趙二 THE STRATAGEMS OF ZHAO II (A)
蘇秦從燕之趙始合從
Su Qin Travels from Yan To Zhao to Begin Forming an Alliance
蘇秦從燕之趙，始合從，說趙王曰：「天下之卿相人臣，乃至布衣之士，莫不高賢大王之行義，皆願奉教陳忠於前之日久矣。雖然，奉陽君妒，大王不得任事，是以外賓客遊談之士，無敢盡忠於前者。今奉陽君捐館舍，大王乃今然後得與士民相親，臣故敢獻其愚，效愚忠。為大王計，莫若安民無事，請無庸有為也。安民之本，在於擇交。擇交而得則民安，擇交不得則民終身不得安。請言外患：齊、秦為兩敵，而民不得安；倚秦攻齊，而民不得安；倚齊攻秦，而民不得安。故夫謀人之主，伐人之國，常苦出辭斷絕人之交，願大王慎無出於口也。
Su Qin[1] travelled from Yan to Zhao to begin forming an alliance. He exercised his persuasions on the King of Zhao[2], saying, "From the high officials and ministers of All-Under-Heaven down to the ordinary officials in their coarse robes, there is no one who does not praise Your Majesty's wisdom and devotion to duty. For many a long day all have sincerely wished to follow your teachings and demonstrate their loyalty before you. Nevertheless, you could find no one to charge with your affairs due to Lord Fengyang's[3] rapacity. Under such circumstances, no foreign visitors or wandering rhetoricians[4] dared express their loyalty before you. Now that Lord Fengyang has left his official apartments[5], you, your officials, and your citizens will henceforth have a much closer relationship. Your servant therefore has the temerity to offer up his poor thoughts and simple devotion[6]. When I consider Your Majesty's plans, nothing would favour them more than a secure and unpreoccupied populace. Asking no reward, I beg to achieve this for you. The key to a secure populace lies in well-chosen allies. If you can choose your allies carefully, then the populace will be secure. If not, then to the end of your days your citizens will never be safe. Permit me to speak of your foreign troubles: Qi and Qin are your adversaries; they cannot bring security to your citizens. If you depend upon Qin's backing to attack Qi, then your citizens will not be secure, and if you depend upon Qi's backing to attack Qin, then your citizens will not be safe, for in plotting against the lords of men or attacking their states, it is common for one wrong word to lead to a severing of relations. I hope that you will be circumspect and let nothing escape your lips.
「請屏左右，曰言所以異，陰陽而已矣。大王誠能聽臣，燕必致峥裘狗馬之地，齊必致海隅魚鹽之地，楚必致橘柚雲夢之地，韓、魏皆可使致封地湯沐之邑，貴戚父兄皆可以受封侯。夫割地效實，五伯之所以覆軍禽將而求也；封侯貴戚，湯、武之所以放殺而爭也。今大王垂拱而兩有之，是臣之所以為大王願也。大王與秦，則秦必弱韓、魏；與齊，則齊必弱楚、魏。魏弱則割河外，韓弱則效宜陽。宜陽效則上郡絕，河外割則道不通。楚弱則無援。此三策者，不可不熟計也。夫秦下軹道則南陽動，劫韓包周則趙自銷鑠，據衛取淇則齊必入朝。秦欲已得行於山東，則必舉甲而向趙。秦甲涉河踰漳，據番吾，則兵必戰於邯鄲之下矣。此臣之所以為大王患也。
"I beg you to leave your attendants behind the screen[7] and I will speak on the differences between white and black[8], darkness and light[9]: that is all. If you can listen to me with real understanding, then Yan will bring you lands that produce carpets and furs, horses and dogs[10]. Qi will bring you lands with salt pans[11] and fishing rights. Chu will bring you lands in Yunmeng[12] producing mandarins and grapefruits. Han and Wei will both come bearing domains and estates in their capitals[13]. You will be able to ensure that all your family will be honoured and receive domains of their own. The prospect of growing rich on gifts of land drove the Five Hegemons[14] to throw away armies and endure the capture of their generals, if they could only ask for land in exchange. The prospect of receiving domains and titles for their families drove Tang[15] and Wu[16] to kill and banish their lords in the fight for them. Now, with your hands folded, you can take possession of both. This being so, I wish to undertake the task on your behalf. If Your Majesty joins Qin, this will weaken Han and Wei. If you join Qi, then that will weaken Chu and Wei. If Wei is weakened, then it will cede its lands beyond the Yellow River. If Han is weakened, then it will offer Yiyang[17] to Qin. If Han offers up Yiyang, then it will be cut off from its territories in Shang Commandery[18] - by ceding its lands on the east bank of the Yellow River it will be left with no route by which to reach them. If Chu is weakened, then you can expect no aid from that direction. It is impossible to avoid considering the stratagems of these three states intensively. If Qin overruns the road to Zhi[19], then Nanyang[20] will tremble. If Qin invades Han and engulfs Zhou, then your own state will buckle in the heat of the conflagration. If Qin occupies Wey and takes the Qi River[21], then Qi will have to go and pay respects in the court of Qin. Once Qin has the means to manoeuvre[22] east of the mountains[23], then it will certainly raise an army to move against Zhao. After Qin's men-at-arms traverse the Yellow River and the Zhang[24] and occupy Fanwu[25], they will then arrive before the walls of Handan[26]. This is why your servant is worried on Your Majesty's behalf.
「當今之時，山東之建國，莫如趙強。趙地方二千里，帶甲數十萬，車千乘，騎萬匹，粟支十年；西有常山，南有河、漳，東有清河，北有燕國。燕固弱國，不足畏也。且秦之所畏害於天下者，莫如趙。然而秦不敢舉兵甲而伐趙者，何也？畏韓、魏之議其後也。然則韓、魏，趙之南蔽也。秦之攻韓、魏也，則不然。無有名山大川之限，稍稍蠶食之，傅之國都而止矣。韓、魏不能支秦，必入臣。韓、魏臣於秦，秦無韓、魏之隔，禍中於趙矣。此臣之所以為大王患也。
"At the present point in time, among all those states established east of the mountains there are none as strong as Zhao. Zhao's lands are two thousand square li, and they are protected by tens of thousands of men-at-arms, with a thousand chariots, ten thousand horse and ten years' grain reserves. To the west you have Mount Chang[27]. To the south you have the Yellow River and the Zhang. To the east you have the Qing River[28]. To the north you have the state of Yan. Yan has long been a weak state, insufficient to instil fear in anyone, whereas there is no state in All-Under-Heaven whose aggression Qin fears as much as Zhao. Nevertheless, Qin does not dare to raise troops and attack Zhao. Why is this? Because it is afraid of the negotiations that will take place between Han and Zhao to its rear. This being so, Han and Wei serve as a barrier protecting the South of Zhao. If Qin attacks Han and Wei, this barrier will cease to exist. Han and Wei have no significant mountains or rivers on their borders, and they will be eaten away bit by bit, as if by silkworms. Qin's troops will not stop[28] until they reach their capitals. If Han and Wei cannot forestall the Qin armies[29], they will certainly go to Qin as supplicants. If Han and Wei are serving Qin[30], then they will no longer be a buffer between you and Qin, and disaster will strike to the heart of Zhao[31]. This is why your servant is worried on Your Majesty's behalf.
「臣聞，堯無三夫之分，舜無咫尺之地，以有天下。禹無百人之聚，以王諸侯。湯、武之卒不過三千人，車不過三百乘，立為天子。誠得其道也。是故明主外料其敵國之強弱，內度其士卒之眾寡、賢與不肖，不待兩軍相當，而勝敗存亡之機節，固已見於胸中矣，豈掩於眾人之言，而以冥冥決事哉！
"Your servant has heard that Yao[32] did not have three fields, and Shun[33] did not have a zhi or a chi of land; nevertheless, they took possession of All-Under-Heaven. Yu[34] could not bring together a hundred partisans, but he became King over the feudal lords. Tang[35] and Wu's[36] partisans did not number more than three thousand, and their chariots no more than three hundred, and yet each was established as the Son of Heaven. They had truly grasped the way to accumulate merit. Therefore an enlightened sovereign measures the strength of his enemies abroad[37], and counts his troops at home. To judge their comparative worth, there is no need to see two armies to meet in the moment that decides victory and defeat, life and death[38], if you have already foreseen the outcome your mind. How then can the whispers of the multitude[39] confound your decision-making?
「臣竊以天下地圖案之。諸侯之地五倍於秦，料諸侯之卒，十倍於秦。六國并力為一，西面而攻秦，秦破必矣。今見破於秦，西面而事之，見臣於秦。夫破人之與破於人也，臣人之與臣於人也，豈可同日而言之哉！夫橫人者，皆欲割諸侯之地以與秦成。與秦成，則高臺，美宮室，聽竽瑟之音，察五味之和，前有軒轅，後有長庭，美人巧笑，卒有秦患，而不與其憂。是故橫人日夜務以秦權恐猲諸侯，以求割地。願大王之熟計之也。
"Let me take the liberty of presenting a map of the lands of All-Under-Heaven[40]. The lands of the feudal lords are five times the size of Qin, and if we count their troops, they have ten times those of Qin. If the six states would unite their strength and turn West to attack Qin, then Qin's destruction would be assured[41], but now they are being destroyed by Qin[42] and they are turning West to serve it, letting Qin make servants of them. To destroy others or to be destroyed yourself, to make others your servants or be made to serve them: who would compare such things? The partisans of the Horizontal Alliance simply seek to cede their lords' land to prove their own merit in Qin. When their success in Qin is complete they will build tall towers[43] and beautiful palaces, listen to the music of flutes and zithers[44], and savour the harmony of the five flavours, with stately carriages before them and wide courtyards behind[45], filled with skilful and smiling beauties. But when you are suffering on Qin's account they will not share in your grief. Thus the partisans of the Horizontal Alliance work day and night to terrify the feudal lords with Qin's power and then beg for donations of land. I hope that Your Majesty will plan thoroughly for this.
「臣聞，明王絕疑去讒，屏流言之跡，塞朋黨之門，故尊主廣地強兵之計，臣得陳忠於前矣。故竊為大王計，莫如一韓、魏、齊、楚、燕、趙，六國從親，以儐畔秦。令天下之將相，相與會於洹水之上，通質刑白馬以盟之。約曰：秦攻楚，齊、魏各出銳師以佐之，韓絕食道，趙涉河、漳，燕守常山之北。秦攻韓、魏，則楚絕其後，齊出銳師以佐之，趙涉河、漳，燕守雲中。秦攻齊，則楚絕其後，韓守成𠯻，魏塞午道，趙涉河、漳、博關，燕出銳師以佐之。秦攻燕，則趙守常山，楚軍武關，齊涉渤海，韓、魏出銳師以佐之。秦攻趙，則韓軍宜陽，楚軍武關，魏軍河外，齊涉渤海，燕出銳師以佐之。諸侯有先背約者，五國共伐之。六國從親以擯秦，秦必不敢出兵於函谷關以害山東矣！如是則伯業成矣！」
"Your servant has heard that an enlightened sovereign clamps down upon suspicion and puts away slander, closes his screens against any trace of rumour, and bars his gates against those who form factions, for this is a strategy that will ensure that the sovereign is respected, his lands broad, and his troops strong. Having gained an opportunity to display my loyalty before you, I have therefore taken the liberty of elaborating such a strategy for you. Nothing would be better than to unite Han, Wei, Qi, Chu, Yan and Zhao - six states in a close alliance - for the purpose of containing Qin. Bring the Generals and Chancellors of All-Under-Heaven to a conference on the banks of the Huan[46], exchange hostages, and sacrifice a white horse to seal the alliance. The agreement should say that if Qin attacks Chu, Qi or Wei, then all will dispatch elite troops to assist them. Han will cut off Qin's supply lines, Zhao will cross the Yellow River and the Zhang[47], and Yan will defend the regions north of Mount Chang[48]. If Qin attacks Han and Wei, then Chu will sever Qin's rear supply lines, Qi will send its elite troops to assist, Zhao will cross the Yellow River and the Zhang, and Yan will defend Yunzhong[49]. If Qin attacks Qi, then Chu will sever Qin's rear supply lines, Han will defend Chenggao[50], Wei will block the Meridian Road[51], Zhao will cross the Yellow River and the Zhang and traverse the Bo Pass[52], and Yan will dispatch elite troops to assist. If Qin attacks Yan, then Zhao will hold Changshan[53], Chu's army will take the Wu Pass[54], Qi will cross the Bohai Sea[54], and Han and Wei will dispatch elite troops to assist. If Qin attacks Zhao, then Han's army will occupy Yiyang[55], Chu's army will take the Wu Pass, Wei's army will cross the Yellow River, Qi will cross the Bohai sea, and Yan will dispatch elite troops to assist. If any of the feudal lords breaks the agreement, he will be attacked by all of the other five states together. If the six states come together to repel Qin, then Qin certainly will not dare send its troops through the Hangu Pass[56] to injure those east of the mountains. You would thus be completing the work of a hegemon!"
趙王曰：「寡人年少，蒞國之日淺，未嘗得聞社稷之長計。今上客有意存天下，安諸侯，寡人敬以國從。」乃封蘇秦為武安君，飾車百乘，黃金千鎰，白璧百雙，錦繡千純，以約諸侯。
The King of Zhao said, "We are young and we lack depth of experience in managing the state. We have never heard such an excellent strategy for ensuring the longevity of our altars of earth and grain. Now that such an honoured guest is seeking to preserve All-Under-Heaven and to pacify the feudal lords, we respectfully offer our state as a member of your alliance." A domain was consequently bestowed upon Su Qin, with the title of Lord Wu'an, as well as an escort of a hundred chariots, a thousand yi of gold, two hundred pieces of white jade, and a hundred rolls of embroidered brocade, in order that he should use them to secure an agreement with the feudal lords.
[1] Su Qin was the principal proponent of the anti-Qin alliance.
[2] Marquis Su of Zhao (349-326 BCE) launched failed attacks on Wei and Qi after they adopted royal titles for themselves, then build large scale defensive walls around Zhao.
[3] Lord Fengyang was the title used by Li Dui, a politician and general in Zhao. On Su Qin's previous visit to Zhao he had come into conflict with Lord Fengjun and been pushed out.
[4] Liu suggests that 賓 here is superfluous.
[5] A polite way of saying that he was dead.
[6] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[7] A conversation with various hangers on eavesdropping from behind the folding screens was apparently the closest thing to privacy that a ruler could hope for.
[8] Reading 請別白黑所以異 for 曰言所以異, following the Shiji version as the commentaries suggest.
[9] Su Qin uses the terms "yin" and "yang" this conversation was taking place before these terms had fully acquired their mystical sense, so I have translated them with the meanings that they usually possess in the Stratagems, rather than leaving them in Chinese as technical terms. According to the commentaries, this is a reference to the Vertical and Horizontal Alliances.
[10] Areas on the boundary of the Chinese cultural sphere granting contact with the nomadic tribes that were a major source of these things.
[11] There were relatively few areas in China capable of producing salt, meaning that those states that did not have access to any were forced to pay the prices set by those that did.
[12] Yunmeng was in modern Hubei. It seems to have served as a hunting preserve and country estate for the Kings of Chu.
[13] During the Zhou dynasty a tangmuyi was an estate in the vicinity of the imperial capital that a feudal lord would use when going to pay his respects to the emperor. It was later used to refer to towns accorded to minor members of the royal house to support them.
[14] The Five Hegemons were leaders during the Spring and Autumns period who came close to uniting the states.
[15] Cheng Tang (c. 1675-1646 BCE) overthrew King Jie to become the first ruler of the Shang Dynasty.
[16] King Wu (1046–1043 BCE) defeated King Zhou of Shang to become one of the founders of the Zhou Dynasty.
[17] Yiyang was in modern Yiyang County, Henan.
[18] Shang Commandery was in modern Shaanxi. It was only connected to the rest of Han via a thin strip of land.
[19] The commentaries disagree regarding exactly where this was.
[20] Nanyang is still called Nanyang, and is in Henan.
[21] The Qi River flows from Henan into the Wey River in Shandong.
[22] According to the commentaries 行 here may be superfluous.
[23] Mount Hua in Shaanxi.
[24] The Zhang River is another name for the Wey.
[25] Fanwu was in modern Pingshan County, Hebei.
[26] Handan is still called Handan, and is in modern Hebei.
[27] Also known as Mount Heng, in modern Shanxi.
[28] There were several Qing Rivers, and it is not clear which one is being referred to here.
[29] The commentaries suggest that 能 here may be superfluous, in which case the sentence would read "do not disperse".
[30] The commentaries sugges that the 韓、魏臣 here may be superfluous.
[31] Reading 中必 for 中, per the commentaries.
[32] Yao (c. 2188-2089 BCE) was a semi-legendary Chinese founder.
[33] Shun (c. 2187-2067 BCE) was another semi-legendary founding father.
[34] Yu the Great (c. 2122-2024 BCE) was the founder of the Xia Dynasty.
[35] Cheng Tang (c. 1675-1646 BCE) overthrew King Jie to become the first ruler of the Shang Dynasty.
[36] King Wu (1046–1043 BCE) defeated King Zhou of Shang to become one of the founders of the Zhou Dynasty.
[37] Yao suggests that 其 here may be superfluous.
[38] Yao suggests that 節 here may be superfluous.
[39] The commentaries suggest 闇 for 掩 here.
[40] This may well be the true object of the visit - at the time maps of enemy territories were extremely valuable, and occasionally used in diplomatic transactions.
[41] The commentaries suggest that the final 秦 here may be superfluous.
[42] The commentaries suggest that the part about being destroyed by Qin (見破于秦) is superfluous.
[43] Reading 臺榭 for 臺, per the commentaries.
[44] The commentaries disagree on the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[45] The commentaries disagree on the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[46] The Huan River in Northern Henan. It is a little to the South of Qi County and passes nearby Yinxu, the final Shang capital before the overthrow of the dynasty.
[47] The Zhang River flows between Henan and Hebei.
[48] Mount Chang is also known as Mount Heng, and it is in modern Shanxi.
[49] Yunzhong Commandery was in Inner Mongolia.
[50] Reading 成皋 for 成𠯻, which seems to be an error unique to this edition. Chenggao was in modern Xingyang, Henan.
[51] According to commentaries, this was the southernmost of multiple roads into Qin.
[52] It is not clear where this was.
[53] Changshan Commandery was in modern Hebei.
[54] The Wu Pass was on the border between Qin and Chu, in modern Shaanxi.
[55] The Bohai Sea is North of the Shandong Peninsula.
[56] The Hangu Pass was Qin's main border checkpoint. It was in modern Henan.
秦攻趙
Qin Attacks Zhao
秦攻趙，蘇子為謂秦王曰：「臣聞明王之於其民也，博論而技藝之，是故官無乏事而力不困；於其言也，多聽而時用之，是故事無敗業而惡不章。臣願王察臣之所謁，而效之於一時之用也。臣聞懷重寶者，不以夜行；任大功者，不以輕敵。是以賢者任重而行恭，知者功大而辭順。故民不惡其尊，而世不妒其業。臣聞之：百倍之國者，民不樂後也；功業高世者，人主不再行也；力盡之民，仁者不用也；求得而反靜，聖主之制也；功大而息民，用兵之道也。今用兵終身不休，力盡不罷，趙怒必於其己邑，趙僅存哉！然而四輪之國也，今雖得邯鄲，非國之長利也。意者，地廣而不耕，民羸而不休，又嚴之以刑罰，則雖從而不止矣。語曰：『戰勝而國危者，物不斷也。功大而權輕者，地不入也。』故過任之事，父不得於子，無已之求，君不得於臣。故微之為著者強，察乎息民之為用者伯，明乎輕之為重者王。」
Qin attacked Zhao, and Master Su[1] spoke to the King of Qin[2], saying, "Your servant has heard that in dealing with his citizens, an enlightened sovereign debates extensively with them and assesses their skills. Thus his officials are never inadequate to their tasks and their capabilities are not constrained. Rather, they speak freely before him, and their words are generally listened to and put into practice when appropriate. This is why his enterprises never fail and no grievances against him are aired. I hope that Your Majesty will examine my words, and - whenever may be opportune - make use of them. I have heard that when carrying a precious treasure one does not walk out at night, and when taking on a great enterprise one does not underestimate one's enemies. This is why the wise individual charged with an important task conducts himself respectfully, and the intelligent individual bent on great achievements speaks accommodatingly. Thus the citizens do not resent the respect accorded to them and the world is not jealous of their achievements[3]. Your servant has heard that as a state enlarges its territory, so its citizens in the heartlands become discontented, and though he may have achieved great things in the world, the lord of men does not attempt to repeat the feat. As the strength of his citizens is exhausted, the benevolent leader refrains from deploying them. To obtain what one seeks and then return to a state of repose, this is how a wise sovereign governs[4]. To achieve great things and then allow one's citizens to rest, this is the approach of one who knows how to deploy his armies. Nowadays, those who mobilise troops do not let them rest as long as they live; though their soldiers' strength is exhausted they will not halt. If you anger Zhao[5], then you will be forced to make its territory your own. Zhao is barely surviving! Nevertheless, Zhao is a state with roads leading in and out on all four sides, and even if you now take Handan[6], it will be of no durable benefit to you. My thinking is that Zhao's lands are wide and uncultivated, and its citizens are weak and tired. If, on top of this, you apply pressure and penal sanctions, then they may obey you but they will not linger within the state. It is said: 'If you win a battle but your state is in danger, then the issue remains undecided. If your accomplishments are great but your power is inconsequential, then you will acquire no land.' When the responsibilities imposed by a father are too heavy, no son will be able to fulfil them, and if the demands made by a lord are unceasing, then no servant will be able to fulfil them. This being so, those who can make the immanent manifest will grow strong, those who take care to rest the people in order to better employ them will become hegemons, and those who understand how to make what is inconsequential influential will become kings[7]."
秦王曰：「寡人案兵息民，則天下必為從，將以逆秦。」蘇子曰：「臣有以知天下之不能為從以逆秦也。臣以田單、如耳為大過也。豈獨田單、如耳為大過哉？天下之主亦盡過矣！夫慮收亡齊、罷楚、敝魏與不可知之趙，欲以窮秦折韓，臣以為至愚也。夫齊威、宣，世之賢主也，德博而地廣，國富而用民，將武而兵強。宣王用之，後富韓威魏，以南伐楚，西攻秦，為齊兵困於殽塞之上，十年攘地，秦人遠跡不服，而齊為虛戾。夫齊兵之所以破，韓、魏之所以僅存者，何也？是則伐楚攻秦，而後受其殃也。今富非有齊威、宣之餘也，精兵非有富韓勁魏之庫也，而將非有田單、司馬之慮也。收破齊、罷楚、弊魏、不可知之趙，欲以窮秦折韓，臣以為至誤。臣以從一不可成也。客有難者，今臣有患於世。夫刑名之家，皆曰『白馬非馬』也。已如白馬實馬，乃使有白馬之為也。此臣之所患也。
The King of Qin said, "If we demobilise the troops and allow our citizens to rest, then the states of All-Under-Heaven will certainly form an alliance to push back against us."
Master Su said, "Your servant has knowledge indicating that the states of All-Under-Heaven will not be able to form an alliance to push Qin back. I believe that Tian Dan[8] and Ru Er[9] are committing the gravest of errors. Is it only Tian Dan and Ru Er who are committing such a grave error? No, the sovereigns of All-Under-Heaven are also making an exceptional mistake! They believe that with the support of broken Qi[10], exhausted Chu, ruined Wei and uncertain Zhao they will fulfill their desire to impoverish Qin and break up Han. Your servant feels this to be the epitome of stupidity. Wei[11] and Xuan[12] of Qi were the wisest sovereigns of their eras, their honour as great as their lands were wide, their states prosperous and their citizens dependable, their generals martial and their soldiers strong. King Xuan deployed his troops to threaten Han[13] and dominate Wei, striking Chu to the South and attacking Qin to the West. He sent armies to encircle the Xiao Mountains[14] and loom over Hangu[15], taking more and more land over the ten years that followed. The people of Qin kept their distance, but did not submit, engaging in a futile resistance against Qi. Qi's troops were finally broken for the same reason that Han and Wei survived; what was it[16]? It was because Qi assaulted Chu and attacked Qin, and afterwards had to suffer the consequences. Nowadays, no one has the overflowing abundance of Wei and Xuan of Qi. Their core troops lack the military resources of wealthy Han or staunch Wei, while their generals do not have the logic of Tian Dan or the Sima[17]. If they receive the support of broken Qi, exhausted Chu, ruined Wei and uncertain Zhao, and with these seek to impoverish Qin and break up Han, your servant feels this would be the worst possible mistake. Your servant believes[18] that a unified alliance cannot succeed. I have flustered the entourages of the feudal lords and now their partisans are encountering difficulties throughout the world[19]. The members of the School of Forms and Names[20] all say that 'a white horse is not a horse'[21]! Anyone who has any white horses of his own knows full-well that they are horses. This is the problem I have with them[22].
「昔者，秦人下兵攻懷，服其人，三國從之。趙奢、鮑佞將，楚有四人起而從之。臨懷而不救，秦人去而不從。不識三國之憎秦而愛懷邪？忘其憎懷而愛秦邪？夫攻而不救，去而不從，是以三國之兵困，而趙奢、鮑佞之能也。故裂地以敗於齊。田單將齊之良，以兵橫行於中十四年，終身不敢設兵以攻秦折韓也，而馳於封內，不識從之一成惡存也。」
"In the past, Qin's partisans sent troops to attack Huai[23] and make its people submit, and the Three States[24] formed an alliance against Qin. Zhao She[25] and Bao Ning[26] were appointed as generals, but Chu only sent four people to join their alliance, but they advanced on Huai with no aid, and Qin's partisans fled though the Three States did not pursue[27]. Can it be said that this happened because the Three States hated Qin and were fond of Huai? Surely we can eliminate the idea that they hated Huai and loved Qin[28]? If the three states attacked without any aid and Qin retreated with no-one pursuing, it was because they knew[29] that the Three States' troops had Qin surrounded and on account of Zhao She and Bao Ning's skill. When Qi's lands were divided after their defeat, for all the qualities of Qi's general Tian Dan, his elite troops roamed across the state of Qi for the next fourteen years; to the end of his days he did not dare undertake to use them to attack Qin or break up Han, merely galloping throughout the domains of the Tian family[30]. He did not know how to build an alliance to ensure the state's survival."
於是秦王解兵不出於境，諸侯休，天下安，二十九年不相攻。
As a consequence of this, the King of Qin demobilised his troops and did not send them beyond his borders. The feudal lords relaxed and All-Under-Heaven was at peace, with no conflict for twenty-nine years.
[1] Su Qin, who was the principal proponent of the anti-Qin alliance.
[2] The situation described in this chapter seems to imply that this was King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BCE).
[3] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[4] The commentaries suggest 王 for 主 here.
[5] Reading 怒趙 for 趙怒, per the commentaries.
[6] Handan was the capital of Zhao at the time. It is still called Handan and is in Hebei.
[7] The commentaries suggest that this means that resting the troops will lead other states to underestimate Qin, whereas continuous warfare will push them to cut it down to size.
[8] Tian Dan was a General and a member of the Qi royal house. He seems to have favoured an anti-Qin alliance.
[9] Ru Er was a proponent of the anti-Qin alliance.
[10] Reading 破 for 亡 here, per the commentaries.
[11] King Wei of Qi (356–320 BCE) was the father of Tian Ying and the grandfather of Tian Wen. He enjoyed a successful reign and was well-respected.
[12] Reading 宣者 for 宣 per the commentaries. King Xuan of Qi (319–301 BCE) is best known for receiving advice from Mencius and establishing the Jixia Academy.
[13] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[14] The Xiao Mountains were on the border of Qin, near the Hangu Pass.
[15] Reading 函 for 塞 here, per the commentaries. The Hangu Pass was the principal entrance to Qin, in modern Henan.
[16] This sentence is garbled. This is a best-guess interpretation.
[17] Tian Rangju, otherwise known as Sima Rangju, was a General and author in Qi.
[18] Reading 以為 for 以 here, per the commentaries.
[18] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[19] The commentaries and translations disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence. This is a best-guess interpretation.
[20] Members of the School of Forms and Names were interested in logic, linguistics and paradoxes.
[21] This was one of their most famous paradoxes, based around the gaps and overlaps between different semantic categories.
[22] This sentence seems to be garbled, and commentaries and translations disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence. This is a best-guess interpretation.
[23] It is not clear where this was, though it seems to have been on the Qin side of the Yellow River.
[24] Chu, Qi and Zhao.
[25] Zhao She was a celebrated Zhao General.
[26] It it not clear who this was, and Yao suggests that his given name may in fact have been Jie (接).
[27] The commentaries explain this as meaning that Qin persuaded the alliance not to intervene.
[28] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[29] Reading 以知 for 以, per the commentaries.
[30] The Tian family was the Qi royal house, to which Tian Dan belonged.
張儀為秦連橫說趙王
Zhang Yi, Working on Behalf of Qin's Horizontal Alliance, Exercises his Persuasions on the King of Zhao
張儀為秦連橫，說趙王曰：「弊邑秦王使臣敢獻書於大王御史。張儀為秦連橫，說趙王曰：「弊邑秦王使臣敢獻書於大王御史。大王收率天下以儐秦，秦兵不敢出函谷關十五年矣。大王之威，行於天下山東。弊邑恐懼懾伏，繕甲厲兵，飾車騎，習馳射，力田積粟，守四封之內，愁居懾處，不敢動搖，唯大王有意督過之也。今秦以大王之力，西舉巴蜀，并漢中，東收兩周而西遷九鼎，守白馬之津。秦雖辟遠，然而心忿悁含怒之日久矣。今宣君有微甲鈍兵，軍於澠池，願渡河踰漳，據番吾，迎戰邯鄲之下。願以甲子之日合戰，以正殷紂之事。敬使臣先以聞於左右。
Zhang Yi[1], working on behalf of Qin's Horizontal Alliance, exercised his persuasions on the King of Zhao[2], saying, "The King[4] of our humble state has sent your servant to offer - with proper deference - a memorial via Your Majesty's Official Censor. Your Majesty has received the leadership of All-Under-Heaven's brigades and arrayed them against Qin, and for fifteen years Qin's troops have not dared to move beyond[5] the Hangu Pass[6]. Your Majesty's prestige has spread throughout the states east of the mountains, while our little state cringed in fear. We began repairing our armour[7], training our troops and refurbishing our chariots. We practiced mounted archery and worked in the fields to build up grain supplies. We guarded our four borders[8] and lived under a cloud of fear. We did not dare move a muscle, for fear that Your Majesty was watching. Now, thanks to your strength[9], Qin has unified the territories of Ba, Shu and Hanzhong[10] with its own. In the East we have received the support of the two Zhous, and the Imperial Insignia[11] have been moved West. We hold the Baima[12] river crossing. When Qin was pushed back into the hinterlands we swallowed our rage, holding our anger in our hearts for many a long day[13]. Now our Lord[14], in his isolation, has scraped together a quantity of blunt weapons and dilapidated armour[15], and his army has taken up position at Mianchi[16]. Their aim is to cross the Yellow River and traverse the Zhang[17], occupy Fanwu[18], and bring the battle to the walls of Handan[19]. Our objective is to join battle on the first day of the new year, as happened when Yin Zhou's[19] conduct was rectified. I have been sent ahead to do you the courtesy of making sure that everyone knows this.
「凡大王之所信以為從者，恃蘇秦之計。熒惑諸侯，以是為非，以非為是，欲反覆齊國而不能，自令車裂於齊之市。夫天下之不可一亦明矣。今楚與秦為昆弟之國，而韓、魏稱為東蕃之臣，齊獻魚鹽之地，此斷趙之右臂也。夫斷右臂而求與人鬥，失其黨而孤居，求欲無危，豈可得哉？今秦發三將軍，一軍塞午道，告齊使興師度清河，軍於邯鄲之東；一軍軍於成皋，敺韓、魏而軍於河外；一軍軍於澠池。約曰，四國為一以攻趙，破趙而四分其地。是故不敢匿意隱情，先以聞於左右。臣切為大王計，莫如與秦遇於澠池，面相見而身相結也。臣請案兵無攻，願大王之定計。」
"In building up your alliance, you trusted in Su Qin's[20] strategies. These dazzled and confused the feudal lords[21], making them take true for false and false for true. He plotted to destabilise Qi but lacked the capacity to do so, and so they had him torn apart by chariots in the marketplace. Clearly he was incapable of uniting All-Under-Heaven. Now the state of Chu is like a younger brother to Qin, Han and Wei call themselves our servants in the east[22], while Qi is offering us land with fishing rights and salt pans. Thus we have severed Zhao's right arm. Your right arm has been severed and yet you are still looking for a fight; you have lost your cronies and yet you continue alone, anticipating no danger. Is this really possible? Now Qin has dispatched three armies. One army will block the Meridian Road[23] and tell Qi to raise troops and lead them across the Qing River[24]. They will then approach Handan from the East. Another army will assemble at Chenggao[25] and gallop through Han and Wei to cross the Yellow River. A third army will assemble at Mianchi. We have an agreement stating that our states will act as one to attack Zhao, destroy it, and divide your land four ways. Under such circumstances, we would not presume to conceal our intentions or hide our feelings, so we are letting everyone know in advance. However, your servant has taken the liberty of elaborating a strategy on Your Majesty's behalf[26]. I feel that there is no better course for you than for you to meet Qin at Mianchi, where, face to face, you can form a personal connection. Your servant will beg Qin to hold its troops back and refrain from attacking, in the hope that you will settle on a plan."
趙王曰：「先王之時，奉陽君相，專權擅勢，蔽晦先王，獨制官事。寡人宮居，屬於師傅，不能與國謀。先生棄群臣，寡人年少，奉祠祭之日淺，私心固竊疑焉。以為一從不事秦，非國之長利也。乃且愿變心易慮，剖地謝前過以事秦。方將約車趨行，而適聞使者之明詔。」於是乃以車三百乘入朝澠池，割河間以事秦。
The King of Zhao said, "In the time of the former King[27], when Lord Fengjun[28] was Chancellor, he held all power and monopolised all influence, managing administrative affairs alone and leaving the former King hidden in darkness. We lived in the palace under the control of our tutors, and were unable to make any plans for our state. When the former King departed from among his assembled servants[29] we were still young, and we had not long been performing the ancestral sacrifices, but in private we were beginning to suspect that to form an alliance that runs counter to Qin's interests would not be to the long term benefit of our state. Consequently, we had a change of heart. We wish to split our lands with Qin by way of apology for our former errors, and to serve your interests. I was already preparing carriages to travel to Qin when I chanced to hear your enlightened statements." This being so, the King travelled with three hundred chariots to pay respects to Qin at Mianchi, and ceded Zhao's lands beyond the Yellow River to serve Qin's interests.
[1] Zhang Yi was Qin's star diplomat during the late fourth century BCE.
[3] I have seen modern translations suggest that this refers to King Wuling of Zhao (325-299 BCE). However, the influence of Su Qin and Li Dui (whose deaths are mentioned later) in Zhao did not peak until the reign of his son, King Huiwen. This being the case, the story appears to be referring to King Xiaocheng, who came to the throne young and oversaw Zhao's greatest defeat at the Battle of Changping. The problem with this reading, however, is that the peace talks at Mianchi described in the final paragraph actually took place under King Huiwen. Either several different speeches have been amalgamated, or the whole chapter is a fiction. (As with many of the Zhang Yi stories, Zhang Yi was long dead by the time many of the events described happened. )
[4] The commentaries suggest King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BCE), however, given the confusion regarding the timing of this story described above, this is not certain.
[5] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[6] The Hangu Pass was the principal entrance to Qin, in modern Henan.
[7] Yao suggests 綴 for 繕 here.
[8] The commentaries suggest that 之內 here may be superfluous.
[9] He seems to mean that because Qin could not move eastwards it was obliged to seek easier targets, something that turned out to be a better long term strategy.
[10] Hanzhong is still called Hanzhong and is in Shaanxi. At the time it was on the border between Qin and Chu.
[11] The nine bronze cauldrons that symbolised (and still symbolise) rule over unified China. At the time they were still in the possession of the remnants of the Zhou state, so it is not clear to what this refers. They would be lost during the Qin conquests.
[12] This was in Hua County in modern Henan. At the time it was on the South bank of the Yellow River. The river's course has now changed, and flows Southeast of Hua County.
[13] Yao suggests that 而 here may be superfluous.
[14] Reading 寡 for 宣, per the commentaries.
[15] Mianchi is still called Mianchi, and is in Henan.
[16] The Zhang River is also known as the Wey and rises in Shanxi and flows to Shandong.
[17] Fanwu was in modern Pingshan County, Hebei.
[18] ] Handan was the capital of Zhao at the time. It is still called Handan and is in Hebei.
[19] King Zhou of Shang (1075–1046 BCE) was the tyrannical last king of the Shang dynasty, defeated in battle by King Wu of Zhou. The Battle of Muye, in which Zhou, the last King of the Shang Dynasty was defeated, took place on the first day of the new year.
[20] Su Qin was the principal proponent of the anti-Qin Vertical Alliance.
[21] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[22] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[23] This was the southernmost of several roads leading through the central states to Qin.
[24] This was in modern Hebei.
[25] Chenggao was in modern Xingyang, Henan.
[26] Reading 竊 for 切, per the commentaries.
[27] This seems to be referring to King Huiwen (298-266 BCE), since it was under his reign that Li Dui's power attained its apogee.
[28] Li Dui was a Zhao politician and General who served under King Wuling.
[29] I.e. when he died.