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燕二 THE STRATAGEMS OF YAN II (B)

陳翠合齊燕

Chen Cui Brokers an Accord Between Qi and Yan

陳翠合齊、燕,將令燕王之弟為質於齊,燕王許諾。太后聞之大怒曰:「陳公不能為人之國,亦則已矣,焉有離人子母者,老婦欲得志焉。」

 

Chen Cui[1] was brokering an accord between Qi and Yan and intended to have the King of Yan[2] give his younger brother to Qi as a hostage. The King of Yan had authorised this, but when the Queen Dowager[3] heard about it she was furious, saying, "Duke Chen is incapable of managing a state, and that's the end of it[4]. How could he separate a mother and her child? This old lady intends to have her way on this."

陳翠欲見太后,王曰:「太后方怒子,子其待之。」陳翠曰:「無害也。」遂入見太后曰:「何臞也?」太后曰:「賴得先王鴈鶩之餘食,不宜臞。臞者,憂公子之且為質於齊也。」

 

Chen Cui sought an audience with the Queen Dowager, but the King said, "She is in a rage with you, you had better wait."

Chen Cui said, "What can she do to hurt me?"

Consequently he secured his audience with the Queen Dowager, at which he said, "Have you lost weight?"

The Queen Dowager said, "I have been living on the leftovers from the sacrificial ducks and wild geese served at state banquets in your honour[6], so there is no reason why I should be losing weight. If I have lost weight, it is due to my grief on account of Your Lordship's dispatch of hostages to Qi."

 

陳翠曰:「人主之愛子也,不如布衣之甚也。非徒不愛子也,又不愛丈夫子獨甚。」太后曰:「何也?」對曰:「太后嫁女諸侯,奉以千金,齎地百里,以為人之終也。今王願封公子,百官持職,群臣效忠,曰:『公子無功不當封。』今王之以公子為質也,且以為公子功而封之也。太后弗聽,臣是以知人主之不愛丈夫子獨甚也。且太后與王幸而在,故公子貴;太后千秋之後,王棄國家,而太子即位,公子賤於布衣。故非及太后與王封公子,則公子終身不封矣!」

Chen Cui said, "The lords of men are not nearly as fond of their children as those who wear cotton clothes[5]. Not are they less fond of their children, but they are particularly disdainful towards the boys."

The Queen Dowager said, "Why do you say that?"

He replied, "When you married your daughter to one of the sovereign lords you gave her a thousand gold pieces and a hundred li of land, thus setting her up to face her future. The King would like to grant the Prince a domain, but the hundred officials have held true to their civic duty and his private secretaries have shown their loyalty, all saying, 'The Prince has achieved nothing of note. It would not be appropriate to grant him land.' If the King now sends the Prince to serve as a hostage, this will be a way for him to accomplish something and thus earn a domain of his own[7], but Your Majesty will not hear of it[8]. This is why your servant concluded that the ruling classes do not love their sons. You are fortunate to be able to secure the Prince's elevation while both you and the King are still alive. When your thousand autumns are over and the King has left his state and family behind him, then the Crown Prince will be set upon the throne and the Prince[9] will be no better regarded than any commoner. Thus, if you and the King do not procure him a domain now, then he will end his life without any lands of his own."

 

太后曰:「老婦不知長者之計。」乃命公子束車制衣為行具。

The Queen Dowager said, "I had no idea that Your Lordship had such a plan." Consequently she instructed the Prince to harness his carriages and prepare clothes for his journey.

[1] Chen Cui was a politician in Yan.

[2] King Kuai of Yan (320-318 BCE) seems to have believed in Mohist meritocracy, and abdicated in favour of his Chancellor Zizhi. 

[3] It is not clear which Queen Dowager is indicated here.

[4] Reading 則亦 for 亦則, per the commentaries.

[5] I.e. the poor. The rich wore silk.

[6] Reading 先生 for 先王 as some of the commentaries suggest. If 先王 is

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

[8] The commentaries suggest 而太后 for 太后 here.

[9] I.e. the Prince who was to be sent as a hostage.

燕昭王且與天下伐齊
King Zhao of Yan Intends to Join All-Under-Heaven in an Attack on Qi

燕昭王且與天下伐齊,而有齊人仕於燕者,昭王召而謂之曰:「寡人且與天下伐齊,旦暮出令矣。子必爭之,爭之而不聽,子因去而之齊。寡人有時復合和也,且以因子而事齊。」當此之時也,燕、齊不兩立,然而常獨欲有復收之之志若此也。

 

King Zhao of Yan[1] was about to join All-Under-Heaven in an attack on Qi, and since one of Qi's people was working for Yan at the time, King Zhao summoned him and spoke to him, saying, "We are going to join All-Under-Heaven in an attack on Qi, the order is to be given any day now. No doubt you will argue against this, and if you do I will not listen. You should take this opportunity to flee and return to Qi. In the event that we need to sue for peace[2] we will take advantage of your position and place ourselves at Qi's service." At this time Yan and Qi were refusing all possibility of coexistence. Nevertheless, this showed that King Zhao's thoughts were already turning towards a negotiated surrender[3].

[1] 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. 

[2] Bao suggests that 和也 here is superfluous.

[3] I.e. Zhao's goal is not to win the forthcoming war, but to get as good a deal as possible out of its eventual and inevitable surrender.

燕饑趙將伐之
Famine Strikes YaN and Zhao Plans to Attack

燕饑,趙將伐之。楚使將軍之燕,過魏,見趙恢。趙恢曰:「使除患無至,易於救患。伍子胥、宮之奇不用,燭之武、張孟談受大賞。是故謀者皆從事於除患之道,而先使除患無至者。今予以百金送公也,不如以言。公聽吾言而說趙王曰:『昔者吳伐齊,為其饑也,伐齊未必勝也,而弱越乘其弊以霸。今王之伐燕也,亦為其饑也,伐之未必勝,而強秦將以兵承王之西,是使弱趙居強吳之處,而使強秦處弱越之所以霸也。願王之熟計之也。』」

 

Famine had struck Yan, and Zhao was planning to attack. Chu had dispatched one of its generals to Yan, and as he was traversing Wei he sought an audience with Zhao Hui[1], who said, "It is easier to prevent a disaster than to provide assistance afterwards - hence Wu Zixu[2] and Gong Zhiqi[3] were neglected, while Zhu Zhiwu[4] and Zhang Mengtan[5] were lavishly rewarded[6]. This being so, the entire responsibility of a strategist lies in the elimination of disasters[7], and the first step in this is to prevent them from arising[8]. Now I could give[9] you a hundred gold pieces, but they would not be worth as much as the following words. Listen to what I say and use my arguments to persuade the King of Zhao[10], saying, 'In the past, when famine struck Qi, Wu attacked, but before Wu could consolidate its victory, weak Yue took advantage of its exhaustion and achieved hegemony. If, on account of the famine from which Qi is currently suffering, Your Majesty launches an attack, then before you can make sure of your victory, mighty Qin will lead its troops in from the West to take advantage of the situation[11]. Thus, Zhao - a weak state - will be in the same position as mighty Wu was, and mighty Qin will be given an opportunity equal to that which allowed Yue - a much weaker state - to achieve hegemony. I hope that Your Majesty will plan intensively for this.'"

[1] Zhao Hui is not otherwise well-known.

[2] 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.

[3] Gong Zhiqi was an advisor to the state of Yu. Like Zhou Zhiqiao he warned his sovereign of Jin's plans, being ignored and finally choosing to flee.

[4] Zhu Zhiwu was a politician in Zheng, he successfully defended Zheng against invasion.

[5] Zhang Mengtan was one of Zhao Xiangzi's advisors. He convinced the Han and Wei clans to join the Zhao clan in wiping out the Zhi clan.

[6] Wu Zixu and Gong Zhiqi attempted to prevent disasters befalling their leaders, while Zhu Zhiwu and Zhang Mengtan did their best to clean up the aftermath.

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

[8] Bao suggests 無 for 先 here. 

[9] Reading 與 for 予, per the commentaries.

[10] King Huiwen of Zhao (298–266 BCE) was a younger son of King Wuling of Zhao, who abdicated in Huiwen's favour. Wuling's elder son, Zhao Zhang, rebelled, but was defeated and pursued by Huiwen's Chancellor, Li Dui. Zhao Zhang fled to his father's residence, where Li Dui besieged them. Wuling killed Zhang in an attempt to convince Li Dui to let him out, but Li Dui starved him to death. King Huiwen had a successful reign, defeating Qin more than once.

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

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].

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. 

「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.

「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。

"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]. 

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."

[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.

客謂燕王

A Guest Speaks to the King of Yan

或獻書燕王:「王而不能自恃,不惡卑名以事強,事強可以令國安長久,萬世之善計。以事強而不可以為萬世,則不如合弱。將柰何合弱而不能如一,此臣之所為山東苦也。

 

The following memorial was offered to the King of Yan[1]: "If you, as King of Yan[2], cannot rely upon your own strength, then you should not reject the idea of humbling yourself and serving someone stronger. By so doing, you can ensure that your state will enjoy enduring peace; it is a strategy to last ten thousand years[3]. If you do not feel that you can serve someone stronger in order to secure your posterity for the ten thousand years to come, then the best thing to do would be to form an accord with someone weaker. If you cannot form accords with the weak that will allow you to act as one, then your servant would consider that a tragedy for all those east of the mountains[4].

「比目之魚,不相得則不能行,故古之人稱之,以其合兩而如一也。今山東合弱而不能如一,是山東之知不如魚也。又譬如車士之引車也,三人不能行,索二人,五人而車因行矣。今山東三國弱而不能敵秦,索二國,因能勝秦矣。然而山東不知相索,智固不如車士矣。胡與越人,言語不相知,志意不相通,同舟而凌波,至其相救助如一也。今山東之相與也,如同舟而濟,秦之兵至,不能相救助如一,智又不如胡、越之人矣。三物者,人之所能為也,山東之主遂不悟,此臣之所為山東苦也。願大王之熟慮之也。

 

"If a flounder did not have both eyes on one side of its head it would not be able to swim - which is why the ancients called it 'eyes-side-by-side'[5]. Thus it deploys two as one, while the weak states east of the mountains are currently unable to form an accord and create unity between them - thus their wits do not match those of a fish. Your situation may likewise be compared to that of cavalrymen trying to turn a chariot. Three men cannot move it on foot, but if two take the reins, then the five of them together will manage it[6]. The three states[7] east of the mountains are currently too weak to oppose Qin, but if two of them took the reins then they would be able to secure victory over Qin. Nevertheless, the states east of the mountains cannot coordinate their handling of the reins[8] - thus their accumulated wisdom does not match that of a charioteer. The Hu[9] and the people of Yue do not understand each other's languages and they think in different ways, but if they happened to be in the same boat when it was struck by high waves, then they would work as one to save each other. Now the states east of the mountains are like people traveling in the same boat. If, when Qin's troops arrive, they cannot find a way to work together to save each other, then their wisdom does not match that of the Hu and the Yue people. These three things have all been achieved by others, but the lords of the states east of the mountains are incapable of apprehending them[10]. This is why your servant believes that this will be a tragedy for those east of the mountains. I hope that Your Majesty will consider this intensively.

「山東相合,之主者不卑名,之國者可長存,之卒者出士以戍韓、梁之西邊,此燕之上計也。不急為此,國必危矣,主必大憂。今韓、梁、趙三國以合矣,秦見三晉之堅也,必南伐楚。趙見秦之伐楚也,必北攻燕。物固有勢異而患同者。秦久伐韓,故中山亡;今久伐楚,燕必亡。臣竊為王計,不如以兵南合三晉,約戍韓、梁之西邊。山東不能堅為此,此必皆亡。」

 

"If the sovereigns east of the mountains do not revolt at the idea of humbling themselves sufficiently to form an accord[11], then their states will enjoy longevity. To lead out your officers to defend the western borders of Han and Liang[12], that would be the best strategy for Yan. If you do not make haste to do this, then your state will certainly be in danger and Your Majesty will suffer greatly for it[13]. The states of Han, Liang and Zhao have now come to an accord, and Qin - having witnessed this stiffening of the Three Jin's sinews - will certainly turn south to attack Chu. When Zhao sees Qin attacking Chu it will turn north to attack Yan[14]. Different contingencies may produce similar misfortunes: when Qin attacked Han[15] this doomed Zhongshan[16], and now Qin has turned to attack[17] Chu it will doom Yan[18]. Your servant humbly suggests that no strategy would be better for Your Majesty than to send troops south and join the accord between the three Jin, and make an agreement with them to defend the western borders of Han and Liang. If those east of the mountains cannot thus demonstrate solidarity, they are all doomed."

燕果以兵南合三晉也。

 

As a result of this, Yan sent its troops south and made an accord with the Three Jin.  

[1] It is not clear which King of Yan is indicated here.

[2] The commentaries suggest 燕王 for 王 here.

[3] Reading 計也 for 計, per the commentaries.

[4] I.e. every state except Qin. Mount Hua marked its eastern border. 

[5] Flounders have evolved to swim on one side, with the other pressed against the sea floor, with both eyes on the upper side of their heads in order to be able to see properly.

[6] The idea seems to be that it's hard for grooms on foot to lead a four-horse chariot round to face in the opposite direction, but if two of them control the horses it is much easier.

[7] Han, Wei and Zhao.

[8] Reading 索者 for 索 here.

[9] The Hu were northern horse nomads. 

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

[11] Reading 不惡 for 不 here, per the commentaries.

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

[13] Reading 王 for 主 here, per the commentaries.

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

[15] Reading 之 for 久, per the commentaries. 

​[16] I.e., Qin was a Zhongshan ally, but when it was distracted in Han, Zhao took the opportunity of wiping out Zhongshan. This is contradicted by other accounts, which give Wei as Zhongshan's ally and say that Zhongshan was wiped out while Chu was distracted fighting Chu.

[17] Reading 秦之 for 久, per the commentaries.

[18] Chu being a Yan ally against Zhao.

或獻書燕王
Offering a Memorial to the King of Yan

客謂燕王曰:「齊南破楚,西屈秦,用韓、魏之兵,燕、趙眾,猶鞭策也。使齊北面伐燕,即雖五燕不能當。王何不陰出使,散游士,頓齊兵,弊其眾,使世世無患。」燕王曰:「假寡人五年末,寡人得其志矣。」蘇子曰:「請假王十年。」​燕王說,奉蘇子車五十乘,南使於齊。

 

A guest[1] spoke to the King of Yan[2], saying, "Qi has broken Chu in the south and forced Qin to bow before it in the west. It has the troops of Han and Wei and the populations of Yan and Zhao at its disposal, managing them as if with a horsewhip. If Qi were to turn north and attack Yan, then even if there were five Yans they would not equal Qi. Why does Your Majesty not secretly dispatch envoys and dispatch your officials throughout the world? Then you will be able to dominate Qi's troops and exhaust its population, thus ensuring that - for generation after generation - you will suffer no disaster."

The King of Yan said, "If we only had five years' grace, we could do as you wish."

Master Su said, "I beg permission to provide you with ten years."

The King of Yan was delighted, and offered Master Su fifty carriages, sending him south as his envoy to Qi.

謂齊王曰:「齊南破楚,西屈秦,用韓、魏之兵,燕、趙之眾,猶鞭筴也。臣聞當世之舉王,必誅暴正亂,舉無道,攻不義。今宋王射天笞地,鑄諸侯之象,使侍屏匽,展其臂,彈其鼻,此天下之無道不義,而王不伐,王名終不成。且夫宋,中國膏腴之地,鄰民之所處也,與其得百里於燕,不如得十里於宋。伐之,名則義,實則利,王何為弗為?」齊王曰:「善。」遂與兵伐宋,三覆宋,宋遂舉。

 

He spoke to the King of Qi[3], saying, "Qi has broken Chu in the south and forced Qin to bow before it in the west. It has the troops of Han and Wei and the populations of Yan and Zhao at its disposal, managing them as if with a horsewhip. Your servant has heard it said that in the present age those aspiring to rule must execute the violent and bring order to chaos[4], annexing the wayward and making war on the unprincipled. Now the King of Song[5] is lashing out against heaven and earth. He has created images of the sovereign lords and set them up in the public latrines, where he can raise a hand, fling a stone, and hit them on the nose. No one in All-Under-Heaven is more wayward and unprincipled. If you do not attack him, your reputation will never be secure. Moreover, Song has the most fertile land of all the central states, and its citizens are neighbours of your own. You would do better to take ten of li from Song than a hundred from Yan. By attacking Song, you will gain a reputation for righteousness and an increase in your rents. Why not do it?"

The King of Qi said, "Very well." Consequently he mobilised his troops and attacked Song[6]. Song was forced back three times and Song's territories were unified with his own.

燕王聞之,絕交於齊,率天下之兵以伐齊,大戰一,小戰再,頓齊國,成其名。故曰:因其強而強之,乃可折也;因其廣而廣之,乃可缺也。

The King of Yan heard of this and severed its relations with Qi, then attacked at the head of the troops of All-Under-Heaven. After one big battle and two small ones, he forced the state of Qi to bow before him and thus made his name. Therefore it is said: use your adversary's power to overpower him, thus you can break him. Use your enemy's expansionism to expand, thus you can diminish him.

[1] This is later revealed to be Su Qin.

[2] It is not clear which King of Yan is indicated here.

[3] 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.

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

[5] King Yan of Song (318-286 BCE) was a strict authoritarian who enjoyed much military success.

[6] Bao suggests 興 for 與 here.

趙且伐燕
When Zhao was about to Attack Yan

趙且伐燕,蘇代為燕謂惠王曰:「今者臣來,過易水,蚌方出曝,而鷸啄其肉,蚌合而拑其喙。鷸曰:『今日不雨,明日不雨,即有死蚌。』蚌亦謂鷸曰:『今日不出,明日不出,即有死鷸。』兩者不肯相舍,漁者得而并禽之。今趙且伐燕,燕、趙久相支,以弊大眾,臣恐強秦之為漁父也。故願王之熟計之也。」惠王曰:「善。」乃止。

 

Zhao was about to attack Yan, but Su Dai[1] spoke to King Hui[2] on Yan's behalf, saying, "Just as I was on my way here, when I was crossing the Yi River, there was a clam enjoying the sunshine on the bank. A snipe tried to peck at it, but the clam shut its shell and grabbed the snipe's beak[3]. The snipe said, 'If it does not rain today or tomorrow, the result will be one dead clam.' The clam replied to the snipe, saying, 'If you do not extricate yourself today or tomorrow, the result will be one dead snipe.' Neither was willing to cooperate with the other, and so a fisherman caught both of them. Zhao is now on the point of attacking Yan, but Zhao and Yan have long been holding one another at bay, exhausting each other's citizens, and your servant is afraid that mighty Qin will play the role of the fisherman in this situation. I hope that Your Majesty will plan intensively for this[4]."

King Hui said, "Very well," and halted his operations.

[1] Su Dai was Su Qin's younger brother and shared his anti-Qin position. 

[2] King Huiwen of Zhao (298 – 266 BCE) was a younger son of King Wuling of Zhao, who abdicated in Huiwen's favour. Wuling's elder son, Zhao Zhang, rebelled, but was defeated and pursued by Huiwen's Chancellor, Li Dui. Zhao Zhang fled to his father's residence, where Li Dui besieged them. Wuling killed Zhang in an attempt to convince Li Dui to let him out, but Li Dui starved him to death. King Huiwen had a successful reign, defeating Qin more than once.

[3] Reading 箝 for 拑 here, per the commentaries.

[4] The commentaries suggest 願王熟計之也 for 故願王之熟計之也 here.

齊魏爭燕
Qi and Wei Compete for Yan's Backing

齊、魏爭燕。齊謂燕王曰:「吾得趙矣。」魏亦謂燕王曰:「吾得趙矣。」燕無以決之,而未有適予也。蘇子謂燕相曰:「臣聞辭卑而幣重者,失天下者也;辭倨而幣薄者,得天下者也。今魏之辭倨而幣薄。」燕因合於魏,得趙,齊遂北矣。

 

Qi and Wei were competing for Yan's backing. Qi communicated with the King of Yan[1], saying, "We have secured Zhao's support," but Wei also communicated with him, saying, "Actually we have secured Zhao's support." Yan had no way to decide between them, esteeming that neither was worthy of its backing.

Master Su[2] spoke to the Chancellor of Yan[3], saying, "Your servant has heard that those whose rhetoric is humble and wealth impressive will lose All-Under-Heaven, while those whose rhetoric is arrogant and wealth depleted will seize it[4]. Wei's words right now are arrogant, and its wealth depleted." Yan seized the opportunity to make an accord with Wei, and once it had gained Wei's backing[5] Qi headed north to join them.

[1] It is not clear which King of Yan is indicated here. 

[2] The commentaries suggest 代  for 子 here. Su Dai was Su Qin's younger brother and shared his anti-Qin position. 

[3] It is not clear who is indicated here. 

[4] Presumably because they want it more.

[5] Reading 燕因合於魏,魏得燕 for 燕因合於魏,得趙 here, per the commentaries.

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