齊一 THE STRATAGEMS OF QI I (B)
田忌亡齊而之楚
Tian Ji Defects from Qi and Goes to Chu
田忌亡齊而之楚，鄒忌代之相。齊恐田忌欲以楚權復於齊，杜赫曰：「臣請為留楚。」
Tian Ji[1] defected from Qi and went to Chu. Zou Ji[2] replaced him as Chancellor of Qi[3]. He was worried that Tian Ji wished to use Chu's power to return to Qi. Du He[4] said, "Your servant begs permission to keep him in Chu[5]."
謂楚王曰：「鄒忌所以不善楚者，恐田忌之以楚權復於齊也。王不如封田忌於江南，以示田忌之不返齊也，鄒忌以齊厚事楚。田忌亡人也，而得封，必德王。若復於齊，必以齊事楚。此用二忌之道也。」楚果封之於江南。
He spoke to the King of Chu[6], saying, "Zou Ji is planning withdraw all preferential treatment from Chu; he is afraid that Tian Ji will use Chu's power to return to Qi. Your Majesty would do better to grant Tian Ji lands in Jiangnan[7]. This will demonstrate that Tian Ji[8] does not intend to return to Qi; Zou Ji will certainly[9] ensure that Qi will be prodigal in the services it renders to Chu. Tian Ji is a fugitive, and if he receives a domain he will definitely pay tribute to Your Majesty, and if he ever returns to Qi, then he will ensure that Qi will serve Chu's interests. This is a way for you to make use of both Jis." As a result, Chu gave Tian Ji a domain in Jiangnan.
[1] Otherwise known as Tian Chensi, a celebrated Qi general. With Sun Bin he led the army at the Battle of Guiling, mentioned earlier. This story follows on from the previous one, in which he decides to flee Qi rather than risk being executed by Zou Ji on trumped up charges.
[2] Marquis Cheng, aka Zou Ji, was engaged in a long-running feud with Tian Ji. In the previous chapter he is already Chancellor, so this version contradicts that one.
[3] Modern translations punctuate this section thus. An alternative reading would be "Zou Ji replaced him as Chancellor. Qi was was worried that Tian Ji wished to use Chu's power to return to Qi."
[4] Du He seems to have been from Chu. He is mentioned in various contemporary texts, often in connection with the Su family.
[5] Yao suggests that this sentence should read 臣請為留楚.
[6] King Xuan of Chu (369–340 BC) main historical contribution was to the saving of Zhao from Wei during the battles of Guiling and Maling.
[7] Jiangnan was a vague term, referring to various areas South of the Yellow River.
[8] Reading 忌 for 田忌, per the commentaries.
[9] Reading 必以 for 以, per the commentaries.
鄒忌事宣王
Zou Ji Serves King Xuan
鄒忌事宣王，仕人眾，宣王不悅。晏首貴而仕人寡，王悅之。鄒忌謂宣王曰：「忌聞以為有一子之孝，不如有五子之孝。今首之所進仕者，以幾何人？」宣王因以晏首壅塞之。
Zou Ji[1] served King Xuan[2], securing appointments for numerous people. King Xuan was not happy[3]. Yan Shou[4] came from a noble lineage and the people appointed on his recommendation were few; the King was happy with him. Zou Ji spoke to King Xuan, saying, "I have heard people say that having one filial son is not as good as having five. Now how many people have you employed on Shou's recommendation[5]?" Thus he caused King Xuan to believe that Yan Shou was trying to restrict access to him[6].
[1] Zou Ji was also known as Marquis Cheng. He spent time as Chancellor of Qi and was a celebrated legal reformer.
[2] King Xuan of Qi (319–301 BC) is best known for receiving advice from Mencius and establishing the Jixia Academy.
[3] Because he suspects Zou Ji of exploiting his position to appoint his friends and clients to sinecures.
[4] Yan Shou was a minister under King Xuan, and apparently belonged to a branch of the Qi royal house.
[5] According to the commentaries, this may be intended to read 今首之所進仕者，以亦幾何人矣.
[6] A member of a grandee's entourage could repay his own followers by granting them access to his patron. However, by so doing he took the risk that they would display their talents and supplant him. The proposer walked a tightrope between being suspected of undermining others' careers and being undermined by their advancement.
鄒忌脩八尺有餘
Zou Ji Is Over Eight Chi Tall
鄒忌脩八尺有餘，身體昳麗。朝服衣冠窺鏡，謂其妻曰：「我孰與城北徐公美？」其妻曰：「君美甚，徐公何能及公也！」城北徐公，齊國之美麗者也。忌不自信，而復問其妾曰：「吾孰與徐公美？」妾曰：「徐公何能及君也！」旦日客從外來，與坐談，問之客曰：「吾與徐公孰美？」客曰：「徐公不若君之美也！」
Zou Ji[1] was over eight chi tall[2], and of elegant appearance[3]. He glanced at himself in the mirror when wearing his court dress, and said to his wife, "Who is better looking, me or Xu Gong[4] from north of the city wall?"
His wife said, "You are so good-looking, how could Xu Gong equal you[5]?" Xu Gong from north of the city wall was Qi's most handsome man.
Ji was not entirely convinced, so he turned[6] and asked his concubine, saying, "Am I better-looking than Xu Gong?"
The concubine said, "How could Xu Gong match Your Lordship?"
The next morning, a one of his entourage arrived and they sat down to chat. He asked his guest[7], "Am I as good-looking as Xu Gong?"
The guest said, "Xu Gong could not compare to you in looks![8]"
明日，徐公來。孰視之，自以為不如；窺鏡而自視，又弗如遠甚。暮，寢而思之曰：「吾妻之美我者，私我也；妾之美我者，畏我也；客之美我者，欲有求於我也。」
The next day, Xu Gong came by. Zou Ji saw him and felt that his own looks did not compare. He looked in the mirror and saw[9] that he did not come close to Xu Gong. That evening, he went to bed thinking to himself, "My wife said I was good-looking, but she close to me. My concubine said I was good-looking, but she is afraid of me. My guest said I was good-looking, but he wants to beg favours from me."
於是入朝見威王曰：「臣誠知不如徐公美，臣之妻私臣，臣之妾畏臣，臣之客欲有求於臣，皆以美於徐公。今齊地方千里，百二十城，宮婦左右，莫不私王；朝廷之臣，莫不畏王；四境之內，莫不有求於王。由此觀之，王之蔽甚矣！」王曰：「善。」乃下令：「群臣吏民，能面刺寡人之過者，受上賞；上書諫寡人者，受中賞；能謗議於市朝，聞寡人之耳者，受下賞。」
This being the case, when he went to the court the next morning and saw King Wei[10], he said, "I know I am not really as good-looking as Xu Gong[11], but my wife is close to me, my concubine is afraid of me, and my guest wants to beg favours from me, so they all say that I am more attractive than he is. Now Qi is a land of a thousand li, with a hundred and twenty towns, but among the women surrounding you in the palace, there are none who are not close to Your Majesty, and of your private secretaries in the courtyard, there are none who are not afraid of you. Within the four borders there is no one who does not wish to ask favours of you. Having observed as much, Your Majesty must be subject to serious deceptions."
The King said, "Well said."
Accordingly he gave an order saying, "If anyone - secretary, official or ordinary citizen - can[12] stand before us and critique our mistakes, he will receive the highest possible reward. If they send us a written remonstration, then they will receive a mid-level reward. If they vilify us[13] in the marketplace and we come to hear of it, he will receive a small reward."
令初下，群臣進諫，門庭若市。數月之後，時時而間進。期年之後，雖欲言，無可進者。燕、趙、韓、魏聞之，皆朝於齊。此所謂戰勝於朝廷。
As soon as the decree was handed down, the assembled servants of the state began putting forward their critiques[14], and the palace gates and courtyards were as busy as a marketplace. After a few months, occasional criticisms were still being put forward. After a year, even if anyone had wanted to speak up, they would have had nothing to bring forward. Yan, Zhao, Han and Wei heard about this, and all came to pay homage in the court of Qi. Thus he was said to have "won his battle in the palace courtyard".
[1] Marquis Cheng, aka Zou Ji, was Chancellor of Qi and a celebrated legal reformer.
[2] A chi was a little over 9 inches at the time. This would make Zou Ji somewhere between six feet and six feet six - impressive by the standards of the time. For comparison, you were considered a legal adult in Qin if you were over six and a half chi tall - around five feet.
[3] Bao suggests 而形貌 for 身體. This does not significantly alter the sense.
[4] Xu Gong is known only via this story.
[5] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[6] According to Yao, the 復 here may be superfluous.
[7] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[8] According to the commentaries, the 之美也 here may be superfluous. This does not signficantly alter the sense.
[9] According to the commentaries, the 又 here may be superfluous.
[10] King Wei of Qi (356–320 BC) was the father of Tian Ying and the grandfather of Tian Wen. He enjoyed a successful reign and was well-respected.
[11] Yao suggests 知情不如 for 臣誠知不如. This does not significantly alter the sense.
[12] According to the commentaries, the 能 here may be superfluous.
[13] Bao suggests 譏 for 議 here, but this does not significantly alter the sense.
[14] According to the commentaries, the 諫 here may be superfluous. In that case, it would be the ministers themselves who are coming forward.
秦假道韓魏以攻齊
Qin Borrows the Road Through Han and Wei in Order to Attack Qi
秦假道韓、魏以攻齊，齊威王使章子將而應之。與秦交和而舍，使者數相往來，章子為變其徽章，以雜秦軍。候者言章子以齊入秦，威王不應。頃之間，候者復言章子以齊兵降秦，威王不應。而此者三。有司請曰：「言章子之敗者，異人而同辭。王何不發將而擊之？」王曰：「此不叛寡人明矣，曷為擊之！」
Qin borrowed the road through Han and Wei in order to attack Qi. King Wei of Qi[1] made Master Zhang[2] a General in order to respond to this. He came face to face with the Qin side and made camp. Multiple envoys were sent back and forth between the two, and Master Zhang changed his army's banners and insignia, mixing with the Qin forces. Spies said that Master Zhang was planning to pay homage to Qin on Qi's behalf, but King Wei did not respond. After a short while[3], the spies returned, saying that Master Zhang was going to surrender Qi's army to Qin. King Wei did not respond. This happened three times. An officer requested to speak, saying, "It is said that Master Zhang has surrendered; we have had the same report from multiple different sources. Why does Your Majesty not send out another general to attack him?"
The King said, "We know that he would not rebel against us. Why attack him[4]?"
頃間，言齊兵大勝，秦軍大敗，於是秦王拜西藩之臣而謝於齊。左右曰：「何以知之？」曰：「章子之母啟得罪其父，其父殺之而埋馬棧之下。吾使者章子將也，勉之曰：『夫子之強，全兵而還，必更葬將軍之母。』對曰：『臣非不能更葬先妾也。臣之母啟得罪臣之父。臣之父未教而死。夫不得父之教而更葬母，是欺死父也。故不敢。』夫為人子而不欺死父，豈為人臣欺生君哉？」
After a while it was reported that Qi's troops had won a great victory, and the Qin army[5] had sustained a great loss[6]. In the circumstances, the King of Qin was forced to call himself[7] "Qi's servant from Xifan"[8] and apologise.
The King of Qi's entourage said, "How did you know?"
He said, "Master Zhang's mother, Qi[9], offended against his father[10], so his father killed her and buried her under the stables. When I made Master Zhang a general[11], I encouraged him, saying, 'With your strength, you will bring back all your troops. You will certainly be able to rebury her as befits a general's mother.' He replied, 'It is not that I cannot rebury my father's former concubine[13]. My mother, Qi, offended against my father. When he died my father had not yet given any instructions about this[14]. If I rebury her without having received his instructions, then I will be betraying my dead father. Therefore I would not dare.' Someone who - in his capacity as a son - would not betray his dead father, would he - in his capacity as a minister - betray his living lord?"
[1] King Wei of Qi (356–320 BC) was the father of Tian Ying and the grandfather of Tian Wen. He enjoyed a successful reign and was well-respected.
[2] Kuang Zhang, a Qi General and student of Mencius.
[3] According to the commentaries, the 之 here may be superfluous.
[4] The commentaries suggest reading 為而 for 為 here.
[5] The commentaries suggest reading 兵 for 軍 here.
[6] This was the Battle of Sanqiu, in 323 BC.
[7] Reading 稱 for 拜, per the commentaries.
[8] Xifan was a general term referring to the far western part of the Chinese cultural sphere.
[9] This person is not otherwise well-known.
[10] This person is not otherwise well-known.
[11] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[13] I.e. his mother.
[14] According to the commentaries, this may be intended to read 葬 for 教. In this case, the sentence would read "My father had not yet buried her when he died."
楚將伐齊
Chu is on the Point of Attacking Qi
楚將伐齊，魯親之，齊王患之。張丐曰：「臣請令魯中立。」乃為齊見魯君。魯君曰：「齊王懼乎？」曰：「非臣所知也，臣來弔足下。」魯君曰：「何弔？」曰：「君之謀過矣。君不與勝者而與不勝者，何故也？」魯君曰：「子以齊、楚為孰勝哉？」對曰：「鬼且不知也。」「然則子何以弔寡人？」曰：「齊，楚之權敵也，不用有魯與無魯。足下豈如令而合二國之後哉！楚大勝齊，其良士選卒必殪，其餘兵足以待天下；齊為勝，其良士選卒亦殪。而君以魯眾合戰勝後，此其為德也亦大矣，其見恩德亦其大也。」魯君以為然，身退師。
Chu was about to attack Qi, having secured a rapprochement with Lu[1]. The King of Qi[2] was worried. Zhang Gai[3] said, "Your servant begs leave to ensure that Lu remains neutral." Consequently, he went to see the Lord of Lu[4].
The Lord of Lu said, "Is the King of Qi panicking?"
Zhang Gai said, "Not as far as I am aware. Rather, I have come to commiserate with you."
The Lord of Lu said, "Why would you commiserate[5]?"
Zhang Gai said, "Your Lordship is following the wrong strategy. You are not siding with the winner, but the loser. What is the reason for this?"
The Lord of Lu said, "Among Qi and Chu, which do you suppose will win?"
Zhang Gai replied, "Even the spirits cannot know."
"So why would you commiserate with us?"
Zhang Gai said, "Qi and Chu are well-matched in power. It makes no difference whether one of them has Lu on its side or not. How would it be if you preserved your resources intact[6] and allied with one of the two after they fight? If Chu wins a great victory over Qi, its best men and elite troops will be dead and the remainder will only be able await the onslaught of All-Under-Heaven[7]. If Qi wins, its best men and elite troops will also be dead. If you use your Lu's battalions to make an accord with whichever one has won, you will be honouring them greatly and the tribute they pay you in return[8] will be extremely generous." The Lord of Lu acted accordingly, and withdrew his divisions[9].
[1] Lu would have provided an excellent launchpad for attacks against Qi.
[2] Possibly King Wei of Qi (356–320 BC).
[3] Zhang Gai was a general hanger-on around the court of Qi. He has appeared before.
[4] It is not clear which Lord of Lu is indicated here.
[5] According to the commentaries, this may be intended to read 弔乎 for 弔.
[6] Reading 全 for 令, per the commentaries.
[7] That is, the other states will take advantage of Chu's weakness following the battle to attack it.
[8] Reading 甚 for 其, per the commentaries.
[9] Reading 乃 for 身, per the commentaries.
秦伐魏
Qin Attacks Wei
秦伐魏，陳軫合三晉而東謂齊王曰：「古之王者之伐也，欲以正天下而立功名，以為後世也。今齊、楚、燕、趙、韓、梁六國之遞甚也，不足以立功名，適足以強秦而自弱也，非山東之上計也。能危山東者，強秦也。不憂強秦，而遞相罷弱，而兩歸其國於秦，此臣之所以為山東之患。天下為秦相割，秦曾不出力；天下為秦相烹，秦曾不出薪。何秦之智而山東之愚耶？願大王之察也。
Qin attacked Wei. Chen Zhen[1] brokered an alliance between the Three Jin[2] and then went East to speak to the King of Qi[3], saying: "When the ancient kings launched an attack, it was because they wished to bring order to All-Under-Heaven and thereby make a name for themselves, thinking of the generations to come. Now the six states - Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han and Liang - invade each other in turn. None of it is sufficient to make a name for any of them, it merely suffices to strengthen Qin while making them weaker. This is not an optimal strategy for the states east of the mountains. The only state that can threaten their existence is mighty Qin, and we have brought no grief to Qin, but rather depleted ourselves by invading one another, such that we will all end up offering our states to Qin. This is why your servant is worried for the states east of the mountains. The states of All-Under-Heaven eat away at each other's land for the benefit of Qin, without Qin even needing to draw its sword[4]. The states of All-Under-Heaven boil each other alive to the benefit of Qin, without Qin even needing to provide the firewood. How can Qin be so intelligent, and the states east of the mountains so stupid? I hope Your Majesty will consider this.
「古之五帝、三王、五伯之伐也，伐不道者。今秦之伐天下不然，必欲反之，主必死辱，民必死虜。今韓、梁之目未嘗乾，而齊民獨不也，非齊親而韓、梁疏也，齊遠秦而韓、梁近。今齊將近矣！今秦欲攻梁絳、安邑，秦得絳、安邑以東下河，必表裏河而東攻齊，舉齊屬之海，南面而孤楚、韓、梁，北向而孤燕、趙，齊無所出其計矣。願王熟慮之！
In the past, when the Five Emperors[5], Three Sovereigns[6] and Five Hegemons[7] launched attacks, they attacked those who strayed from the correct path. Now Qin's attacks against All-Under-Heaven are not like this; they seek the opposite end. Our sovereigns will die humiliated, and our people will die in captivity. Now eyes are never dry in Han and Liang, and Qi's citizens are the only ones who have not suffered. This is not because Qin feels affection for Qi and none for Han and Liang, but because Qi is far from Qin and Han and Liang are nearby. Now Qin is about to become Qi's neighbour. Qin currently wishes to attack Jiang[8] and Anyi[9]. When Qin takes Jiang and Anyi, it will use them to move eastwards down the Yellow River, taking both banks and attacking eastwards into Qi. It will unify Qi's territories with its own and its possessions will stretch all the way to the sea. In the South this will isolate Chu, Han and Liang, and in the North it will isolate Yan and Zhao[10]. There will be no way for Qi to scheme against this. I hope Your Majesty will consider this intensively.
「今三晉已合矣，復為兄弟約，而出銳師以戍梁絳、安邑，此萬世之計也。齊非急以銳師合三晉，必有後憂。三晉合，秦必不敢攻梁，必南攻楚。楚、秦構難，三晉怒齊不與己也，必東攻齊。此臣之所謂齊必有大憂，不如急以兵合於三晉。」
Now the Three Jin have already made an accord, and are once again like brothers as a result of their treaty. They will dispatch their elite troops to defend Jiang and Anyi in Liang. This is a once-in-ten-thousand-generations strategy. If Qi does not urgently offer its elite troops as part of an accord with the Three Jin, then you will certainly have a reason grieve. If the Three Jin form an accord, Qin will not dare to attack Liang and will turn South and attack Chu. With Chu and Qin entangled in their mutual strife, the Three Jin will resent Qi's failure to join them, and will certainly head east to attack you. This is why I say that Qi will certainly suffer much grief. There would be nothing better than use your troops to join the accord between the Three Jin."
齊王敬諾，果以兵合於三晉。
The King of Qi assented respectfully, and as a result Qi's troops were sent to join the accord between the Three Jin.
[1] Chen Zhen served as an advisor in Qin and Chu, and was a long-running adversary of Zhang Yi.
[2] Han, Wei and Zhao.
[3] Probably King Xuan (319–301 BC). The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[4] Reading 刀 for 力, per the commentaries.
[5] These were standard points of reference for good government, though different texts list different people for each group.
[6] These were standard points of reference for good government, though different texts list different people for each group.
[7] The Five Hegemons were Spring and Autumn era sovereigns who succeeded briefly in pacifying the other states at various times.
[8] Jiang is still called Jiang, and is in Shanxi.
[9] Anyi was the capital of Wei, and is now Yuncheng in Shanxi.
[10] Qin's strategy was to create a corridor of land along the Yellow River that would prevent the northern and southern states from uniting against it.
蘇秦為趙合從說齊宣王
Su Qin Exercises his Persuasions on King Xuan of Qi on Behalf of Zhao's Alliance
蘇秦為趙合從，說齊宣王曰：「齊南有太山，東有琅邪，西有清河，北有渤海，此所謂四塞之國也。齊地方二千里，帶甲數十萬，粟如丘山。齊車之良，五家之兵，疾如錐矢，戰如雷電，解如風雨，即有軍役，未嘗倍太山、絕清河、涉渤海也。臨淄之中七萬戶，臣竊度之，下戶三男子，三七二十一萬，不待發於遠縣，而臨淄之卒，固以二十一萬矣。臨淄甚富而實，其民無不吹竽、鼓瑟、擊筑、彈琴、鬥雞、走犬、六博、𠻘踘者；臨淄之途，車变擊，人肩摩，連衽成帷，舉袂成幕，揮汗成雨；家敦而富，志高而揚。夫以大王之賢與齊之強，天下不能當。今乃西面事秦，竊為大王羞之。
Su Qin[1] exercised his persuasions on King Xuan of Qi[2] on behalf of Zhao's alliance, saying: "To the South of Qi you have Mount Tai[3]. To the East you have Mount Langxie[4]. To the West is the Qing River[5]. To the North you have the Bohai Sea[6]. These can be called the four walls of your state. The land of Qi is two thousand square li[7], protected by hundreds of thousands of armed guards and possessing mountainous grain reserves. Qi has good quality heavy cavalry and the troops of the Five Houses[8]; your archers strike like a plague, and in battle your troops fall on the enemy like thunder and then dissolve into the landscape like wind and rain. Even when armies have attacked, none has yet put Mount Tai behind it, traversed the Qing River[9] or sailed across the Bohai Sea. In Linzi[9] there are seventy thousand households. Your servant has taken the liberty of calculating that this gives an average of three men of military age per household[10]. Three times seven is two hundred and ten thousand. If Linzi is mobilised, without relying upon distant counties to dispatch troops, this alone[11] will produce an army of two hundred and ten thousand. Linzi's fortune and resources are such that among its citizens, there are none who do not pass their time in playing the flute, guse[12], zhu[13] and zither, and with cockfighting, dog racing, playing liubo[14] and kickball[15]. In the streets of Linzi, carriage axels jostle one another[16], and the people are packed shoulder-to-shoulder, so close that their lapels are like awnings and their sleeves like tents, shielding the ground from the sweat the falls like rain. Its households are flourishing[17] and prosperous, their high ambitions widely recognised. Given Your Majesty's wisdom and Qi's strength, no other state in All-Under-Heaven can match it, and now you have turned West to serve Qin; I am quietly embarrassed on your behalf.
「且夫韓、魏之所以畏秦者，以與秦接界也。兵出而相當，不至十日，而戰勝存亡之機決矣。韓、魏戰而勝秦，則兵半折，四境不守；戰而不勝，以亡隨其後。是故韓、魏之所以重與秦戰而輕為之臣也。
The reason that Han and Wei fear Qin is because they share a border. If both sides dispatch troops and they face off against one another, then the fight to decide which will survive will be over within ten days[18]. Even if Han and Wei fight and secure victory over Qin, it will be equivalent to half a loss, as their four borders will be undefended. If they fight and do not win, then extermination will follow immediately after. This being so[19], Han and Wei reason that the danger of battle with Qin outweighs the abjection of serving it.
「今秦攻齊則不然，倍韓、魏之地，至闈陽晉之道，徑亢父之險，車不得方軌，馬不得並行，百人守險，千人不能過也。秦雖欲深入，則狼顧，恐韓、魏之議其後也。是故恫疑虛猲，高躍而不敢進，則秦不能害齊，亦已明矣。夫不深料秦之不奈我何也，而欲西面事秦，是群臣之計過也。今無臣事秦之名，而有強國之實，臣固願大王之少留計。
Now if Qin were to attack Qi, things would be different. It would have its back to the lands of Han and Wei, and to reach the road to Jinyang[20] in Wey[21] it would have to cross the Kangfu Pass[22], which cannot take a standard gauge cart and where horses cannot pass two abreast. If a hundred men hold the pass, then a thousand cannot cross it. If Qin wishes to strike deeply into Qi, it will have to be as alert as a wolf for fear of the discussions going on between Han and Wei to its rear. This being so, Qin is all smoke and no fire, prancing and curveting[23] but not daring to advance. It is thus clear that Qin cannot injure Qi[24]. This failure to accurately evaluate[25] Qin's inability to to take us on - and the plan to turn West and serve Qin's interests - were strategic errors on the part of your private secretaries[26]. Currently you do not yet have the reputation of being subservient to Qin[27] but you do have the appurtenances of a strong state. I therefore[28] hope that Your Majesty will take a moment to plan."
齊王曰：「寡人不敏，今主君以趙王之教詔之，敬奉社稷以從。」
The King of Qi said, "We lack finesse[29]. Now we[30] shall follow the King of Zhao's instructions and join his alliance for the greater honour of the spirits of earth and grain."
[1] Su Qin was later the principal proponent of the vertical alliance, aimed at bringing together the other states to oppose Qin's expansion.
[2] King Xuan of Qi (319–301 BC) is best known for receiving advice from Mencius and establishing the Jixia Academy.
[3] Mount Tai is in Shandong.
[4] Mount Langya is in Anhui.
[5] This seems to be the Qingliang River, which flows through Qinghe and would have been a defensive barrier.
[6] The Bohai Sea is the gulf between Weihai and Dalian.
[7] This may be intended to read "three thousand".
[8] This is a reference to Qi's vassal states, but it is not entirely clear which are included in this group.
[9] Linzi was the capital of Qi. It is still called Linzi, and is in Shandong.
[10] According to the commentaries, the 下 here is probably superfluous.
[11] Reading 已 for 以, per the commentaries.
[12] The guse was like a guqin, but shorter and with more strings.
[13] The zhu was somewhere between a lute and a zither.
[14] Liubo was a board game.
[15] The precise characters here are unclear, but the general sense is obvious. Cuju had similar rules to modern soccer and was popular throughout Chinese history.
[16] The commentaries suggest 轂 for 擊 here. This does not significantly change the sense.
[17] Reading 殷 here for 敦, as the commentaries suggest.
[18] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[19] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[20] Jinyang was in modern Yuncheng County, Shandong. I have seen versions that seem to read 衞 for 闈, in which case the sentence would read "the road to Jinyang in Wey".
[21] Reading 衛 for 闈, per the commentaries.
[22] Kangfu was in modern Rencheng District, Shandong. The area seems to have been a marshy one, with only a narrow raised path upon which to travel.
[23] The commentaries suggest 驕矜 as a possible alternative for 高躍.
[24] According to the commentaries, the 已 here is superfluous.
[25] According to the commentaries, the 深 here is superfluous.
[26] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[27] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[28] Reading 故 for 固, per the commentaries.
[29] According to the commentaries, this may be followed by 僻遠守海，窮道東境之國也，未嘗得聞餘教 ("ours is a distant state, hugging the ocean, humbly occupying the farthest eastern end of all roads; we have never yet received any crumbs of instruction").
[30] The commentaries struggle to interpret this. This is a best guess.
張儀為秦連橫齊王
Zhang Yi Exercises his persuasions on the King of Qi on Behalf of Qin's Horizontal Alliance
張儀為秦連橫齊王曰：「天下強國無過齊者，大臣父兄殷眾富樂，無過齊者。然而為大王計者，皆為一時說而不顧萬世之利。從人說大王者，必謂齊西有強趙，南有韓、魏，負海之國也，地廣人眾，兵強士勇，雖有百秦，將無奈我何！大王覽其說，而不察其至實。
Zhang Yi[1] exercised his persuasions[2] on the King of Qi[3] on behalf of Qin's Horizontal Alliance[4] , saying: "Among the strongest states in All-Under-Heaven, none surpasses Qi; of those who are rich in servants and family connections, none rejoices in greater abundance than Qi. Even so, Your Majesty's advisors craft all their persuasions for the present moment, rather than looking ahead to create benefits that will last for ten thousand generations. The representative of the Vertical Alliance who came to persuade you[5] must have said, 'Qi has mighty Zhao to the west, Han and Wei to the south, and its back to the sea. Its lands are wide and its population large. Its soldiers are strong and its officers brave. Surely even a hundred Qins could not take us on?' If Your Majesty accepted his persuasions, you cannot have considered their practical implications.
「夫從人朋黨比周，莫不以從為可。臣聞之，齊與魯三戰而魯三勝，國以危，亡隨其後，雖有勝名而有亡之實，是何故也？齊大而魯小。今趙之與秦也，猶齊之於魯也。秦、趙戰於河漳之上，再戰而再勝秦；戰於番吾之下，再戰而再勝秦。四戰之後，趙亡卒數十萬，邯鄲僅存。雖有勝秦之名，而國破矣！是何故也？秦強而趙弱也。今秦、楚嫁子取婦，為昆弟之國；韓獻宜陽，魏效河外，趙入朝黽池，割河間以事秦。大王不事秦，秦驅韓、魏攻齊之南地，悉趙涉河關，指摶關，臨淄、即墨非王之有也。國一日被攻，雖欲事秦，不可得也。是故願大王熟計之。」
These proponents of the Vertical Alliance are a cosy clique, and there are none who do not suggest that the Alliance is a feasible proposition. Your servant has heard that[6] Qi fought three battles with Lu and Lu won three times, but this left Lu in such danger that it was wiped out in the aftermath. Though they were renowned for their victories, in reality they were doomed. How could this be? Because Qi was big and Lu was small. Now Zhao's position with regard to Qin is the same as Qi's position with regard to Lu. When Qin and Zhao fought on the banks of the Zhang River[7]. They fought twice, and twice Zhao secured victory over Qin. When they fought beneath Mount Fanwu[8]. They fought twice and twice Zhao secured victory over Qin. After four battles, Zhao had lost hundreds of thousands of men, and Handan[9] only just survived. Thus it beat Qin in name only, and its state was broken. How could this be? It was because Qin was strong and Zhao was weak. Now Qin and Chu have long been exchanging their sons and daughters[10], and the two states are as close as brothers. Han has offered up Yiyang[11] and Wei its territories beyond the river[12]. Zhao came to Mianchi[13] to cede its lands next to the river to serve Qin's interests. If Your Majesty does not likewise serve Qin, Qin will spur Han and Wei to attack Qi's southern lands, while Zhao's entire army crosses the river at Heguan[14] to head straight for Boguan[15]. Then Linzi[16] and Jimo[17] will no longer be yours. On the day that your state is attacked, even should you be willing to serve Qin, there will be no getting it back. This being so, I hope Your Majesty will consider the issue intensively."
齊王曰：「齊僻陋隱居，託於東海之上，未嘗聞社稷之長利。今大客幸而教之，請奉社稷以事秦。」獻魚鹽之地三百於秦也。
The King of Qi said, "Qi is an out-of-the way and obscure state, perched on the edge of the Eastern Sea. We have not yet heard anything that could so durably benefit our spirits of earth and grain. Now that such a great guest has favoured us with his teachings, I beg permission to put forward our spirits of earth and grain in service of Qin." Three hundred li of salt pans and fishing grounds were offered to Qin[18].
[1] Zhang Yi was among Qin's most famous diplomats; like Su Qin he was a Guiguzi alumnus. As in his introductory chapter, he seems to be making a strangely unchronological speech, referring to events that happened long after his own death in 309 BC.
[2] Reading 說齊王 for 齊王, per the commentaries.
[3] The odd chronology of this chapter makes it impossible to know which king is indicated here The commentaries suggest King Xuan. King Jian ruled Qi during the events described in this chapter, but was born after Zhang Yi's death.
[4] The Horizontal Alliance was based on the idea that it was in other states' interests to join Qin and share the fruits of its conquests. It was opposed by the Vertical Alliance, whose proponents tried to unite the other states to stop Qin's expansion.
[5] I.e. Su Qin.
[6] The commentaries suggest reading 說齊 for 齊.
[7] The Zhang River flows through Hebei and Henan.
[8] Mount Fanwu was in modern Pingshan County, Hebei. The Battle of Mount Fanwu took place in 232 BC and was a Pyrrhic victory for Zhao, leaving it too depleted to go on defending against Qin's incursions.
[9] Handan was the capital of Zhao. It is now in Hebei.
[10] I.e. engaging in marriage diplomacy.
[11] Yiyang is now in Yiyang County. At the time it was a border fortress belonging to Han. It was strategically important insofar as that it provided Qin with a base from which to pursue its expansion. The fight over it was covered extensively in previous chapters.
[12] When it was first established, Wei possessed extensive territories within the Ordos Loop, which were progressively eroded by Qin over time.
[13] Mianchi is still called Mianchi, and is in Henan.
[14] Heguan seems to have been on the Qing River.
[15] It is not clear where Boguan was.
[16] Linzi was the capital of Qi. It is still called Linzi, and is in Shandong.
[17] Jimo was in modern Pingdu County, Shandong.
[18] The literal translation is "fish salt land". It could possibly be a place name. Modern translators suggest this interpretation.