宋衛 THE STRATAGEMS OF SONG AND WEY
齊攻宋宋使臧子索救於荊
Qi Attacks Song, and Song's envoy, Master Zang, Requests Help from Jing
齊攻宋，宋使臧子索救於荊。荊王大說，許救甚勸。臧子憂而反。其御曰：「索救而得，有憂色何也？」臧子曰：「宋小而齊大。夫救於小宋而惡於大齊，此王之所憂也；而荊王說甚，必以堅我。我堅而齊弊，荊之利也。」臧子乃歸。齊王果攻，拔宋五城，而荊王不至。
Qi attacked Song, and Song sent Master Zang[1] to request help from Jing. The King of Jing[2] was delighted, and promised to make every effort to help. Master Zang then returned home. His driver said to him, "You asked for help and received it, why do you look so melancholy?"
Master Zang said, "Song is small and Qi is large. To commit aid to little Song and offend great Qi, this is something to that should leave any King uneasy, but the King of Jing was overjoyed at the idea. He must be trying to reinforce our will to resist. If our will to resist is reinforced such that we work to exhaust Qi, then it will be Jing that profits." Thus Master Zang returned home, and the King of Qi[3] launched an attack that razed five of Song's fortified cities[4]. The King of Jing's promised aid did not arrive.
[1] Master Zang was also known as Zang Sunzi. He was a politician in Song.
[2] King Wei of Chu (339–329 BCE) enjoyed a quiet reign.
[3] King Xuan of Qi (319–301 BCE) is best known for receiving advice from Mencius and establishing the Jixia Academy.
[4] Bao suggests that 攻 here is superfluous.
公輸般為楚設機
Gongshu Ban Designs Machines for Chu
公輸般為楚設機，將以攻宋。墨子聞之，百舍重繭，往見公輸般，謂之曰：「吾自宋聞子。吾欲藉子殺王。」公輸般曰：「吾義固不殺王。」墨子曰：「聞公為雲梯，將以攻宋。宋何罪之有？義不殺王而攻國，是不殺少而殺眾。敢問攻宋何義也？」公輸般服焉，請見之王。
Gongshu Ban[1] designed machines for Chu[2], which were to be used in an attack on Song. When Master Mo[2] heard about this he walked a hundred li a day, leaving his feet covered in blisters, just to seek an audience with Gongshu Ban. He said, "I have come from Song to hear what you have to say. I want you to use your skills to kill someone for me[4]."
Gongshu Ban said, "I am, as a matter of principle, thoroughly opposed to killing."
Master Mo said, "I heard that you made cloud ladders[5] to be used in an attack on Song. What crime has Song committed? You are opposed to killing as a matter of principle, and yet you will attack a state? Here you are, refusing to kill on a small scale while committing mass murder. Dare I ask what principles led you to attack Song?" Gongshu Ban acquiesced and begged permission to arrange a royal audience for Master Mo.
墨子見楚王曰：「今有人於此，舍其文軒，鄰有弊輿而欲竊之；舍其錦繡，鄰有短褐而欲竊之；舍其梁肉，鄰有糟糠而欲竊之。此為何若人也？」王曰：「必為有竊疾矣。」
When Master Mo arrived for his audience with the King of Chu[6], he said, "Imagine the following person: while sitting in his decorated carriage, he sees his neighbour in a broken-down cart and wants to steal it; while sitting wearing his embroidered robes, he sees his neighbour in a short woolen jacket and wants to steal it[7]; while sitting eating liangrou[8], he sees his neighbour eating porridge and wants to steal it. What kind of person would he be?"
The King said, "He must be a compulsive thief."
墨子曰：「荊之地方五千里，宋方五百里，此猶文軒之與弊輿也。荊有雲夢，犀兕麋鹿盈之，江、漢魚鱉黿鼉為天下饒，宋所謂無雉兔鮒魚者也，此猶梁肉之與糟糠也。荊有長松、文梓、楩、柟、豫樟，宋無長木，此猶錦繡之與短褐也。惡以王吏之攻宋，為與此同類也。」王曰：「善哉！請無攻宋。」
Master Mo said, "Jing's lands are five thousand square li. Song's lands are five hundred square li. One may as well compare a decorated carriage with a broken-down cart. Jing has Yunmeng[9], rich with rhinoceroses, elk and deer. It has the Yellow and Han Rivers[10], which swarm with enough fish, turtles and alligators[11] to supply All-Under-Heaven. Song barely has a single pheasant, rabbit or carp. One may as well compare[9] liangrou with porridge. Jing has tall pines, variegated catalpa, pian[12] and nanmu[13] trees, and camphor. Song has no tall trees. One may as well compare an embroidered robe with a short woolen jacket. Your servant[14] feels that in ordering an attack on Song Your Majesty is nothing more than a compulsive thief."
The King said, "Well said! Permit me to cancel the attack on Song."
[1] Gongshu Ban was also known as Lu Ban. He was an inventor in the Spring and Autumns period, later the patron deity of engineers.
[2] Principally siege engines, but also crossbow mechanisms etc.
[2] Mozi was the founder of the Mohist school of philosophy, and also a celebrated engineer.
[3] A li was around a third of a mile.
[4] Bao suggests that this may be intended to read 殺生, in which case Mozi simply wants to kill people in general.
[5] These were mobile, counterweighted siege ladders.
[6] Probably King Hui of Chu (488–432 BCE).
[7] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[8] Liangrou was an expensive cut of meat, but it is not clear exactly which.
[9] Yunmeng is still called Yunmeng, and is in Hubei. It was a game preserve for the Kings of Chu.
[10] The Han River is a tributary of the Yangtze in Hubei.
[11] Or possibly giant turtles.
[12] It is not clear what this was.
[13] Machilus nanmu.
[14] Reading 臣 for 惡, per the commentaries.
犀首伐黃
The Xishou General Attacks Huang
犀首伐黃，過衛，使人謂衛君曰：「弊邑之師過大國之郊，曾無一介之使以存之乎？敢請其罪。今黃城將下矣，已，將移兵而造大國之城下。」衛君懼，束組三百緄，黃金三百鎰，以隨使者。南文子止之曰：「是勝黃城，必不敢來；不勝，亦不敢來。是勝黃城，則功大名美，內臨其倫。夫在中者惡臨，議其事。蒙大名，挾成功，坐御以待中之議，犀首雖愚，必不為也。是不勝黃城，破心而走，歸，恐不免於罪矣！彼安敢攻衛以重其不勝之罪哉？」果勝黃城，帥師而歸，遂不敢過衛。
The Xishou General[1] launched an attack on Huang. As he was crossing Wey to get there he sent an envoy to speak to the Lord of Wey[2], saying, "The troops of our humble capital are crossing the hinterlands of your great state, and so far not a single herald of yours has been sent here to us? Dare I ask what we have done to offend you? The fortresses of Huang are about to fall, and when they have, I will reassemble my troops at the foot of your own walls order to find out." The Lord of Wey was afraid, and had three hundred belts woven and three hundred yi of gold prepared to send to the Xishou General.
Nan Wenzi[3] stopped him, saying, "If they do indeed achieve victory in Huang, he will not dare come here, and if they do not achieve victory, he will not risk it either. A victory over Huang would be a great achievement, so burnishing his reputation that the sharks at home will begin to circle. In the court they will rise against him with their critiques, gossiping about his affairs. Sheltered by his great reputation and bearing his victory laurels with him, he will not sit around waiting for their criticisms. He is definitely not stupid enough to do that. If he does not take Huang, this will break his will and he will flee. As he turns tail, terrified of the inevitable punishment, would he have the temerity to attack Wey and risk compounding his previous fault?" Thus the Xishou General secured his victory in Huang and led his troops home, passing by without daring to re-cross Wey.
[1] According to the commentaries this was not Gongsun Yan (who used the title "the Xishou General" as something like a courtesy name, but another holder of the same title in Wei.
[2] Duke Dao of Wey (469-465 BCE) overthrew his nephew, Duke Chu, to take control over the state of Wey.
[3] Nan Wenzi was a politician in Wey.
[5] Reading 衛 for 維, as in other versions.
[6] Reading 帥師 for 帥語 as in other versions.
梁王伐邯鄲
The King of Liang Attacks Handan
梁王伐邯鄲，而徵師於宋。宋君使使者請於趙王曰：「夫梁兵勁而權重，今徵師於弊邑，弊邑不從，則恐危社稷；若扶梁伐趙，以害趙國，則寡人不忍也。願王之有以命弊邑。」
The King of Liang[1] was attacking Handan[2], and sought to raise additional troops from Song. The Lord of Song[3] sent an envoy to beg help from the King of Zhao[4], saying, "Liang's army is strong and it is in a commanding position. Now they wish to enlist troops from our humble state. If we do not go along with it then I am afraid that our altars of earth and grain will be in danger, but Liang intends to use our troops to attack Zhao, and we could not bear to see Zhao harmed. I hope that Your Majesty can tell our humble state what to do."
趙王曰：「然。夫宋之不足如梁也，寡人知之矣。弱趙以強梁，宋必不利也。則吾何以告子而可乎？」使者曰：「臣請受邊城，徐其攻而留其日，以待下吏之有城而已。」趙王曰：「善」。
The King of Zhao said, "Just so. Song is no equal to Liang, as we are well aware. Weakening Zhao and strengthening Liang would be of no benefit to Song. What, then, can I say that would be acceptable to you?"
The envoy said, "Your servant begs permission to take over one of the fortified cities on your border, making a half-hearted attack and retaining it for a few days while we wait for you to send someone to take it back. That is all[5]."
The King of Zhao said, "Very well."
宋人因遂舉兵入趙境，而圍一城焉。梁王甚說，曰：「宋人助我攻矣。」趙王亦說曰：「宋人止於此矣。」故兵退難解，德施於梁而無怨於趙。故名有所加而實有所歸。
Thus Song's partisans seized their chance, raised troops and crossed the Zhao border, surrounding one of its fortified cities. The King of Liang was deeply delighted and said, "Song's partisans are helping in our attack."
The King of Zhao was also delighted, saying[6], "Song's partisans will stop now." Thus Song's troops withdrew, the situation was resolved, and Liang paid Song due tribute without Song having been obliged to provoke Zhao's resentment. Thus Song's reputation grew and its wealth was restored.
[1] King Xiang of Wei (318-296 BCE) spent his entire reign switching between anti-Qin and anti-Chu alliances in an attempt to preserve his territory against larger neighbours.
[2] Handan was the capital of Zhao. It is still called Handan, and is in Hebei.
[3] Yan, King of Song (318-286 BCE) was also known as King Kang and King Xian. In 328 BC he killed his elder brother (Lord Ticheng, who had himself usurped the throne) and took over the state. He won several signal victories against his neighbours and claimed the title of King, but was finally defeated and forced into exile by a joint force from Chu, Qi and Wei.
[4] King Wuling of Zhao (325–299 BCE) oversaw Zhao's transition to light cavalry tactics, a move that won them several significant victories and was rapidly followed by the other states. He later abdicated in favour of his son, King Huiwen, but continued to take an active part in politics. Eventually, his younger son, Zhao Zhang, rebelled and then took refuge with Wuling following a defeat by Huiwen and his Chancellor, Li Dui. Li Dui then proceeded to besiege both of them. Wuling killed Zhang in an attempt to life the siege. It did not work and he was starved to death.
[5] I.e. they will stage and attack on Zhao to make Wei believe that they are already doing their part and cease levying their troops.
[6] Bao suggests that 說 here is superfluous.
謂大尹曰
Speaking to the Governor General
謂大尹曰：「君日長矣，自知政，則公無事。公不如令楚賀君之孝，則君不奪太后之事矣，則公常用宋矣。」
Someone spoke to the Governor General[1], saying, "Your young lord[2] is growing up and he is sufficiently politically aware that you will have no scope to pursue your own affairs. You would do well to have Chu congratulate him on his family feeling. Then he will not deprive the Queen Dowager[3] of her control over affairs and you will remain employed in Song."
[1] This was a high-ranking political office in Song.
[2] This refers to the ruler of Song, but it is not clear which one it was. Presumably he had inherited the throne as a child and the Governor General was serving as his regent.
[3] It is not clear who this was, though the commentaries suggest that she may also be the Governor General's mother. Presumably she was also a partisan of his or vice versa.
宋與楚為兄弟
Song and Chu are as Brothers
宋與楚為兄弟。齊攻宋，楚王言救宋。宋因賣楚重以求講於齊，齊不聽。蘇秦為宋謂齊相曰：「不如與之，以明宋之賣楚重於齊也。楚怒，必絕於宋而事齊，齊、楚合，則攻宋易矣。」
Song and Chu were as brothers, so when Qi attacked Song, the King of Chu[1] said that he would aid Song. Song, trading on Chu's influence, sought to open peace negotiations with Qi, but Qi would not listen. Su Qin[2] spoke to the Chancellor of Qi[3] on Song's behalf, saying, "You would do better to speak to Song's envoys. This will make it clear that Song is trading on Chu's influence to approach Qi[4]. Chu will be indignant and sever its relations with Song, thus serving Qi's interests. If Qi and Chu can then come to an accord it will be easy to attack Song."
[1] King Wei of Chu (339–329 BCE) enjoyed a quiet reign.
[2] Su Qin worked for almost all of the states during a long and successful career as the principal proponent of the anti-Qin alliance. He was assassinated by political enemies in Qi.
[3] It is not clear who this was.
[4] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
魏太子自將過宋外黃
The Crown Prince of Wei Personally Leads Wei's Army Across Waihuang in Song
魏太子自將，過宋外黃。外黃徐子曰：「臣有百戰百勝之術，太子能聽臣乎？」太子曰：「願聞之。」客曰：「固願效之。今太子自將攻齊，大勝并莒，則富不過有魏，而貴不益為王。若戰不勝，則萬世無魏。此臣之百戰百勝之術也。」太子曰：「諾。請必從公之言而還。」客曰：「太子雖欲還，不得矣。彼利太子之戰攻，而欲滿其意者眾，太子雖欲還，恐不得矣。」太子上車請還。其御曰：「將出而還，與北同，不如遂行。」遂行。與齊人戰而死，卒不得魏。
The Crown Prince[1] of Wei personally led Wei's army across Waihuang[2] in Song. Master Xu of Waihuang[3] said, "Your servant possesses a technique for securing a hundred victories from a hundred battles. Would you be capable of following it?"
The Crown Prince said, "I would like to hear about it."
Master Xu said, "And I deeply desire to present it to you. You are now personally leading your state's attack on Qi, in which - by a great victory - you may unify Ju with your own lands, but what you gain from this will be no greater prize than the state of Wei itself and no title you may acquire will be greater than that of King of Wei[5]. However, if you fight and do not win, then ten thousand generations of your descendants will never rule Wei[6]. This is your servant's technique for securing a hundred victories from a hundred battles[6]."
The Crown Prince said, "I agree. I shall follow your advice and retreat."
Master Xu said, "However much you may want to retreat, you may not be able to. There are others who stand to gain from Your Majesty's attack, and those hoping to use it to fulfill their own ends are numerous. Even if you want to retreat, I am afraid that you will not be able to." The Crown Prince climbed into his chariot and asked his driver to take him back to Wei.
His driver said, "If you go forth and then retreat it will be as if you had been routed. You had better proceed." Thus they pursued their advance. The Crown Prince met Qi's partisans in battle and was killed, never inheriting Wei.
[1] Prince Shen of Wei. He would later be captured at the Battle of Maling and be executed.
[2] Waihuang was in modern Minquan County, Henan.
[3] This person is not otherwise well-known.
[4] King Hui of Wei (344-319 BCE) succeeded Marquis Wu following a violent succession conflict during which Wei was almost conquered by Han and Zhao. He conducted several discussions with Mencius and exchanged territory with Han, making his state easier to defend.
[5] I.e. the Crown Prince will gain more from surviving to inherit the throne of Wei than he could by securing a victory against Qi, while if he fights and loses against Qi he will lose everything.
[6] Presumably he means that one should only fight when the potential payoff multiplied by the likelihood of success is greater than the potential loss multiplied by the likelihood of failure.
宋康王之時有雀生鸇
A Quail Hatches in a Sparrow's Nest During the Time of King Kang of Song
宋康王之時，有雀生鸇於城之陬。使史占之，曰：「小而生巨，必霸天下。」康王大喜。於是滅滕伐薛，取淮北之地，乃愈自信，欲霸之亟成，故射天笞地，斬社稷而焚滅之，曰：「威服天下鬼神。」罵國老諫曰，為無顏之冠，以示勇。剖傴之背，鍥朝涉之脛，而國人大駭。齊聞而伐之，民散，城不守。王乃逃倪侯之館，遂得而死。見祥而不為祥，反為禍。
During the time of King Kang of Song[1], a quail[2] hatched in a sparrow's nest in a corner of the city wall. The Grand Astrologer[3], interpreted the omen, saying, "When small gives birth to large, then a hegemon will certainly appear in All-Under-Heaven." King Kang was delighted. It was on account of this that he wiped out Teng and attacked Xue, taking lands north of the Huai River[4]. His faith in his own capacities grew ever greater.
He hoped to attain hegemony as soon as possible, and so he shot the sky full of arrows and pounded the earth, tearing down temples of earth and grain and burning them, saying, "My power will subdue the ghosts and spirits of All-Under-Heaven[5]." He berated those elder statesmen among his subordinates who remonstrated with him[6] and wore his cap at a rakish angle like a bravado. He cut open the back of a hunchback and opened the shin bones of anyone hardy enough to cross the river at dawn[7], spreading terror among his compatriots. Qi heard about this and launched an attack. King Kang's citizens scattered and his fortresses were left unprotected. The King thus fled to the halls of Marquis Ni[8], where he was subsequently captured and killed. Misinterpreting a good omen may transform it into a bad one.
[1] Yan, King of Song (318-286 BCE) was also known as King Kang and King Xian. In 328 BC he killed his elder brother (Lord Ticheng, who had himself usurped the throne) and took over the state. He won several signal victories against his neighbours and claimed the title of King, but was finally defeated and forced into exile by a joint force from Chu, Qi and Wei.
[2] The commentaries are not entirely sure of the species involved here. It could possibly be an owl, a bird that was traditionally seen as foretelling misfortune. The implication seems to be the incident was, in fact, a bad omen, and the astrologer was too afraid to convey this fact to his employer clearly - it is very reminiscent of story of the oracle saying that Croesus "would destroy a great empire" in Herodotus.
[3] It is not clear who this was.
[4] The Huai River flows midway between the Yellow River and the Yangtze.
[5] And thus they will be unable to do anything about his sacrilege.
[6] Reading 臣 for 曰, per the commentaries.
[7] Presumably in a spirit of scientific enquiry, in the style of King Zhou of Shang, who cut Bi Gan open to verify "whether a sage's heart has seven openings". As described elsewhere in the book, people would avoid crossing cold rivers for fear of losing feeling in their feet and being swept away.
[8] This person may have been one of his vassals.
智伯欲伐衛
Zhi Bo Wishes to Attack Wey
智伯欲伐衛，遺衛君野馬四百，白璧一。衛君大悅，群臣皆賀，南文子有憂色。衛君曰：「大國大懽，而子有憂色何？」文子曰：「無功之賞，無力之禮，不可不察也。野馬四，百璧一，此小國之禮也，而大國致之，君其圖之。」衛君以其言告邊境。智伯果起兵而襲衛，至境而反曰：「衛有賢人，先知吾謀也。」
Zhi Bo[1] wished to attack Wey, so he gave the Lord of Wey[2] four hundred wild horses and a disc of white jade. The Lord of Wey was overjoyed, and all of his assembled private secretaries all congratulated him, but Nan Wenzi[3] appeared worried. The Lord of Wey said, "This is a moment of great rejoicing for our entire state[4]; why do you look so worried?"
Wenzi said, "When one has accrued no merit and yet is rewarded, when one is powerless but receives elaborate formal courtesies nonetheless, this should not go unexamined. Four hundred wild horses and a jade disc, these are gifts appropriate for a small state to offer a large one[5], and yet you are being offered them by a large state. Your Lordship should plan accordingly." The Lord of Wey sent word to his border garrisons.
Zhi Bo then raised troops for the purpose of raiding Wey, but upon reaching the border he turned back, saying, "There must be a sage in Wey; they anticipated my plans."
[1] Zhi Bo (also known as Zhi Yao, Zhi Boyao, Xun Yao and Zhi Xiangzi) was the last Chancellor of Jin, and a representative of the Zhi clan, which cooperated with the Han, Wei and Zhao clans to break up the state of Jin before being wiped out by them in turn.
[2] It is not clear which Duke of Wey is indicated here.
[3] Nan Wenzi was a politician in Wey.
[4] Following the interpretation given by modern Chinese translations.
[5] Bao suggests that 也 here may be superfluous.
智伯欲襲衛
Zhi Bo Wishes to Raid Wey
智伯欲襲衛，乃佯亡其太子，使奔衛。南文子曰：「太子顏為君子也，甚愛而有寵，非有大罪而亡，必有故。」使人迎之於境，曰：「車過五乘，慎勿納也。」智伯聞之，乃止。
Zhi Bo[1] wished to raid Wey, so he pretended to exile his heir[2], instructing him to flee to Wey. Nan Wenzi[4] said, "Yan is deeply beloved - his father's favourite son. He has not committed any crime great enough to merit exile, so this must be part of some plan."
An envoy was sent to meet Yan at the border, being told, "If he has more than five chariots with him, exercise caution and do not let him in." Zhi Bo heard about this, and thus cancelled his plans.
[1] Zhi Bo (also known as Zhi Yao, Zhi Boyao, Xun Yao and Zhi Xiangzi) was the last Chancellor of Jin, and a representative of the Zhi clan, which cooperated with the Han, Wei and Zhao clans to break up the state of Jin before being wiped out by them in turn.
[2] This seems to refer to one of Zhi Bo's own sons, rather than the Crown Prince of Jin.
[3] Nan Wenzi was a politician in Wey.
秦攻衛之蒲
Qin Attacks pu in Wey
秦攻衛之蒲。胡衍謂樗里疾曰：「公之伐蒲，以為秦乎？以為魏乎？為魏則善，為秦則不賴矣。衛所以為衛者，以有蒲也。今蒲入於魏，衛必折於魏。魏亡西河之外，而弗能復取者，弱也。今并衛於魏，魏必強。魏強之日，西河之外必危。且秦王亦將觀公之事。害秦以善魏，秦王必怨公。」樗里疾曰：「柰何？」胡衍曰：「公釋蒲勿攻，臣請為公入戒蒲守，以德衛君。」樗里疾曰：「善。」
Qin attacked Pu[1] in Wey. Hu Yan[2] spoke to Chuli Ji[3], saying, "Your attack on Pu, are you undertaking it on Qin's behalf? Or are you doing it on Wei's? If you are doing it for Wei behalf, then it is a good plan. If you are doing it for Qin, then you cannot count on it ending well. The the only reason Wey still exists is because it has Pu. If Wei now makes Pu a part of its territory, it will have succeeded in breaking up Wey[4]. If Wei lost its lands west of the Yellow River[5] and could not get them back[6], it was on account of its weakness. If Pu is now swallowed by Wei, Wei will grow stronger. The day that Wei becomes strong enough, you will be at risk of losing the lands you took west of the Yellow River. Moreover, the King of Qin will see that this is your doing. You will have injured Qin to Wei's benefit and he will be angry with you."
Chuli Ji said, "How should I handle this?"
Hu Yan said, "Lift the siege on Pu and cease your attack. Your servant begs permission to go and inform the garrison commander in Pu. The Lord of Wey[8] will certainly pay you due tribute."
Chuli Ji said, "Very well."
胡衍因入蒲，謂其守曰：「樗里子知蒲之病也，其言曰：『吾必取蒲。』今臣能使釋蒲勿攻。」蒲守再拜，因效金三百鎰焉，曰：「秦兵誠去，請厚子於衛君。」胡衍取金於蒲，以自重於衛。樗里子亦得三百金而歸，又以德衛君也。
Hu Yan then crossed the border into Pu and spoke to the garrison commander[9], saying, "Master Chuli knows that Pu is in extremis. I heard it from his own mouth - he said, 'I will certainly take Pu.' However, I have been able to get him to lift the siege and cease this attack."
The commander bowed twice and then gave Hu Yan three hundred yi of gold, saying, "Qin's troops have really gone! I beg permission to demonstrate the Lord of Wey's generosity to you." Hu Yan took the gold from Pu, and used it to bolster his own influence in Wey. Chuli Ji also got three hundred gold pieces[10] and returned home, whereupon the Lord of Wey paid tribute to him as well.
[1] Pu is now Changyuan in Henan.
[2] Hu Yan was a politician in Wey.
[3] Chuli Ji was a son of Duke Xiao of Qin, and served as a General and Prime Minister 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.
[4] The commentaries disagree over this sentence, and some suggest that it should read "If Pu becomes a part of Qin, Wey will certainly sever its relations with Qin" or "if Pu is now swallowed up by Wei, Wey will submit to Wei".
[5] Which Qin had recently captured from Wei.
[6] Bao suggests that 復 here is superfluous.
[7] Reading 害 for
[8] Probably Lord Si of Wey (335-293 BCE). He followed his predecessors' example by declining to fight and voluntarily accepting a demotion in his rank.
[9] It is not clear who this was.
[10] Presumably from the Pu garrison commander.
衛使客事魏
Wey Sends a Guest Official to Serve in Wei
衛使客事魏，三年不得見。衛客患之，乃見梧下先生，許之以百金。梧下先生曰：「諾。」乃見魏王曰：「臣聞秦出兵，未知其所之。秦、魏交而不脩之日久矣。願王博事秦，無有佗計。」魏王曰：「諾。」
Wey sent a guest official to serve in Wei, but after three years he had still not managed to secure a royal audience. He was worried about this, so sought an audience with the scholar Wuxia[1] instead, promising him a hundred gold pieces if he could help. Wuxia said, "You have my word."
Wuxia thus secured an audience with the King[2], at which he said, "Your servant has heard that Qin is mobilising its troops[3], and their destination is as yet unknown. Relations between Qin and Wei have been cordial for many a long day now. I hope that Your Majesty will serve Qin wholeheartedly and entertain no other plans[4]."
The King of Wei said, "You have my word, Your Excellency."
客趨出，至郎門而反曰：「臣恐王事秦之晚〔三〕。」王曰：「何也？」先生曰：「夫人於事己者過急〔四〕，於事人者過緩。今王緩於事己者，安能急於事人。」「奚以知之？」「衛客曰，事王三年不得見。臣以是知王緩也。」魏王趨見衛客。
Wuxia hurried out, but upon arriving at the door[5], he turned back and said, "Your servant fears that your offer to serve Qin may be too late."
The King said, "Why?"
Wuxia said, "Even those who are excessively hasty to serve their own interests are dilatory in serving others'. Lately you have been so dilatory in serving your own interests, how could you possibly act hastily in serving others'?"
"How could you know such a thing?"
"There is a visitor from Wey who arrived to serve you three years ago and has still not obtained an audience. That is how your servant knows of your negligence." The King of Wei hurried to arrange an audience with his visitor from Wey.
[1] Wuxia seems to have been a noted sage. It may be a pseudonym, along the lines of Guiguzi, meaning "under the sycamore tree".
[2] The early fourth century history of Wei is confusing, making it unclear which King is being referenced here. If King Ai (319-296 BCE) existed it was probably him. If not, it would have been King Hui (370–319 BCE).
[3] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[4] The commentaries suggest 專 for 博 here.
[5] Yao suggests 郭門 for 郎門 here.
衛嗣君病
Lord Si of Wey Falls Ill
衛嗣君病。富術謂殷順且曰：「子聽吾言也以說君，勿益損也，君必善子。人生之所行，與死之心異。始君之所行於世者，食高麗也；所用者，紲錯、挐薄也。群臣盡以為君輕國而好高麗，必無與君言國事者。子謂君：『君之所行天下者甚謬。紲錯主斷於國，而挐薄輔之，自今以往者，公孫氏必不血食矣。』」
When Lord Si of Wey[1] fell ill, Fu Shu[2] spoke to Yin Shunqie[3], saying, "If you listen to what I say now and - without adding or removing a single word - use it to persuade our Lord, it will certainly incline him in your favour. People may follow one course throughout their lives and then have a change of heart as they are dying. Lord Si once devoted his life to to the acquisition of and maintenance of the best-looking among us. Thus he employed people like Xie Cuo[4] and Ru Bo[5] and his counselors thus did all they could to neglect the state and curry favour with these charmers, avoiding speaking to their lord about affairs of state at all costs. Thus you should say to him, 'In your dealings with All-Under-Heaven you have erred profoundly. Xie Cuo exercises arbitrary power over the state with Ru Bo to assist him. Henceforth there will be no one to offer blood sacrifices to feed your spirit."
君曰：「善。」與之相印，曰：「我死，子制之。」嗣君死，殷順且以君令相公期。胸錯、挐薄之族皆遂也。
The Lord of Wey said, "Very well." He gave Yin Shunqie the Chancellor's seal, saying, "When I die, take command." Lord Si died, and Yin Shunqie followed his lord's orders, making himself Chancellor to Prince Qi[7]. Xie Cuo and Ru Bo were expelled with their entire clans.
[1] Lord Si of Wey (335-293 BCE) followed his predecessors' example by declining to fight and voluntarily accepting a demotion in his rank.
[2] Fu Shu was a politician in Wey.
[3] Yin Shunqie was also a politician in Wey.
[4] Xie Cuo was another Wey politician.
[5] Ru Bo was another Wey politician.
[6] Reading 公子期 for 公期, per the commentaries.
[7] It is not clear which of Lord Si's sons this was.
衛嗣君時胥靡逃之魏
A Convict Flees to Wei in the Time of Lord Si of Wey
衛嗣君時，胥靡逃之魏，衛贖之百金，不與。乃請以左氏。群臣諫曰：「以百金之地，贖一胥靡，無乃不可乎？」君曰：「治無小，亂無大。教化喻於民，三百之城，足以為治；民無廉恥，雖有十左氏，將何以用之？」
In the time of Lord Si of Wey[1], a convict escaped and fled to Wei. Wey offered a reward of a hundred gold pieces but still did not get him back, so it then offered Zuoshi[2] in exchange for him. Lord Si's counsellors remonstrated with him, saying, "To offer land worth a hundred gold pieces in exchange for a single convict, is this not entirely unacceptable?"
Lord Si said, "An orderly state will not long remain small, a disorderly one will not long remain large[3]. If citizens are properly instructed, it is sufficient to control a village just three hundred strong[4]. If the people have no honesty or shame, then even had we ten Zuoshis, how could we make use of them?"
[1] Lord Si of Wey (335-293 BCE) followed his predecessors' example by declining to fight and voluntarily accepting a demotion in his rank.
[2] Zuoshi was in modern Dingtao, Shandong.
[3] Following the interpretation given by the commentaries.
[4] I.e. a single family.
衛人迎新婦
A Man of Wey Welcomes a New Wife into his Home
衛人迎新婦，婦上車，問：「驂馬，誰馬也？」御曰：「借之。」新婦謂僕曰：「拊驂，無笞服。」車至門，扶，教送母：「滅灶，將失火。」入室見臼，曰：「徙之牖下，妨往來者。」主人笑之。此三言者，皆要言也，然而不免為笑者，蚤晚之時失也。
A man of Wey was welcoming a new wife into his home. As she was climbing up into his carriage, she asked, "The trace horses, whose are they?"
The driver said, "They are borrowed."
The new wife spoke to the servant and said, "Whip the trace horses, not the yoke horse."
When the carriage arrived at the gate and she was helped down, she dispatched her attendant, saying[1], "Extinguish the stove and make sure it's properly out." When she entered the house, she saw a mortar, and said, "Move it and place it under the window, so that it does not get in the way of people coming and going." The master of the household laughed at this. All three orders were useful[3] admonitions; if he could not help laughing it was because it was hardly the right time for them.
[1] Reading 母曰 for 母, per the commentaries.
[3] Reading 至 for 要, per the commentaries.