昌國君樂毅為燕昭王合五國之兵而攻齊
Yue Yi, Lord Changguo, forms an Accord with the Armies of the Five States to Attack Qi

昌國君樂毅為燕昭王合五國之兵而攻齊，下七十餘城，盡郡縣之以屬燕。三城未下，而燕昭王死。惠王即位，用齊人反間，疑樂毅，而使騎劫代之將。樂毅奔趙，趙封以為望諸君。齊田單欺詐騎劫，卒敗燕軍，復收七十城以復齊。燕王悔，懼趙用樂毅承燕之弊以伐燕。

Yue Yi, Lord Changguo[1], working on Yan's behalf, brokered an accord between the armies of the Five States[2] and attacked Qi, capturing over seventy fortified cities. All of Qi's counties and commanderies had fallen under Yan's possession and only three forts were yet to fall when the King of Yan[3] died. King Hui[4] was enthroned, and Qi's partisans in his employ used underhand tactics to make him suspicious of Yue Yi, intending that Qi Ji[5] be sent to replace him as general. Yue Yi fled to Zhao, which bestowed a domain upon him and named him Lord Wanghou. Meanwhile Tian Dan of Qi[6] deceived Qi Ji and his battalions defeated Yan's armies[7], taking back the seventy fortresses and reestablishing the state of Qi. The King of Yan was filled with regret and fear that Zhao would employ Yue Yi to take advantage of Yan's depleted state and attack[8].

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燕王乃使人讓樂毅，且謝之曰：「先王舉國而委將軍，將軍為燕破齊，報先王之讎，天下莫不振動，寡人豈敢一日而忘將軍之功哉！會先王棄群臣，寡人新即位，左右誤寡人。寡人之使騎劫代將軍者，為將軍久暴露於外，故召將軍且休計事。將軍過聽，以與寡人有，遂捐燕而歸趙。將軍自為計則可矣，而亦何以報先王之所以遇將軍之意乎？」

Thus the King of Yan sent an envoy to apologise and invite Yue Yi to return, saying, "The former King put his state at your disposal and entrusted you with the leadership of his army. On Yan's behalf, you broke Qi, avenging the former King upon his enemies. In All-Under-Heaven there was no one who was not shaken by your work. How could we have dared forget your achievements, even for a day? It so happened that in the aftermath of the former King's departure from among his assembled servants, when we had only just been established on the throne, our attendants mislead us. We only sent Qi Ji to replace you as general because we felt that you had been suffering the the rigors of foreign deployment for too long[9]. Thus we summoned you, in order that you may rest and make your plans. You misunderstood my intentions and thus occurred this split between us[10], with you abandoning Yan to return to Zhao. To do such a thing for your own sake would would be acceptable, but is it an appropriate recompense for the former King's treatment of you?"

望諸君乃使人獻書報燕王曰：「臣不佞，不能奉承先王之教，以順左右之心，恐抵斧質之罪，以傷先王之明，而又害於足下之義，故遁逃奔趙。自負以不肖之罪，故不敢為辭說。今王使使者數之罪，臣恐侍御者之不察先王之所以畜幸臣之理，而又不白於臣之所以事先王之心，故敢以書對。

Consequently, Lord Wanghou sent an envoy to deliver a memorial to the King of Yan, saying, "Your servant is no glib rhetorician. I could not follow the former King's instructions, nor fall in line with those around him. I was afraid that my opposition would see me executed, which would tarnish both the former King's glory and your own integrity[11]. This being so, I resigned myself to the situation and fled to Zhao. Thus I bore the my condemnation, not daring to speak in my own defence. Now Your Majesty has sent an envoy with a list of transgressions[12]. I am afraid that your attendants and officials have not paid due heed to former King's reasoning in favouring and supporting me, and moreover would not understand the state of mind with which I served him.Therefore I have taken the liberty of replying with a memorial[13]."

「臣聞賢聖之君，不以祿私其親，功多者授之；不以官隨其愛，能當之者處之。故察能而授官者，成功之君也；論行而結交者，立名之士也。臣以所學者觀之，先王之舉錯，有高世之心，故假節於魏王，而以身得察於燕。先王過舉，擢之乎賓客之中，而立之乎群臣之上，不謀於父兄，而使臣為亞卿。臣自以為奉令承教，可以幸無罪矣，故受命而不辭。

Your servant has heard that a wise lord does not bestow rewards according to his private sympathies, but rather that he confers them upon those who have achieved great things. He does not grant offices according to his own preferences, but rather appoints the person whose capacities are best suited to the role[14]. Therefore assess people's capacities before granting them official positions, and then their successes will be yours, for it is by evaluating others and forming useful connections that one establishes one's own reputation. In the light of this knowledge I observed the conduct of the former King - a nobler soul than any in our present age - and consequently applied for a temporary diplomatic accreditation from the King of Wei[15] that would allow me to go in person to Yan to investigate further. The former King honoured me excessively, choosing me from among his various guests and clients, establishing me in an official position and raising me above his other servants. Without discussing the matter with his family, he then made me an official of the second rank. I believed myself to have been blessed with the capacity to receive his orders and fulfill his instructions unerringly, therefore I accepted my appointment rather than declining politely. 

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「先王命之曰：『我有積怨深怒於齊，不量輕弱，而欲以齊為事。』臣對曰：『夫齊霸國之餘教也，而驟勝之遺事也，閑於兵甲，習於戰攻。王若欲攻之，則必舉天下而圖之。舉天下而圖之，莫徑於結趙矣。且又淮北、宋地，楚、魏之所同願也。趙若許，約楚、魏，宋盡力，四國攻之，齊可大破也。』先王曰：『善。』臣乃口受令，具符節，南使臣於趙。顧反命，起兵隨而攻齊。以天之道，先王之靈，河北之地，隨先王舉而有之於濟上。濟上之軍，奉令擊齊，大勝之。輕卒銳兵，長驅至國。齊王逃遁走莒，僅以身免。珠玉財寶，車甲珍器，盡收入燕。大呂陳於元英，故鼎反於曆室，齊器設於寧臺。薊丘之植，植於汶皇。自五伯以來，功未有及先王者也。先王以為愜其志，以臣為不頓命，故裂地而封之，臣不佞，自以為奉令承教，可以幸無罪矣，故受命而弗辭。

"The former King gave me his orders, saying, 'The grievances I have amassed against Qi are deep and bitter. No matter that we are weak and lack influence, I want to enlist Qi among the ranks of my servants.' Your servant replied, 'Qi has a long legacy of hegemony[16], having inherited the momentum of its prior victories. It is guarded by men-at-arms trained by long experience in fighting and raiding. If Your Majesty wishes to attack them, you will have to unite with the other states of All-Under-Heaven to make your plans, and if you are going to do this then then you had better begin by forming ties with Zhao[17]. With lands north of the Huai River[18] and in Song at stake, Chu and Wei will join your common cause[19]. If Zhao gives its assent and you make agreements with Chu and Wei[20], then with all four states attacking at once you will be able to break Qi outright.' The former King said, 'Very well.' Thus I received his orders from his own mouth, an agreement was prepared, and I was sent south on my mission to Zhao. I returned as soon as I had fulfilled my orders[21], and troops were mobilised to attack Qi. By the grace of Heaven and the spirits of the former kings, the lands north of the Yellow River were unified with your predecessor's own territories and we took up a position on the banks of the Ji River[22]. There the army received the order to attack Qi, inflicting a great defeat upon it. Our elite light infantry pushed deep into Qi[23] and the King[24] fled into hiding in Ju, only narrowly avoiding being exiled from life itself. All the jewels and gems Qi's their treasury and all its arms and armour were sent back to Yan. Qi's Dalü palace bell[25] was put on display in the Yuanying Hall[26], Yan's royal insignia[27] were returned to your national observatory[28], Qi's treasures were displayed in the Ning Pagoda[29] and the plants of Jiqiu[30] were transplanted to the Groves of Wen[31]. From the time of the five hegemons[32] down to today, no one has achieved more than your predecessor. He had obtained his ends[33] and he understood that I had not neglected his orders. Therefore he divided up his lands and bestowed a domain upon me, making me the equal of the lords of the minor states. I am no glib rhetorician, but I believed myself to have been blessed with the capacity to receive his orders and fulfill his instructions unerringly, therefore I accepted my appointment rather than declining politely.

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「臣聞賢明之君，功立而不廢，故著於春秋；蚤知之士，名成而不毀，故稱於後世。若先王之報怨雪恥，夷萬乘之強國，收八百歲之蓄積，及至棄群臣之日，餘令詔後嗣之遺義，執政任事之臣，所以能循法令，順庶孽者，施及萌隸，皆可以教於後世。

"Your servant has heard that a wise lord never flags in accruing merit, and thus his achievements become a matter of historical record. A far-sighted official establishes a reputation for himself that cannot be traduced, and thus his name survives down through the centuries. To avenge one's grievances as the former king did and wash one's disgraces whiter than snow, razing a mighty state of ten thousand chariots, and gaining resources that will last eight hundred years... On the very day that he departed from among his assembled servants[34], he left a decree to his successors in order that his precepts may survive him: those who controlled the government and those responsible for the affairs of state were his servants, and thus content to take his word as law, while the sons of his concubines fell into line, ensuring that all would perpetuate his doctrine to future generations.

「臣聞善作者，不必善成；善始者，不必善終。昔者五子胥說聽乎闔閭，故吳王遠跡至於郢。夫差弗是也，賜之鴟夷而浮之江。故吳王夫差不悟先論之可以立功，故沉子胥而不悔。子胥不蚤見主之不同量，故入江而不改。夫免身全功，以明先王之跡者，臣之上計也。離毀辱之非，墮先王之名者，臣之所大恐也。臨不測之罪，以幸為利者，義之所不敢出也。

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"I have heard it said that those who are best at undertaking affairs are not necessarily the best at completing them, and those who are best at beginning affairs are not necessarily the best at finishing them. In the past, Helü[35] listened to Wu Zixu's[36] persuasions and thus the King of Wu[37] was able to expand as far as Ying[38]. Fuchai[39] did not, granting him nothing but the leather bag in which his corpse was left to float down the Yangtze River[40]. Thus King Fuchai failed to appreciate the reasoning applied by his predecessor to earn his achievements[41], and he watched Wu Zixu sink without regret[42]. Zixu was too slow to perceive that his sovereign did not share his own perspectives, and so - rather than altering his position - he ended up in the river. To avoid execution and secure my own merit I had to burnish your predecessor's memory - this became my primary aim. To allow the former King's name to fall into disrepute on account of the calumnies of my own critics was my greatest fear. To stumble into some transgression in the hope of securing undeserved advantages was not a risk that my principles would allow me to undertake[43]. 

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臣聞古之君子，交絕不出惡聲；忠臣之去也，不潔其名。臣雖不佞，數奉教於君子矣。恐侍御者之親左右之說，而不察疏遠之行也。故敢以書報，唯君之留意焉。」

"Your servant has heard that in ancient times a true gentleman did not speak ill of another after severing a friendship, and that if a loyal servant was forced to flee the state he would make no attempt to justify himself. Though I am no glib rhetorician[44], I have received an extensive education from such gentlemen. I am worried that you have been persuaded by your high-ranking retainers and familiar attendants, and will pay not heed to the conduct of one who is distant and alienated from you. Thus I have taken the liberty of submitting this memorial, only hoping that you will grant it a moment of your attention."

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[1] Reading 昌國君樂毅 for 昌固君樂毅. Yue Yi was a member of the prominent Yue clan in Zhongshan, and one of Yan's most successful generals.

[2] Chu, Han, Wei, Zhao and Yan.

[3] King Zhao of Yan (311-279 BCE) took power following an internal power struggle that resulted when the previous ruler, King Kuai, attempted to pass the throne to his Chancellor, and provoked an invasion by Qi. 

[4] King Hui of Yan (278-272 BCE) was a largely unsuccessful king, and would later be murdered by one of his generals.

[5] Qi Ji was a general in Yan. He was killed during his army's attack on Jimo in Qi.

[6] Tian Dan was a celebrated Qi strategist. He was also known as Lord Anping. 

[7] The commentaries suggest that 欺 here is superfluous.

[8] Reading 乘 for 承 here, per the commentaries.

[9] The commentaries suggest that 者 here may be superfluous.

[10] The commentaries disagree regarding the exact reading of this sentence, but modern translations agree regarding the general sense.

[11] I.e. executing Yue Yi would make the Yan royal house look bad, therefore he fled to prevent them from damaging their own reputations.

[12] Presumably the transgression lies in not having found a diplomatic way to convince the King of the rightness of his case.

[13] Rather than coming in person to speak to the King.

[14] The commentaries suggest that 之 here is superfluous.

[15] King Zhao of Wei (296-277 BCE) found himself subject to an unending series of successful attacks by Qin, losing more and more territory until he finally accepted an alliance with Qin to attack Song. This did not last long, and he soon changed sides to join an alliance with Qi. 

[16] The commentaries suggest that 也 here is superfluous.

[17] The commentaries disagree regarding the exact reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.

[18] The Huai River flows West-East across China midway between the Yellow and the Yangtze Rivers.

[19] Chu had its eye on the lands north of the Yellow River while Wei was looking for a chance to invade Song, both of which would be provided if Qi were distracted by a Yan invasion.

[20] Following Crump and Yokota in taking 宋 as an error here.

[21] Following the interpretation given by the commentaries.

[22] The Ji River used to occupy the channel currently occupied by the Yellow River.

[23] Yao suggests 齊 for 國 here.

[24] King Min of Qi (300–284 BCE) was famously bad at managing his subordinates, and almost lost his state following an invasion by Yan. His own generals eventually turned upon him and one of them, Nao Chi, killed him.

[25] It is not clear whether this was a ritual object or a warning bell.

[26] Presumably in the Yan royal palace.

[27] Bronze tripod cauldrons representing the authority of the Yan royal house, captured during a previous attack by Qi.

[28] The commentaries disagree regarding the exact reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.

[29] It is not entirely clear where this was.

[30] Jiqiu was at modern Deshengmen, in Beijing, placing it in Yan. However, some academic analysis suggests that this is actually intended to describe the transplantation of plants from Qi to Yan.

[31] Reading 篁 for 皇 here, per the commentaries. This seems to refer to the Wen River, which is now known as the Dawen, and flows through Shandong. Presumably the Groves of Wen were thus also in Qi.

[32] These were leaders who achieved preeminence at various moments during the Spring and Autumn era. 

[33] The commentaries suggest 順于其志 for 愜其志 here.

[34] I.e. when he died.

[35] King Helü ruled Wu in the sixth century, and rose to the status of Hegemon with the assistance of Wu Zixu and Sun Tzu, among others.

[36] Reading 伍 for 五. Wu Zixu​ was a minister in Wu in the early fifth century BC. Early in his life he was faced with the choice of dying with his father, who had been wrongly accused of treason, or staying alive to attempt to avenge him, a dilemma which became something of a Confucian equivalent of the trolley problem. After various escapades he was obliged to commit suicide on a false charge, and was held up as a model of loyalty.

[37] I.e King Helü.

[38] Ying was the capital of Chu, and is now Jingzhou in Hubei.

[39] King Fuchai of Wu became king in 495 BC and committed suicide following the annexation of his state by Yue in 473 BC.

[40] This refers to a well-known story. Wu Zixu was bullied into suicide by Fuchai, who then put his corpse in a rawhide bag and dumped it in the Yangtze River.

[41] The commentaries disagree regarding the exact reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.

[42] The commentaries suggest 弗 for 不 here.

[43] I.e. if Yue Yi had attempted to justify himself this would have adversely affected the former king's reputation, thus - in the long term - damaging his own.

[44] The commentaries suggest 佞乎 for 佞 here.