: “Diao Bo is suitable.” Diao Bo went as envoy to Chu. The King of Chu received him and feasted him, and he did not return for several months. The nine men again said together to King Xiang: “How can a single man make the ruler of a state with ten thousand chariots detain him, if not because he relies on power and influence? Moreover, the Lord of Anping and Your Majesty have no distinction between lord and subject, no difference between superior and inferior. Furthermore, his intentions are to do evil: inwardly he pacifies the people, outwardly he wins over the Rong and Di barbarians, and he treats the worthy men of the world with courtesy. His intentions are to accomplish something. We hope Your Majesty will examine this closely!” One day, King Xiang said: “Summon the prime minister, Tian Dan!” Tian Dan took off his cap, bared his feet, and stripped to the waist as he entered. After withdrawing, he requested the death penalty. Five days later, King Xiang said: “You have no guilt toward me. You fulfill your ritual as a subject, and I fulfill my ritual as a ruler—that is all.” Diao Bo returned from Chu, and King Xiang gave him wine to drink. When they were drinking freely, King Xiang said: “Summon the prime minister, Tian Dan!” Diao Bo left his mat, kowtowed, and said: “Your Majesty, in the highest, do you compare to King Wen of Zhou?” King Xiang said: “I am not his equal.” Diao Bo said: “Yes, I already knew Your Majesty was not his equal. Then, in the lowest, do you compare to Duke Huan of Qi?” King Xiang said: “I am not his equal.” Diao Bo said: “Yes, I already knew Your Majesty was not his equal. Since this is so, then King Wen of Zhou obtained Lü Shang and honored him as Grand Duke; Duke Huan of Qi obtained Guan Zhong and honored him as Uncle Zhong. Now Your Majesty has obtained the Lord of Anping but merely calls him ‘Dan’—how can you utter such words of ruin for the state! Moreover, since the separation of heaven and earth and the existence of mankind, among the merits of subjects, who has been greater than the Lord of Anping? Your Majesty could not hold your own state. The men of Yan raised troops and attacked Qi. Your Majesty fled to the mountains of Chengyang. The Lord of Anping, with the frightened city of Jimo, a three-li inner wall and a five-li outer wall, and seven thousand exhausted soldiers, captured the Sima of Yan’s army and recovered a thousand li of Qi’s lost territory—this was the Lord of Anping’s achievement. At that time, if he had abandoned Chengyang and declared himself king, no one in the world could have stopped him. Yet, considering it from the standpoint of righteousness, he deemed it improper to do so. Therefore, he built plank roads and wooden galleries, went to the mountains of Chengyang to welcome Your Majesty and the queen, and only then could Your Majesty return to govern the people. Now the state is already settled, the people are already at peace, and yet Your Majesty calls him ‘Dan’—even a child’s scheme would not do this. Your Majesty should quickly kill these nine men to apologize to the Lord of Anping. Otherwise, the state is in danger!” King Xiang then killed the nine men and exiled their families, and added to the Lord of Anping the fief of Yeyi with a revenue of ten thousand households.
Tian Dan was about to attack the Di barbarians. He went to visit Lu Zhonglian. Lu Zhonglian said: “General, if you attack the Di, you will not conquer them.” Tian Dan said: “With the broken and defeated remnants of Jimo, I defeated the state of Yan with ten thousand chariots and recovered Qi’s lost territory. Now if I attack the Di and cannot conquer them, why is this?” He mounted his chariot and left without taking his leave, then went to attack the Di. After three months, he had not conquered them. The children of Qi sang a nursery rhyme: “The great cap is like a winnowing basket, the long sword props up the chin. Attacking the Di, they cannot conquer; bleached bones pile up like a hill.” Tian Dan then became afraid and went to ask Lu Zhonglian: “Sir said I could not conquer the Di. May I ask the reason?” Lu Zhonglian said: “When the general was at Jimo, when he sat he wove straw sandals, when he stood he took up a spade. He urged the soldiers on, saying: ‘There is no place to go! The ancestral temples are destroyed! Today, we must fight to the death! Where else can we turn?’ At that time, the general had the resolve to die, and the soldiers had no thought of living. Hearing your words, none did not wipe their tears and raise their arms, wanting to fight—this is why you defeated Yan. Now, the general has the revenue of Yeyi to the east and the pleasures of the Zi River to the west. You gird a golden belt at the waist and gallop between the Zi and Mian rivers. You have the joy of living but no resolve to die, so you cannot win.” Tian Dan said: “I have such resolve; the sir is aware of it.” The next day, he roused his spirit and inspected the city walls. He stood where arrows and stones could reach, took up a drumstick, and beat the drum. Only then were the Di conquered.
Initially, after King Min of Qi destroyed Song, he wanted to eliminate Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang fled to Wei. King Zhao of Wei made him prime minister, and together with the other lords, they attacked and defeated Qi. After King Min died, King Xiang of Qi restored the state. Lord Mengchang remained neutral, becoming a feudal lord, not belonging to any state. When King Xiang first ascended the throne, he feared Lord Mengchang and formed an alliance of friendship with him. After Lord Mengchang died, his several sons fought over the succession to the title, and Qi and Wei together destroyed Xue. Lord Mengchang was left without descendants.
(Duke Min of Lu died, and his son, Duke Qing of Lu, Chou, succeeded to the throne.)
King Nan of Zhou, thirty-seventh year (Guiwei year, 278 BCE)
The Great Chief Controller of Qin, Bai Qi, attacked Chu. He captured the capital, Ying, and burned Yiling. The army of King Qingxiang of Chu scattered, and they ceased fighting, moving the capital northeast to Chen. Qin established Ying as Nan Commandery and enfeoffed Bai Qi as the Lord of Wu’an.
King Nan of Zhou, thirty-eighth year (Jiashen year, 277 BCE)
The Lord of Wu’an of Qin pacified the Wu and Qianzhong commanderies, initially establishing Qianzhong Commandery.
King Zhao of Wei died, and his son, King Anli of Wei, Wei Yu, succeeded to the throne.
King Nan of Zhou, thirty-ninth year (Yiyou year, 276 BCE)
The Lord of Wu’an of Qin attacked Wei, capturing two cities.
The King of Chu gathered the eastern troops, obtaining over one hundred thousand men, and again recaptured fifteen cities south of the Yangtze River.
King Anli of Wei enfeoffed his younger brother, Wuji, as the Lord of Xinling.
King Nan of Zhou, fortieth year (Bingxu year, 275 BCE)
The Prime Minister of Qin, the Marquis of Rang, Wei Ran, attacked Wei. Han sent Bao Yuan to rescue Wei. The Marquis of Rang heavily defeated the Han army, cutting off forty thousand heads. Bao Yuan fled to Qifeng. Wei offered eight cities to sue for peace. The Marquis of Rang again attacked Wei, driving away Mang Mao and entering Beizhai. Then he besieged Daliang. The men of Wei ceded Wen to sue for peace.
King Nan of Zhou, forty-first year (Dinghai year, 274 BCE)
Wei again allied with Qi to resist Qin. The Marquis of Rang of Qin attacked Wei, capturing four cities and cutting off forty thousand heads.
King Nan of Zhou, forty-second year (Wuzi year, 273 BCE)
The people of Zhao and Wei attacked Han, advancing as far as Huayang. The people of Han urgently appealed to Qin for help, but the King of Qin refused to send reinforcements. The Prime Minister of Han said to Chen Shi, "The situation is critical! I hope that, despite your illness, you will make a one-night journey for this matter." Chen Shi arrived in Qin and went to see the Marquess of Rang. The Marquess said, "Is the situation urgent? That is why they sent you." Chen Shi replied, "It is not urgent." The Marquess angrily asked, "Why?" Chen Shi said, "If Han were in dire straits, they would change their stance and turn to another state; because it is not yet urgent, they have sent me again." The Marquess said, "Allow me to dispatch troops." So he, along with the Lord of Wu’an and the guest-minister Hu Yang, went to rescue Han. They arrived in eight days, defeated the Wei army at the foot of Huayang, drove off Mang Mao, captured three generals, and beheaded 130,000 men. The Lord of Wu’an then engaged the Zhao general Jia Yan, sinking 20,000 Zhao troops into the Yellow River. Duan Ganzi of Wei requested to cede Nanyang to Qin in exchange for peace. Su Dai said to the King of Wei, "The one who wants official seals is Duan Ganzi; the one who wants land is Qin. Now Your Majesty lets the one who wants land control the seals and the one who wants seals control the land—the territory of Wei will be entirely lost! Serving Qin with land is like carrying firewood to put out a fire; unless the firewood is exhausted, the fire will not go out." The King of Wei said, "The reasoning is so. Nevertheless, the matter has already been set in motion and cannot be changed!" Su Dai replied, "In gambling, the reason the 'xiao' throw is valued is that one takes the advantage when favorable and stops when unfavorable. Why does Your Majesty’s use of wisdom fall short of using the 'xiao'?" The King of Wei did not listen and ultimately made peace at the cost of Nanyang, actually ceding Xiuwu.
King Li of Han died, and his son, King Huanhui of Han, ascended the throne.
Han and Wei had already submitted to Qin. King Zhao of Qin planned to send the Lord of Wu’an, Bai Qi, to join Han and Wei in attacking Chu. Before they set out, the Chu envoy Huang Xie arrived in Qin. Hearing of this plan and fearing that Qin would take advantage of its momentum to wipe out Chu in one stroke, he submitted a letter to the King of Qin, saying:
"I have heard that when things reach their extreme, they turn to the opposite—the alternation of winter and summer exemplifies this; when piled to the highest point, they become dangerous—stacking chess pieces illustrates this. Now the land of the great state of Qin occupies the western and northern borders of the world. Since the existence of humanity, no state with ten thousand chariots has ever possessed such vast territory. The three previous kings did not forget to connect with Qi, thereby cutting the passage of the vertical alliance. Now Your Majesty sent Sheng Qiao to serve in Han, and Sheng Qiao brought Han’s territory into Qin. Thus, without moving troops or exerting force, you gained a hundred li of land—Your Majesty can be called capable! Your Majesty then sent troops to attack Wei, blockaded the gates of Daliang, captured Henei, seized Yan, Suanzao, Xu, Tao, and entered Xingqiu. Wei’s army scattered like clouds and dared not come to the rescue—Your Majesty’s achievements are already great! Your Majesty rested the troops, gave the soldiers respite, and after two years again sent out forces, annexing Pu, Yan, Shou, and Yuan, advancing to Ren and Pingqiu, while Huang and Jiyang held their cities, and Wei submitted. Your Majesty also cut off the land north of Pumo, connecting the Qin-Qi route and severing the spine between Chu and Zhao. The states of the world formed alliances five times and assembled six times, yet none dared to rescue—Your Majesty’s authority has reached its peak!
If Your Majesty can preserve achievements, maintain authority, restrain the desire for conquest, widely spread virtue in the realm of benevolence and righteousness, and leave no future troubles for the state, then the Three Kings would not suffice to make you the fourth, and the Five Hegemons would not suffice to make you the sixth! If Your Majesty relies on the multitude of people, trusts in the strength of the army, takes advantage of the momentum of crushing Wei, and seeks to subdue the states of the world by force, I fear there will be future calamities. The Book of Songs says: 'There is none that does not have a beginning, but few are able to have a good end.' The Book of Changes says: 'The fox crosses the water, wetting its tail.' These words mean that beginning is easy, but ending is difficult. In the past, Wu trusted Yue and then attacked Qi, defeating the Qi people at Ailing, but on the way back was captured by Yue on the banks of the Three Rivers. The Zhi clan trusted Han and Wei and then attacked Zhao, besieging Jinyang city with victory in sight, but Han and Wei betrayed him and killed Zhi Boyao at Zaotai. Now Your Majesty begrudges that Chu has not been destroyed, yet forgets that destroying Chu will make Han and Wei strong. For Your Majesty’s sake, I consider this inadvisable.
Chu is an ally; the neighboring states are enemies. Now Your Majesty believes that Han and Wei are friendly to you—this is exactly the situation of Wu trusting Yue. I fear that Han and Wei, in words, speak humbly to avert disaster, but in reality, they seek to deceive the great state. Why? Your Majesty has no accumulated favors toward Han and Wei, but has accumulated grievances. Fathers, sons, and brothers of Han and Wei have died at the hands of Qin for nearly ten generations. Therefore, as long as Han and Wei are not destroyed, they are a worry for Qin. Now Your Majesty provides them with resources to attack Chu together—is this not a mistake? Moreover, how will the attack on Chu proceed? Will Your Majesty borrow a road through the enemy Han and Wei? On the day the troops set out, Your Majesty will have to worry that they will not return. If Your Majesty does not borrow a road through the enemy Han and Wei, you must attack the region to the right of the Sui River. These are all great rivers, vast waters, mountains, forests, and ravines—places where no grain grows. Thus, Your Majesty will only gain the reputation of destroying Chu, without the actual benefit of land. Moreover, when Your Majesty attacks Chu, the four states of Qi, Zhao, Han, and Wei will all send troops in response. The armies of Qin and Chu will be locked in battle and unable to disengage; Wei will send troops to attack Liu, Fangyu, Zhi, Huling, Dang, Xiao, and Xiang, so the old Song lands will all be seized; Qi will attack southward into Chu, and the Shang region will be taken. These are all flat, fertile lands with access in all directions. Thus, among the states of the world, none will be stronger than Qi and Wei.
For Your Majesty’s sake, I consider it better to be friendly with Chu. If Qin and Chu unite as one and face Han, Han will fold its hands and come to court; relying on the eastern mountain passes and the convenience of the winding rivers, Han will surely become a feudal lord within the passes. If so, with 100,000 troops stationed at Zheng, Wei will tremble with fear, Xu and Yanying will hold their cities, and Shangcai and Zhaoling will have no communication. Thus, Wei will also become a feudal lord within the passes. Once Your Majesty is friendly with Chu, the two great states within the passes will expand their territory toward Qi, and the right flank of Qi can be taken with folded hands. Your Majesty’s land will stretch from the Western Sea to the Eastern Sea, binding the states of the world, so that Yan and Zhao will have no Qi or Chu, and Qi and Chu will have no Yan or Zhao. Then, shaking Yan and Zhao, directly moving Qi and Chu, these four states will submit without being struck."
King Zhao of Qin heeded Huang Xie’s advice, stopped the Lord of Wu’an from sending troops, dismissed Han and Wei, sent Huang Xie back, and concluded a treaty with Chu.