秦三 THE STRATAGEMS OF QIN III (B)
應侯謂昭王
Marquis Ying Speaks to King Zhao
應侯謂昭王曰：「亦聞恆思有神叢與？恆思有悍少年，請與叢博，曰：『吾勝叢，叢籍我神三日；不勝叢，叢困我。』乃左手為叢投，右手自為投，勝叢，叢籍其神。三日，叢往求之，遂弗歸。五日而叢枯，七日而叢亡。今國者，王之叢；勢者，王之神。籍人以此，得無危乎？臣未嘗聞指大於臂，臂大於股，若有此，則病必甚矣。百人輿瓢而趨，不如一人持而走疾。百人誠輿瓢，瓢必裂。今秦國，華陽用之，穰侯用之，太后用之，王亦用之。不稱瓢為器，則已；已稱瓢為器，國必裂矣。臣聞之也：『木實繁者枝必披，枝之披者傷其心。都大者危其國，臣強者危其主。』其令邑中自斗食以上，至尉、內史及王左右，有非相國之人者乎？國無事，則已；國有事，臣必聞見王獨立於庭也。臣竊為王恐，恐萬世之後有國者，非王子孫也。
Marquis Ying[1] spoke to King Zhao[2], saying: "Have you heard the story of the forest shrine at Hengsi[3]? In Hengsi there was a wild young man who invited the spirit of the forest to play dice[4] with him. He said, 'If I beat you then I will take your place for three days. If I do not, then you get to imprison me here.' With his left hand he threw for the forest spirit, with his right hand he threw for himself. He beat the forest spirit, so the spirit enshrined him there. After three days, the forest spirit came and asked for his shrine back, but the boy would not return it. After five days the forest began to dry out, and after seven it was dead.[5] Now the state is Your Majesty's forest, and power is your shrine. If you allow other people to use it, can you take it back without risk? I have never heard of anyone whose fingers were thicker than their arms, or whose arms were thicker than their legs; if this were the case then the person in question would be very ill indeed. A hundred people rushing to transport a gourd will not do as good a job as one person[6]. If a hundred people all try to transport it, it will certainly end up broken. Now the state of Qin is at the disposal of Huayang[7], at the disposal of Marquis Ran[8], at the disposal of the Queen Dowager[9] and at Your Majesty's disposal. If the state has no similarity to a gourd, then that is the end of the matter. If[10] the two have something in common, then the state too will end up broken. Your servant has heard that 'If a tree grows too lush, its branches will break; if its branches break, this will harm the trunk. If the capital is allowed to grow too big, it will endanger the state. If his servants grow too strong, it will endanger the sovereign.'[11] In the state under your command[12] is there anyone - from the one-dou hangers on[13] upwards, through the military officials, to the palace servants and your personal enourage - who is not one of the Chancellor's people? If no issue arises in the state, then that will be the end of the matter. If any issue emerges, then I will see[14] Your Majesty left standing alone in the court. Your Servant has the temerity to be afraid on your behalf, afraid that in the ten thousand generations to come, if the state still exists, its kings will not be your sons or grandsons.
「臣聞古之善為政也，其威內扶，其輔外布，四治政不亂不逆，使者直道而行，不敢為非。今太后使者分裂諸侯，而符布天下，操大國之勢，強徵兵，伐諸侯。戰勝攻取，利盡歸於陶；國之幣帛，竭入太后之家；竟內之利，分移華陽。古之所謂『危主滅國之道』必從此起。三貴竭國以自安，然則令何得從王出，權何得毋分，是我王果處三分之一也。」
Your servant has heard that in ancient times, one skilled in government was one who won internal support through the awe he inspired, with his supporters spreading the word abroad. There[15] was orderly government with no insurrection and no treason. Officials knew the correct path and followed it, and none dared to contradict them. Now the Queen Dowager sends out envoys to divide the sovereign lords, her dispatches flood All-Under-Heaven, manipulating the great powers and recruiting strong[16] troops to attack the sovereign lords. When battles are won and land conquered, all the profits are sent straight back to Tao[17]; the state's reserves of cash and silk are exhausted to supply the Queen Dowager's household. Domestic revenues are allocated to Huayang and shipped out. In ancient times it was said that 'the way to put a sovereign in danger and bring a state to ruin'[18] began with this. These three nobles are draining the state to ensure their own tranquility. This being the case, how can you expect royal orders to be followed, or state power to be undivided? Thus Your Majesty's[19] role is taken by three people in the place of one."
[1] Marquis Ying was the title given to Fan Ju in Qin. Fan Ju served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers.
[2] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BCE) began life as a relatively minor prince, and served as a child hostage in Zhao before being sneaked out by Queen Xuan (his mother), her brother Wei Ran, and King Wuling of Zhao to assume the throne following the premature death of his brother, King Wu. Upon coming of age, he exiled Queen Xuan and Wei Ran, and worked with a succession of important figures of the age (Gan Mao, Fan Ju, Bai Qi...) to expand Qin's territory during the course of a long and successful reign.
[3] The location of Hengsi is not known.
[4] It is not clear what game was being played, it may have involved throwing sticks rather than dice.
[5] This story is rather hard to translate as it depends on supernatural concepts that do not exist in English. In the original, both the forest and the forest spirit are a single entity: 叢 (cong). The shrine is where you go to speak to the 叢 and also provides it with shelter and sustenance. The spirit has a right to enjoy the benefits of the shrine as a result of having been officially listed (籍, ji) on the shrine rolls. The deal that the young man is proposing involves the temporary removal of the spirit's name from the rolls, to be replaced with his own. Japanese Shinto shrines still work based on this principle.
[6] According to the commentaries 疾 here is superfluous.
[7] Lord Huayang was Zhaoxiang's uncle, Queen Dowager Xuan's half-brother, also known as Mi Rong.
[8] Wei Ran (Marquis Rang) was the half-brother of Queen Xuan and the uncle of King Zhaoxiang. Having backed Zhaoxiang in the struggle for succession that occurred following the death of King Wu, he subsequently became Chancellor.
[9] Queen Xuan began her career as a low-ranking concubine, being elevated after her son became King Zhaoxiang.
[10] According to the commentaries 已 here is superfluous.
[11] Fan Ju used a similar line in the previous chapter, and attributed it to the Book of Poetry, though this is doubtful.
[12] Bao suggests 且 for 其 here.
[13] This refers to the salary that one could expect as a minor member of a grandee's entourage - one dou of rice.
[14] According to the commentaries 聞 here is superfluous.
[15] Reading 而 for 四 here, per the commentaries.
[16] Reading 徵強 for 強徵, per the commentaries.
[17] Tao, Marquis Rang's domain, is now Dingtao in Shandong.
[18] Again, if this is a quote I can find no source for it.
[19] According to the commentaries 我 here is superfluous.
秦攻韓圍陘
Qin Attacks Han and Encircles Xing
秦攻韓，圍陘。范睢謂秦昭王曰：「有攻人者，有攻地者。穰侯十攻魏而不得傷者，非秦弱而魏強也，其所攻者，地也。地者，人主所甚愛也。人主者，人臣之所樂為死也。攻人主之所愛，與樂死者鬥，故十攻而弗能勝也。今王將攻韓圍陘，臣願王之毋獨攻其地，而攻其人也。王攻韓圍陘，以張儀為言。張儀之力多，且削地而以自贖於王，幾割地而韓不盡；張儀之力少，則王逐張儀，而更與不如張儀者市。則王之所求於韓者，言可得也。」
Qin attacked Han and encircled Xing[1]. Fan Ju[2] spoke to King Zhao of Qin[3], saying: "Some attack people; some attack places. Marquis Rang[4] made ten attacks on Wei and was unable to[5] injure it. It is not that Qin is weak and Wei is strong, but that the target of the attack was their land, and land is what a sovereign is most attached to. What delights a public servant is a chance to die for his sovereign. If you attack what the sovereign is most attached to, you will end up facing men happy to die fighting[5]. That is why you attacked ten times without securing a victory[6]. Now Your Majesty is about to attack Xing in Han, I hope that you will not merely attack its land, but rather attack its people instead. In this attack on Xing in Han, you can ensure that they use Zhang Ping[7] as a negotiator. If Zhang Ping is in a position of great strength at home, he will cede[8] land[9] to redeem Han from you, and you can take more and more until Han is wiped out. If he is weak at home then you can have him expelled from Han and replaced by someone who does not have his bargaining skills. Thus, what you want from Han can be obtained in its entirety[10]."
[1] Xing was in the Northeast of modern Quwo county, Shanxi. The battle took place in 264 BCE, and the Han troops were routed.
[2] Fan Ju served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers.
[3] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BCE) began life as a relatively minor prince, and served as a child hostage in Zhao before being sneaked out by Queen Xuan (his mother), her brother Wei Ran, and King Wuling of Zhao to assume the throne following the premature death of his brother, King Wu. Upon coming of age, he exiled Queen Xuan and Wei Ran, and worked with a succession of important figures of the age (Gan Mao, Fan Ju, Bai Qi...) to expand Qin's territory during the course of a long and successful reign.
[4] Marquis Rang was the half-brother of Queen Xuan and the uncle of King Zhaoxiang. Having backed Zhaoxiang in the struggle for succession that occurred following the death of King Wu, he subsequently became Chancellor.
[5] Reading 能 for 得, per the commentaries.
[6] According to the commentaries 能 here is superfluous.
[7] Reading 張平 (Zhang Ping) for 張儀 (Zhang Yi), as in modern translations. Zhang Yi was long dead by the time this story took place, and there is no record of him having worked in Han. By contrast, Zhang Ping was a politician of some repute in Han.
[8] Reading 割 for 削, per the commentaries.
[9] The commentaries suggest that 而 here may be superfluous.
[10] Reading 盡 for 言, per the commentaries.
應侯曰鄭人謂玉未理者璞
Marquis Ying Discusses The Zheng Word for Unpolished Jade
應侯曰：「鄭人謂玉未理者璞，周人謂鼠未腊者朴。周人懷璞過鄭賈曰：『欲買朴乎？』鄭賈曰：『欲之。』出其朴，視之，乃鼠也。因謝不取。今平原君自以賢，顯名於天下，然降其主父沙丘而臣之。天下之王尚猶尊之，是天下之王不如鄭賈之智也，眩於名，不知其實也。
Marquis Ying[1] said: "The people of Zheng call unpolished jade 'pu'[2]. The people of Zhou call uncured rat meat 'pu'. Someone from Zhou was carrying some uncured rat meat and passed a merchant from Zheng. He said, 'Would you like to buy some pu?' The Zheng merchant said, "I would." The man of Zhou brought out his pu, and the merchant of Zheng saw it and realised it was a rat[3]. As a result, he made his excuses and did not take it. Now Lord Pingyuan[4] took himself for a sage and his name resounded throughout All-Under-Heaven, so he humiliated his royal father[5] at Shaqiu[6] and made a servant of him. The kings of All-Under-Heaven still respect him. This being so, the kings of All-Under-Heaven are less intelligent than the merchant of Zheng[7]; dazzled by the name, they remain unaware of the underlying reality."
[1] Fan Ju served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers.
[2] The commentaries disagree on precisely which character this is (also, regarding the subsequent incidences of the same term), but all of the meanings are broadly similar - rough, simple or unpolished.
[3] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[4] Lord Pingyuan was a brother of King Huiwen of Zhao, and participated in the siege in which their father, the former King Wuling, starved to death.
[5] King Wuling of Zhao (325-299 BCE), who oversaw Zhao's transition to light cavalry tactics, a move that won them several significant victories and was rapidly followed by the other states. The commentaries suggest that it was Marquis Su, but he died before King Xiang of Wei took the throne.
[6] Shaqiu was in modern Guangzong County, Hebei.
[7] The commentaries suggest that 也 here may be superfluous.
天下之士合從相聚於趙
The Officials of All-Under-Heaven Meet in Zhao to Form an Alliance
天下之士，合從相聚於趙，而欲攻秦。秦相應侯曰：「王勿憂也，請令廢之。秦於天下之士非有怨也，相聚而攻秦者，以己欲富貴耳。王見大王之狗，臥者臥，起者起，行者行，止者止，毋相與鬥者；投之一骨，輕起相牙者，何則？有爭意也。」於是唐雎載音樂，予之五十金，居武安，高會相與飲，謂：「邯鄲人誰來取者？」於是其謀者固未可得予也，其可得與者，與之昆弟矣。
The officials of All-Under-Heaven met in Zhao to form an alliance, wanting to attack Qin. The Chancellor of Qin, Marquis Ying[1], said, "Your Majesty should not worry. I beg permission to ensure that their alliance collapses. Qin has no shared grudge with the officials of All-Under-Heaven; if they are gathering to attack us, it is merely that they wish to make themselves rich and elevate their positions[2]. Look at your dogs: one lies down, one stands up, one runs, one stays still - there is no fighting among them. Throw them a bone, though, and how easily they bare their teeth at one another. Why is this? Because they have a reason to fight."
Because of this, Tang Ju[3] was sent with carriages full of musicians and given five thousand gold pieces[3] to take up residence in Wu'an[4], where he was to invite the officials to a banquet, saying to them, "Who in Handan[5] is going to come and take some of this?" This being done, those strategists who remained resolute obtained no gifts, while those who took the gifts[6] became as brothers with Qin.
「公與秦計功者，不問金之所之，金盡者功多矣。今令人復載五十金隨公。」唐雎行，行至武安，散不能三千金，天下之士，大相與鬥矣。
[7]"If you ensure the success of Qin's plans, I will not enquire what happened to the gold. Exhaust the money as long as you obtain significant results. I will then send someone to make sure that you return home followed by a carriage containing five thousand[8] gold pieces."[9] Tang Ju set out[10] and arrived in Wu'an. Before he had time to distribute three thousand gold pieces, the envoys of All-Under-Heaven had begun fighting among themselves.
[1] Marquis Ying served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers.
[2] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[3] Tang Ju seems to have worked for Wei and then moved to Qin. While various anecdotes about him exist, they are so dispersed in time that he would have had to have lived to be over 130 for them all to be true. Either there was more than one Tang Ju, or stories about other people have been reassigned to reinforce his biography.
[4] Reading 千 for 十, per the commentaries.
[5] Wu'an still exists, and is just outside Handan in Hebei.
[5] Handan is in Hebei. At the time it was the capital of Zhao. The place name has been shoehorned in for reasons of dramatic foreshadowing: shortly after the events described in this chapter, Qin besieged Handan, starving the population.
[6] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[7] This next sentence is being said by Marquis Ying to Tang Ju.
[8] Reading 千 for 十 as above.
[9] This passage is a nice little bit of legalist algebra that fits into a few characters in Chinese but may require some expansion in English. When sending diplomats out on bribery missions, governments ran the risk that they would simply pocket the money and run. To ensure against this, Marquis Ying tells Tang Ju that if he spends all the money there will be an equivalent sum waiting for him upon his return - i.e. he will make as much money by fulfilling his mission faithfully as he would from absconding, and with no personal risk.
[10] The commentaries suggest that one 行 here may be superfluous.
謂應侯曰君禽馬服乎
Speaking to Marquis Ying About the Capture of MaFu
謂應侯曰：「君禽馬服乎？」曰：「然。」「又即圍邯鄲乎？」曰：「然。」「趙亡，秦王王矣，武安君為三公。武安君所以為秦戰勝攻取者七十餘城，南亡鄢郢、漢中，禽馬服之軍，不亡一甲，雖周呂望之功，亦不過此矣。趙亡，秦王王，武安君為三公，君能為之下乎？雖欲無為之下，固不得之矣。秦嘗攻韓邢，困於上黨，上黨之民皆返為趙。天下之民，不樂為秦民之日固久矣。今攻趙，北地入燕，東地入齊，南地入楚、魏，則秦所得不一幾何。故不如因而割之，因以為武安功。」
Someone[1] said to Marquis Ying[2], "Your Lordship has captured Mafu[3]?"
He said, "That is the case."
"And you have encircled Handan[4]?"
"Yes."
"They say that[5] when Zhao falls, and the King of Qin[5] becomes King there too, Lord of Wu'an[6] will occupy the three highest offices of state. Lord Wu'an has[7] attacked and taken over seventy fortified towns for Qin. In the South he wiped out Yan[8], Ying[9] and Hanzhong[10], and captured Mafu's army without losing a single soldier. Even the achievements of Zhou Shao[11] and Lü Wang[12] cannot surpass these. If Zhao falls, the King of Qin becomes King there too, and Lord Wu'an occupies the three highest offices of state, could you serve under him? Even if you do not want to, you will soon be able to do nothing else. Qin has already attacked Xingqiu[13] in Han. It has encircled Shangdang[14], and the population of Shangdang has gone over to Zhao[15]. As for the people of All-Under-Heaven, day by day their dissatisfaction with Qin solidifies. Now you are attacking Zhao, which will give land to Yan in the North, Qi in the East, and Chu and Wei in the South, so what Qin gains from this will not be much[16]. Therefore, there would be nothing better than to seize the advantage and offer Zhao land for a treaty, and then use this to claim credit for Wu'an's achievement."[17]
[1] Actually it seems to have been Su Dai.
[2] Marquis Ying served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers.
[3] Some of the commentaries suggest 君馬服 for 馬服 here. Zhao Kuo, the son of the celebrated Zhao general Zhao She, who was defeated by Qin forces led by Bai Qi at the Battle of Changping.
[4] Handan, now in Hebei, was the capital of Zhao at the time.
[5] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BCE) began life as a relatively minor prince, and served as a child hostage in Zhao before being sneaked out by Queen Xuan (his mother), her brother Wei Ran, and King Wuling of Zhao to assume the throne following the premature death of his brother, King Wu. Upon coming of age, he exiled Queen Xuan and Wei Ran, and worked with a succession of important figures of the age (Gan Mao, Fan Ju, Bai Qi...) to expand Qin's territory during the course of a long and successful reign.
[6] Reading 曰趙 for 趙, per the commentaries.
[6] Bai Qi.
[7] According to the commentaries 以 here is superfluous.
[8] Yan is now Yicheng in Hubei.
[9] Ying is now in Jingzhou in Hubei.
[10] Hanzhong is still called Hanzhong, and is in Shaanxi.
[11] Reading 周召 for 周, per the commentaries. Duke Kang of Shao, a younger brother of King Wu, founder of the Zhou Dynasty. He helped to suppress domestic rebellions.
[12] Lü Wang was also known as Jiang Ziya. He served as an advisor to King Wu and King Wen of Zhou, founders of the Zhou Dynasty.
[13] Reading 邢丘 for 邢 per the commentaries. Xingqiu was in modern Wen County, Henan.
[14] Shangdang Commandery was a key strategic location, regularly fought over by Zhao, Wei, Han and Qin.
[15] The population of Shangdang turned against Qin following its conquest.
[16] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[17] This sentence is not clear, and modern translations disagree regarding the sense.
應侯失韓之汝南
Marquis Ying Loses Ru'nan in Han
應侯失韓之汝南。秦昭王謂應侯曰：「君亡國，其憂乎？」應侯曰：「臣不憂。」王曰：「何也？」曰：「梁人有東門吳者，其子死而不憂，其相室曰：『公之愛子也，天下無有，今子死不憂，何也？』東門吳曰：『吾嘗無子，無子之時不憂；今子死，乃即與無子時同也。臣奚憂焉？』臣亦嘗為子，為子時不憂；今亡汝南，乃與即為梁餘子同也。臣何為憂？」
When Marquis Ying[1] lost Ru'nan[2] in Han, King Zhao of Qin[3] said to him, "Your lordship has lost a domain[4], is it not a pity?"
Marquis Ying said, "Your servant does not regard it as such."
The King said, "Why so?"
Marquis Ying said, "Among the people of Liang there was a certain Dongmen Wu[5], whose son died. His housekeeper said to him, 'Your beloved son - there was not another like him in All-Under-Heaven. Now he is dead and you do not grieve[6]. Why?' Dongmen Wu said, 'I started out with no son, and did not grieve the fact then. Now my son is dead, things will be the same as when I had no son. Why would I grieve?' I used to be a commoner, and when I was a commoner I did not grieve about it. Now I have lost Ru'nan, I shall do as the man of Liang did, and get myself another[7]. Why would I grieve?"
秦王以為不然，以告蒙傲曰：「今也，寡人一城圍，食不甘味，臥不便席，今應侯亡地而言不憂，此其情也？」蒙傲曰：「臣請得其情。」
The King did not believe him, and told Meng Ao[8], saying, "Now if one of our fortified cities was besieged, food would not taste sweet to us and we could not rest easy in our beds. Marquis Ying has lost his land, and now says that he does not lament it. How[9] could he feel this way?"
Meng Ao said, "Your servant begs permission to find out how he really feels."
蒙傲乃往見應侯，曰：「傲欲死。」應侯曰：「何謂也？」曰：「秦王師君，天下莫不聞，而況於秦國乎！今傲勢得秦為王將，將兵，臣以韓之細也，顯逆誅，奪君地，傲尚奚生？不若死。」應侯拜蒙傲曰：「願委之卿。」蒙傲以報於昭王。
Meng Ao[10] went to see Marquis Ying, saying, "I want to die."
Marquis Ying said, "Why do you say that?"
Meng Ao said, "The King of Qin made you his preceptor. Within All-Under-Heaven there are none who have not heard about this, and all the more so in the state of Qin. Now the power that I have in Qin was obtained by serving as the King's general[11]. When I see how small Han is, and that it openly evaded punishment for stealing your land, why would I go on living? I would rather face death."
Marquis Ying bowed and said, "I would like to entrust this matter to you[12]." Meng Ao reported this to King Zhao.
自是之後，應侯每言韓事者，秦王弗聽也，以其為汝南虜也。
From then on, whenever Marquis Ying spoke of pursuing affairs in Han, the King of Qin would not listen, assuming that he was thinking of Ru'nan[13].
[1] Marquis Ying served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers.
[2] Ru'nan covered part of modern Henan. At the time it had been given as a feudal domain to Marquis Ying.
[3] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BCE) began life as a relatively minor prince, and served as a child hostage in Zhao before being sneaked out by Queen Xuan (his mother), her brother Wei Ran, and King Wuling of Zhao to assume the throne following the premature death of his brother, King Wu. Upon coming of age, he exiled Queen Xuan and Wei Ran, and worked with a succession of important figures of the age (Gan Mao, Fan Ju, Bai Qi...) to expand Qin's territory during the course of a long and successful reign.
[4] Feudal domains were regarded as semi-independent states.
[5] This story is known only via this text. The name, "Wu Eastgate", may have some lost political significance.
[6] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[7] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[8] The Meng family provided Qin with a series of renowned generals in the years immediately before and after unification, of whom Meng Ao was one. His name was also written 蒙骜.
[9] Reading 情何 for 情, per the commentaries.
[10] According to the commentaries 蒙傲 here may be superfluous.
[11] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[12] I.e. the recapture of Ru'nan.
[13] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
秦攻邯鄲
Qin Attacks Handan
秦攻邯鄲，十七月不下。莊謂王稽曰：「君何不賜軍吏乎？」王稽曰：「吾與王也，不用人言。」莊曰：「不然。父之於子也，令有必行者，必不行者。曰『去貴妻，賣愛妾』，此令必行者也；因曰『毋敢思也』，此令必不行者也。守閭嫗曰，『其夕，某懦子內某士』。貴妻已去，愛妾已賣，而心不有。欲教之者，人心固有。今君雖幸於王，不過父子之親；軍吏雖賤，不卑於守閭嫗。且君擅主輕下之日久矣。聞『三人成虎，十夫楺椎。眾口所移，毋翼而飛』。故曰，不如賜軍吏而禮之。」王稽不聽。軍吏窮，果惡王稽、杜摯以反。
Qin attacked Handan[1], but for seventeen months it did not fall. Zhuang[2] said to Wang Ji[3], "Why not bestow gifts upon the army officers?"
Wang Ji said, "I listen to the King, I don't employ just anyone's advice."
Zhuang said, "Incorrect. Between a father and a son, there are some instructions that should be followed, and some that cannot. If he says, 'Send your dear wife away and sell your beloved concubine,' then that order must be followed. If he then says, 'Don't even dare think about them,' then that is an order that cannot be followed. Suppose the old bag watching at the village gate says 'On a certain[4] evening a certain minx[5] had a visit from a certain fellow', then even if you've already divorced one and sold the other, and put all desire for them out of your heart, then the fact of being told this will make you think about them[6]. Now however many favours you may have received from the King, you cannot be closer to him than to your own father, and however contemptible your officers are, they are still not lower on the scale than the crone watching at the village gates. For many a long day you have been entirely dependent on your sovereign and treated your subordinates lightly, but I have heard that 'Three people can create a tiger out of nothing, and that ten people can bend a hammer in two. If many mouths share a rumour, then it will fly despite having no wings.'[7] Therefore I say that nothing would be better than to reward your officers and treat them with courtesy." Wang Ji did not listen, and his officers grew poorer, and as a result they slandered Wang Ji and Du Zhi[8], accusing them of rebellion.
秦王大怒，而欲兼誅范睢。范睢曰：「臣，東鄙之賤人也，開罪於楚、魏，遁逃來奔。臣無諸侯之援，親習之故，王舉臣於羇旅之中，使職事，天下皆聞臣之身與王之舉也。今遇惑或與罪人同心，而王明誅之，是王過舉顯於天下，而為諸侯所議也。臣願請藥賜死，而恩以相葬臣，王必不失臣之罪，而無過舉之名。」王曰：「有之。」遂弗殺而善遇之。
The King of Qin[8] was incensed, and wanted to have Fan Ju[9] executed for conspiracy.
Fan Ju said, "Your servant was a poor and worthless individual from a humble eastern state[10]. I committed offenses in Wei[11] and fled into exile here, having no hope of help from the sovereign lords, nor any old friends. When I paused on my travels Your Majesty elevated me to office, appointing me to run your affairs. Everyone in All-Under-Heaven has heard about me and Your Majesty's appointment of me. Now I have been falsely accused of sympathising with certain criminals[12]. If Your Majesty executes me publicly, then in that case your error in appointing me will be clear to All-Under-Heaven, and this will be a cause of gossip among the sovereign lords. I would like to beg that you give me the drugs that will grant me the gift of death[13], and that in your charity I may receive an official funeral[14]. Then Your Majesty will not lose out as a consequence of sanctioning me, or gain a name for promoting the wrong people."
The King said, "There is that." As a result, not only did he not kill Fan Ju, but continued to treat him well.
[1] Handan is in Hebei. This chapter refers to the Battle of Handan.
[2] Reading 莊 for 爭. This refers to Yi Zhuang (佚莊), who had previously served as Chancellor of Shu.
[3] Wang Ji helped Fan Ju escape from Wei and sneak into Qin, despite a ban on "wandering persuaders" entering the country that had been put in place by Wei Ran. After Fan Ju obtained an official position, he obtained another for Wang Ji by way of gratitude. Wang Ji was later found guilty of abusing his authority and executed, with Fan Ju also being forced to resign. The story is an exciting one and is told in detail in the Records of the Grand Historian.
[4] Reading 某 for 其, per the commentaries.
[5] Reading 孺 for 懦, per the commentaries.
[6] Interpretations of this sentence in the commentaries and translations differ. This version seems to follow the logic of the argument.
[7] The tiger story appears in the Han Feizi, being told to the King of Wei by Pang Gong, to illustrate the power of rumour: if three people say a thing, it will be believed, however implausible it may be. No prior source is available for the hammer story.
[8] It is not clear who this is. A Du Zhi is shown arguing with Shang Yang at the beginning of the Book of Lord Shang, but he must have been dead by this point.
[9] Fan Ju served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers. He had first been recommended to the King by Wang Ji, hence the accusation. Under Qin law, knowing about a crime and failing to report it was considered conspiracy, and generally prosecuted on the same terms as the original crime.
[10] Wei.
[11] According to the commentaries 楚 here is superfluous. Fan Ju was accused of treason in Wei, beaten and left for dead in a latrine. What he got up to in Chu is a mystery.
[12] The commentaries disagree regarding the correct reading of this sentence. This translation follows modern Chinese versions.
[13] If someone anticipated a death sentence by taking their own life, their family would inherit their property (and avoid prosecution for conspiracy, ad described above), and they would receive the customary funeral rites for a non-criminal. Occasionally rulers would drop a hint that this would be a good course of action by sending the person in question a gift of a sword or poisons.
[14] He wishes to be buried with the honour due to a Chancellor rather than as a criminal.
蔡澤見逐於趙
Cai Ze is Expelled from Zhao
蔡澤見逐於趙，而入韓、魏，遇奪釜鬲於塗。聞應侯任鄭安平、王稽，皆負重罪，應侯內慚，乃西入秦。將見昭王，使人宣言以感怒應侯曰：「燕客蔡澤，天下駿雄弘辯之士也。彼一見秦王，秦王必相之而奪君位。」
Cai Ze[1] was expelled from Zhao, and went to Han and Wei, where he happened to be robbed of a bronze cauldron[2]. He had heard that Marquis Ying[3] had given responsibility for area to Zheng Anping[4] and Wang Ji[5], who both of whom were guilty of serious crimes, and Marquis Ying was self-conscious about this in Qin. Accordingly, Cai Ze decided to head west into Qin. He intended to seek an audience with King Zhao[6], sending people to spread the word in a way calculated to anger Fan Ju: "Cai Ze is a visitor from Yan, is the most awe-inspiring rhetorician in All-Under-Heaven. If he secures a single audience with the King of Qin, the King will certainly make him Chancellor, and he will steal Marquis Ying's position."
應侯聞之，使人召蔡澤。蔡澤入，則揖應侯，應侯固不快，及見之，又倨。應侯因讓之曰：「子常宣言代我相秦，豈有此乎？」對曰：「然。」應侯曰：「請聞其說。」蔡澤曰：「吁！何君見之晚也。夫四時之序，成功者去。夫人生手足堅強，耳目聰明聖知，豈非士之所願與？」應侯曰：「然。」蔡澤曰：「質仁秉義，行道施德於天下，天下懷樂敬愛，願以為君王，豈不辯智之期與？」應侯曰：「然。」蔡澤復曰：「富貴顯榮，成理萬物，萬物各得其所；生命壽長，終其年而不夭傷；天下繼其統，守其業，傳之無窮，名實純粹，澤流千世，稱之而毋絕，與天下終。豈非道之符，而聖人所謂吉祥善事與？」應侯曰：「然。」澤曰：「若秦之商君，楚之吳起，越之大夫種，其卒亦可願矣。」應侯知蔡澤之欲困己以說，復曰：「何為不可？夫公孫鞅事孝公，極身毋二，盡公不還私，信賞罰以致治，竭智能，示情素，蒙怨咎，欺舊交，虜魏公子卬，卒為秦禽將，破敵軍，攘地千里。吳起事悼王，使私不害公，讒不蔽忠，言不取苟合，行不取苟容，行義不固毀譽，必有伯主強國，不辭禍凶。大夫種事越王，主離困辱，悉忠而不解，主雖亡絕，盡能而不離，多功而不矜，貴富不驕怠。若此三子者，義之至，忠之節也。故君子殺身以成名，義之所在，身雖死，無憾悔，何為不可哉？」
Marquis Ying heard of this and sent someone to summon Cai Ze. Cai Ze entered and bowed briefly. Marquis Ying's displeasure was reinforced. During the audience, Cai Ze was even more arrogant. Marquis Ying invited Cai Ze to speak, saying, "You have been[7] spreading the word that you will replace me as Chancellor, is this so?"
Cai Ze replied: "It is."
Marquis Ying said: "Permit me to hear to your persuasions."
Cai Ze said: "Ah... How slow Your Lordship[8] is to perceive things. The four seasons have their sequence, and all success is fleeting. To be born as a person with strong hands and feet, quick eyes and ears and a sage-like intelligence, is this not what any official would desire?"
Marquis Ying said, "It is."
Cai Ze said[8], "To be courteously benevolent and distribute justice authoritatively; to follow the correct path and be the arbiter of virtue within All-Under-Heaven; to enjoy the respect and love of All-Under-Heaven, so that all desire to make you a lord or a king, is this not what the eloquent strive for?"
Marquis Ying said, "It is."
Cai Ze replied, "To display the glory of your wealth and titles; to succeed in bringing the ten thousand things within your control and to assign them to their places; to ensure that all live a long life and end their days in old age and without suffering; to have All-Under-Heaven pursue your traditions and preserve your works, transmitting them inexhaustibly and keeping your name pristine, perpetuating it down through a thousand generations so that your reputation persists unbroken until the end of the world[9]. Is this not proof that your path is the right one, what the wise call 'good omens favouring your affairs'?"
Marquis Ying said, "It is."
Ze said, "Lord Shang[10] in Qin, Wu Qi[11] in Chu, and Counsellor Zhong[12] in Yue... Would you want to end up as they did[13]?"
Marquis Ying knew that Cai Ze wished to entrap him with his persuasions, and replied, "Why not? Gongsun Yang[14] served Duke Xiao's[15] interests, giving his life for no other and giving all he had for the public good, with no thought for private interests. He trusted in the doctrine of rewards and punishments to create order, exhausting his intelligence and his skills. He proved himself incorruptible, and was resented for it. He betrayed old friendships, making Prince Ang of Wei[16] a prisoner, leading Qin's troops and capturing a general, destroying the enemy chariots and occupying a thousand li of land. Wu Qi served the interests of King Dao[17], ensuring that private interests never undermined the public good. No slander could diminish his loyalty, in his words he made no casual compromise, nor would he compromise his actions for appearance's sake. He followed his principles, paying no attention to[18] blame and praise, pursuing[19] hegemony for his sovereign and strength for his state, relentless in his opposition to misfortune and disaster. Counsellor Zhong served the King of Yue[20], and when his King[21] was exiled, encircled and humiliated, his perfect loyalty did not flag. Even as his sovereign's state seemed doomed, he gave all he had and did not flee. He achieved great things without becoming complacent and acquired titles and wealth[22] without becoming arrogant or lazy. In this way these three men epitomised integrity and exemplified loyalty - thus an honourable man may be killed and leave his reputation intact. Their principles survived, so even in death they felt no regret. Why would I not do likewise?"[23]
蔡澤曰：「主聖臣賢，天下之福也；君明臣忠，國之福也；父慈子孝，夫信婦貞，家之福也。故比干忠，不能存殷；子胥知，不能存吳；申生孝，而晉惑亂。是有忠臣孝子，國家滅亂，何也？無明君賢父以聽之。故天下以其君父為戮辱，憐其臣子。夫待死而後可以立忠成名，是微子不足仁，孔子不足聖，管仲不足大也。」於是應侯稱善。
Cai Ze said, "When a sovereign is wise and his advisors intelligent, this is a blessing for All-Under-Heaven. When a lord is perceptive and his advisors loyal, then this is blessing for the state. When a father is kind and a son is filial, a husband reliable and a wife virtuous, then this is a blessing for the household. Thus Bi Gan[24] was loyal but[25] he could not survive in Yin, Zixu[26] was clever but[27] he could not survive in Wu. Shensheng[28] was filial, but Jin fell into chaos. This being so, even where there is a loyal advisor or a filial son, a country or a household may still suffer destruction or disorder. Why? Because there is no perceptive lord or wise father to listen to them. Thus, All-Under-Heaven points to the killings and humiliations meted out by lords and fathers, and pities their advisors and sons. If one must wait for death and to establish one's loyalty and secure one's reputation, then Weizi[29] could not have been called benevolent, nor Confucius[30] wise, nor Guan Zhong[31] great." At this, Marquis Ying admitted the correctness of the argument.
蔡澤得少間，因曰：「商君、吳起、大夫種，其為人臣，盡忠致功，則可願矣。閎夭事文王，周公輔成王也，豈不亦忠乎？以君臣論之，商君、吳起、大夫種，其可願孰與閎夭、周公哉？」應侯曰：「商君、吳起、大夫種不若也。」蔡澤曰：「然則君之主，慈仁任忠，不欺舊故，孰與秦孝公、楚悼王、越王乎？」應侯曰：「未知何如也。」蔡澤曰：「主固親忠臣，不過秦孝、越王、楚悼。君之為主，正亂、批患、折難，廣地殖穀，富國、足家、強主，威蓋海內，功章萬里之外，不過商君、吳起、大夫種。而君之祿位貴盛，私家之富過於三子，而身不退，竊為君危之。語曰：『日中則移，月滿則虧。』物盛則衰，天之常數也；進退、盈縮、變化，聖人之常道也。昔者，齊桓公九合諸侯，一匡天下，至葵丘之會，有驕矜之色，畔者九國。吳王夫差無適於天下，輕諸侯，凌齊、晉，遂以殺身亡國。夏育、太史啟叱呼駭三軍，然而身死於庸夫。此皆乘至盛不及道理也。夫商君為孝公平權衡、正度量、調輕重，決裂阡陌，教民耕戰，是以兵動而地廣，兵休而國富，故秦無敵於天下，立威諸侯。功已成，遂以車裂。楚地持戟百萬，白起率數萬之師，以與楚戰，一戰舉鄢、郢，再戰燒夷陵，南并蜀、漢，又越韓、魏攻強趙，北坑馬服，誅屠四十餘萬之眾，流血成川，沸聲若雷，使秦業帝。自是之後，趙、楚懾服，不敢攻秦者，白起之勢也。身所服者，七十餘城。功已成矣，賜死於杜郵。吳起為楚悼罷無能，廢無用，損不急之官，塞私門之請，壹楚國之俗，南攻楊越，北并陳、蔡，破橫散從，使馳說之士無所開其口。功已成矣，卒支解。大夫種為越王墾草創邑，辟地殖穀，率四方士，上下之力，以禽勁吳，成霸功。勾踐終棓而殺之。此四子者，成功而不去，禍至於此。此所謂信而不能詘，往而不能反者也。范蠡知之，超然避世，長為陶朱。君獨不觀博者乎？或欲分大投，或欲分功。此皆君之所明知也。今君相秦，計不下席，謀不出廊廟，坐制諸侯，利施三川，以實宜陽，決羊腸之險，塞太行之口，又斬范、中行之途，棧道千里於蜀、漢，使天下皆畏秦。秦之欲得矣，君之功極矣。此亦秦之分功之時也！如是不退，則商君、白公、吳起、大夫種是也。君何不以此時歸相印，讓賢者授之，必有伯夷之廉；長為應侯，世世稱孤，而有喬、松之壽。孰與以禍終哉！此則君何居焉？」應侯曰：「善。」乃延入坐為上客。
Cai Ze took advantage of the brief pause, saying, "Lord Shang, Wu Qi and Counsellor Zhong were all public servants, and through their extreme loyalty attained great achievements, which is to be desired[32]. But when Hong Yao[33] served the interests of King Wen[34] and the Duke of Zhou[35] assisted King Cheng[36], was this not real loyalty? When lords and ministers are being discussed[37], how could Lord Shang, Wu Qi and Minister Zhong be compared to Hong Yao and Duke Zhou?"
Marquis Ying said, "There is no comparison to be made[38]."
Cai Ze said, "In that case, though Your Lordship's sovereign may be reliable, loyal and unwilling to betray old friends, but could he be compared to Duke Xiao, King Dao of Chu or the King of Yue?"
Marquis Ying said: "I could not say which was superior."
Cai Ze said, "The strength of your sovereign's affection for loyal advisors does not surpass that of Xiao of Qin, the King of Yue or Dao of Chu.[39] You have brought order to his chaos, warded off his disasters, cut through his problems, expanded his lands and cultivated his grain, enriching the state, providing his household with a sufficiency and strengthening the sovereign. Your prestige has spread within the four seas, and your achievements are a matter of record for more than ten thousand li, but they do not exceed those of Lord Shang, Wu Qi or Counsellor Zhong. And yet your rewards, appointments and titles are so prolific that the wealth of your private household surpasses that of all three, and still you do not pull back. I venture to judge that you are running great risks. There is a proverb that says, 'The midday sun will soon sink and the full moon will soon wane'[40]. Things flourish and then decline, such has ever been their natural fate. To advance and withdraw, proliferate and wither, change and be changed, such is the way of the wise individual. In the past, Duke Huan of Qi[41] made nine accords with the sovereign lords[42], and restored All-Under-Heaven, but upon arriving at the meeting at Kuiqiu[43] he showed his arrogance and complacency, so the borders of the nine states were re-established. King Fuchai of Wu[44] had no equal[45] in All-Under-Heaven, but he treated the sovereign lords lightly and threatened[46] Qi and Jin. As a result he was killed and his state extinguished. Xia Yu[47] and Taishi Qi[48] could terrify three armies with a shout, and yet they died at the hands of ordinary men. They all reasoned that they could ride one from one success to the next, never reaching an apogee[49]. On Duke Xiao's behalf, Lord Shang standardised weights and regulated measures, distinguishing light and heavy, he divided up fields, and instructed the citizens on when to plough and when to fight. This being done, when he advanced the troops he expanded Qin's territory, and when he rested the troops the state grew prosperous. Thus Qin had no equal in All-Under-Heaven and became an established power among the sovereign lords. His achievements were complete[50], and so Qin had him torn apart by chariots. The land of Chu could support a million men-at-arms, but Bai Qi led a few tens of thousands and went to war with Chu. In his first battle he unified Yan[51] and Ying[52 with Qin, and in the next he burnt Yiling[53]. In the South he annexed Shu and Han[54], before crossing Han and Wei to attack mighty Zhao. In the North he entrapped Mafu[55], executing over four hundred thousand people, such that the flowing blood became a river and the noise of the wailing was like thunder. He set Qin on the path towards imperium: after this was done, Zhao and Chu submitted out of terror, and if none dared to attack Qin, it was on account of Bai Qi's power. Over seventy cities submitted to him in person. His achievements were complete, and so Qin granted him the right to commit suicide[56] in Duyou[57]. On behalf of Dao of Chu, Wu Qi dismissed the incompetent, expelled the useless, and diminished the idle officials. He blocked the channels of corruption and unified the customs of Chu. In the South he attacked the Yangyue[58], in the North he annexed Chen and Cai, breaking their alliances and scattering their followers. He ensured that wandering persuaders had no cause to open their mouths. His achievements were complete, and so he was cut to pieces. On the King of Yue's behalf, Counsellor Zhong brought the wastelands under cultivation and established local granaries[59], opening up new land and planting grain. He recruited expert scholars from all directions[60], using the strength of superiors and subordinates to overpower and capture Wu. It was the achievement of a hegemon. In the end, Goujian took aversion to him and killed him[61]. These four masters achieved success[62] but did not know when to stop, so misfortune came to them all in the end. This is called standing where one cannot yield and advancing where one cannot retreat. Fan Li[63] knew as much, and retired from the world to grow old under the name Tao Zhu. Can Your Lordship never have watched people gambling? Sometimes one wishes to place large bets[64], sometimes one wishes to realise one's winnings; you are clearly aware of all this. Now Your Lordship is Chancellor of Qin, too busy making plans to leave your seat, too busy making strategies to leave the palace courtyard; from where you sit you control the sovereign lords, improving your position in Sanchuan[65], reinforcing Yiyang[66], preventing danger in Yangchang[67], blocking the gates of Taihang[68], cutting off the Fan and Zhonghang Roads[69], driving a gallery road a thousand li through to Shu and Han[70], and making everyone in All-Under-Heaven fear Qin. Qin has already obtained what it wanted from you, and your achievements are complete; now is the time to realise your winnings. If you have this opportunity[71] and do not retire, then you will end up like Lord Shang, Duke Bai[72], Wu Qi and Counsellor Zhong. Why would you not seize this chance to step away from the Chancellor's seals? Anyone who surrendered them to some wise individual would be judged to have the rectitude of a Boyi[73]. You could live out your days as Marquis Ying, standing alone among the generations, living as long as Qiao[74] or Song[75]. Is this not better than to end your life in misfortune? This being the case, why do you wait?"
Marquis Ying said, "Very well." And he had Cai Ze come in and take one of the seats reserved for high-ranking guests.
後數日，入朝，言於秦昭王曰：「客新有從山東來者蔡澤，其人辯士。臣之見人甚眾，莫有及者，臣不如也。」秦昭王召見，與語，大說之，拜為客卿。應侯因謝病，請歸相印。昭王彊起應侯，應侯遂稱篤，因免相。昭王新說蔡澤計畫，遂拜為秦相，東收周室。
After several days, Fan Ju entered the court and spoke to King Zhao of Qin, saying, "I have a new guest from east of the mountains - a certain Cai Ze, a rhetorician. Your servant has seen many people, but none like him. I cannot compare to him." King Zhao of Qin summoned Cai Ze to an audience, and they spoke. The King, overjoyed, bowed and made him a guest official. Marquis Ying took advantage of this to plead illness and ask permission to return the Chancellor's seals. King Zhao refused firmly, but Marquis Ying claimed the illness was serious, and thus extricated himself from the position of Chancellor. King Zhao had recently been delighted by Cai Ze's strategies, and bowed and made him Chancellor of Qin, intending to send him east to take the halls of Zhou[76].
蔡澤相秦王數月，人或惡之，懼誅，乃謝病歸相印，號為剛成君。秦十餘年，昭王、孝文王、莊襄王，卒事始皇帝。為秦使於燕，三年而燕使太子丹入質於秦。
Cai Ze was the King of Qin's Chancellor for several months, but people began to criticise him, and he was afraid of being executed, so he too used the pretext of illness to return the Chancellor's seals, and took the title Lord Gangcheng. He remained[77] in Qin for more than ten years, serving[78] King Zhao, King Xiaowen[79], King Zhuangxiang[80], and finally the First Emperor[81]. He had been serving as Qin's envoy in Yan for three years when Yan sent Prince Dan[81] to serve as a hostage in Qin.
[1] Cai Ze was a politician from Yan.
[2] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[3] Marquis Ying served as advisor to King Zhaoxiang, successfully supporting him in his political struggles against his mother, uncles and brothers.
[4] Zheng Anping helped Fan Ju (later Marquis Ying) escape from Wei and sneak into Qin, despite a ban on "wandering persuaders" entering the country that had been put in place by Wei Ran. At the time the pair were responsible for an attack on Wei that had, presumably, created a state of disorder in which Cai Ze could be robbed with impunity.
[5] Wang Ji also participated in Fan Ju's escape. After Fan Ju obtained an official position, he obtained another for Wang Ji by way of gratitude.
[6] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BCE) began life as a relatively minor prince, and served as a child hostage in Zhao before being sneaked out by Queen Xuan (his mother), her brother Wei Ran, and King Wuling of Zhao to assume the throne following the premature death of his brother, King Wu. Upon coming of age, he exiled Queen Xuan and Wei Ran, and worked with a succession of important figures of the age (Gan Mao, Fan Ju, Bai Qi...) to expand Qin's territory during the course of a long and successful reign.
[7] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[8] Reading 君何 for 何君, per the commentaries.
[9] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[10] Shang Yang reformed the political system in Qin, but was eventually executed after the death of Duke Xiao, his protector.
[11] Wu Qi was another legalist author who died violently after limiting the power of the old aristocracy in Chu.
[12] Wen Zhong helped to put King Goujian of Yue on the throne, and was another legal reformer. He was eventually executed.
[13] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[14] Lord Shang.
[15] Duke Xiao of Qin (361–338 BCE) worked with Shang Yang to enact legal and military reforms in Qin, and won several significant victories against neighbouring states.
[16] Prince Ang and Shang Yang had known each other when the latter worked in Wei, a fact that Lord Shang used to his advantage when they faced off in battle, inviting Ang to drink with him in a personal capacity before the fight and taking him prisoner when he accepted.
[17] King Dao of Chu (401–381 BCE) employed Wu Qi as Chancellor.
[18] Reading 顧 for 固, per the commentaries.
[19] Reading 欲 for 有, per the commentaries.
[20] King Goujian of Yue (496–465 BCE) was captured by King Fuchai of Wu early during his reign and forced to serve him for three years. When he was finally released, he set about political and military reforms in Yue, making it strong enough to attack and wipe out Wu, forcing Fuchai to kill himself.
[21] Reading 王 for 主, per the commentaries.
[22] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[23] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[24] Bi Gan attempted to offer King Zhou of Shang advice, and had his heart torn out for his pains.
[25] Reading 忠而 for 忠, per the commentaries.
[26] Wu Zixu was a minister in Wu in the early fifth century BCE. He was obliged to commit suicide on a false charge, and was held up as a model of loyalty.
[27] Reading 知而 for 忠, per the commentaries.
[28] Prince Shensheng of Jin was wrongly accused of attempting to poison his father. Rather than disappoint his father by accusing his wife, or run away and risk being assumed guilty, he hanged himself.
[29] Duke Weizi of Song (c. 1038–1025 BCE) was a brother of King Zhou of Shang, but accepted the overthrow of the Shang state by the Zhou sovereigns and was granted the domain of Song as a reward. He was renowned for his benevolence.
[30] Confucius was among the earliest and most influential Chinese philosophers, arguing for an ethical system based on tradition, social responsibility and reciprocity.
[31] Guan Zhong work for Duke Huan of Qi to undertake legal and economic reforms. He was also a rare example of a legalist who did not die violently. Cai Ze's intended point in this passage is that if one has to die for a principle to be considered and exemplar, then some of the most famous ideal types of history lose their position, having died naturally.
[32] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[33] Hong Yao served King Wen, one of the founders of the Zhou Dynasty.
[34] King Wen of Zhou (1112–1050 BCE) began a rebellion against King Zhou of Shang that was completed by his son, King Wu.
[35] The Duke of Zhou, also known as Zhou Dan, was a younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, and served loyally as regent for Wu's underage son, who would later become King Cheng.
[36] King Cheng of Zhou (1042–1021 BCE) was the son of King Wu of Zhou. He took the throne at a young age, with the aid of the Duke of Zhou who served as regent before stepping back and allowing him to take power. He later secured several victories against foreign tribes.
[37] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[38] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[39] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[40] Variations on this saying appear in various Han and pre-Han texts.
[41] With his Chancellor, Guan Zhong (mentioned above), Duke Huan successfully transformed Qi into China's most powerful state, and was recognised as sole hegemon during the seventh century BCE.
[42] Some commentaries suggest that 九合諸侯 here is superfluous.
[43] Kuiqiu is now Lankao in Henan. Duke Huan called a series of these meetings, but Kuiqiu marked the height of his power.
[44] Fuchai was the last king of Wu. His feud with Yue saw him capture King Goujian of Wu (mentioned above), before being killed by him and his state overrun.
[45] Reading 敵 for 適, per the commentaries.
[46] Reading 陵 for 凌, per the commentaries.
[47] Xia Yu was a local hero famous for his strength, mentioned earlier by Fan Ju.
[48] It is not clear who Tai Shiqi was, or even if his name has been recorded correctly.
[49] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[50] Reading 矣 for
[51] Yan was a former capital of Chu is now Yanling in Henan.
[52] Ying was a former capital of Chu, and is now Xichuan, Henan.
[53] Yiling is now a part of the city of Yichang, in Hubei.
[54] Han here refers to Hanzhong, not the state of Han.
[55] An alternative name for Zhao Kuo, the leader of the Zhao troops during the disastrous Battle of Handan in 260 BCE.
[56] Disinclined to fight after Qin's leadership lost most of the land he gained following the Battle of Handan, Bai Qi began finding excuses to avoid going on further campaigns. King Zhaoxiang eventually lost patience and sent him a sword - implying that he should use it to kill himself. He duly did.
[57] Duyou was just West of modern Xianyang in Shaanxi.
[58] The Yangyue were a Southern Yue tribe, based in and around Zhejiang.
[59] This sentence is not entirely clear, and translations and commentaries differ.
[60] Reading 率四方士之專 for 率四方士, per the commentaries.
[61] The commentaries and translations disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[62] Reading 功成 for 成功, per the commentaries.
[63] Fan Li was a successful polymath of the Spring and Autumn period, who appreciated the finer things in life while recommending that one not grow too attached to them.
[64] According to the commentaries 分 here is superfluous.
[65] Sanchuan (or Three Rivers) Commandery, part of modern Henan.
[66] Yiyang is now in Yiyang County. Previous chapters discussed its capture by Qin in detail.
[67] Yangchang was the name of a mountain somewhere in modern Shanxi, but there are several candidates for the actual location. You can find a Chinese summary here. The commentaries and translations disagree regarding the precise reading of this passage, but the general sense is clear.
[68] The Taihang Mountains.
[69] These passed through Han, Wei and Zhao.
[70] Reading 通於 for 於, per the commentaries. Again, this refers to Hanzhong, not the state of Han.
[71] Reading 時 for 是, per the commentaries.
[72] Bai Qi.
[73] Boyi lived during the late Shang and early Zhou dynasties, and was celebrated for his fearsome devotion to the rules of loyalty and propriety. Despite being the elder son, he refused to take up position as his father's heir, knowing that the latter preferred his younger brother. Later, after Shang fell, he starved to death after refusing to eat produce grown on Zhou lands, regarding the Zhou family as usurpers.
[74] Wang Ziqiao was a prince in Zhou during the Spring and Autumn period. He was famously cultured and intelligent, and was reputed to have become an immortal.
[75] Master Chi Song was another semi-legendary immortal.
[76] The progressive annexation of the two Zhous by Qin in the 250s BCE.
[77] Reading 居秦 for 秦, per the commentaries.
[78] Reading 事昭 for 昭, per the commentaries.
[79] King Xiaowen of Qin (12-14 November 251 BCE) was also known as Lord Anguo. His short reign has been attributed either to his age upon accession or to Lü Buwei's eagerness to see him replaced by his son, King Zhuangxiang.
[80] King Zhuangxiang of Qin (250-247 BCE) was a minor son of King Xiaowen, appointed as Crown Prince thanks to the machinations of Lü Buwei.
[81] King Zheng of Qin (247-210 BCE) would later conquer the other states and rule the empire under the name of Qin Shihuang.
[82] Prince Dan would later send Jing Ke to attempt to assassinate King Zheng, as a last-ditch attempt to prevent the annexation of Yan.