Xin Xu (新序) · Volume 5

蘇武者，故右將軍平陵侯蘇建子也。孝武皇帝時，以武為栘中監使匈奴，是時匈奴使者數降漢，故匈奴亦欲降武以取當。單于使貴人故漢人衛律說武，武不從，乃設以貴爵，重祿尊位，終不聽，於是律絕不與飲食，武數日不降。又當盛暑，以旃厚衣幷束之日暴，武心意愈堅，終不屈撓。稱曰："臣事君，由子事父也。子為父死無所恨，守節不移，雖有鈇鉞湯鑊之誅而不懼也，尊官顯位而不榮也。"匈奴亦由此重之。武留十餘歲，竟不降下，可謂守節臣矣。詩云："我心匪石，不可轉也；我心匪席，不可卷也。"蘇武之謂也。匈奴紿言武死，其後漢聞武在，使使者求武，匈奴欲慕義歸武，漢尊武為典屬國，顯異於他臣也。

Su Wu was the son of Su Jian, the former General of the Right and Marquis of Pingling. In the time of Emperor Xiaowu, Su Wu was appointed Supervisor of Yizhong and sent as envoy to the Xiongnu. At that time the Xiongnu envoys repeatedly defected to Han, so the Xiongnu also wished to make Su Wu defect to balance it. The Chanyu sent a noble, Wei Lu, a former Han man, to persuade Su Wu; Su Wu did not comply, and so they offered him noble rank, heavy salary, and high position, but he never listened. Then Wei Lu cut off his food and drink, but Su Wu did not surrender for several days. And in the height of summer, they bound him up in thick felt and clothes and exposed him to the sun, and Su Wu's resolve only grew firmer; he never yielded. He declared: "A minister serves his ruler as a son serves his father. A son dies for his father without resentment and keeps his integrity unmoved; even with the executioner's axe or the boiling cauldron he is not afraid, and high rank and eminent position are not considered glory." The Xiongnu came to respect him for this. Su Wu stayed more than ten years and never surrendered; he can be called a minister who kept his integrity. The Book of Songs says: "My heart is not a stone, it cannot be turned; my heart is not a mat, it cannot be rolled up." This speaks of Su Wu. The Xiongnu deceived Han by saying Su Wu had died, but later Han heard that Su Wu was still alive and sent envoys to seek him, and the Xiongnu, moved by righteousness, wished to send Su Wu back. Han honored Su Wu with the post of Director of Dependent States, distinguishing him above other ministers.

陳恆弒簡公而盟，盟者皆完其家，不盟者殺之。石他人曰："昔之事其君者，皆得其君而事之，今謂他人曰：'舍而君而事我。’他人不能，雖然，不盟則殺父母也，從而盟，是無君臣之禮也。生於亂世，不得正行；劫於暴上，不得道義。故雖盟，不以父母之死，不如退而自殺，以禮其君。"乃自殺。

Chen Heng assassinated Duke Jian and made his officers swear a covenant; those who swore had their families spared, and those who did not were killed. Shi Taren said: "In the past, those who served a ruler all obtained a ruler to serve. Now someone says to others: 'Abandon your ruler and serve me.' They cannot. Even so, if they do not swear, their parents will be killed, and if they swear because of it, they are without the ritual of ruler and minister. Born in a time of disorder, one cannot keep one's conduct upright; coerced by a tyrant, one cannot practice righteousness. So even if I swear, it would not be because of my parents' death; it is better to withdraw and kill myself so as to honor my ruler." Then he killed himself.

陳恆弒君，使勇士六人劫子淵棲，子淵棲曰："子之慾與我，以我為知乎？臣弒君，非知也！以我為仁乎？見利而背君，非仁也！以我為勇乎？劫我以兵，懼而與子，非勇也。使吾無此三者，與何補於子？若吾有此三者，終不從子矣！"乃舍之。

When Chen Heng assassinated his ruler, he sent six brave men to seize Ziyuan Qi. Ziyuan Qi said: "You want me to be with you; do you think I am wise? A minister assassinated his ruler, and I am not wise! Do you think I am benevolent? To see profit and betray my ruler would not be benevolent! Do you think I am brave? If I was seized by soldiers and followed you out of fear, that would not be brave. If I lack these three, what benefit is there in my following you? And if I have these three, in the end I will not follow you!" So they let him go.

宋閔公臣長萬以勇力聞，萬與魯戰，師敗，為魯所獲，囚之宮中，數月歸之宋。與閔公搏，婦人皆在側，公謂萬曰："魯君庸與寡人美？"萬曰："魯君美。天下諸侯，唯魯君耳。宜其為君也。"閔公矜，婦人妒，其言曰："爾魯之囚虜爾，何知？"萬怒，遂搏閔公頰，齒落於口，絕吭而死。仇牧聞君死，趨而至，遇萬於門，衛劍而叱之，萬臂擊仇牧而殺之，齒著於門闔。仇牧可謂不畏強禦矣，趨君之難，顧不旋踵。

Changwan, a minister of Duke Min of Song, was famed for his strength and courage. Wan fought with Lu, the army was defeated, and he was captured by Lu and imprisoned in the palace, then several months later returned to Song. He played a board game with Duke Min, with women all around. The duke said to Wan: "Who is more handsome, the ruler of Lu or I?" Wan said: "The ruler of Lu is handsome. Among the feudal lords of the world, there is only the ruler of Lu. It is fitting that he is a ruler." Duke Min took offense, and the women, jealous, said: "You are only a prisoner of Lu; what do you know?" Wan was angry and struck Duke Min on the cheek, his teeth fell into his mouth, and Wan broke his neck and killed him. Chou Mu heard the ruler was dead and hurried over, met Wan at the gate, and with his sword scolded him; Wan struck Chou Mu dead with his arm and Chou Mu's teeth lodged in the door leaf. Chou Mu can be called one who did not fear the strong, who rushed to his ruler's calamity and did not turn his head back.

崔杼弒莊公，令士大夫盟者，皆脫劍而入，言不疾指不至血者死，所殺十人。次及晏子，晏子奉桮血仰天嘆曰："惡乎崔子，將為無道，殺其君。"盟者皆視之。崔杼謂晏子曰："子與我，我與子分國；子不吾與，吾將殺子。直兵將推之，曲兵將勾之，唯子圖之。"晏子曰："嬰聞回以利而背其君者，非仁也；劫以刃而失其志者，非勇也。"詩云："愷悌君子，求福不回。"嬰可謂不回矣。直兵推之，曲兵鉤之，嬰之不回也。崔子舍之，晏子趨出，授綏而乘，其僕將馳，晏子拊其手曰："虎豹在山林，其命在庖□，馳不益生，緩不益死，按行成節，然後去之。"詩云："彼己之子，捨命不渝。"晏子之謂也。

Cui Zhu assassinated Duke Zhuang and ordered the officers who swore the covenant all to remove their swords and enter; those who spoke without haste or whose fingers did not reach the blood were put to death, and ten were killed this way. When it came to Yanzi's turn, Yanzi held the cup of blood, looked up to heaven, and sighed, saying: "How hateful, Master Cui, about to do a deed without the Way and kill his own ruler." Those who swore all looked on. Cui Zhu said to Yanzi: "If you follow me, I will share the state with you; if you do not follow me, I will kill you. Straight blades will push, curved blades will hook; I only ask that you consider." Yanzi said: "I have heard that to turn and betray one's ruler for profit is not benevolent; to be seized by blades and lose one's will is not brave." The Book of Songs says: "The gentle and easy gentleman seeks blessings without crookedness." I may be said not to be crooked. Straight blades push and curved blades hook, but I am not crooked. Cui Zhu let him go. Yanzi hurried out, took the strap and mounted his carriage; as the driver was about to gallop, Yanzi pressed his hand and said: "Tigers and leopards are in the mountain forest, but their fate lies in the kitchen (the original text has a damaged character here). Galloping adds no more life and going slowly adds no more death; keeping to the order of procession so as to complete one's integrity, and then we leave." The Book of Songs says: "That man, he would give his life without changing." This speaks of Yanzi.

佛肸以中牟叛，置鼎於庭，致士大夫曰："與我者受邑，不吾與者烹。"大夫皆從之。至於田卑，田卑，中牟之邑人也。曰："義死不避斧鉞之罪，義窮不受軒冕之服。無義而生，不仁而富，不如烹。"褰衣將就鼎，佛肸脫屨而生之。趙氏聞其叛也，攻而取之；聞田卑不肯與也，求而賞之。田卑曰："不可也，一人舉而萬夫俛首，智者不為也。賞一人以慚萬夫，義者不取也。我受賞，使中牟之士，懷恥不義。"辭賞徙處曰："以行臨人，不道，吾去矣。"遂南之楚。

Fu Xi rebelled holding Zhongmou, and placed a cauldron in the courtyard, summoning his officers and saying: "Those who follow me will receive towns; those who do not follow me will be boiled." The grandees all followed. When it came to Tian Bei, Tian Bei was a man of Zhongmou. He said: "Dying for righteousness does not shrink from the penalty of the axe; being poor for righteousness does not accept the dress of carriage and cap. To live without righteousness or be rich without benevolence is worse than being boiled." He lifted his clothes and was about to go to the cauldron, but Fu Xi took off his shoes and saved his life. The Zhao clan heard of the rebellion and took Zhongmou; hearing that Tian Bei had refused to follow, they sought to give him a reward. Tian Bei said: "I cannot. When one man is raised and ten thousand men bow their heads, a wise man does not do it. Rewarding one man to shame ten thousand, a righteous man does not accept. If I accept the reward, I will make the gentlemen of Zhongmou carry the shame of unrighteousness." He declined the reward and moved away, saying: "If I look down on others with my conduct but it does not accord with the Way, I will leave." He then went south to Chu.

楚太子建以費無極之譖見逐。建有子曰勝，在外，子西召勝，使治白，號曰白公。勝怨楚逐其父，將弒惠王及子西，欲得易甲，陳士勒兵，以示易甲曰："與我，無患不富貴；不吾與，則此是也。"易甲笑曰："嘗言吾義矣，吾子忘之乎？立得天下，不義，吾不敢也；威吾以兵，不義，吾不從也。今子將弒子之君，而使我從子，非吾前義也。子雖告我以利，威我以兵，吾不忍為也。子行子之威，則吾亦得明吾義也。逆子以兵爭也，應子以聲鄙也，吾聞士立義不爭，行死不鄙，拱而待兵，顏色不變也。"

The Crown Prince Jian of Chu was driven out because of the slander of Fei Wuji. Jian had a son named Sheng, who was abroad. Zixi summoned Sheng and had him govern Bo, and he was called Lord Bo. Sheng resented Chu for driving out his father and was about to kill King Hui and Zixi; he wished to win over Yi Jia, drew up his soldiers and arrayed his troops, and showed them to Yi Jia, saying: "Follow me and you need not fear not being rich and honored; do not follow me and this is what awaits you." Yi Jia laughed and said: "You once said I was righteous; have you forgotten? To gain the world at once, but unrighteously, I do not dare; to be threatened by soldiers, but unrighteously, I will not follow. Now you are about to kill your ruler and want me to follow you, which is not the righteousness I held before. Although you tell me of profit and threaten me with soldiers, I cannot bear to do it. You may carry out your might, and I in turn can make my righteousness plain. To oppose you with soldiers would be to quarrel; to answer you with my voice would be crude. I have heard that a gentleman who establishes righteousness does not quarrel and who goes to his death is not crude; I will fold my hands and wait for the soldiers, my countenance unchanged."

白公勝將弒楚惠王，王出亡，令尹司馬皆死，拔劍而屬之於屈廬曰："子與我，將舍之；子不與我，將殺子。"屈廬曰："詩有之，曰：'莫莫葛藟，肆於條枝，愷悌君子，求福不回。’今子殺子叔父西求福於廬也，可乎？且吾聞知命之士，見利不動，臨危不恐。為人臣者，時生則生，時死則死，是謂人臣之禮。故上知天命，下知臣道，其有可劫乎？子胡不推之？"白公勝乃內其劍。

Lord Sheng of Bo was about to assassinate King Hui of Chu; the king fled, and the prime minister and Minister of War were both killed. He drew his sword and pointed it at Qu Lu, saying: "If you follow me, I will spare you; if you do not follow me, I will kill you." Qu Lu said: "The Book of Songs has a line that says: 'Dense are the kudzu vines, spreading over the branches; the gentle and easy gentleman seeks blessings without crookedness.' Now you have killed your uncle Zixi and come to Lu to seek blessings; is that acceptable? Moreover I have heard that a gentleman who knows his fate is not moved on seeing profit and is not frightened when facing danger. A minister lives when it is the time to live and dies when it is the time to die; this is called the ritual of a minister. Above I know Heaven's mandate and below I know the way of ministers; how could I be coerced? Why do you not put it aside?" Lord Sheng of Bo then sheathed his sword.

白公勝既殺令尹司馬，欲立王子閭以為王。王子閭不肯，劫之以刃，王子閭曰："王孫輔相楚國，匡正王室，而後自庇焉，閭之願也。今子假威以暴王室，殺伐以亂國家，吾雖死，不子從也。"白公勝曰："楚國之重，天下無有。天以與子，子何不受？"王子閭曰："吾聞辭天下者，非輕其利也，以明其德也；不為諸侯者，非惡其位也，以潔其行為。今吾見國而忘主，不仁也；劫白刃而失義，不勇也。子雖告我以利，威我以兵，吾不為也。"白公強之，不可，遂殺之。葉公高率眾誅白公，而反惠王於國。

Lord Sheng of Bo, having already killed the prime minister and Minister of War, wished to set up Prince Lu as king. Prince Lu refused, and he was threatened with blades. Prince Lu said: "For the king's grandson to assist the state of Chu and set right the royal house, and then be sheltered himself, is my wish. Now you borrow might to do violence to the royal house and kill and attack to throw the state into disorder; even if I die, I will not follow you." Lord Sheng of Bo said: "There is nothing in the world as important as Chu. Heaven has given it to you; why do you not accept it?" Prince Lu said: "I have heard that those who decline the world do not do so out of disdain for its profit, but to make their virtue clear; those who do not become feudal lords do not do so out of dislike for the position, but to keep their conduct clean. Now if I saw a state and forgot my lord, I would not be benevolent; if I lost righteousness when threatened by bare blades, I would not be brave. Although you tell me of profit and threaten me with soldiers, I will not do it." Lord Sheng of Bo forced him, but it was no use, and so he killed him. Ye Gong Gao led the people to put Lord Bo to death and escorted King Hui back to the capital.

白公之難，楚人有莊善者，辭其母將往死之，其母曰："棄其親而死其君，可謂義乎？"莊善曰："吾聞事君者，內其祿而外其身，今所以養母者，君之祿也。身安得無死乎！"遂辭而行，比至公門，三廢車中，其僕曰："子懼矣。"曰："懼。""既懼，何不返？"莊善曰："懼者，吾私也；死義，吾公也。聞君子不以私害公。"及公門，刎頸而死。君子曰："好義乎哉！"

In the calamity of Lord Bo, there was a man of Chu named Zhuang Shan, who took leave of his mother and was about to go to his death. His mother said: "To abandon your parent and die for your ruler; can that be called righteous?" Zhuang Shan said: "I have heard that one who serves a ruler receives his salary within and offers his person without. What now supports my mother is the ruler's salary. How could I not die!" He took leave and set off, and when he reached the palace gate, three times he fell from the carriage. The driver said: "You are afraid." He said: "I am." "Since you are afraid, why not turn back?" Zhuang Shan said: "Fear is my private matter; dying for righteousness is my public duty. I have heard that a gentleman does not harm the public with the private." When he reached the palace gate, he cut his throat and died. The gentleman said: "He loved righteousness!"

齊崔杼弒莊公也，有陳不占者，聞君難，將赴之，比去，餐則失匕，上車失軾。御者曰："怯如是，去有益乎？"不占曰："死君，義也；無勇，私也。不以私害公。"遂往，聞戰鬥之聲，恐駭而死。人曰："不占可謂仁者之勇也。"

When Cui Zhu of Qi assassinated Duke Zhuang, there was one Chen Buzhan who, hearing that his ruler was in trouble, was about to rush to his aid. When he set out, at his meal he dropped his spoon and when he mounted the carriage he lost his grip on the crossbar. His driver said: "With cowardice like this, will going do any good?" Buzhan said: "Dying for my ruler is righteousness; lacking courage is a private matter. I will not harm the public with the private." He went on, and hearing the sounds of fighting, died of terror and fright. People said: "Buzhan can be called one who had the courage of the benevolent."

知伯囂之時，有士曰長兒子魚，絕知伯而去之。三年，將東之越，而道聞知伯囂之見殺也，謂御曰："還車反，吾將死之。"御曰："夫子絕知伯而去之三年矣，今反死之，是絕屬無別也。"長兒子魚曰："不然，吾聞仁者無餘愛，忠臣無餘祿。吾聞知伯之死而動吾心，餘祿之加於我者，至今尚存，吾將往依之。"反而死。

In the time of Zhi Boxiao, there was a gentleman named Zhang'er Ziyu who broke off with Zhi Bo and left. After three years, when about to go east to Yue, he heard on the road that Zhi Boxiao had been killed, and said to his driver: "Turn the carriage around and go back; I will die for him." The driver said: "Master, you broke with Zhi Bo and left three years ago; to return now and die for him makes no difference between breaking off and being his retainer." Zhang'er Ziyu said: "That is not so. I have heard that the benevolent have no surplus love and loyal ministers no surplus salary. When I heard Zhi Bo was dead my heart was moved; the surplus salary he bestowed on me is still with me today, and I will go and follow him." He returned and died.

衛懿公有臣曰弘演，遠使未還。狄人攻衛，其民曰："君之所與祿位者，鶴也；所富者，宮人也。君使宮人與鶴戰，呈焉能戰？"遂潰而去。狄人追及懿公於滎澤，殺之，盡食其肉，獨舍其肝。弘演至，報使於肝畢，呼天而號，盡哀而止。曰："臣請為表。"因自刺其腹，內懿公之肝而死。齊桓公聞之曰："衛之亡也以無道，今有臣若此，不可不存。"於是救衛於楚丘。

Duke Yi of Wei had a minister named Hong Yan, who had gone far away on a mission and had not yet returned. The Di attacked Wei, and the people said: "The ruler gave salary and rank to cranes, and enriched his palace women. If the ruler has the palace women and cranes fight, how can we fight?" They then scattered and left. The Di caught up with Duke Yi at Xingze, killed him, ate all his flesh, and left only the liver. When Hong Yan arrived, he reported the completion of his mission to the liver, called out to Heaven and wept aloud, and stopped only after he had exhausted his grief. He said: "Your servant asks to be the outer covering." He then cut open his own belly, put Duke Yi's liver inside, and died. Duke Huan of Qi heard of this and said: "Wei was ruined for lacking the Way, but now that it has a minister like this, it should not be left to perish." He then rescued Wei at Chuqiu.

芊尹文者，荊之歐鹿彘者也。司馬子期獵於雲夢，載旗之長拽地。芊尹文拔劍齊諸軾而斷之，貳車抽弓於韔，援矢於筩，引而未發也。司馬子期伏軾而問曰："吾有罪於夫子乎？"對曰："臣以君旗拽地故也。國君之旗齊於軫，大夫之旗齊於軾。今子荊國有名大夫而減三等，文之斷也，不亦可乎？"子期悅，載之王所，王曰："吾聞有斷子之旗者，其人安在？吾將殺之。"子期以文之言告，王悅，使為江南令，而大治。

Qianyin Wen was a man in Jing who beat deer and boars out of cover. The Minister of War Ziqi was hunting in Yunmeng, and the banner on his carriage was so long it dragged on the ground. Qianyin Wen drew his sword and cut it off level with the crossbar; the attendant carriage drew a bow from its case and took an arrow from its quiver, drew it to the full but did not shoot. The Minister of War Ziqi leaned on the crossbar and asked: "Have I offended you, master?" He answered: "It is because your banner dragged on the ground. The banner of a ruler comes level with the carriage rail, and that of a grandee level with the crossbar. Now you are a famous grandee of Jing, yet you have reduced yourself by three ranks; is it not also acceptable that I cut it?" Ziqi was pleased and took him in his carriage to the king. The king said: "I heard someone cut your banner; where is that man? I will kill him." Ziqi told him what Wen had said, and the king was pleased and made him magistrate of Jiangnan, which became very well governed.

卞莊子好勇，養母，戰而三北，交遊非之，國君辱之，及母死三年，齊與魯戰，卞莊子請從，見於魯將軍曰："初與母處，是以三北，今母死，請塞責而神有所歸。"遂赴敵，役一甲首而獻之。曰："此塞一北。"又入，獲一甲首而獻之。曰："此塞再北。"又入，獲一甲首而獻之。曰："此塞三北。"將軍曰："毋沒爾家，宜止之，請為兄弟。"莊子曰："三北以養母也，是子道也，今士節小具而塞責矣。吾聞之節士不以辱生。"遂反敵殺十人而死。君子曰："三北已塞責，滅世斷宗，於孝未終也。"

Bian Zhuangzi loved courage and supported his mother; in battle he fled three times, his associates criticized him, and the ruler shamed him. After his mother had been dead three years, Qi fought with Lu, and Bian Zhuangzi asked to follow the army. He went to see the Lu general and said: "At first I lived with my mother, and so I fled three times. Now my mother is dead; I ask to make up for my offenses and give the spirits a place to return." He rushed at the enemy, cut off the head of one armored soldier, and presented it, saying: "This makes up for one flight." He went in again, cut off the head of one armored soldier, and presented it, saying: "This makes up for the second flight." He went in again, cut off the head of one armored soldier, and presented it, saying: "This makes up for the third flight." The general said: "Do not let your family be extinguished; you should stop, and let us be brothers." Zhuangzi said: "My three flights were for supporting my mother, which is the way of a son. Now the gentleman's integrity is somewhat fulfilled and my offenses made up. I have heard that a gentleman of integrity does not live bearing disgrace." He returned into the enemy ranks, killed ten men, and died. The gentleman said: "The three flights were already made up; to cut off his line and end the ancestral sacrifices was, with respect to filial piety, not yet a proper conclusion."

齊桓公時，江國，黃國，小國也，在江淮之間。近楚，楚，大國也，數侵伐，欲滅取之；江人黃人患楚。齊桓公方存亡繼絕，救危扶傾；尊周室，攘夷狄，為陽穀之會，貫澤之盟，與諸侯方伐楚。江人。黃人慕桓公之義，來會盟於貫澤。管仲曰："江。黃遠齊而近楚，楚為利之國也，若伐而不能救，無以宗諸侯，不可受也。"桓公不聽，遂與之盟。管仲死，楚人伐江滅黃，桓公不能救，君子閔之。是後桓公信壞德衰，諸侯不附，遂陵遲不能復興。夫仁智之謀，即事有漸，力所不能救，未可以受其質，桓公之過也，管仲可謂善謀矣。詩云："曾是莫聽，大命以傾。"此之謂也。

In the time of Duke Huan of Qi, Jiang and Huang were small states between the Yangtze and Huai rivers. They were close to Chu, and Chu, a great state, repeatedly invaded them, wishing to destroy and seize them; the people of Jiang and Huang were anxious about Chu. Duke Huan of Qi was then preserving the perishing and reviving the cut-off lines, rescuing the endangered and propping up the falling; he honored the Zhou house, repelled the barbarians, held the meeting at Yanggu and the covenant at Guanze, and was about to attack Chu with the feudal lords. The people of Jiang and Huang admired Duke Huan's righteousness and came to Guanze to join the covenant. Guan Zhong said: "Jiang and Huang are far from Qi and close to Chu; Chu regards them as a profitable prey. If they are attacked and we cannot rescue them, we will have nothing by which to be lead of the feudal lords; we should not accept them." Duke Huan did not listen and made a covenant with them. After Guan Zhong died, the people of Chu attacked Jiang and destroyed Huang, Duke Huan could not rescue them, and gentlemen pitied this. After that Duke Huan's credibility was spoiled and his virtue declined, the feudal lords did not draw close, and so he fell into decline and could not recover. In benevolent and wise planning, matters have gradations; if one's strength cannot rescue, one should not accept their hostages. This was Duke Huan's fault, and Guan Zhong can be called good at planning. The Book of Songs says: "Yet he would not listen like this, and so the great mandate was overturned." This speaks of just this.

晉文公時，周襄王有弟太叔之難，出亡居於鄭，不得入，使告難於魯。於晉。於秦。其明年春，秦伯師入河上，將納王。狐偃言於晉文公曰："求諸侯，莫如勤王，且大義也，諸侯信之，繼文之業，而信宣於諸侯，今為可矣。"卜，偃卜之曰："吉。遇黃帝戰於阪泉之兆。"公曰："吾不堪也。"對曰："周禮未改，今之王，古之帝也。"公曰："筮之。"筮之，遇大有之暌，曰："吉。遇公用享於天子之卦，戰克而王亨，吉庸大焉。且是卦也，天為澤以當日，天子降心以迎公，不亦可乎？大有去暌而復，亦其所也。"晉侯辭秦師而下，三月甲辰，次於陽樊，右師圍溫，左師逆王。夏，四月刃巳，王入於王城。取太叔於溫，而殺之於隰城。戊午，晉侯朝王，王享醴，命之侑，予之陽樊，溫原。攢矛之田。晉於是始開南陽之地。其後三年，文公遂再會諸侯以朝天子，天子錫之弓矢秬鬯，以為方伯。晉文公之命是也，卒成霸道，狐偃之善謀也。夫秦。魯皆疑晉有狐偃之善謀以成霸功。故謀得於帷幄，則功施於天下，狐偃之謂也。

In the time of Duke Wen of Jin, King Xiang of Zhou suffered the calamity of his younger brother Taishu, fled into exile and lived in Zheng, unable to enter his state, and sent men to Lu, Jin, and Qin to announce the calamity. In spring of the following year, the army of the Earl of Qin reached the Yellow River, about to receive the king back. Hu Yan said to Duke Wen of Jin: "To win over the feudal lords, nothing is better than aiding the king; it is also a great righteousness, the feudal lords will trust you, you will continue the work of Marquis Wen, and your credibility will spread among the feudal lords. Now is the time." They divined, and Bu Yan divined and said: "Auspicious. It meets the omen of the Yellow Emperor's battle at Banquan." Duke Wen said: "I am not equal to that." He answered: "The rites of Zhou have not changed; the present king is the emperor of old." Duke Wen said: "Divine again with yarrow." They did so and met Da You changing to Kui, and he said: "Auspicious. It meets the hexagram of a duke being feasted by the Son of Heaven. Victory in battle and a king's feast; where is there greater good fortune? Moreover in this hexagram, heaven becomes a marsh facing the sun, the Son of Heaven lowers his heart to welcome the duke; is that not acceptable? Da You leaves Kui and returns, which is also where it stands." The Marquis of Jin declined the Qin army and went down; on the jiachen day of the third month, he camped at Yangfan, the right army surrounded Wen, and the left army escorted the king. In summer, the fourth month, on the dingsi day, the king entered the royal city. At Wen they seized Taishu and killed him at Xicheng. On wuwu, the Marquis of Jin had audience with the king, the king feasted him with sweet wine and ordered that he be urged to take more, and granted him the fields of Yangfan, Wen, Yuan, and Zanmao. Jin then began to open up the lands of Nanyang. Three years after this, Duke Wen again assembled the feudal lords to attend the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven gave him a bow and arrows and black millet wine, and appointed him leader of the regional lords. This was the mandate of Duke Wen of Jin, and he at last accomplished the hegemon's way; it was Hu Yan's good planning. Qin and Lu both had doubts, but Jin had Hu Yan's good planning to achieve the hegemon's merit. Therefore, plans made within the tent bring merit to the whole world; this speaks of Hu Yan.

虞。虢，皆小國也。虞有夏陽之阻塞，虞。虢共守之，晉不能禽也。故晉獻公欲伐虞。虢，荀息曰："君胡不以屈產之乘，與垂棘之璧，假道於虞？"公曰："此晉國之寶也，彼受吾璧，不借吾道，則如之何？"荀息曰："此小國之所以事大國也彼不借吾道，必不敢受吾幣。受吾幣而借吾道，則是我取之中府，置之外府；取之中廄，置之外廄。"公曰："宮之奇存焉，必不使受也。"荀息曰："宮之奇知固知矣，雖然，其為人也，通心而懦，又少長於君。通心則其言之略，懦則不能強諫，少長於君，則君輕之，且夫玩好在耳目之前，而患在一國之後。中知以上，乃能慮之，臣料虞君中知之下也。"公遂借道而伐虢。宮之奇諫曰："晉之使者，其幣重，其辭微，必不便於虞。語曰：'宴亡則齒寒矣。’故虞。虢相救，非相為賜也。今日亡虢；而明日亡虞矣。"公不聽，遂受其幣而借之道，旋歸。四年，反取虞。荀息牽馬抱璧而前曰："臣之謀如何？"獻公曰："璧則猶是，而吾馬之齒加長矣。"晉獻公用荀息之謀而禽虞，虞不用宮之奇而亡，故荀息非霸王之佐，戰國幷兼之臣也，若宮之奇則可謂忠臣之謀也。

Yu and Guo were both small states. Yu had the barrier of Xiayang, and with Yu and Guo defending together, Jin could not take them. So Duke Xian of Jin wished to attack Yu and Guo, and Xun Xi said: "Why does my lord not use the horses of Qu and the jade disc of Chuiji to borrow a road from Yu?" The duke said: "These are the treasures of Jin. If he accepts my jade but does not lend me the road, what then?" Xun Xi said: "This is how a small state serves a great one. If he does not lend us the road, he surely will not dare accept our gifts. If he accepts our gifts and lends us the road, then it is as if I took from my inner treasury and placed it in my outer treasury, took from my inner stable and placed it in my outer stable." The duke said: "Gong Zhiqi is there and will surely not let him accept." Xun Xi said: "Gong Zhiqi is wise, to be sure; even so, he is a man of understanding but weak, and moreover grew up in the ruler's household. Being understanding, his words are brief; being weak, he cannot remonstrate strongly; having grown up in the ruler's household, the ruler takes him lightly. Moreover the playthings are before the eyes and ears, while the calamity lies behind the whole state. Only those of middling wisdom or above can think of it, and I reckon the ruler of Yu is below middling wisdom." The duke then borrowed the road and attacked Guo. Gong Zhiqi remonstrated: "The envoy of Jin brings heavy gifts and humble words, which will surely be unfavorable to Yu. The proverb says: 'When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold.' Yu and Guo rescue each other, not bestow favors on each other. Today Guo is destroyed, tomorrow Yu will be destroyed." The duke did not listen, and so accepted the gifts and lent the road. The army returned. After four years, it turned and took Yu. Xun Xi led the horses and carried the jade disc forward and said: "How was my plan?" Duke Xian said: "The jade is just as it was, but my horses' teeth have grown longer." Duke Xian of Jin used Xun Xi's plan and took Yu, and Yu, not using Gong Zhiqi, perished. So Xun Xi was not an assistant of a hegemon or king, but a minister of the Warring States annexing others; as for Gong Zhiqi, he can be called the planner of a loyal minister.

晉文公。秦穆公共圍鄭，以其無禮而附於楚，鄭大夫佚之狐言於鄭君曰："若使燭之武見秦君，圍必解。"鄭君從之，召燭之武；使之，辭曰："臣之壯也，猶不如人，今老矣，無能為也。"鄭君曰："吾不能蚤用子，今急而求子，是寡人之過也。然鄭亡，子亦有不利焉。"燭之武許諾。夜出見秦君曰："秦晉圍鄭，鄭知亡矣，若亡鄭而有益於君，敢以煩執事。鄭在晉之東，秦在晉之西，越晉而取鄭，君知其難也，焉用亡鄭以陪晉。晉，秦之鄰也，鄰之強，君之憂也。若舍鄭以為東道主，行李之往來，共其資糧，亦無所害。且君立晉君，晉君許君焦瑕，朝得入，夕設版而畫界焉，君之所知也。夫晉何厭之有，既東取鄭，又欲廣其西境，不闕秦將焉取之？闕秦而利晉，願君圖之。"秦君說，引兵而還。晉咎犯請擊之，文公曰："不可，微夫人之力不能弊鄭，因人之力以弊，不仁；失其所與，不知；以亂易整，不武。吾其還矣。"亦去鄭，鄭圍遂解。燭之武可謂善謀，一言而存鄭安秦。鄭君不蚤用善謀，所以削國也，困而覺焉，所以得存。

Duke Wen of Jin and Duke Mu of Qin together besieged Zheng, because it was discourteous and had drawn close to Chu. Yi Zhihu, a grandee of Zheng, said to the ruler of Zheng: "If you send Zhi Zhiwu to see the lord of Qin, the siege will certainly be lifted." The ruler of Zheng listened and summoned Zhi Zhiwu; when sent, he declined, saying: "In my prime I was not as good as others; now I am old and can do nothing." The ruler of Zheng said: "I could not employ you earlier, and now in an emergency I seek you; that is my fault. But if Zheng is destroyed, you too will be harmed." Zhi Zhiwu agreed. He went out at night to see the lord of Qin and said: "Qin and Jin are besieging Zheng, and Zheng knows it will perish. If destroying Zheng benefits you, I would dare trouble your officials with this. Zheng lies east of Jin and Qin lies west of Jin; to cross over Jin and take Zheng, you know the difficulty; why would you need to destroy Zheng just to add to Jin? Jin is Qin's neighbor, and a neighbor's strength is your worry. If you set Zheng aside as a host on your eastern road, so that envoys come and go and are supplied with provisions, there is no harm. Moreover you set up the ruler of Jin and he promised you Jiao and Xia, and in the morning he entered his state and by evening he built walls and drew boundaries; this you know. How could Jin ever be satisfied? Having taken Zheng to the east, it will want to expand its western border; if not by diminishing Qin, where will it take from? Diminishing Qin to profit Jin, I hope you will consider." The lord of Qin was pleased and withdrew his troops. Jiu Fan of Jin requested to attack them, but Duke Wen said: "No. Without that man's strength we could not have worn Zheng down; to rely on a man's strength and then harm him is not benevolent; to lose an ally is not wise; to exchange order for disorder is not martial. We should return." He too left Zheng, and the siege of Zheng was thus lifted. Zhi Zhiwu can be called good at planning, with one speech preserving Zheng and settling Qin. The ruler of Zheng did not employ good planning early, and so weakened his state; he awakened only when in distress, and so was able to survive.

楚靈王即位，欲為霸，五會諸侯，使椒舉如晉求諸侯。椒舉致命曰："寡君使舉曰：君有惠，賜盟於宋。曰：'晉。楚之從，交相見也。’以歲之不易，寡人願結驩於二三君。使舉請間，君苟無四方之虞，則願假寵以請於諸侯。"晉君欲勿許。司馬侯曰："不可。楚王方侈，天其或者欲盈其心，以厚其毒而降之罰，未可知也。其使能終，亦未可知也。唯天所相，不可與爭，況諸侯乎？若適淫虐，楚將棄之，吾誰與爭？"公曰："晉有三不殆，其何敵之有？國險而多馬，齊。楚多難，有是三者，何向而不濟？"對曰："恃馬與險，而虞鄰之難，是三殆也。四嶽三塗，陽城大室，荊山終南，九州之險也，是不一姓，冀之北土，馬之所生也，無興國焉。恃險與馬，不足以為固也，從古以然，是先王務德音以亨神人，不聞其務險與馬也，鄰國之難不可虞也。或多難以固其國，或無難以喪其國，失其守宇，若何虞難？齊有仲孫之難而獲桓公，至今賴之；晉有裡克之難而獲文公，是以為盟主。衛。邢無難，狄亦喪之，故人之難不可虞也。特此三者而不修政德，亡於不暇，有何能濟，君其許之。紂作淫虐，文王惠和，殷是以霣，周是以興，夫豈爭諸侯哉？"乃許楚靈王，遂為申之會，與諸侯伐吳，起章華之臺，為乾溪之役，百姓罷勞怨懟於下，群臣倍畔於上，公子棄疾作亂，靈王亡逃，卒死於野。故曰："晉不頓一戟，而楚人自亡。"司馬侯之謀也。

After King Ling of Chu took the throne, he wished to become hegemon, and met the feudal lords five times; he sent Jiao Ju to Jin to seek the feudal lords. Jiao Ju delivered the message: "Our humble ruler sent me to say: Your Lordship showed kindness and granted a covenant at Song. It said: 'Those who follow Jin and Chu shall visit each other at court.' Because years are not easy, I wish to form friendship with you, two or three lords. He sent me to ask for a moment of leisure. If you have no worries on your four sides, I hope that by your favor you will make this request to the feudal lords." The ruler of Jin wished not to agree. Sima Hou said: "No. The King of Chu is now extravagant; Heaven perhaps wishes to fill his heart to the brim in order to increase his poison and send down punishment; this is not yet known. Whether he will come to a good end is also not yet known. But what Heaven assists, one cannot contend with, to say nothing of the feudal lords. If he is indeed indulging in lewdness and cruelty, Chu will abandon him; who then would we contend with?" The duke said: "Jin has three things that keep it from danger; what enemy do we have? Our state has defensible terrain and many horses, and Qi and Chu have many calamities; with these three, where could we fail?" He answered: "To rely on horses and terrain and to rejoice at a neighbor's troubles, these are three dangers. The Four Peaks, Santu, Yangcheng, Taishi, Mount Jing, and Zhongnan are the fortresses of the Nine Provinces, and they do not belong to a single clan. The northern land of Ji is where horses are born, and no state has risen from it. Relying on terrain and horses is not enough to be secure; it has been so since antiquity. So the former kings devoted themselves to the sound of virtue to serve spirits and men, and I have not heard that they devoted themselves to terrain and horses. A neighbor's troubles should not be rejoiced over. Some states are made firm by many troubles, others lose their state through having none; having lost one's defenses, how can one rejoice at troubles? Qi had the troubles of Zhongsun and thereby gained Duke Huan, and still relies on him to this day; Jin had the troubles of Li Ke and thereby gained Duke Wen, and so became the leader of covenants. Wei and Xing had no troubles, yet the Di made them perish, so another's troubles must not be rejoiced over. Relying on these three things without cultivating government and virtue, one would be destroyed before one could act; what could succeed? My lord should agree. Zhou was lewd and cruel, King Wen was kind and harmonious, and so Yin fell and Zhou rose; how is it a matter of contending with the feudal lords?" He then agreed with King Ling of Chu, who held the meeting at Shen and attacked Wu with the feudal lords, built the Zhanghua Terrace, and carried out the Qianxi campaign; the people were exhausted and toiling, resentment was below, the ministers rebelled above, Prince Qiji made a coup, King Ling fled, and in the end died in the wilds. Hence it is said: "Jin did not spend a single halberd, and the people of Chu destroyed themselves." This was Sima Hou's planning.

楚平王殺伍子胥之父，子胥出亡，挾弓而幹闔閭，闔閭曰："大之甚，勇之甚。"為是而欲興師伐楚。子胥諫曰："不可，臣聞之，君子不為匹夫興師，且事君猶事父也，虧君之義，復父之讎，臣不為也。"於是止。蔡昭公朝於楚，有美裘，楚令尹囊瓦求之，昭公不予，於是拘昭公於郢。數年而後歸之，昭公濟濮水，沈璧曰："諸侯有伐楚者，寡人請為前列。"楚人聞之怒，於是興兵伐蔡，蔡請救於吳，子胥諫曰："蔡非有罪也，楚人無道也，君若有憂中國之心，則若此時可矣。"於是興兵伐楚，遂敗楚人於柏舉而成霸道，子胥之謀也。故春秋美而褒之。

King Ping of Chu killed the father of Wu Zixu, and Zixu fled into exile, carrying his bow, and sought an audience with Helu. Helu said: "Great indeed, brave indeed." For this reason he wished to raise an army to attack Chu. Zixu remonstrated: "No. I have heard that a gentleman does not raise an army for a commoner, and moreover serving a ruler is like serving a father; to diminish the righteousness owed to the ruler in order to avenge my father's enemy is something I will not do." So he stopped. Duke Zhao of Cai went to court in Chu with a fine fur coat, which the Chu prime minister Nang Wa demanded; Duke Zhao refused, and so was detained in Ying. Only after several years was he sent back. When Duke Zhao crossed the Pu River, he sank a jade disc and said: "If any feudal lord attacks Chu, I ask to be in the front rank." The people of Chu heard of this and were angry, and raised an army to attack Cai. Cai asked Wu for rescue, and Zixu remonstrated: "Cai is not guilty; the people of Chu lack the Way. If Your Lordship has a heart for concern for the central states, now is the time." So Wu raised an army and attacked Chu, defeated the people of Chu at Boju, and achieved the hegemon's way; it was Zixu's planning. Therefore the Spring and Autumn Annals praises and commends it.

秦孝公欲用衛鞅之言，更為嚴刑峻法，易古三代之制度，恐大臣不從，於是召衛鞅，甘龍。杜摯三大夫御於君，慮世事之變計，正法之本，使民道。君曰："代位不亡社稷，君之道也；錯法務明主，長臣之行也。今吾欲更法以教民，吾恐天下之議我也。"公孫鞅曰："臣聞疑行無名，疑事無功，君前定變法之慮，行之無疑，殆無顧天下之議，且夫有高人之行者，固負非於世；有獨知之虞者，必見謷於民。語曰：'愚者晤成事，知者見未萌。’民不可與慮始，可與樂成功。郭偃之法曰：'論至德者，不和於俗；成大功者，不謀於眾。’法者所以愛民也，禮者所以便事也。是以聖人苟可以治國，不法其故；苟可以利民，不循其禮。"孝公曰："善。"甘龍曰："不然。臣聞聖人不易民而教，知者不變法而治。因民而教者，不勞而功成，據法而治者，吏習而民安之。今君變法不循故，更禮以教民，臣恐天下之議君，願君熟慮之。"公孫鞅曰："子之所言者，世俗之所知也。常人安於所習，學者溺於所聞，此兩者所以居官而守法也，非所與論於典法之外也。三代不同道而王，五霸不同法而霸。知者作法，而愚者制焉；賢者更禮，不肖者拘焉。拘禮之人，不足與言事；製法之人，不足與論治。君無疑矣。"杜摯曰："利不百不變法，攻不什不易器。臣聞之法古無過，循禮無邪，君其圖之。"公孫鞅曰："前世不同教，何古之法？帝王者不相復，何禮之循？伏犧神農，教而不誅；黃帝堯舜，誅而不怒；及至文武，各當其時而立法因事制禮。禮法兩定，制令各宜，甲兵器備，各便其用。臣故曰治世不一道，便國不必古。故湯武之王也不循古，殷夏之滅也不易禮。然則反古者未可非也，循禮者未足多也，君無疑矣。"孝公曰："善。吾聞窮鄉多怪，曲學多辯。愚者之笑，和者哀焉；狂夫之樂，賢者憂焉。

Duke Xiao of Qin wished to use the words of Wei Yang and establish new strict laws, changing the institutions of the ancient Three Dynasties, but feared the great ministers would not comply, so he summoned the three grandees Wei Yang, Gan Long, and Du Zhi to attend before him, to consider the changes of worldly affairs and plans, to set right the root of law, and to give the people a road. The ruler said: "To succeed to the throne without losing the altars of state is the way of a ruler; to establish laws and make a point of making the ruler clear is the conduct of a senior minister. Now I wish to change the laws to instruct the people, but I fear the world will criticize me." Gongsun Yang said: "I have heard that hesitant action has no reputation and hesitant undertakings have no merit. Since Your Lordship has already settled the plan of changing the laws, carry it out without doubt, and do not worry much about criticism of the world. Moreover those with conduct that surpasses others are bound to bear criticism in the world; those with ideas known to them alone are bound to be slandered by the people. The proverb says: 'The foolish awaken after the thing is done, the wise see it before it sprouts.' The people cannot be consulted at the start, but can be made to enjoy the success. The law of Guo Yan says: 'One who discusses perfect virtue does not accord with custom; one who accomplishes great deeds does not plan with the crowd.' Law is used to love the people, and ritual to make affairs convenient. Therefore if the sage can govern the state, he does not imitate the old; if he can benefit the people, he does not follow its rituals." Duke Xiao said: "Good." Gan Long said: "Not so. I have heard that the sage does not change the people when he instructs them, and the wise do not change the laws when they govern. Instructing by following the people, one succeeds without toil; governing by relying on the laws, officials are practiced and the people at peace. Now if Your Lordship changes the laws and does not follow the old, and alters the rites to instruct the people, I fear the world will criticize you; I hope you will think it over carefully." Gongsun Yang said: "What you say is what the vulgar world knows. Ordinary men are at ease with what they are used to, and scholars are sunk in what they have heard; these two are suited to holding office and keeping the law, not to discussing what lies beyond the statutes. The Three Dynasties had different ways yet became kings; the Five Hegemons had different laws yet became hegemons. The wise make laws and the foolish are bound by them; the worthy alter rites and the unworthy are constrained by them. A man constrained by ritual is not worth discussing affairs with; a man bound by law is not worth discussing government with. My lord, doubt no more." Du Zhi said: "Unless the benefit is a hundredfold, do not change the law; unless the effect is tenfold, do not replace the utensils. I have heard that to imitate antiquity is without fault and to follow ritual is without deviation; my lord should consider it." Gongsun Yang said: "The teaching of earlier ages was different; what antiquity is there to imitate? Emperors and kings do not repeat each other; what rites are there to follow? Fuxi and Shennong taught but did not punish; the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun punished but did not rage; when it came to Wen and Wu, each established laws according to the circumstances of their time and fixed rituals according to the matters at hand. With rites and laws each settled, with regulations and orders each suited, with armor and weapons each convenient to use, I therefore say that governing the world is not by one road, and for the convenience of the state one need not follow antiquity. So Tang and Wu became kings without following antiquity, and Yin and Xia perished without changing the rites. Thus those who go against antiquity cannot be criticized, and those who follow rites are not worth praising; my lord, doubt no more." Duke Xiao said: "Good. I have heard that in remote villages there are many strange things, and in narrow learning there are many arguments. The laughter of fools is the sorrow of the cheerful; the delight of madmen is the worry of the worthy.

拘世之議，人心不疑矣。"於是孝公違龍摯之善謀，遂從衛鞅之過言，法嚴而酷刑深，而必守之以公，當時取強，遂封鞅為商君。及孝公死，國人怨商君，至於車裂之，其患流漸，至始皇赤衣塞路，群盜滿山，卒以亂亡，削刻無恩之所致也。三代積德而王，齊桓繼絕而霸，秦項嚴暴而亡，漢王垂仁而帝，故仁恩，謀之本也。

Being bound by the world's criticism, men's hearts need no longer have doubts." So Duke Xiao went against the good planning of Gan Long and Du Zhi, and in the end listened to the wrong words of Wei Yang; the laws were harsh and punishments cruel and severe, and he insisted that the law be kept by the public, and at the time he gained strength, and enfeoffed Yang as Lord Shang. When Duke Xiao died, the people resented Lord Shang, to the point of tearing him apart with chariots, and the calamity flowed on and spread by degrees until, in the time of the First Emperor, those in red clothes filled the roads and bandits filled the mountains, and in the end it perished through disorder; this was the result of harshness without kindness. The Three Dynasties accumulated virtue and became kings; Duke Huan of Qi continued the lines that had been cut and became hegemon; Qin and Xiang perished through severity and violence; the King of Han extended benevolence and became emperor. Thus benevolence and kindness are the root of planning.

秦惠王時蜀亂，國人相攻擊，告急於秦。秦惠王欲發兵伐蜀，以為道險狹難至，而韓人侵秦。秦惠王欲先伐韓，恐蜀亂；先伐蜀，恐韓襲秦之弊，猶與未決。司馬錯與張子爭論於惠王之前，司馬錯欲伐蜀，張子曰："不如伐韓。"王曰："請聞其說。"對曰："親魏善楚，下兵三川，塞什谷之口，當屯留之道；魏絕南陽，楚臨南鄭，秦攻新城，宜陽，以臨二週之郊，誅周王之罪，侵楚。魏之地。周自知不救，九鼎寶器必出。據九鼎，按圖籍，挾天子以令於天下，天下莫敢不聽，此王業也，今夫蜀西僻之國，而戎狄之倫也，弊兵勞眾，不足以成名，得其地不足以為利，臣聞爭名者於朝，爭利者於市，今三川周室，天下之朝市也，而王不爭焉，顧爭於戎狄，去王遠矣。"司馬錯曰："不然。臣聞之慾富者務廣其地，欲強者務富其民，欲王者務博其德，三資者備而王隨之矣。今王地小民貧，故臣願先從事於易。夫蜀西僻之國，而戎狄之長也，有桀紂之亂，以秦攻之，譬如以豺狼逐群羊也。得其地足以廣國，取其財足以富民繕兵，不傷眾而服焉。服一國而天下不以為暴，利盡西海而諸侯不以為貪，是我一舉而名實附也，又有禁暴正亂之名。今攻韓劫天子，劫天子，惡名也，而未必利也。有不義之名，而攻天下所不欲，危矣。臣請竭其故：周，天下之宗室也；齊，韓之與國也。周自知失九鼎，韓自知亡三川，將二國幷力合謀，以因乎齊，趙，而求解乎楚。魏，以鼎予楚，以地予魏；以鼎予楚，以地予魏，王不能止，此臣所謂危也，不如伐蜀完秦。"惠王曰："善。寡人請聽子。"卒起兵伐蜀，十月取之，遂定蜀，蜀王更號為諸侯，而使陳叔相蜀，蜀既屬秦，秦日益強富厚而制諸侯，司馬錯之謀也。

In the time of King Hui of Qin, Shu fell into disorder and the people of the state attacked each other and reported the emergency to Qin. King Hui of Qin wished to send troops to attack Shu, but thought the road was dangerous and narrow and hard to reach, and the people of Han were invading Qin. King Hui of Qin wished to attack Han first but feared the disorder in Shu; to attack Shu first, he feared Han would strike Qin's weakness; he hesitated and could not decide. Sima Cuo and Zhang Yi argued before King Hui; Sima Cuo wished to attack Shu, while Zhang Yi said: "It would be better to attack Han." The king said: "Please let me hear the reasoning." Zhang Yi answered: "Be friendly with Wei and on good terms with Chu, send troops out to the Three Rivers, block the mouth of the Shigu pass and stop the road of Tunliu; Wei will cut off Nanyang and Chu will approach Nanzheng, while Qin attacks Xincheng and Yiyang to press on the suburbs of the Two Zhou, punish the crimes of the Zhou king, and seize the lands of Chu and Wei. Zhou will know it cannot rescue itself, and the Nine Cauldrons and treasured vessels will surely be handed over. Holding the Nine Cauldrons, following the maps and registers, and seizing the Son of Heaven to give orders to the world, none in the world will dare disobey; this is the work of a king. Now Shu is a remote state in the west, a kind of Rong and Di barbarians; to wear out the troops and tire the people would not be enough to make a name, and the land gained would not be enough to bring profit. I have heard that those who contend for fame do so at court, and those who contend for profit do so in the market; now the Three Rivers and the Zhou house are the court and market of the world, yet Your Majesty does not contend for them but contends with the Rong and Di; this is far from the kingly path." Sima Cuo said: "Not so. I have heard that one who wishes to be rich must expand his land, one who wishes to be strong must make his people rich, and one who wishes to be king must broaden his virtue; when these three resources are in place, kingship follows. Now Your Majesty's land is small and the people poor, so I wish to begin with what is easy. Shu is a remote state in the west and the chief of the Rong and Di, with disorder like that of Jie and Zhou; to attack it with Qin would be like driving a flock of sheep with wolves and jackals. Gaining its land would be enough to enlarge the state, gaining its wealth would be enough to enrich the people and repair the army, and it could be subdued without harming the multitude. Subduing a state without the world thinking one violent, taking all the profit of the western seas without the feudal lords thinking one greedy, this is that in one move both name and substance attach to us, and we also have the name of suppressing violence and setting disorder right. Now to attack Han and seize the Son of Heaven, seizing the Son of Heaven is a bad name and not necessarily profitable. To have the name of unrighteousness and attack what the world does not want us to attack is dangerous. Let me explain why: Zhou is the ancestral house of the world; Qi is an ally of Han. Zhou will know it has lost the Nine Cauldrons, Han will know it has lost the Three Rivers, and the two states will join strength and plan together, relying on Qi and Zhao and seeking release from Chu and Wei. They will give the cauldrons to Chu and the land to Wei; if they give the cauldrons to Chu and the land to Wei, Your Majesty cannot stop it. This is what I call dangerous; it would be better to attack Shu and so preserve Qin." King Hui said: "Good. I ask to listen to you." He raised troops to attack Shu, took it in the tenth month, and thereby pacified Shu; the King of Shu was demoted to the title of a feudal lord, and Chen Zhuang was sent as prime minister of Shu. Once Shu was attached to Qin, Qin grew stronger day by day, rich and abundant, and controlled the feudal lords; this was Sima Cuo's planning.

楚使黃歇於秦，秦昭王使白起攻韓。魏，韓。魏服事秦，秦王方令白起與韓。魏共伐楚。黃歇適至，聞其計，是時秦已使白起攻楚數縣，楚頃襄王東從。黃歇上書於秦昭王，欲使秦遠交楚而攻韓。魏以解楚。其書曰："天下莫強於秦。楚，今聞王欲伐楚，此猶兩虎相與鬥，兩虎相與鬥，而駑犬受其弊也，不如善楚。臣請言其說：臣聞之，物至則反，冬夏是也；致高則危，累棋是也。今大國之地遍天下，有其二垂，此從生民以來，萬乘之地，未嘗有也。今王使盛橋守事於韓，盛橋以其地入秦，是王不用甲不信威，而得百里之地也，王可謂能矣。王又舉甲而攻魏，杜大梁之門，舉河內，攻燕。酸棗。虛。桃。入邢，魏之兵雲翔而不敢救，王之功多矣。王休甲息眾，二年而復之，有取滿。衍。首。垣，以臨仁，平丘，黃，濟陽。甄城，而魏氏服，王又割濮，歷之北，注之齊。秦之要，絕楚。趙之脊，天下五合六聚而不敢相救，王之威亦單矣。

Chu sent Huang Xie to Qin, and King Zhao of Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Han and Wei, and Han and Wei submitted to Qin. The King of Qin was ordering Bai Qi to attack Chu together with Han and Wei. Huang Xie happened to arrive and heard of the plan. At that time Qin had already sent Bai Qi to attack several counties of Chu, and King Qingxiang of Chu had moved east. Huang Xie sent a letter to King Zhao of Qin, wishing to make Qin ally with distant Chu and attack Han and Wei, thereby relieving Chu. The letter said: "Nothing in the world is stronger than Qin and Chu. Now I hear that Your Majesty wishes to attack Chu; this is like two tigers fighting each other, and when two tigers fight each other, poor dogs reap the benefit of their exhaustion; it would be better to treat Chu well. Let me explain: I have heard that when things reach their extreme they turn back, as winter and summer do; and that when they reach a height they are in danger, as stacked chess pieces are. Now the great state's land spans the world and has borders at both extremes; since there have been people, no state of ten thousand chariots has ever had this. Now Your Majesty sent Sheng Qiao to take charge in Han, and Sheng Qiao delivered his land to Qin; this was Your Majesty gaining a hundred li of land without using armor or extending might, and Your Majesty may be called capable. Your Majesty then raised armor and attacked Wei, blocked the gates of Daliang, took Henei, attacked Yan, Suanzao, Xu, and Tao, and entered Xing; the Wei troops flew about like clouds but dared not rescue it, and Your Majesty's merit is great. Your Majesty rested the armored troops and let the multitude recover, and two years later came again, and took Pu, Yan, Shou, and Yuan, approaching Ren, Pingqiu, Huang, Jiyang, and Zhencheng, and the house of Wei submitted. Your Majesty also cut off the land north of Pu and Li, pouring into the strategic points of Qi and Qin, cutting off the spine of Chu and Zhao, and the world, though it combined five times and gathered six times, dared not rescue them; Your Majesty's might also reached its extreme."

王若能恃功守威，挾戰功之心，而肥仁義之地，使無後患，三王不足四，五伯不足六也。王若負人徒之眾，兵革之強，乘毀魏之威，而欲以力臣天下之王，臣恐其有後患也。詩曰：'靡不有動，鮮克有終。’易曰：'狐涉水，濡其尾。’此言始之易終之難也。何以知其然也。智伯見伐趙之利，不知榆次之禍；吳見伐齊之便，而不知幹隧之敗。此二國者，非無大功也，沒利於前，而易患於後也。吳之親越也，從而伐齊，既勝齊人於艾陵，還為越人所禽於三渚之浦。知伯之信韓。魏也，從而伐趙攻晉陽之城，勝有日矣，韓。魏畔之，殺知伯瑤於鑿臺之上。今王妒楚之不毀也，而忘毀楚之強韓。魏也，臣為王慮而不取也。詩曰：'大武遠宅而不涉。’從此觀之，楚國，援也；鄰國，敵也。詩曰：'躍躍毚兔，遇犬獲之。他人有心，予忖度之。’今王中道而信韓。魏之善王也，此吳之親越也。臣聞之，敵不可假，時不可失。臣恐韓。魏卑辭除患，而實欺大國也。何則？王無重世之德於韓。魏，而有累世之怨焉。夫韓。魏父子兄弟，接踵而死於秦者，將十世矣，本國殘，社稷壞，宗廟隳，刳腹絕腸，折顙折頸，身首分離，暴骨草澤，頭顱僵仆，相望於境，系臣束子為群虜者，相及於路，鬼神潢洋無所食，民不聊生，族類離散，流亡為僕妾者，●海內矣，故韓。魏之不亡，秦社稷之憂也。今王齎之與攻楚，不亦過乎！

"If Your Majesty can rely on merit to hold on to your authority, restrain the heart that clings to military success, and enrich the soil of benevolence and righteousness so that there are no lingering troubles, then the Three Kings would not be enough to make a fourth, and the Five Hegemons would not be enough to make a sixth. But if Your Majesty relies on the multitude of your men and the strength of your armor and weapons, and, riding on the prestige of having destroyed Wei, wishes to force the world into submission and become its king, I fear there will be trouble afterward. The Book of Odes says: 'Everything has a beginning, but few come to a good end.' The Book of Changes says: 'The fox crossing the river wets its tail.' This means that beginnings are easy and endings are hard. How do we know this is so? Earl Zhi saw the advantage of attacking Zhao but did not know the disaster at Yuci; Wu saw the convenience of attacking Qi but did not know the defeat at Gansui. These two states did not lack great achievements; they were drowned in earlier gains and made light of later troubles. Wu drew close to Yue and, on that basis, attacked Qi; having already defeated the men of Qi at Ailing, it returned and was captured by the men of Yue on the bank of Sanzhu. Earl Zhi trusted Han and Wei and, on that basis, attacked Zhao and besieged Jinyang; victory was a matter of days, but Han and Wei turned against him and killed Earl Zhi Yao on the Zaotai. Now Your Majesty, resenting that Chu has not been destroyed, forgets that destroying Chu would strengthen Han and Wei. I consider this on Your Majesty's behalf and do not approve of it. The Book of Odes says: 'The great army does not cross to settle far away.' From this we see that Chu is an ally and the neighboring states are the enemy. The Book of Odes says: 'The leaping cunning hare is caught when it meets a hound. Others have hearts, and I can fathom them.' Now Your Majesty, halfway along, believes that Han and Wei are friendly to you; this is Wu drawing close to Yue. I have heard that an enemy must not be treated leniently and that an opportunity must not be lost. I fear that Han and Wei will use humble words to remove their troubles while in truth deceiving the great state. Why? Your Majesty has no virtue to them from generations past, but has resentments from generations past. Fathers, sons and brothers of Han and Wei have died one after another at the hands of Qin for nearly ten generations. Their states were broken, their altars destroyed, their ancestral temples toppled; their bellies were slit and their entrails cut out, their brows and necks were broken, heads were severed from bodies, bones lay exposed in the marshes, skulls lay fallen and could be seen from one another across the borders; bound ministers and tied-up sons became captives in droves, following one another along the roads; the spirits wandered in vast emptiness with nowhere to receive offerings, the people could not make a living, clans were scattered, and those who fled to become servants and concubines filled the realm within the seas (a character is damaged in the source). So if Han and Wei are not destroyed, they are a worry to Qin's altars of soil and grain. Now Your Majesty is helping them to attack Chu; is that not excessive?"

且王攻楚，將惡出兵？王將借路於仇讎之韓。魏乎？出兵之日，而王憂其不反也，是王以兵資於仇讎之韓。魏也。王若不借路於仇讎之韓。魏，必攻隨水右壤，隨水右壤，此皆廣川大水，山林溪谷，不食之地也。王雖有之，不為得地，是王有毀楚之名，而無得地之實也。且王攻楚之日，四國必悉起兵以應王，秦之兵構而不離，韓。魏氏將出兵而攻留。方。與銍。胡陵。碭。蕭。相，故宋必盡。齊人南面，泗北必舉，此皆平原四達膏腴之地也，而使獨攻。王破楚以肥韓。魏於中國而勁齊。韓。魏之強，足以校於秦，齊南以泗水為境，東負海，北倚河而無後患。天下之國，莫強於齊。魏，齊。魏得地保利而詳事下吏，一年之後，為帝未能，其于禁王之為帝有餘矣。夫以王壤土之博，人徒之眾，兵革之強，一舉事而樹怨於楚，出令韓。魏歸帝重於齊，是王失計也。臣為主慮，莫若善楚，秦。楚合為一而以臨韓，韓必拱手，王施之以東山之險，帶以曲河之利，韓必為關內之侯，若是而王以十萬伐鄭，梁氏寒心，許鄢陵。嬰城，而上蔡。召陵不往來也，如此而魏亦關內侯矣。王一善楚而關內兩萬乘之主，注入地於齊，齊右壤可拱手而取也。王之地一極兩海，要約天下，是燕。趙無齊。楚；齊。楚無燕。趙，然後危動燕。趙，直搖齊。楚，此四國者，不待痛而服也。"昭王曰："善。"於是乃止白起，謝韓。魏，發使賂楚，約為與國。黃歇受約歸楚，解楚之禍，全強秦之兵，黃歇之謀也。

"Moreover, when Your Majesty attacks Chu, from where will your troops set out? Will Your Majesty borrow passage from your enemies Han and Wei? On the day the troops leave, Your Majesty will worry that they cannot return; this means Your Majesty is supplying troops to your enemies Han and Wei. If Your Majesty does not borrow passage from Han and Wei, you must attack the right bank of the Sui River. The right bank of the Sui consists of wide streams and great waters, mountain forests, creeks and valleys, land that does not produce grain. Even if Your Majesty held it, it would not count as gaining land. This means Your Majesty would have the name of destroying Chu but not the reality of gaining land. Moreover, on the day Your Majesty attacks Chu, the four states will surely all raise troops to respond to Your Majesty. Qin's troops will be locked in conflict and unable to withdraw, and the houses of Han and Wei will send troops to attack Liu, Fangyu, Zhi, Huling, Dang, Xiao and Xiang, so the old territory of Song will surely be entirely lost. The men of Qi will face south, and the north of the Si River will surely be seized. These are all level plains, open in four directions, with rich and fertile land, and they would be left to be seized by others alone. If Your Majesty breaks Chu, you enrich Han and Wei within the Central States and make Qi strong. The strength of Han and Wei would be enough to rival Qin. Qi would have the Si River as its southern border, the sea to the east, and the river to the north, with no worry from behind. Among the states of the world, none would be stronger than Qi and Wei. Having gained land and secured advantage, Qi and Wei would pretend to serve your subordinate officials; within a year they could not yet make themselves emperor, but they would be more than able to prevent Your Majesty from becoming emperor. With the breadth of Your Majesty's territory, the multitude of your men and the strength of your armor and weapons, to take one action and make an enemy of Chu, and thereby let Han and Wei hand the honor of the imperial title over to Qi, would be Your Majesty's mistake. I consider on my lord's behalf that it would be best to treat Chu kindly. If Qin and Chu unite as one body and press on Han, Han will surely fold its hands in submission. If Your Majesty adds the strength of the Eastern Mountains and holds the advantage of the Winding River, Han will surely become a marquis within the passes. In this way, if Your Majesty then sends a hundred thousand to attack Zheng, the house of Liang will be chilled with fear, Xu and Yanling will hold their walled cities in self-defense, and Shangcai and Zhaoling will no longer communicate; thus Wei too will become a marquis within the passes. Once Your Majesty treats Chu kindly, there will be two lords of ten thousand chariots within the passes, and by pouring your land toward Qi, the right bank of Qi can be taken with folded hands. Your Majesty's land would reach both seas at one end, and by binding the world to covenants, Yan and Zhao would have neither Qi nor Chu, and Qi and Chu would have neither Yan nor Zhao. Then, threatening Yan and Zhao and directly shaking Qi and Chu, these four states would submit without waiting to be hurt." King Zhao said: "Good." So he stopped Bai Qi, declined Han and Wei, sent an envoy to bribe Chu, and made a covenant of alliance. Huang Xie accepted the covenant and returned to Chu, removing Chu's calamity and preserving the troops of mighty Qin; this was Huang Xie's plan.

秦。趙戰於長平，趙不勝，亡一都尉。趙王召樓昌與虞卿曰："軍戰不勝，尉復死，寡人將束甲而赴之。"樓昌曰："無益也，不如發重使而為構。"虞卿曰："昌言構者，以為不構，軍必破也，而制構者在秦，且王之論秦也，欲破王之軍乎？不邪？"王曰："秦不遺餘力矣，必且破趙軍。"虞卿曰："王聽臣發使，出重寶以附楚。魏，楚。魏欲王之重寶，必內吾使，吾使入楚。魏，秦必疑天下，恐天下之合從必一心，如此，則構乃可為也。"趙王不聽，與平陽君為構，發鄭朱入秦，秦內之。趙王召虞卿曰："寡人使平陽君為構秦，秦已內鄭朱矣，虞卿以為如何？"對曰："王不得構，軍必破矣！天下之賀戰勝者皆在秦。鄭朱，貴人也。而入秦，秦王與應侯必顯重以示天下，楚。魏以趙為構，必不救王。秦知天下不救王，則構不可得也。"應侯果顯鄭朱以示天下，賀戰勝者終不肯構，長平大敗，遂圍邯鄲，為天下笑，不從虞卿之謀也。

Qin and Zhao fought at Changping, and Zhao did not win and lost a commandant. The King of Zhao summoned Lou Chang and Yu Qing and said: "The army has not won in battle, and a commandant has also died; I will put on armor and rush to the front myself." Lou Chang said: "It would be of no use; it would be better to send an important envoy to make peace." Yu Qing said: "Lou Chang says to make peace because he thinks that without peace the army will surely be broken, and the control of peace lies with Qin. Moreover, Your Majesty, in your judgment of Qin, does it want to break Your Majesty's army, or not?" The king said: "Qin is sparing no effort and will surely break the Zhao army." Yu Qing said: "If Your Majesty listens to me, send envoys with heavy treasures to draw close to Chu and Wei. Chu and Wei will want Your Majesty's heavy treasures and will surely receive our envoys. When our envoys enter Chu and Wei, Qin will surely become suspicious of the world and fear that the world will form a vertical alliance of one mind; in that case, peace can then be made." The King of Zhao did not listen, and made peace with Lord Pingyang, sending Zheng Zhu into Qin, and Qin received him. The King of Zhao summoned Yu Qing and said: "I sent Lord Pingyang to make peace with Qin, and Qin has already received Zheng Zhu. What does Yu Qing think?" He replied: "Your Majesty will not get peace, and the army will surely be broken! Those in the world who congratulate Qin on its victory are all at Qin. Zheng Zhu is a noble who has entered Qin, and the King of Qin and the Marquis of Ying will surely display him prominently to show to the world. Chu and Wei will think that Zhao has made peace and will surely not rescue Your Majesty. Qin, knowing that the world will not rescue Your Majesty, will make peace unobtainable." The Marquis of Ying did indeed display Zheng Zhu to the world, and those congratulating Qin on victory finally refused to make peace. Zhao was greatly defeated at Changping and then Handan was besieged, and Zhao was laughed at by the world; this was because it did not follow Yu Qing's plan.

秦既解圍邯鄲，而趙王入朝，使趙郝約事於秦，割六縣而構。虞卿謂趙王曰："秦之攻王也，倦而歸乎？亡其力尚能進之，愛王而不攻乎？"王曰："秦之攻我也，不遺餘力矣，必以倦歸也。"虞卿曰："秦以其力攻其所不能取，倦而歸，王又攻其力之所不能取以送之，是助秦自攻也。來年秦復攻王，王無救矣。"王以虞卿之言告趙郝，趙郝曰："虞卿能量秦力之所至乎？誠知秦力之所不能進，此彈丸之地不予，令秦年來復攻於王，王得無割其內而構乎？"王曰："請聽子割矣，子能必來年秦之不復攻乎？"趙郝曰："此非臣之所敢任也。他日三晉之交於秦相若也，今秦善韓。魏而攻王，王之所以事秦者，必不如魏。韓也。今臣之為足下解負親之攻，開關通弊，齊交韓。魏，至來年而獨取攻於秦，王之所以事秦，必在韓。魏之後也，此非臣之所敢任也。"

After Qin had lifted its siege of Handan, the King of Zhao went to court in Qin and sent Zhao Hao to settle matters with Qin, offering six counties to make peace. Yu Qing said to the King of Zhao: "When Qin attacked Your Majesty, did it return because it was exhausted, or was its strength still able to advance, and it spared Your Majesty out of affection and did not attack?" The king said: "When Qin attacked me it spared no effort; it must have returned because it was exhausted." Yu Qing said: "Qin used its strength to attack what it could not take and returned exhausted; if Your Majesty sends it what its strength could not take, that helps Qin attack yourself. Next year, when Qin attacks Your Majesty again, there will be no rescue for you." The king told Yu Qing's words to Zhao Hao, and Zhao Hao said: "Can Yu Qing measure the place Qin's strength reaches? If he truly knows that Qin's strength cannot advance further, then, if we do not give this pellet of land and let Qin attack again next year, could Your Majesty avoid ceding inner territory to make peace?" The king said: "I will listen to you and cede it; can you guarantee that Qin will not attack again next year?" Zhao Hao said: "That is not something I dare to take responsibility for. In the past, the Three Jin and Qin were similarly allied; now Qin treats Han and Wei kindly and attacks Your Majesty, so the way Your Majesty serves Qin must be worse than Wei and Han. Now I would remove, on your behalf, the attack caused by abandoning friendship, open the passes and clear the abuses, and ally with Han and Wei on equal terms; if by next year Qin attacks only you alone, then the way Your Majesty serves Qin will surely be behind Han and Wei; this is not something I dare take responsibility for."

王以告虞卿，虞卿對曰："郝言'不構，來年，秦復攻王，王得無復割其內而構乎’。今構，郝又不能必秦之不復攻也，雖割何益？來年復攻，又割其力之所不能取以構，此自盡之術也，不如無構。秦雖善攻，不能取六縣，趙雖不能守，亦不失六城，秦倦而歸，兵必疲，我以六縣收天下以攻罷秦，是我失之於天下，而取償於秦也。吾國尚利，庸與坐而劃地，自弱以強秦？今郝曰'秦善韓。魏而攻趙者，必王之事秦不如韓。魏也’，是使王歲以六城事秦也，坐以地盡，來年，秦復來割，王將予之乎？不予，是棄前功而挑秦禍也，予之，即無地而給之。語曰：'強者善攻，而弱者不能守’。今坐而聽秦，秦兵不弊而多得地，是強秦而弱趙也，以益強之秦，而割愈弱之趙，其計固不止矣。且王之地有盡，而秦之求無已，以有盡之地，給無已之求，其勢必無趙矣。"計未定，樓緩從秦來，趙王與樓緩計之曰："秦地與無予，庸吉？"緩辭讓曰："此非臣之所能知也。"王曰："雖然，試言公之私。"樓緩對曰："亦聞夫公父文伯母乎，公父文伯仕於魯，病死，女子為自殺於房中者二人，其母聞之，不肯哭也。其相室曰：'焉有子死而不哭者乎？’其母曰：'孔子，賢人也，逐於魯，而是人不隨也。今死而婦人為自殺者二人，若是者必其於長者薄，而於婦人厚也。’故從母言，是為賢母，從妻言，是必不免為妒婦。故其言一也，言者異則人心變矣。今臣新從秦來而言勿予，則非計也：言予之，恐王以臣為秦也，故不敢對。使臣得為大王計，不如予之。"王曰："諾。"

The king told this to Yu Qing, who replied: "Zhao Hao says, 'If we do not make peace, and next year Qin attacks Your Majesty again, can Your Majesty avoid ceding inner territory again to make peace?' Now if we make peace, Zhao Hao also cannot guarantee that Qin will not attack again; even if we cede land, what benefit is there? If next year it attacks again and we again cede what its strength could not take in order to make peace, that is a way to exhaust ourselves; it would be better not to make peace. Although Qin is good at attacking, it could not take six counties; although Zhao cannot defend, it would not lose six cities. Qin returns exhausted and its troops are surely worn out; I would use the six counties to gather the world to attack the worn-out Qin, which means I lose to the world but gain compensation from Qin. Our state would still have the advantage; how could that compare with sitting and carving up land, weakening ourselves to make Qin strong? Now Zhao Hao says, 'Qin treats Han and Wei kindly and attacks Zhao, so it must be that Your Majesty serves Qin worse than Han and Wei'; this means Your Majesty would use six cities every year to serve Qin, and sitting there use up all the land. Next year when Qin comes to demand cession again, will Your Majesty give? If not, you abandon your earlier merit and stir up Qin's calamity; if you give, there will be no land to give. A common saying goes: 'The strong are good at attacking, and the weak cannot defend.' Now to sit and obey Qin means that Qin's troops would not be worn and yet gain much land, which makes Qin strong and Zhao weak. Using an ever stronger Qin to carve up an ever weaker Zhao, the scheme will naturally never stop. Moreover, Your Majesty's land is finite, while Qin's demands do not stop; to supply unceasing demands with finite land, the situation will surely leave no Zhao." The plan was not yet settled when Lou Huan came from Qin, and the King of Zhao discussed with Lou Huan: "Which is more auspicious, giving land to Qin or not giving it?" Lou Huan declined, saying: "This is not something I am able to know." The king said: "Even so, try telling me your private view." Lou Huan replied: "Have you also heard of the mother of Gongfu Wenbo? Gongfu Wenbo held office in Lu and died of illness; two women killed themselves in their rooms for him, and when his mother heard of this, she would not weep. The household steward said: 'How can a son die and the mother not weep?' The mother said: 'Confucius was a worthy man, and he was driven out of Lu, yet this man did not follow him. Now that he has died, two women have killed themselves for him; in that case he must have been cold to his elders and warm to women.' So by the mother's words she was a worthy mother; by the wife's words, she could not escape being called a jealous woman. So the words are the same, but when the speaker differs, people's minds change. Now I have just come from Qin; if I say do not give, it is not a plan; if I say give, I fear Your Majesty will think I am acting for Qin, so I dare not answer. But if I could plan for Your Majesty, it would be best to give." The king said: "Right."

虞卿聞之曰："此飾說也，王慎勿予。"樓緩聞之，往見王，王又以虞卿之言告樓緩，樓緩對曰："不然，虞得其一，不得其二。夫秦。趙構難而天下皆說，何也？曰：'吾且因強而乘弱矣。’今趙兵困於秦，天下之賀戰者，必盡在於秦矣，故不如前割地為和，以疑天下而慰秦之心。不然，天下將因秦之怒，乘趙之弊而瓜分之，趙見亡，何秦之圖乎？故曰虞卿得其一不得其二，願王以此決之，勿復計也。"虞卿聞之，往見王曰："危哉！樓子之所以為秦者，是愈疑天下，而何慰秦之心哉？獨不言示天下弱乎？且臣言勿予，非固勿予而已也。秦索六城於王，而王以六城賂齊。齊，秦之深讎也。得王之六城，幷力而西擊秦，齊之聽王，不待辭之畢也。則是王失之於齊，而取償於秦也。而齊。趙之讎可以報矣，而示天下有能為也。王以此為發聲，兵未窺於境，臣見秦之重賂，而反構於王。從秦為構，韓。魏聞之，必盡重王，重王，必出重寶以先於王，則是王一舉而結三國之親，而與秦易道也。"趙王曰："善。"即發虞卿來見齊王，與之謀秦。虞之謀行而趙霸，此存亡之樞機，樞機之發，間不及旋踵，是故虞卿一言，而秦之震懼趁風馳指而請備，故善謀之臣，其於國豈不重哉？微虞卿，趙以亡矣。

When Yu Qing heard this, he said: "This is a gilded argument; Your Majesty must be careful not to give." Lou Huan, hearing this, went to see the king, and the king told Lou Huan Yu Qing's words again. Lou Huan replied: "That is not right. Yu Qing has grasped the first point but not the second. When Qin and Zhao are locked in conflict, the whole world is delighted; why? They say: 'We will rely on the strong to take advantage of the weak.' Now Zhao's troops are besieged by Qin, and those in the world who congratulate Qin on victory will surely all be at Qin; so it would be better to cede land and make peace first, to make the world suspicious and to soothe Qin's heart. Otherwise, the world will rely on Qin's anger and take advantage of Zhao's exhaustion to carve it up; with Zhao about to perish before our eyes, what could it plan against Qin? So I say Yu Qing has grasped the first but not the second; I hope Your Majesty decide on this and plan no further." When Yu Qing heard this, he went to see the king and said: "Dangerous! What Master Lou does for Qin only makes the world more suspicious; how can that soothe Qin's heart? Will it not show the world our weakness? Moreover, when I say do not give, it is not simply that we should not give. Qin demands six cities from Your Majesty, and Your Majesty should use the six cities to bribe Qi. Qi is Qin's deep enemy. Once Qi has Your Majesty's six cities, it will join strength with us to strike Qin westward, and Qi would obey Your Majesty before the words are finished. This means Your Majesty loses to Qi but gains compensation from Qin. And the enmity between Qi and Zhao can be repaid, while showing the world that we have strength. If Your Majesty makes this the signal, before our troops even probe the border, I will see Qin come with heavy bribes to make peace with Your Majesty in return. Once Qin follows with peace, Han and Wei will hear of it and will surely both value Your Majesty; valuing Your Majesty, they will surely bring heavy treasures and race to offer them first, which means that in one move Your Majesty binds three states in friendship and trades roads with Qin." The King of Zhao said: "Good." He immediately sent Yu Qing to see the King of Qi and plan with him against Qin. Yu Qing's plan was carried out and Zhao became hegemon; this is the pivot of survival and destruction. When the pivot moves, there is no time even to turn one's heels, and so with a single word from Yu Qing, Qin's terror and fear came riding on the wind to request preparation. So are not ministers who are good at planning important to a state? Without Yu Qing, Zhao would have perished for that reason.

魏請為從，趙孝成王，召虞卿謀，過平原君。平原君曰："願卿之論從也。"虞卿入見。王曰："魏請為從。"對曰："魏過。"王曰："寡人固未之許。"對曰："王過。"王曰："魏請從，卿曰魏過；寡人未之許，又曰寡人過，然則從終不可邪？"對曰："臣聞小國之與大國從事也，有利，大國受福；有敗，小國受禍。今魏以小請其禍，而王以大辭其福，臣故曰王過，魏亦過。竊以為從便。"王曰："善。"乃合魏為從。使虞卿久用於趙，趙必霸。會虞卿以魏齊之事，棄侯捐相而歸，不用，趙旋亡。

Wei sought a vertical alliance, and King Xiaocheng of Zhao summoned Yu Qing to plan, passing through Lord Pingyuan. Lord Pingyuan said: "I hope you will speak in favor of the alliance." Yu Qing went in to see the king. The king said: "Wei seeks a vertical alliance." He replied: "Wei is wrong." The king said: "I have not yet agreed." He replied: "Your Majesty is wrong." The king said: "Wei seeks an alliance and you say Wei is wrong; I have not agreed, and you say I am wrong; then is the alliance after all impossible?" He replied: "I have heard that when a small state and a great state share an undertaking, if there is gain, the great state receives the blessing; if there is defeat, the small state suffers the calamity. Now Wei, being small, seeks that calamity, while Your Majesty, being great, declines that blessing; that is why I say Your Majesty is wrong, and Wei is also wrong. I privately think the alliance is advantageous." The king said: "Good." So he formed an alliance with Wei. If Yu Qing had been employed by Zhao for long, Zhao would surely have become hegemon. It happened that, because of the affair of Wei Qi, Yu Qing gave up his marquisate and abandoned the chancellorship and left, and was not employed, and Zhao soon perished.

沛公與項籍，俱受令於楚懷王。曰："先入咸陽者王之。"沛公將從武關入，至南陽守戰，南陽守齮保宛城，堅守不下，沛公引兵圍宛三匝，南陽守欲自殺，其舍人陳恢止之曰："死未晚也。"於是恢乃踰城見沛公曰："臣聞足下約先入咸陽者王之，今足下留兵盡日圍宛，宛，大郡之都也，連城數十，人民眾，蓄積多，其吏民自以為降而死，故皆堅守乘城，足下攻之，死傷者必多，死者未收，傷者未瘳，足下曠日則事留，引兵而去宛，完繕弊甲，砥礪調兵，而隨足下之後，足下前則失咸陽之約，後有強宛之患，竊為足下危之。為足下計者，莫如約宛守降封之，因使止守，引其甲卒，與之西擊，諸城未下者，聞聲爭開門而待，足下通行無所累。"沛公曰："善。"乃以宛守為殷侯，封陳恢千戶，引兵西，無不下者，遂先入咸陽，陳恢之謀也。

The Lord of Pei and Xiang Ji both received orders from King Huai of Chu. He said: "Whoever first enters Xianyang will be king." The Lord of Pei was to enter from Wu Pass and reached Nanyang to fight the defenders; the Governor of Nanyang held Wan city firmly, and it could not be taken. The Lord of Pei led his troops and surrounded Wan in three rings; the Governor of Nanyang wanted to kill himself, but his retainer Chen Hui stopped him, saying: "It is not too late to die." So Chen Hui climbed over the wall and saw the Lord of Pei, saying: "I have heard that you have agreed that whoever first enters Xianyang will be king. Now you keep your troops here all day surrounding Wan. Wan is the capital of a great commandery, with dozens of connected cities, a large population and ample stores; its officials and people think that surrender means death, so they all hold firm and man the walls. If you attack it, your dead and wounded will surely be many; the dead will not be gathered and buried, and the wounded will not heal. If you waste days, affairs will be delayed; if you lead your troops away from Wan, Wan will repair its broken armor, sharpen its weapons and send out troops to follow behind you; ahead of you, you will lose the covenant of Xianyang, and behind you, you will have the trouble of mighty Wan; I privately feel you are in danger. Planning for you, it would be best to promise to enfeoff the Governor of Wan if he surrenders, and then have him stay to guard the city, and lead his armored soldiers to march west with you and attack together; the cities not yet taken will hear the news and vie to open their gates and wait for you, and you will pass through without hindrance." The Lord of Pei said: "Good." So he made the Governor of Wan the Marquis of Yin, enfeoffed Chen Hui with a thousand households, and marched west with his troops, taking every place he attacked, and finally entered Xianyang first; this was Chen Hui's plan.

漢王既用滕公。蕭何之言，擢拜韓信為上將軍，引信上坐，王問曰："丞相數言將軍，將軍何以教寡人計策？"信謝，因問王曰："今東向爭權天下，豈非項王耶？曰然，大王自斷勇仁悍強，庸與項王？"漢王默然良久，曰："不如也！"信再拜賀曰："唯信亦以為大王不如也。然臣嘗事楚，請言項王為人。項王喑惡叱吒，千人皆廢，然不能任屬賢將，此匹夫之勇耳。項王見人恭謹，言語呴呴，人疾病，涕泣分食飲，至使人有功當封爵，印刓綬弊，忍不能與，此所謂婦人之仁。項王雖霸天下而臣諸侯，不居關中，都彭城，又背義帝約，而以親愛王，諸侯不平。諸侯之見項王頡逐義帝江南，亦皆歸逐其主自王善地。項王所過，無不殘滅多怨，百姓不附，特劫於威強服耳。名雖為霸王，實失民心，故曰其強易弱。今大王誠反其道，任天下武勇，何不誅？以天下城邑封功臣，何不服？以義兵從思東歸之士，何不散？且三秦王為秦將，將秦子弟數歲，所殺亡不可勝計，又欺其眾降諸侯至新安，項王軸坑秦降卒二十餘萬人，唯獨邯。欣。翳脫，秦父兄怨此三人，痛入骨髓。今楚強以威王此三人，秦民莫愛，大王之入武關，秋毫無所害，除秦苛法，與秦民約，法三章，且秦民無不欲得大王王秦者，於諸侯約，大王當王關中，民戶知之，大王失職之蜀，民無不恨者，今大王舉而東，三秦可傳檄而定也。"於是漢王喜，自以為得信晚，遂聽信計，部署諸將所擊。八月，漢王東出，秦民歸漢，漢王遂誅三秦，定其地，收諸侯兵討項王，定帝業，韓信之謀也。

The King of Han had already adopted the words of Lord Teng and Xiao He, and promoted Han Xin to be Senior General, leading Han Xin to the seat of honor. The king asked: "The Chancellor has repeatedly praised you, General; what plans will you teach me?" Han Xin declined, and then asked the king: "Now in contending eastward for power over the world, is it not King Xiang?" He said: "It is." "Your Majesty, judge for yourself: in bravery, benevolence, fierceness and strength, how do you compare with King Xiang?" The King of Han was silent for a long time and said: "I am not his equal!" Han Xin bowed twice and congratulated him, saying: "I too think Your Majesty is not his equal. But I once served Chu, so let me describe King Xiang. When King Xiang roars in anger, a thousand men are paralyzed, yet he cannot employ worthy generals under him; that is merely the courage of a common man. When King Xiang meets people he is respectful and courteous, his words are gentle, and when someone is ill he weeps and shares his food and drink; but when it comes to men who have achieved merit and should be enfeoffed, he keeps the seal until its corners wear away and the cord frays, and cannot bear to give it; this is what is called a woman's kindness. Although King Xiang has become hegemon of the world and made the lords submit, he did not settle within the passes but made his capital at Pengcheng; he also broke his covenant with Emperor Yi and made his favorites kings, so the lords were aggrieved. The lords saw King Xiang drive Emperor Yi to the south of the Yangtze, and they too went back to drive out their own lords and make themselves kings in the good lands. Everywhere King Xiang passed he left destruction and much resentment; the common people did not draw close to him, and merely submitted under compulsion of his might. Though he is called Hegemon-King, in truth he has lost the people's hearts, so I say his strength can easily turn to weakness. Now if Your Majesty truly reverses his way, employing the martial and brave of the world, who could you not destroy? Using the cities of the world to enfeoff meritorious ministers, who would not submit? Using a righteous army to follow soldiers who long to return east, who would not scatter before it? Moreover, the three kings of Qin were Qin generals who led the sons and younger men of Qin for years; those they killed or lost cannot be counted, and they also deceived their troops into surrendering to the lords; at Xin'an, King Xiang treacherously buried alive more than two hundred thousand surrendered Qin soldiers, and only Zhang Han, Sima Xin and Dong Yi escaped. The fathers and elder brothers of Qin hate these three to the marrow of their bones. Now Chu, by its might, has forced these three to be made kings, and no one in Qin loves them. When Your Majesty entered Wu Pass, you harmed nothing even by a hair, abolished Qin's harsh laws, and covenanted with the people of Qin for a law of three articles; and among the people of Qin there was none who did not want Your Majesty to be king in Qin. In the covenant among the lords, Your Majesty ought to be king within the passes, and every household knows it. When Your Majesty lost your position and went to Shu, there was no one among the people who did not resent it. Now if Your Majesty raises troops and advances east, the Three Qin can be settled by a mere proclamation." The King of Han was delighted and thought he had gained Han Xin too late, and so followed Han Xin's plan and assigned the generals what to attack. In the eighth month the King of Han went out to the east, the people of Qin turned to Han, and the King of Han then destroyed the Three Qin and pacified that land, gathered the lords' troops to attack King Xiang, and laid the foundation of the imperial enterprise; this was Han Xin's plan.

趙地亂，武臣。張耳。陳餘定趙地，立武臣為趙王，張耳為相，陳餘為將軍。趙王間出，為燕軍所得，燕囚之，欲與三分其地，乃歸王，使者至，燕輒殺之，以固求地。張耳。陳餘患之，有廝養卒謝其舍中人曰："吾為公說燕，與趙王載歸。"舍中人皆笑之曰："使者往十輩死，若何以能得王？"廝養卒曰："非若所知。"乃洗沐往見張耳。陳餘，遣行見燕王，燕王問之，對曰："賤人希見長者，願請一卮酒。"已飲，又問之。復曰："賤人希見長者，願復請一卮酒。"與之酒。卒曰："王知臣何欲？"燕王曰："欲得而王耳。"卒曰："君知張耳。陳餘何人也？"燕王曰："賢人也。"曰："君知其意何欲？"曰："欲得其王耳。"趙卒笑曰："君未知兩人所欲也。夫武臣。張耳。陳餘杖馬策，下趙數十城，此亦各欲南面而王，豈為卿相哉？夫臣與主，豈可同日道哉？顧其勢始定，未敢三分而王。且以少長先立武臣為王，以持趙心，今趙地已服，此兩人亦欲分趙而王，時未可耳。今君囚趙王，此兩人名為求趙王，實欲燕殺之，此兩人分趙自立。夫以一趙尚易燕，況兩賢王左提右挈，執直義而以責不直之弱，燕滅無日矣。"燕王以為然，乃遣趙王，養卒為御而歸，遂得反國，復立為王，趙卒之謀也。

The land of Zhao was in turmoil, and Wu Chen, Zhang Er and Chen Yu pacified it, setting up Wu Chen as King of Zhao, with Zhang Er as chancellor and Chen Yu as general. The King of Zhao slipped out privately and was captured by Yan troops; Yan imprisoned him and wanted to split the land three ways with them before returning the king. When the envoys arrived, Yan killed them, to press its demand for land. Zhang Er and Chen Yu were worried. A kitchen-hand soldier took leave of the people in the lodging and said: "I will persuade Yan on your behalf and bring the King of Zhao back in a cart." The people in the lodging all laughed at him and said: "Ten envoys have gone and all were killed; how can you possibly get the king?" The soldier said: "It is not what you know." So he bathed, went to see Zhang Er and Chen Yu, and was sent ahead to see the King of Yan. The King of Yan questioned him, and he replied: "A lowly man seldom meets his betters; I would like to ask for a cup of wine." When he had drunk it, the king questioned him again. He said again: "A lowly man seldom meets his betters; I would like to ask for another cup of wine." They gave him wine. The soldier said: "Does Your Majesty know what I want?" The King of Yan said: "You want to get your king, that is all." The soldier said: "Does my lord know what kind of men Zhang Er and Chen Yu are?" The King of Yan said: "Worthy men." He said: "Does my lord know what they want in their hearts?" He said: "They want to get their king, that is all." The Zhao soldier laughed and said: "My lord does not yet know what the two men want. Wu Chen, Zhang Er and Chen Yu, leaning on their horsewhips, took dozens of Zhao's cities, and each of them also wants to face south and be king; how could they be satisfied with being ministers? How can a minister and a lord be spoken of on the same day? It is just that the situation was newly settled, and they did not dare divide the land three ways and each be king. Moreover, by age they first set up Wu Chen as king, to stabilize the heart of Zhao. Now that Zhao's land has submitted, these two also want to divide Zhao and be kings, but the time is not yet right. Now my lord imprisons the King of Zhao; these two, in name, ask for the King of Zhao, but in truth want Yan to kill him, so that the two can divide Zhao and set themselves up. With one Zhao they already look down on Yan; how much more with two worthy kings supporting each other left and right, holding up the cause of righteousness to rebuke an unrighteous weak state; Yan will perish within days." The King of Yan thought this was right, so he sent back the King of Zhao, and the kitchen soldier drove the cart home, and in the end the king was able to return to his state and be established as king again; this was the Zhao soldier's plan.

酈食其號酈生，說漢王曰："臣聞之，知天之天者，王事可成；不知天之天者，王事不可成。王者以民為天，而民以食為天。夫敖倉，天下轉輸久矣，臣聞其下乃有藏粟甚多。楚人拔滎陽，不堅守敖倉，乃引而東，令謫過卒分守成皋，此乃天所以資漢。方今楚易取而漢反卻，自奪其便，臣竊以為過矣。且兩雄不俱立，楚。漢久相持不決，百姓騷動，海內搖盪，農夫釋耒，工女下機，天下之心，未有所定也。願陛下急復進兵收取滎陽，據廒倉之粟，塞成皋之險，杜太行之路，距蜚狐之口，守白馬之津，以示諸侯形制之勢，則天下知所歸矣。"漢王曰："善。"乃從其計劃，復守廒倉，卒糧食不盡，以擒項氏。其後吳。楚反，將軍竇嬰，周亞夫復據廒倉，塞成皋如前，以破吳。楚。皆酈生之謀也。

Li Yiji, known as Master Li, persuaded the King of Han, saying: "I have heard that those who know what Heaven is as Heaven can accomplish the king's work, while those who do not know cannot. A king takes the people as his Heaven, and the people take food as their Heaven. The Ao granary has been a transit and shipping point for the world for a long time, and I have heard that a great deal of grain is stored below it. The men of Chu took Xingyang but did not hold the Ao granary firmly; instead they led their army east and had conscripted convicts divide the guarding of Chenggao; this is what Heaven offers to help Han. Now Chu is easy to take and Han has instead withdrawn, giving up its own advantage; I privately think this is excessive. Moreover, two heroes cannot stand together; Chu and Han have been deadlocked for a long time without decision, the people are in uproar, the realm is shaking, farmers put down their plows and weavers leave their looms, and the world's heart is not yet settled. I hope Your Majesty will quickly advance again and take Xingyang, occupy the grain of the Ao granary, block the strategic points of Chenggao, seal off the roads of the Taihang, guard the pass of Feihu and hold the ford of Baima, in order to show the lords the shape of the situation, and then the world will know where to turn." The King of Han said: "Good." So he followed his plan and again held the Ao granary, and his grain never ran out, and finally he captured the House of Xiang. Later, when Wu and Chu rebelled, the generals Dou Ying and Zhou Yafu again occupied the Ao granary and blocked Chenggao as before, and so broke Wu and Chu. All this came from Master Li's plan.

酈生說漢王曰："方今燕。趙已復，唯齊未下，今田橫據千里之齊，田閒據二十萬之軍於歷城，諸田宗強，負海岱阻河齊，南近楚，民多變軸，陛下雖遣數十萬師，未可以歲月下也。臣請奉明詔說齊王，令稱東藩。"於是使酈生食其說齊王，曰："王知天下之所歸乎？"王曰："不知也。"曰："王知天下之所歸，則齊國可得而有也，若不知天下之所歸，則齊國未可保也。"齊王曰："天下何所歸？"曰："歸漢。"王曰："先生何以言之？"曰："漢王與項王，戮力西面擊秦，約先入咸陽者王之。漢王先入咸陽，項王倍約不與而王漢中；項王頡殺義帝，漢王起蜀漢之兵擊三秦，出關而責義帝之處，收天下之兵，立諸侯之後。降城即以侯其將，得賜即以予其士，與天下同其利，豪傑賢人，皆樂為其用。諸侯之兵，四面而至，蜀漢之粟，方船而下。項王有倍約之名，殺義帝之實，於人之功無所記，於人之過無所忘；戰勝而不得其賞，拔城而不得其封；非項氏莫得用事；為人刻印，刓而不能授；攻城得賂，積財而不能賞，天下畔之，賢才怨之，而莫為之用。故天下之事，歸於漢王，可坐而策也。夫漢王發蜀漢，定三秦，涉西河之外，乘上黨之兵，下井陘，誅成安，破北魏，舉三十二城，比送尤之兵，非人之力也。今已據敖倉之粟，塞成皋之險，守白馬之津；杜太行之阪，距蜚狐之口，天下後服者先亡矣。王疾下漢王，齊國社稷，可得而保也；不下漢王，危亡可立而待也。"田橫以為然，即聽酈生，罷歷下兵戰守之備，與酈生日縱酒。此酈生之謀也。及齊人蒯通說韓信曰："足下受詔擊齊，何故止將三軍之眾，不如一豎儒之功？可因齊無備擊之。"韓信從之，酈生為田橫所害，後信通亦不得其所，由不仁也。

Master Li persuaded the King of Han, saying: "Now Yan and Zhao have been recovered, and only Qi has not yet been taken. Tian Heng holds the thousand li of Qi, Tian Jian holds two hundred thousand troops at Licheng, the clans of Tian are strong, backed by the sea and Mount Dai, blocked by the Yellow and Ji rivers, close to Chu in the south, with people full of cunning; even if Your Majesty sent several hundred thousand troops, it could not be taken within years and months. I request to carry your clear edict to persuade the King of Qi to become your eastern vassal." So Li Yiji was sent to persuade the King of Qi, saying: "Does Your Majesty know where the world is turning?" The king said: "I do not know." He said: "If Your Majesty knows where the world is turning, then the state of Qi can be obtained and kept; if you do not know, Qi cannot be preserved." The King of Qi said: "Where is the world turning?" He said: "To Han." The king said: "On what grounds do you say so?" He said: "The King of Han and King Xiang joined forces to strike Qin westward and covenanted that whoever first entered Xianyang would be king. The King of Han first entered Xianyang, but King Xiang broke the covenant and did not give it, and made the King of Han king in Hanzhong; King Xiang drove out and killed Emperor Yi, and the King of Han raised the troops of Shu and Han to attack the Three Qin, came out of the passes to demand where Emperor Yi was, gathered the troops of the world, and established the descendants of the lords. When a city surrendered he gave the marquisate to its general, when he received rewards he gave them to his soldiers, sharing profit with the world, and heroes and worthies were glad to be employed by him. The lords' troops came from all four directions, and the grain of Shu and Han came down the river in boats side by side. King Xiang has the name of breaking a covenant and the reality of killing Emperor Yi; he records no one's merit and forgets no one's fault; those who win a battle get no reward, and those who take a city get no enfeoffment; if one is not a Xiang, he cannot take charge; he carves seals for others but keeps them until they are worn, and cannot bear to hand them over; when he takes a city he gains goods and hoards them without giving rewards; so the world rebels, the worthy resent him, and no one is willing to be used by him. Therefore the affairs of the world return to the King of Han, as one can plan while sitting. The King of Han set out from Shu and Han, pacified the Three Qin, crossed beyond the West River, rode the troops of Shangdang, went down Jingxing, executed Chengan, broke Northern Wei, and took thirty-two cities; this is the army of Chiyou, not the strength of men. Now he already holds the grain of the Ao granary, blocks the strategic points of Chenggao, guards the ford of Baima, seals off the slopes of Taihang, and holds the pass of Feihu; those in the world who submit last will perish first. If Your Majesty quickly surrenders to the King of Han, the altars of Qi can be preserved; if you do not surrender, ruin can be awaited at once." Tian Heng thought this was right and listened to Master Li, dismissed the defensive troops at Lixia, and drank wine freely with Master Li every day. This was Master Li's plan. Then Kuai Tong of Qi persuaded Han Xin, saying: "You received an edict to attack Qi; why stop? Leading the multitude of three armies, will you not match the achievement of one petty Confucian? You can attack while Qi is unprepared." Han Xin followed this, and Master Li was killed by Tian Heng. Later Han Xin and Kuai Tong also did not end well, because they were not benevolent.

漢三年，項羽急圍漢王滎陽，漢王悲憂，與酈生謀撓楚權。酈生曰："昔湯伐桀，封其後於杞。武王伐紂，封其後於宋。今秦無德棄義，侵伐諸侯社稷，滅六國之後，使無立錐之地。陛下誠復立六國後，畢授印已，此君臣百姓，必戴陛下德，莫不向風慕義，願為臣妾。德義已行，陛下南向稱霸，楚必歛衽而朝。"漢王曰："善。趣刻印，先生因行佩之矣。"酈生未行，張良從外求謁，漢王方食，曰："子房前，客有為我計撓楚權者。"具以食其言告之。曰："其於子房意如何？"良曰："誰為陛下畫此計者？陛下事去矣。"漢王曰："何哉？"對曰："臣請借前箸而籌之。"曰："昔湯伐桀，而封其後於杞者，斯能制桀之死命也。陛下能制項籍之死命乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可一也。武王伐紂而封其後於宋者，斯能得紂之頭也。今陛下能得項籍之頭乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可二矣。武王入殷，表商容之閭，軾箕子之門，封比干之墓。今陛下能封聖人之墓，表賢人之閭，軾智者之門乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可三矣。發鉅橋之粟，散鹿臺之錢，以賜貧羸。今陛下能散府庫以賜貧羸乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可四矣。殷事已畢，偃革為軒，倒載干戈，以示天下不復用兵。今陛下能偃革，倒載干戈乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可五也。休馬於華山之陽，以示無所用。今陛下能休馬無所用乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可六也。休牛於桃林之陰，以示不復輸糧。今陛下能休牛不復輸糧乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可七矣。且夫天下游士，捐其親戚，棄墳墓，去故舊，從陛下游者，皆日夜望尺寸之地，今復立韓。魏。燕。趙。齊。楚之後，其王皆復立，遊士各歸事其主，從其親戚；反其故舊墳墓，陛下誰與取天下乎？"曰："未能也。""其不可八也。

In the third year of Han, Xiang Yu besieged the King of Han urgently at Xingyang. The King of Han was sad and worried, and planned with Master Li how to disrupt Chu's power. Master Li said: "In the past, Tang attacked Jie and enfeoffed his descendants in Qi. King Wu attacked Zhou and enfeoffed his descendants in Song. Now Qin has no virtue and has abandoned righteousness, invaded and attacked the altars of the lords, and destroyed the descendants of the Six States so that they have no place to plant an awl. If Your Majesty truly re-establishes the descendants of the Six States and hands out all the seals, those lords, ministers and people will surely be grateful for Your Majesty's virtue, and none will fail to turn toward your example and admire your righteousness, wishing to be your subjects and servants. Once virtue and righteousness have been carried out, Your Majesty can face south and be hegemon, and Chu will surely straighten its robes and come to court." The King of Han said: "Good. Carve the seals quickly, and you, sir, will wear them and go." Before Master Li had left, Zhang Liang came from outside to request an audience. The King of Han was eating and said: "Come forward, Ziye; a guest is planning for me to disrupt Chu's power." He told him all of Li Yiji's words, and said: "What does Ziye think of this?" Zhang Liang said: "Who drew this plan for Your Majesty? Your Majesty's cause is lost." The King of Han said: "Why?" He replied: "I ask to borrow the chopsticks before you to lay out the reasons." He said: "In the past Tang attacked Jie and enfeoffed his descendants in Qi because he could control Jie's life and death. Can Your Majesty control Xiang Ji's life and death?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the first reason it cannot be done. King Wu attacked Zhou and enfeoffed his descendants in Song because he could obtain Zhou's head. Can Your Majesty now obtain Xiang Ji's head?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the second reason it cannot be done. When King Wu entered Yin, he honored the gate of Shang Rong, leaned on the crossbar of his carriage at Jizi's door, and built up the tomb of Bi Gan. Can Your Majesty now build up the tombs of sages, honor the gates of the worthy, and lean on the crossbar at the doors of the wise?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the third reason it cannot be done. He released the grain of Juqiao and scattered the money of Lutai to give to the poor and weak. Can Your Majesty now open the treasuries and give to the poor and weak?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the fourth reason it cannot be done. When the affairs of Yin were finished, he turned war chariots into ordinary carriages and stored the shields and spears upside down, to show the world that arms would no longer be used. Can Your Majesty now lay down war chariots and store shields and spears upside down?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the fifth reason it cannot be done. He let the horses rest on the south side of Mount Hua to show that they would not be used. Can Your Majesty now let horses rest and not be used?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the sixth reason it cannot be done. He let the oxen rest on the north side of Taolin to show that grain would no longer be transported. Can Your Majesty now let oxen rest and no longer transport grain?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the seventh reason it cannot be done. Moreover, the wandering scholars of the world have left their relatives, left their ancestral graves, left their old friends, and followed Your Majesty in wandering, all day and night hoping for even a small piece of land. If you now re-establish the descendants of Han, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Qi and Chu, and those kings are all re-established, the wandering scholars will each go home to serve their lords, follow their relatives, and return to their old friends and ancestral graves; with whom will Your Majesty take the world?" He said: "Not yet." "This is the eighth reason it cannot be done.

且夫楚惟無強，六國復撓而從之，陛下焉得而臣之乎？誠用客之計，陛下之事去矣。"漢王輟食吐哺，罵曰："豎儒幾敗乃公事。"令趣銷印，止不使，遂幷天下之兵，誅項籍，定海內，張子房之謀也。

Moreover, as long as there is none stronger than Chu, if the Six States are again disrupted and follow it, how could Your Majesty make them submit? If you truly use the guest's plan, Your Majesty's cause is lost." The King of Han stopped eating and spat out the food in his mouth, and cursed: "The petty Confucian almost ruined your father's affairs." He ordered the seals destroyed at once, stopped the plan and did not send them. He then combined the world's troops, killed Xiang Ji and pacified the realm within the seas; this was Zhang Ziyang's plan.

漢五年，追擊項王陽夏南，止軍，與淮陰侯韓信，建成侯彭越期會而擊楚軍，至固陵不會，楚擊漢軍，大破之。漢王復入壁，深塹而守之，謂張子房曰："諸侯不約，奈何？"對曰："楚兵且破，而未有分地，其不至固宜，君王能與共天下，今可立致也；則不能，軍未可知也。君王能自陳以東傅海盡與韓信，睢陽以北至穀城盡與彭越，使各自為戰，則楚易敗也。"漢王乃使使者告韓信。彭越曰："幷力擊楚，楚已破，自陳以東傅海與齊王，睢陽以北至穀城與彭相國。"使者至，韓信。彭越皆喜，報曰："請今進兵。"韓信乃從齊行，彭越兵自梁至，諸侯來會，遂破楚軍於垓下，追項王，誅之於淮津，二君之功，張子房之謀也。

In the fifth year of Han, the King of Han pursued King Xiang to the south of Yangxia and halted his troops, and agreed with Han Xin, Marquis of Huaiyin, and Peng Yue, Marquis of Jiancheng, to meet and strike the Chu army; when he reached Guling, they did not come to meet him. Chu struck the Han army and greatly defeated it. The King of Han again entered his camp and dug deep trenches to hold it, and said to Zhang Ziyang: "The lords are not keeping to the agreement; what should I do?" He replied: "Chu's troops are about to be broken, but the land has not yet been divided, so it is natural that they do not come. If Your Majesty can share the world with them, they can be summoned immediately; if not, the outcome of the army cannot be known. If Your Majesty can give Han Xin everything from Chen eastward to the sea, and give Peng Yue everything from Suiyang northward to Gucheng, and let each fight for himself, then Chu will be easily defeated." The King of Han then sent envoys to tell Han Xin and Peng Yue: "Join forces to strike Chu; once Chu is broken, everything from Chen eastward to the sea will go to the King of Qi, and everything from Suiyang north to Gucheng will go to Chancellor Peng." When the envoys arrived, Han Xin and Peng Yue were both delighted and replied: "We ask to advance our troops now." Han Xin then set out from Qi, Peng Yue's troops came from Liang, the lords came to join, and finally they broke the Chu army at Gaixia, pursued King Xiang, and killed him at the Huai ford. The merit of these two lords came from Zhang Ziyang's plan.

漢六年，正月，封功臣，張子房未嘗有戰功，高皇帝曰："鉉籌策帷幄之中，決勝千里之外，子房功也，子房自擇齊三萬戶。"良曰："始臣起下邳，與上會留，此天以臣授陛下。陛下用臣計，幸而時中，臣願封留足矣，不敢當齊三萬戶。"乃封良為留侯。及蕭何等其餘功臣，皆未封。群臣自疑，恐不得封，鹹不自安，有搖動之心。於是高皇帝在雒陽南宮上臺，見群臣往往相與坐沙中語。上曰："此何語？"留侯曰："陛下不知乎？謀反耳。"上曰："天下屬安，何故而反？"留侯曰："陛下起布衣，與此屬定天下，陛下已為天子，而所封皆蕭曹故人，所誅皆平生怨仇。今軍吏計功，以天下不足以遍封，此屬畏陛下不能盡封，又見疑平生過失及誅，故即聚謀反耳。"上乃憂，曰："為將奈何？"留侯曰："上平生所憎，群臣所共知誰最甚者？"上曰："雍齒與我有故，數窘辱我，欲殺之，為其功多，故不忍。"留侯曰："今急，先封雍齒，以示群臣。群臣見雍齒得封，即人人自堅矣。"於是上置酒封雍齒為什方侯，而急詔趣丞相御史定功行封，群臣罷酒，皆喜曰："雍齒且侯，我屬無患矣。"還倍畔之心，銷邪道之謀，使國家安寧，累世無事無患者，張子房之謀也。

In the first month of the sixth year of Han, meritorious ministers were enfeoffed. Zhang Ziyang had never had military merit, and Emperor Gao said: "Planning within the tent and deciding victory a thousand li away was Ziyang's merit. Let Ziyang choose for himself thirty thousand households of Qi." Zhang Liang said: "At first I set out from Xiapi and met Your Majesty at Liu; this was Heaven giving me to Your Majesty. Your Majesty used my plans and, fortunately, they often hit the mark; I only wish to be enfeoffed with Liu, which is enough, and do not dare accept thirty thousand households of Qi." So Zhang Liang was made Marquis of Liu. As for Xiao He and the other meritorious ministers, they had not yet been enfeoffed. The ministers doubted themselves and feared they would not be enfeoffed, and none felt at ease, and they had thoughts of wavering. Then Emperor Gao, on the terrace of the Southern Palace at Luoyang, saw the ministers often sitting in the sand talking to one another. The emperor said: "What are they saying?" The Marquis of Liu said: "Does Your Majesty not know? They are plotting rebellion." The emperor said: "The world has just been settled; why rebel?" The Marquis of Liu said: "Your Majesty rose from commoner status and pacified the world with this group. Now that Your Majesty is Son of Heaven, those you have enfeoffed are all old friends like Xiao and Cao, and those you have executed are all enemies from your whole life. Now the military officials are tallying merits and think the world is not enough to enfeoff everyone; this group fears Your Majesty cannot enfeoff them all, and also fear being suspected for faults of their past lives and being executed, so they gather together to plot rebellion." The emperor was worried and said: "What should be done?" The Marquis of Liu said: "Whom does Your Majesty hate most in your whole life, and whom do the ministers all know it to be?" The emperor said: "Yong Chi has an old grudge against me and has repeatedly embarrassed me; I wanted to kill him, but because his merit is great I could not bear to." The Marquis of Liu said: "Now it is urgent; enfeoff Yong Chi first, to show the ministers. When the ministers see Yong Chi enfeoffed, everyone will feel at ease." So the emperor set out wine and enfeoffed Yong Chi as Marquis of Shifang, and urgently issued an edict hurrying the chancellor and imperial censor to determine merits and carry out the enfeoffments. The ministers, after the wine, were all delighted and said: "Even Yong Chi has been made a marquis; we have nothing to worry about." To win back hearts that had turned against him, eliminate evil schemes, bring peace to the state and leave no trouble for generations; this was Zhang Ziyang's plan.

高皇帝五年，齊人婁敬戍隴西，過雒陽，脫輅挽，見齊人虞將軍曰："臣願見上言便宜事。"虞將軍欲以鮮衣。婁敬曰："臣衣帛，衣帛見；衣褐，衣褐見，不敢易。"虞將軍入言上，上召見，賜食已而問，敬對曰："陛下都雒陽，豈欲與周室比隆哉？"上曰："然。"敬曰："陛下取天下，與周室異。周之先自後稷，堯封之邰，積德累善十餘世，公嬌避桀居邠，大王以狄伐去邠，杖馬策居岐國，人爭歸之，及文王為西伯，斷虞芮訟，始受命，呂望。伯夷自海濱來歸之，武王伐紂，不期而會孟津上八百諸侯，滅殷，成王即位，周公之屬傅相，乃營成周雒邑，以為天下中，諸侯四方，納貢職道里均矣。有德則易以王，無德則易以亡，凡居此者，欲令周務德以致人，不欲恃險阻，令後世驕奢以虐民。及周之衰分為兩，天下莫朝，周不能制，非德薄，形勢弱也。今陛下起豐擊沛，收卒三千人，以之徑往卷蜀漢，定三秦，與項羽大戰七十，小戰四十，使天下民肝腦塗地，父子暴骨中野，不可勝數，哭泣之聲未絕，傷夷者未收，而欲比隆成康周公之時，臣竊以為不侔矣。且夫秦地被山帶河，四塞以為固，卒然有急，百萬之眾可具。因秦之固，資甚美膏腴之地，此謂天府。陛下入關而都，山東雖亂，秦故地可全而有也。夫與人鬥而不搤其亢，拊其背，未全勝也。"

In the fifth year of Emperor Gao, Lou Jing of Qi was stationed at Longxi and, passing through Luoyang, took off the pulling rope of his cart and saw General Yu of Qi, saying: "I wish to see the emperor and speak about something advantageous." General Yu wanted to give him fine clothes. Lou Jing said: "If I am wearing silk, I will see him wearing silk; if I am wearing coarse cloth, I will see him wearing coarse cloth; I dare not change." General Yu went in and told the emperor, who summoned him, gave him food, and then questioned him. Lou Jing replied: "Your Majesty has made your capital at Luoyang; do you want to rival the house of Zhou in prosperity?" The emperor said: "Yes." Lou Jing said: "Your Majesty's seizing of the world differs from the house of Zhou. The ancestors of Zhou descended from Hou Ji, whom Yao enfeoffed at Tai, and they accumulated virtue and piled up goodness for more than ten generations. Gong Liu fled from Jie and lived in Bin; Great King, because the Di attacked, left Bin, leaning on his horsewhip, and lived at Qi, and the people of the state rushed to follow him. When King Wen became Earl of the West, he decided the lawsuit of Yu and Rui, began to receive the mandate, and Lu Wang and Bo Yi came from the seashore to join him. When King Wu attacked Zhou, eight hundred lords met at Mengjin without prior appointment, and Yin was destroyed. When King Cheng took the throne, the Duke of Zhou and others assisted him, and so he built Chengzhou and Luoyi as the center of the world, so that lords from all four directions sent tribute and duties along roads of equal length. With virtue it is easy to be king; without virtue it is easy to perish. All those who settled here wanted Zhou to engage in virtue to attract people, and did not want to rely on natural barriers, lest later generations be arrogant and extravagant and abuse the people. When Zhou declined and split in two, the world no longer came to court and Zhou could not control it; it was not that its virtue was thin but that its situation was weak. Now Your Majesty rose from Feng, attacked Pei, gathered three thousand soldiers, and with them went straight on to sweep up Shu and Han, pacified the Three Qin, fought Xiang Yu in seventy major battles and forty minor ones, so that the people of the world have been ground into the earth, fathers and sons have had their bones exposed in the wilds beyond counting, the sound of weeping has not ceased, the wounded have not been tended, and yet you want to rival the prosperity of the times of Cheng, Kang and the Duke of Zhou; I privately think it is not fitting. Moreover, the land of Qin is girded by mountains and rivers and made strong by four barriers; if there is sudden urgency, a million men can be assembled. Relying on Qin's strength and the rich and fertile land that supplies abundance, this is called the Storehouse of Heaven. If Your Majesty enters the passes and sets your capital there, then even if the land east of the mountains is in turmoil, the old land of Qin can be preserved and held. To fight another without gripping his throat and pressing his back is not yet complete victory."