秦二 THE STRATAGEMS OF QIN II (A)
齊助楚攻秦
Qi Helps Chu to Attack Qin
齊助楚攻秦，取曲沃。其後，秦欲伐齊，齊、楚之交善，惠王患之，謂張儀曰：「吾欲伐齊，齊、楚方懽，子為寡人慮之，柰何？」張儀曰：「王其為臣約車并幣，臣請試之。」
Qi helped Chu to attack Qin, taking Quwo[1]. After this, Qin wished to attack Qi, but Qi and Chu's relations remained good. The King of Qin[2] was bothered by this, and spoke to Zhang Yi[3], saying, "I want to attack Qi, but Qi and Chu are rejoicing in each other's company. Consider this on our behalf: how should we deal with this?"
Zhang Yi said, "Have a carriage and some cash prepared for me; your servant begs leave to try an experiment."
張儀南見楚王曰：「弊邑之王所說甚者，無大大王；唯儀之所甚願為臣者，亦無大大王。弊邑之王所甚憎者，亦無先齊王；唯儀之憎者，亦無大齊王。今齊王之罪，其於弊邑之王甚厚，弊邑欲伐之，而大國與之懽，是以弊邑之王不得事令，而儀不得為臣也。大王苟能閉關絕齊，臣請使秦王獻商於之地，方六百里。若此，齊必弱，齊弱則必為王役矣。則是北弱齊，西德於秦，而私商於之地以為利也，則此一計而三利俱至。」
Zhang Yi headed South to see the King of Chu[4], where he said, "Among those in whom the King of our humble state delights profoundly, there are none who surpass Your Majesty; thus among those whom I would I desire most profoundly to serve, there are also none who surpass Your Majesty. Among those whom the King of our humble state detests profoundly, there[5] are none more prominent[6] than the King of Qi[7]; thus among[8] those whom I hate, there are none more prominent than the King of Qi[9]. Now among the King of Qi's crimes, those committed against the King of our humble state have been the most prolific. We wish to attack him, but your great state welcomes his company. This being so, our King cannot order this affair as he would wish, and I am unable to serve you. If Your Majesty could only close the passes and cut off access to Qi, your servant will ask the King of Qin to offer you the lands of Shang[10]: six hundred square li in total. This way, Qi will certainly be weakened, and if Qi is weakened it will be at Your Majesty's service[11]. Thus you will be in the situation of having have a weak Qi to your North, an indebted Qin to your West, and Shang as a part of the private domains from which you may profit[12], thus from one strategy you will achieve a total of three benefits."
楚王大說，宣言之於朝廷，曰：「不穀得商於之田，方六百里。」群臣聞見者畢賀，陳軫後見，獨不賀。楚王曰：「不穀不煩一兵，不傷一人，而得商於之地六百里，寡人自以為智矣！諸士大夫皆賀，子獨不賀，何也？」陳軫對曰：「臣見商於之地不可得，而患必至也，故不敢妄賀。」王曰：「何也？」對曰：「夫秦所以重王者，以王有齊也。今地未可得而齊先絕，是楚孤也，秦又何重孤國？且先出地絕齊，秦計必弗為也。先絕齊後責地，且必受欺於張儀。受欺於張儀，王必惋之。是西生秦患，北絕齊交，則兩國兵必至矣。」楚王不聽，曰：「吾事善矣！子其弭口無言，以待吾事。」楚王使人絕齊，使者未來，又重絕之。
The King of Chu was overjoyed, and displayed his preferences[13] in court, saying, "We have obtained land[14] in Shang: six hundred square li in total." When his assembled private secretaries heard this they congratulated him generously. Chen Zhen[15] was the last to attend the audience, and was the only one who did not offer congratulations.
The King said, "We have not bothered a single soldier or injured a single man, and we have obtained six hundred square li of land in Shang. I felt that this was a wise move on my part; the officials and counsellors have all congratulated me. You are the only one who did not. Why?"
Chen Zhen replied, "Your servant can see the land in Shang is unobtainable, and our troubles over it will certainly be extensive. Therefore I would not dare to offer empty congratulations."
The King said, "Why is this?"
Chen Zhen replied, "The reason that Qin is treating you with respect is so that they may use you to acquire Qi. Now the land has not yet been obtained, but we have already broken off relations with Qi; this being so, we are isolated. Why would Qin continue to treat an isolated state with respect[16]? If we proposed that they first transfer the land and only then would we sever relations with Qi, QIn would never carry such a plan out. If we are first to sever relations with Qi and then receive the land, then we are being tricked by Zhang Yi. If we are tricked by Zhang Yi then Your Majesty will live to regret it. In the circumstances, troubles will emerge from Qin in the West and with relations with Qi in the North severed, the troops of both will certainly arrive on our borders."
The King of Chu paid no attention, saying, "I have handled this business well. You will close your mouth and say nothing while waiting upon the conclusion of my affair." The King of Chu sent an envoy to sever relations with Qi, and before the envoy had even returned he sent another to reaffirm the split.
張儀反，秦使人使齊，齊、秦之交陰合。楚因使一將軍受地於秦。張儀至，稱病不朝。楚王曰：「張子以寡人不絕齊乎？」乃使勇士往詈齊王。張儀知楚絕齊也，乃出見使者曰：「從某至某，廣從六里。」使者曰：「臣聞六百里，不聞六里。」儀曰：「儀固以小人，安得六百里？」使者反報楚王，楚王大怒，欲興師伐秦。陳軫曰：「臣可以言乎？」王曰：「可矣。」軫曰：「伐秦非計也，王不如因而賂之一名都，與之伐齊，是我亡於秦而取償於齊也。楚國不尚全事。王今已絕齊，而責欺於秦，是吾合齊、秦之交也，固必大傷。」
Upon Zhang Yi's return to Qin he sent an envoy to Qi, and Qi and Qin formed a secret accord. Chu then took the opportunity to send a general to receive the land from Qin. Zhang Yi had already arrived in Qin, but claimed that he was ill and could not come to court.
The King of Chu said, "Does Master Zhang take it that we have not severed ties with Qi?" Accordingly, he sent a brave officer to give the King of Qi a piece of his mind.
When Zhang Yi knew for sure that Chu had severed its relations with Qi, he then headed out to see the envoy, saying "From there to here, I will enlarge your land by six li, as promised[17]."
The envoy said, "Your servant had heard that it was six hundred li, not six."
Yi said, "I am merely a commoner, from where would I get six hundred li of land?" The envoy returned and reported this to the King of Chu. The King of Chu was enraged and wanted to raise troops and attack Qin.
Chen Zhen said, "May your servant speak?"
The King said, "You may."
Zhen said, "Attacking Qin would not be strategic, Your Majesty would do better to bribe[18] Qin with a significant city, and then join them in an attack on Qi. If this is done, what we have lost to Qin we will take back from Qi. Would this not be a means to make Chu whole again?[19] Your Majesty has already severed ties with Qi and been deceived by Qin. This being so, if create an accord between them[20] we will be worsening the harm our own state[21]."
楚王不聽，遂舉兵伐秦。秦與齊合，韓氏從之。楚兵大敗於杜陵。故楚之土壤士民非削弱，僅以救亡者，計失於陳軫，過聽於張儀。
The King of Chu paid no attention, and raised an army to attack Qin. Qin made a formal accord with Qi and they drew the House of Han into their wake. Chu suffered a great defeat at Duling[22]. The lands, officials and populace of Chu were not so weakened thereby that the state could be extinguished, but it was only with help that it evaded extinction. This was because the strategies of Chen Zhen were abandoned and attention paid to Zhang Yi erroneously[23].
[1] Quwo is still called Quwo and is in modern-day Shanxi. At the time, it had recently lost its independence, having been conquered by Qin.
[2] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BCE) began his reign by killing Shang Yang, but maintained his legal and military reforms, using his strengthened state to acquire large tracts of additional land.
[3] Zhang Yi was among Qin's most famous diplomats; like Su Qin he was a Guiguzi alumnus.
[4] King Huai of Chu (328-299 BCE) was known for having been the object of various poetic complaints by Qu Yuan. He was captured by Qin in 299 BCE and his son King Qingxiang took the throne. He made one attempt to escape, but was recaptured and died in 296 BCE.
[5] The commentaries suggest that 亦 here may be superfluous.
[6] Reading 大 for 先, per the commentaries.
[7] King Wei of Qi (356–320 BCE) was the first Qi sovereign to take a royal title and was widely regarded as an exemplary sovereign.
[8] Reading 所 for 甚, per the commentaries.
[9] The commentaries disagree on the precise reading of this sentence, though the general sense is clear.
[10] Shang Yang's former domain, in modern Shangluo, Shanxi.
[11] The commentaries disagree on the precise reading of this sentence, though the general sense is clear.
[12] The commentaries disagree on the precise reading of this sentence, though the general sense is clear.
[13] Reading 偏 for 宣, per the commentaries. For a King to reveal his preferences in advance of a decision being made was a strategic faux pas.
[14] Reading 地 for 田, per the commentaries.
[15] Chen Zhen was the source of several famous persuasions. He competed with Zhang Yi for position at the Qin court, before leaving to bolster the vertical alliance.
[16] Some of the commentaries suggest 夫秦有 for 秦又.
[17] Some of the commentaries suggest 袤 for 從.
[18] Omitting 因而, per the commentaries.
[19] Commentaries and modern translations disagree on the reading and the sense of this sentence. This is an approximation of the current reading.
[20] By attacking their alliance.
[21] Reading 國 for 固, per the commentaries.
[22] Duling is still called Duling and is just South of modern Xi'an. At the time it was Chu territory.
[23] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise logic of this sentence.
楚絕齊齊舉兵伐楚
Chu Severs Relations With Qi and Qi Raises an Army to Attack Chu
楚絕齊，齊舉兵伐楚。陳軫謂楚王曰：「王不如以地東解於齊，西講於秦。」
Chu severed its relations with Qi, and Qi raised an army to attack Chu. Chen Zhen[1] said to the King of Chu[2], "There would be nothing better for Your Majesty than to offer up land in the East to relieve Qi's pressure on you while opening negotiations with Qin in the West."
楚王使陳軫之秦，秦王謂軫曰：「子秦人也，寡人與子故也，寡人不佞，不能親國事也，故子棄寡人事楚王。今齊、楚相伐，或謂救之便，或謂救之不便，子獨不可以忠為子主計，以其餘為寡人乎？」陳軫曰：「王獨不聞吳人之遊楚者乎？楚王甚愛之，病，故使人問之，曰：『誠病乎？意亦思乎？』左右曰：『臣不知其思與不思，誠思則將吳吟。』今軫將為王吳吟。王不聞夫管與之說乎？有兩虎諍人而鬥者，管莊子將刺之，管與止之曰：『虎者，戾蟲；人者，甘餌也。今兩虎諍人而鬥，小者必死，大者必傷。子待傷虎而刺之，則是一舉而兼兩虎也。無刺一虎之勞，而有刺兩虎之名。』齊、楚今戰，戰必敗。敗，王起兵救之，有救齊之利，而無伐楚之害。計聽知覆逆者，唯王可也。計者，事之本也；聽者，存亡之機。計失而聽過，能有國者寡也。故曰：『計有一二者難悖也，聽無失本末者難惑。』」
The King of Chu sent Chen Zhen to Qin, and the King of Qin[3] spoke to him, saying, "You were one of Qin's people[4];and we were comrades of old. We lacked the finesse to ensure that the affairs of our state would be well taken care of, therefore you abandoned us and took service with the King of Chu. Now Qi and Chu are fighting one another, and various people have come to speak of the advantages or disadvantages of helping. Could it be that you are not merely intending to provide your loyal advice to your current sovereign, but also to offer us his leftovers?"
Chen Zhen said, "Could it be that Your Majesty has never heard of the man of Wu who travelled to Chu?[5] The King of Chu[6] was extremely fond of him, and when he fell sick, the King sent someone to ask after him, saying, 'It is a genuine illness? Or merely homesickness?' The man's entourage said, 'We are not sure if it is homesickness or not[7]; if he is really homesick, we will sing him the songs of Wu.' Now I intend to sing the songs of Wu for Your Majesty. Have you never heard the story of Guan Yu[8]? Two tigers were vying[9] to eat someone[10], and were at each other's throats. Guan Zhuangzi[11] moved to stab them. Guan Yu stopped him, saying, 'Tigers are ravening beasts and a human is a tasty snack. Now two tigers are vying over one person and are at each other's throats; the smaller one will certainly be killed and the bigger one injured. You should wait until there is only one injured tiger left and stab it, then you will have got both of them at one stroke. Without the the work of stabbing one healthy tiger, you will earn the reputation of having killed two.' Qi and Chu are now fighting and the fight will certainly have a loser. When one is losing, Your Majesty can raise an army and help, gaining the benefit of having helped Qi without the cost of attacking Chu.[12] The decision to listen to my strategies and understand such reversals is yours alone. Strategy is the root of all affairs, and the willingness to listen an opportunity to live or die. If strategies fail or the wrong strategies are listened to, it can diminish the state. Therefore I say, 'Strategies are to be analysed time and time again for difficulties and errors[13], pay attention so as not to lose track and confuse the beginnings and the endings'."
[1] Chen Zhen was the source of several famous persuasions. He competed with Zhang Yi for position at the Qin court, before leaving to bolster the vertical alliance.
[2] King Huai of Chu (328-299 BCE) was known for having been the object of various poetic complaints by Qu Yuan. He was captured by Qin in 299 BCE and his son King Qingxiang took the throne. He made one attempt to escape, but was recaptured and died in 296 BCE.
[3] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BCE) began his reign by killing Shang Yang, but maintained his legal and military reforms, using his strengthened state to acquire large tracts of additional land.
[4] I.e. Chen Zhen was employed by Qin.
[6] One of the former kings, or a fictional one. Not Huai.
[7] The commentaries disagree regarding the reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[8] The commentaries disagree regarding the name of this person, but he is not otherwise well-known.
[9] Reading 爭 for 諍, per the commentaries.
[10] According to the commentaries 者 here is superfluous.
[11] This person is likewise not well-known. This seems to have been a familiar tale at the time.
[12] The section that follows could be an annotation that has accidentally been included in the main text. If so, it would read "listen to strategies and understand their reversals is the king's alone".
[13] The commentaries suggest that 也 here is superfluous.
秦惠王死公孫衍欲窮張儀
King Hui of Qin Dies and Gongsun Yan Wishes to Ruin Zhang Yi
秦惠王死，公孫衍欲窮張儀。李讎謂公孫衍曰：「不如召甘茂於魏，召公孫顯於韓，起樗里子於國。三人者，皆張儀之讎也，公用之，則諸侯必見張儀之無秦矣！」
King Hui of Qin[1] died and Gongsun Yan[2] wished to ruin Zhang Yi[3]. Li Chou[4] spoke to Gongsun Yan, saying: "The best thing would be to summon Gan Mao[5] from Wei and Gongsun Xian[6] from Han, and raise Master Chuli[7] to an official position within the state. Those three are all enemies of Master Zhang[8], if you employ them, the sovereign lords will see clearly that Qin does not belong to Zhang Yi."
[1] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BCE) began his reign by killing Shang Yang, but maintained his legal and military reforms, using his strengthened state to acquire large tracts of additional land.
[2] Gongsun Yan worked for both Qin and Wei at various points. He led Qin troops to a famous victory, taking Xihe Commandery in the face of superior numbers.
[3] Zhang Yi was among Qin's most famous diplomats; like Su Qin he was a Guiguzi alumnus.
[4] Li Chou was a politician from Qin.
[5] Gan Mao was a successful politician and General in Qin, but later defected to Qi.
[6] Gongsun Xian was a politician from Qin.
[7] Chuli Ji was a son of Duke Xiao of Qin, and served as a General and Chancellor at the same time as Gan Mao. He helped to preside over Qin's expansion.
[8] Reading 子 for 儀, per the commentaries.
義渠君之魏
The Lord of Yiqu Goes to Wei
義渠君之魏，公孫衍謂義渠君曰：「道遠，臣不得復過矣，請謁事情。」義渠君曰：「願聞之。」對曰：「中國無事於秦，則秦且燒爇獲君之國；中國為有事於秦，則秦且輕使重幣，而事君之國也。」義渠君曰：「謹聞令。」
The Lord of Yiqu[1] went to Wei, and Gongsun Yan[2] spoke to him, saying, "Your road will take you far away, and your servant will not see your return. I beg your leave to discuss the way affairs stand[3]."
The Lord of Yiqu said, "I should like to hear."
He replied, "If the Central States[4] have no contention with Qin, then Qin will soon be burning and ravaging your Lordship's state. If the Central States stir up contentions with Qin, then Qin will hurriedly dispatch envoys with sizeable cash gifts to serve the interests of Your Lordship's state[5]."
The Lord of Yiqu said, "We will pay assiduous attention to your instruction."
居無幾何，五國伐秦。陳軫謂秦王曰：「義渠君者，蠻夷之賢君，王不如賂之以撫其心。」秦王曰：「善。」因以文繡千匹，好女百人，遺義渠君。
It was not long before five states[6] attacked Qin. Chen Zhen[7] spoke to the King of Qin[8], saying, "The Lord of Yiqu[9] is a sage leader among the Manyi[10]. The best thing for Your Majesty to do would be to offer him a bribe to pacify his heart."
The King of Qin said, "Very well." As a result he had a thousand bolts of embroidered cloth and a hundred beautiful women sent to the Lord of Yiqu.
義渠君致群臣而謀曰：「此乃公孫衍之所謂也。」因起兵襲秦，大敗秦人於李帛之下。
The Lord of Yiqu met with his assembled private secretaries to formulate a strategy, saying: "It is just as Gongsun Yan said." He took the opportunity to raise an army and raid Qin, inflicting a great defeat on the people of Qin beneath the walls of Libo[11].
[1] Yiqu was a non-Huaxia state to the northwest of Qin. The name of the ruler is unknown.
[2] Gongsun Yan worked for both Qin and Wei at various points. He led Qin troops to a famous victory, taking Xihe Commandery in the face of superior numbers.
[3] Following the interpretation of the commentaries.
[4] The Chinese heartlands in the central plains area.
[5] In exchange for military support.
[6] Han, Qi, Wei, Zhao and either Song or Yan.
[7] Chen Zhen was the source of several famous persuasions. He competed with Zhang Yi for position at the Qin court, before leaving to bolster the vertical alliance.
[8] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BCE) began his reign by killing Shang Yang, but maintained his legal and military reforms, using his strengthened state to acquire large tracts of additional land.
[9] The commentaries suggest that 者 here is superfluous.
[10] This refers to various non-Chinese peoples living in the Northwest.
[11] Libo was just east of modern Tianshui, in Gansu.
醫扁鵲見秦武王
Doctor Bian Que Visits King Wu of Qin
醫扁鵲見秦武王，武王示之病，扁鵲請除。左右曰：「君之病，在耳之前，目之下，除之未必已也，將使耳不聰，目不明。」君以告扁鵲。扁鵲怒而投其石：「君與知之者謀之，而與不知者敗之。使此知秦國之政也，則君一舉而亡國矣。」
Doctor Bian Que[1] visited King Wu of Qin[2]. King Wu presented his symptoms and Bian Que begged permission to operate, but King Wu's entourage said, "His Lordship's lesions are in front of his ears and below his eyes, so surgery is not yet neccessary. You will end up making him deaf and blind." The Lord of Qin reported this to Bian Que.
Bian Que was so angry he threw aside his flint[3], saying[4], "Your Lordship planned to proceed based on the advice of an expert[5], but abandoned your plan based on the advice of non-experts. If this is the level of expertise being applied to the government of Qin, then you will extinguish the state at a single stroke!"
[1] Bian Que was a semi-legendary physician in ancient China, who has attracted a large number of anecdotes over the years.
[2] King Wu of Qin (310–307 BCE) was only king for a short time, but managed to expand Qin's territory via wars with Han and Wei. He died after breaking his shins while trying to lift a heavy bronze cauldron in the Zhou palace.
[3] Probably a flint knife used for delicate surgical work.
[4] Reading 石，曰 for 石, per the commentaries.
[5] According to the commentaries 之 here is superfluous.
秦武王謂甘茂
King Wu of Qin Speaks to Gan Mao
秦武王謂甘茂曰：「寡人欲車通三川，以闚周室，而寡人死不杇乎？」甘茂對曰：「請之魏，約伐韓。」王令向壽輔行。
King Wu of Qin[1] spoke to Gan Mao[2], saying, "I want to send chariots into Sanchuan[3] so that I may keep watch on the halls of Zhou. This is our immortal desire[4]."
Gan Mao replied: "I beg permission to go Wei to make an agreement to attack Han." The King sent Shou Fu[5] to assist him.
甘茂至魏，謂向壽：「子歸告王曰：『魏聽臣矣，然願王勿攻也。』事成，盡以為子功。」向壽歸以告王，王迎甘茂於息壤
Gan Mao arrived in Wei and spoke to Shou Fu: "Return and report to the King, saying, 'Wei is willing to listen to your servant, but even so I would prefer that Your Majesty not attack Han'. Then when the business is brought to a successful conclusion, the credit will be yours alone." Shou Fu returned and reported this to the King, who waited to welcome Gan Mao upon his arrival in Xirang[6].
甘茂至，王問其故。對曰：「宜陽，大縣也，上黨、南陽積之久矣，名為縣，其實郡也。今王倍數險，行千里而攻之，難矣。臣聞張儀西并巴、蜀之地，北取西河之外，南取上庸，天下不以為多張儀而賢先王。魏文侯令樂羊將，攻中山，三年而拔之，樂羊反而語功，文侯示之謗書一篋，樂羊再拜稽首曰：『此非臣之功，主君之力也。』今臣羇旅之臣也，樗里疾、公孫衍二人者，挾韓而議，王必聽之，是王欺魏，而臣受公仲侈之怨也。昔者曾子處費，費人有與曾子同名族者而殺人，人告曾子母曰：『曾參殺人。』曾子之母曰：『吾子不殺人。』織自若。有頃焉，人又曰：『曾參殺人。』其母尚織自若也。頃之，一人又告之曰：『曾參殺人。』其母懼，投杼踰牆而走。夫以曾參之賢，與母之信也，而三人疑之，則慈母不能信也。今臣之賢不及曾子，而王之信臣又未若曾子之母也，疑臣者不適三人，臣恐王為臣之投杼也。」王曰：「寡人不聽也，請與子盟。」於是與之盟於息壤。
When Gan Mao arrived, the King asked after his plans. He replied, "Yiyang[7] is a large county; it has long been accumulating resources[8] from Shangdang[9] and Nanyang[10]. Though it is called a county, it is really a commandery. Your Majesty would have to evade numerous dangers and travel thousands of li[11] to attack it, which would be difficult. Your servant has heard about Zhang Yi[12] marching West to annex the lands of Ba and Shu, and taking Outer Xihe[13] in the North and Shangyong[14] in the South. All-Under-Heaven did not think much of Zhang Yi[15], but took the former King[16] for a sage. Marquis Wen of Wei[17] made Yue Yang[18] a general and he attacked Zhongshan. After three years he seized it. Yue Yang returned home and spoke of his achievement, and Marquess Wen showed him a box full of slanderous memorials against him. Yue Yang bowed his head repeatedly and said, 'These are not the product of my victory, but of Your Lordship's power.' Now I have paused in my travels to serve you, and Chuli Ji[19] and Gongsun Yan[20] will come to court carrying Han's backing, so when they gossip Your Majesty will certainly listen to them. This being so, Your Majesty will betray Wei, and your servant will earn the resentment of Gongzhong Chi[21]. In the past, Master Zeng[22] was living in Fei[23], a person from Fei with the same name as Master Zeng killed a person, and someone came and told Master Zeng's mother, saying, 'Zeng Shen has killed someone.' Master Zeng's mother said, 'My son killed no one,' and carried on with her weaving. A little later, another person came and said, 'Zeng Shen has killed someone.' Master Zeng's mother still carried on with her weaving. After a while, another person came and reported it to her, saying, 'Zeng Shen has killed someone.' His mother was afraid and dropped her shuttle, jumped over the wall and ran away. For all Zeng Shen's sagacity and his mother's trust in him, three people managed to create suspicion such that even his mother could not trust him. Now your servant is not as sagacious as Master Zeng, nor is your trust in me as great as that of Master Zeng's mother, and there will be more than three people trying to stir up doubt. I am worried that, as far as I am concerned, you will drop your shuttle."
The King said, "I will not listen to them, I beg permission to make a formal agreement with you." On account of this, an agreement was made at Xirang.
果攻宜陽，五月而不能拔也。樗里疾、公孫衍二人在，爭之王，王將聽之，召甘茂而告之。甘茂對曰：「息壤在彼。」王曰：「有之。」因悉起兵，復使甘茂攻之，遂拔宜陽。
As a result, Gan Mao attacked Yiyang. After five months, he was still unable to seize it. Chuli Ji and Gongsun Yan got together and critiqued the campaign to the King. The King was inclined to pay attention to them, and summoned Gan Mao to tell him about this.
Gan Mao replied, "Does Xirang still stand?"
The King said, "It does." As a result, the King mobilised all his troops and sent Gan Mao to make another attack, and Gan Mao consequently seized Yiyang.
[1] King Wu of Qin (310–307 BCE) was only king for a short time, but managed to expand Qin's territory via wars with Han and Wei. He died after breaking his shins while trying to lift a heavy bronze cauldron in the Zhou palace.
[2] Gan Mao was a successful politician and General in Qin, but later defected to Qi.
[3] Sanchuan Commandery was near modern Luoyang in Henan.
[4] Reading 矣 for 乎, per the commentaries.
[5] Shou Fu was related to Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin, Wu's mother.
[6] It is not clear where Xirang was.
[7] Yiyang is now in Yiyang County. At the time it was a border fortress belonging to Han. It was strategically important insofar as that it provided Qin with a base from which to pursue its expansion.
[8] Presumably because it was a defensive stronghold.
[9] Shangdang was a key strategic location, regularly fought over by Zhao, Wei, Han and Qin.
[10] Nanyang is still called Nanyang, and is in Henan.
[11] The commentaries disagree regarding the reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[12] Zhang Yi was among Qin's most famous diplomats; like Su Qin he was a Guiguzi alumnus.
[13] Xihe Commandery, in Southeast Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
[14] Shangyong Commandery, was in modern Zhushan County, Hubei.
[15] The commentaries suggest that 為 here is superfluous.
[16] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BCE) began his reign by killing Shang Yang, but maintained his legal and military reforms, using his strengthened state to acquire large tracts of additional land.
[17] Marquis Wen ruled Wei when it split from Jin and presided over the state's growth in power and status following Li Kui's legal reforms..
[18] Yue Yang was originally from Zhongshan, but later fought for Wei. He is famous for having eaten soup made out of his own son with relative aplomb.
[19] Chuli Ji was a son of Duke Xiao of Qin, and served as a General and Chancellor at the same time as Gan Mao. He helped to preside over Qin's expansion. His military and political expertise was such that he is occasionally referred to as "Master Chuli" in literature.
[20] Gongsun Yan worked for both Qin and Wei at various points. He led Qin troops to a famous victory, taking Xihe Commandery in the face of superior numbers. face of superior numbers. The commentaries do not agree as to the accuracy of the reference to Gongsun Yan here, however.
[21] Gongzhong Chi was also known as Gongzhong Peng. He was a politician from Han.
[22] Zeng Shen was the grandson of Zeng Dian, one of Confucius' disciples. He compiled his grandfather's writings as well as producing much Confucian literature on his own account. This story is particularly well-known.
[23] Fei is now Fei County in Shandong.
[24] The commentaries disagree regarding the reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
宜陽之役馮章謂秦王
Feng Zhang Speaks to the King of Qin During the battle of Yiyang
宜陽之役，馮章謂秦王曰：「不拔宜陽，韓、楚乘吾弊，國必危矣！不如許楚漢中以歡之。楚歡而不進，韓必赴，無奈秦何矣！」王曰：「善。」果使馮章許楚漢中，而拔宜陽。楚王以其言責漢中於馮章，馮章謂秦王曰：「王遂亡臣，固謂楚王曰：『寡人固無地而許楚王。』」
During the battle of Yiyang[1], Feng Zhang[2] spoke to the King of Qin[3], saying: "If we do not manage to seize Yiyang, Han and Chu will take advantage of our exhaustion and the state will certainly be at risk. It would be better to promise Chu Hanzhong to placate it. Once Chu is content and ceases its advance, Han will be forced to stand alone, and how could it face up to Qin?"
The King said, "Very well." As a result, he sent Feng Zhang to promise Hanzhong to Chu, and then seized Yiyang. The King of Chu[4] cited Feng Zhang's words to recall him to his duty regarding Hanzhong. Feng Zhang spoke to the King of Qin, saying, "I suggest that Your Majesty exile me. You can then[5] speak to the King of Chu, saying, 'We definitely did not set aside any land to promise to the King of Chu.'"
[1] Yiyang is now in Yiyang County. At the time it was a border fortress belonging to Han. It was strategically important insofar as that it provided Qin with a base from which to pursue its expansion.
[2] Feng Zhang was a politician from Qin.
[3] King Wu of Qin (310–307 BCE) was only king for a short time, but managed to expand Qin's territory via wars with Han and Wei. He died after breaking his shins while trying to lift a heavy bronze cauldron in the Zhou palace.
[4] King Huai of Chu (328-299 BCE) was known for having been the object of various poetic complaints by Qu Yuan. He was captured by Qin in 299 BCE and his son King Qingxiang took the throne. He made one attempt to escape, but was recaptured and died in 296 BCE.
[5] Reading 因 for 固, per the commentaries.
甘茂攻宜陽
Gan Mao Attacks Yiyang
甘茂攻宜陽，三鼓之而卒不上。秦之右將有尉對曰：「公不論兵，必大困。」甘茂曰：「我羇旅而得相秦者，我以宜陽餌王。今攻宜陽而不拔，公孫衍、樗里疾挫我於內，而公中以韓窮我於外，是無伐之日已！請明日鼓之而不可下，因以宜陽之郭為墓。」於是出私金以益公賞。明日鼓之，宜陽拔。
Gan Mao[1] attacked Yiyang[2]. Three times he sounded the drums to advance but his troops did not prevail. Qin's General of the Right[3] had a staff officer who commented on this, saying: "If you don't understand the management of troops, you will naturally end up extremely frustrated."[4]
Gan Mao said: "If I was able to break my travels in Qin and secure the position of Chancellor, it was by offering the King[5] Yiyang as bait. Now I have attacked Yiyang and failed to seize it. Gongsun Yan[6] and Chuli Ji[7] will crush me in Qin, while Gongzhong[8] uses Han to ruin me abroad. This being so, I will have no further opportunities for launching attacks[9]. Please sound the drums tomorrow, and if we cannot bring Yiyang down, then you can bury me right there in the suburbs." He had his private funds brought to augment the public money offered to reward the troops in the event of a victory[10]. The next day the drums were sounded and they seized Yiyang.
[1] Gan Mao was a politician and General in Qin, and first appeared in the telling of the Yiyang story from the Zhou perspective. This version confirms Zhao Lei's analysis of the situation in that chapter.
[2] Yiyang is now in Yiyang County. At the time it was a border fortress belonging to Han. It was strategically important insofar as that it provided Qin with a base from which to pursue its expansion.
[3] It was conventional in China and also among some of the neighbouring states and tribes to appoint two officials ("right" and "left") to key positions.
[4] He means the use of rewards and punishments to incentivise them.
[5] King Wu of Qin (310–307 BCE) was only king for a short time, but managed to expand Qin's territory via wars with Han and Wei. He died after breaking his shins while trying to lift a heavy bronze cauldron in the Zhou palace.
[6] Gongsun Yan worked for both Qin and Wei at various points. He led Qin troops to a famous victory, taking Xihe Commandery in the face of superior numbers.
[7] Chuli Ji was a son of Duke Xiao of Qin, and served as a General and Chancellor at the same time as Gan Mao. He helped to preside over Qin's expansion. His military and political expertise was such that he is occasionally referred to as "Master Chuli" in literature.
[8] Reading 仲 for 中, per the commentaries. This refers to Gongzhong Chi, Chancellor of Han at the time.
[9] The commentaries disagree on the reading of this sentence. It may be 無茂之日已 - "it will be the end of my days".
[10] The commentaries suggest 私 may be intended to read 利, in which case he will be requesting additional government funds rather than using his own resources.